Magnet -- Engadget Mobile

magnet posts

Samsung Magnet uses its powerful ferrous core to stick to AT&T shelves

by Chris Ziegler posted May 11th 2009 @ 2:02PM

Took a little while, but Samsung's latest low-cost messaging phone for AT&T (though not quite as low-cost as the a177) is now available, offering EDGE data, a VGA camera, and a shockingly orange shell for a non-wallet-destroying $19.99 on contract after discount. We had a chance to play with the Magnet back at CTIA, and in between bouts of having our watches and cheap jewelery stolen by it, we really enjoyed the phone -- so if you're really into SMS and you're looking for a cheap postpaid option, the Magnet might be the way to go.

AT&T's Samsung Magnet hands-on with video

by Sean Cooper posted Apr 1st 2009 @ 11:12PM

Samsung's Magnet is inexpensive, orange, QWERTY, and we're really liking it. Sure, we don't have a price or an official date, but we we came away from our meeting with the Magnet feeling rather happy about the whole experience. Yeah, the web browser is a bit lightweight, and the color choice garish, but we can't find fault with that as it is aimed directly at a market that digs messaging and bright colors. The Magnet is comfortable to hold, the OS very responsive, and the screen ample bright and large enough to get the job done. The Keyboard, and the phone's size are very similar to a Nokia E71 (which we compare it to in the video for scale) so if you've checked one of those out, you'll know where we're coming from. A dash of 3G would add to the joy here, but then again, it would add to the price, too. Pics and videos are just after the break.

Gallery: AT&T's Samsung Magnet hands-on with video

Continue reading AT&T's Samsung Magnet hands-on with video

LG Xenon, Neon join Samsung Magnet and Impression on AT&T

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 30th 2009 @ 12:01AM

Outside of the smartphone realm, AT&T's really stepping up its game in the feature phone game, too -- so let's take this clockwise from the top left, shall we? First up, we have the brightly-colored Samsung Magnet, targeted squarely at the teen audience looking for serious texting power in a cheap package. Pricing hasn't been announced, but it should be easy on the wallet; it'll be available in the next few weeks. Next is the Impression -- also from Samsung -- which we'd previously known as the a877, the very first handset to officially launch on a US carrier with a full AMOLED up front. The screen's 3.2 inches of organic touchscreen awesomeness, accompanied by a 3 megapixel cam and a full HTML browser, all launching on April 7 for $199.99 on contract after rebate. Down below, we have the LG Neon -- a phone that's already launched up north on Rogers -- offering a full landscape QWERTY keyboard in addition to a touchscreen display for a low price, thanks in no small part to its lack of 3G data. The launch day hasn't been set for this one, but it'll come shortly. Finally, we have the long-rumored Xenon, featuring 3G, a 2 megapixel cam, QWERTY slide, GPS, and your choice of colors -- black, blue, or red -- all for $99.99 when it launches on April 8.

DoCoMo and Fujitsu show off splitting phone at CEATEC

by Joshua Topolsky posted Sep 30th 2008 @ 6:46AM

DoCoMo and Fujitsu are showing off some interesting phone tech in Japan at this year's CEATEC, particularly a concept device which can be split into two pieces. The gadget features a separate screen and keyboard segment, and the pieces can be configured in a standard flip-phone-like arrangement, or snapped together to form an X1 or Touch Pro-esque landscape QWERTY variation. The two halves are held together by magnets and communicate via Bluetooth. Of course, right now this is very much in the concept phase, and honestly -- aren't we trying to minimize the amount of electronic components we're carting around? Still, it's a fairly slick design, and certainly a new way of thinking about phones. Take another look after the break, and hit the read link for a slew of pics.

Continue reading DoCoMo and Fujitsu show off splitting phone at CEATEC

Sidekick 3 wipes credit cards?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 17th 2006 @ 1:32AM

Apparently, the magnet used to latch the screen on the Sidekick 3 can hold a fork captive, leading some guys with a credit card reader to ask the obvious question: what happens if a magnetic data stripe passes in harm's way? Sho' nuff, it looks like you get a bricked card. Of course, the number can still be read and typed in, but stay with us, folks -- the point is that the closed Sidekick ate the stripe in less than a second of exposure. We're guessing most people aren't carrying their credit cards in their pocket along with their phone, but don't say you haven't been warned.

[Via Mobile Magazine]