HARDWARE SHOWDOWN: LG Nexus 5X versus Samsung Galaxy S6
We’re smack-dab in the middle of a heated smartphone release cycle which means consumers have some really great new devices to choose from. If you are in the market for a new device, the next few weeks will provide you with a number of excellent models to consider. Two such handsets are the LG Nexus 5X and the Samsung Galaxy S6.
The Nexus 5X is the newer of the pair, as the Samsung phone has been on the market since April of earlier this year. We still consider them to be worthy opponents due to their similar size and form factor. Let’s take a look at these two and see how they stack up against each other, starting with a head-to-head chart.
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Software
As you likely know, hardware isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to picking out a smartphone. Software plays an important role in helping decide which model might be best for you. To that end, the Nexus 5X is easily the winner here because it runs the absolute latest in Android. Moreover, it’s a stock build of Android which means it doesn’t have carrier-branded apps or services pre-installed.
Dubbed 6.0 Marshmallow, the newest release brings about a number of new features and native support for others. Google Now On Tap, for example, provides contextual answers and information to users without any effort. Other goodies found in Android 6.0 include support for USB Type C charging and fingerprint verification.
Perhaps one of the best features is the new way in which Android will hibernate apps and services to prolong battery life. As we all know, whether it’s fast charging or wireless, batteries could always use some help.
App permissions get smarter and more intuitive with Android 6.0, too. Customers will find that they have more control over which permissions are granted on an app; developers win with a better user experience that doesn’t ask for all of these requirements ahead of launching the app.
If history is an indicator, the Nexus will win in the long run, too. Google will be quick to deploy software updates in a timely manner with Samsung’s phones often some months behind the curve. Does this matter to everyone? No, but purists and those wanting the best for their money will care deeply about this. Also, it doesn’t help that Samsung devices can sometimes feel slower and more wonky after major software updates.
Customization
The Nexus 5X comes in three color options for 2015 (Carbon, Quartz, Ice) while the Galaxy S6 gets White Pearl, Black Sapphire, and Gold Platinum colors. Depending on where you buy the phone you may have less colors to choose from, particularly if you’re purchasing the latter through a carrier.
Storage capacity
The Samsung Galaxy S6 comes with three storage options: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB (dependent upon the carrier). As for the Nexus 5X, it comes with 16GB and 32GB capacities. Depending on your needs, and how much you rely on cloud backups and storage, this could be a moot point. But, if you’re looking for the most storage available, Samsung takes the crown here. It’s also worth noting that neither of these devices have support for a MicroSD card, so you may need to choose wisely when deciding how much storage to get.
Camera
If you are the kind of person who looks strictly at specifications, then you have to concede this feature to Samsung and its 16-megapixel rear camera. Not simply for megapixels but also for the fact that it has optical image stabilization, too. Then again, until you see real photos and factor in your own needs, this could be a toss-up for average users. Around front, the LG packs a 5-megapixel camera which is the same as what can be found in the Galaxy S6. Again, unless you use the front-facing camera much or have more serious needs, this may not matter much.
Battery
LG would win here if it were strictly up to capacity; the 2700mAh battery is just a bit higher than Samsung’s 2550mAh unit. But, Samsung’s comes with wireless charging out of the box. And, as if that weren’t enough, it’s designed for quick wireless charging. Then again, if your battery lasts all day long then it might not matter how quickly it charges if you’re only doing it at bedtime.
Availability
You can pick up the Nexus 5X directly from Google and pair the unlocked phone with any major service provider. Samsung’s phone is also available direct to consumer, but US customers will fork over more money if they want an unlocked version.
Price
Perhaps one of the most important aspects in purchasing a smartphone, the overall cost often determines if a phone is “too rich for our blood”. Moreover, it’s price that helps us determine whether a certain feature is worth spending the cash or if we’re actually content with a little less.
The Nexus 5X starts at $379 for the 16GB version; with the 32GB variant pricing out at $429. For the sake of comparison, the Galaxy S6 will set you back about $580 for the T-Mobile 32GB version. Bump that up to 64GB and you’re looking at $660 (for a limited time) and the phone’s still tied to the carrier. In other words, the Nexus 5X sticker is considerably cheaper and there’s carrier flexibility, too.
Other important aspects
The Nexus 5Xcomes with a fingerprint reader on the rear, which is used for security and authentication. Depending on what you plan to do with your smartphone, this could be a make-or-break factor. Samsung’s fingerprint sensor is on the home button on the front.
Worth noting, the Nexus 5X comes with a USB Type-C charger. Why is that important? Well, we venture to guess you’ll need to get some new cords and chargers for the house and car if you plan to juice up throughout the day. This means some added cost to the bottom line. The Samsung Galaxy S6 still uses the micro USB port for charging and works with every single one of those cables we’ve collected over the years.
Samsung has included its own added security features, KNOX, to its phones, but Google has started integrating that into Android at a platform level. While this was a bigger Samsung selling point in the past, it’s one of those things that simply comes with Android today.
Another key area to consider is the recently launched Samsung Pay service. If you get used to using it for your quick and painless credit/debit card purchases then you’ll want to stay within the Samsung ecosystem. But, given we are in the very early days of its competitor, Android Pay, there’s no reason to try either one out.
Summary
We love that the Nexus line is stock Android and is supported with updates for at least a few years. Samsung has gotten better at rolling out major updates but it’s sometimes a pain in the butt when they do arrive. We’ve had plenty of reports of people complaining of slowness after getting a new version of Android.
The Nexus line is one of our favorites in all of smartphones and we’re super pleased to LG partnering with Google again for 2015. LG seems to have stepped up their game for the Nexus 5X, hoping to repeat the cult-like following that the 2013 Nexus 5 received.
Samsung is still one of the first names in smartphones and you can’t really go wrong with a flagship device. We appreciate that it has been producing better looking (and feeling) models over the last few generations and think they’re sexy as hell.
Which phone is right for you? You’ll have to weigh what’s important to you and decide if it’s worth the extra money to go with the Samsung over the LG. If you’re paying for your handset outright, we have to give the nod to the Nexus 5X. But, financing makes it easier to stomach, especially with upgrade options offered by carriers.
Note: Portions of this post’s content is also used in other head-to-head comparisons.
The post HARDWARE SHOWDOWN: LG Nexus 5X versus Samsung Galaxy S6 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
OnePlus’ Carl Pei wants to intern at Samsung
OnePlus is a profoundly fascinating company to say the least. Despite last year’s stellar debut into the smartphone arena, the company ultimately drew more attention not for the OnePlus One hardware itself, but the inability to make it available. Rather than go with a more traditional method of purchase such as letting customers simply buy the product, an awkward invite system was employed along with misogynistic marketing stints. The end result was that outside of China – where the phone was freely available – interested customers had to wait to get arguably one of the best phones of 2014.
2015 saw no shortage of PR hubris, with the company’s follow-up, the OnePlus 2 being toted as a “2016 flagship killer” and essentially promising the world. Unfortunately the product has received a surprising backlash due to its lack of NFC, lack of Fast Charging, problematic camera software, buggy Oxygen OS, and – once again – availability. Whereas some companies have been known to blame the users for its problems, OnePlus’ public face and Co-Founder Carl Pei, is not only offering his sincere apologies, but even going as far as to ask Samsung for an internship.
“Here’s an idea”
On Mr. Pei’s personal blog, he writes that the company “learned a very important lesson with the launch of the OnePlus 2 by not getting units shipped out as soon as they should have been. Now, we are working harder than ever to get the OnePlus 2 in your hands. We’ve ramped up the invite rollout, and will soon hold a one-hour open sale for those of you looking to purchase the OnePlus 2 without any hassle.”
The sheer mention of a “one-hour open sale” may further irritate some readers, though bigger changes are seemingly in-store for the future as Mr. Pei adds that, “the real change will come as we adapt and progress our operations and logistics. We are a growing company facing high demand from around the world. It’s not easy to make a smartphone; it’s also not easy getting it from our factory into your hands as quickly as you deserve.”
Then, in a rather candid statement, he addresses the very issue of his company’s success itself: “There’s a lot of talk lately about how the ‘new guys’ (like OnePlus) are coming in to disrupt the ‘giants of the smartphone industry’ (like Samsung, who’ve had a few less than stellar quarters). We’ve seen a lot of speculation and analysis about if and how one player can dominate the market. Well, we fully agree that the industry is evolving, but we think there’s room for all of us to compete and learn from each other.”
Most surprising however, is the next bit:
So, Samsung, today I have a proposal for you: let me be your intern. Seriously. I would be honored to learn from your team about how you’ve been able to scale, run, and manage your business so successfully. In turn, I would be happy to share what we’ve learned about how to engage with our community and implement their feedback to deliver a better user experience.
Better yet, let’s do an intern swap. I would be honored to visit your headquarters, and, in turn, we would be happy to host one of your own executives here to show you how we work at OnePlus.
Mr. Pei then includes a link to his Twitter feed in hope that Samsung will indeed, reach out.
A shockingly sincere sentiment or just another PR spectacle?
Truth be told, the candid commentary that Carl Pei has offered the world is rather shocking, if only for the fact that he is not only acknowledging and accepting that there are major problems with his new product, but even going as far as to suggest his company’s organization is not where it should be. His words highlight the fact that, while the outside world sees companies like OnePlus – or perhaps even its domestic rival Xiaomi – as these mega successful startups, there might be some big issues going on behind the scenes that are the inevitable as a very small company is instantly propelled into a major manufacturing position. Especially true of OnePlus (and Xiaomi) is the extremely thin profit margin that goes into the sale of each product, a problem that companies like Samsung, LG, and of course Apple, have never had to deal with.
Still, it is difficult to make heads-or-tails of the sincerity of Mr. Pei’s offer to intern at Samsung. Given the theatrics that OnePlus itself likes to put on, it could very well be another PR spectacle designed to get people talking. Given his resume however, we are more convinced he is truly sincere:
As many have already pointed out, according to his LinkedIn profile (above) Carl Pei has worked at a total of 4 companies in the past 5 years. In fact, aside from his current job at OnePlus, he had essentially never spent more than one year in any position at his three previous companies.
While his resume clearly indicates a quick progression to the top of corporate ranking, it may indeed be the case that he requires more experience with the industry and with management itself to better serve his current company. The situation is arguably furthered by the listing of Mr. Pei’s BSc at the Stockholm School of Economics as “unfinished”.
The Samsung situation
2 of Hearts, two hearts that beat as…One?
While some may be willing to consider Mr. Pei’s internship proposition positively – especially as it appeared on his personal blog and not Twitter and not OnePlus one’s homepage – the question is if Samsung would ever entertain the possibility. While OnePlus could very well stand to benefit enormously from insight and wisdom at a 77-year old conglomerate like Samsung, there is a much more obscure understanding in just what the Korean OEM could gain from a start-up that is better known for its mishaps than anything else.
Samsung’s problem is, arguably, that it simply doesn’t want to enter a competitive price war with Chinese OEMs. Given the specs and build quality of some of its lower end hardware, the value proposition becomes one of the Samsung brand name and TouchWiz skin, and one of Samsung itself wanting to make a clear profit from hardware sales, however diminished they may be. Given how much has been written about OnePlus and its domestic rivals, the most obvious secrets of success – online-only sales and low price points – are not exactly mysteries that would require Carl Pei’s internship candidacy to solve. (At the same time, he may have other insight that could be quite valuable).
Samsung’s pursuit of profits is clearly not in-line with the more sell-at-cost structure of companies like OnePlus.
Perhaps the greatest barrier of all could be the actual threat that Pei’s proposed stint at Samsung could entail. It is a well known fact that corporations guard their secrets close and that defection is often a very public skeptical that is met with much criticism and analysis: just look at the sheer volume of content written about Stephen Elop. If Samsung were to let a clear rival in on its inner doings, it might very well end up building the very harbinger of its own eventual demise. Or it could work out beautifully.
Wrap Up
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While the ultimate success of OnePlus – the company – is an outstanding offering of the new corporate China that is quickly winning its way into the world consumer’s hearts and minds, today’s piece suggests that the path to progress is not without setbacks and disappointments.
Despite the negative press and consumer reaction to the OnePlus Two, we still found it to be a very good piece of kit. While Carl Pei and his company may be receiving a lot of flak at the moment, there is no question that the OPO’s successor is still a worthy consideration as your new smartphone. The real one, it seems, is just what will come of this rather unprecedented offer?
We would love to hear your comments! Do you feel OnePlus truly deep-sixed the Two? Has the phone gotten a bad rap due to the internet’s tendency to hate on success or was it a legitimate disappointment? And what about Carl Pei’s offer to intern at Samsung?
Deal: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 only $579.99 on eBay!
It seems Samsung devices are devaluing faster than ever. Just last week we saw the Samsung Galaxy S6 price hit rock bottom at $429.99 (deal still available), and today we are learning the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is being offered for $579.99 by Monoprice’s eBay store. That would be a substantial discount over the original $700 price point… especially considering the thing was released only a bit over a month ago!
Let’s not complain about it, shall we? Instead, you should head straight to eBay and take advantage of this deal if you have been itching to upgrade to a powerful high-end smartphone. This specific version is the GSM-unlocked N920i. It uses a nanoSIM card and supports LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28 and 40.
Just in case you have been living under a rock, this phone happens to have remarkable specs. It sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2560x1440p display, a Samsung Exynos 7420 CPU, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, stunning 16 and 5 MP cameras, a 3000 mAh battery and Android 5.1 Lollipop.
You can always refer to our Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review to learn more about the phone. Otherwise, simply click through to the eBay page and get buying! Remember these deals don’t always last forever, so you may want to act fast.
AT&T starts rolling out Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
It would appear that AT&T is attempting to steal the spotlight from Google today as it has now started rolling out the long-awaited and very much-anticipated Lollipop update for all its carrier-branded models of the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 located in the United States.
The full changelog can be seen below:
- Android Lollipop 5.1
- Data Performance Improvements
- Call Drop Improvements
- Battery Life Enhancements
- Temperature Management
- Camera Enhancements
If you live in the United States and have not yet received the OTA update, you can head into “Settings,” then “About Device,” and select “Check for Updates” to manually scan for the upgrade. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive a push notification informing you that an update is ready for your handset.
Come comment on this article: AT&T starts rolling out Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Deal: Enter Stacksocial’s Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge giveaway before it’s too late!
Itching for a new phone? This tech hobby can get very pricey, especially when you have a liking for expensive devices like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. This is why it’s always worth testing your luck with giveaways – you never know when you could win something!
Most of our readers have probably heard about the AA Deals Store, which is always offering great discounts on awesome tech products. But did you know it also hosts giveaways? You don’t need to spend a single penny on these, so there’s no harm in joining the fun. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Giveaway is going strong right now, and you only have 16 more days to enter.
Editor’s Note: This deal is through StackCommerce, in partnership with AA Deals Store and other StackSocial partners — and not an exclusive Android Authority contest.
The process is simple. Just submit your email address and click “ENTER NOW”. That’s it. You are in. Want to improve your winning chances? You can also share the giveaway through Twitter. You will get more entries to the contest if your friends and followers enter the giveaway.
Sadly, there are some limitations. Obviously, you can’t try to cheat and enter multiple email addresses (this will result in disqualification). In addition, participants have to be at least 21 years old and certain markets aren’t eligible. You can catch all the details in the official rules page. And don’t forget to read our Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review to see how awesome this handset is!
(Deal) Enter for your chance to win the Galaxy S6 Edge
For the daily deals here at AndroidGuys, we don’t get many opportunities to give away products to you guys and gals. The last giveaway that we did, was the Double Nexus Giveaway, where you had a chance to win a Nexus 6 AND a Nexus 9. Today’s deal is a giveaway for one of the more popular devices of 2015.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is an expansion on the revolutionary device, the Galaxy Note Edge. With a 5.7″ QHD display, 16-megapixel camera, and those beautiful curved edges, the S6 Edge is one of the premier devices for the year. Well today, you have a chance to get your hands on one of these bad boys.
All you need to do, is head over to the AndroidGuys Deals Page, log-in and enter for your chance to win. The contest is ending in 16 days, so there’s plenty of time for you to enter, but don’t hesitate, just head over and get your entry in now. Additionally, once you’ve entered, you can share the contest with your Twitter followers and when that link is used, you will get more entries into the contest.
If you are the lucky one to win the Galaxy S6 Edge, you will get your choice of either Gold or Black, with 32GB of storage. So be sure to enter for your chance to win this awesome device from Samsung.
You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!
The post (Deal) Enter for your chance to win the Galaxy S6 Edge appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Gear S2 features in early how-to video series
Samsung Gear S2 pre-orders may not be expected to ship out until early October, but one lucky YouTuber has managed to lay hands on the smartwatch a little early and has uploaded a selection of videos showing off a few tips and tricks.
The videos treat us to a look around the main Tizen user interface, some of the numerous settings, connecting your smartwatch up to your Samsung smartphone, transferring files, and a quick walk through messaging and calls. There are quite a few details to sift through, so I’ll just leave the playlist here for you.
If all of those videos haven’t satisfied your hunger for Gear S2 details, be sure to check out our own hands-on time with the watch from IFA 2015 as well.
Read more: Samsung Gear S2 hands-on
The latest Samsung smartwatch is scheduled to arrive at a number of retailers and carrier stores on October 2nd, including the US’ AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and US Cellular. However, the 3G compatible version of the watch is not expected to land in consumer hands until November 6th.
Have you already pre-ordered your Gear S2?
Is Apple a cult? New York University Historian says “it obviously is”
Even when working from a garage in the Silicon Valley, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs never saw his products as mere pieces of tech. He had a very strong vision that shaped the way people look at technology. It was a mentality, as well as a way of life, something he later conveyed to the company’s followers. He was seen as some form of tech prophet. And if that’s the case, his company is also to be portrayed as some form of religion; Cupertino is its Mecca and Apple stores are the temples.
We have all heard of the “Cult of Apple”, but when we say this we usually just refer to the intense fervor Apple followers show towards the tech giant and its products. Most of us don’t dig into what really makes Apple some form of cult, but it turns out this company does take plenty of cues from the most popular religions on earth. At least this is what expert Historian and NYU professor Erica Robles-Anderson believes, and she backs up her argument with plenty of evidence.
“They feel iconic, like an emblem of the personal. And yet it’s a cult. Right? It’s so obviously a cult.” -Erica Robles-Anderson, Historian and NYU professor
Inclusion vs exclusivity
We have all seen manufacturers speak of their devices as some form of exclusive product. Apple has never portrayed itself that way. Even if they price their products at much higher rates, they always display a mentality that makes it seem as if iPhones and other Apple products are for everyone. These phones are always simple and natural. We obviously can’t forget that “it just works” phrase, which became some form of unofficial slogan for the company.
The whole point is that Apple makes you feel included. Everyone in this “cult” is working towards a common purpose – there’s some form of unity here. Robles-Anderson brings up the newer Samsung store at SoHo, one of New York’s important shopping districts. They launched with “giant ropes outside, as if anticipating a giant crowd, and big bouncer-looking people in fancy suits.” Needless to say results weren’t as expected, and she believes it’s partly because the Korean manufacturer took that secluding business approach.
“It was a deep misunderstanding about special access, as opposed to what Apple has built, which is the feeling of being in it together, as though you were fighting something, even though it’s the most valuable company in the world.” -Erica Robles-Anderson, Historian and NYU professor
Apple’s cathedrals
In order to further help us understand how Apple achieved this unusual passion from its followers, Erica takes us back to temples. She states that cathedrals and other religious structures were pretty much technology in its times; they were works of art that went beyond what’s possible. And we can see the same influence in Apple’s products, as well as the architecture and interior design they choose for their stores.
The SoHo Apple store is especially unique. Customers have to walk through stone steps, which are wide and deep. Upon reaching the entrance you are met with unnecessarily large doors, which also happen to be quite heavy, similar to those in medieval churches. The store welcomes you with a large skylight and plenty of lights, making the space very bright. Right in front is a wide glass staircase that seems to challenge common sense. In addition, the store uses an excessive amount of clear surfaces, so people can always see each other. This makes both service and interaction with other people very personable.
Robles-Anderson claims places like this make you feel small. In addition, the design makes you feel as if you have entered a different place, and upon entering you feel as if something important is about to happen.
Many temples are built on levels, with different purpose on each floor. This is very common in Mormon temples, for example, in which different levels are used for different things, and you can find different types of religious representatives in each part. In this case, Erica compares Apple Geniuses to priests, and the second floor is where they can be found. In here, they share information and knowledge. It’s said to be more welcoming than the first floor, with plush chairs and a giant screen.
Rituals
We can all guess where this is going, right? Apple and its followers definitely have some types of ritualistic behavior. Of course, there’s the whole deal with people camping out for days just to get an iPhone. This has become much more than a race to get the latest and greatest product; people do this as some kind of tradition. As Robles-Anderson said, they are working towards something together. They are part of something bigger – think of it as some form of pilgrimage.
She also compares this to biblical traditions like Passover, when Jewish people had to travel to Jerusalem and be at the Holy Temple for a sacrifice to god. She calls these “feast days”. Apple release dates are celebrations.
Kaesler Media / Shutterstock.com
The meaning of life?
Well, we won’t go as far as saying Apple answers the most important questions to humanity, but Erica does believe that when people come to Apple Stores they are looking for something much deeper than apps, calls and the like. Just head over to your local Apple store and look at the walls. These are adorned by pictures of planets, stars, nature and other imposing symbols being displayed by huge “monolithic devices”. Though they are small on your hand, these devices promise something huge – information.
Google, Android and its partners
There’s no doubt other companies can learn a lot from Apple’s marketing and strategies. Whether you will see the company as a cult or not, we can’t deny they hold a very tight grip on the market, even if Android manufacturers have proven time and again that they can often do a better job at making a gadget.
This is why Apple doesn’t need to be first at anything, they just have to make the strongest impression with what they do, something they are amazingly good at. They target your feelings, psychology, physiology and senses.
Let’s face it, most Android manufacturers are bad at marketing. Samsung is likely about the best at it, and as you can see they fail to make its followers very included. HTC makes amazingly built devices and some would say their designs are among the best, but they can’t make ends meet when convincing people to purchase their phones. And even new Chinese startups are starting to gain more hype than tech veterans like LG, Huawei, Sony and others.
Maybe there needs to be some kind of Genius lesson on how to do advertising and marketing right. Shall we have it at this SoHo Apple store?
[Deal] You can now pick up a brand new, factory unlocked Galaxy Note 5 for $579.99 on eBay
If you’re in the market for Samsung’s latest iteration in its Note lineup, you may want to pin your ears back as independent retailer, Monoprice, has just taken to eBay and kicked off a great sale on the device. For a limited time only, you can pick up a brand new, factory unlocked 32GB LTE model of the Note 5 for $579.99.
For those in need of a refresher of its specifications, the device packs a gorgeous 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 7420 octa-core chipset, a Mali- T760MP8 GPU, 4GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera equipped with OIS, a 5-megapixel selfie shooter and a 3,000mAh non-removable battery.
It’s important to note that as this is an unlocked variant of the Note 5, it will only work on GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T and not with CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint. A full list of supported carrier bands can be seen below:
- 2G : 850/900/1800/1900
- 3G : 850/900/1900/2100
- 4G LTE : 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 17(700), 20(800), 28(700)
If you like the sound of the Galaxy Note 5 and would like to take advantage of this deal – hit the source link below.
Source: eBay
Come comment on this article: [Deal] You can now pick up a brand new, factory unlocked Galaxy Note 5 for $579.99 on eBay
Samsung Milk Video support dying on November 20th
Do you remember Samsung Milk Video? Of course not! Actually… you might, but it’s not a service many people care about. I was quite unsure about its adoption upon launch, last year; is there really room in the industry for yet another video streaming service? Samsung called it “the next big thing in video”, but that turned out to be a huge overstatement.
Samsung Milk Video support is to shut down on November 20, 2015, only a day after its first birthday. It was launched last November 19th! Sad news, indeed, but it was definitely something I personally saw coming.
It’s already hard to compete against giants like YouTube and Vimeo. Then there’s the fact that Samsung Milk Video is exclusive to the manufacturer’s own devices… and it’s only available in the USA… and it’s video selection is nowhere close to its competitors’. Not to be pessimistic, but this endeavor was bound to fail, even if the company has millions of Samsung devices being used in the USA. Its social features were simply not enough to get people to jump on board.
Service Announcement
Thank you for using Samsung Milk Video. While we remain committed to providing premium entertainment services, we have decided to end support for the Samsung Milk Video app as of November 20, 2015.
Samsung doesn’t specify why this decision was taken, but we assume it’s definitely related to its popularity (or lack thereof). The Milk brand is not dead, though. You can still enjoy Samsung Milk Music, a service that is much more popular and offers a simplified way to access its curated radio stations. The sad news is that service is also only available to Samsung devices, but you can also access it from the browser, which is definitely a plus.
So tell us, guys. Will you be missing Samsung Milk Video?
AIVAnet 