Samsung fights fears of Galaxy S6 bending with a video
Sadly, the he-said-she-said disputes over bending smartphones aren’t ending any time soon. Samsung has responded to SquareTrade’s allegations that the Galaxy S6 Edge is easily bendable by posting a video that shows the official stress tests for both the Edge and the regular S6. As you might expect, both devices hold up in this company-sanctioned clip — they can withstand up to 79 pounds of force at three different points, which is enough to snap five pencils in half. Supposedly, this is more pressure than you’d put on your phone if it was in your back pocket. The Korean firm also notes that SquareTrade only tested on the front, not the back where tolerance levels are different.
Samsung is “confident” that the S6 won’t break in normal use, and it’s going so far as to ask SquareTrade to conduct new tests that include both the front and back sides. There’s no question that the tech giant is making this request in the name of damage control, and only wants to showcase tests that flatter its design skills. However, it has a point when it notes that SquareTrade’s demo, which placed a crushing 110 pounds of force on a single point, isn’t all that realistic. Simply put, take care of your phone and it shouldn’t deform — “bendgate” scandals may help drive video hits and warranty sales, but they’re rarely relevant in practice.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: The Verge
Source: Samsung Tomorrow
SurveyMonkey tries to offer insight into smartphone manufacturer brand loyalty
A new survey conducted by SurveyMonkey attempts to measure brand loyalty for a variety of technology industry companies. Some of those companies include smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, with Microsoft even making an appearance. According to SurveyMonkey’s findings, Samsung managed to best Apple in terms of customer loyalty.
The industry benchmark for customer loyalty is a 19 and both Samsung and Apple managed to score higher than that, indicating consumers are ready to stick with their choices. Samsung scored a 35 while Apple scored a 28, which suggests owners of Samsung devices may be hard-pressed to make a switch to a different brand device. Meanwhile, Microsoft managed to score a -8 (yes, that is a negative number), so apparently consumers cannot wait to get rid of their Microsoft devices.
Although Samsung did better than Apple in terms of overall customer loyalty, the positions were reversed when it came to customer service satisfaction. On that scale, where the industry benchmark is 75, both Apple and Samsung fell far short with scores of 41 and 25. This seems to suggest there are a lot of unhappy people out there with Apple and Samsung devices who needed some type of support and could not get it or could not get it easily. Microsoft fared poorly in this measure as well, scoring only a 19.
Overall these companies did better than telecom and cable providers who saw all of their customer loyalty scores in the negative zone. However, AT&T, Verizon, DirecTV and Time Warner all managed to put up some better numbers when it came to customer service.
It should be no surprise that as smartphones and Internet/entertainment access increasingly become commodities that consumers feel less loyal to any particular brand. This also suggests that companies that can figure out how to offer exceptional customer service may be able to excel in such a market.
source: CNET
Come comment on this article: SurveyMonkey tries to offer insight into smartphone manufacturer brand loyalty
Samsung refutes claim of Galaxy S6 Edge being so bendable
Last last week, SquareTrade released a video showing how bendable the Galaxy S6 Edge is. In fact even more bendable than the iPhone 6 Plus. Now Samsung is refuting the claim, and with good reason.
Samsung claims that the video shows the Galaxy S6 Edge being bent (and broken) under a pressure of 110lbf (50kgf). However, that kind of pressure just isn’t the norm. The majority of concern comes from the back pocket, which only generates about 66lbf (30kgf). Samsung’s own testing shows the Galaxy S6 Edge cannot be bent under 79lbf (32kgf). That level of pressure would snap a bundle of five pencils at once.
Samsung also feels that SquareTrade misled customers in that they only tested the front side of the phone, while many smartphones have different degrees of durability for both the front and back. Samsung will be asking SquareTrade to conduct the stress test again by targeting both the front and back sides, and release it to the public. However, they didn’t say they would ask them to do it at a different pressure level.
If you want to see Samsung’s own testing, here is a video showing their 3-point bend test…..
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung refutes claim of Galaxy S6 Edge being so bendable
Samsung patent battle may help Apple avoid $533 million judgment
In what may be one of the most unusual legal twists witnessed in recent memory, a move by Samsung to have some patents invalidated may end up helping Apple avoid a $533 million judgment. This curious result is because both Apple and Samsung have been sued by the same company, Smartflash LLC, over the same set of patents. A win by either of the tech giants in their respective lawsuits will end up helping the other, even though Apple and Samsung have been huge rivals in recent years carrying on their own patent legal battles against each other.
Samsung recently convinced U.S. regulators to conduct a review of two of the Smartflash patents to determine whether they should have been issued. Samsung has already achieved a major step in their efforts to have the patents invalidated as a USPTO review board has issued preliminary findings indicating the patents cover abstract ideas and are not eligible for legal protection.
Sources indicate Smartflash’s odds of prevailing are poor at this time as history shows 100% of patents reviewed that were found to be based on abstract ideas ultimately get tossed. Smartflash’s attorney is not yielding though, claiming the issue has already be fought already during the trial and the district judge ruled in their favor. Since that ruling though, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly scaled back legal protections available for software inventions.
The bad news for Apple, which has a court ruling pending against it in the amount of $533 million based at least in part on the same patent, is that a ruling by a review panel in Samsung’s case probably will not occur until about a year from now. Apple is trying to convince the court to delay payment of the judgment until the patent office completes all reviews of the patents at issue in the case. That includes not only the patents Samsung has successfully challenged, but also the other patents involved in the case which have been challenged by Apple themselves.
source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: Samsung patent battle may help Apple avoid $533 million judgment
Android Authority this week
Android fans, this was a bit quiet on the Android front (unless you count the outrageous April Fools’ pranks that made the rounds), but Google made it up to us with some interesting developments on the Chrome OS front. Google and its partners launched cheap new Chromebooks, a new Chromebase, the Chromebit TV dongle, and a tool that allows just about any Android app to run on Chrome OS. In other news, we heard rumors about the Xperia Z4 and the LG G4, Lollipop updates hit several popular devices, Google updated some of its apps, HTC introduced the One E9+ and the One M8+, and OnePlus finally released its new Oxygen OS.
Inside AA HQ
It was no April Fools’ joke, but it was announced on April 1, naturally creating a little confusion. Experienced tech journalist, prodigious Twitter user, and all around jolly good fellow Nirave Ghondia is joining Android Authority. Based in the UK, Nirave will contribute features and opinion pieces on the hottest developments in the tech world. Here’s to a long and fertile collaboration!
Spearheaded by Gary, we’re doubling down on our developer-focused content. By the way, if you’re interested in developing for Android and IoT, you should give our weekly developer newsletter a look. It’s all hand-picked resources that – we hope – will help improve your skills.
We’re also pushing hard with our new app and product database, so hopefully we’ll have some good news to share in the next weeks.
A PSA from my colleagues doing our podcast: we’ve published last week’s edition (Sci-Fi tech of today) – sorry for the delay! We’ve also put up this week’s edition (Chrome OS), so happy listening!
As always, Sunday brings you the chance to win a cool new device from our weekly giveaway (we’ve changed up the raffle widget, by the way, hope you like the new one). This week it’s a Galaxy S6 Edge.
The Friday Debate Podcast
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
Here are some interesting posts for your Sunday reading:
- Review: The Galaxy S6 Edge review: a unique phone, but is it worth your money?
- Opinion: Matt has made up his mind – he’s choosing the Galaxy S6 over the Edge. Here’s why
- Review: Kevin puts the Meizu M1 Note to the test – see what he thinks about it
- April Fools’: The best tech April Fools’ pranks in one place
- Feature: Samsung seems to be moving away from Qualcomm – is it a good move?
- Feature: Which voice call app consumes the most data? Rob put the top 10 to the test
Top news of the week
And here are the top news in the Android world this week:
Xperia Z4 specs revealed?
LG G4 news and rumors
Lollipop rollout
- Verizon LG G2 gets Android 5.0 Lollipop, ahead of the G3
- AT&T HTC One M7 getting Lollipop today, AT&T M8 update on 4/6
- One M7 getting Lollipop in India and other Asian countries
- Galaxy Note 4 getting Lollipop in India, Brazil, UAE and more
- Android 5.0 Lollipop now rolling out to the Verizon Galaxy Note 4
Google apps updates
- New Gmail update for Android brings a unified inbox, conversation view and much more
- Google will now integrate all of your photos and videos from Google+ into Drive
- A Google Now-style facelift is making its way to Chrome OS beta
- Google News and Weather updated, adds new “suggested for you” feature
New HTC devices
- One E9+ launched in China: 5.5-inch Quad HD, MediaTek processor, plastic body
- HTC launches One M8s, a Snapdragon 615-powered version of last year’s M8
Chrome OS in the spotlight
- Google announces the Chromebit, an easy way to bring Chrome OS to your TV
- Google unveils four new budget-friendly Chromebooks for under $250
- Acer Chromebase announced, touchscreen in tow
- Google’s ARC Welder tool makes it easy to run almost any Android app on Chrome
Oxygen OS is here
Sound off
We always want to hear your feedback. Whether it’s criticism or praise, feel free to tell us what you think about Android Authority’s content, design, and community. Comment here or get in touch with us on our social channels:
Happy Sunday!
Samsung allegedly paid 500 fake fans to attend the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launch in China
When Samsung launches a new flagship smartphone you would naturally think that there will be more than a few people that are willing to stand around and ogle the handset, wouldn’t you? Especially when the handsets in question are the stylish Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Apparently not so in China, where Samsung is alleged to have paid people to pose as fans and celebrate the launch of Samsung’s latest flagship devices.
According to a report from the Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper, Samsung paid 400-500 people to attend the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge press conference. Each so-called fan received 30 yuan ($4.80) to spend an hour or more at the event, with recruiters being paid 20 yuan ($3.25) for every person that was recruited. Seeing as there were around 1000 attendees at the press conference, that means that roughly half of them were allegedly fake.
The recruits were required to supply their names, pictures and phone numbers on WeChat (an instant messaging app in China), as well as ‘liking’ Samsung’s Baidu page. If interviewed, the fans were to say that they at the press conference because they were Samsung fans and interested in the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. One such fan said that she got the job by answering an ad on WeChat, earning 50 yuan ($8) for staying more than 15 minutes.
If true, it isn’t the most unusual thing that Samsung has ever been accused of, but it still isn’t quite kosher is it? And while it’s probably just a sign of the desperate measures that Samsung sees necessary to gain market share in China from the iPhone, it does beg the question – what else is Samsung doing that it is getting away with?
Source: WantChinaTimes
Via: PhoneArena
Come comment on this article: Samsung allegedly paid 500 fake fans to attend the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launch in China
Samsung allegedly hired 500 fake fans for Chinese Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launch event
Samsung has been known for making questionable marketing decisions before, but this one seems to take the cake (if true). According to a report out of China, Samsung allegedly hired 500 fake fans for a launch event in China for their Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones. These fake fans were told they should act as Samsung fans […]
The post Samsung allegedly hired 500 fake fans for Chinese Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launch event appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S6 to ship on April 6
Earlier today, Sprint announced that it would ship the Galaxy S6 to customers on April 6. That means, following Monday’s shipment, devices will arrive on customers’ doorsteps this week. The carrier does ask that people still pre-order the Samsung flagship so they get it as quickly as possible.
Source: Sprint (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S6 to ship on April 6
Samsung starts pushing out Lollipop update for the Note 4
If you own a Galaxy Note 4 and reside in Italy, you may want to pin your ears back, as Samsung has just started pushing out the much-anticipated Android 5.0 Lollipop update to all unlocked variants of the handset located in your region.
All the changes you’d expect to find in Lollipop are bundled into this upgrade, including support for multiple accounts, improved notifications, a smoother multitasking experience and the recently-announced Material Design guidelines.
As is customary with all manufacturer updates, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your device, you can search for the update manually. To do so simply follow the four steps below:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”
- Hit “System Updates”
- Tap on “Check for update”
If you own a Galaxy Note 4 and you’re situated in Italy, why not drop us a line in the comments section below letting us know when you receive the update?
Come comment on this article: Samsung starts pushing out Lollipop update for the Note 4
Samsung’s next Exynos processor will allegedly feature custom cores
The next processor released by Samsung under the Exynos name feature its own custom cores. The latest report published out of China claims that the company will shift away from Cortex A72 cores in favor of its own creation. The upcoming processor is known internally as “Mongoose” and will be clocked at 2.3GHz. Performance of a single core on Mongoose is said to be considerably better than the current Exynos 7420.
This is not the first time we heard of such plans about Samsung and its processors. In 2013, there was a report that the custom cores in its processors would arrive the following year. That never happened and a few weeks ago a report matching today’s surfaced. Chances are we see Mongoose debut sometime in 2016.
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s next Exynos processor will allegedly feature custom cores
AIVAnet 