Where to buy Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha
Samsung usually keeps its design team busy with the Galaxy S and Note ranges, but clearly they had some extra time to kill this year. One side project turned out to be the Galaxy Alpha, a sleek 4.7-inch number with the kind of premium build quality Samsung reserves for only its top handsets. It even gives the flagship Galaxy S5 something to worry about, with a slim profile, aluminium frame and some of the more notable specs including a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and 12MP camera. If the compact and classy device is something you’ve been keeping an eye out for, then you’ll be pleased to hear it launches in the UK today (on iPhone preorder day, no less), and we’ve got the skinny on where you can snag one.
| O2 | EE | Carphone Warehouse | Phones 4U | buymobiles.net | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest contract (with upfront) | £13 (£530) | £31 (£110) | £25 on EE (£200) | £31 on EE (£100) | £24 on Orange 3G (£210) |
| Cheapest contract (no upfront) | £43 | – | £33 on O2 | £39.50 on Voda 3G | £39 on EE |
| Pay-as-you-go | £530 | – | – | – | – |
| Unlocked (SIM-free) | – | – | £530 | – | – |
Of the usual suspects, Three and Vodafone didn’t feel they needed to range the Alpha on day one, but both have previously announced it will be coming to their networks eventually. Surprisingly, EE has no tariffs without an upfront payment, though that can be as little as £20 (affordablemobiles.co.uk also has a £36 per month plan on EE for just £10 upfront). Carphone Warehouse seems to have the best-looking deal price-wise with the Alpha free at £33 per month with O2.
A couple of MVNOs are on the ball, with giffgaff offering the Alpha on pay-as-you-go for just £514, or on contract from £31.25 per month with a £60 upfront payment. Tesco Mobile, on the other hand, will give you a handset free in exchange for £32.50 per month, or charge you £529 for a pay-as-you-go device. TalkTalk has the Alpha free from only £30 per month, but you have to be an existing customer to take advantage of that tariff.
If you want to go down the SIM-free, unlocked route, avoid buying a Galaxy Alpha from Samsung directly, as a few well-known e-tailers can give you a much better deal. Expansys isn’t doing too bad with a £515 price point, but Unlocked Mobiles and Clove are winning currently, with both selling the Alpha at a hair under £500.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
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Engadget Daily: Moto X review, ‘Ninja Particles’ and more!
Ninja Particles? Yep, IBM’s new superbug-fighting nanobots are even cooler than their name. But that’s not all we’ve got on deck today. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Filed under: Misc
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Is the new iPhone a threat to Android?
Every year, when Apple introduce their new iPhone to the world, everyone is asking the same question – Is it good enough to be a threat to Android? It’s one of the most complicated questions, but the answer to it in simple way is that Apple iOS 8 or even the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are definitely not a threat to Android, but why not?
When we talk about Android, we talk about all the OEM’s like Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC and many more. For a comparison, let’s look at the results of last year, when in Q3 2013, more than 250 million smartphones were sold and out of that number, more than 200 million phones were powered by Android. Even when the most competitive rival Apple and Samsung are compared to each other, Samsung sold around 80 million smartphones while Apple made it to 30 million smartphones only.
Yes, Apple new iPhone series might be a threat to the flagship Android smartphones, even TechRepublic thinks that Apple might give Android a run for their money, but I think otherwise. For example, they call the new design ‘elegant’ but I think they forgot when it is about elegance, there are devices like the HTC One M8, LG G3 and many others which are a symbol of elegance. They also mentioned about the mobile wallet and the wearable device, but on Android, we already got that.
We did a little comparison of iPhone 6 with Galaxy S5 and Note 4, and also of iPhone 6 Plus with One Plus One and Note 4. All the ‘magical’ features of the new iPhone 6, most of them are already available on different Android devices. Tim Cook told Wall Street Journal that he is expecting Android users to switch to iPhone, but that number will be nothing but just a small fraction in our opinion.
Ron Amadeo of Ars Technica also shared a comparison of iPhone 6 with the Nexus 4. Yes, Nexus 4 which was released in 2012, and you will be amazed to see that both smartphones have a lot of features in common.
Android is leading the smartphone market with more than 85% share, so I think it’s safe to say that the new iPhone(s) will never be a threat to our beloved Android. The Android flagship smartphones will definitely face a tough time from it, but in the end, we all know who will win. Are you planning to switch to the new iPhone or you are happy with what you have right now? Let us know in the comment box below.
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Six models in a year: Samsung’s struggle to perfect the smartwatch
Can you name them all? It’s been merely a year since Samsung revealed its first smartwatch to the tech press crowds in IFA, Berlin. Then, roughly six months later, the company switched software — and, ugh, gear — with three new wearable models, the Gear 2, the (possibly most forgotten) Gear Neo and the fitness-oriented Gear Fit wearable. Now Apple’s shown off its (already divisive) offering, the race towards the definitive wearable is on. To its credit, Samsung continues to tweak, bend and experiment on each subsequent smartwatch, and appears to be taking on customer (and reviewer) feedback along the way. However, you’re likely still pissed if you were one of the few to plunk down cash for the company’s first attempt. Let’s start there. `
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Samsung
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Your dorm room, upgraded
It’s autumn once more and that means you’re back at school. The car-load of Craigslist-sourced furniture is unpacked, you’ve already had the first (of likely many) arguments with your roommate about a spilled bowl of ramen. Not to mention, you’ve probably already been through a glut of syllabus readings and awkward around-the-room introductions. So, you have the essentials for the next two semesters covered. But, financial aid disbursements are direct-depositing their way into bank accounts everywhere right about now. You’ve already bought your books, so what’re you going to do with the rest of that “free” money? Make your dorm the envy of everyone on your floor, that’s what — and we’ve a few suggestions of kit to help do just that from sun up to sun down.
[Image credit: Jeff Dlouhy/Flickr]
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Laptops, HD, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Google
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Samsung ads poke fun at everything from Apple’s stream to its Watch
Now that Apple’s new iPhone 6 Plus is ready to play in the Galaxy Note 4’s size territory, Samsung is taking the competition on with a few new ads. It’s revived the “It Doesn’t Take A Genius” tagline, and first up is a segment making fun of Apple’s glitchy live video stream during yesterday’s presentation. The rest of the videos play up Samsung’s features like multitasking windows, stylus and fast charging, or make fun of anyone using a watch that still requires a phone to get connected. Whether you’re already lined up for a refreshed slate of iStuff or if you weren’t too impressed, the latest round of Apple vs. Samsung — on store shelves instead of in the court room — is here (complete with bonus flame action).
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Source: Samsung Mobile (YouTube)
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The Environmental Benefits of the Digital Revolution
As pollution from manufacturing and toxic contamination continues to exacerbate global warming, people are increasingly looking for alternative solutions for their daily needs. Rapid development in the tech sector has allowed us to transition some of our more wasteful practices toward more efficient, digital solutions that can eventually make a significant beneficial impact on the environment.
With the digitalization of cameras, reading devices like the Samsung Nook tablet, and thermometers, innovations in technology are driving quantifiable change toward resolving pollution and carbon emissions. Here are some of the environmental benefits of the digital revolution.
Digital Cameras
Digital cameras have grown in popularity due to the significantly easier process of saving and sharing photos. Traditional means of processing film still has a certain romanticized allure but the practical reality for many people is that the process is painstakingly slow and far from cost-effective. With digital cameras integrated to every smartphone and mobile device, traditional photography seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Aside from the financial and convenience elements of digital photography, you might not have realized it has a significant environmental benefit as well.
Analog cameras of the past required the use of negatives and hazardous processing chemicals to develop the final product. After a photographer was done with the process, unused negatives were often disposed of and the chemicals poured out. According to Earth Times, “Most film is made of plastic coated with silver halide salts. This stuff doesn’t biodegrade and the silver salts aren’t good for the environment. Plus, the additional packaging materials like the film canisters, and cardboard packaging also end up in the dump. Then, there are the chemicals associated with processing film.
Developing film requires the use of several highly toxic chemicals that can harm humans and the environment including; acids, metol, and Hydroquinone. Laws are in place requiring film processing centers to properly dispose of the chemicals.” Thankfully, the majority of photographers have already embraced the digital revolution and such waste is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Just as photographers have advanced their craft beyond its original form, readers have moved beyond the paper book to Nook tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook Digital Readers
As we all learned from The Lorax, cutting down trees in excess is environmentally damaging and ultimately harming us. While reading books, magazines, and newspapers is an essential way to maintain one’s cognitive health and stay up to date on the events of the world, the traditional methods of print publishing are untenable if we have any concern for the environment.
According to the Ecology Global Network, “world consumption of paper has grown 400 percent in the last 40 years. Now nearly 4 billion trees or 35 percent of the total trees cut around the world are used in paper industries on every continent.” Technology has given us an alternative with the advent of digital readers like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. By reading on a digital platform, we conserve all of the paper and related materials needed to print each book. Instead, readers can readily download eBooks with a single click and easily transport hundreds of titles wherever they go.
The estimates vary according to source, but according to The Telegraph, it only requires around 23-40 eBooks to recover the amount of materials used to build the average reading tablet device. So after only a year or so of use, the reader can significantly reduce the waste of print publication. As growing numbers of readers start to adopt eReaders as their primary medium to receive written information, the switch can make a huge impact in the world’s environment.
Digital Thermometer
By now, we’ve probably all heard about the dangers of over indulging in sushi and putting oneself at risk of contracting mercury poisoning. However, you might not have considered the environmental impact of your simple thermometer.
If you have an older mercury thermometer in your home, you could be putting yourself and the environment at risk. To safely dispose of the thermometer, contact your local EPA and find out how. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages everyone to transition to digital thermometers in an effort to eliminate the risk of mercury contamination, stating, “Mercury use in products can lead to releases to the environment through the manufacturing of the products; via spills and breakage; and during the recycling, collection and disposal of mercury-containing products.
As part of a broader initiative to reduce the use of mercury in products, EPA is working with stakeholders to reduce the use of mercury-containing non-fever thermometers in industrial and commercial settings.” Digital alternatives are significantly safer for both yourself and the environment, and are relatively similar in pricing to traditional mercury-based thermometers.
For an extra measure of environmental consciousness, choose a solar powered digital thermometer from your local pharmacy and eliminate the need for batteries. From digital cameras and digital thermometers to digital readers like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, digitalization is helping reduce environmental damage one device at a time.
Image source: Wikimedia
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Back to School 2014: The 8 best HDTV devices
Even if you aren’t hauling a 55-inch smart TV with you to campus, you can do better than watching Netflix on your laptop. Our picks include an affordable Blu-ray player, set-top boxes and a few big-screen stunners. There’s more where that came from, too — check out the rest of our guide here.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Samsung, Sony, Google, LG
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Accessory of the Day: 64GB Samsung MicroSD card $29.99
Running low on your device’s internal space? How does 64GB of Class 10 storage from a reputable brand like Samsung sound? With 48MB/s transfer speed and tremendous reviews, this memory card is basically a no-brainer–especially at only $29.99 (Prime eligible).
The post Accessory of the Day: 64GB Samsung MicroSD card $29.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Going pear-shaped: Samsung Belgium combats news about Apple with pear donation campaign
It’s good to know that at least some part of Samsung has a sense of humour (and a heart). In an interesting attempt to try and draw away massive attention Apple was generating earlier today (something about iPhones I hear), Samsung Belgium launched a campaign that says they will buy a pear for every tweet about apples that is made. No doubt this would result in a huge number of pears being purchased, but Samsung intends to hand out all purchased pears at the Brussels-North railway station.
Now you’re probably thinking, “this seems a lot like a very silly, expensive ploy for attention.” Well, as it turns out, the campaigns ulterior motive is to support Belgian pear growers who are in danger of losing 40% of their revenue due to the trade sanctions imposed by Russia. So as you can see, it’s actually quite a nice campaign and a nice way for Samsung to try and help out a little in a time when things are extremely unstable in that part of the world. I hope more companies will take Samsung Belgium’s lead and help out where they can in the countries affected.
What do you think about this #aPearForAnApple campaign by Samsung Belgium? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Samsung Belgium via Phone Arena
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The post Going pear-shaped: Samsung Belgium combats news about Apple with pear donation campaign appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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