Samsung unveils Ativ S, world’s first Windows Phone 8 device

If you’ve been wondering what the first dual-core Windows Phone would look like, this is it. Today, the Korean electronics giant took the wraps off the Samsung Ativ S, the world’s first smartphone running Windows Phone 8.

The Ativ S (Ativ is “Vita” spelled backward) features a slim design, a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. There’s also compatibility for HSPA+42.

In addition, the Ativ S packs in a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.

Taking full advantage of new software capabilities announced for Windows Phone 8 in June, there’s a microSD card and support for NFC (think file-sharing and, soon, payment).

Samsung has also added a very large 2,300mAh battery that should promise longer life, and 1GB of RAM. It’ll come in 16GB and 32GB storage versions, and will feature a host of Samsung apps, like the Music Hub and the Media Hub for the U.S. market. Continue reading