As the Note 7 dies will Google inherit the Android kingdom?
Samsung just officially ended the Note 7, barely two months after it launched. The full implications for Samsung are yet to be seen, but it’s undeniably a huge blow to its mobile reputation. When Mountain View unveiled the “made by Google” Pixel recently, some wondered what it meant for the Android ecosystem. If Google can capitalize on the demise of the Note 7, it could mean a significant shift in the Android hardware landscape. And it could happen faster than anyone thought.
That said, a highish price tag ($769 or $869 for the 32/128GB XL version) and limited carrier options (Verizon in the US/EE in the UK) currently give brands like Samsung, Huawei and LG some breathing room. But, there’s no denying the Note 7 leaves an immediate hole that needs filling, and the Pixel XL could be a logical fit.
Samsung’s Note arguably defined (and then did away with) the term “Phablet.” The first model was “only” 5.3-inches — normal by today’s standards — but this was at a time when the current iPhone had a mere 3.5-inch display. Samsung also normalized the dual-sized flagship strategy. We don’t think anything of a company launching a handset along with a “pro” or “plus” model these days.
While Samsung is oft-maligned (or legally charged) for copying Apple, it’s not hard to argue the Note was the one thing Cupertino envied. Its success was clearly the inspiration for the iPhone Plus. The demise of the Note 7 today is not the end of big phones from Samsung (it makes many of those), but the Note branding may be in danger. And now there’s a gap in the market just ahead of the holidays.
Enter Google Pixel XL
“Made by Google.” That’s how Mountain View sold its Pixel phones to the world at their Californian launch last week. The reality, however, could be that Pixel ends up being made by Samsung. At least in a metaphorical sense. The Pixel line-up was already imposing on Samsung’s turf. The “regular” 5-inch Pixel and a 5.5-inch “XL” version would stand shoulder to shoulder with the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.7-inch Note 7.
Then there was the Daydream VR headset that didn’t step, rather trampled on the GearVR’s toes in the mobile virtual reality space. This might not have been a direct attack on Samsung — most phone line-ups resemble this, and Samsung could make Daydream handsets — but the parallels to the Korean giant’s mobile offering were undeniable. Even if Google was ostensibly setting its sights on Apple.
Pixel, on the other hand, needs every chance it can to get it’s hooks in the public’s mind. The Nexus brand never fully managed this. Samsung might have had problems with the Note 7, but it’s dominated Android in terms of both brand recognition and sales. The Pixel, with its fancy AI “Assistant” and big camera boasts had instant tech-appeal, but the relatively high upfront cost and limited carrier options aren’t setting it up for mass appeal.
Google just needs to make the Pixel XL easier, and cheaper to get hold of. Right now, unless you’re on Verizon in the US, you have to either pay upfront or buy direct from Google (and pay monthly on top of your cell plan). And even with a contract, the Pixel isn’t cheap. In the UK EE is the only direct operator, but it’s available on other networks via one online retailer. Not to mention that, ironically, with Samsung’s Note out of the way, Google’s biggest competition for the Pixel XL could be the relatively affordable Moto Z ($624) from the formerly Google-owned Motorola.
Here’s the big question: Can Google position the Pixel XL at a more competitive price and mop up the Note 7 market? Then address the second issue: getting it sold through more operators. It’s not clear if Google’s exclusivity deal with Verizon is just for the launch window, or the life of the phone (we’ve asked). But, getting more operators onboard seems the most sure fire way for Mountain View to get the Pixel into the largest amount of hands, quickly.
Google’s newly appointed (and formerly Motorola) hardware boss Rick Osterloh proudly told Bloomberg “[Pixel,] it’s ours.” Osterloh was referring to Pixel being the first phone designed in house (albeit assembled by HTC). He was perhaps also reasserting Google’s place in the hardware game (and moving away from the experimental Nexus Q, and Google Glass era). We’re sure Google wasn’t expecting Samsung to help with its goal, but the Note 7’s demise could be the surprise gift Pixel needed.
Samsung crams LTE into a tiny smartwatch chip
Samsung’s mobile division is in crisis mode right now, so of course the company is happy to talk about one division that is doing well: chips. It just unveiled the Exynos 7 Dual 7270, which is not only the first 14-nanometer wearable processor, but the first in its class to have a built-in LTE modem. That means your next smartwatch could connect to a cell network and let you tether your laptop without a smartphone — a trick that’s reserved for the LG Urbane LTE and just a few other wearables right now.
The chip uses several different fabrication technologies, namely system-in-package and package-in-package, with the fun acronym SiP-ePoP. That helped engineers squeeze in the DRAM, NAND flash and power management chips, while reducing the total height, to boot. It also jammed WiFi, Bluetooth, an FM radio and a GPS (GNSS) receiver into the 100 millimeter square (0.155 square inch) device. Overall, it’s 20 percent more power efficient than last-gen 28-nanometer tech, Samsung says.
That should yield wearables that let you take calls or tether other devices over LTE and WiFi. Smartwatches or fitness trackers will also get GPS tracking and more without a huge power hit or need for a smartphone. To help developers get on board, Samsung has released a developer platform, but it could be a while before we see any devices that use the new chip.
Source: Samsung
Samsung ends production of the Galaxy Note 7 for good
Samsung has “permanently discontinued” production of the Galaxy Note 7, the company told Engadget in a short statement. Sales of the flagship phone were halted yesterday because replacements for the original, recalled model were still catching fire and exploding. Shortly after it was released, replacement models were involved in several serious fires, causing the evacuation of a Southwest Airlines flight and a fire that sent a Kentucky owner to hospital with smoke inhalation.
We can confirm the report that Samsung has permanently discontinued the production of Galaxy Note7.
Samsung said that “taking our customer’s safety as our highest priority, [so] we have decided to halt sales and production of the Galaxy Note 7,” according to the Associated Press. However, it bungled the recall from the beginning by trying to handle the situation internally, rather than getting help from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Given that, it might be hard for consumers to believe that it’s concerned about their well-being. More likely, Samsung knows that the Galaxy Note 7’s name is forever tarred by the fires, explosions and recalls.
If you’re still stuck with a Galaxy Note 7, you should immediately power it down and not use it. Though Samsung hasn’t issued a statement yet, it will no doubt put a plan into action to recall all devices, either itself or through your carrier. The exact number of phones on the market is unknown, but it had sold about 2.5 million when the first recall was issued.
After very strong reviews for the Note 7 (including one from Engadget) Samsung was expected to sell nearly 20 million of the devices. The company’s shares fell eight percent today, wiping $17 billion from its value.
Oculus disables Gear VR app on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7
Oculus has pushed an update to the Galaxy Note 7 that disables the Gear VR app on the device, according to several sources. Instead of loading the app, it shows a message (above) stating that “until further notice, Note 7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR.” The move is a prudent one, given the device’s tendency to catch fire or even explode, and the fact that the Gear VR puts the smartphone in close proximity to your face and eyes.
Samsung has explicitly stated that Galaxy Note 7 owners should “power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase.” The Oculus update disabling the headset was first reported by Reddit user Bahaman23 and confirmed by Android Central. Despite the danger, some Redditors are complaining that they can no longer use not only their Galaxy Note 7s, but their Gear VR headsets, too. (We’ve reached out to Oculus and Samsung for more details.)
You do have options with a new Gear VR, however, provided you’re willing to stay in the Samsung camp (and it would be hard to blame you if you didn’t). The headset supports older Samsung headsets that don’t explode, including the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge and Note 5, according to Samsung’s site. All of those devices (including the Galaxy S6 Edge, I can confirm) still work with the Gear VR. If you still want smartphone-based VR but have had it with Samsung, your best bet might be Google’s new Pixel phones and the Daydream VR headset.
Via: Android Central
Source: Reddit
Apple Shares Hit New High for 2016 as Samsung Considers Scrapping Note 7 Brand
Samsung is likely to permanently stop selling its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones following the latest halt of sales and production, according to reports on Tuesday.
Samsung halted sales and paused production of the Note 7 smartphones in the last 24 hours and told owners to power down the devices while it investigates reports of fires, fueling expectations the tech giant will scrap the flagship device.
The BBC this morning referred to “unnamed sources” cited by South Korean Hankyoreh newspaper claiming that Samsung would can the device and seek to make up for lost Note 7 sales through its Galaxy S7 models as well as the Note 5, which was the predecessor for the Note 7.
Separately, Reuters reported Samsung is now considering permanently halting sales of its flagship smartphones as an option, “according to a source familiar with the matter”. The person declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Samsung did not immediately comment on the BBC report, but told Reuters no final decision had been made. Meanwhile, the South Korean finance minister said it would hurt the country’s exports if the device is scrapped altogether.
“Right now we can’t tell what the impact will be in the long term. It’s up to the company and the government cannot interfere,” Yoo Il-ho said. “But if they do scrap the model, it will have a negative impact on exports.”
According to analysts, the Note 7 recall could cost Samsung as many as 19 million lost unit sales, or as much as $17 billion, if it permanently stops selling the smartphone for a second time, following multiple reports of replacement handsets setting on fire.
“This has probably killed the Note 7 brand name,” said Edward Snyder, managing director of Charter Equity Research. “By the time they fix the problem they have to go through recertification and re-qualification and by the time that happens, they’re going up against the [Galaxy] S8 launch.”
Investors wiped $18.8 billion off Samsung’s market value on Tuesday as its shares closed down 8 percent, their biggest daily percentage decline since 2008. Meanwhile, Apple stock closed on Monday up 1.9 percent at $116.05 per share, its highest value this year. Apple is now trading at levels not seen since December 2015 and has jumped 20 percent over the past three months, partly on renewed optimism over iPhone 7 sales, but also in response to its arch rival’s woes.
“The Apple share price was doing nothing for over a year – it was considered ex-growth – now it’s possibly the only game in town when it comes to buying a mobile phone,” said Michelle McGrade, chief investment officer at TD Direct Investing.
However, with last week’s launch of its own-branded Pixel smartphones, Google is also expected to benefit.
“From Google’s perspective the timing couldn’t have worked out better for them in that they’re essentially trying to compete now in the premium sector against the likes of Apple and Samsung,” said Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, speaking to the BBC.
“Now with this issue around Samsung and some questions and stigma around the brand, the product itself, could certainly help Google out. But I think Apple’s definitely the biggest beneficiary from here. If there were people on the fence about whether or not to get an iPhone 7 Plus, for example, which is kind of in the same size range as the Note 7, that was one of the things that we think is benefitting Apple the most, just because that’s a competitive product and it’s an established brand,” Mr Bajarin added.
The news comes on the same day the two companies are set to face off in the Supreme Court over a long-running smartphone design patent case.
Tags: Samsung, Galaxy Note 7
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Samsung’s Note 7 catches fire, but the damage isn’t done
When Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 launched earlier in the fall, we loved it. So did a lot of others, critics and consumers alike. Then the reports of battery-related fires started rolling in. Just weeks later, Samsung was forced to kick off a massive recall of Note 7s, a complicated, crucially important process that should have signaled the end of this disaster. It didn’t. Now we’re left with reports of replacement units going up in smoke — one of them started smoldering on a Southwest flight, and another put a Kentucky man in the hospital for smoke inhalation. Then, while writing this very sentence, Samsung told all of its carrier and retail partners around the world to stop sales and exchanges of Galaxy Note 7s.
It’s the move Samsung dreaded, and the move Samsung needed. As dramatic as this seems, though, it’s just another step in its fight to piece its reputation back together, bit by agonizing bit.
It’s clear enough the company has been trying to do the right thing — fixing an egregious technical flaw is tricky work, especially on a global scale. But when good intentions and poor execution collide, the aftermath can be all too dangerous. Concerns that replacement Note 7s aren’t any safer than the millions of phones already returned have continued to mount, and the count keeps rising, too. The Verge points out that at least five “safe” replacement phones caught fire in the US within the last week, and still other supposed replacements started smoldering in Taiwan and South Korea over the past few days.
That Samsung had to completely halt the flow of Note 7s around the world is a chilling reminder of the battery flaw’s reach — one of the largest, most influential electronics companies on earth can’t definitively say whether or not these phones are safe.
Now, in fairness, neither Samsung nor the US Consumer Product Safety Commission have completed their investigations, and more information should come to light before long. (A Samsung spokesperson told us that the company continues to work with “the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7.”)
Until then, we can’t agree with Samsung more: you should not use a Galaxy Note 7, replacement or otherwise. No gadget is worth this risk. In light of the phone’s battery issues, we removed our review score and rescinded our recommendation in early September, and now we can’t stress enough that you should use another phone. If you live in the US, our four major wireless carriers will let you exchange a Note 7 purchased from them for a different smartphone and you absolutely should.
But let’s take a moment to pull back from the situation as it stands. What does Samsung’s future look like? Financially, not as bad as you’d think… for now, at least. Pre-launch anticipation for the phone was so high, Samsung had to rejigger international launch schedules to make sure there were enough Note 7s to go around. And after the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge provided a solid financial foundation for the first part of 2016, Samsung was banking on the Note 7 to keep that sales momentum going as it headed into the holidays. Now the company has some extra red ink to deal with: there’s the loss of whatever revenue new Note 7s would’ve brought in, plus the roughly $1 billion the recall was expected to cost.
While not exactly chump change, Samsung has the resources to weather this storm — that was never the question. The company even issued an earnings preview that highlighted a growth in income because component sales helped to offset recall costs. And Samsung’s big mobile business is in selling less expensive phones en masse around the globe, so in that respect the Note 7 situation hasn’t yet damaged the chaebol that badly.
Of course, this whole thing has cost Samsung more than just money. There’s the crucial matter of trust, and the hard-fought association with quality Samsung has worked to build over several years. With lingering questions of safety surrounding these updated phones, who would choose to buy one for themselves? Or for the people they care about? Even if Samsung swore up and down that they were safe, would you believe them? And could anyone blame you if you didn’t? After all, this wasn’t some random, low-cost phone Samsung churned out on the cheap. The Note 7 was a flagship device with flagship performance and a flagship price tag — if Samsung couldn’t nail down the quality on one of its most important phones of the year, how does it expect us to trust it enough to build safe new ones?
It doesn’t help that Samsung’s exploding phones — while dangerous — have also become a sort of cultural punchline. Flight attendants specifically warn Note 7 owners to turn off their phones before take-off; countless memes have been concocted; a GTA mod gives the anti-hero player-character exploding Note 7s to toss. The list goes on. Maybe it’s not possible to revive the Note 7 after all. Maybe the right decision is to just give up on it altogether. After all, we’re sure to get our first glimpses at the Galaxy S8 before long.
We’re weeks into this debacle and there are still so many more questions than answers. Even so, this whole thing is giving us a strangely clear understanding of Samsung’s underlying character (as trying times often do). The company has been been equal parts sincere and bumbling, concerned and ineffective. Even more tantalizing will be watching how Samsung attempts to reinvent itself when this is all over and the proverbial fire has died down. For now, Samsung, all eyes are on you. Fix this, and be better.
Samsung stops Galaxy Note 7 sales, owners should ‘power down’
That’s it for the Galaxy Note 7 — Samsung just issued a statement saying it’s asking “all global partners to stop sales and exchanges of Galaxy Note 7 while further investigation takes place.” That includes both original and devices issued as replacements, matching a rumor from last night that Samsung had, in conjunction with consumer safety organizations from several countries, decided to stop manufacturing the phone.
As mentioned in the statement below, in the US, Samsung is working with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the problem, while customers should “power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase.” After a slew of reports citing meltdowns in supposedly safe replacement models, Samsung had no choice but to do this. No matter how much you like the phablet, you simply can’t be sure it’s safe — contact your carrier, retailer or Samsung directly to get another phone or a full refund.
Samsung:
We are working with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.
We remain committed to working diligently with the CPSC, carriers and our retail partners to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 should power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase. For more information, consumers should visit samsung.com/us/note7recall or contact 1-844-365-6197.
New: @ElliotKayeCPSC calls on all consumers w/ replacement #GalaxyNote7 to power down, stop using, and seek refund. pic.twitter.com/iHPqyzDVYf
— Scott Wolfson (@Scott_Wolfson) October 10, 2016
Source: Samsung
Samsung Halts Galaxy Note 7 Sales Worldwide
Samsung today announced that it is officially asking its global partners to cease all sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while it further investigates claims of ongoing safety issues with replacement devices.
As of last week, there have been several reports from customers who had their replacement Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, which were deemed safe by Samsung, catch on fire. The devices were supposedly using batteries Samsung said were “not vulnerable to overheating and catching fire.”
(Image: Shawn Minter)
On Wednesday, a flight from Louisville to Baltimore was evacuated when a Note 7 began smoking, and on Saturday, a 13-year-old girl in Minnesota received burns from a defective device while a man in Kentucky suffered from smoke inhalation after his Note 7 caught fire while he was asleep.
Two additional reports of replacement Note 7 fires rolled in on Sunday from Virginia and Texas, plus there were reports of fires from Taiwan and South Korea.
By Monday morning, all major carriers in the United States had already announced plans to stop sales and “safe” replacements of the Galaxy Note 7, and now sales will temporarily end worldwide.
According to Samsung, customers with an original Galaxy Note 7 or a replacement Galaxy Note 7 should shut down their devices and stop using them right away.
We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.
We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.
Earlier today, reports suggested that Samsung has stopped production on the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung said that it is “temporarily adjusting the Galaxy Note 7 production schedule in order to take further steps to ensure quality and safety matters,” with more information to be available in a month.
For customers in the United States who still have a Galaxy Note 7, all of the major carriers are now offering to replace the defective devices with another smartphone, such as an iPhone 7.
Tag: Samsung
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Samsung’s cylindrical PC looks like a very trendy trash can
Apple, HP and MSI aren’t the only ones big on super-stylish, trash can-shaped desktop PCs. Samsung has quietly started taking pre-orders for the ArtPC Pulse, a cylindrical computer that bears more than a passing resemblance to the current-generation Mac Pro. The two systems couldn’t be more different in terms of focus, however. While the Mac is aimed squarely at workstation users, the ArtPC is most definitely intended for home use. Its centerpiece is a top-mounted, 360-degree Harman Kardon speaker with ambient lighting — much like HP’s Pavilion Wave, this could sit in your living room just as easily as it could in your den.
Logically, the hardware under the hood is very different as well. About the only thing in common with the Mac is an included 256GB solid-state drive. Instead of a Xeon processor and workstation graphics, you’re getting a 2.7GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and entry-level Radeon RX 460 graphics. You won’t be rendering advanced 3D models on this rig, in other words, but it should be enough to play 4K video and indulge in some light gaming. As it is, Samsung is counting on expansion modules to pick up some of the slack. It hasn’t detailed all of them or how they’ll work, but you can get a 1TB hard drive module if you need more space.
The shift in focus leads to a much lower price than Apple’s machine, although the $1,200 you’ll pay isn’t cheap for what you’re getting. You’re most definitely paying a premium for both the design and that speaker. At least you shouldn’t have to wait long to see whether or not the ArtPC is worth your attention. If Amazon is correct, the desktop ships on October 28th.
Via: PCWorld
Source: Amazon
Apple and Samsung’s Long-Running Design Lawsuit Heading to Supreme Court This Week
Nearly six years after the legal battle over smartphone design similarities began between Apple and Samsung, the two companies are now about to take the case to the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 11.
At stake is the outcome of how much of a combined $548 million patent infringement ruling Samsung will be required to pay to Apple (via Bloomberg).
That amount is taken from Samsung’s total profit of the 11 disputed smartphones targeted by Apple in the trial, an amount which Samsung refers to as a “disproportionate” sum for the patent infringement accusations leveled at it by Apple.
The Cupertino company has remained adamant in regards to Samsung’s “blatant copying” of various iPhone design features, still fighting to win the full $399 million reward (the case involves approximately another $150 million focused on Samsung’s alleged infringement of Apple’s pinch-to-zoom patent).
Specifically, Apple’s design patents cover “the rounded corners of its phones, the rim that surrounds the front face and the grid of icons that users view.” Last December, a federal court in San Jose ruled in Apple’s favor, and Samsung appealed days later in attempts to avoid the $548 million reward payment to Apple. In Samsung’s appeal, the company gave the court a metaphor centering around owing a car’s entire profits to a rival company for infringing upon their cup holder design.
In urging the Supreme Court to take up the appeal, Samsung said the ruling was akin to awarding the entire profits on a car because of an infringing cup-holder. Apple rejects that analogy, saying that its patented features are more like the design of the entire car.
The issue now appears to be focused on the difference between the court determining if Apple’s accusations cover individual components of patent infringement, or the entire product. In court records, Apple is said to “accept” that in some cases the patent owner can collect profits only “attributable to a particular component,” not the earnings of the entire Samsung smartphone.
All the same, Apple said that Samsung “failed to show that the patented designs applied only to part of its phones” during the previous half-decade of court proceedings, so the latter company’s defense of paying less for individual parts of the smartphone shouldn’t be allowed to stand. According to lawyer Kannon Shanmugam, the case “has essentially now devolved into a dispute over what party showed what at trial and who bears the burden of proof.”
In total the patent dispute amounts to nearly $550 million aimed at Samsung. The company has already paid the amount, but a clause stipulates the potential ruling in its favor requires Apple to pay back the money. Just last week, in a completely separate Samsung-vs-Apple lawsuit, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted Apple a $120 million win over Samsung concerning the company’s slide-to-unlock patent.
According to Chicago patent lawyer Paul Berghoff, a clarifying decision on the specific amount owed by Samsung to Apple could be the ultimate “catalyst for a final settlement” in the long-running case.
“Sometimes once litigants have been battling for so long, what happens is they develop levels of enmity and distrust on both sides that make it very difficult to settle the cases,” he said. “Face-saving is a very real issue for all companies. It’s hard to get out of it once you’re in it.”
Interestingly, the case also marks the Supreme Court’s first examination of a design patent dispute in 120 years, “which cover the ornamental look of an object rather than any functional aspect.” Previously, the Supreme Court oversaw design patents in disputes focused on spoon handles in the 1870s and carpets in the 1890s.
Tag: Samsung
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