Samsung has been particularly busy at this year’s conference, however in our opinion the most exciting device which we’ve seen is the Beam. Not only does is offer decent performance hardware, but it’s main feature is something which no smartphone has ever boasted – a projector which can beam multimedia content at up to 50-inches (diagonal).

Before we get excited about the projector let’s give you a quick run through of other technical specifications, firstly there’s a dual-core 1.0GHz processor, 8GB of internal storage, a 4-inch display which outputs at 480 x 800, a 5 megapixel camera on the rear and a 2000mAh battery. Samsung hasn’t published a full spec listing yet, and we are told that actual specs are subject to change, however we are almost certain that there will be a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 768MB of RAM (not 6GB like many reputable sources suggested) and a microSD memory card slot. One disappointment is that it will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread out-of-the-box, however an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is said to be planned.

Samsung envisage you using this smartphone to watch YouTube videos with friends, or perhaps Hulu. Other usages include creating slideshows on the device and then playing them via the projector whilst music echoes from the phone’s speaker. Finally many expect Beam-centric apps to hit the Android Market where the projector can make playing games and using apps a more interactive experience.

We’ve embedded a few images showing the Samsung GALAXY Beam below, as you can see the design is dominated by the projector which is located on the upper-edge of the handset, what’s pretty impressive is the fact that it still just 12.5mm thick – not bad when you take into account Optoma’s pico projectors are all roughly 30mm thick! Check out Engadget’s photo gallery for a closer look.

Full details regarding the Beam’s projector haven’t been disclosed, but it is marketed as “ultra-bright” thanks to 15 lumens of brightness, we’re not projector experts but this seems quite substantially lower than what we’ve seen from pocket-sized projectors in the past. Another thing which we’re not completely sure about is the projectors output resolution, Samsung’s official blog claims that it projects a crisp high-definition image (which we’d usually interpret this to mean at least 720p), but other sources say that it actually outputs at 640 x 360 – we’ll confirm/refute this when we know more. A demonstration showing the projector in action can be seen at the bottom of this post, the video only shows the projector being used in dark conditions and the video does look grainy (see the image below) – but we have to remember the fact that there’s a projector built into a smartphone is an accomplishment in itself.

Our biggest concern is battery life, the 2000 mAh battery would be great for smartphone usage, but projectors are renowned for being juicy, so Samsung has its work cut out. We shouldn’t keep comparing the Beam to Optoma’s pico projector’s but there’s no other points of reference at present, the PK301 boasts a 1410mAh battery which is said to allow for up to 1.5 hours of projection – so what will a smartphone deliver from a 2000mAh battery when it has a dual-core processor to power etc? This is one thing we’re worried about, however pricing is also something which may shock us.

Do you think the Beam’s projector will drain the battery too rapidly?

We have wrote in the past about the possibility of Samsung unveiling a next-gen tablet at the show and while that is still very much possible, we have another snippet of fresh information to bring you now, regarding a new variant of the Samsung Galaxy S II that may be featured at the event as well.

An image of an unannounced device has been the subject of interest over the last 24 hours, and it apparently reveals that Samsung will be showing off a new Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone at MWC, one which looks a lot like the Galaxy S II, as noted by BGR. We know that we won’t be seeing the GS III so there’s whispers that this phone may turn out to be the Samsung Galaxy S II Plus.

Changes from the S II include capacitive buttons located at the bottom of the device which have been designed specifically for Ice Cream Sandwich. The image also suggests that Samsung will be including their latest version of TouchWiz on the device on the top of ICS as well. On a note of interest, the origin of the image has come from Eldar Murtazin, the very same person who claimed to be in possession of an early Galaxy S III unit.

He seems very confident in his Tweet here, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. The device certainly looks lovely regardless, so we are hoping that we do indeed see this mystery Ice Cream Sandwich S II variant on show at MWC. Take a look at the image for yourself and let us know what you think of it – looks too good to be a fake right?

A few days ago we told you that the Galaxy S III may not be making an appearance at this year’s MWC event in Barcelona later this month. Now Samsung has confirmed this to TechRadar and have stated the device will be shown off at a separate event.

The company stated that is looking forward to the Mobile World Congress event, and will be showcasing “exciting new mobile products”. Samsung added though that the replacement for the Galaxy S2 handset will be shown off at a “Samsung-hosted event in the first half of the year”.

It also confirmed the device will be revealed closer to when it will be commercially available to consumers. Samsung said that they are still “committed to providing the best possible mobile experiences for customers around the world”.

Some Android fans will be disappointed by the news, as the Galaxy S3 is expected to continue the success of the two devices before it. It is believed the new model will come with a more powerful processor and a bigger display among other things.

This could mean there is a delay in the manufacturing process, or the company could be pitching the device against bitter rival Apple and the iPhone 5. Some believe that this summer Apple will launch a redesigned smartphone, which could be just the time the Galaxy S3 hits the market, so let the battle commence.

Were you hoping to see the Samsung Galaxy S III at this months MWC?

It seems that Asus are set to reveal the final design at the Mobile World Congress on February 27th, and allows users to dock their smartphone into the back of a tablet. According to a report over at Android and Me, there have been various reports that the device will come using the Nvidia Tegra power plant.

But there have also been some leaked benchmarks that have suggested it will use the Snapdragon S4 processor, which was confirmed when a prototype unit was spotted at the recent CES event. This could all change though as the company is expected to reveal an all new design compared to al the prototypes that have been seen so far.

It will also mean the overall design will have changed because of the physical keys being removed as the device is expected to come with Android Ice Cream Sandwich straight out of the box. Another great feature of the Padfone is that it will support the Asus Transformer keyboard dock.

The device that was seen recently at CES had support for the older TF101 unit, but it would seem the redesigned Padfone would support the TF201 that is used with the Transformer Prime. Do you like the look of the Asus Padfone?

While many Apple fans are patiently awaiting the arrival of the inevitable iPad 3, there has been little talk as of yet on whether Samsung will be releasing a direct rival to Apple’s device with their existing Galaxy Tab lineup still performing well in the market.

However, a fresh report over at BGR reveals that Samung may be unveiling their latest and possibly greatest tablet to the world at MWC, and it is a device which could be equipped with a dual-core 2GHz Exynos 5250 processor amongst other impressive hardware features. We haven’t seen Samsung step over the 10.1 inch mark yet with their tablet range, but their next product could feature a display screen which is bigger than 10 inches, possibly an 11.6-incher and will feature a WXQGA 2560 x 1600 pixels resolution as well.

Furthermore, additional information states that this new tablet from Samsung may have incredible battery life, with a device that can last all day on a single charge with average to moderately heavy usage. We know that Samsung are already planning to use their all day battery concept on smartphones as well, so it will be a logical step if they decide to include their tablets too.

What will the device be called though if it is unveiled? We would like to see a flashy name this time, rather than something such as a ‘Samsung Galaxy Tab 12.1′ for example. We were really looking forward to seeing the Galaxy S III at the event next month, but this new tablet could make up for it if it really does feature next generation hardware. Still dual-core though – perhaps a quad-core is needed next? Give your thoughts on a possible next-gen tablet from Samsung at MWC.

If you missed our report yesterday, we told you how the Samsung Galaxy S III may be equipped with a quad-core 1.5Ghz processor as well as a 12 megapixel camera, making it one of the most powerful smartphones of 2012.

Now though, a report over at The Verge claims that the device will not be shown next month, and fans may have to wait until as long as Summer to get their first glimpse of the device. Unsurprisingly, their source for this information has been put down to ‘people familiar with the matter’ so it should still be classed as a rumor at this point.

If we do not see the Galaxy S III on show in Barcelona, then we expect Samsung are already cooking up a suitable replacement to wow the disappointed crowds who were hoping to see something big. This may come in the form of a new Galaxy Tablet from the company, or they may surprise everyone with a brand new unannounced smartphone – since Mobile World Congress is often the place for big smartphone unveils.

On a side note, could the timing of this information have anything to do with the release of Apple’s Q1 financial results? Apple boasted some great figures and yet more profit for the company, so could this have played in the minds of Samsung in the possible delay of the Galaxy S III? Another thing to consider is that the GS II is no means an ‘old’ product. The device is still one of the best on the market right now and owners are eagerly awaiting the official update to Ice Cream Sandwich which will make the handset even better.

Is it possibly too early to see the Samsung Galaxy S III, or are you disappointed that we may have to wait longer to see Samsung’s first quad-core superphone in the flesh?