Samsung Ships Linux 3G Smartphone

Samsung is shipping a high-end smartphone powered by embedded Linux from Mizi Research that supports both Chinese and English. The device is being distributed in China, initially, where it works with #2 China wireless provider Unicom’s CDMA2000 1x network. The Samsung SCH-i519 offers an impressive range of high-end PDA and smartphone features, including sophisticated voice-control capabilities. It currently sells for about $750.

The i519 has a 240×320 pixel full-color TFT reflection-reduction LCD. The device is extremely thin, with the standard 1050mAh battery, measuring 5.2 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (132 x 71 x 15.4 mm). It weighs about 6.5 ounces (183 grams). It is based on the same processor as the latest model in Sharp’s Zaurus PDA line: an Intel XScale-PXA255 rev. 6 processor running at 400MHz. It boots from 64MB of Flash ROM, and has 64MB of RAM. Memory can be expanded through an SD/MMC card port (though this may use batteries significantly faster, depending on the card). Separate English and Chinese models are available, but both models support both languages to some extent — only the interfaces appear to be different. Continue >>