Samsung Hub reported Dec. 27 that Samsung vowed to launch its Galaxy Player at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.
The publication said:
“The 9.9mm thick Galaxy Player (YP-GB1) runs on Android 2.2 Froyo OS and features a 1GHz CPU, 4-inch Super Clear LCD screen supporting up to WVGA resolution (800Ã-480), T-DMB, SoundAlive audio enhancing technology, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.2MP rear camera with front facing camera for video calling, GPS, HD video playback, microSD card slot, Android Market and Samsung Apps access and a 1200mAh removable battery.“
I’ll be there to see this device for myself. Samsung has a presser slated for Jan. 5, and while I expected Google TV appliances, it looks like the Galaxy Player will get prime position, too. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a new Samsung Galaxy phone or two either.
I’m not sure what the market is for the Galaxy Player. Sure, it’s got the wood of the teeming Android invasion behind it, but it strikes me, modeled after the Galaxy S smartphone but sans 3G or even 4G carrier calling capabilities, as superfluous.
Buying a device for music and Web browsing seems unnecessary to me in an age where the Samsung Galaxy S line and Galaxy Tab tablet are like Swiss-army knives for mobile computing.
Do we really need Android’s version of the Apple iPod? I’m not sure, but apparently Samsung thinks so or it wouldn’t have built the gadget.
GigaOm’s Kevin Tofel apparently agrees:
“I’m happy enough with my 7-inch Galaxy Tab; even though it’s larger than a phone, it’s still small enough to take everywhere. So at this point, I’m not interested in an Android-powered “iPod” device.”
What does that mean for the new Galaxy Player, which follows the less-than-special Samsung Galaxy Player 50?
Of course, should Google launch its Google Music cloud service — the erstwhile iTunes rival — we’re expecting next year, the Galaxy Player will take on a new level of interest.
That could be the road the Galaxy Player is on.