Talk Android Weekly Recap: July 12 – July 18, 2015
We’re wrapping up yet another week at Talk Android! Summer tends to be really dry for big stories, but we saw some great one this week. Between the ongoing saga between T-Mobile and the FCC, more details on the OnePlus 2, Google Fiber joining the initiative to offer free Internet access, there’s a lot to catch up on.
Here’s some of the best highlights from July 12 to July 18:
- T-Mobile agrees to pay $17.5 million fine
- Google Fiber joins initiative to offer free Internet access
- Moov Now fitness tracker revealed, $40 off for a limited time
- FCC delays decision on rules for 600MHz wireless spectrum auction
- AT&T rolls out Lollipop for the HTC One M9
- Angry Birds is finally getting a sequel
- Samsung and Apple in talks to join e-SIM launch
- The OnePlus 2 will the be the 2016 flagship killer, OnePlus says
- Oppo reveals the Mirror 5
Have a great weekend, all!
Come comment on this article: Talk Android Weekly Recap: July 12 – July 18, 2015
Auto-eject S-Pen feature looking likely on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5
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Last month, we came across a patent that Samsung had filed for what looked like an auto-eject feature for a stylus – we can only imagine that this stylus is Samsung‘s own S-Pen. Using two sets of electromagnets, the S-Pen would essentially be launched from its docked position to a second position where most of the S-Pen would be sitting outside of the device for you to pull out yourself – conversely, the electromagnets would also serve as a way to keep the S-Pen locked in position when not in use. We had suspected the this feature would surface in the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, but a number of images from case maker Ringke appears to have confirmed this today- check out the incriminating images below:
If you look carefully at the housing of the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 5, you’ll see that the top (or bottom) of the S-Pen sits flush with the bottom of the Galaxy Note 5 – that is, you won’t be able to use your finger to pull out the S-Pen even if you wanted to. This can only mean that there is some kind of mechanism that allows your S-Pen to emerge from within the body of the Galaxy Note 5 by itself – sounds a lot like an auto-eject S-Pen feature to me. Of course, we’re yet to find out exactly what the trigger for the S-Pen to come out is, but if the rumours are to be believed, we’ll be finding out more details sometime next month.
What do you think about an auto-eject S-Pen feature on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamMobile via TalkAndroid
The post Auto-eject S-Pen feature looking likely on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Samsung Fanboy Opinion: Samsung needs to get their act together
I have no problems admitting that I am a huge fan of Samsung Mobile and their Galaxy line in particular. I remember going to CES and viewing the first Note and thinking to myself: “Man, Samsung is going to make some real headway in the mobile market.” But, there is a difference between being a fanboy and being a blind fanboy. You must acknowledge your problems if you’re ever going to solve them, and blind fanboyism leads to inferior products like the iPhone (had to get my dig in). So remember, as you read through this post, realize I actually am using a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge as my daily driver(read my review here).
I fell in love with the Note 3, and even though people hated Touchwiz, I actually liked it. I loved having it for the stylus, split screen functionality, unique audio controls, etc. When Touchwiz ran on Kit Kat 4.4.2 it actually wasn’t a bad experience for me. Then I went to the Note 4 and Note 4 Edge, both on Kit Kat, and I thought those were the best phones on the market. There is no doubt in my mind that Samsung currently makes the best total hardware package right now, but it’s the software that is causing headaches, and I actually believe Samsung would dominate again if they fixed this issue.
My colleagues here at Androidguys, in particular Cooper Le and Benton Trerise, convinced me to buy a Nexus 6 and give stock Android a spin since they knew I am a diehard Samsung Fanboy. So, I did. I bought a Nexus 6 and learned a ton. I first learned how bad stock Lollipop was on the Nexus running 5.0. It drove me nuts as it did to others. When it went to 5.1 many bugs were fixed, but it made me question how Google gives too much freedom to manufacturers to mess with the software. As much as I love Material Design, at the end of the day it really doesn’t make me drool over Lollipop anymore than Kit Kat.
Motorola is a great example of a company who knows that lag, slow updates, and undeletable apps are super annoying to users. So what do they do? They offer features they believe will help the user experience and nothing more. They definitely don’t make their own email app, or texting app when Android already has them. And another company who doesn’t allow carrier bloat is Apple. One area where all iPhone users are fortunate.
Lollipop on Samsung hardware
Lollipop 5.0.1 SUCKS. Nexus owners don’t have to deal with many issues anymore because they are on 5.1. If you’re a Note 4 or Note Edge user, like me, you most likely started with Kit Kat on your device, which worked great. And then Google decided to release a buggy version of software that murdered battery life, caused memory leaks, and created WiFi issues (just to name a few). My first issue is with Google and releasing a version this buggy, because they left every manufacturer to fend for themselves to work through those issues. In their fifth generation of software, you would think battery life wouldn’t be an issue. My Note Edge went from easily making it through a full day on Kit Kat, to only lasting about 3/4 of a day (and that’s after cutting my usage). It took a couple of months to fix it, but Google did with the release of 5.1. But that doesn’t help me on my carrier-locked Note Edge. I have a thousand dollar phone, which at times runs slower than a 2nd gen Moto G with the battery life of a phone that can’t hold a proper charge.
The best part of this is, I have absolutely no idea when Samsung and AT&T will release Android 5.1. I used 12 different phones last year, with the Note 3 and 4 being my daily driver while I experimented with the others. I haven’t bought another Android phone since the Nexus 6, because I am so tired of the fragmentation. I don’t want to look up if the LG G4, HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, or any other phone, are running 5.1, because I shouldn’t have to. Lollipop 5.0 is so bad that no smartphone user should have to put up with it any longer, yet it’s been over 9 months since Lollipop has been released and many of us are still dealing with issues. I’m not saying a phone’s software should be flawless, but I am saying a phone’s software in its fifth generation shouldn’t be killing battery life 9 months after its initial release.
Do away with bloat
No need for a Galaxy app store, Games, Keeper, Internet, Milk Music, Music, Instagram, and Mobile Hotspot apps.
Lollipop 5.0.1 on my Note Edge with TouchWiz and AT&T is a DISASTER. I have over 20 apps preinstalled by Samsung and AT&T that I can’t delete. Furthermore, it is annoying that some of those apps have to get updated through the Galaxy Store and not the Play Store. For someone like me who is a fan of Android smartphones, I can manage the updates. But for people like my brother who tried an S6 Edge, before going with an iPhone 6, have a valid point that it is ridiculous to have two app stores. It’s ridiculous that there is S-Voice in addition to Google Now. With as good as Google Now is, how can Samsung actually believe people would use S-Voice (if any reader uses S-Voice can you tell us in the comments why you use it)? I pay for a subscription to Google Play Music, and for as great as I think Milk Music is, I really don’t want it on my device. I will NEVER use it. Why does Samsung need to force apps on us? Are they really making that much money on these useless apps? I have a hard time believing they do, but cut the crap out Samsung. It’s not a good way to get people to like your devices when you force crappy apps on them.
Message to Samsung: Be your own thing.
Don’t abandon your loyalists by taking away our removable batteries and memory card slots. If you do, give us a real alternative like a kick ass battery. Sony manages to deliver incredible battery life with the Xperia Z3, and that has a metal frame with a glass front and back just like the S6. Make upgrading to 64GB cost just 25 dollars more than the 32GB variant. Don’t make us pay 100 extra for more internal memory just because Apple can. We all know it doesn’t cost 100 dollars more to insert 64GB vs 32GB. You’re so focused on Apple that you’re letting the Chinese catch up. Keep up this type of behavior, and you will be out of the mobile business just like Nokia, Blackberry, and even Motorola at one point.
Speaking for myself, I loved the Galaxy S5 and Note 3 even though they were made of all plastic. I know objectively they weren’t the best-looking devices, but in your hand they felt great and were rather durable. The S5 was waterproof but still managed to have a replaceable battery and expandable memory. The Note 3 was a true workhorse and offered a fantastic user experience. There were bugs on those devices, but nothing like losing battery life or memory leaking. The people that complained the most about the plastic build were not real Samsung fans as they cared more about how the hardware looked and felt over how it performed. So Samsung responded and abandoned their loyalists with the release of the S6. My first reaction to the release of the S6 was,” Oh geez, why did you have to go and play the Apple game and focus on looks rather than function?”
The funny part about the S6 is the Samsung haters came out in droves to buy it and the Samsung fans were just pissed off about taking away their memory card slot and swappable battery. Even many Apple users were swayed to try out the S6, but felt validated that Android was terrible because of all of the bugs and bloat on the phones. Many of the iPhone users who tried the S6, and went back, will probably never come back to Android now because this was probably one of the worst experiences you could have with Android. Nice work Sammy.
My suggestions for you Samsung
I’m not here to just complain about the same stuff everyone else complains about; I’m going to offer a solution which will make everyone happy.
Consider breaking up your software.
Keep developing Touchwiz. I think there are many great things about Touchwiz. But do it on your own software, Tizen. Leave Android alone. Google doesn’t do you any favors when they release buggy software like Lollipop 5.0. Not only do you have to deal with their issues, but you also have to correct them on all of your devices on Google’s schedule. I think I dealt with Android 5.0 on my Nexus 6 for 2 months before I got the next major update, which means I have to wait 6 months for the update on my Note Edge!
I remember reading a while back that you were going to cut back on the number of products you make, but I have yet to see proof of that. If anything I have seen the contrary, and you’re releasing even more products. The Note Edge and Note 4 have everything in common except for the Edge screen. Yet both phones are on different update schedules. Why did I buy the most expensive phone you make to receive the slowest updates? You’re spreading yourself too thin. Focus on making a few products great vs. creating a bunch of mediocre products.
Make a stock Android version of your Galaxy line and let people decide for themselves which software they want.
Also, let customers buy them on JUMP, EDGE, or hell, finance the devices yourself! You guys have a lot of money. Stop trying to play catch up to Apple. Be yourself. Stick with the fundamentals that got you success. You already differentiate yourself with your displays, processors, size options, etc.
Get back to your roots. You were an underdog before so there was no pressure when you created the first Galaxy device. Just like HTC and LG are underdogs now. They aren’t the top dog so people don’t have high expectations from them like they do with you. Learn from companies like Motorola who reinvented themselves, or OnePlus One who is making waves in the mobile industry. OnePlus is annoying as heck with their marketing style, and coupons needed to buy one of their phones, but they’re making waves because they’re trying to give people what they want. They don’t want to overpay for things they won’t use like bloatware or extravagant designs.
Stop with the anti-Apple commercials. It has become annoying. Be original. Solve our mobile problems and avoid adding new ones and we will love you back for it. I’m still your fanboy and every relationships has its ups and downs.
None of this is easy to do, but if you want to be great you have to earn it. Doing the easy thing like copying Apple is what gets you into trouble.
The post Samsung Fanboy Opinion: Samsung needs to get their act together appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Galaxy Note 5 case renders from Ringke reveal clues on the possible S-Pen auto-eject feature
Images of a new Galaxy Note 5 case from Ringke surfaced today and show new renders of the upcoming device, giving us a clue on the possible S-Pen eject mechanism. There has been rumors that the S-Pen on the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 might have an auto-eject feature after Samsung has filed patents for an auto-eject technology.
The renders show that the S-Pen tip is even with the surface of the frame of the device, which means that there would no longer be a method to pull it out as it was the case for the previous Galaxy note models. The auto-eject technology that Samsung has patented suggest that the device will be able to eject the S-Pen stylus on its own, without having the user to do it manually. Other rumors suggest that the Note 5’s S-Pen will have a push-to-release mechanism.
The Note 5 is expected to be officially unveiled on August 12.
Source: Sammobile
Come comment on this article: Galaxy Note 5 case renders from Ringke reveal clues on the possible S-Pen auto-eject feature
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes reveals potential for virtual reality games
The Samsung Gear VR has a new game available that shows how virtual reality devices can be used in new, creative ways for game play. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a cooperative video game that requires at least two players – one wearing a Gear VR headset and one manning a bomb defusing manual. As a demo video for the title shows, getting a group together for some gameplay will work as well and may even add to the experience.
The premise is simple. The game generates a random bomb comprised of puzzles that is presented in the Gear VR device. The person wearing the device has to describe what they see to their fellow players who have the bomb defusing instructions. To help spice things up, the manual is intentionally convoluted forcing players to really pay attention to what is being described to them. Those players then have to relay instructions back to the person viewing the bomb on how to stop it. In the true tradition of classic bomb squad work, there is a time element that the players are up against as they try to defuse the bomb and stop a virtual explosion.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is scheduled to hit the Gear VR story today for $9.99. You can check out a video showing some gameplay below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Steel Crate Games
via: Engadget
Come comment on this article: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes reveals potential for virtual reality games
Report: Samsung set to launch the Galaxy Tab S2 next week?
The upcoming Galaxy Tab S2 is, arguably, a mash-up between the Nexus 9 and Galaxy Tab S (both seen here) as far as design and aspect ratio go.
Tablet aficionados are no doubt chomping at the bit over the lack of love their favorite form factor has received so far this year. Amid reports of poor sales, and a general feeling of consumer apathy, it’s tough times finding a flagship tablet. Samsung, having arguably released several last year, has been on a far more reserved tone in 2015, with only the Galaxy Tab A and Galaxy Tab E under its belt so far. We’ve heard talk of the Galaxy Tab S2 for months now, yet nary a press-release in sight has made even the most patient ask when the time is right to let them loose in the market, especially given their recent skirt through government regulatory inspection.
A new report is suggesting the follow-up to last year’s Galaxy Tab S will be announced as soon as next week, in both 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants, conforming to the new 4:3 aspect ratio Samsung has chosen for this year’s tablets. This would make sense, as barring any further delays, the devices run the risk of being overshadowed by the possible August 12th launch of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Along with the release date report, two new pictures have been leaked, though they raise a fair question that has been lurking since the very first images appeared:
The picture looks to be a press render and matches with the images seen from China’s regulatory committee, as well as various leaks over the past months. Still, there is the curious question as to just why Samsung has apparently decided to remove the LED-flash from the rear camera. Given that this is a flagship product, and in-light of last year’s Tab S pair having such a component, it raises the possibility of cost-cutting measures. Considering these devices are expected to retail between $440 and $650 (for the LTE variant), there is arguably no excuse for such doings. The pictures also further the understanding that both black and white variants will ship with a rather standard-affair trim as opposed to the more nuanced, striking bronze colored one that adorned last year’s offerings.
The Galaxy Tab S2 series is purported to feature a QHD Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 5433 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage, microSD support, and Android Lollipop (the exact version of which is seemingly less clear). They are expected to come in at a svelte 5.4mm. Because the specs aren’t wildly different from last year’s offerings, we expect Samsung to push the new aspect ratio, inclusion of the S6’s fingerprint sensor, a possibly updated build of TouchWiz, and the metal unibody construction.
Will you be purchasing any of the Tab S2 variants? Leave us a comment below along with a note as to which one(s).
Samsung’s new advertisement focuses on the Galaxy S6 Edge’s camera
The latest advertisement from Samsung is all about promoting the speed of the camera found in the Galaxy S6 Edge. In the thirty-second commercial, two women are trying to capture photographs of a dog that popped into the room. They double-press the home button to quickly launch the camera and the Galaxy S6 Edge can immediately take photos so not a single moment is missed. Both women then admire their photos taken with the phone’s 16MP camera on a crisp Quad HD display.
Hit the break for the video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s new advertisement focuses on the Galaxy S6 Edge’s camera
Video demo: here’s how Samsung Pay will work in stores
Samsung touted its upcoming mobile payment service as a key feature of the Galaxy S6, but close to six months later, Samsung Pay is still not available anywhere in the world.
Samsung just kicked off a limited trial of the service in its home market, but the full release is only expected this fall.
With Apple Pay fully working in the US and now expanding to Europe, Samsung risks falling behind in a high-stake race that also includes Google’s Wallet, which is set to be replaced by Android Pay later this year.
Part of Samsung’s problem is consumers generally don’t know what to expect from Samsung Pay, and if they do, they may not be convinced that the service is worth waiting for. While Samsung has explained how Pay works in a blog post from March, there’s nothing like an actual hands-on demo to drive the point home.
The video below, courtesy of Times of India, shows exactly what steps paying with Samsung Pay will entail. The good news is paying with your Galaxy phone seems as straightforward as using a card. You just swipe up from the home button to bring up the stored cards, pick the preferred card, authenticate by touching the fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button, and put the phone against the magnetic card reader or NFC module.
Compatibility with NFC and classic magnetic card stripe readers is what Samsung hopes will make Samsung Pay a hit. Unlike Apple Pay or Google Wallet, which require NFC, Samsung Pay will work with just about any old card reader. That means Samsung Pay will have a wide base of adoption among retailers from day one, circumventing the chicken-or-egg problem that holds back the adoption of NFC.
Samsung paid $250 million to acquire LoopPay, the US-based company that developed the technology allowing the Galaxy S6 to work with magnetic stripe readers. But the potential returns of this investment are staggering, provided Samsung manages to sign up enough users.
Samsung is expected to launch in fall in South Korea and the United States, with more countries to follow. With Samsung rumored to throw a big launch event for the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ in mid-August, there’s a solid chance we’ll hear an official announcement at that point.
Do you see yourself using Samsung Pay over the traditional cards? Would you consider buying a Samsung device just for this feature?
Samsung and Apple in advanced talks to join e-SIM launch
One of the things we do when we get a new smartphone is to check whether it will accept the SIM card used in the previous device. Current SIM cards are ‘locked’ to a specific carrier and sometimes a different sized SIM card than previously used is required by the new device. Those requirements could become unnecessary when the e-SIM becomes available in the relative near future though.
The e-SIM is an electronic SIM that removes the need for a physical SIM card to be present in the device, this would mean that consumers could switch between carriers with much less hassle, theoretically at least. Of course, for the e-SIM to make it to the consumer would require many, if not most, of the world’s top handset makers to be on board. Both Apple and Samsung are believed to be in advanced talks to join the e-SIM standard.
The mobile telecom industry association, GSMA, is apparently close to announcing an agreement for an e-SIM standard that would be implemented on mobile phones.
“We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification,” said Ms Bouverot, Chief Executive of the GSMA. “We have been working with them and others to create an industry solution for machines and will agree a solution for consumer electronics.”
Major carriers such as AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone are expected to support the e-SIM plans, with all parties heading for a common architecture. The e-SIM is expected to be made available in 2016 at the earliest.
Source: Financial Times
Come comment on this article: Samsung and Apple in advanced talks to join e-SIM launch
Samsung and Apple could adopt e-SIM technology
According to a report in the Financial Times, mobile market leaders Samsung and Apple are in advanced talks with the GSMA, the mobile telecom industry association, regarding plans to adopt Electronic SIM (e-SIM) technology. Such a move would drastically shake up the relationship between customers and network operators.
E-SIM technology enables devices to work on any supporting network without the need for a physical SIM card and would allow customers to switch carrier more easily. This may put an end to network exclusive handsets debuts and, more importantly, would allow consumers to switch between networks to find a better deal without having to change a physical SIM card. Current physical SIMs are tied to a specific carrier and won’t work with handsets locked to other networks.
“We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification … the plan is to finalise the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for consumer devices, with delivery anticipated by 2016.” – Anne Bouverot, chief executive of the GSMA
The GSMA is apparently close to announcing an agreement on a standard for e-SIM implementation in smartphones. The standard is heading towards a common architecture, which should iron out all of the technical details to ensure that the technology works across carriers and with all participating smartphone manufacturers.
Several major network operators are already said to be on board, including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Vodafone and others. Apple had previously tried to implement its own e-SIM idea, but barely convinced a couple of carriers to join its scheme.
That said, the specification is not expected to be finalized for a while yet, and it will be probably be later than 2016 before any devices supporting e-SIM technology reach the market.
AIVAnet 