Here’s how the Galaxy S6 can help Samsung overcome the iPhone 6
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8523547931208430″
data-ad-slot=”2010118040″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are by far Samsung’s best devices to date. It all started out as “Project Zero”; that’s when we found out Samsung was serious about revamping their design. What sets the S6/S6 edge apart from their predecessors is not only their high-quality build construction, but what’s on the inside powering the devices. The S6 is the features the highest specs of any Samsung device to date, which includes a beast of a processor in the Exynos 7420, 3 GB of RAM, and a best in class 16 megapixel rear-facing camera that sports optical image stabilization.
What makes the Galaxy S6/S6 edge so different is that Samsung has a full-on premium device. Not only that, but with Samsung pushing full force into marketing, they have a legitimate chance at taking down Apple and the hugely successful iPhone 6. The iPhone has long held the throne over Android phones as a premium manufacturer. While companies, such as HTC, have a premium Android device, they don’t have the marketing ability or the money that Samsung has. Now that Samsung has a premium device that they can tout, it’s their time to assume the throne. Here are five ways for Samsung to make that happen.
Keep the device in stock
When new devices come out that are extremely popular, the easiest way to be successful is keep the device in stock. Nothing can kill a devices buzz more so than lack of availability. For example, the Nexus 6 received wide demand, but Motorola had a tough time keeping the device in stock. This led to consumers (sans die-hard Nexus fans) to choose a different device. There is nothing worse than waiting for a new phone, only to find out it is backordered.
For the most part, Samsung is doing a swell job. They have already sold more devices than they expected and have already surpassed Galaxy S5 sales. Most carriers continue to have the devices available, and only some outlets, such as Best Buy, have the S6 edge on backorder.
This is by far the easiest solution for Samsung to overtake Apple. With the latest reports, the Galaxy S6 edge demand has risen much higher than Samsung expected, so they have to up production. The Galaxy S6 buzz is in high gear and the last thing Samsung wants to do is let that die off. Samsung hasn’t received this much attention since the Galaxy S3, so they are definitely on to something. Easiest solution: keep making the Galaxy S6 and MORE Galaxy S6 edges.
Fast updates
This has been a sore spot for users of Samsung devices in the past. Google would come out with the latest version of Android, but Samsung wouldn’t push out updates for quite a while; sometimes upwards of six months in between updates. There is only one thing worse than waiting for a backordered device, and that is waiting for it to receive the next major Android update. If you pay for a premium device at a premium cost, you expect for it to receive timely updates.
This is something that always shied die-hard Android users away from the South Korean giant, but they have been making strides to improve that. Nearly every Galaxy device from the past two years has already received Android Lollipop, which is amazing when coming from Samsung. The newer devices, such as the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy Note 4, all received the update within 90 days, give or take.
If Samsung wants to take another shot at Apple, they need to continually improve their update times. One thing that Apple has over Android is that they make the device and the operating system. This expedites the process; one update applies for all devices; whereas there are thousands of Android devices on the market and they all have to wait until Google pushes out the newest version. Once that happens, the smartphone manufacturer needs to tailor the upgrade to their device and their specified hardware.
If Samsung can continually deliver Android updates in 90 days or sooner, they will be well on their way to making consumers happy. The Galaxy S6 has changed many things about Samsung, so let’s hope update times follow suit.
Hardware
If there is one area where Apple phones, specifically the iPhone 6 are criticized, it’s in the hardware department. It’s 2015 and the latest iPhones run dual-core processors and 1 GB of RAM. Now, I will add it is quite a feat to get the performance they do out of those phones, but Apple is definitely behind the times. Enter Samsung.
Samsung has always put the top of the line equipment in their devices. They have always used the latest processor on the market and packed it with ample amounts of RAM. What makes the Galaxy S6 so special is that they went with the “top of the line” equipment that was available, which just so happened to be their in-house processor. That in-house processor is the octa-core Exynos 7420, which tops the benchmarks through and through. The Exynos 7420 coupled with 3 GB of LPDDR4 RAM brings out a blazing fast device.
One of the most used features on a smartphone in 2015 is the camera. Everyone loves taking pictures, whether it is of themselves, others, or even the scenery around them. Smartphones have turned everyone into professional (or so they claim to be) photographers.
Not only does the Galaxy S6/S6 edge blow the iPhone away in the performance category, it also features the best camera in a smartphone on the market… yes on the market. Once again, Apple is behind the times with an 8 megapixel camera whereas the S6/S6 edge touts a 16 megapixel monster that has optical image stabilization. Although, megapixel count doesn’t necessarily mean better picture it sure helps.
The Galaxy S6 may have twice the megapixels as the iPhone 6, but it also has a larger aperture. The S6 has an f/1.9 aperture compared to the smaller f/2.2 aperture of the iPhone 6. This means crisper shots in lower light, which is a challenge for most phones.
Market, market, and… market!
The standard Galaxy S6 is definitely a well-crafted device, there is no denying that. The S6 edge on the other hand is more than just a well-crafted device, it is an innovative device. Samsung needs to continue to market the device and not let up. The more people see the device, the more they will realize how premium the devices actually are.
The timing is perfect for Samsung to take hold of Apple defectors as well. Everyone knows that a year after the latest iPhone comes out, the next year an upgraded device comes out touting the ‘s’ moniker. Many people are waiting to see what Apple has in store for the iPhone 6s, but there is little to no hype surrounding the device. Not only that, it usually gets released sometime in early Q4, so there is a lot of time to sway potential customers.
Apple has had marketing down to a science and definitely knows how to ‘woo’ potential customers. For example, look at how many people are buying a $350+ Apple Watch.; it’s all in marketing. All Samsung needs to do is market the aforementioned categories about how it is better than the Apple iPhone. If Samsung can channel Apple’s marketing genius, they will be well on their way.
Don’t stop here
If there is one thing Samsung has learned is that once you make a great device, you can’t sit back and let other companies pass you by. They’ve done it in the past by being complacent with their new devices and their designs. The Galaxy S5 was just a slightly updated Galaxy S4, so much that it could have been called the Galaxy S4s in my opinion.
If Samsung really wants to take down the Apple giant, they need to continually build off their strong performances. The Galaxy S6/S6 edge are one of a kind devices and it will definitely be hard to build upon the strong showing the devices have made so far.
The Galaxy S6 edge is innovative, but there is so much potential for it to be improved. If the Galaxy S6 edge shows Samsung anything, it is that there is room for devices like that on the market. Hopefully, Samsung will put more time and effort into making it more usable and practical than ever.
According to analysts, the Galaxy S6 edge makes up for 50% of the S6 sales, so come this time next year, we may be looking at only a Galaxy S7 edge; you never know. It is feasible, and if that’s the case, the edge must bring along more defining features.
Samsung has definitely come a long way and their fate is completely in their hands. They have a ‘hit’ device on their hands and it is completely up to them where they are headed. If they have learned anything, they need to continue to push forward.
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8523547931208430″
data-ad-slot=”2010118040″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The post Here’s how the Galaxy S6 can help Samsung overcome the iPhone 6 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Huawei P8 Announced to World Stage
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8523547931208430″
data-ad-slot=”2010118040″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Today at a press conference in London, England, the long anticipated Huawei P8 has made its way onto the world stage.
The Huawei P8 is an absolutely gorgeous 5.2-inch Full HD device that brings with it a sleek, metallic design with new and improved camera features. The device follows the Ascend P7 from last year, although the company has dropped the Ascend part from the name, that doesn’t mean that it’s dropped quality. The phone has a great display and powerful front camera on board the device. The new handset is trying to improve on some of the issues that were found last year, such as bad sounding speakers, rear camera, and performance problems.
Some specifications of the P8 include a Kirin 930 processor featuring eight 64-bit cores, four Cortex A53 cores operating at 2 gigahertz, and four Cortex A53 cores running at 1.5 gigahertz, a marked improvement over last year. The P8 also has 3 gigabytes of RAM and storage space starting from 16 gigabytes, and that storage is expandable with an SD card, up to 128 gigabytes.
The new smartphone also sports a 2,680 mAh battery, which is housed in a chassis only 6.4 mm thick. The camera on the back doesn’t seem to protrude as it has on several flagship models that have been introduced this year. The camera sports a 13 megapixel rear camera, also equipped with optical image stabilization and a dual-LED flash, the front facing selfie camera is a 8 megapixel lens. Huawei has been working on new software features for the camera, The technical aspects include an image processor that Huawei says will be better than other DSLR offerings, as well as a 13 MP image sensor that includes a four color sensor described as the ” world’s first”. Quite a statement from such a thin handset.
The new P8 is also equipped with Android lollipop, 5.0, right out of the box. However, it will also carry Huawei’s custom skin, Emotion UI 3.1 over the lollipop build. We’ll be looking to see if the skin is lighter than last year’s offering.
The four colors it will be graced with are, Mystic Champagne, Titanium Grey, Carbon Black and, of course, Gold.
The Huawei P8 will be priced at about $500-$550 range, with sales in the U.S starting sometime in May. There will be a version for the European countries that will begin sales later this month. We’ll be here to get a more personal look at that time.
Source: Huawei
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8523547931208430″
data-ad-slot=”2010118040″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The post Huawei P8 Announced to World Stage appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Cuba inches toward a more connected future while the world watches
It’s been less than four months since President Barack Obama renewed diplomatic ties between the US and Cuba, and the slow invasion of American companies is already underway. Netflix swooped in and started offering its catalog of streaming content for $8 USD per month to the country’s financially fortunate. Then there’s Airbnb — the home-sharing startup that’s apparently valued at $20 billion — which just opened up more than a thousand of Cuba’s casas particulares (private homestays) to would-be American tourists. More US tech companies will start reaching for the country now that relations have defrosted, but let’s not forget the seeds needed for a homegrown Cuban tech scene have started to take root too… albeit very slowly. The one big thing holding that fledgling economy down? Infrastructure.
Striking out on their own
Entrepreneurship has been on the rise for the past few years, to the point where Cuba plays host to roughly half a million self-employed. A recent survey conducted by Bendixen and Amandi on behalf of Fusion and Univision put an even finer point on Cuba’s startup situation: 70 percent of the 1,200 respondents said they wanted to start their own business. Most people who apply for self-employment licenses open restaurants or run bed-and-breakfasts, but jobs like “computer programmer” are officially fair game now, too. The Huffington Post’s Scott Norvill points to an interesting example in YoTeLlevo, a sort of burgeoning “Uber for Cuba.” That’s putting it a little enthusiastically — there’s no smartphone angle, just a web app you can use to get quotes from three local cab drivers who ferry around foreigners and offer a slice of their fares to the company doing the coordinating. The YoTeLlevo people sure talk like startup types, though, noting that their drivers will add “sparkle” to your trip and just might become your “friend” — shades of Lyft, anyone?
Its genesis may have been unlikely, but here’s a tech startup born in response to tourism to the once near-isolated country, something that’ll only become easier with time. While startup life is hard enough, though, working in Cuba presents a different set of problems to tackle (edited slightly for clarity):
“The conditions for the internet access are precarious. I use an account I have from my organization to surf the web and do some things I need to do, but of course this is under the hood. Also this connection is very slow and unstable. To access the server and do updates to the app, I ask for favors to a friend of mine so I can use her account; I have to go to her house and connect from there, always in a hurry so I don’t consume much of her time.”
The network conundrum
There’s only one undersea cable connecting Cuba to the rest of the internet as we know it, and existing satellite data connections can be questionable. In other words, internet access in Cuba is spotty, expensive and highly limited, which is pretty tragic when steady networks are downright crucial to Cuba’s entrepreneurial and economic future. That could change soonish, though, thanks to an easing of licensing and export provisions laid out by Obama and the Treasury Department. In the president’s words, “Businesses will be able to sell goods that enable Cubans to communicate with the United States and other countries,” including “items for the establishment and update of communications-related systems.”
Long story short: Cuba could be in for a major network upgrade in the months and years to come. Hell, Huawei has already confirmed that it’s in talks with the Cuban government to bolster its infrastructure with commercial networking gear, though there’s no final deal in place just yet. And what of the mobile end of the spectrum? Cuba’s got around 2 million cellphones in people’s pockets — some network strengthening might mean great things for them too. After all, the upside to building out mobile networks in developing regions is that companies can leapfrog older network tech in favor of new, more efficient stuff.
Well, let’s look at it this way: All those devices are subject to the whims and foibles of ETECSA, the country’s sole telecom. Dig deep enough and you’ll see quite a mix of mobiles — many are your average, low-cost feature phones, but there’s a notable number of smartphones passed along by foreign well-wishers. The catch? ETECSA’s network hasn’t had enough oomph to offer data packages yet. It announced plans to offer mobile data access last year at a maximum rate of one Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) per megabyte through the wireless carrier Cubacel (remember, the average monthly wage in Cuba hovers between 12 and 20 CUC), and a report from Cubanet alleges that the company will roll out those wireless data packages to Cuba’s consumers soon. We wouldn’t be surprised if pricing was almost completely prohibitive, but it could help unlock the sort of mobile, app-based economy we’ve embraced so quickly in the US. Sounds like a step forward, right? Still, many Cubans don’t really trust ETECSA to get the job done properly, and rightfully so. To wit: The country only officially began to offer mobile email access through (guess who!) ETECSA in March 2014, and only supported the state-run Nauta.cu service. Long story short: It was sort of a disaster.
The tech world is paying attention
They might be the most eager to turn a profit, but Netflix and Airbnb aren’t the only tech titans keeping a close eye on what’s happening 90 miles off the Florida coast. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg just recently reaffirmed the social giant’s dedication to free and easy communication at a CEO conference in Panama City, and noted that he’d definitely consider bringing Facebook to Cuba when the time is right. With any luck, that’ll happen sooner rather than later — initiatives like Facebook Zero and Internet.org could help Cubans share ideas and spark meaningful conversations, though we’re not holding our breath waiting for the Castro government to jump on board.
High-ranking Google execs have visited Cuba a handful of times too, most recently in March to meet with rising computer science students on behalf of the company’s Ideas thinktank. The visit underscored yet more roadblocks to the growth of a mobile economy like the one we’re all too familiar with — students wondered why they couldn’t download certain (i.e. non-free) apps from the Google Play Store, and asked if they’d be able to list apps of their own creation there someday too. The answer was as uninspiring as you’d expect: It’s just not “possible for the moment.” Of course, the thing to remember is that moments pass. Things get better. Regimes soften and decay. What’s clear is that the desire to do more, build more and be more than the Old Cuba burns brightly in some. There’s room for momentous progress in Cuba, but the wait for the systems to allow it won’t be an easy one.
[Image credits: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa (Lead photo); Bendixen and Amandi (Pie chart); Google (Colorful pipes); WhiteHouse.gov (Mark Zuckerberg)]
Filed under: Internet
For smaller budgets, Huawei launches the Huawei P8 Lite
Although it was not part of their big event today to launch the Huawei P8 and Huawei P8max, the company also launched a third device aimed at the mid-tier market. The Huawei P8 Lite comes with a 5-inch display running at 1280 x 720 resolution and is powered by a Kirin 620 octa-core processor. Despite being a mid-tier device, the P8 Lite will support 4G LTE service and comes equipped with a reasonably capable 13 MP rear camera. The hardware also includes 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.
Huawei has not yet announced pricing or availability for the P8 Lite, although seeing it hit the same 30 markets as the P8 and P8max would not be surprising. Sources believe pricing should be consistent with something like the Motorola Moto G, which would be a competing device.
source: phoneArena
Come comment on this article: For smaller budgets, Huawei launches the Huawei P8 Lite
Lollipop beginning to roll out to the Verizon Galaxy Note 3
Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is next in line to receive the big update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The update, which is rolling out now, will bring your software version up to LRX21V.N900VVRUEOB6.
So what’s new in the Lollipop update? For starters, a big portion of the user interface will be revamped with Google’s Material Design guidelines. You can expect a redesigned notification shade, Settings menu and a few other tweaks on the UI side. Unfortunately the aesthetic changes won’t be as apparent as you’d see on a device running vanilla Android, but we think you’ll like the changes overall. You’ll also get a bunch of other new features like priority mode notifications, Smart Lock, actionable lock screen notifications and more.
The update is just beginning to roll out today, but if you haven’t gotten it yet, don’t worry. It might take a few days to come to your device. If you’d like to check for the update manually, head to Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for updates. For more information on exactly what the Lollipop update will bring, check out the source link below. And be sure to let us know in the comments when you receive your update!
Tim Cook Auctions Apple HQ Lunch Meeting, VIP Passes to Apple Keynote for Charity
For the third year in a row, Apple CEO Tim Cook is participating in a charity auction through CharityBuzz, offering whoever bids the most the chance to enjoy lunch with him at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. This year’s auction also includes two VIP passes to an Apple keynote event to watch Apple unveil new products.
Two people can have lunch with Cook, and the experience will last for approximately one hour. Lunch is included in the auction price, but the winning bidder will need to cover travel and accommodations. The exact date of the lunch will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time after the auction ends on May 6, 2015.
Join me for lunch (and a keynote!) and help a great cause. @RFKHumanRights is working toward a more just world. https://t.co/QxaKne4itb
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 15, 2015
The auction has an estimated value of $100,000, and bids are currently up to $37,500. This is the third year that Tim Cook has auctioned off an opportunity to spend time with him, offering a coffee meeting in 2013 that sold for $610,000 and a lunch meeting in 2014 that sold for $330,001.
Proceeds from the auction will once again benefit the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, a charity that aims to achieve a “just and peaceful world by partnering with human rights leaders, teaching social justice and advancing corporate responsibility.”
Android 5.0 Lollipop rolling out for Verizon Galaxy Note 3
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
It is a happy Wednesday for owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on Verizon’s network this morning as the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is starting to roll out. The update brings your flagship slab to version VRUEOB6 and brings along all the Material Design changes from Google and Samsung. You will see brighter colors, more fluid animations, lockscreen notifications and Smart Lock to name a few of the little perks.
As usual, the update is trolling out in stages across Big Red. That means not everyone will see the update this morning, or today for that matter. To check to see if you can grab it now head into the Settings > About Phone > Software updates> Check for updates and then Download Now. You will want to make sure you have well over 50% battery life, a solid Wi-Fi connection and plenty of time to kill while the update downloads and installs.
Source: Verizon 1 | Verizon 2 Via Droid-Life
The post Android 5.0 Lollipop rolling out for Verizon Galaxy Note 3 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Cricket Wireless to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 April 24th
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Cricket Wireless is just 9 days away from bringing consumers the latest flagship device from Samsung. This morning they have announced that they will be launching the Samsung Galaxy S6 on April 24th with a full retail price tag of $649.99. However, Cricket also now offers a Phone Payment Plan that lets customers get the device for $19.99 down with approved credit, or $49.99 down without.
“The Samsung Galaxy S 6 is a must-have device for smartphone lovers, and consumers are beginning to shop for a great deal. That’s where we come in,” said Andy Smoak, head of devices for Cricket Wireless. “Cricket’s low monthly rate plans combined with our new Phone Payment Plans make the latest premium devices like the Samsung S 6 easier to get. Add in the fact that Cricket has more 4G LTE coverage nationwide than T-Mobile, Metro-PCS, Sprint or Boost, and it makes Cricket a great choice for smart consumers.”
Pre-paid services often kept the higher priced flagship off their shelves in the past. The last few years though, has seen a change to that. While you will still find some of the more “off” type of devices like the ZTE Prelude 2 or Galaxy Grand Prime, Cricket has been keen to put the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5 and now the Galaxy S6 in the hands of those who can’t, or don’t want to, be on the big 4 networks. Now that they are offering phone payment plans too, things might just heat up a bit more.
Source: Cricket
The post Cricket Wireless to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 April 24th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
AT&T updates Samsung Galaxy S5 Active and Galaxy Alpha to Lollipop
AT&T has released the Lollipop update for both the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active and the Galaxy Alpha.
AT&T customers who own either the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active or Galaxy Alpha will be pleased to see the Lollipop update arriving on their device. The update bumps both devices up to Android 5.0, bringing along many new features.
Huawei unveils a giant version of its high-end P8 smartphone
Huawei’s isn’t content to unveil just its flagship P8 smartphone — there’s an even bigger, beastlier handset in store. The company has revealed the P8max, a 6.8-inch device that literally expands on the slim, next-to-no-bezel design of its smaller sibling. Besides that cavernous (but sadly 1080p) screen, the biggest advantage is a whopping 4,360mAh battery that promises about 2.2 days of typical battery life, or about 15 hours of non-stop web surfing or video playback. You’ll also get a custom interface that offers multiple “panels” for multitasking (appropriate at these dimensions), and this is billed as one of the thinnest large smartphones at a scant 6.8mm thick.
The P8max is otherwise much like its average-sized counterpart. You’re ‘only’ getting a 5-megapixel camera on the front instead of 8, but you’ll still get a 13-megapixel stabilized rear camera with a “professional-grade” imaging processor, a two-tone flash and modes for both long-exposure shots and multi-phone photography. Otherwise, you should expect the same 2GHz octa-core Kirin 930 processor and 3GB of RAM as in the higher-spec P8. As you’d gather, Huawei will charge extra for its gargantuan phone. It’ll cost you €549 ($583) for a base 32GB model when it ships in the near future, and €649 ($688) for a 64GB model. There’s specific word on UK or US releases, but the P8max should reach 30 countries.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Huawei (BusinessWire)
AIVAnet 