Samsung Galaxy Player 50: Android's iPod Touch [VIDEO ]

Want to play with http://mashable.com/category/android">Android apps and features without actually having to buy another phone or enter into another carrier contract? If you live in France, you'll soon have that option with the Samsung Galaxy Player 50.

Samsung first announced its plans for the Galaxy Player 50 in August and it appears the devices are already hitting France, with roll outs in other parts of the world scheduled soon. Unfortunately, U.S. users shouldn't expect to see the Android-based player until sometime next year.

Although companies like Archos have been releasing Android-based players and devices for several years, the Samsung device will be unique in that it supports official Google apps like http://www.mashable.com/tag/google-maps">Google Maps, http://www.mashable.com/tag/youtube">YouTube and http://www.mashable.com/tag/gmail">Gmail through the http://mashable.com/tag/android-market">Android Market. To date, the only devices with official http://mashable.com/tag/android-market/">Android Market and http://mashable.com/tag/google-apps">Google apps support are those that can make a 3G data connection.

Presumably, Samsung has worked with http://mashable.com/tag/google">Google to get this sort of approval. It makes sense too. The http://mashable.com/2010/07/26/galaxy-s-review/">Samsung Galaxy S series has been http://mashable.com/2010/08/30/1-million-galaxy-s/">incredibly successful for the Korean electronics giant and is arguably the first true hit on a global scale in the Android ecosystem.

Spec wise, the Galaxy Player 50 is comparable to the new http://mashable.com/2010/09/01/apple-overhauls-ipod-lineup/">iPod touch, although judging by the video, it does seem a bit thicker. It features a 3.2-inch screen (so slightly smaller than the 4-inch http://mashable.com/tag/amoled">AMOLED screen offered by the other http://mashable.com/tag/galaxy-s/">Galaxy S devices), ships with Android 2.1, comes with http://mashable.com/tag/wi-fi">Wi-Fi, http://mashable.com/tag/dlna/">DLNA, 8GB or 16GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, support for http://mashable.com/tag/gps/">GPS, http://mashable.com/tag/divx/">DivX and FM Radio. It also has 2-megapixel camera and can record video.

Prices of the new Galaxy Player aren't available, but if you live in France and happen to see one for sale -- please let us know the price in the comments.

The horrendous compositing of the video aside (seriously, worst green screen ever), the device looks pretty neat. The iPod touch is a great gateway drug of sorts to the overall http://mashable.com/tag/ios">iOS ecosystem and an Android equivalent could be really exciting.

What do you think of the Galaxy Player 50? Let us know.

[via http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/20/samsung-galaxy-player-androids-ipod-to..." target="_blank">FortuneTech and http://www.samsunghub.com/2010/10/20/video-samsung-galaxy-player-yp-g50-ad/" target="_blank">Samsung Hub]

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