Samsung Epic 4G features and specs announced

June 29, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

In an official press release dated June 28, 2010, Sprint has formally announced the official release of the Samsung Epic 4G. The device is the second Android-based offering from the company and is known as a “Galaxy S” smartphone that is designed to take advantage of the company’s 4G-enabled wireless network.

Essentially, it is a 4G-capable device that features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and super-bright, AMOLED touch-screen, and the much sought-after front-facing camera. According to Steve Elfman, president of Network Operations and Wholesale at Samsung, the Epic 4G “joins a portfolio of powerful devices offering an unprecedented simplicity and value” to customers. The obvious question is whether or not the features and specifications of the Epic 4G are enough to pose additional composition to Apple’s latest marvel of technology, the iPhone 4?

Announced features and specifications:

• Brilliant Super AMOLED touchscreen display
• Powered by Android 2.1 OS
• Support for multi-touch pinch, long tap & zoom, and vertical & horizontal swiping
• Three modes of text input – QWERTY keyboard, virtual keyboard and Swype
• Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor (includes support for 3-D graphics)
• Rear Facing, 5 MP camera/camcorder (Includes built-in autofocus, Power LED flash and 3x digital zoom for HD video3 (720p) video recording)
• Front facing VGA camera for video chat
• Visual Voicemail
• Mobile Hotspot capability (Supports up to five, simultaneously connected, Wi-Fi enabled devices)
• Access to Android Market
• Built-in Wi-Fi support for Wireless B, G, & N networks

Sprint also announced that the device will be able to connect to the Samsung Media Hub, which is expected to be available in a few months. The Epic 4G will be the first 4G device with access to movies and television shows, which will be available for both purchase and rental.

Mobile gamers might appreciate the device’s “six-axis sensor” that uses the Epic 4G’s accelerometer to detect and interpret the slightest of movements. According to Sprint, the device will come pre-loaded with a demo version of racing game, Asphalt 5.

All-in-all, the Epic 4G isn’t likely to corner the smartphone market. Even if it only captures a small portion of the market, it would increase the overall footprint of the Android OS, within the wireless market.

The official pricing and release date for the Samsung Epic 4G have yet to be announced. Interested consumers who would like to learn more and receive future updates about the Samsung Epic 4G can pre-register at http://www.sprint.com/epic4g.

Source: Official Sprint Press Release – Samsung Epic 4G