Samsung will announce a new Android-based PMP (portable media player) at next week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), according to an illustrated report by the Samsung Hub website. Running Android 2.2 (“Froyo”), the device will have a four-inch screen and other specs similar to the Galaxy S line of phones, but without cellular connectivity, the website says.

The report earlier today on Samsung Hub is accompanied by official-looking photos (below), but no word on a Galaxy Player has been offered by Samsung itself. Author Kunai (whose last name is not provided) claims Samsung's new PMP "takes inspiration from its successful Galaxy S phone and is spec'd similarly sans the cellular connectivity."

Samsung's Galaxy Player UP-GB1
Source: Samsung Hub (Click to enlarge)

Essentially, then, this would be Samsung's equivalent to Apple's successful iPod Touch — running the same apps as its cell phone sibling, but freeing buyers from the need to be saddled with a carrier contract.

Samsung's Galaxy S (right) went on sale in Korea last June and has already spawned a passel of variants, including the AT&T-offered Captivate, the T-Mobile Vibrant, and the Verizon Fascinate. It's also the basis of Google's Nexus S, a developer phone that eschews carrier-specific software add-ons but adds NFC (near field communication).

Presumably the Galaxy Player will include the same 1GHz Samsung S5PC110 ("Hummingbird") processor as the above phones, though Kunal cites only clock speed. He does claim that the device will retain GPS functionality — something Apple dropped for its iPod Touch) — and will again feature a four-inch touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixel resolution. (This is touted only as "Super Clear LCD," however, rather than being an Active Matrix Organic LED device as on the phones.)

According to Kunal, the Galaxy Player (model number YP-GB1) will run Android 2.2 ("Froyo") and will be offered in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities, with a microSD slot for memory expansion. The PMP will also include dual cameras (3.2 megapixel rear-facing and VGA-resolution front-facing), "HD video playback," and "SoundAlive audio enhancing technology," he adds.

Both the Android Market and a Samsung-specific app store will be loaded onto the device, writes Kunal. As for connectivity, it's said the Galaxy Player will include both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 .

Samsung Hub adds that the device will have a removable 1200mAh battery — trumping the iPod Touch, whose battery is captive — and measure just 0.38 inches thick.

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.