The new Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 looks strikingly similar to an Android smartphone, but the device is actually the latest media player to grace the growing category. The good news, however, is that it can even make calls and send text messages via Bluetooth.

The device — which runs on Gingerbread 2.3.6 — is like many media players on the market today, with solid audio quality and a collection of apps. But what’s especially interesting about the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 is that it can be tethered to a phone with Bluetooth 3.0 to send and receive calls. This feature might be appealing for those that want to avoid paying for another phone and adding to monthly bills. To make use of this feature, you’ll have to turn to an alternative service such as Google Voice and be connected via Wi-Fi at the same time.

From a design perspective, the device boasts a plastic body, 3.6-inch screen, 480 x 320 resolution display and a single-core Cortex A8 1GHz processor. Weighing in at 3.9 ounces, it is 0.3 ounces heavier than a classic iPod Touch yet feels less sturdy. The $149 device is also less expensive than the iPod Touch ($199), but the plastic body — compared to the iPod Touch’s stainless steel casing — makes it not surprising that it’s listed at a lower price point.

However, the interface is easy to navigate and it’s also laid out intuitively. Sound quality is also crisp and clean. Other features include

• Rear-facing camera lens 
• Whole collection of apps 
• FM radio M
• Maps
• Gmail, Google search
• Social Hub.