Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge headed to AT&T, Sprint, and more
AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile US have announced that they will carry the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. AT&T prepaid brand Cricket Wireless also announced that it would carry the device, as did UK carriers Vodafone and Three.
BBM update brings PIN and Android Wear support
Back in January at CES, BlackBerry announced that BBM would get support for Android Wear. Now it’s Mobile World Congress and they are announcing that it’s officially available. You can now read BBM messages in their entirety, respond to them via Google Now or with a pre-defined message, and accept BBM invites all from your Android Wear smartwatch.
In addition to Android Wear support, the app itself also gets PIN support. You can now create a customized 6-8 digit alphanumeric BBM PIN that’s unique and easy to share. However, you will have to purchase it for $1.99 per month.
One last addition for Android users is the ability to purchase a no-ad subscription for $0.99 per month.
source: BlackBerry
Come comment on this article: BBM update brings PIN and Android Wear support
This BMX bike sensor is ready to track your off-road adventures
There’s no shortage of bike sensors that will track your performance. However, they usually assume that you’re on a garden variety road bike. What if your definition of biking involves BMX races or trick jumps? Never fear — you now have an activity tracker to call your own. Iddo has launched a crowdfunding drive for what it says is the world’s first BMX bike sensor. The angry-looking add-on (seriously, it’s a little metal skull) will capture ‘boring’ details like speed and GPS position, but it also includes a 9-axis motion sensor and an altimeter to detect your air time and tricks. The companion smartphone app will even score stunts, so you have an added incentive to master that bunny hop or tailwhip. If you’re racing, Iddo will let you map tracks and measure your lap times.
This peripheral won’t be cheap. You’re looking at a pledge between €159 to €189 ($177 to $211) to get Iddo’s sensor, which should begin shipping this September. Also, unfettered premium access to the app will cost about €5 ($6) per month once your free period runs out. With that said, this may well be your best option for quantifying your BMX exploits — give it a look if’ you can’t imagine cycling any other way.
Filed under: Peripherals, Transportation
Check out Samsung’s official introduction of the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 Edge
Samsung has posted the official introduction video for their two newly announced flagship devices, the Galaxy S 6 and its Edge counterpart. The video doesn’t really go into a ton of detail about the device, but it gives you a flashy overview of the biggest selling points of both phones.
Hit the break to check it out, and be sure to keep up with the rest of our MWC coverage.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Check out Samsung’s official introduction of the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Galaxy S5 quick look
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Following all the teasers and rumors, Samsung has unveiled the latest model in its Galaxy S flagship range at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Galaxy S3 was a hugely popular device and the S4 and S5 continued that heritage, but somewhere along the way the Galaxy S range started to stumble, ever so slightly. Thankfully it seems that Samsung has gained its footing again and the S6 is looking like it is a true champion device. But what did Samsung change from the S5 to the S6? Well let’s take a quick look at how the Samsung Galaxy S6 compares to last year’s Galaxy S model.
Design
The design language between the two generations of Samsung’s flagship share a lot of common elements, especially on the front, with a tactile home button, flanked by capacitive back and recent apps keys. Coming to the sides, you’ll find the typical Samsung button layout as well, with the volume rocker on the left and a power button on the right. Things start to differ when you look at some of the ports. The Galaxy S5 has a microUSB charging port at the bottom with a plastic flap for water proofing and a headphone jack at the top, whereas the Galaxy S6 ditches waterproofing and places the audio jack at the bottom, to the left of the microUSB charging port.
The most noticeable change from the Galaxy S5 is the build materials used on the latest flagship. The S6 has a much needed change in build material, with the plastic build and the dimpled back cover of the Galaxy S5 being replaced with a more premium build that has a metal frame sandwiched between a glass front and back.
Even with both devices featuring identical display sizes, the Galaxy S6 is the leaner and thinner of the two, allowing for an even better in-hand experience, helped along by the great feel the new materials provide.
There have been a lot of complaints about Samsung not doing much in terms of design and build quality between generations of its flagship S line, but finally, the S6 brings with it this much hoped for change. It’s not without its compromises though — the new unibody design means that the battery is no longer replaceable, a feature that was essential to many. Also, the thin design means Samsung had to sacrifice the microSD port.
Display
As mentioned above, the display size remains the same, with both smartphones featuring 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screens. But, Samsung has bumped up the resolution of the S6 from Full HD to Quad HD. As a result the pixel density has gone from 432 ppi to 577.
As always, Super AMOLED brings with it deep blacks, vibrant colors, and great viewing angles. This results in a fantastic experience on either display. Is QHD overkill on a 5.1-inch display? Some will say yes, some will say no, though most will admit there is at least some visible difference in clarity between the two displays.
Hardware and Performance
Samsung always packs its flagships with the latest and greatest processors. It was true of the S5 and it is true of the S6. The Galaxy S5 had a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801, or an Exynos 5 Octa (depending on your region), backed by 2 GB of RAM.
For the Galaxy S6 Samsung has given Qualcomm a miss this time around, and instead is solely relying on its in-house octa-core Exynos 7420 chip, coupled with 3 GB of RAM. Once again, performance is fantastic, but credit also has to be given to Samsung’s more streamlined iteration of TouchWiz. Things remain the same in other hardware, with both offering 32/64 GB of space, though the Galaxy S6 offers an 128GB model and lacks microSD, something that has long been a staple of the Galaxy S line. A fingerprint scanner is also available, but with an improved version with the S6 that is touch-based, instead of swipe based like on the S5.
One advantage the S5 does have, outside of microSD and removable battery, is with regards to the overall protection from the elements it provides, with its IP67 rating for dust and water proofing. As previously mentioned, this isn’t available with the Galaxy S6, but may make its way to a future ruggedized version.
In terms of battery, the Galaxy S6 actually packs a smaller 2,600 mAh battery, compared to the 2,800 mAh unit of the S5, which could be a problem given the higher resolution display, and the fact that the battery is now non-removable. That said, the Exynos 7420 is said to be a lot more frugal with power consumption, so we’ll have to wait for real world testing to see exactly how the Galaxy S6 fares in terms of battery life.
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | Samsung Galaxy S6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED 1920 x 1080 resolution, 432 ppi |
5.1-inch Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi |
| Processor | 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Adreno 330 GPU |
Exynos 7420 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16/32 GB, expandable | 32/64/128 GB |
| Camera | 16 MP ISOCELL camera 2 MP front-facing camera |
16 MP rear camera with OIS 5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens |
| Connectivity | WiFi a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS+GLONASS |
WiFi a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS+GLONASS |
| Networks | 3G/4G LTE | LTE cat 6 300/50 |
| Battery | 2,800 mAh | 2,550 mAh Fast charging WPC and PMA-compatible wireless charging |
| Software | Android 4.4 Kitkat (upgradeable to Lollipop) | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm 145 grams |
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm 138 grams |
| Colors | Black, white, gold, blue | Black, white, gold, blue |
Camera
The 16 MP ISOCELL rear shooter of the Galaxy S5 offers some great detail, fantastic color reproduction, and clear and crisp images. The Galaxy S6 also packs a 16 MP rear camera, this time borrowed from the Note 4, as such it should provide the same great experience. Samsung always includes a ton of features in its camera apps. The camera app on the S5 was very comprehensive and the app on the S6 builds on that feature base. Both devices therefore give you a good selection of modes and features to help you get the most out of the smartphone’s camera.
The Galaxy S6 does offer a few new tricks, such as the ability to double tap on the home button to launch the camera app in only 0.7 seconds. The rear camera also has a new feature called “tracking autofocus”, which tracks moving objects in the frame, such as moving cars or kids. Additionally, the new Auto HDR Mode now automatically turns itself on when the camera thinks it needs it.
Software
The Galaxy S5 runs Android 4.4 Kitkat, with an upgrade to Lollipop already available for some, of course with TouchWiz on top. While this iteration is quite smooth and sleek, it’s really not toned down at all. Features such as multi-window, the new S Health app with heart rate monitoring, and MyMagazine are all available, along with a bunch of gesture controls. The S5’s version of Android 5.0 didn’t bring any major UI changes, except for those related to the Recent apps screen and the notifications drop down.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S6 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop along with the latest version of TouchWiz. Finally it seems that Samsung has streamlined its software experience. While the UI looks about the same on the surface, the number of apps included out of the box have been slimmed down considerably. This should hopefully translate into a lighter, smoother experience. Of course it’s still a bit too early to judge how much better the GS6’s TouchWiz build fares, though we’ll be sure to put it through its paces in the days to come.
Conclusion at a glace
The story behind the S4 and S5 could be summed up as “more of the same,” but with the S6 the Korean electronics giant has finally broken free of its own self imposed design prison and brought us a device that is still a true Galaxy S phone, just better. Of course the S5 is still a great phone and with the unveiling of the S6 there could be Galaxy S5 handsets to be found at discounted prices.
Samsung Galaxy S6 international giveaway!
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday.
A big congratulations to last week’s winner of the LG G Flex 2 giveaway Kamil from Poland.
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This week we are giving away the freshly announced Samsung Galaxy S6!
The Samsung Galaxy S6 has landed, bringing with it a much needed injection of premium materials. Trading in its typical plastic design language, the latest Galaxy S family member features an aluminum frame sandwiched between a glass front and back.
Aesthetics are a major upgrade for the Galaxy S6, but that’s far from all that’s on offer. The phone also has a cutting-edge Exynos 7420 processor inside with 3GB RAM, and stunning 5.1-inch QHD display and a solid 16MP camera with OIS technology.
Samsung doesn’t stop there, the Galaxy S6 also sees a somewhat scaled back Touchwiz with a new theming app and considerably less Samsung apps installed by default.
Bottom-line, the Galaxy S6 takes all of what we love about the S series and catapults both the design language and software forward, making this easily the most exciting Galaxy S to date.
How to enter the giveaway
You can earn entry tickets into the giveaway by completing the following tasks in the RaffleCopter widget located below.
- [1 Ticket] Follow AA on Twitter.
- [1 Ticket] Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter.
- [1 Ticket] Join the AA Community Forums.
- [1 Ticket] Subscribe to one of the AA newsletters.
- [1 Ticket] Download the AA App.
- [10 Tickets] Refer friends to the giveaway. You will be given a unique URL to share with your friends or social networks. You will receive 1 bonus entry (up to 10 max) for every person who you refer to the giveaway using your unique URL.
Join Now!
Terms & Conditions
- The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
- If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
- We are not responsible for lost shipments.
- You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
- We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
- Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
- We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
- The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
Full terms & conditions and FAQ | Past giveaway winners [Gallery]
Withings Activité and Activité Pop fitness trackers gaining Android support on March 2nd
Withings has just announced that both its Activité and Activité Pop fitness trackers will gain Android support beginning tomorrow, March 2nd. Although the company’s Health Mate app will go largely unchanged, both wearables will be able to plug their data into Google Fit, Google’s recently-announced fitness platform. Android adopters can upload their Health Mate statistics directly into Google Fit, including steps, heart rate and weight.
For those who have never heard of the these fitness trackers, the Activité and Activité Pop are two of the most elegant wearables out there. They boast a super slim design, water resistance up to 165 feet, and work with a number of different watch straps. Oh, and thanks to the wearables’ CR2025 button cell batteries, you don’t even have to charge them… at all.
The Activité has been available directly through Withings’ site for some time now, but this higher end model will set you back $450. If you’re interested in saving a bit of money, the Activité Pop will come to both Withings’ website and Best Buy stores within the coming weeks for just $150.
If you’d like more information on the Withings Activité lineup, head to their website or take a look at the press release below.
Withings range of analogue watches with built-in activity trackers and fashion forward design are now compatible with world’s biggest mobile platform
March 1, 2015 – Withings, the leader in the connected health revolution, has today announced that both the Withings Activité and the Activité Pop will be compatible with Android mobile platform tomorrow, March 2. The two analogue watches are innovating the space of wearable health trackers by making the convergence of fashion and mobile technology accessible to everyone, including Android users across the globe. Withings also reiterates its commitment to the Android ecosystem by announcing compatibility with Google Fit, the new health hub by Google.
Activity trackers made for everyone
Activité and Activité Pop are at the crossroads between timekeeping and activity tracking, they are fashionable accessories that bring a new face to smartwatches. By fitting into anyone’s lifestyle, Activité and Activité Pop are the first watches that will address a global audience, going beyond the tech-savvy user. The introduction of the two analog watches at CES 2015 has generated high expectations about their potential. Android compatibility was then a priority for Withings; it is now available, one month after the European launch of Activité Pop, and right on time for the US launch.
“Following on from the overwhelming reception that both the Activité and Activité Pop have received on their elegance and design, we have listened to our dynamic Android community and it seemed natural for us to quickly provide Android compatibility for each product,” said Cédric Hutchings, CEO of Withings.
Withings and Android, a long term relationship
Withings has always acknowledged the potential of the Android community, and was committed to provide compatibility as soon as possible. Most devices of the ecosystem are already Android compatible, such as the Smart Body Analyzer, Withings’ bestseller, and the Smart Blood Pressure Monitor, now coming with Bluetooth connectivity. Withings Aura and Home will also soon be compatible.
Moreover, Withings Health Mate app offers the same features for iOS and Android; the app allows its users to track their steps on the largest range of iOS and Android smartphones.
Withings is also announcing compatibility with Google Fit, the new health hub by Google, to enable its users to automatically upload their Health Mate data into Google fit application. With its wide range of devices, Withings will be a key actor for Google Fit users, sharing the following measures:
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Smart Body Analyzer: Weight -
Withings Pulse 0x: Steps and Heart Rate -
Withings Health Mate app: Steps
Activité and Activité Pop, revolutionising activity tracking Apart from their design and dual compatibility, both Activité and Activité Pop include a set of game-changing features that make them truly wearable in the long run. Always up-to-date, Activité’s hands move automatically when it crosses time zones or the clock changes. There is no need to recharge it as a single standard watch battery powers it and lasts up to eight months. Activité and Activité pop are both waterproof up to 30 meters and can be worn during any type of activity.
“The activity tracker category has a huge problem with abandonment, and so consumers don’t really get to see the benefit of long-term data and the impact it can have on their health,” said Cedric Hutchings. “The Activité and Activité Pop’s design, ease of use and now Android compatibility combine for the most accessible activity tracker that we’ve ever seen.” Availability
Activité is available to buy from Withings.com for a MSRP of $450.
Activité Pop will be available at Best Buy stores nationwide and online in March 2015 for a MSRP of $149.95.
Sandisk’s new 200GB microSD card brings massive storage in a tiny size
SanDisk bills their latest microSD card has having the world’s highest capacity, and at 200GB we have little trouble believing them.
The just-revealed 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I “Premium Edition” is indeed the most capacious card we’ve seen, topping the 128GB we’ve previously seen from several manufacturers, including SanDisk.
Withings Activité wearables getting Android compatibility March 2
Withings has announced that their Activité devices will be adding compatibility with Android beginning tomorrow, March 2. The original Activité is already available on the Withings website, while the Activité Pop will come to the company’s website and Best Buy stores later this month.
Weekly poll results: which Android navigation app do you use?
Navigation apps are some of the most important apps we use from a safety standpoint.
Just think about it. A navigation app that sends you into off on some wild goose chase, into the sticks, or worse, off-road completely can cost you time and endanger you and anyone else you’re driving around. You want an app in your pocket you can trust, and so this week we asked you what navigation app you trusted with your route and your safety, and the results are in. And while these results are not surprising, they did bring us a spirited discussion on what matters to you — our readers — in your navigation apps.
AIVAnet 