The Samsung Galaxy might have seen a low-key release on O2, but the new ‘Lite’ model has disappeared off our radar all together.

We now have heard a rumour that the i5700 Galaxy Lite (not to be confused with the i7500 Galaxy) might not make Xmas…or 2009 at all for that matter!

The dimuitive handset runs 1.5 “Cupcake” like his bigger brother, and is available in two colourways of white/green and black/red. With a 3″ touch display, 3.2 megapixel camera and full copnnectivity over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the only thing that is small about the Galaxy Lite is the form factor!

If it does indeed slip to 2010, entry-level rivals like the HTC Tattoo and T-Mobile Pulse might find green lights on the Android highway in that lucrative Christmas rush for a prepay stocking filler…

It might have been a little slow to get going in the West, but the allure of a robust, free open source platform has the Far East banging out an array of Android powered devices in the coming months leading up to Christmas.

HTC have been the standard-bearer for a while, and in addition to the phone they are launching in the UK tomorrow (widely rumoured to be the Hero), they will be bringing out 3 more devices in the second half of 2009.

The Korean contingent are coming through from Q3, with Samsung i7500 due to make an appearance (what happened to the Jet/S8000 running Android?) and three Android handsets due from LG.

With the new breed including Huawei’s glass-loving iClone and handsets from Acer and Lenovo sporting the Google-made OS, it will definitely be exciting to see what kind of niche Android carves for itself when the phones running it have to be counted on two hands…

The Samsung i7500 is speedily making its way to retail, stopping off for a little rebranding exercise in the case of French network Bouygues Telecom (me neither). Here’s the press release…

Bouygues Telecom and Samsung launch Samsung Galaxy, the first Samsung mobile phone in Android
Launched in early July the first by Bouygues Telecom, Samsung Galaxy led by the Android operating system prompts the user for a new experience of mobile Internet from multiple applications of Google.

Bouygues Telecom will be the first operator to accommodate in its range of terminals Samsung Galaxy in July in the 580 Bouygues Telecom, in the online store www.bouyguestelecom.fr and resellers in all Bouygues Telecom.

Ultracommunicant (WiFi, 3G +, GPS), ergonomic (AMOLED touch screen 3.2”) and multimedia (web browsing and fast flowing, camera 5 million pixels, music player / video, 8GB internal memory) will be the Samsung Galaxy available with all offers Bouygues Telecom, including the neo.2 package which includes unlimited access to mobile internet, 7j / 7 and 24/24.

Samsung Galaxy, the whole universe of mobile internet

Samsung Galaxy is at the heart of new lifestyles. More than a phone, it represents the future mobile terminals, real epicenters of your digital environment. His design in black brushed metal, while fine, is the brand Samsung, the essence of pure elegance. His AMOLED screen of 3.2 inches restores rich colors and intense while consuming less energy (17% savings compared to a TFT screen). This new generation of ultra-bright screen display ensures high quality for all multimedia content, and a tactile experience out of the ordinary. Even in direct sunlight readability optimal regardless of the angle of vision.

Beautiful on the outside, clever on the inside, Samsung Galaxy has a fluid interface for surfing the Internet with ease and stay connected at all times. Search information, find his way, manage their calendar, check your mails, reply from the virtual QWERTY keyboard, watch videos, share photo albums … all online services of Google are instantly accessible.

* A Web search quickly and efficiently

News, images, videos, weather, phone numbers, addresses, maps …. the information displayed in one click: the power of Google at your fingertips thanks to the search bar, which saves time by facilitating the entry of queries. The most visited sites appear as thumbnails and allows the lens to zoom into the selected page.

* Finding your way

The onboard GPS receiver to fully exploit applications of Google MapsTM such LocationTM My Google LattitudeTM or ViewTM Street, to move or get a detailed itinerary with ease. The geolocation system determines the position of the mobile and determined as the route.
It is also possible to use satellite imagery and the Street View feature to explore the neighborhoods. An integrated digital compass can change angles depending on the position of the mobile.

* Stay connected during his travel through Gmail

All the messages displayed in the box e-mail upon receipt and, if the user wants, an alert in the system tray reports the arrival of a new mail. With the AutoComplete, Gmail allows you to quickly enter long email addresses. It is also easy to open the attachments of messages (pictures, Word documents, PDF and MP3 files). Gmail also has the anti-spam filtering and search features, labels and follow-up, without forgetting the important storage space.

* Chat with friends

Galaxy allows Samsung to chat with friends in real time, update its message and verify the availability of their contacts. You can enjoy the same features as on his computer. Google Talk on Android can switch easily from one discussion to another, or even start a group chat with multiple friends at once.

* Millions of videos in your pocket

Samsung Galaxy provides access to an impressive catalog of You Tube videos: millions of videos to browse, view, search by keyword, classified under custom lists or share with friends by sending e-mails containing links to these videos. Connected and multimedia, Samsung Galaxy allows you to shoot their own videos and post them directly on You Tube. With its high-speed HSDPA, 40s only needed to download a 40MB video.

* Stay up to date with Google Calendar

Google Calendar allows you to view its agenda for the day, week, month, or its planning and to synchronize with your computer. You can create events or reminders displayed directly on the home screen smartphone Samsung Galaxy.

* Android Market

Several thousands of free and commercial applications are also downloadable from the Android Market platform, such WikitudeTM, travel guide online to access tourist information published on Wikipedia. For GSE and simple visual recognition of the landscape or monument photographed by the mobile, the historical, geographical and cultural instantly appear superimposed on the screen.

* An office three times larger

Smartphone to the edge, Samsung Galaxy has a home screen extended into three parts for ease of navigation, personalization and visualization applications and widgets of their choice. Samsung Galaxy offers a display area of the broken desk. An extension to the left and right very fluid. An icon at the bottom of the office allows instant access to the library of applications.

* Fully Multimedia

His camera of 5 megapixels, numerous formats codecs, a long battery life of 1 500 mAh, and a capacity for generous internal memory of 8 GB (expandable to 40GB) can fully appreciate all applications and multimedia content.

Samsung Galaxy Fact Sheet

Network HSDPA / HSUPA (900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz)
EDGE / GPRS (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900)
Android Operating System
HVGA screen 3.2 inches (320 x 480) AMOLED
Camera Camera 5 MB (Auto Focus), LED Flash
Video / Audio Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV
Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC +, e-AAC +, WMA, RA
Additional Features
Internet Browsing and applications Google: Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Android Market – virtual QWERTY keyboard
Connectivity Bluetooth ® 2.0, USB 2.0, WiFi, MicroUSB, 3.5 mm jack
Memory Internal memory: 8GB
External Memory: Micro SD (up to 32 GB)
Battery 1500 mAh
Dimensions 115 x 56 x 11.9 mm

So, Galaxy or i7500? I’m going to stick with the original i7500, has such a cold, robotic feel to it…like the name Android.

Either way, it’s a great device and one of the ones to watch as far as taking Android mainstream in other countries. The G1 was great, but didn’t quite grab the world the way it did me!

Source: Phandroid

A gorgeous photoshoot, comparing the two current Android beauties of the HTC Magic and Samsung i7500 in fairly intense detail – looks-wise at least.

We don’t scratch the surface to see which handset is better, but they both run on the latest build of Android, so it’s all a tie in that respect. Physically, they are both bereft of the quirky QWERTY that make the G1 so…unique.

The Magic does retain the trackball of it’s predecessor however, but the Samsung looks…like a Samsung. A d-pad, ‘OK’ button, Call and End buttons, all par for the course.

The only feature that I’m jealous off is the 3.5mm jack. Throw some D’s, Hero firmware on that, and the i7500’s a worthy iPhone competition!

If the differences go beyond skin deep, we don’t know them yet! Hopefully these guys at CNet Asia can do the honours once they finish snapping the two from every angle.

Too close to call, this one.

Full set of photos on CNet Asia.