Trouble in paradise: Samsung “tightening its belt”, cutting costs across whole Company

Samsung is no longer the impenetrable fortress that sits at the top of the Android food chain. While it still leads by a long way in global market share, financial reports this year have spelled out a dire situation within the company, suffering reduced profits and even being overtaken by Xiaomi as top smartphone manufacturer in China. But how bad is it actually for the Korean manufacturer? Well, it’s bad enough that several managers have returned their bonuses in the hopes of helping the company, but naturally even more steps have to be taken when “tightening the belt”.

Samsung is reportedly cutting down on costs everywhere, even targeting business trips, finding alternative, cheaper flights. It’s also rumoured that Samsung may start cuttings jobs which would target executives and sub-contractors to help streamline the workforce. This is a pretty big deal for Samsung, particularly as it seems like it’s once impenetrable lead is crumbling and competitors have shown themselves able of competing on quality and quantity. With the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Alpha in the pipeline, we can only hope this is what the doctor ordered.

What do you think about reports that Samsung is having to cut costs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Korea Herald via Phone Arena

The post Trouble in paradise: Samsung “tightening its belt”, cutting costs across whole Company appeared first on AndroidSPIN.

.CPlase_panel display:none;

Sprint announces Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 with Sprint Spark

A Sprint Spark supporting tablet will be finding its way to customers hands starting August 15th. Sprint has announced the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 will be ready to rock just in time for school. The Galaxy Tab 4 brings a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, a 3MP rear camera, a 1.3MP front camera, sports a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 and runs Android 4.4. The new addition will be offered in a 8GB or 16GB options in wither white or black.

“As the first tablet to offer the enhanced LTE experience of Sprint Spark, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 is an incredible tool that fills the void businesses and consumers face when they want to get things done away from the home or office,” said David Owens, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Students heading back to school will appreciate the ability to slip this slim tablet in their backpack without sacrificing the performance necessary to get school projects done, and businesses will appreciate being able to leave their laptop at the office without sacrificing the tools to get the job done.”

Price wise consumers are looking at $299.99 full price options or you can get it on the Sprint Easy Pay for $0 down and $12.50 a month. Sprint will also be running a special offer that will give purchasers a $10 a month credit service plan credit on qualifying data plans over $10. If you put that together on the Sprint Easy Pay, you basically will be paying $2.50 a month plus your data plan for the tablet. Not a terrible deal.

Via Sprint

The post Sprint announces Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 with Sprint Spark appeared first on AndroidSPIN.

.CPlase_panel display:none;

First look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 appears very Familiar

Just hours after packaging for the device was allegedly spotted, here is our first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in the flesh. Samsung hinted earlier this year that their next Galaxy Note device would adopt a ‘new form factor’; whatever that meant, it doesn’t appear to have drastically changed the device overall, but we do see the same chamfered metallic edges that have been recently adopted by the Galaxy Alpha. As expected, the Note 4 has quite a few hallmarks of its smaller brother, the Galaxy S5, including what looks like the same heart rate sensor and USB 3.0 slot in the base. Naturally, the Note 4 looks like it will also have a S-Pen. From the new, more rectangular design of the Note 4 and Galaxy Alpha, it looks like Samsung is happy taking this new design ideology forward.

We’ve heard rumours that the screen of the Note 4 is going to be a 5.7-inch, Quad HD display and that it’s going to house either the new Exynos 5433 or Snapdragon 805 processor (depending on your region). We won’t have long to wait to find out the truth though as the Samsung UNPACKED event it is expected to be announced at is happening on September 3rd at IFA 2014.

What do you think about this first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Do you like what you see? Let us know your thoughts.

Source: GSMArena via SamMobile

The post First look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 appears very Familiar appeared first on AndroidSPIN.

.CPlase_panel display:none;

Alleged packaging for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 leaks out in Photo

Been wondering what the Samsung Galaxy Note 4‘s packaging might look like? Well, apparently it will look something like the box shown in the above image, though we can’t say we’re terribly convinced – not without more evidence that is. With less than a month from the Samsung UNPACKED event where it is expected that Samsung will announce the next Galaxy Note device, it’s not surprising to see leaks like this as these devices begin to move all around the world to meet the global release date sometime in September.

Phone Arena notes that press renders of previous Samsung devices have suggested the announcement date for that device, however the “15 September” shown on the box either signals a change in this trend, or some photoshop magic is afoot. The wallpaper is also slightly suspect, bearing no resemblance to Samsung’s generally vibrant, abstract wallpapers. Whatever the case is, we’re likely to see more leaks as September 3rd approaches so we’ll wait till then to see if this really is the official packaging or not.

What do you think about the leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4′s packaging? Do you think it’s real or fake? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.

Source: Phone Arena

The post Alleged packaging for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 leaks out in Photo appeared first on AndroidSPIN.

.CPlase_panel display:none;