Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Sprint’s popular, new smartphone, the Samsung Instinct, is going to be sold for the first time at RadioShack coming this Labor Day Weekend. You might be thinking, what’s so special about RadioShack selling the Samsung Instinct, I could go buy it at any other retailer or the Sprint store. Well, the reason is that RadioShack will be selling the Instinct for the low price of $100 for new customers.

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We have recently seen a firmware update come for the Instinct that offered some notable improvements for items such as increasing the audio volume when using Bluetooth, as well as improvements to the signal and battery indicators and the web browser.

With that update having been rolled out, it seems Sprint decided it was time to begin rolling out some individual updates for applications.

These new updates will not be coming all as one big package but instead on a case by case basis, so expect to be prompted to download and install an update when launching apps in the short term future. The updates are going to include Picture Mail, the web browser, Sprint TV and Radio, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Email, Sprint Music Store, Visual Voicemail and Mobile Sync.

Read [InstinctInsight] Via [Mobile Burn]

The Samsung Instinct has just been given what sounds like will be a welcomed firmware update, which is reported to include updates for some of the apps as well as the base code.

Some of the updates include an increased audio volume when using Bluetooth, the ability to use saved images as wallpaper and improvements to the signal and battery indicators as well as the web browser. Also mentioned was the ability to now set recurring appointments in the calendar.

Current Instinct owners can grab the update directly from their handset by heading to Menu -> Settings -> General and then choosing Update Phone. In addition to this update, Samsung is also rumored to have a much bigger update coming later this year.

Via [IntoMobile]

Earlier in the week, you’ll recall my post about CNBC saying SK Telecom was in talks to acquire Sprint.  Turns out, not so much.  In a statement this morning, SK set out to clear the air: they are not acquiring any US carriers (whew) but they are seeking technology and business partnerships with Sprint.

So maybe that counts as SK having some love for Sprint, but like a friend.  Surely there was not a dry eye in Kansas (Sprint HQ) when SK phoned in the “I just don’t like you like that.  I want to be friends.” Probably still stings a bit for Sprint.  Sprint stock is on it’s way back down after rising on the SK acquisition news…

No matter, back to our non-stop coverage of lines around Sprint stores for the blockbuster Instinct.  Hold up, sorry, wrong feed. 

Read [Phone Scoop]

With a lot of the hype currently surrounding the impending release of the iPhone 3G its almost easy to forget that there are other nice touchscreen phones already on the market. One of which is the Samsung Instinct, that was recently released with Sprint.

This latest press announcement may serve more a reminder to everyone that the Instinct is available, but I suppose it does also deserve some recognition. Best Buy has just announced that the Instinct has become their best selling phone for the past two years. According to Best Buy;

“The sleek, highly touted Sprint multimedia phone produced record sales in its first two weeks at Best Buy, which has seen its sales of higher-end, multimedia phone increase 10x in the past year since Best Buy Mobile began its national roll out.”

The Instinct, which retails for $129.99 with a two-year agreement originally went on sale on June 19. Best Buy is also Sprint’s exclusive retail partner for the Instinct through August 28.

Read [Best Buy]

The Samsung Instinct has been a hot selling handset here in the US, and it would seem that it would only be smart to take advantage of that, and do it quickly. Bell Mobility and Samsung have just announced that the Instinct will be available in Canada beginning August 8.

The features are expected to be the same as the currently available Sprint version, of course, the UI will most likely be just a little less Sprint like. The Instinct is expected to retail for $149.95 with a three-year agreement and also be available for a no commitment price of $449.95.

Also in non-Canadian specific Instinct related news, it seems you can also now follow along with the Instinct on Twitter.

Via [mobilesyrup]

I always love seeing what makes up the insides of my gadgets, but like many I am not willing to tear it open and actually find out because of the risk of damage. So its always fun to see the pictures when someone else does the work and takes the risk for you.

The Samsung Instinct has become the latest phone to get dissected. The work comes courtesy of Rapid Repair and they posted plenty of pictures as well as instructions, just in case you were feeling brave. Keep reading to check out a few of the images showing off the guts, then hit the Read link below to check out the full set.

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Sprint’s new 3G phone, the Samsung Instinct, has sold the fastest out of all Sprint’s 3G phones. Sprint has come out to say that this new 3G touchscreen phone is breaking records already in it’s first week of availability. Sprint nor Samsung expected the Instinct to be selling this much because Samsung has to start producing more of the Instinct just to meet the consumer demand. There are already shortages in select US locations, and if Sprint wishes to continue with this surge, they need to make sure they have enough phones. 

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Samsung has just announced a new contest, offering to give $20 to the first 1000 people who create a home movie and include a “Hollywood-style product placement” with the Instinct. The contest will officially begin on June 30 and all videos will have to be uploaded to YouTube to be entered. The winner of the contest, which is being called “Sell Out” will be given a $10,000 grand prize. Of, course they are not entirely clear on just what it will take to be the winner.

Read [InstinctThePhone]

With little surprise, Sprint has officially released the Samsung Instinct. Although an anticipated phone, they have kept few details secret and even surprised us at the last minute with that price drop. So for those who could not wait, head on over and grab your Instinct today. Just one small catch, that $129.99 price tag comes in the form of both instant savings and a mail-in-rebate, which means if you forget to send in your rebate form, your phone will be $100 higher. Otherwise you can not argue against a price like that when you have such a full feature list, Sprint has even included a nice accessory package that includes a 2GB microSD card with adapter, a spare battery and more.

Product [Sprint]