Samsung may release another Edge smartphone before the Galaxy Note 5
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All bets are on Samsung releasing a new Galaxy Note device at IFA 2015 in September, and based on the success that the Galaxy S6 Edge is having, we’re pretty sure that we’ll be seeing another Note Edge device as well – we’re assuming its going to be called the Galaxy Note 5 Edge. While we weren’t expecting Samsung to delve into Edge devices again until September, a rumour has dropped today which suggests that Samsung could be releasing another Edge smartphone before then.
If I had to guess, an Edge addition to the Galaxy A line would make the most sense seeing as they are still quite premium devices and the process to make the curved glass is quite time consuming and expensive – Samsung had to open one of its new factories early just to keep up with demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge. On the other hand, September is only 4 months away which is a challenging timeline at best, but only time will tell whether Samsung jumps on this opportunity to pump out more Edge smartphones.
Would you like to see another Edge smartphone in the next few months? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: TalkAndroid
The post Samsung may release another Edge smartphone before the Galaxy Note 5 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Life with the Galaxy S6 Edge: one month later
Samsung may have had success after success since the Galaxy S2, but last year, the Galaxy S5 showed the series had gotten a little stale. Instead of the revolutionary upgrades from past devices, the Galaxy S5 was a flop as a flagship by the company’s standards and that was a wake-up call for the Korean manufacturer.
Before the launch of the Galaxy S6, we heard rumours of market-leading performance, a scaled back interface and a lack of removable battery and micro SD card; basically, things you wouldn’t expect from a Samsung flagship.
Fast forward to MWC 2015 and Samsung showed that change isn’t always bad with the introduction of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Having used either the latest Galaxy S or Galaxy Note as my daily driver for the past few years, Samsung’s new devices shocked me. But how do they fare once the novelty wears off?
We’ve already reviewed the Galaxy S6 Edge and our own Jayce has touched on why the Galaxy S6 Edge is the real Samsung flagship (which you can see in the video below) but after four weeks with the Galaxy S6 Edge, what do I make of the best that Samsung has to offer? Find out below.
Design
For so many years, Samsung made plastic work because each year, the company introduced little tweaks in the design to make things refreshing. The Galaxy S2 was a large slab, the Galaxy S3 introduced curves and the Galaxy S4 refined these for a stylish looking device.
The Galaxy S5 however, just felt like the Galaxy S4 and herein lied the problem for Samsung with the Galaxy S6: how to refresh the handset while making it interesting. The answer now appears simple: use metal and glass without a touch of plastic. And in the case of the Galaxy S6 Edge, add a dual curved screen and show that curved displays actually can be useful.
The Edge is no longer an afterthought, it’s a key part of the experience.
I’ve previously used the Galaxy Note Edge but the Edge Screen on the phablet just felt like an afterthought and indeed it was: rather than a single curved display, the Note Edge was a Galaxy Note 4 with a curved edge bolted on and as a result, it felt a little disjointed. The Galaxy S6 Edge? Well, it’s a single curved piece of glass and the difference is massive; rather than being an afterthought, it’s a key part of the experience.
Samsung has always made good smartphone displays and the Galaxy S6 Edge is no different. The Super AMOLED display – which measure 5.2-inches and offers Quad HD resolution – is simply incredible, and it even beats the Galaxy Note 4 QHD panel, thanks to the superior 577ppi.
I’ve got the white Galaxy S6 Edge and the reason I chose this colour is simple; it’s the least likely to show fingerprints. The only problem with the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 rear is that it attracts fingerprints – even more so than the display – and if you’ve got any colour other than the white, you’ll find yourself wiping it clean pretty often. If I was going to choose a different colour, the Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man special edition would definitely get my vote.
TouchWiz & Performance
Before the launch of the S6 Edge, the leaked benchmark results revealed one thing; the performance of Samsung’s new handsets was going to set a new standard for smartphones.
No bloat, no lag, and no slowing down.
Rather than deal with the reported overheating issues with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, Samsung chose to use their own Exynos 7420 processor and they coupled this with the most streamlined TouchWiz interface ever made. Instead of all their own bloatware, Samsung added a few new software features – such as the Themes store, added some third party apps from Microsoft, and streamlined the experience. No bloat, no lag and no slowing down once you fill it with content.
The key thing about the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge is there’s no storage expansion and for some people, this could be a problem. On my Galaxy Note 4, I had about 20GB worth of content on the microSD card and around 5GB worth of apps and data on the internal storage so the base 32GB model is fine. I actually ended up with a 64GB as the 32GB isn’t available in the UK but that’s a story for another day.
One problem with microSD cards on past Samsung devices has been that they may allow you to expand the storage but once you add 32GB+ data, I’ve found that the handset starts slowing down. Switching to flash storage only solves this and means that even adding 20GB+ worth of data doesn’t slow your handset down.
Like other OEMs, Samsung decided to start using fingerprint sensors on the Galaxy S flagship with the Galaxy S5 but sadly, its first attempt was rubbish. Rather than the press and hold seen on other devices, it was an odd swipe scanner and the small button size meant it was destined to fail. With the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge, the home button is wider and flatter and the redesigned fingerprint scanner means you just have to put your finger on the button. As a result, the fingerprint sensor is pretty accurate and really easy to use and offers the simplicity and accuracy seen on the iPhone’s Touch ID fingerprint button scanner.
Camera
For the past few years, Samsung cameras have been getting progressively better and the addition of OIS to the Note 4 camera finally delivered the low-light performance that Samsung lacked. The Galaxy S6 Edge takes this one step further, as it uses the same Sony IMX240 sensor as the Galaxy Note 4 but places it behind a lens with a wide f/1.9 aperture, which lets more light in.
The result is a camera that’s simply incredible; Samsung’s handset is one of the most capable on a smartphone to-date and definitely the best on a Samsung handset to date. In fact, in our blind smartphone camera shootout, the Galaxy S6 Edge dominated the competition to win the shootout by a considerable margin.
Those results speak for themselves and for me, the Galaxy S6 Edge ticks the right boxes. It’s not perfect as the images can be over-saturated at times, but it’s good enough to say that you’ll almost never get a bad shot.
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Battery Life
Alongside the lack of expandable storage, the key problem facing would-be buyers is the lack of removable battery and, as I’ve covered, it is a bit of a problem. Without the ability to swap out the battery, you’re limited to the 2600 mAh capacity and from my testing, the screen can be a big battery drain.
That being said, there’s ways to improve the battery life – such as reducing the display to 60% brightness or less and turning off location – and the addition of dual wireless charging and Quick Charging means you’re never far from a top up. Quick Charge especially means I’ve often charged my handset to 50 percent with 30 minutes charge or less and this is usually good enough for an evening’s use.
Like we spoke about on the most recent episode of our FDP podcast, battery life is hugely subjective. From my experience, smartphones are designed to let the average user leave the house in the morning and expect to have juice left when they return home from work. The Galaxy S6 Edge will do this and 3 to 4 hours screen-on-time from 18 to 20 hours of usage is the average battery life you can expect.
How does the Galaxy S6 compare to the rest?
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How a flagship should be
For me personally, there’s only one key issue with the Galaxy S6 Edge: the battery life. Recent smartphones have always required a trade-off between the specs and the battery life but the Galaxy S6 Edge is different. For me personally, I’ll happily take the super sleek design, the premium feeling and the incredible experience at the cost of needing a charger more often.
Yes, I’ve used plenty of Samsung devices in the past so I can appreciate the huge difference a year has made, but even if you’ve never used a Samsung device in the past, the Galaxy S6 Edge will truly surprise you. The Edge screen definitely has its uses – I personally use the Twitter trends and World News panels all the time – and, unlike the Galaxy Note Edge, it doesn’t feel like an unwanted addition to the handset, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.
Looking through history, there’s plenty of examples where a manufacturer has dared to be different and this has led to a new era of innovation. From the earliest mobile phones to the Apple iPhone and Samsung’s first Galaxy Note – which redefined the boundaries of how large a screen could be – innovation has bred innovation.
A truly unique perspective redefines the standard of how a flagship should be.
Curved displays are certainly not new, but Samsung’s Edge Screen is the most innovative take on a curved smartphone screen to-date. Sometimes it takes a company’s unique perspective on a feature to make it cool and the dual curved display on the Galaxy S6 Edge does just this; it redefines the standard of how a flagship should be.
Samsung teases Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition
If you happened to see Avengers: Age of Ultron, then you may have noticed that Samsung has a pretty strong presence in the movie from phones to tablets. This is obviously part of a big marketing program that will include accessories for both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. You can already find Avengers themes in the Samsung Themes store.
Last week it was revealed that Samsung would also offer an Iron Man Edition of the Galaxy S6 Edge soon. Now today Samsung is teasing it via Twitter. Unfortunately they didn’t show the phone, but they did show the very nice looking box. We can only assume the phone in that box will be equally as gorgeous.
It remains to be seen how much the Iron Man Edition will cost or how widely available it will be. Is this something that interests you? I think it would be cool for a week or so, but I think the novelty will wear off pretty quickly. I’m not sure I would want it for two years, which is the typical carrier contract.
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Samsung teams up with Marvel to launch new Avengers themed accessories
In aid of a new promotion, Samsung and Marvel have teamed up to launch a series of Avengers themed products for the Galaxy S6, which include a series of accessories, themes and an Iron Man edition of the S6 Edge.
A gallery containing product shots of the accessories can be seen below:
If you like the look of one or two of the products, then head over to MobileFun and click reserve as they’re set to ship in the next 3 – 5 days.
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Samsung might launch another Edge smartphone before the Note 5 Edge
According to a new report, Samsung is exploring the possibilities of launching yet another Edge-branded smartphone ahead of the Note 5 Edge’s debut in September.
What’s intriguing about this particular rumor is that it doesn’t seem realistic for the South Korean manufacturer to create another smartphone with a three-sided display because it’s presently struggling to increase production of the S6 Edge.
It’s hard to call whether Samsung will have the resources to launch another Edge-branded variant within the next fifteen weeks, but as we know it’s no stranger to pumping out new smartphones at a very fast rate — so only time will tell.
In the meantime, what do you think a next Edge could be? A mid-range device? Or another high-end one? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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New VR game lets you be the bullet
Remember Superhot? It let you dodge bullets by controlling time à la The Matrix, but a new VR game takes that premise even farther by making you the bullet. Drift is a game for Samsung’s Gear VR, developed by a pair of programmers during the course of Oculus’ Mobile VR Jam. The idea is pretty simple: after a bullet is fired from a gun, your viewpoint changes to its trajectory. Time is considerably slowed down and you can alter the bullet’s path by looking left or right. You move around the bizarre orange environment past the crash test dummy-like characters until you spot your target: the green guy.
It reminds us a bit of the iconic intro to Lord of War, which tracks a bullet from fabrication to kill. Drift is more of a gangster take on the idea, and lets you refine your search using red “trails” left behind from previous failed attempts. Players can also seek bonuses to unlock achievements and get improved slow motion control. The developers chose the orange and white LoFi look to suit the mobile constraints of the Gear VR, but told Polygon they’re considering an Oculus VR PC version with better quality. They plan to expand the idea with new environments “to make a more complete and challenging experience,” but if you happen to have a Gear VR, you can try out the beta right now.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/126716070?color=990000&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables, Samsung
Via: Polygon
Source: Oculus Mobile VR Jam
The Galaxy S6 Active appears in Samsung Plus benefits scheme listing
It’s hardly a surprise that Samsung is planning on releasing an Active variant of its Galaxy S6 flagship smartphone. In recent days we’ve seen leaked press images, carrier-branded pictures and rumours that the rugged handset will support removables batteries and MicroSD cards. Today, the Galaxy S6 Active has been mentioned in a list detailing the devices that are eligible for the Samsung Plus reward program.
The Samsung Plus program provides additional benefits to valued customers, offering you peace of mind with each Samsung device purchased. A number of points are awarded, with the amount decreasing according to how much time has passed between the product’s launch date and when the device was registered in the scheme that has Silver, Gold and Platinum levels of benefits.
According to the list of devices below, the Galaxy S6 Active’s launch date was the same as its non-rugged siblings, although it hasn’t appeared on sale anywhere just yet. But the increased frequency of leaks would point to the Galaxy S6 Active being announced soon, with AT&T being the first carrier to offer it.
Source: Samsung
Via: PhoneArena
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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition teased: I need that box in my life
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We know that Samsung has an Iron Man themed Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in the pipeline, but today Samsung has started the process of teasing the device with an aim of releasing the device sometime at the end of May or early June. Samsung put up the following image on its Twitter page which shows off presumably the box that one devices – we’ll call it the “Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition” – is going to come in, and by golly does it look good:
Coming Soon (*Detailed availability in markets may differ by region) pic.twitter.com/oseZi3fOKn
— Samsung Electronics (@SamsungTMRW) May 15, 2015
I want it just for the box. Accompanying the picture is “Coming Soon (*Detailed availability in markets may differ by region)” which suggests that this won’t be a device available everywhere, but we hope its accessible enough that fans of Samsung and The Avengers around the world are able to take advantage of these presumably once-in-a-lifetime themed devices. Here’s to hoping that Samsung makes more versions for the other Avengers – I’ll bet a Captain America one would sell like hotcakes.
What do you think about this Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition teased: I need that box in my life appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 – where will Samsung go from here?
In the past, the Samsung Galaxy Note series has often been referred to as the Korean giant’s “real flagship”, largely due to the fact that the Note series generally had the best specs, arguably the best aesthetics, and is one of the phones the sets the tone for what to expect from Samsung, and the competition, in the following year.
The Note 4’s big contribution in pushing Samsung forward into 2015 was being the first major flagship from the company with a metal frame. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge took this concept even further, upping its game by melding glass and metal to form a design that stands out from the crowd.
Of course, the departure in design hasn’t been without sacrifices, with microSD and the removable battery both getting the ax. Will Samsung make the same sacrifices and improvements with the Note 5, or will the Note series continue shaking up Samsung’s direction in late 2015 and into 2016? Obviously it is too early to know the answer to that, but let’s speculate on a few areas that Samsung could switch things up both from past Note devices and from the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
For those curious about some of the early rumors surrounding the Galaxy Note 5, be sure to check out The Most Anticipated Phones of later 2015 for a rundown on alleged specs and more.
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Material Choice
In recent years, Samsung hasn’t been afraid to experiment with differing materials with the Note series, instead of just following Samsung’s Galaxy S line. For example, when the Note 3 debuted with a faux leather plastic back, many expected to see something similar with the Galaxy S5. Instead, Samsung gave us a dimpled plastic back that is considered by many to have been a step backwards not forward.
Now in 2015, we have heard from many folks that assume that the Note 5 will get the glass/metal makeover that the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge featured. It certainly makes sense that Samsung would want to go this route, after all, the design has been well received and there’s something to be said for having product design consistency across all ranges. Still, it’s not impossible to think that Samsung would want to keep the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6/Edge as distinct from one another as possible to avoid canabilization (though the bigger screen and S-Pen are certainly a bit part of that strategy).
With that in mind, let’s run down some of the possible material choices that the Note 5 could go with:
Glass and metal: They have a hit, why mess with the formula?
Real leather: It seems less likely that Samsung would go down this path, especially since LG is already doing this with the LG G4. Still, there are many who like Samsung’s current faux leather look, but with plastic being a bit taboo for phones these days, going with real leather would allow Samsung to keep a similar direction but push the ‘premium’ factor a bit further.
Unibody metal: Samsung has already experimented with unibody metal, so why not apply this to their phablet flagship? If Samsung is really feeling bold, they could even go with a metal design that has a removable back. HTC has done it in the past, so Samsung could certainly pull it off if it wanted.
Kevlar: A kevlar back would be a first for Samsung, as far as we are aware. Kevlar isn’t nearly as popular as some of the other mentioned choices, but you never know.
Plastic: Samsung seems to want to leave behind its “plastic is fantastic” ideaology, so we’d be awfully surprised if plastic was the order of the day for the Note 5. Even if they did do this, we imagine they’d at least keep the metallic frame.
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Display resolution and size
When the original Note arrived on scene it packed a then-massive 5.3-inch display with a resolution of just 800 x 1280, and it was followed by another size upgrade to 5.5-inches with the Note 2, and finally to 5.7-inches with the Note 3. The Note 4 kept the Note 3 display size, but it did make the move to QHD. For the Note 5, Samsung could go several different routes.
The rumor mill currently suggests that the Korean giant is currently testing both 2K and 4K resolutions for the upcoming Note, and has yet to settle for one over the other. The advantages of a QHD display are already questioned by some, and so it makes sense that Samsung might want to keep the resolution where it’s at, instead focusing on improving viewing angles and other aspects of the display experience. On the other hand, jumping to 4K would likely make Samsung one of the first major OEMs to offer a 4K smartphone, if not the only OEM.
As for display size? 5.7 seems to be the sweet spot for phablet lovers, with even the next Nexus rumored to be adopting this screen size. Still, 6+ phones are less of an oddity these days, and so it wouldn’t be a total shock to see Samsung move the screen size somewhere between 5.8 and 6.0-inches.
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Curves for everyone
At least one rumor says that the Note 5 will debut alongside a new Note Edge, this time with dual curves and possibly different spec’s and screen size when compared to the Note 5. It’s hard to say if that claim has any legitimacy to it, but one thing is certain: the GS6 Edge’s dual curve design has been really well received, better than even the standard Galaxy S6.
What if Samsung decided to offer the Note 5 with dual curves, and no ‘standard display’ option? Considering the production isseus already seen just from the S6 Edge variant, this seems pretty unlikely. Not to mention such a move would risk alienating Note fans that don’t enjoy curved displays.
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MicroSD, removable back, and removable battery
Okay, this wouldn’t be something new for the Galaxy Note series, but it would be a different approach than we saw with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Casual consumers, in particular, seem to be perfectly fine with the removal of these features, but the Note series is generally favored by more power user types. Perhaps Samsung will keep the removable back, battery, and microSD in order to appeal to these types of users?
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That’s just four ‘out of the box’ approaches that Samsung could go with in order to set the Note 5 apart from the competition, as well as the Galaxy S6 family. Some of the suggestions above are pretty unpractical, but remember this post was just for fun. Any other unique ideas you’d like to see the Note 5 embrace? Let us know about them in the comments!
Samsung Gear Live removed from the Google Store
Another device’s stay in the Google Store has come to an end. The Samsung Gear Live, which launched last year at I/O alongside the LG G Watch, is longer available through the Google Store. The slot next to other Android Wear smartwatches has been removed and the product page confrims that the Gear Live is “no longer available for purchase” next to a dormant NOT AVAILABLE button.
Source: Google Store
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