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Samsung’s Phil Newton has confirmed the company is currently developing a netbook  that will run on Google’s Chrome OS. The netbook will be similar to the N210 netbook, and will be released as soon as later this year, or early in 2011. Specifications for the new device are largely unknown, but so far we know that the netbook will have a 12 hour battery life, 3G and wireless connectivity, a 10.1″ screen with LED backlighting, 2 GB RAM, and at least 64 GB of storage.  It is likely that the device will run a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Via Engadget

Peratech already caught everyone’s attention a few weeks ago when it announced its pressure-sensitive touchscreen technology. We were excited about the promise of quantum tunneling, but assumed it would take some time before it managed to hit the market. Peratech, however, has already laid plans for its product to hit phones.

Peratech has created a 5-directional input device using QTC called Navikeys, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics appears to have developed a keen interest in it. Samsung EM is a major provider for cell phone components, so this means Navikeys could replace traditional input on many phones.

It also doesn’t seem like this will be too distant, as Peratech has already announced “Navikey using QTC from Samsung EM is already being used in a Tier 1 mobile phone”. Let’s hope applications of this might be expanded to netbooks and tablets in the near future as well.

Via Engadget.

Did you know that Air Force fighter pilots have face shields with heads-up displays projected on them? The effect is much like what game makers have been doing with first-person shooters – there’s a targeting reticle on the opponent and an ammo count at the corner. While the official point is to increase the amount of information a pilot has at hand, I just always thought that it was cool how real life has begun to imitate video games.

Why do I bring this up? Samsung created a laptop that uses a clear active matrix OLED screen (AMOLED). In layman’s terms, that’s a transparent screen. The display gives clear, sharp, bright images, but still allows one to see things through the screen. This laptop is different from those HUDs so loved by pilots in that the images aren’t projected; the screen is just transparent.

As of right now, I doubt that many people have a true practical application for this beyond just looking really cool. But hey, imagine one day having a glass table in your living room that doubles as a platform for a Microsoft Surface. Or maybe windows that double as interactive screens for your smart-house. Baby steps.

Via Tom’s Hardware.

Some interesting news has just been revealed from the Netbook World Summit in Paris. Samsung Notebook Product Manager, Jaewoo Seo has revealed that Samsung will be revealing their new lineup of Intel Pine Trail platform-based netbooks in January 2010. Surprise, surprise.

Many of the larger netbook manufacturers are already planning to show off their new Pine Trail-based netbooks in January at CES 2010. Samsung claims that their new netbooks will have a superthin design and have longer lasting batteries. Considering that Samsung already makes netbooks that excel in these categories, we can’t wait to see what the manufacturer has in store.

In addition, Samsung is rumored to show at least one netbook with a touchscreen display. Samsung’s new Pine Trail-based netbooks will feature an instant on OS, which will allow quick and easy access to the Internet and to selected software.

Via NetbookChoice.

Samsung’s Nvidia ION-powered N510 netbook is now shipping in the U.S. Only available in black so far, this netbook’s listed on Newegg for $599.99 and the offer includes free shipping.

It’s a bit on the pricey side for a netbook we agree, but you’re also getting some improvements over the European version, including 2 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive, and Windows 7. (The European version of the netbook comes with 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB hard drive, and Windows XP.) The Newegg listing also claims that the netbook comes with the Nvidia ION LE chipset rather than the originally proposed ION chipset, but this may or may not be a typo.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Samsung N510 netbook, check out one of our previous articles before heading over to Newegg.

LightInTheBox.com has recently put up a webpage with a selection of 38 recommended netbooks that woud lmake great gifts this holiday season. Some netbooks on the site cater more to students while other cater more to professionals, but all of them are no doubt adequate for doing the most common of tasks, which include but are not limited to e-mailing, surfing the Internet, and editing documents.

The netbooks on this site range from $129.99 to $1,270.00 and many of them even have free (international) shipping. There are the big name brands like ASUS, HP, and Samsung and a few of the lesser known brands such as Kohjinsha and Viliv, among others. Check them out!

Via SearchSysCon.

Samsung has recently announced that it will be teaming up with AT&T to offer its Go netbook. This netbook has pretty typical tech specs, including an Intel Atom processor, a built-in HSPA modem, and Wi-Fi. The Samsung Go netbook also features a comfortable yet stylish pebble-style keyboard and Windows 7 Starter Edition. If you’re interested in learning more about the netbook, check out one of our previous articles.

Pricing for the Samsung Go netbook is not yet available, but it will probably be around $200 with a two year AT&T data plan contract. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Via IntoMobile.

Recently, Samsung has revealed a multi-chip memory package that can be used for mobile electronic devices like laptops and netbooks. The chip package is a mere 0.02 inch thick and provides 32 GB of storage. It’s 40% thinner and lighter than the conventional memory package.

Samsung’s new memory chip package features a thinner “bare” chip that measures half the thickness of a conventional chip. The chip package includes eight stacked NAND flash chips that were built using a 30-nanometer production process.

With creations like these that increase the amount of memory that can be stored while maintaining the same physical size and weight of the storage space, perhaps the size of computing devices will shrink in the future. Maybe the average size of netbooks will even get smaller.

The new Samsung memory chip package could also be housed in solid state drives as replacements for hard disk drives.

Via InformationWeek.

AkihabaraNews has spotted a new 7-inch Samsung netbook packing a 1024 x 600 pixel WSVGA OLED display over at Japan’s FDP tradeshow this week, and it is beautiful. Behold:

Word has it there are no plans to put the prototype Samsung OLED netbook onto store shelves just yet, but Samsung is saying next year will bring OLED laptops and netbooks galore.

The Samsung N140 netbook is a new machine with a bunch of specs we’ve been looking for in a new netbook, including the all new Microsoft Windows 7 OS.

The new netbook has been released in India as the Samsung N140 Ultra-Portable Netbook. It runs for up to 11 hours with its 6-cell battery, thanks to some touch-ups like an energy efficient LED display.

It weighs 1.27 kg and features a 10.1-inch display and spillproof keyboards. Furthermore, its hard drive is a massive 250 GB.

Other features include 3 USB 2.0 ports, including one that charges portable devices even when the netbook is off, and a 3-in-1 card reader. It has Ethernet LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, VGA, and an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam.

The new Samsung N140 goes for Rs 24,990, or around $535, on Indian markets.

Via UB-News.

The Samsung N130 netbook is already on sale in Europe and now, it’s also available for pre-order on Amazon.

The N130 features a 10.1″ screen display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, an Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset, 1 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB hard drive – pretty typical specs for the average netbook. The N130 can come with either the Windows XP or Windows 7 Starter OS.

The Samsung N130 netbook is available in pink for $350.99 and in blue for $362.43 and if you’re not in a rush to get yours, they also come with free super saver shipping.

Via i4u.

Image via Smartech.

Samsung, the largest OLED manufacturer in the world, is planning on releasing OLED laptops by the end of next year, when OLED will become commercially available for laptop screen displays. OLED would allow for thinner frames, lighter weight, and longer battery life.

Hopefully, if and when Samsung does decide to manufacture these machines, they’ll be available for purchase through mainstream retail and thus, bear a reasonable price tag. There’s currently no more information available about these laptops, but we’re hoping for mean, sleek, powerful machines.

Via OledDisplay.

The Samsung 15.6″ X520 CULV notebook was recently spotted, and the company is planning on launching their 11.6″ X120 and 14″ X420 notebooks soon. These computers are part of Samsung’s thin-and-light series.

We don’t know much yet about these two new notebook models, but the Samsung X120 will be powered by an Intel Celeron 723 processor and cost around €550.

The larger Samsung X420 model will be powered by a SU2700 CPU, have 3 GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive, and cost over €700. Although the price tag on this 14″ laptop isn’t quite so tempting, at least it weighs in at a mere 1.7kg. Its battery isn’t bad either; it’s rumored to last up to 9 hours.

Via Fudzilla.

Image via PicturePhoning.

Samsung has recently announced the N140 netbook, a creation with a battery that can supposedly last up to 11 hours. But other than that, it doesn’t seem like this netbook will be much different from any others of the Samsung line.

Netbooks are Samsung’s fastest growing business unit, and the N140 will be replacing the Samsung NC10 netbook that was launched roughly a year ago.

The N140 will have a 10.1″ screen, weigh roughly 2.8 pounds, and be available in several different colors. There is currently no more information about Samsung’s N140 netbook, but we’ll keep you posted.

Via CNet.

The Samsung NC310 netbook is here, but we’ve discovered one woefully under-marketed aspect of the netbook that we think you’ll find interesting – it can last as long as 11 hours with a battery upgrade. This beats out the majority of netbooks out there, and for a machine designed for portability that’s definitely a good thing.

Remember that the battery only lasts that long if you opt for the battery upgrade, which can be expensive. Stick with the standard battery and you’ll get a decent 5 hours of life on your Samsung NC310.

Other features on the Samsung NC310 include the Intel Atom CPU, a 10.1 inch screen, 160GB of space on the HDD, 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, HSDPA, and an onboard 1.3 megapixel webcam.

Via GeekWithLaptop.

The 12.1-inch Samsung NP-NC20 netbook is one of the largest we’ve seen yet. That may be a down side, but it seems to add a few features to the mix that, while not quite world-turning, are nice to see in a cohesive package.

$549 will get you a machine with a 1280 x 800 pixel screen, good enough for HD video playback on the netbook. The display is glossy but usable, depending on your environment.

The new Samsung netbook won’t be winning any awards for its tinny speakers and weighs a full 4.1 pounds. However, it has a much more robust keyboard to fill up the extra space, and a single touchpad button that functions as both right- and left-click in the style of a MacBook.

The 6-cell battery is also fantastic, running for 5 hours and 50 minutes on a single charge. You get three USB ports, VGA, audio, and ethernet built in, as well as a Kensington lock slot and SD card slot. All in all the Samsung NP-NC20 seems to be a strangely configured but usable quasi-netbook with a nice set of features for those who just cant make up their minds.

Via PCWorld.

The Lenovo Ideapad S12, featuring the Nvidia ION platform, has been announced since May but is as of yet nowhere to be seen on the netbook market. It’s supposed to be one of the first netbooks capable of displaying HD video with the all-new graphics chip. Unfortunately, it’s looking like we may need to wait until Windows 7 is released before we can get our hands on the new Ideapad netbook.

Featuring a 12-inch 1280 x 800 display, the netbook has a 1.6 GHz CPU and Intel integrated GMA 950 graphics to complement the Nvidia ION.

Believe it or not, Samsung is also rumored to be delaying the N510 netbook in order to put the ION inside it as well. This could be a reaction to Lenovo’s announcement, and the two machines may be quite competitive when the time comes for their release.

However, the Samsung N510 is more of a powerhouse when it comes to graphics. It uses an Nvidia GeForce 9400M chip – the same one found in the Unibody MacBook Pro.

With that, all there is to do is wait until October and see how Windows 7 and the ION change netbooks.

Via TechTree.

With notebook prices falling to under $350 for some 17″ machines, a few netbook manufacturers may be in a bit of a crunch. Take, for example, Samsung’s new Ion-based netbooks.

These netbooks are equipped with the Nvidia Ion chipset, which make them ideal for individuals who love to play 3D video games and watch high definition movies, but the overall price of the machines is also higher. There is no doubt though, that the Nvidia chipset gives Intel Atom-based netbooks a boost in performance.

The news that these new Samsung netbooks will cost $599 has quite a few people thinking twice about buying one. The price tag’s a bit on the high end. Don’t get me wrong though, these are indeed attractive netbooks. But are their price tags really that attractive, especially in this economy?

Via TomsHardware.

According to industry sources, netbook manufacturers LG & Samsung are predicted to have strong netbook sales in 2010. Shipments are expected to reach roughly seven million units.

As a comparison, the predicted number of shipments for Acer, one of the leading netbook manufacturers, is currently predicted to be roughly 12-15 million units.

LG & Samsung both have close ties to telecom companies, and this is one of the contributing factors to the expected volume of netbook sales, since telecom companies are a major channel for netbook sales.

Via Digitimes.

Images via TechnologyGear and LetMeKnow.