We've already seen Tizen running on reference hardware a couple of times at this point, but it sounds like it may be a while before we're able to actually try the Intel and Samsung-backed operating system for ourselves. Sources speaking to CNET claim that Samsung has pushed back the consumer launch of its first Tizen smartphone due to problems related to the platform's app storefront. The phone was originally slated to launch in July or August, but it's now reportedly due sometime in the fourth quarter. Korean news site iNews24 claims that the device could be announced in September.
The Tizen Association has previously said that there are already thousands of apps developed, so it's not clear exactly what issues Samsung has with the Tizen app store, but apparently the company doesn't feel that Tizen is ready for prime time quite yet. Recent releases of Tizen have shown that the platform itself appears to have most of the makings of a mobile OS, including a multitasking menu and notification shade. The Tizen Association recently launched the SDK and source code for version 2.1 of Tizen, which is codenamed "Nectarine."
Tizen is touted as being an open source, standards-based mobile OS that can be used on all kinds of hardware, including smartphones and smart TVs. The platform is being backed by Intel and Samsung as well as a number of carriers, including Sprint in the U.S., with Japan's NTT DoCoMo and France's Orange already signed up to offer Tizen hardware. One source tells CNET that SoftBank and Sprint may eventually offer Tizen phones as well. However, it doesn't sound like anyone will be launching Tizen products in the next couple of months, so for now we'll just have to be content with the preview videos that've already surfaced.
Via CNET, iNews24 (Image credit)
