News Samsung New Handset Update : Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge Images Leaked And More Details Emerge

Samsung on Monday confirmed its pre-MWC "Galaxy Unpacked 2016" event for February 21 in Barcelona. Now, more details about Samsung's upcoming "Next Galaxy" flagship have emerged.

One of the most reliable phone tipsters, Evan Blass aka @evleaks has shared images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge alongside claiming other details about the handsets. The shared images show the front panels of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones in full glory and also corroborate to earlier claims that said there will be only two high-end Galaxy phones unveiled this month in Barcelona.

In a report Venture Beat's Blass cites a person who was briefed about the company's plans and claims that the South Korean company has added some of the features that were missing from the 2015 flagship pair. One of the biggest additions is microSD card expansion support, which was being rumoured for long. Both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are said to come with microSD card slots with a capacity of up to 200GB supported. Another notable addition is the IP67 dust and water resistance in both the new Galaxy phones. Notably, both the features were rumoured to be included in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones.

According to the leaked images, both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge look to retain the same design language as their predecessors. The Galaxy S7 is likely to sport a 5.1-inch screen while the Galaxy S7 Edge is said to come with a 5.5-inch screen. Both the handsets are said to sport QHD (1440x2560 pixels) screen resolution.

The report says that this year Samsung may use the always-on display (AOD) functionality on both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones. The feature however is said to consume around one percent battery every hour.

The report adds that both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will get a bump in the battery capacities and will feature 3000mAh and 3600mAh batteries respectively. If this comes out to be true, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will pack large batteries than their predecessors Galaxy S6 (2550mAh) and Galaxy S6 Edge (2600mAh). Both the smartphones are also said to sport wireless charging functionality with as little as 2 hours for full charge on the Galaxy S7, and as little as 2.2 hours for the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Samsung is said to use the in-house SoC (system-on-chip) on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones. Both the devices are said to pack Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor with four cores clocked at 2.3GHz and four cores at 1.6GHz. The company is also expected to unveil a different model featuring the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor in some regions. All the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge variants are said to pack 4GB of RAM and are expected to come in 32GB and 64GB storage options.

For the camera, Samsung is said to have downgraded from the 16-megapixel rear camera seen on the Galaxy S6 to a 12-megapixel camera sensor on the Galaxy S7. The company is also rumoured to get rid of the camera bump which was present on the Galaxy S6. The rear camera module is said to gain f/1.7 lens aperture, a bump from last generation. The front camera is said to remain unchanged from the Galaxy S6, which sport a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

MWC 2016 is already gearing up to be the year's biggest mobile launch extravaganza with companies such as Sony, LG, Gionee, Xiaomi, and now Samsung confirming their presence at the event.

Posted by Unknown Monday, February 01, 2016

News Update On Samsung Smartphones : Is Samsung Coming Out With A Amartphone That Folds In Half?

It could be the flip phone for the smartphone generation.

According to Samsung rumor blog SamMobile.com, Samsung is readying to release its first smartphone with a foldable screen in January.

Samsung, which released the first phone with a display that curves on both sides, the Galaxy S6 Edge, in March, showed off a prototype for a phone that opens into a tablet in 2013. As you can see in the (oddly suggestive) promo video below, the fold-a-phablet concept device hinges in the middle, giving it the screen of a tablet with the profile of a regular-sized phone.

SamMobile reports that a source in China "who claims to have in-depth knowledge and an early scoop on Project Valley," the codename for Samsung's foldable phone project, said it is "currently undergoing testing" and is heading for a January 2016 is launch.

The site posits, however, that it could be released only in South Korea.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, September 17, 2015

News Samsung Update : Almost Every Single Detail About Samsung's Next Giant Galaxy Phones Has Reportedly Leaked

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Samsung is rumored to be announcing two new phones later this week, but we may already have a clear idea of what to expect thanks to a new leak.

A Reddit user that goes by the alias "joelrtaveras" said a Samsung representative stopped by the retail location he or she works at with both phones. The user posted a rundown of initial impressions on the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, revealing almost every single detail about both phones. A bunch of photos of the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ also appeared on Imgur, and several reports seem to indicate that they were published by the same person behind the Reddit post.

Here's a photo that reportedly shows what looks like the rumored Galaxy Note 5 alongside the iPhone 6 Plus.

And here's the back of the phone.

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You can see the edges are made of metal, and the author writes that the S Pen is "spring loaded" so it sits flush with the bezel of the phone.

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And now here's the reported Galaxy S6 Edge+ alongside the iPhone 6 Plus.

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Here's a side view of the Galaxy Note 5 (left) and Galaxy S6 Edge+ (right). You'll notice the phone on the right is slightly curved just like the Galaxy S6 Edge.

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Several details about Samsung's new phones have leaked over the past several months, but these new photos provide the clearest depiction we've seen so far. It's the first set of images that compares both phones to the iPhone, which provides a size comparison.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the Reddit post:

• The Note 5 has a tapered back, and it's slightly thicker than the iPhone 6 Plus.
• The Note 5 won't have an SD card slot and the base model has 32GB of storage.
• The S Pen for the Note 5 has a "push to pop" mechanism for getting the pen out of its holster.
• The Super AMOLED screen "looked great," but especially so on the S6 Edge+'s curved screen.
• The S6 Edge+ comes with a feature called Apps Edge, which allows you to swipe from the right to view app shortcuts. This sounds like the feature Samsung debuted with the Galaxy Note Edge last year.

It's also important to note that both phones were running software that wasn't finalized, so there might be some changes on the final version. We're expecting Samsung to announce both phones at its Unpacked event on Thursday.

Posted by Unknown Monday, August 10, 2015

News Samsung Galaxy Handsets Update : Samsung Galaxy Note 5 And S6 Edge+ Photos Leak Iin Full

 Samsung is readying two new phones for its Unpacked event later this week. Now we've seen the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ leak out it's almost certain these two phones are set to feature.

Sources speaking to Chinese website Digi-Wo have now shared leaks of what are allegedly the two new phones.

The leak suggests the Galaxy Note 5 is set to run on the Exynos 7420 - not the 7422 as some of the previous rumours suggested. It looks like the microSD card slot has been dropped, like it was on the Galaxy S6.

Big phones everywhere :

It could be a SIM and microSD combo tray slot this time around, but it's more likely Samsung has just decided to drop it.

It's also not clear from the photos how the S Pen pops out of the phone - rumours built up around a new technology developed to get it out quicker.

There's even a shot of the phone in all its packaging.

As for the Galaxy S6 Edge+, it's pictured yet again but there isn't a lot to show. It's just a bigger version of the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Be sure to take this news with a pinch of salt though, this could end up being a really elaborate hoax, but we'll know for sure come the official event on Thursday.

Posted by Unknown Monday, August 10, 2015

News Samsung Handset Leaked : Upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Live Photo

With the Samsung Unpacked event nearing, the anticipation for the next crop of Galaxy phones is at an all time high. The specs and photo leaks have been doing the rounds and the latest one comes about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

Leaked by DroidLife, the photo shows a live physical image of the upcoming smartphone. The phone resembles a Samsung Galaxy S6 on steroids.

The smartphone will feature a 5.7 inch QHD display encased in a metal and glass body. An in-house 2.1 GHz Exynos processor will be running the show for the device. S Pen will definitely be there with some new and improved features and usability. A bit of a curve on the back might help gripping the device perfectly. Spec leaks point to a hefty 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The lack of microSD card slot is bother a few power users though. A 32/64/128GB storage variant might be available. A 3000mAh non-removable battery will keep the device running. A 16 MP primary camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera will keep the photography enthusiasts happy. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop will be running on the device.

The leaked AnTuTu document gave a final benchmark score of 69,702 to the Galaxy Note 5.

Consumers might be in for a few surprises at Samsung's big August 13th event, but most likely it would be the usual continuation to the Galaxy series.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, August 06, 2015

News Smartphones Release Update : Upcoming Smartphones Rumor Roundup - OnePlus 2, Galaxy Note 5, Nexus 5 2015, iPhone 6s

While Samsung and LG have already revealed their flagship offerings for the year 2015, quite a few key players have yet to announce their new devices for this year. Apple Inc. is slated to release its iPhone 6s in September, and Samsung also isn’t done yet, with plans to release the Note 5 around the same time.

OnePlus 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Nexus 5 2015, and iPhone 6s will battle it out for the spot of the top smartphone in 2015, a position which is arguably held by the Samsung Galaxy S6 right now. While the companies haven’t revealed any official details about the aforementioned phones, various leaks and rumors have already revealed exciting details about the devices. Here’s what we know about these top contenders so far, according to Tech Times.

SamsungGalaxy Note 5:

The Note series has always been Samsung’s crème’ de la crème’, with the company bringing forth most of the innovations in the smartphone space through the Note phones. The latest iteration in the Note series, the Galaxy Note 5, is expected to release somewhere around August or September, with top-of-the-end hardware and all the latest features that we’ve come to expect with all iterations of the Galaxy Note line. While initial rumors pegged the launch date for September at the annual IFA conference held in Berlin, recent rumors suggest that the phone will see the light of day earlier than expected, debuting on August 12 and then hitting the shelves on August 21.

Another rumor suggests that the phone will carry USB Type-C connectivity, making it the first phone to feature the new standards. Following the immense success of the Galaxy S6 Edge, it’s expected that the Note 5 will also launch alongside a dual-edge variant. Other rumors suggest that the phone will ship with a super-AMOLED 5.7- or 5.9-inch display, with 2K (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution. Powering the device will either be a homegrown Exynos 7422 processor with power efficiency improvements, or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 815 chipset with 4GB RAM. As for the camera specs, the main camera is expected to have a 16-megapixel module, along with the ability to shoot 4K video as OIS. There have been a couple of reports suggesting that the Galaxy Note 5 will ship with Android M, but it’s highly unlikely.

One of the main innovations expected in the new Exynos 7422 chipset is that it will contain the CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage, and even the Modem on a single chip. This will reduce the overall size of the chip, as well as offer power efficiency improvements.

OnePlus2:

Launched by the little-known company OnePlus, the OnePlus One was a surprising success, mainly because of the company’s high attention to detail and the optimized software, which was developed by the maker of CyanogenMod. Despite matching all of the flagship smartphones in terms of performance and build quality, the OnePlus One cost only half the price of the phones, competing in the same category. Its successor, OnePlus 2, will launch on July 27, and is expected to feature a slew of improvements over its predecessor.

According to numerous rumors, the phone should sport a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, along with a fingerprint scanner for easy access with additional security. Some rumors also suggest the phone will ship with a USB Type-C connector. Despite all these top-notch specs, the phone is expected to be priced under $450. While the Snapdragon 810’s original version has been known to exhibit slight heating issues, reports say that OnePlus has been working with Qualcomm to resolve the issues and release a 2.1 version of the processor.

As for the battery life, the phone will ship with a 3,300 mAh battery, which is a slight bump-up from the previous iteration’s 3,100 mAh. We can predict that the phone will have a longer battery life; however, that cannot be confirmed until the screen type of OnePlus 2 is confirmed. The current debate is that the phone will either feature QHD (2560x1440 pixels) or a Full HD (1920x1080 pixels) display.

Surprisingly, the fingerprint sensor will reportedly even beat the iPhone in terms of speed accuracy, which is the current market leader in terms of fingerprint sensors. It’s not yet known where the fingerprint sensor will be located or whether there’ll be a home button to begin with.

Based on recent rumors, OnePlus 2 will rock a 16-megapixel camera module on the back, equipped with OIS, along with a 5-megapixel shooter on the front. As for the design, it’s expected that the device won’t use metal for most of the design; instead, a rough variant of plastic will be utilized, making for a better overall grip.

Posted by Unknown Sunday, July 19, 2015

Update Mobile Security : Sammy Shoots Out Updates To Plug Mobile Keyboard Snooping Bug

Samsung has promised to deploy updates to resolve a serious mobile keyboard snooping bug, with security policy fixes expected in the coming days, the company said on Thursday – while simultaneously downplaying the issue.

As previously reported, researchers at security firm NowSecure warned that a problem involving the keyboard pre-installed with Samsung devices created a spying risk.

The risk arises from a design decision which meant updates were made over an unsecured, unencrypted HTTP connection, rather than HTTPS.

Worse yet, the update process has system-level access and the authenticity of updates isn’t checked, creating a mechanism for skilled hackers to push malware.

More than 600 million Samsung mobile devices – including the recently released Galaxy S6 – are potentially vulnerable to a greater or lesser extent.

“The Swift keyboard comes pre-installed on Samsung devices and cannot be disabled or uninstalled. Even when it is not used as the default keyboard, it can still be exploited,” an advisory by NowSecure explained.

“This can be exploited in a manner that requires no user interaction — a user does not have to explicitly choose to download a language pack update to be exploited," it added.

Remote code execution creates an open goal for attackers to snoop on Samsung devices, as third-party security experts have been quick to point out.

Paul Ducklin, a senior security advisor at Sophos, has a decent run-down of the issue here.

Sammy admitted there was a problem, while arguing that various factors make an attack difficult to pull off in practice. It said it was unaware of any exploitation, which – in any case – is guarded against by its KNOX security architecture on the latest model.

Nonetheless, the Korean consumer electronics giant will release an update, as a blog post explained.

    This vulnerability, as noted by the researchers, requires a very specific set of conditions for a hacker to be able to exploit a device this way.

    This includes the user and the hacker physically being on the same unprotected network while downloading a language update. Also, on a KNOX-protected device there are additional capabilities in place such as real-time kernel protection to prevent a malicious attack from being effective.

    So, the likelihood of making a successful attack, exploiting this vuln is low.

    There have been no reported customer cases of Galaxy devices being compromised through these keyboard updates. But as the reports indicated, the risk does exist and Samsung will roll out a security policy update in the coming days.

The issue involves Samsung's version of the app, a rebadged version of the popular SwiftKey keyboard for Android.

Downloads of SwiftKey Keyboard from Google Play or the Apple App Store are not affected by this issue, as developer SwiftKey emphasised. ®

Posted by Unknown Sunday, June 21, 2015

Update Samsung Technology : Samsung S6 Edge's Indomitable Camera

Samsung had the world wondering what it meant by ‘Next is Now’ during the launch of the Galaxy S6 series. After the launch, Samsung had touted that it had come up with a camera unit that it was putting into the S6 series that would be second to none. Sounds familiar? Something that every phone company says nowadays with every launch? Well, Samsung was not kidding at all.

Did we take it at face value? No, We took it for a ride across mountains, waterfalls, valleys and rugged roads as Samsung chose to let us explore the camera on a trip to Peiling in Sikkim.

Here is what we figured how and what exactly drives the camera engine:

The Camera Unit

The technology behind the camera is cutting edge. The combo of a premium wide-angle 16MP shooter and a front wide-angle 5MP camera makes it a must-have device if the user is a photography or selfie lover.

The rear camera comes with a BSI CMOS sensor, a 1.9 aperture and an image stabilisation system that makes it way better than the S5 camera. Interestingly, the camera is constantly in stand-by mode, which means it can be launched under a second by double-clicking the home button.

The South Korean handset-maker has also upped the tech behind its front 5MP shooter. The camera has 43 percent larger pixels than the S5 along with real-time HDR and multi-frame low light modes.

The video camera supports 4K video and the user interface seems to have been simplified with fewer menus and pre-installed apps. The Pro mode also offers a range of manual controls including ISO, exposure compensation and white balance in a simple yet hassle-free manner. Control over shutter speed is available through third party apps.

Camera Modes

There are a plethora of modes including the auto and the manual mode. The user has the option of choosing between the Panorama, Selective Focus and Virtual Shot, Fast & Slow motion. HDR mode is accessible via an icon on the main screen. Again, the firm has given the users a choice to download more modes from the Galaxy Store including Animated Photo, Sports Shot and Sound & Shot.

Gallery and Editing

The gallery app is a breath of fresh air. Images can be viewed by albums or date and you can filter to show people images or documents only. There is also a good range of editing options including rotation, cropping and a range of colour and tonal modifications. Also, a wide range of filter effects options are available.

Effects
The Edge offers a range of filter effects that can be accessed straight from the main screen and are applied to the full-size image. There’s also the option to download more. Some of the effects are crucial as it results for a very quick edit that can’t do any harm.

Image Quality

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge’s image quality is best among smartphones. Be it any light condition the F1.9-lens produces sharp images in good detail in bright light. Photo chromatic aberrations are maintained and effects, filters add on to give a finished photo right on the device. Samsung’s camera seems to also maintain a very good balance between noise reduction and detail retention across the ISO range.

Industry Ranking and Verdict

The Galaxy S6 Edge performs well across all video modes. Detail, exposure and white balance are good. On the downside, “rolling shutter” effect is noticeable and under artificial light colour casts can occur although down to a near minimum. The interesting part here for consumers is that photos and videos can be readily edited on the phone without even being transferred to a computer and released online.

According to DxOMark’s tests, the Galaxy S6 Edge performed well and with a score of 86 points, is the new number one in the DxOMark smartphone rankings, relegating its stable—mate Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus to the number two and three spots respectively. The Galaxy S6 Edge captures good detail in all light conditions, colour and white balance are reliable and the AF works swiftly.

Some noise is visible in low light and when using the flash you can end up with a colour cast under tungsten light, but those issues are shared with many other smartphones, the industry analyser has said. DxOMark is the trusted industry standard for camera and lens image quality measurements and ratings.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, June 20, 2015

News Update : Appeals Court Rules Samsung Won't Have To Pay $930 Million In Apple Patent Case

Samsung will not have to pay all of the $930 million in damages that Apple was awarded in 2012, a U.S. appeals court ruled Monday.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., agreed with a California federal jury that Samsung violated Apple design and utility patents related to the iPhone. However, the appeals court reversed the jury’s finding that Samsung infringed on Apple’s trade dress, or the overall look and packaging of a product.

Thus, the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, where the case was originally tried, must recalculate the portion of the settlement dealing with trade dress.

The aesthetics of an iPhone can’t be protected, the appeals court said. Apple argued the iPhone’s rounded edges, among other features related to the device’s appearance, were meant to give the smartphone a unique look.

However, the appeals court noted that Apple had made other statements claiming these features also made the phone more intuitive to use. Claims of trade dress violations must be balanced with a company’s right to conduct business by imitating a competitor’s product, according to the court. If the court allowed Apple to trademark these features, the company could have a monopoly on them.

Apple sued Samsung in 2011 alleging that Samsung phones infringed on several iPhone patents. In 2012, a federal jury sided with Apple and Samsung was ordered to pay $1.05 billion in damages, although Apple had sought $2.75 billion. The judge in the case later reduced the figure to $930 million.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 19, 2015

News Handset Update : Galaxy S6 Edge: Is Its Distinctive Style Worth The Premium Price?

What will customers pay for style?

That's the question faced by the marketing teams behind the Apple Watch, whose 18k gold models are priced to start at $10,000.
big data charts graphs analysis woman user

The same issue confronts marketing teams for the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, with its unusual front glass display that wraps partly around both side edges.

Pricing in the U.S. for the Edge and its more conventional Galaxy S6 cousin are due out Thursday, according to analysts, with shipments expected as early as April 10. Based on prices already revealed in several countries, the unlocked version of the Edge could price out at 11% to 30% more than the Galaxy S6 with equivalent storage.

In nearly every way, the Edge and the Galaxy S6 are the same device, except for the Edge's unusual curved edges made of Gorilla 4-strengthened glass. Both phones have 5.1-in. displays and 64-bit processors, and both support Samsung Pay with magnetic and NFC payment capabilities and embedded wireless charging.
Even with such similarities, buyers in Turkey will pay 11% more for the Edge, and in the UK they will pay up to 30% more under one UK carrier's subscription plan, according to prices reported by Tech Times and others.

Samsung published pricing for an unlocked Edge with 32 GB at €699 (about US$767) in Spain on March 4 then more recently added 32 GB unlocked Edge pricing of €849 (around US$931). That's a 21% premium.

Is it worth it?

Value is in the eye of the beholder. A large part of the value of the Edge's styling (as well as for the top-line Apple Watch) will depend on what buyers think other people will think of them as they go about their lives using their new gadgets. Marketing teams know this, but they still spend enormous amounts of time studying how to put a price on such a perceived value. It's the essence of good advertising.

If the images in marketing videos and ads create the proper aura, that will help. Apple is known for its marketing prowess, and Samsung has benefited, some, from Apple's lead. So far, Apple's in-store marketing of the Apple Watch appears far more involved than any smartphone or smartwatch marketing campaign by any manufacturer.

But marketing alone won't justify a higher price for fashion: Much of the premium price for the Edge will have to come from something almost intangible and undefinable.

"Fashion still plays a big role in purchasing a smartphone," said Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar WorldPanel ComTech. "Having something that looks distinct and different from what you owned before matters a lot to consumers."

MIlanesi said she expects the Edge, unlocked, will cost $50 to $100 more than an equivalent-sized Galaxy S6 in the U.S. That would be well below the $164 price increase for the 32 GB Edge in Spain over the 32 GB Galaxy S6.

There is a higher cost in making the Edge's curved screen than the screen on the Galaxy S6, she noted. "It's not to be expected that Samsung would just absorb that increased cost, as that would then put in question the price of the Galaxy S6," she said.

Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates, said in some ways the actual cost of the Edge is irrelevant, although he expects the Edge to cost 15% to 25% more than the Galaxy S6.

"Edge is meant to be a halo device, to show that Samsung can produce compelling devices as well as anyone," Gold said. "To that end, it appeals to those who must have the best, and the actual cost of the device is less relevant than the mainline device geared toward the masses like the Galaxy S6. That's not to say that Samsung doesn't want to sell a lot of the Edge devices, but Samsung could sell relatively fewer than the S6 and have the device be successful."

However much more the Edge is priced, analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said Samsung needs to be thinking of pricing its Galaxy S6 at 25% below the price of the iPhone 6 to have a chance to sell well. "That doesn't guarantee great sales, it just enables the possibility," he said. "Samsung needs to invest in marketing their differentiators in a clear way that means something to consumers."

Based on unlocked pricing in Spain with current exchange rates, the 64 GB unlocked Galaxy S6 will cost about $877 (€799), which doesn't come close to the discount Moorhead has in mind. The iPhone 6 with 64 GB is $749 unlocked (from an earlier $849), according to Apple's Web site.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, March 26, 2015

News Samsung Update : Samsung Buoyed By 'Huge' Galaxy S6 Preorders

Summary:Samsung, which saw profits tumble by 60 percent last year, is seeing an uptick in its fortunes thanks to stronger than anticipated Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge preorders.

Samsung, which saw profits tumble by 60 percent last year, is seeing an uptick in its fortunes thanks to stronger than anticipated Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge preorders.

 

"To be honest, pre-orders of the two Galaxy variants from our major clients are really huge," Samsung's Chief of Mobile, Shin Jong-Kyun, told reporters at MWC last week. And now analysts are pitching in with string estimates.

Henry H Kim, analyst for Citibank, has revised his estimate for Galaxy S6 shipments this year. He is now expecting Samsung to ship 46 million Galaxy S6 handsets this year, up from his previous estimate of 38 million.

Kim also believes that interest in the S6 will also pull in sales for lower-priced handsets. On top of that, he sees the S6 as being good for the supply chain as a whole.

"Success of GS6 will have positive chain impacts on the mid- to low-end market leadership and in-house component businesses (overall DRAM/NAND memory with content growth, mobile AP LSI and AMOLED display panel)."

Despite this, Kin still believes that Samsung will report a 1 percent quarterly decline in operating profits for the first quarter due to "overall slow seasonality" over the Chinese New Year, but that the second quarter will be much more fruitful, with the company expected to post a 39 percent increase in quarterly profit.

According to an unnamed executive, preorders for the Galaxy S6 stand at around 20 million, with the higher-priced (and presumably, higher-margin) Galaxy S6 Edge making up 5 million of that.

 

Phone Gallery:

 

Posted by Unknown Thursday, March 12, 2015

News Gadgets Update : Time Check: Smartwatches Before Apple Clocks In

EW YORK — As the tech world's attention turns Monday towards Apple's big press event, it is important to remember that the upcoming Apple Watch is far from the only smart timepiece in town. Dozens of smartwatches, fitness bands and other wearables have come to market over the past few years sporting various designs and a variety of different platforms.

Here is a breakdown of the current state of wearables and some of the devices the Apple Watch will compete with.

*Android Wear. Google officially entered the smartwatch space last year with its Android Wear devices. Priced between $199 and $329 "Google watches" can do many of the things Apple promises its device will do including voice search, notifications and the ability to monitor a person's heart rate.

Samsung, LG, ASUS, Sony and Motorola have all released devices for Google's platform with LG's G Watch R, Motorola's Moto 360 and ASUS's ZenWatch in particular getting positive reviews for their designs. Devices still suffer from weak battery life and a lack of compelling apps, and sales have been poor. According to Canalys only 720,000 devices running Google's smartwatch platform shipped in 2014

Android Wear makers are preparing a new slate of devices for 2015 to compete with Apple's watch. In an interview with Recode, Motorola president Rick Osterloh promised that his company will release new products in the "later part of the year." Chinese giant Huawei announced this week its first Android Wear smartwatch, featuring a sharp, circular screen.
 

*Samsung Gear Samsung has been experimenting with smartwatches since the launch of the original Galaxy Gear in the fall of 2013 though it has yet to release a device with a lasting impact on the market. Limited apps, uninspired designs and compatibility solely with Samsung phones have sorely plagued early models.

Samsung made progress with last year's Gear S, a device with a stylish two-inch curved display. The watch runs Samsung's Tizen software. It still however only works with Samsung phones and remains pricey at $299 without a contract (the device also has a 3G modem for use when not near your phone).

Out of the six wearables Samsung has released so far, Gear S is the most encouraging sign that the company is learning from its past mistakes.
*Pebble. Next to Android Wear the most direct threat to the Apple Watch comes from Kickstarter darling Pebble.

Pebble's current watches, the Pebble and Pebble Steel, have been among the more popular smartwatches to date thanks to a growing app catalog, seven days of battery life and compatibility with Android and iOS devices. The watches have also traditionally been much more affordable, priced at $99 for the original Pebble or $199 for the Pebble Steel.

The company recently announced two new devices, Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel. Unlike prior models the new Pebbles are faster, sleeker and utilize a color e-Paper display with customizable 'smartstraps" that promise added functionality. The Time Steel in particular seems poised for battle against Apple's Watch, what with its enhanced display, premium design and 10 days of battery life.

Pebble Time is priced at $199 ($179 for Kickstarter backers) and ships in May while Pebble Time Steel will be available in July for $299 ($250 for Kickstarter backers). Both are currently available on Kickstarter.

* Fitness bands and other wearables. In addition to the defined category of smartwatches, the Apple Watch will also be competing against various fitness bands that offer some same functionality but are more health focused. They track steps, check your heart rate and monitor your sleep. Fitbit, Jawbone, Microsoft, and have all released devices in the space, with others like HTC (and partner Under Armour) about to plunge in.

Such wearables generally boast longer battery life and work with iOS and Android.

*"Less as more" smartwatches. Not all smartwatches on the market feature big digital displays. Withings and Martian are adding slight modern touches to traditional analog watch faces. Martian, which recently partnered with Guess to offer more stylish designs, incorporates a small screen underneath an analog watchface to display notifications from your smartphone. Withings forgoes a digital display entirely opting solely for an elegant analog watch face on its Activité watches to track steps and sleep.

While limited in functionality both watches work with Android or iOS devices and have long-battery life, up to 8 months on the Withings watches.

Apple has made no secret that it hopes its device will appeal to the health and fitness crowd as well. The base $349 Apple Watch Sport, will come with a more durable watchband designed for use while exercising. All models will feature heart rate sensors and integrate with the iPhone's Health app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has also been quite vocal about his health aspirations for the new watch. Speaking at conference recently he offered the hope that the Apple Watch will cure the "new cancer," that is sitting for long periods of time.

Many questions still surround the Apple Watch, from battery life concerns to the pricing for its higher-end variants. One thing remains abundantly clear: the market for smartwatches is wide open.

Posted by Unknown Friday, March 06, 2015

News Samsung Update : Samsung Tease Metal Galaxy S6, T-Mobile

Samsung's "next big thing" is almost here, and T-Mobile is already signing up customers.

The carrier's new teaser site all but confirms the Galaxy S6 (with an image and "six appeal" slogan), promising more news on March 1.

Samsung, meanwhile, released a teaser photo on Instagram with #TheNextGalaxy hashtag, as well as a video (below), which seems to confirm reports that the phone will have a metal exterior.

Earlier this month, Samsung sent invitation to its Unpacked event, where it is expected to launch its next-gen flagship Galaxy smartphone.

The Korean tech giant has remained mum about specifics, but rumors suggest the Galaxy S6 will include a Quad HD, 2,560-by-1,440 display and the same IMX240 camera sensor used on the Galaxy Note 4. And, the front camera gets a bump to 5 megapixels, while Samsung will reportedly drop the 16GB storage option in favor of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities.

The company is also prepping a Snapdragon 810 model, in addition to an Exynos-equipped version, packing a new Exynos 7420—a fully 64-bit chip with eight processor cores. It is also likely to run Android 5.0 Lollipop, and come with 3GB of RAM and a new LTE model designed by Samsung.

There may even be a swipe-based fingerprint sensor—similar to the iPhone's Touch ID feature.

On the hardware front, Samsung's invitation hinted at a curved handset, like the Galaxy Round or Note Edge. More recently, rumors emerged of a three-sided phone—one in which the screen wraps around the phone's sides.

We'll have to wait until March 1 for the big reveal, but curious fans can check out designers Ivo Maric and Jermaine Smit's "I am #TheNextGalaxy" concept video on YouTube.

Keep up with the Galaxy S6 news via SamsungMobile on Twitter. PCMag will have full coverage of the March 1 launch, which will be live-streamed.

T-Mobile, meanwhile, declared victory last week, claiming that the wireless provider has surpassed Sprint to become the No. 3 U.S. carrier, though that's open to interpretation.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, February 24, 2015

News Top Android Update : Top Android News Of The Week - New Trojan, DIY Repair Site, And Windows App Does Android

Summary:This week in the world of Android saw news of a new site for those who want to fix their own gadgets, an easy way to run Android apps under Windows, and an Android trojan is out that works even when you think you're device is shut down.

iFixit goes full-bore with Android Repair Hub :

Chances are you've seen one of iFixit's breakdown articles for some device or another. These folks are experts at tearing open even the smallest gadgets and determining how easy they would be to repair when something goes wrong.

They've announced they are taking this expertise to the next level, with user forums sharing information to help owners repair their own gadgets. The Android Repair Hub is going strong, as they already have repair guides for 250 Android devices.

Source: Android Community

Malware discovered that works when device is off :

Security experts at AVG have discovered a vicious Android malware exploit that quietly takes over devices when installed. It is particularly insidious as it makes the device owner believe they have they have shut down their device, but in reality it keeps running although the gadget appears to be off.

The malware can make calls, send texts, and take photos while the owner believes the device is shut down.

Source: Net Security

Run Android apps on Windows PCs :

Not sure why you'd want to but those wishing to run Android apps on a Windows system can easily do so with AmiDuOS. This $10 Windows app runs Android (KitKat) that can run Android apps.

The app is easy to install, and in minutes you can be running your favorite Android apps. It supports the Amazon app store and the company has instructions for installing the Google Play store.

Source: Computerworld

Rumor: Next Samsung tablet to be thinner than iPad Air 2 :

Samsung has a big event early next month where it's expected to unveil new tablets and the Galaxy S6. A rumor based on information from insiders says one of the products to be launched is the Galaxy Tab S2.

What's interesting is that the insiders claim the new Samsung tablets will be thinner than the iPad Air 2. Samsung will supposedly offer the Tab S2 in both 8-inch and 9.7-inch versions.

Source: Sammobile

Posted by Unknown Monday, February 23, 2015

News Samsung Gadget Review : Samsung Gear VR Review: A Shallow Dip Into the Virtual Pool

For decades, virtual reality has been both a tech buzzword and the stuff of science fiction. But nowadays, it’s something you can actually buy and experience for yourself thanks to products like Samsung 's005930.SE +0.22% Gear VR headset. Virtual reality isn’t mainstream just yet, but Gear VR is a significant step in taking VR to the masses. It’s also one of the best virtual reality headsets I’ve used, so far.


. The best thing about it is also its biggest setback. Gear VR uses a smartphone for its display and processing power—which means you don’t have to invest in a PC or videogame console to play games or watch videos. But it only works with one model: Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4.

The experience itself is awesome. Once you put it on, your field of view is consumed by virtual menus that direct you to different apps and games. You control what you see based on where you point your head, and a touch panel on the right side of the device. Floating deep in the ocean is thrilling, especially when you turn your head and suddenly see with sharks swimming by. It’s more immersive than anything you can do with a couch and TV, though having to rely on a set of headphones for decent audio is distracting.

The headset itself is lightweight and comfortable, though it left me feeling motion sick after about 20 minutes of wear. This is an issue that plagues every VR headset on the market right now.

There also isn’t much content to check out yet for Gear VR. You can watch Coldplay and Paul McCartney perform individual songs while you stand there, as if you were in the front row. You can play a handful of short, simplistic games reminiscent of what you’d play on a smartphone. You can watch a few movie trailers and a few 360-degree videos in Samsung’s Milk VR video app. And there are virtual deep sea dives and space excursions. But this isn’t a deep library—you can do all of this in the course of an hour or two.

Hopefully, the amount of stuff you can do with a VR headset will change over time, but there are no guarantees. As wowing as Gear VR is, I wouldn’t recommend you ditch your current phone for a Note 4 and this headset. If you’re an early adopter, if you’re intrigued by virtual reality and if you already own a Note 4, then Gear VR is worth the $200. Otherwise, just wait. More headsets will arrive this year and next with better displays, more content and wider device compatibility.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, February 21, 2015

News Product Released : Samsung Galaxy S6 And S6 Edge Look Like This

The good news: in just over a week Samsung will formally unveil the Galaxy S6. The bad news: it may have nothing new to show. The nadir for Samsung has struck today after two hugely talented designers rounded up every consistent leak to create stunning renders of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge from every angle.

The duo, Ivo Maric and Jermaine Smit, had huge amounts of information to go on – including full schematics and chassis components – but putting them altogether remains no mean feat and the finished video reveals the radical new direction Samsung will take with both handsets.

The attention to detail in the video is staggering with even the handsets’ colour options from leaked Pantone numbers shown off. There is also an illustration of the phones’ expected wireless charging and the enlarged, slightly more protruding home button which will house an upgraded fingerprint sensor. Particularly impressive are the lifestyle renders at the 1 minute 30 second mark.

Inaccuracies? Nothing obvious. This is by far the most impressive handset render I’ve seen. Of course Samsung could have us all fooled and pull out something completely different at its 1 March launch, but I highly doubt it.

Furthermore the design changes are a big step in the right direction for Samsung. I’m still not convinced the Galaxy S6 will outshine the upcoming HTC One M9 in the looks department, but the S6 Edge will be a real head turner.

Then again perhaps the bigger questions about the Galaxy S6 at this stage are all internal. Namely: performance, battery life and the software experience.

The first two will be greatly influenced by Samsung’s decision to ditch Qualcomm QCOM +0.75% for its own Exynos 7420 chipset. Surprisingly the Galaxy S6 will have a smaller battery than its predecessor so Samsung’s claims about the greater efficiency of the 7420 will need to stand up.

In addition Samsung is said to be making a major U-turn when it comes to software with much of the bloatware associated with its TouchWiz Android interface being stripped away. Again the primary benefit should be greatly improved performance.

Having suffered deeply disappointing Galaxy S5 sales, the Galaxy S6 (developed under the codename ‘Project Zero’) is Samsung’s big play at getting back on track. Based on the picture we are now able to put together I think the company is on the right track.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, February 21, 2015

New Product Launched : Samsung Launches Four Phones For India, Galaxy Active Tab

Samsung seems to be finally waking up to the threat of affordable 4G devices in markets like India. The Korean tech giant, which has been facing the heat from Chinese entrants in its pocket boroughs, on Monday announced four new smartphones at its Samsung Forum 2015 in Bangkok.

The new phones include a mid-range Galaxy  A7 priced at Rs 30,499 and touted as the thinnest Galaxy phone yet. The 4G devices include the 5-inch Galaxy Grand Prime 4G, 4.5-inch Galaxy Core Prime 4G and Galaxy J14Gbwith a 4.3-inch screen. The phones will be priced upwards of Rs 9900 and will be available from March.

The company also announced the availability of the enterprise oriented Galaxy Tab active in India with dust and waterproof capabilities. The tablet will come to India at a price point of around Rs 52,000.

Vice president of Samsung India Asim Warsi said the company will have new features in its 4G phones like download booster and dual SIM. The company now has a full bouquet of 4G devices.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, February 17, 2015

New Product Release : Samsung Galaxy S6 To Sport 'Amazingly Fast' TouchWiz UI; Release Dates Tipped

Samsung has already been reported to be working on a light TouchWiz UI expected to debut on the Galaxy S6 flagship. Now, a new report with new details about the TouchWiz UI on the Samsung Galaxy S6 has surfaced on the Internet.

One of the biggest changes likely to be seen on the Galaxy S6 is the removal of the pre-installed Samsung bloatware (or in-house Samsung apps).

As of now, there is no word which are the apps that will not be pre-installed on the next flagship model. The report speculates that S Voice, S Health, S Note or Scrapbook will not be preloaded, and instead will be offered via Galaxy Apps store.

Sammobile cites insiders to claim Samsung will preload some Microsoft apps on the Galaxy S6, a move likely to be a result of settled contract dispute over patent royalties between both the companies.

Some of the popular Microsoft Office apps likely to be preloaded on the Galaxy S6 are OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile (alongside Office 365 free subscription), and Skype.

The report also claims that in terms of performance, the new TouchWiz will be "amazingly fast" compared to the TouchWiz UI version skinned on Android 5.0 Lollipop on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. 

"Samsung has also adopted a lot of animations and effects that debuted on Lollipop - we can already see some of these effects in motion on Lollipop on existing Samsung devices, and it looks like the visual experience will be even better on the Galaxy S6," it adds.

The report also lists some UI changes from the new TouchWiz such as a revamped default keyboard app; more theme options; colourful Samsung apps; app drawer to include 4x4, 4x5 and 5x5 icon layouts; music app to still run in full screen mode, and the dialler app is described as "green as grass."

In other news, a Samsung employee has posted vacation blackout periods, tipping the possible release date of the next flagship.

PhoneArena received the tip from the alleged Samsung employee according to whom the first blackout periods in coming months are March 22 to March 30 and another on or around April 19.

The publication speculates that the first blackout period in last week of March could see the launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 while another blackout period in April might see the launch of the anticipated curved-display variant of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S6 flagship, likely to be dubbed Galaxy S6 Edge, or Galaxy S Edge.

Samsung in all probability is set to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship and the curved-display variant, Galaxy S6 Edge at the Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event scheduled for March 1.

Posted by Unknown Sunday, February 15, 2015

News Product Update : Samsung Shares A Rather Intriguing Teaser For Its Galaxy S6 Announcement

All sorts of rumors have been popping up about Samsung's next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6, in recent weeks. There have been claims that it will have a fully metallic body, and others saying that it won't; it's been said to have a 5.5-inch display, and another report claimed that a 'dual-Edge' variant will also be offered, with a screen that curves around both sides of the handset, similar in concept to the Galaxy Note Edge.

Thankfully, you won't have to endure all the speculation about the Galaxy S6 for much longer, as Samsung is preparing to officially unveil the new device in just a few weeks.

As Vietnamese site Tinhte first reported, Samsung is now sending out invites to a 'Galaxy Unpacked' event to be held on March 1, just ahead of the Mobile World Congress trade show. The company has recently refreshed many of its low- and mid-range handsets, and the timing lines up perfectly for an official announcement of the Galaxy S6.

Some may find the teaser image a little frustrating, simply because it tells us so little about the new device. The softly lit and gently sculpted silhouette of the device has certainly piqued our interest, but on the question of what exactly we're actually looking at here... well, your guess is as good as ours.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, February 03, 2015

News Product Update : After iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Triumph, Apple Inc Roars Back To Close Smartphone Gap With Samsung Electronics

With its hot-selling large-screen iPhones released last year, Apple has roared back to the top of the pack with South Korea’s Samsung in the smartphone market.

Surveys released today showed the popular iPhone 6 and 6 Plus helped Apple pull to a virtual tie in the fourth quarter with Samsung, which has been the leader for the past three years.

The research firm Strategy Analytics said Apple and Samsung shipped 74.5 million smartphones each in the last three months of 2014 for a market share of just under 20 percent.

A separate survey by IDC analysts said Samsung had a tiny edge over Apple with 75.1 million units sold.

Apple “beat everyone’s expectations,” said Ryan Reith at IDC.

Even more surprising is that Apple managed to increase the average selling price of its phones at a time when many consumers around the world are looking to low-cost handsets.

Another surprise was growth of iPhone sales in the US, “which is considered a saturated market,” according to Reith, and in China, where competition is intense.

“Sustaining this growth and higher (selling prices) a year from now could prove challenging, but right now there is no question that Apple is leading the way,” Reith said in a statement.

Samsung, which belatedly entered the market pioneered by Apple, had dethroned the US firm as the world’s top smartphone vendor in the third quarter of 2011.

The South Korean electronics giant then went on to replace Nokia as the global leader in overall mobile phone sales in the first quarter of 2012.

But Strategy Analytics said Samsung now faces “intense competition from Apple at the higher-end of the smartphone market, from Huawei in the middle-tiers and from Xiaomi and others at the entry-level.”

“Samsung may soon have to consider taking over rivals, such as Blackberry, in order to revitalize growth this year,” it added.

Even Apple has been surprised by its growth. Chief executive Tim Cook said during an earnings call this week that iPhone demand “has been staggering, shattering our high expectation.”

IDC’s Ramon Llamas told AFP that Apple is still seeing strong demand in early 2015 but that “it’s going to be difficult to maintain that breakneck pace.”

He added that “the fact that they attracted a number of Android users gives them growth prospects for 2015.”

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, February 03, 2015