Next is the Samsung Captivate Glide, a successor to the captivate, but with a slideout QWERTY keyboard. It has a 1GHz dual-core processor, powering Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a 4-inch Super AMOLED display. Here are some additional specs:

• 4G HSPA+ 21 Mbps (Category 14)
• 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H dual core processor
• 1GB RAM/1GB ROM/8GB Internal microSD™ to 32GB (not included)
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• 4-inch 480×800 WVGA Super AMOLED™
• Dual camera – 8MP Autofocus w/LED + 1.3MP front
• Full HD 1080p video camera + HDMI playback

It’s clearly not a slouch in the specs department, and a nice follow-up to the moderately successful Captivate, an original Galaxy S device.

The third device is called the Samsung DoubleTime, a dual touchscreen handset with a flip-out keyboard. It’s running Android 2.2 Froyo and only has a 3.2MP camera on the back, so it’s probably a decent choice for those who want a modest step up from regular feature phones with a focus on messaging.

Next up is the Pantech Pocket, and I’ll let AT&T do the talking here:

The Pantech Pocket is a slim Android 2.3 device ideal for customers focused on social entertainment and messaging. With a 4.0″ SVGA touch screen display, wide profile virtual keyboard, 4G support, 5MP camera, and access to the Android Market, it is the perfect device for those wanting a wider screen for a better experience with browsing, navigation and entertainment in a one-handed design.

And finally, we have the AT&T Avail. It’s made by Chinese manufacturer ZTE, and it has a 5MP rear camera and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Big whoop, right? The bright side is that this will be a GoPhone offering, so pre-paid users will have more than just a handful of crappy feature phones to choose from.

Overall, there isn’t anything terribly exciting in this announcement, except maybe the Motorola Atrix 2, but I guess it’s nice to have a little variety and some choices, right?

So, why did it take so damn long? According to the NY Times:

So what took so long? Apple and Facebook have been in talks for months trying to resolve issues that came up last year when the companies disagreed about Facebook’s integration with Ping, Apple’s music-focused social network. Since then they have been caught in a stalemate over disagreements on coming projects.

Seriously? It was delayed because of Ping? Lame as it is, at least it’s out now. The app, naturally, is optimized for tablet use, which means you will be able to scroll around and use multi-touch gestures, and you’ll also be able to use the iPad 2′s cameras to shoot photos and video and upload them straight into Facebook via the app.

Looking to grab the app for yourself? See the link below, but note that it won’t be available for a few hours, so hold tight.

[Via: Facebook]

The Samsung Stratosphere runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, has a 1GHz processor (not dual-core, sorry) and is skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. I guess it’s not a shabby phone as far as Android handsets go, and for $149.99 on a two-year contract, you could probably do worse. It’ll be available on October 13 from Verizon Wireless retail stores and online.

SAMSUNG STRATOSPHERE

Features a 4-inch Super AMOLED™ Display, 1GHz Processor and B2B Enterprise Solutions

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. –Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the Samsung Stratosphere™, a Samsung Galaxy S® smartphone, will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13.
The slim Samsung Stratosphere is the first 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless equipped with a 5-row QWERTY keyboard and designed with Samsung’s 4-inch Super AMOLED™ display. Additionally, the Stratosphere supports enhanced B2B-enabled connectivity services from Cisco™, the most comprehensive mobile implementation of Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® and support for secure remote device management from Sybase.
Ideal for the business professional, the Samsung Stratosphere offers robust data management support. The Stratosphere will support Samsung’s Enterprise Platform enhancements such as VPN, encryption and Mobile Device Management (MDM). The Stratosphere will also come equipped with Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS), features such as direct push, email, calendar, contact sync, Global Address List (GAL) as well as EAS policies including storage card encryption, device encryption and simple & complex password support, all essential for streamlining business on the smartphone.

Key features:
4G LTE– customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
· 5-row QWERTY keyboard

· Samsung Super AMOLED™ Screen Technology – Brilliant screen makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life, even in bright light and outdoor environments

Android 2.3, Gingerbread– support for Google Mobile™ Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 250,000 apps available to download from Android Market™
· Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor

Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat and 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus and flash (720p HD playback/480p DVD-quality recording; playback on Stratosphere screen in HD-like quality)
Mobile Hotspot Capability – share 4G connection with up to 8 Wi-Fi®-enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to 5 devices
AllShareÔ – Enables wireless connectivity through Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA®), so customers can send multimedia content to other DLNA Certified®-enabled devices such as TVs and laptops
· Samsung Media Hub – Samsung’s own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase
· Bluetooth® 3.0 Technology – Support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar

· Multiple video file formats supported, including DivX and XviD support
· Wi-Fi® Connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Business features:

Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move.
· Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) – Communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar, and contacts
· Support for Cisco AnyConnect 2.1 SSL VPN – Supports access to private corporate networks using industry-standard VPN protocols with enhanced security of 4G LTE networks helps users tap into VPN networks with no waiting
· Encryption Services – Users and IT administrators can initiate a remote wipe command to erase private information
· Support for Sybase Afaria® – Mobile device management (MDM) capabilities that allows an integrated experience for the end user in the event it is required by their IT department or corporate policy

Pricing and data packages:
The Samsung Stratosphere will be available on Oct. 13 in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $149.99 after a $50 mail in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Customers that purchase a Samsung Stratosphere smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

The T-Mobile SpringBoard is a 7-inch Android tablet that runs the latest version of the software – 3.2 Honeycomb. That means it’s optimized for the larger screen and also gives you full access to the Android Market. It has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, so performance should be relatively snappy and hiccup-free. The Springboard has a 5MP rear camera capable of taking still photos and recording 720p HD videos, and a 1.3MP front-facing camera for video chatting.

For more details, see the full press release below.

T-Mobile Advances Portfolio of 4G Tablets With T-Mobile SpringBoard With Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The ultra-mobile T-Mobile SpringBoard and ultra-thin Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will deliver premium on-the-go entertainment and multimedia experiences

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Oct. 10, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today unveiled two new 4G* Android™ 3.2 (Honeycomb) tablets, enhancing its growing tablet business and portfolio of high-speed mobile broadband devices. The T-Mobile® SpringBoard™ with Google™ and Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 will enable customers to enjoy their home Web and entertainment experiences virtually anywhere.

“Our customers expect the ability to access and share content on the go at 4G speeds, so we’ve created a 4G tablet portfolio of 7-, 9- and 10-inch tablets with their busy, highly mobile lives in mind,” said Jeremy Korst, vice president of mobile broadband and emerging devices, T-Mobile USA. “The T-Mobile SpringBoard with Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 are the perfect evolution of T-Mobile’s tablet portfolio, providing consumers with the right choice of tablet to easily look up a recipe at the grocery store, update social media sites on the bus or stream movies and music in the back seat of the car.”

T-Mobile SpringBoard With Google
The 4G-enabled T-Mobile SpringBoard is one of T-Mobile’s most affordable tablets, offering a premium mobile entertainment and rich Web experience that won’t break the bank. Featuring a stunning 7-inch HD multi-touch display, the ultra-portable T-Mobile SpringBoard can fit comfortably into a coat pocket, briefcase or purse, making it easy to carry with you while running errands, hopping on an airplane or waiting at the doctor’s office. Manufactured by Huawei, the T-Mobile SpringBoard is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core mobile processor and offers a variety of preloaded entertainment applications, including access to thousands of movies and TV shows via BLOCKBUSTER on Demand®, Netflix® and T-Mobile TV. The SpringBoard also offers high-speed Web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash® Player, as well as access to services and applications including Blio® eReader, MobileLife® Family Organizer powered by Cozi, Slacker Radio and TeleNav GPS Navigator™, a personal GPS navigation and local search application that provides turn-by-turn voice and on-screen driving directions.

The T-Mobile SpringBoard is also the perfect device for capturing and sharing moments with friends and family while on the go. Equipped with a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and video recorder with 720p for HD video capture, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, customers can easily capture images and video and share with loved ones. In addition, with an SD card slot that accommodates up to 32GB of expandable memory, it’s easy to save movies, music, photos, documents and more so customers can have easy access to everything they need.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
T-Mobile also unveiled the ultra-thin, 4G-capable Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Weighing just 1.24 pounds and featuring a spectacular 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display for a widescreen viewing experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets on the market. T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes equipped with preinstalled content and applications, including T-Mobile TV, Qello®, Samsung Media Hub, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD demo, SIM City Deluxe demo, Blio® eReader and Zinio®.

With a 1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 processor and full Adobe Flash Player support, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 offers a high-end mobile entertainment experience, making it quick and seamless to browse rich Web content, multitask and play games.

Availability

The T-Mobile SpringBoard with Google and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available in time for the holidays at T-Mobile retail stores and at http://www.t-mobile.com.

I really like my iPhone 4. The design is still best in class, and it is stupid easy to use. Battery life is good enough that I can unplug it in the morning, and confidently go until late night without worrying about finding a power source. If any of you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll also know that I love the iPhone 4′s camera and the photo options I have via the wealth of photo-editing apps out there. When it comes to design, ease-of-use, battery life and ecosystem, it is really tough to beat the iPhone 4. So why am I on the fence about buying the souped-up version, the iPhone 4S?

To be clear, I am not in the camp that cried, “iPhone 4S? It sucks. Lame, Apple! Where is the iPhone 5?” I can definitely understand the sentiment, but lame? Sucks? Apple dropped the ball? Give me a break. Apple took an already amazing phone and made it even better, but with the banter and complaints I’ve seen all over the web, you’d think that Apple actually owed us something new and failed to deliver. Of course, the Internet also seems to be afflicted with serious, short-term memory, because this sentiment echoes the whining about the 3GS, and how there were no distinguishing factors between it and the 3G. Boo-hoo.

The real hold-up for me are contractual and financial ones. If money were no object, I would definitely upgrade. No question. But because I’m only halfway through a two-year contract, and I can’t justify the cost of an out-of-contract model, the decision became tougher. The iPhone 4S definitely has enticing features: the 8MP camera and new optics are a curious dream for me, and coupled with the A5 processor, I can only imagine the possibilities. I’m also lusting after a 64GB model, something I’d been wanting since the 3G model was launched.

Friends and family have been asking me all week, “Should I get the iPhone 4S?” My answers generally include the following points:

• If you’re using the iPhone 3G/3GS, definitely
• If you are up for a contract renewal, sure
• If you’ll wake up at 3 a.m. with night terrors because you’re the type that always needs the latest and greatest, go for it
• If you wipe your ass with C-Notes and you want the iPhone 4S, why not?

Basically, if a friend or loved one has the current iPhone 4, is in the middle of a contract and has no real reason to upgrade, I can’t recommend the iPhone 4S. After a few days of consideration, I realized that the real pull for me is the 4S’s new camera, but with the money I’d have to spend to upgrade early or buy out of contract, I might as well put it toward an actual camera. In fact, a new DSLR will be more likely to find its way into my home than an iPhone 4S.

If you were to ask me whether you should upgrade, as a current iPhone 4 owner, I say this: if your phone works just fine now, and you were happy with it before the iPhone 4S announcement, you can find better things to do with your life than try to justify why you absolutely need a dual-core processor and Siri.

Additionally, there is a “hybrid” infrared filter and a 5-element lens that Apple promises will improve image quality and give you sharper pictures. It will also allow you to take macro photos, which is great for getting really close up to your subjects.

The camera has face-detection, takes its first photo in just 1.1 seconds and the rest of its photos in less than one second – capturing those candid mean the differences between tenths of a second! Additionally, there is better white balance, too.

The iPhone 4S camera can also shoot 1080p videos and comes with image stabilization and noise reduction, two huge nuisances in the iPhone 4′s camera. Very impressive on paper, hopefully equally impressive in the real world.

In all, coupled with the new in-app photo editing features, it seems like this is a huge upgrade to the iPhone’s previous camera. The iPhone has always had excellent photography capabilities, and has generally been better than most other smartphone cameras except maybe the Nokia N8, but I think the iPhone 4S camera is going to take the cake. And with all those iOS photo-editing apps, this is a mobile photographer’s dream!

[Image courtesy of The Verge]

Moreover, over 18 billion apps have been downloaded to date, with a rate of 1 billion apps being downloaded per month! Developers have been paid a total of $3 billion so far by Apple, and there doesn’t seem to be a decline in growth so far.

The iPhone and iPad are currently printing money and laying golden eggs for Apple and developers, and the coming iPhone 5 is undoubtedly going to add more fuel to that fire. Anticipation for the device has been incredibly high, but the iPhone 4 continued to sell very well. In fact, Tim Cook said today that the iPhone 4 comprises half of the total sales of all iPhones since Apple began selling the device. Impressive.

We’re hoping for a 1GHz (or more) dual-core processor like the A5 found in the iPad 2. We might also see 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera and a new design. And as Apple always manages to do, there may be a little more battery life in store for us, too. Additionally, Apple might announce a second iPhone, which may or may not be a super-upgraded version of the current iPhone 4 — the iPhone 4S.

Finally, we might see the addition of a new carrier to the iPhone family – Sprint. We’re hearing that Sprint might have invested very heavily on the next Apple smartphone, so we’ll see how that pans out.

Be sure to stay tuned as we aggregate and curate live coverage of the event from some of our favorite blogs and news sources online! If you plan on watching the event as it progresses, be sure to stick around here so we leverage the work for you. We’ll be following five or six of the biggest tech hubs/blogs on the web, and we’ll pipe here into our meta live-blog.

The event begins at 1:00 p.m. EST, or 10:00 a.m. for you west coast folks, but we’ll get things started one hour earlier.

1:00 p.m. Folks, CoverItLive, a service we use to live blog, is down. So we kickin’ it old school with these updates. Bear with us for now!

1:00 p.m. GDGT says that the event is starting and that the audience has been asked to silence their mobile devices. Sweet.

[UPDATE: Our technical difficulties continue to plague us, so we apologize. The best live coverage on the Internet right now is The Verge. Seriously, follow them.]

We’ll be following all the big news sites and blogs that will be live at the event, and we’ll pull in photos, text and information and bring it to you right here on IntoMobile. Aren’t you glad you have us around to make life a little easier for you?

Stay tuned!

We’re live right here, right now!

BGR seems to believe that the coming iPhone 4S “ is going to be a pretty substantial bump as opposed to just an incremental update, as many are speculating.” While BGR doesn’t get into specifics, or tell us things we didn’t already know, it sounds like we’re in for more than what we’ve been expecting:

On the inside, we’re looking at a dual-core A5 processor with amazing graphics support, an 8-megapixel backlit camera sensor for professional quality photographs and full 1080p HD video recording, 1GB of RAM, Apple’s Assistant service, and more. That alone makes this upgrade a big deal, and in terms of the device’s exterior and the display, I think we might all be in for a few pleasant surprises there as well.

Apple has almost always pulled a few surprises with previous iPhone models and it usually leaves us feeling a bit overwhelmed. This time around, because we can only expect so much, it’s likely that the folks in Cupertino will do it again.

Either way, we’re less than a day away from seeing all the new goodies for ourselves.

[Via: BGR]

What makes any or all of these products significant? Well, it goes back to that tagline: premium products at non-premium prices. The Kindle starts at $79, and the Kindle Touch and Touch 3G are $99 and $149, respectively. That brilliant Kindle Fire? $199. At these prices, impulse buying has never been easier. But it isn’t just the great pricing, and therefore easier buying decisions, that matters here. Amazon might be changing the way buyers and manufacturers view the importance of hardware versus software.

While the Kindle Fire, for example, is a great deal for what you get at just $199, it might also lock you into the Amazon ecosystem. You’ll likely keep up an Amazon Prime account to take advantage of the video content for your device. And if you do have a Prime account, might as well take advantage of it and do more shopping on Amazon, too, right? Apps, content, books and everything you could possibly want on your device will have to come from Amazon.

It’s like buying a video game console and buying all the games for it. Amazon has given us the console at prices that wouldn’t cause us to blink, but if we truly want to get the most, or arguably anything, out of it, we have to buy the game discs or cartridges, if you will. What Amazon did with the Kindle Fire, pricing it at $199, is brilliant.

So now we have to ask ourselves how much hardware matters. The Kindle Fire isn’t perfect. There are no cameras on it and no microphone, so you can’t make video calls, shoot video or take portraits with it. But for everything else you’re getting, at the price you’re getting it for, are those sacrifices you’d be willing to make? Also, Amazon will be curating the apps you can and can’t use on the Kindle Fire, which means you won’t have access to the tens of thousands of Android apps on the Android Market.

It has its downsides, but Amazon’s strategy here – getting you to buy the window into their ecosystem – is pretty brilliant. And with the holidays coming right up after the tablet begins to ship, I can picture this being a huge success to Amazon’s bottom line.