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Samsung Galaxy S at the Globe Flagship Store

Name: Samsung Galaxy S at the Globe Flagship Store
Brand: Samsung
Rating: 4.3 (1 reviews)

Abe Olandres June 17, 2010 · 2 min read

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Globe hosted a lunch for the media this afternoon to introduce their very first Flagship Store in the country which is located at the Greenbelt 4. On display are live units of all high-end smartphones, an iPad 3G and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S.

Globe’s concept of their Flagship Store was inspired from various telco stores around the world (yeah, they sent a team to check out the Apple Store in New York, AT&T, Orange and Vodafone in Europe and Singtel in Singapore).

Globe also promised that everything on display will be live demo units (no more dummies). Aside from mobile phones, they’ve go a PSP, netbooks, laptops and even an iPad 3G all on display and working.

They got Carlos Celdran to take us on a walking tour of the Globe Flagship Store but once we got there, my attention shifted to the demo units of the Samsung Galaxy S at the center of the aisle.

I’ve shared my first impression about the handset when I first had a chance to see it back in May. I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the unit then but not this time.

Globe executives told me that the unit will be launched on June 24 and will be exclusive to Globe Telecom. They didn’t told me about the price points but we can stick to the estimated Php32k for the 16GB. My guess is that it will be free at Globe Plan 5000.

Here’s a quick video I took of the Galaxy S’s UI:

(P.S.: I was told our developer friends here from Novare did the new IT System for the store.)

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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103 Comments

Leonard S Anterola · 14 years ago

Hi, I want to buy a book “Samsung Galaxy tab 7 for Dummies”It can be either PDF or book format. I can pay either in MC or bank to bank. Book will need to go via LBC. Thanks
L.S Anterola

winwin · 16 years ago

pwede na pong iupgrade ang android 2.1 to 2.2 aka froyo check nyo sa android.com, sa singapore ung 16GB na Samsung Galaxy S nsa P25,920, eto ung website http://www.whymobile.com/

JUN · 16 years ago

Want an Android phone with a whacking great big screen for watching video or surfing the web on? The Samsung Galaxy S and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 are two phones you seriously need to consider. Which is better? Read on to find outâ€¦

OS and Interface â€“ Timescape vs TouchWiz
These two Androids have significant differences in the software department. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 features Android 1.6 and the Timescape/Mediascape UI, while the Samsung Galaxy S uses the newer Android 2.1 OS and the TouchWiz 3.0 UI. The Sony Ericsson â€™scapes are less intrusive than TouchWiz as they leave the basic vanilla Android look ticking on underneath custom widgets and apps.

The Samsung Galaxy Sâ€™s TouchWiz interface isnâ€™t so easy-going. It sticks a static dock at the bottom of your phoneâ€™s screen, which you canâ€™t remove, and arranges your apps menu into pages â€“ like the iPhone interface â€“ although you can revert to the standard scrolling stream if you want. Neither the Samsung Galaxy Sâ€™s or the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10â€™s widgets are quite as good as those of HTC Sense, but youâ€™re supplied with the usual smattering of social networking, calendar and memo functions in both cases.

Which is better? For day-to-day simplicity, we prefer the Samsung Galaxy Sâ€™s widgets, but Mediascape and Timescape are harder to replace wholesale with Android Market equivalents, so itâ€™s a close-run battle.
Winner â€“ Samsung Galaxy S. Only just

Screens and video
These two are the real big boys of Android, with four inches of screen on show a piece. The tech they use is different though. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 uses a standard TFT LCD screen while the Samsung Galaxy S features a Super AMOLED screen. The Samsung Galaxy S has much better contrast â€“ blacks are incredibly deep â€“ but the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is no slouch either. The more vivid image produced by the Galaxy S means its our mobile cinema pick though.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 starts well on the video front with Mediascape, a very pretty media player app, but it doesnâ€™t have the file type support to back it up. No Divx/Xvid support means many of the videos youâ€™ve downloaded of the net wonâ€™t play. The Samsung Galaxy Sâ€™s media player is less swish than the Xperia X10â€™s, but with fab media support that includes Xvid, Divx and MKV â€“ and even Wi-Fi streaming â€“ thereâ€™s no contest here. If you want the ultimate mobile video player, you have to go for the Samsung Galaxy S. Itâ€™s as simple as that.
Winner â€“ Samsung Galaxy S

More after the breakâ€¦

Looks and build
The Samsung Galaxy S, at 118g, is significantly lighter than the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. Itâ€™s also thinner too, but we canâ€™t get over the sense that Samsung might have gone a bit too far with the Galaxy S. Itâ€™s a classy phone, but without a rock-solid body to lend it some weight â€“ in the literal sense too â€“ the Samsung Galaxy S ends up feeling a little flimsy.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10â€™s look might be a bit conservative for some, but we dig its more generous curves, and that its battery cover doesnâ€™t feel like itâ€™s on the verge of snapping in half when you try and take it off. We also find the real buttons of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 more satisfying than the touch-sensitive softkeys of the Samsung Galaxy S.
Winner â€“ Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

Camera
At first glance, it seems like the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 flattens the Samsung Galaxy S, with its 8-megapixel sensor and LED flash against the Galaxy Sâ€™s 5-megapixel camera and lack of flash. The Samsung Galaxy S does have one thing over its rival though â€“ 720p video recording.

We have a feeling the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 may gain HD video recording with a firmware update, but for now youâ€™re stuck with just 800Ã—480 WVGA recording. The lack of a flash on the Samsung Galaxy S isnâ€™t that easy to forgive though â€“ especially when itâ€™s holding back an otherwise decent mobile snapper.
Winner â€“ Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

rommelcv · 16 years ago

wala na palang stock sa globe – gb4. august na magkakaroon. :(

rommelcv · 16 years ago

meron pa bang available na galaxy s sa Globe Flagship Store?

zEr0-IcE · 16 years ago

@Ralph

Try mo na pare para lang malaman natin kung unlocked nga ba. Please?

I really wanna buy it soon… but if naka-lock, then I guess I have to wait.

Is it true na SingTel nga yun logo na lumalabas when you start-up the phone? Can you confirm?

Thanks a lot man!

Ralph · 16 years ago

@zEr0-IcE and Paul: Yep, at the Globe flagship store at GB. I think that’s the only place that’s selling it now.

Di ko pa natry kung openline. Masubukan nga.

Again, loving it. Just really interested how the Froyo upgrade will happen. Globe don’t know daw when I asked eh. :)

DaRkMyk · 16 years ago

Maganda talaga yang Galaxy S.. I bought mine here at Singtel Singapore, and my plan comes with a 12Gb Data plan..

The “Super AMOLED” is just AWESOME! you just can’t compare it with TFT’s and AMOLED…

Another thing is, this device can play MKV videos with 720p.. Flawlessly! take that iPhone.. :)!

you can also buy it here without a plan for S$900, but for sure you guys can get it cheaper at Greenhills..FTW..

zEr0-IcE · 16 years ago

How true what’s been circling the net that the Galaxy S is unlocked daw when you purchase one from Globe???

Coz if that’s true, I’m gonna buy one now!

paul · 16 years ago

Really? Its available now? Which store? The flag ship store?

zEr0-IcE · 16 years ago

@Ralph: OMG!!! I am drooling over that phone for months already…

Dammit… I am really really wanting to get one… unlocked of course.. I’m with a rival network, so I couldn’t just switch over to Globe.

Darn… inggit ko! LOL!

Ralph · 16 years ago

Bought mine yesterday (6/20/2010), before the supposed June 24 release.

PHP 31995 (can be divided into 12 months if paid via CC) for the unit with a prepaid sim (I just used my existing number). No plans available yet, but if I remember correctly, it’s free for the 3500 (?) Plan with 2 year lock-in period.

Loving it so far. Just curious how the upgrade will happen from Eclair to Froyo. :)

Frank · 16 years ago

its free on Plan 2500 on Globe and Php 31,999 if Prepaid kit

Arvee · 16 years ago

Okay so you see, G1 is a Google Phone. Yes, all Android phones are considered Google Phones. BUT N1 is “Google’s Phone”.

At the back of each phone, you’ll see “with Google” on the G1, while “Google” on the N1.

Just to clear it out. Anyway, Samsung officially announced that they will release the 2.2 update for the Galaxy S. Though the release date is still a mystery.

EarlZ · 16 years ago

If Globe is getting the exclusive then 2nd week of July for all other retailers is pretty soon, as what their reps say, they will have the units on June 24 so its only logical for the exclusivity to on the July 24 as well and stocks for other stores arrive probably on Aug first or 2nd week.

Angie · 16 years ago

@lolipown It’s not actually the first Google phone. When you say it’s a Google phone, it’s marketed by Google. And if it was marketed by Google, they won’t release it just through T-Mobile (I forgot, maybe verizon)

@Yuga but how about firmware updates? they should have that, at least.

lolipown · 16 years ago

@Arvee
The G1 is the very first Google Phone but it isn’t getting Froyo.

lupita · 16 years ago

@zero-ice which store in Megamall? i remember they have a kiosk in ground floor when i visited last month but i’m not sure if they are going to be there permanently like sony ericsson on cyberzone

Arvee · 16 years ago

@Angie @xtian1986

It’s not only Samsung. Some other manufacturers fails to give their users appropriate OS updates too. Like for example, HTC Magic is stuck with the Android Cupcake OS. The only phone, I think, which would get regular Android OS updates is the Nexus One since it’s branded as the Google Phone.

Kevin · 16 years ago

Wow! Just look at that gorgeous screen!! *drools..

zEr0-IcE · 16 years ago

I just went to a store in Megamall and the sales lady told me (she was from Samsung) they’re most likely going to release an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S possibly on the 2nd week of July.

Also, I saw a dummy Samsung Wave on display which only means that the phone will be avaiable very soon (the sales lady also confirmed this).

I really am hoping that an unlocked Galaxy S will be released soon. I’m dying to get this phone!

roiji · 16 years ago

sabi nung natanungan ko 31k daw.. i guess may 999 sa dulo -> 31,999 LOL

http://blog.roiji.info/samsung-galaxy-s-now-available-on-globe-for-pre-order

Miguel · 16 years ago

That’s what we do!!

Thanks for the mention ;)

– Miguel from Novare

blitzkrieg · 16 years ago

@yuga – hey! By any chance, were you able to ask them if users can disable the S-Life interface? I’m holding out because of the rip-off interface. It looks too much like the iPhone. I want the stock Android goodness.

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 16 years ago

@angie – I think it’s true with all phone manufacturers. They are in the hardware business not software. They don’t make money by releasing updates. They make money by selling new handsets.

Angie · 16 years ago

@xtian yun din pagkakaalam ko. My friend was very disappointed with his omnia kasi rather than give them the upgrade of their current WinMo version, nagrelease nalang ng omnia 2 ang samsung, where the latest WinMo version (at that time) was used. The same stories with some people on GSMArena’s Galaxy S page. Parang Nokia lang na pinapabili tayo lagi ng bagong model.

How about Android 2.2? How about Flash support? How about bug fixes?

Bob · 16 years ago

I think I will wait for a month before I decide if I will buy or not.

lupita · 16 years ago

o kaya pag sale ung mga gadgets sa SG though i read somewhere na exclusive naman to sa singtel na counterpart din ng globe. guess friends na lang talaga sa greenhills ang option! c”,)

lupita · 16 years ago

exclusive sa globe? nagiging mahal kasi lalo ung phone pag exclusive e. hintayin ko na lang to sa mga friends sa greenhills :)

Biggs · 16 years ago

Paps, capacitive o resistive yung malaking touchscreen sa store?

EarlZ · 16 years ago

@yuga

I think they already confirmed the price of 32,000 coz if you ask anyone that works there they will say it is at 32,000.

I Wonder when this handset will arrive here in Globe cebu, probably 5-7days after the launch ?

xtian1986 · 16 years ago

sorry meant to say NOT that enthusiastic.

xtian1986 · 16 years ago

what sucks about galaxy s is it’s under samsung, and sammy is that enthusiastic in updating softwares and firmwares. ive read somewhere they’re planning on NOT updating the galaxy S to 2.2

crun22 · 16 years ago

hanggang kelan po itong flagship store?

jayb · 16 years ago

Sir yuga, i tour mo naman kami sa Globe Flagship store.. kuha ka videos sa loob or pictures….

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 16 years ago

@calvin – i9000 yhung Galaxy S.

@zEr0-IcE – yes, currently exclusive to Globe. Prepaid kit is Php32k payable in 12 months zero interest.

@sylv3rblade – they’ll do a few more before end of the year. Very expensive to put up one of these. Display units pa lang, in the millions na.

sylv3rblade · 16 years ago

Good for Globe… Now let’s hope to see more of these brick and mortar shops get set up :)

zEr0-IcE · 16 years ago

Sir Abe, totoo bang exclusive ito for Globe? i’ve been waiting for months for this to arrive but only to find out that it’s exclusive to Globe.. I’m a smart subscriber and I intend to stay that way pa naman… Will Samsung Philippines release this to local dealers as well?

Angie · 16 years ago

Is it true that Samsung’s customer support isn’t that good? Especially on firmwares and OSes (Omnia)upgrade?

chie · 16 years ago

Sobrang laki lang kasi nung Galaxy S eh. Sana maglabas sila same spec pero ka size lang ng Wave.

jonas · 16 years ago

sir, ngsuicide attempt raw si villar? Sinisikreto raw nila sa press

Ferdie · 16 years ago

Samsung Galaxy Spica (i5700) is another android phone from Samsung. They earlier released Samsung Galaxy (i7500). Samsung Galaxy S is their latest android phone.