Samsung ATIV S

Pre-order now, get it at the same time as everyone else

Preorders are kind of like the teaser preview in technology—they cost virtually nothing to produce but get a lot of people talking. Such is the case with Expansys now offering pre-orders for the ATIV S from Samsung.

The page is up both in Italy and even the US although there is no price listed nor ETA for a shipping date—in other words, they’re doing it for the links and headlines because let's be honest, this won't sellout early like the iPhone.

Russian mobile website NOMOBILE.RU managed to get some hands-on action with the Samsung ATIV S, which was announced at IFA 2012 in Berlin this week. The Windows Phone was presented in its glory, and looked surprisingly elegant when put against its Android counterpart in the video.

What's interesting about this hands-on coverage was the few seconds the reviewer took to bend the plastic backplate. Now, if you saw the image above before reading the title, you'd immediately assume it's on the verge of snapping, but it seems the Samsung ATIV S (much like the Galaxy S III) can actually bend it like Beckham - refers to David Beckham curling the football around a defensive wall from set pieces.

We know a lot of you are excited for the Samsung ATIV S and we have to admit, after watching the above video, we can see why.

While the 4.8” HD Super AMOLED display is certainly drool worthy, we’re more excited about that super thin, metal body that looks like a dream to hold.

Just a few days ago Samsung announced the new ATIV S Windows Phone and today, we are seeing it available for pre-order. Granted the 4.8" HD Super AMOLED screened Windows Phone is available for pre-order in the Netherlands. But it's a start.

PDAShop.nl is listing the 16GB version of the ATIV S for € 549 (about $690 US) with the delivery date listed as unknown. Subscription services are available through T-Mobile Europe, Vodaphone and other local carriers.

As the fallout from the Apple v Samsung case is being realized, there is a lot speculation as to what that decision will mean for the likes of Microsoft and Windows Phone. Opinions range from it will big big for Microsoft to it won’t matter for them at all.

The Korea Times, a paper with a mixed reputation on these matters, has gone on record in saying that Samsung is looking to form a stronger relationship with Microsoft as a result of the Apple decision. But is it accurate?

Our online poll suggests Samsung has done well but still has to win over many

Yesterday during the IFA trade show in Berlin, Samsung surprisingly unveiled the first Windows Phone 8 device for 2012—the ATIV S—to mostly cheers and approvals from current and prospective Windows Phone users.

In an online 24-hour poll conducted yesterday here at Windows Phone Central, nearly 4,000 respondents (cookie and IP locked) responded to Samsung’s announcement of the Galaxy S3 clone for Microsoft's upcoming Windows Phone 8 OS.

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In case you were under a rock today, both Android Central and Windows Phone Central had a busy afternoon covering all the IFA news coming out of Germany.

To cover the big Samsung (and Sony) announcements including the ATIV S, we gathered AC’s Phil Nickinson and myself along with Alex Dobie and Richard Device (who were on location) for a roundup.

So tune in or watch the HD video for the podcast after the break, which clocks in at a brisk 34 minutes.

Samsung announced the ATIV S Windows Phone today at its IFA 2012 presentation in Berlin. The current-most powerful Windows Phone features a similar look and feel of the Galaxy S3 (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), not to mention impressive entries on the specification sheet. 

Sporting a 4.8" HD Super AMOLED display with GorillaGlass 2, dual-core 1.5Ghz CPU, 2300mAh battery, NFC, with 16GB or 32GB for storage (with SD support) it's certainly got a enough power for Windows Phone 8. But does the device interest you as a consumer? Be sure to participate in our poll.

Back on topic - we've got some more shots of the ATIV S, which were uploaded to the Windows Phone Facebook account. Be sure to check them out for a closer look at Samsung's Apollo offering.

With Samsung’s huge press conference just wrapping up, we’re going through all the news. Of course the big story of the day for our audience is the ATIV-S, the new Windows Phone 8 device coming this fall.

For those of you who missed the unofficial unveiling, you can watch that segment of the conference right here at Windows Phone Central. It's even in glorious 720P, thanks to our Rafael Rivera.

And when done, head over to our poll to voice your opinion on the Samsung’s new flagship Windows Phone!

Does the ATIV-S impress? Take our poll.

Now that we have a good idea of what Samsung is bringing to the table for Windows Phone 8 with the ATIV-S (at least for their flagship phone), the question is What do you think?

The specifications, a 4.8" HD Super AMOLED display with GorillaGlass 2, dual-core 1.5Ghz CPU and ample storage should appeal to a lot of our enthusiastic users. The brushed aluminum should also bring a more classy, high-end feel to the device, a nice change up from the previous "plastic" that Samsung is known to use...