Samsung’s Galaxy S 6 Edge screen will cover three sides of the device
The floodgates are really opening up about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 Edge, which is to be expected with how close we are to an official announcement. The latest reports shed some light on just what Samsung will do with the Edge variant, and it looks like they’ll be taking the curved design of the Note Edge one step further by using a screen that covers three sides of the device, instead of just two as seen on the Note Edge.
This design would have a wrap-around design on the left and right sides of the phone. It’s not entirely clear what that extra side would be good for, since the Note Edge essentially held all of your necessary shortcuts and buttons with one panel just fine.
Aside from the crazy screen design, the reports also confirm high-end specs, a metal frame, and a MWC unveiling for both devices. No shockers there.
What are your thoughts on Samsung’s curved displays? Innovative, or gimmicky?
source: Bloomberg
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Galaxy Note 4 in Russia now receiving Lollipop update
As promised, Samsung has finally started pushing out the long-awaited and much-anticipated Lollipop update to all unlocked models of its flagship phablet, the Note 4, in Russia. This upgrade transports the latest version of the Android operating system, together with a multitude of new features, bug fixes and stability improvements.
The full changelog can be seen below:
- Android 5.0 Lollipop update
- Lock screen and Notification: New Lollipop UI style with enhanced privacy features
- Recent apps: Support multiple pages
- Addition of search function within settings
To start the upgrade, make sure you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Then, from the home screen, press the Menu key, followed by Settings. Scroll to the bottom and tap ‘About Device’, followed by ‘Software Update and ‘Update Now’.
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Samsung investing heavily in OLED display production
Samsung has announced plans to invest 4 trillion won ($3.6 trillion) into organic light-emitting diode (OLED) production for medium and small-sized panels found in mobile and other consumer electronics products.
The investment will be spread between 2015 and 2017 and could help Samsung offset falling revenues resulting from the well documented decline in the company’s handset sales.
We have already seen similar boosts to Samsung’s semiconductor business help prop up profits last quarter and the company is expected to begin building a 15.6 trillion won chip production plant in South Korea within the next few months. The outlook for Samsung’s various component manufacturing arms seems much more positive than mobile sale expectations.
According to analysts, the new production line will likely initially focus on production for Samsung’s own products, such as curved panels for the Galaxy Note Edge and rumored Galaxy S6 curved displays. Further down the line, Samsung could begin providing OLED products to rival mobile firms who don’t have their own production capabilities. However, LG Display, Samsung’s largest competitor in the flexible display space, is reported to be investing between 1 and 1.2 trillion won into additional OLED production capacity later this year also.
With mobile shipments slowing over the past 12 months, Samsung may become increasingly reliant on external customers for revenue growth. The company’s leading OLED and semiconductor production technologies could well become increasingly important aspects of Samsung’s business model in the next few years.
Bloomberg confirms “all-metal” Galaxy S6 and Edge, as more renders and schematics surface
Render made by UnderKG based on available information
The Galaxy S6 and its double-edged sibling have starred in dozens of rumors and renders over the last couple of weeks, but most of them came from unverified or unreliable sources.
Now a highly respected news organization is weighing in on the matter, confirming key details about the upcoming Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
Citing “people with direct knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg confirmed today that both the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge will feature “all-metal” bodies and Samsung’s “most advanced processor chips.” Both devices will feature 5.1-inch screens and metal frames manufactured by Chinese supplier BYD Electronic, said the sources.
The report cites analyst Lee Seung Woo of Korean firm IBK Securities saying that Samsung is looking at curved screens that wrap around the edges as a differentiator against both Apple, which pummeled Samsung last quarter, and the wave of budget-focused competitors nipping at Samsung’s market share. “Samsung need a model with new technology to stop the iPhone juggernaut and to distinguish it from others,” said the analyst.
All in all, this Bloomberg report adds credence to the rather amorphous body of rumors and unverified stories that coalesced around Samsung’s Next Big Thing.
In more traditional leak territory, Korean website UnderKG (via GforGames) came up with a series of product schematics and renders that allegedly show the upcoming Galaxy S6. The images are consistent with the news and other renders we’ve seen this past week, as well as with the “all-metal” build mentioned by Bloomberg.
Note that these are not press renders or other official imagery. They are renders made by UnderKG based on info it secured.
The designs show rounded metallic edges and a port and speaker placement that somehow resemble the latest iPhones. If this ends up being the actual design, Samsung may be exposing itself to more copycatting allegations. Then again, Samsung could argue that designing an all-metal device imposes certain limitations, like the necessity for plastic cutouts for antennas.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be unveiled on March 1, ahead of MWC Barcelona. Stay tuned for more.
Lollipop update hitting Galaxy Note 4, starting in Poland
Believe it or not, this screenshot was posted way back in December. Now approaching Mid-February, Lollipop is finally launching for the Note 4, in Poland at least.
When it comes to Lollipop, suffice to say that some have been showered in sweets more than others; the Moto X, LG G3, and Samsung Galaxy S5 come to mind in addition to the GPe devices and Nexus devices. Meanwhile, in recent weeks even the Galaxy S4 has received Android 5.X. To say that Galaxy Note 4 owners are a bit upset might be an understatement, though fortunately it seems the time may finally be right.
For owners of the SM-910C variant in Poland, today is the day for loading up Lollipop. Reports indicate that while the Android 5.0.1 update is not yet available on Kies, it is being pushed to some devices as an OTA update. Those eager to snack on sweets can try to force things by accessing the “Check for Updates” section in the Settings > About Device menu. However, it’s not a sure-fire shot unfortunately, and thus waiting is the name of the game.
Android enthusiasts may recall that Poland was also the first place to receive the Lollipop update for the Galaxy S5 and the LG G3, and thus the country’s status as a testing ground before widespread roll-out seems to be continuing. With LG it was only a matter of a few weeks before the update was deployed across Europe in a larger fashion, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the same follow suit here with Samsung’s fabulous phablet.
While this might be a breath of fresh air to those living in some parts of the world, for those in North America (the USA in particular), the game of patience is seemingly a much longer road to glory: recall that the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update only began to release to US carrier variants in the recent past.
The Lollipop update brings the Note 4 a refreshed appearance, lockscreen notifications, heads-up notifications, and improved performance and battery life, among others.
When will the Note Edge see Lollipop? Alas the answer is as rhetorical as the famous Tootsie Pop question.
It remains to be seen when the Galaxy Note Edge will receive the latest major Android release. While a leaked build has been seen before, there is no solid news of a date to declare. Given the recent report that the device sold far less than a million units however, it might be a fair assumption to think Samsung is a bit more focused on getting the Note 4 out the door before changing gears to its sloped sibling.
Hopefully this bit of good news will brighten the smiles of our readers. as opposed to leaked builds and test versions with no launch in site. Please feel free to share impressions or thoughts if and when your Note 4 is updated!
Android 5.0.1 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has rolled out in Poland
Many of Samsung‘s latest software builds are first released in Poland before they are rolled out around the world, so it is that Android 5.0.1 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has just been rolled out in Poland. There’s actually probably not much about it that will surprise us considering that we have seen the new […]
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Samsung releases Samsung Galaxy E7 in China
Last month as part of an announcement regarding several mid-range smartphones for the Indian market, Samsung officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy E7 smartphone. Today Samsung announced they would be making the device available in China.
The 5.5-inch device has a 720p screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor. The Galaxy E7 also comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage. Out of the box the Galaxy E7 will be running Android KitKat. Samsung has not announced whether the Galaxy E7 will be upgraded to Android Lollipop. The Galaxy E7 does support 4G LTE networks.
When released in India, the Galaxy E7 was priced at about $362 USD. A month later, the device is being released in China for 2000 Yuan or about $320 USD. Samsung has not indicated what other markets will have access to the Galaxy E7, but it is thought the device will be limited to Asian markets.
source: GizmoChina
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Samsung bets on OLED as smartphone sales decline
It’s easy to forget that Samsung is a multi-tentacled company that builds much more than TVs and phones. For instance, it manufactures CPUs for arch-foe Apple and makes small-to-medium OLED panels for various companies, not just its own mobile division. According to Reuters, Samsung will invest another $3.6 billion into its OLED business to offset flagging smartphone sales. Most of that cash will go into a new production line producing curved panels for the Galaxy Note edge and third-party devices. And Samsung’s not the only South Korean manufacturer dumping more money into OLEDs. LG will also stake nearly $1 billion on new OLED capacity for large-panel items like TVs, as well. The takeaway? Given the display dominance of the two companies, many more OLED devices — both big and small — should be hitting the market soon.
Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 starting to see Lollipop update in India
While we’re still waiting on Samsung to get its Lollipop update pushed out to all variants of the Galaxy S 5, last year’s flagship is beginning to see the 5.0 update rollout. Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 has started receiving the Lollipop upgrade, at least in India.
The update brings all of Google’s 5.0 improvements, including the Material Design aesthetic, but you’ll also get a handful of bug fixes, performance improvements, and better battery life.
The update is available OTA or through Kies, if you happen to own an Indian Galaxy S 4.
source: SamMobile
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Samsung possibly removing its smartphones from Japan
When the Galaxy Note Edge was announced in September, Samsung selected Japan as the market to see the device first. The technology used for the curved edge of the display was already present in Japan; therefore, Samsung viewed the country as a good starting point for the Galaxy Note Edge. Once everything was up and running in Japan, the device was launched in additional markets. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be paying off for Samsung in Japan as the company is reportedly considering leaving the removal of its smartphones from Japan.
As of December 2014, Samsung holds a mere 4% of the Japanese smartphone market share. It places Samsung in sixth place behind companies such as Apple, Sony, and Sharp. Fourth months after launching, Samsung sold less than 100,000 units of the Galaxy Note Edge. The reason for the other companies, aside from Apple, having a strong place in Japan is because Sony and Sharp are domestic to the country. Consumers have gravitated to them due to trust. Apple, though, has been experiencing growth in Japan because of the hype surrounding the iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung has faced a decline in sales to the point where exiting Japan seems like the best option.
Source: BusinessKorea
Via: G 4 Games
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