Samsung L870 S60 slider features Webkit-based browser
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 28th 2008 5:29AM
posted May 28th 2008 5:29AM
Update: As per the full press release (posted after the break), Samsung claimed that they'd brought mobile Safari to this device. Technically feasible, we suppose, but far more unlikely than some clueless PR flack screwing up the release. We'll let you know if Samsung HQ has anything differently to say about the matter, but until then we're calling this Webkit, not Safari.
Update 2: Yup, it's Webkit all right.
Samsung Introduces L870, a Stylish S60 Device
With a stunning design and open OS, styling and managing life is easier
With a stunning design and open OS, styling and managing life is easier
SEOUL, KOREA – May 28, 2008 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider, introduced L870, a S60 embedded Smartphone designed for a life-enhancing experience. With an exquisite stainless steel body fully packed with the most-up-to-date OS applications, L870 will upgrade both style and productivity in everyday life.
Like a tailored pair of suit, every millimeter of L870 is carefully custom-designed to match the user's lifestyle. A magnificent stainless steel body softly brushed with elegant hairline pattern, and a 13.5mm slim and sleek outline, will perfectly complement every outfit and style. A minimalistic key pad that appearing when slides up, is deliberately designed to provide enough spaces between each keys to provide convenience.
Leveraging the capabilities of S60 platform, L870 brings full connectivity and application that surpass expectations for a handset device. The applications and features of the S60 software are not only easy to learn and use, but also enable maximum productivity. With Full-speed internet browser and more than 6,000 open applications are also compatible with L870 to customize the device for each individual's needs.
L870 features many useful Samsung pre-installed applications such as an advanced task manager Checkit, PIMs (Personal information manager) homescreen, Team manager and business card recognition function. With these applications, users will experience better time and life managing experience than ever.
L870 boasts many other latest applications and interfaces. Creative user interface (UI) featuring three different themes, 2.4-inch QVGA TFT display, a 3-megapixel camera, FM radio with RDS, music player and Bluetooth v.2.0 supports are all embedded within L870 for satisfying visual and audio entertainment needs.
"We are happy to compliment our product portfolio with yet another appealing S60 mobile, Samsung L870 that is fully customized with style, performance and user interface," says, Jongin Kim, the Vice President of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics. "With S60, we can successfully deliver the latest mobile technology with fully customizable applications and the intuitive user interfaces."
Samsung L870 will first be launched in Europe around August, then will continue to be available in all regions where GSM is available.
So Safari running on a Symbian handset! ......very very interesting.
Or at least it will be, if they make Safari available as a download for other Symbian devices.
nearly every single phone from samsung is tri-band, except for carrier exclusive ones! sigh
So does that hint a little more at Samsung producing iPhone guts? Like a sort of trade?
Interesting!
S60 has had webkit for years, unfortunately Nokia has not been maintaining the S60 port, so the port is basically *3 years* old -- basically meaning it is Safari 2 (so a similar age to firefox 1.5). That's quite a bit older than iPhone or Desktop Safari.
Am I the only one that finds this fishy? I mean, Apple could be pushing the browser out to dominate the mobile platform as the (attempted) with the Desktop platform. Announcement on June 9th? I don't know, it all seems to be pretty fishy to me, very un-Apple like. Safari was a huge iPhone plus, I find it werid that they would do such a thing, but its possible.
Marketing goon: Okay, I'm writing up the spec sheet. What's the deal with the web browser?
Engineer: It's based on WebKit, the same tech that's in Apple's Safari browser on Mac, Windows, iPod, and iPhone. Unlike most mobile browsers, it can browse the full internet, dynamic websites and all that.
Marketing goon: That's too long. I'll just put "Safari browser".
Engadget: ZOMG, Apple's porting the iPhone's full MobileSafari app to other companies' hardware!
IF this is not just cluelessness in the PR department (and really, it's go to be) then Safari™ means not "just" WebKit, it means Safari and licensing from Apple. Unlike WebKit, Safari is an Apple trademark you know.
And even if that were to be true, it would be considerably different from the iTouch browser since this phone lacks touchscreen. The multitouch is definitely one of the not-so-secret ingredients that make mobile Safari worthwhile.
. Samsung is jsut a follower in market they try to copy others. But they not copying fast enough too behind. Like someone said the copy N95 looking phone but except the N95 is much better looking an quality phoen with much more better feature such as wi-fi, camera and many other things.
Given that Safari™ is in fact a trademark of Apple and Samsung is a competitor of Apple I can see the wraiths at Apple Legal at this very moment sending a stiff note to Samsung Legal to point this out and to expect it to be changed forthwith.
Nothing here to see except clueless PR that made it past Samsung Legal.
Webkit is used in other things than Safari. It's in Konqueror (Linux browser) and it's also in an RSS reader NetNewsWire. So you can bet that Safari is not on this platform. Just Webkit. Which is good!