Samsung's dropped word of a couple of big phones for the Korean market -- the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE (that's it on the left), and the Galaxy S II LTE HD. Yes, folks, HD. As in high-definition. As in a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display. As in a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display at a 1280x720 resolution, for 316 pixels per inch, just shy of the iPhone 4's 326 ppi. Plus is, you know, better, because it's bigger, faster and runs Android.

Save for the screen, specs are the same for both phones -- a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear camera and the other usual features. And probably the one spec that'll keep those of us here in the states banging our heads -- it's Korean-only for now.

Source: Samsung Korea (translated); via Sammy Hub

Recently, a wise man holding a new Samsung Galaxy S II made a great observation --

Why, in the name of all things holy, does the fastest, most powerful phone on the market have a widget warning me how many apps are open?

Many of you guys know me, and how I am (if you don't, imagine some godless mash-up of anal retentiveness and OCD), so you know this is something that just had to be addressed or I would never sleep well at night again.  Which leads us to here and now.  The answer to the question is pretty easy -- user madness and FUD forced manufacturers to add some sort of RAM-cleaning, task-killing, and problem-causing widget to current builds of their software.  For most of us, the system running on our Android phones, and the way it handles RAM usage, is very different than what we are used to on our computers.  If we take a few minutes to understand the way RAM is managed on our phones, we'll not only be able to better interpret what that widget is telling us, but also understand why it doesn't really matter.  Let's do that, after the break.

If you're a Rogers customer and using a Samsung Captivate, this weekend would be a good time to hook it up to Kies -- there's an update to Android 2.3.3 waiting for you to grab and install.  Reports say that this one doesn't wipeout all your user data, but it does reset your homescreen(s) configuration, as well as improve Wifi reception and address the mass storage issues a few had with the Froyo update.  Sounds like an awesome tradeoff to me. 

Installation seems pretty painless, be sure you're running the latest version of Kies, then download and install the file.  It takes just a few minutes, and you're left with a Captivate that runs much nicer than it did yesterday.  If you run into any issues, sound out for help in the forums and lets the expert community get you on the right track.

Source: Mobilesyrup

We've seen blurry-cam shots of T-Mobile's HTC Amaze 4G before, but now it seems we may have the first set of leaked press shots for the phone, along with a more detailed list of device specs to boot. T-Mobile blog CellphoneSignal has published what look like official promotional images of the Amaze 4G, as well as details of what's lurking within the chassis.

As we heard last month, it looks like the HTC Amaze 4G is a 4.3-inch device with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 1GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear camera. CellphoneSignal says the device is targeted as a replacement for the myTouch 4G, which is interesting considering the lack of myTouch branding, and the fact that it seems to be running vanilla HTC Sense. We have to admit, though, the design is highly reminiscent of Tmo's myTouch line.

Other reported specs for the Amaze 4G include a qHD (960x540) display, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, HTC Sense 3.5 on top of Android 2.3, Bluetooth 3.0, and most interestingly, support for HSPA+ speeds of up to 42Mbps.

The Amaze 4G is reportedly due for release "in a few weeks", possibly adding some weight to the rumors of an Oct. 26 release date that emerged back in August, based on a leaked T-Mobile flyer.

Source: CellphoneSignal

Back in July Samsung announced that it had sold 5 million Samsung Galaxy S II units already, and it was only available overseas, and that they predicted they would hit the 10 million mark ahead of what the original Galaxy S did. Well, Samsung has announced that the Galaxy S II has hit the 10 million mark in only six months, one month quicker than the original did, and that is without any of the US sales. As we know they just started selling the Sprint version, and the AT&T variant is due out Oct 2, so how long until we see them annouce that 15 million have been sold?

Full presser's after the break.

We've seen the HTC Runnymede, a 4.7-inch device with Beats Audio support and a 1.5 GHz CPU leak a few times now but the latest gives us a pretty good look at the device as it starts in its own Youtube video. The device has been reported to be launching as the HTC Bass but when, we don't know as of yet. The video shows "Vodafone" on the display but this shouldn't be considered branding or serve as any indication of carrier pick up -- that's just Sense showing what carrier the device is currently running on. So, what do you all think?

Update - And just like that, the video has been pulled.

Source: Youtube; via: Engadget

Somewhere, a Windows Phone is weeping. But right now we're going to take a look at the top Android smartphone and the top ... other ... smartphone on AT&T -- the Samsung Galaxy S II and the iPhone 4. Yeah, WP7 has pretty much secured the No. 3 spot, but, frankly, we feel it needs another cycle or two to really work out the kinks.

So ease on past the break for the briefest of walkthroughs of what's easily the best Android smartphone on AT&T versus the elephant in the room. And if you've yet to do so, check out our standalone walkthrough of the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II.

Just when you finally think you may have decided which device is right for you, we throw another one into the mix. The guys over at This is my Next have been sent some images of an unannounced Motorola device that is apparently named the Motorola Spyder. What makes this device any different than any of the others you are probably wondering, so let's take a look at the specs.

The Motorola Spyder is said to have a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, this would be the first time we have ever seen this, and will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. In addition it will rock an 8MP camera on the back, a "HD" front facing camera, and 1GB of RAM. Which carrier this device is destined to launch for is still unknown, could this be the first big AT&T 4G LTE device, or yet another in the Verizon selection?

Update - They have received another tip from a trusted source who has had hands-on time with the device and the About screen of the device reveals it to be the Droid RAZR. With the "Droid" branding that pretty much leaves us knowing that it will be heading Verizon's way, but the question now is when?

Source: This is my Next

Not to be forgotten, the venerable Nexus One got itself a little update overnight. Now at Android 2.3.6, Build GRK39F, the update ... does something -- the update screen just says "important bug fixes and security patches." We'll take their word for it.

Of course, there can't be all that many Nexus Ones still in use (though we fall in love with it all over again every time we turn it on), and there's a good chance that if you are rocking one, it's not stock. But if vanilla's your thing, look for the update to push down shortly. And should it not, we've got manual install instructions after the break.

Behold, the Samsung Galaxy S II. And the Samsung Galaxy S II. We've got AT&T's version in our fat little fingers and have given it the what-for, alongside Sprint's Epic 4G Touch for good measure.

By now you've read our Epic 4G Touch review. (If not, go ahead. We'll wait. ... OK. Ready?) Much of what you read there stands for AT&T's version. They both have the same 1.2GHz processor and 1GB (more or less) of RAM, and so they pretty much feel the same in our initial use.

But the ATTSGSII has a smaller display -- a mere 4.3 inches in diagonal -- plus a few other tweaks. Some of them are physical -- there's a different tetxure to the battery cover, the battery itself is a lower-capacity, the power button's been moved. AT&T's initial setup of the home screens isn't nearly as good as Sprint's, which is a shame, because Samsung's got some nice widgets in Touchwiz.

But what's really confounding us is the inclusion of near-field communication -- that's the NFC you hear everyone raving about -- with no clear apps or settings to take advantage of it. On the only other U.S. phone with NFC -- the Samsung Nexus S -- there's at least some options in the wireless/network settings. There's none of that here. But the ATTSGSII's battery clearly states that it has NFC. We'll have to track that down in due time, and note that NFC was never mentioned in any of the press releases.

For now, hit the break for our initial walkthough with the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II, and a comparison to the Sprint Epic 4G Touch and Samsung Infuse 4G.