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Samsung's New Line Rolls Dice on Windows

Phonemaker unveils new phone, tablet using Microsoft OS instead of Android

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2012 9:23 AM CDT

(Newser) – Samsung unveiled a slate of new products today, including some that (gasp!) don't run on Android. The electronics company showed off a new line of Windows 8-based products, including a 10.1-inch tablet and a 4.8-inch smartphone, the Wall Street Journal reports. "It's highly likely that Samsung will seek to reduce its dependence on Google," one analyst explained—though others pointed out that Windows phones haven't exactly been flying off the shelves for Nokia.

The new phone has some pretty impressive specs, boasting a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16 or 32GB of storage, and a battery even bigger than the Galaxy S III's, Gizmodo reports. But the design, they add, is merely decent. "It's not as sleek and good-looking as the Galaxy S III. … Nokia's definitely got some competition, which is a good thing, but it would be even better if this thing were just drop dead gorgeous."

Damain Cusick, general manager Samsung Electronics UK, unveils the new ATIV S, a Windows 8 smartphone at a Samsung event in Berlin, Aug. 29, 2012.
Damain Cusick, general manager Samsung Electronics UK, unveils the new ATIV S, a Windows 8 smartphone at a Samsung event in Berlin, Aug. 29, 2012.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
People try Samsung ATIVsmart PCs during a media preview at  the Samsung stand at the IFA consumer electric fair in Berlin, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012.
People try Samsung ATIVsmart PCs during a media preview at the Samsung stand at the IFA consumer electric fair in Berlin, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Trastion
Aug 30, 2012 10:23 AM CDT
Can you hack it and put Android on it? it is ugly though so who really cares.
browzman
Aug 30, 2012 9:58 AM CDT
When it reaches US market it will have more bells and whistles Germans are more conservative.
boldt
Aug 30, 2012 9:43 AM CDT
Nice! Looking forward to some new wp8 Verizon devices, if you haven't owned a windows phone you don't know what you are missing.
 

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