Feb 26 AT 8:35 AM Nick Gray 32 Comments

Pico Projector infused Samsung Galaxy Beam shines its light at Mobile World Congress

GALAXY_beam_Product_Image__3__gallery_post

Samsung is pulling out the big guns this week at Mobile World Congress with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Beam. As you may have gathered from the title, the Galaxy Beam comes with a Pico Projector built into the body of the phone which can project HD content up to 50 inches wide with its ”ultra-bright” 15 lumens.

Other specs on the Samsung Galaxy Beam include a 4-inch WVGA display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 8 GB of internal storage, microSD card slot,GSM quad-band HSPA+ connectivity and a 2000 mAh which should allow users to project their content for a full hour or two. The best part about the new Samsung Galaxy Beam is that it will ship with Android 2.3. We have a feeling that the 15 lumens projector is a bit too hot for this phone to be running on Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0).

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We’re not sure about you, but we’re a bit perplexed by the Samsung Galaxy Beam. There is certainly some potential here, but Samsung has chosen to deliver a unique device with sub-par specs. Pricing and availability details for the Samsung Galaxy Beam are still unknown, but we can’t imagine this phone will be going for cheap since the cheapest stand-along Pico Projectors on the market go for at least $200.

Would you be willing to shell out some serious cash for a mid-range device that has a built-in projector?

Show Press Release

Share the Fun with Samsung GALAXY Beam
Samsung’s projector smartphone offers unforgettable shared experience for playing multimedia content anytime, anywhere

Barcelona – February 26, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced Samsung GALAXY Beam, the projector smartphone that allows users to display and share multimedia content anywhere on a large luminous projector screen.

GALAXY Beam lets users spontaneously share photos, videos or other digital media with family or friends by beaming content stored on the device directly onto walls, ceilings or improvised flat surfaces, so that everyone can share the fun without the need to huddle around smartphone or pad-sized screens. GALAXY Beam’s ultra-bright 15 lumens projector allows users to freely share life’s memorable moments instantly and in crisp clarity, even in outdoor environments.

“GALAXY Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone—anywhere and instantly—from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market,” saidJK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

“GALAXY Beam is a device borne out of Samsung’s insight and innovation, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers with products that let them express and fulfill themselves.”

Video clips, maps, business information, games – a whole range of multimedia content can be beamed instantly by GALAXY Beam on a crisp, high-definition projection up to 50’’ wide. The device features a projector-dedicated application which makes it easy to select content and activate projection in a few simple steps.

Add a dose of ambience or entertainment to a friends’ gathering by transforming any household room or outdoor deck into an instant mini home-theater, projecting full-screen video clips on a ceiling or wall for common sharing, at the touch of a button. Or capture your favorite holiday moments using the GALAXY Beam’s 5MP camera, then display a full photo slideshow to family members on a dining room wall while playing accompanying music straight from the device, so that everyone shares the experience.

For young users who depend on constant, immediate socializing of digital content and entertainment, GALAXY Beam introduces a new way of sharing. It becomes much more than a phone—a handy digital tool, deployable anywhere, which can add visual entertainment to a simple street gathering, set the mood for a small party, or simply turn life’s moments into something personally and immediately sharable. With GALAXY Beam, a birthday or anniversary party can be enlivened in seconds by sharing YouTube or Hulu music videos straight onto a ceiling or door. Likewise, students can collectively share videos or study-work in any dormitory room or student lounge, turning group study into a whole new interactive experience right from a desk table or from the palm of their hands. GALAXY Beam is also ideal for action-packed interactive gaming: Users can upload their own games or choose from over 1,000 games available via Game Hub, Samsung’s dedicated virtual gaming store, then project games to co-players or observers to turn gaming into an unbeatably interactive, shared experience. Additionally, GALAXY Beam is convenient tool for mid-sized business workers. An estate agent can beam images of candidate properties to customers as they tour them; or an architect can display draft concepts or designs to co-workers on the spot at a building site or public location.

Despite featuring a full built-in projector, the GALAXY Beam does not compromise on style or portability, measuring just 12.5mm thick and featuring an elegant, ergonomic design. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread which is powered by an impressive 1.0GHz dual-core processor, ensuring great versatility and a highly responsive user interface. An impressive 8GB of internal memory allows ample multimedia storage without compromises, and a powerful 2000 mAh battery ensures greater display power and content freedom.

The GALAXY Beam is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Samsung GALAXY Beam Product Specifications

Network	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Display	4.0” 480×800 (WVGA) TFT
Processor	1.0GHz Dual-Core Processor
Camera	5MP AF + 1.3MP / Flash
Video	MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX Recording/Playback: 720p@30fps
Audio	MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
Connectivity	BT 3.0+HS, 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear Jack
PC Applications	Samsung Kies 2.0
Memory	6GB RAM + 8GB Internal Memory, MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
Dimension	64.2 x 124 x 12.5mm, 145.3 g
Battery	2000 mAh

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

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32 Comments Join the discussion!

95 YMS123 02/26/12 8:47 AM

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I’d say it’s probably aimed at business people, but that yellow stripe says otherwise

Still, very cool

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- mkrmecGuest 02/26/12 9:01 AM
  
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  thinking this is only great for business is stupid, gaming will be awesome with this kind tech built in. Imagine a projector phone and bluetooth controller and awesome games… it’s a portable PS3/Xbox/Wii !!
  
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  - Xpeira FeverGuest 02/26/12 9:44 AM
    
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    I think you need to get out of dream land, a portable PS3 or 360, who are you kidding.
    
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    - xalliesGuest 02/26/12 10:29 AM
      
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      Really? Dreamland? Heard of Onlive much? No? The rock is too heavy where your imagination lies.
      
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- 59 ags29 02/26/12 10:27 AM
  
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  I say it’s aimed at flopping. Samsung is so lost right now.
  
  “Subpar specs” on this phone is an understatement.. and about that yellow stripe.. Wtf!? No, seriously, wtf?
  
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  - xalliesGuest 02/26/12 10:32 AM
    
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    As the great Jeremy pointed out “6GB RAM” doesn’t exactly scream subpar specs.
    
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    - AngelGuest 02/26/12 11:44 AM
      
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      …no but with the exception of the Pico Projector everything else does… I was very excited to see that someone came out with a cell with a Pico Projector, but then everything else about the phone deflated that excitement., and the yellow strip is simply inexcusable. Put a Pico Projector on a Galaxy S III, now we’re talking…
      
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      - 83 delinear 02/26/12 6:39 PM
        
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        I don’t intend to get one but kind of hoping it’s not a flop. The more these sell the cheaper and better the tech is going to get. In a couple of years time I can see these in some high spec phones and tablets at a price that’s right.
    - 74 professandobey 02/27/12 5:14 AM
      
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      That’s gotta be a typo.
      
      I see no mention of NFC, and so it’s a shame the Galaxy Beam will never be able to use Android Beam.
      
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  - 74 professandobey 02/27/12 5:18 AM
    
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    This is an interesting idea, but I can’t think of any real reason this would be better than your phone of choice paired with a pocketable Pico projector.
    
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16 tonis79 02/26/12 9:14 AM

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Very cool idea. The specs are pretty disappointing though. Should lay good ground work for stuff down the road.

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29 AnthonyRyan 02/26/12 9:30 AM

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This phone has some serious potential

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Xpeira FeverGuest 02/26/12 9:43 AM

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The phone looks shit, why do so many people seem to think aesthetics don’t matter .. It also has a 5mp camera, seriously, in the times of 12mp and 8mp being pretty much standard, to see new phones with such outdated cameras is woeful. Personally though and this is only my opinion, Samsung, LG, HTC all make awful phones, yes internalloy they might be ok (well Samsung) but they could all learn a thing or two from Sony and Apple when it comes to aesthetics.

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- AngelGuest 02/26/12 11:36 AM
  
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  Exactly. This is a phone aimed at 12 year old girls who like bumble bees. Yellow? Really? What were they thinking….. The only thing good about this phone is the amount of RAM and the Pico Projector. It’s the equivalent of putting $2000.00 rims on a beater car…..
  
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  - JimmyGuest 02/26/12 2:54 PM
    
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    You base all your device purchases on whether or not it has a “yellow line around the edge”?
    
    I couldn’t care less… either way.
    
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- 83 delinear 02/26/12 6:43 PM
  
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  The best phone camera I’ve used was a 5MP. Unless you’re planning to print posters a high quality lense beats cramming more pixels into a low quality sensor hands down. That’s not to say this has a good lense, just that you absolutely can’t judge the quality by number of megapixels alone.
  
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JEREMYGuest 02/26/12 10:00 AM

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6 GB of RAM!!!

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60 Oskar Wismierski 02/26/12 10:15 AM

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neat idea

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38 smeghead68 02/26/12 10:36 AM

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How big is thing? I’ve pocket dialed before but can you imagine pocket projecting! That’ll give you a warm fuzzy feeling. LOL.

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98 spazby 02/26/12 11:18 AM

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interesting specs, doubt this would sell a lot

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95 thekaz 02/26/12 11:25 AM

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I agree with most of the comments – might be neat for gaming … if you don’t have a TV handy. As for as business use, in most large businesses, I don’t see shelling out $200 for a separate pico projector being a big deal, thus making a built in one not a big selling point for businesses…

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78 MoSDeeb 02/26/12 11:37 AM

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Why do companies make these products? What market analyst did the research and found demand sufficient to build this…

I just see wasted time, money, and engineering hours.

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KevintheboxGuest 02/26/12 12:22 PM

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Wow, 6 Gigs of RAM. That projec

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- KevintheboxGuest 02/26/12 12:24 PM
  
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  - tor must be a memory hog! This phone would have be very expensive if they would have gone all out with the specs
  
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23 Carlos icee0711 02/26/12 12:46 PM

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Didn’t they first show off this phone over a year, if not longer, ago?

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JerredGuest 02/26/12 12:54 PM

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I’d be willing to buy it if it had some better specs. A slightly bigger HD screen of some sort and a beefed up processor would make this a lot more appealing. Add on a better camera to boot.

I don’t mind the look all that much. At least they are trying to switch things up. *looking at you HTC*

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DheerajGuest 02/26/12 1:27 PM

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This is just like the fingerprint reader in the Atrix. Out of excitement, you’ll use it once when you unbox the device. Later you’ll show it off in front of your friends. There’s no practical purpose for this. Motorola ditched the fingerprint reader in its successor. Samsung will probably ditch this concept out of their encyclopedia ( if they have some sense).

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- ArzGuest 02/26/12 1:30 PM
  
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  Hey, I see one purpose of this. When flashing custom ROMs, we used to do battery calibration. You have to charge it up and drain it. Could we have a faster way to drain the battery than this?
  
  Seriously, why would we need a projector in a phone if it could drink all the juice in an hour?
  
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93 WlfHart 02/26/12 2:49 PM

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Neat concept, but a little lacking in the production.

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73 msgnyc 02/26/12 9:27 PM

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Put a Pico in a note n I’m sold. This thing tho? Pass

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98 Nathan D. 02/26/12 11:09 PM

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It alright not what I would get though

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69 jenskristian 02/27/12 2:51 AM

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This seems like a shot in the dark, but maybe Samsung has done well wnough so that they can afford to give it a shot. It will fail though, mark my words. Who needs a projector on their phone, really?

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