Use Samsung Pay and maybe you’ll spend New Year’s Eve with Usher
Plan on watching Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy bear the cold in New York City to ring in 2016? Think again. You could be spending it with Usher in Los Angeles.
Forty-nine malls throughout the United States are partnering with Samsung to give users of its mobile payments service a very special gift to welcome the new year. These malls will have Samsung Pay experiences opened from now until January 10, but activating it there through December 21 will enter you into a contest to win two round-trip tickets to Los Angeles for a New Year’s Eve party where Usher will be performing.
Samsung Offers Samsung Pay Users the Chance to Spend a New Year’s Eve with Usher
Samsung Pay launches nationwide shopping mall takeover where customers can win access to the exclusive New Year’s Eve concert and other rewards
NEW YORK – December 11, 2015 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced today that Samsung Pay users will have the chance to be treated to an exclusive, special performance and private New Year’s Eve party featuring the platinum-selling recording artist, Usher, in Los Angeles. As part of the promotion, Samsung Pay also launched a nationwide shopping experience at nearly 50 malls where customers can try out and activate the most accepted mobile payment system for a chance to win tickets to the special performance and more.
“This holiday season Samsung Pay wants to give its users the gift of a lifetime: a New Year’s Eve with Usher. Samsung Pay continues to offer its users unparalleled experiences, including this newest opportunity to spend an evening with one of the biggest musicians in the world,” said Nana Murugesan, VP of Strategy and Operations for Samsung Electronics America. “Our mall experience will help even more holiday shoppers breeze through their gift lists with credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards supported by Samsung Pay at the top malls across the US and understand the ease and convenience of the most widely accepted mobile payment system.
From December 10 through December 21, shoppers who activate Samsung Pay at one of the nearly 50 mall locations across the U.S. will have the chance to win two round-trip tickets to Los Angeles, hotel accommodations and a New Year’s Eve concert and party. The Samsung Pay mall experiences will remain open through January 10 for shoppers to learn about and activate Samsung Pay to earn other rewards, including gift cards to various merchants. Visit www.samsungpromotions.com for more information and all participating mall locations.
This busy holiday season, Samsung is making shopping even easier with Samsung Pay – the most accepted mobile payment system that allows consumers to use an eligible Samsung phone to pay almost anywhere they can swipe or tap a card. Samsung Pay now supports 50 popular merchant gift cards as well as a gift card store that enables users to buy gift cards from supported merchants for themselves, friends and family directly within the Samsung Pay app. Samsung Pay supports many of the country’s major banks and continues to expand its partnership ecosystem. Click here for the full list of financial partners that support Samsung Pay.
- SIMPLE: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, users can simply swipe up, scan their fingerprint and pay.
- SAFE: Samsung Pay uses tokenization, Samsung KNOX, and fingerprint authentication to provide secure payments. And, as terminals are upgraded to EMV, that security is leveraged, too.
- ALMOST ANYWHERE*: Samsung Pay is compatible with most existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals*. That means Samsung Pay works at more places than any other mobile payment service.
About Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and available almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card. Combining NFC with Samsung’s proprietary MST technologies, Samsung Pay provides consumers a way to pay almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card at millions of merchant locations. Samsung continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem for Samsung Pay to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers while enabling an easy and safe payment experience. Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards and Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visit www.samsung.com/pay to learn more.
*Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards, Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visit www.samsung.com/pay to learn more. Some card reader terminals may require software updates to be compatible with Samsung Pay.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and America’s fastest growing home appliance brands. To discover more of the award-winning products you love with Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies that redefine the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space with the open platform SmartThings, our broad range of smart devices, and through proactive cross-industry collaboration. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, and for the latest news, feature articles and press material, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.
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Holiday Buying Guide 2015: The best Android phones
We live in a mobility-focused world, and manufacturers from all over the world have risen up to meet this demand. You have Samsung with its new line of premium Galaxy devices, Google revolutionizing the off-contract market with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Motorola’s own off-contract efforts, and even up and comers like Alcatel OneTouch. There are so many different smartphones out there, all for different types of people. With that in mind, it can be difficult to find the perfect handset, especially with how expensive many of these devices are.
Here at Talk Android, we’ve put together a detailed shopping guide on the best smartphones in the market for the holidays. There’s something for everybody on this list, whether it be powerful performance packages that Samsung offers, something more luxury in the Sony Xperia handsets, or even the media production capabilities in many of LG’s new devices.
We’ve taken the liberty of digging through the mire in order to bring you the best Android smartphones for this holiday shopping season. One thing we can guarantee: there’s something for you on this list.
Stocking Stuffers ($99 – $199)
Moto G (2015)
Motorola can make some impressive devices, even with decidedly mid-range specifications. The company created the Moto G with low price points and high performance in mind. It goes without saying, the Moto G delivers.
Motorola equipped the Moto G with a 5-inch 1280 x 720 display, a quad-core Snapdragon 410, 8GB ROM/1GB RAM or 16GB ROM/2GB RAM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 2470mAh battery. The smartphone comes with Android 5.1 straight out of the box with planned upgrades to Android 6.0 down the road.
The specifications may be low, but the off-contract handset is just as slick as many high-end devices. Not only that, but it’s guaranteed to save some money on those outrageous carrier bills by helping you ditch contracts. That’s the big benefit with the Moto G (2015): ditching carrier contracts while not breaking the bank on an off-contract smartphone. As mentioned earlier, even at its low price point, it has great mid-range specifications. In some cases, if you were to put the Moto G and a Galaxy Note 5 side-by-side and navigate the software, you wouldn’t notice much of a difference in speed or smoothness. It’s most definitely a win for the person that wants to get rid of contracts while still having a great smartphone.
The Moto G also has a lot of different accessories available for it, particularly an arsenal of back plates in different colors. Motorola also offers tons of different cases, shells, battery packs, microSD cards, and earphones for the Moto G. And if you’re still on the fence, be sure to check out review of the device. Starting at $179, a mid-range handset truly doesn’t get any better than this.
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7)
Alcatel OneTouch first launched the Idol 3, arguably one of the most impressive off-contract smartphones on the market. But with the demand for smaller devices, Alcatel OneTouch launched a smaller version of the handset, the Idol 3 4.7. It’s notably different in performance, but still delivers.
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7) features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 display, a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8/16GB ROM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 2,000mAh battery. As far as software goes, it’s running Android 5.0. Alcatel OneTouch hasn’t made their plans known to upgrade the device to Android 6.0 yet, which may be something to consider when thinking over your purchase.
The highlight of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7) certainly isn’t specifications, but providing a truly elegant device in a size that most people prefer. 5.5-inch or 6-inch devices are quickly becoming the norm, but aren’t for everyone. With that in mind, the Idol 3 with the 4.7-inch display is quite literally the perfect fit for those who want something smaller. On the downside, there aren’t a whole lot of accessories beyond your standard third-party cases for this device. However, much like the Moto G (2015) a great plus is that you get a formidable off-contract smartphone on the cheap.
Alcatel OneTouch did an impressive job with the Idol 3 4.7, bringing both performance and elegance in a relatively cheap package. For $179, this handset will break you free of carrier contracts while giving you something to impress your friends with.
[Alcatel OneTouch] [Amazon] [Newegg]
Under the Christmas Tree ($199 – $399)
ZTE Axon Pro
ZTE isn’t very well known in the United States, but the Chinese manufacturer is trying to change that by offering high-end devices at a competitive price point. That said, some might be surprised to see this device under the Christmas tree this year, but won’t live to regret it.
The ZTE Axon Pro (review here) sports a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 display, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 3,000mAh battery, and it’s running Android 5.1 with ZTE’s own skin over top.
ZTE’s Axon Pro is an off-contract smartphone, which might be surprising from the specifications. High-end smartphones are far and few between as far as off-contract devices go. What’s even more surprising is that the Axon Pro is a high-end/flagship smartphone at a cheap price. The specifications are close to that of the Galaxy Note 5, but there’s still a good $400 – $600 difference in price. That makes the Axon Pro a hard one to pass up for the person looking for a flagship device, but still wanting to break free of those sometimes nasty contracts.
ZTE has undoubtedly become one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to producing off-contract and high-end smartphones at a low price points. Not only that, but the company offers an array of decent accessories for the device. Whether you need cases, shells, flip covers, clear cases, Bluetooth speakers or earphones, ZTE has it all available for the Axon Pro through its online store.
Still not sure about the Axon Pro? Check out our review for more details. Starting at $400, what you get from ZTE in the Axon Pro is pure, unadulterated quality.
Moto X Pure Edition
The Moto X Pure Edition is the best of Motorola all in one pretty package. Not only do you get relatively powerful specifications, but you also get to tailor this handset to your likes and dislikes inside the Moto Maker. That last feature is what truly makes the Moto X Pure Edition special–the Moto Maker. Just about anyone can make a great performing smartphone with high-end specifications, but not many give you the ability to customize the device in almost every way possible.
Whether you want a traditional plastic back plate, bamboo, wood, a textured back, the Moto Maker has it all. You can go crazy and make your Moto X Pure Edition pink, neon green or even settle for some more standard colors. Whatever you choose to do, the Moto X Pure Edition is truly tailored to your likes. The customization does have a small downside: the smartphones takes a little longer to get to you. But if you can wait an extra couple of days, the Moto X Pure Edition is well worth having.
Motorola’s Moto X Pure Edition sports a 5.2-inch 2560 x 1440 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 16/32/64GB internal storage configurations, 3GB of RAM, a 21-megapixel rear camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. It’s also running Android 5.1 with plans to upgrade to Android 6.0.
Just like with the Moto G (2015), Motorola offers tons of different accessories for the Moto X Pure Edition, whether it be cases, shells, earphones, and more. Motorola has everything you need available to you, and that kind of service truly makes the Moto X Pure Edition worth having.
For just $399, you not only get a great performance package and the ability to break away from carrier contracts, but you get a device tailored to you.
Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X is not only the latest and greatest from Google, but also the successor of the famed Nexus 5. Like many devices on this list, the Nexus 5X will break you free from those nasty carrier contracts, and maybe even offer you something better with Project Fi, that is, if coverage is available in your area.
This handset features a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a Snapragon 808 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB ROM configurations, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, a 2,700mAh battery, and it’s running Android 6.0, the latest version of the mobile operating system.
The Nexus 5X is a hard one to pass up for the tech enthusiast in your life. Being a Nexus device, it’s one of the first devices on the market to get the latest versions of Google’s mobile operating system, which is every tech-savvy individual’s dream. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t offer a lot of accessories for the device, but you do have the option of getting the Nexus 5X Folio from the Google Store as well as a handful of other cases for the handset.
At $299, between the performance and continued support, it’s a difficult device to pass up. But if you have more money to spend, it might be worth passing this one by and looking at the Nexus 6P, which we’ve detailed below.
[Google Store] [Amazon] [Best Buy] [B&H Photo]
For someone special ($399 – $899)
Galaxy Note 5
The Galaxy Note 5 is the latest and greatest from Samsung. It’s not a huge upgrade from last year’s Note 4, but the Galaxy Note 5 takes everything from its predecessor and makes things even better. It has a slightly larger display, more beautiful body, and all-around better improvements. Almost anyone would love to see this behemoth under the tree Christmas morning.
Samsung, being the smartphone giant that it is, has tons of accessories for this device as well, and I mean that in the literal sense. You can get almost anything you need for this device from Samsung, and even things you may not need. There’s S-View flip covers, protective covers, battery charging packs, wireless charging pads, wireless headphones, car accessories, and much, much more.
The handset has a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED display, an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a non-removable 3,000mAh battery. It also is running on Android 5.1 (planned upgrade for Android 6.0) with Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI atop.
There’s a couple aspects that make the Galaxy Note 5 the handset to buy this holiday season. Not only does it have high-end specs and a beautiful media package, but it also comes with some extra nifty features, thanks to the S-Pen. Using features like Air Command and Air View with the S-Pen makes this device that much easier to use. And with its massive 5.7-inch display, media doesn’t get any better on a smartphone. If you feel like splurging this holiday season, the Galaxy Note 5 is the device to do it with. Still not sure? Be sure to check out our detailed review–it’s truly the best of Samsung!
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 price varies from retailer to retailer, but you can generally get it for $699 outright, $199 on a new two-year contract, or as low as $20/mo on a device payment plan through a carrier.
[Samsung] [Amazon] [Verizon] [AT&T] [T-Mobile] [Sprint] [Newegg]
Galaxy S6 Edge+
With how much of a hit the Galaxy S6 Edge was, it only made sense for Samsung to introduce a successor: the Galaxy S6 Edge+, a cross between its predecessor and the Galaxy Note 4. It’s one of the most premium devices on the market, and is the perfect companion for those that aren’t sure about the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 5. Not having the S-Pen, you don’t get any of the extra features that come with it, which is a huge benefit for those that don’t actively use styluses; it also frees up some storage space.
This is exactly the same device as the Galaxy Note 5, just without the S-Pen, although there is the inclusion of the “edge” display, which adds some additional functionality that can prove to be useful. Much like the Galaxy Note 5, there’re tons of accessories for this device, whether that be protective shells, S-View flip covers, wireless chargers, and so on. Specifically for the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is also the optional physical keyboard accessory. It makes typing easy and efficient, but the downside is that it takes up way too much screen real estate.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is sporting a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED display, an octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a non-removable 3,000mAh battery. Similar to the Note 5, it’s running Android 5.1 with a planned upgrade to Android 6.0. With the Galaxy S6 Edge+ (and Galaxy Note 5) Samsung also added a neat feature, allowing users to stream video directly to YouTube. With that in mind, the S6 Edge+ might just be the perfect choice for content creators as well.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ sits around the same price as the Note 5 at $799 outright, $399 on a new two-year contract, or around $25/mo on a device payment plan. Not sure about making the leap for the device? Talk Android’s very own Justin Herrick put together an all-around solid review on the Galaxy S6 Edge+.
[Samsung] [Amazon] [Verizon] [AT&T] [T-Mobile] [Sprint] [Newegg]
Nexus 6P
Google partnered with up and coming Chinese manufacturer Huawei to make the Nexus 6P. Despite some wild controversy, the handset is one of the best Android experiences we’ve seen from the search giant yet. Not only will it save you a chunk of change by breaking you free of carrier contracts, but it’s also the perfect companion for consuming media, taking pictures, playing games, and even work.
The handset is equipped with a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 display, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32/64/128GB ROM configurations, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, and a non removable 3450mAh battery.
Much like the Nexus 5X, there aren’t many accessories for the Nexus 6P, but Google does have their own Folio cases and regular cases available for the device in the Google Store. Not only that, but Google is also advertising a handful of other third-party cases in the Google Store that work well with the handset.
The Nexus 6P is truly the best from Google, and it’ll be officially supported for quite some time. Google is promised monthly security updates for many of its Nexus devices in addition to providing all of the latest versions of Android in a timely manner. If you’re looking for a handset with a beautiful and large display, all while sticking with stock Android, the Nexus 6P might just be right up your alley.
Starting at $399, this is one of the most premium devices you’ll ever get from Google.
[Huawei] [Google Store] [Amazon]
If you’ve got any questions, concerns, have a suggestion for this Holiday Buyer’s Guide, or saw a deal on any of these awesome devices, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Come comment on this article: Holiday Buying Guide 2015: The best Android phones
Samsung Pay gets gift card support, $200 activation bonus with new phone purchase
Got a gift card lying around in some drawer? Samsung Pay now lets you digitize it so you don’t have to worry about losing or forgetting about it.
Following the addition of public transit card support in South Korea and Japan, Samsung is now bringing gift card to its fledgling mobile payments service. Over 50 gift cards are supported from merchants including Babies“R”Us, Toys“R”Us, Bass Pro Shops, Domino’s, eBay, GameStop, Nike, Regal Entertainment Group and Staples. More cards will be added over the next months.
If you are out of ideas this holiday season (though with our gift guides, you have no excuse, just saying), you can also buy a gift card straight from the app and send it to a loved one.
See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features
While Samsung boasts that Pay is compatible with more sales terminals than any other payment service, it’s still limited to the institutions that have joined the program. The good news is more banks now make it possible for their customers to use Samsung Pay, with the most recent example being Chase.
To spur Pay adoption, Samsung is now handing a nice $200 bonus to people who buy or lease a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S6 active or Note 5 and activate Samsung Pay on it with a compatible credit or debit card. The money will arrive as a voucher code, and instructions for claiming your prize are available here. The promo is valid through January 20, 2016.
Samsung Pay now incorporates buying and using 50 popular gift cards
Samsung Pay is the most widely accepted mobile payment platform on the planet, and now they’re stepping up their game even further. Samsung Pay will now support the purchase, storing, use and sharing of 50 of the most popular gift cards on the market, just in time for Christmas. Samsung also announced a gift card store where users can purchase gift cards for themselves or others right on their phone within the Samsung Pay app.
Samsung is making a major push to be the king of the mountain in the mobile payment game. The biggest advantage they have is being able to use the mobile payment platform with older style magnetic strip detectors with their Magnetic Secure Transmission technology. This technology lets Samsung Pay emulate magnetic strips and expands the ability to pay at many more stores and shops with older hardware.
“With the support of more than 50 major retail gift cards and the launch of the in-app gift card store, Samsung Pay is bringing consumers an easier way to use gift cards“
The mobile payment industry is right now in a race to the most convenient. Samsung has a challenge because they’re only on Samsung devices, which to be fair dominate the Android landscape. But, now that you don’t have to carry multiple credit cards and multiple gift cards with you it’s easy to envision leaving the house with just your phone and ID and being fine.
Here is a list of all the gift cards Samsung Pay will now support:
| 1800Flowers.com | Buca di Beppo | Gap Options | OfficeMax | Southwest Airlines |
| ArcLight Cinemas | Carnival Cruise Lines | Ghirardelli Chocolate | Old Navy | Spafinder Wellness® 365 |
| Athleta | California Pizza Kitchen | Goodcents Deli and Subs | Omaha Steaks | Staples |
| Babies “R” Us | Curtis Lumber | Gordmans | PacSun | Sur La Table |
| Baby Gap | Detroit Zoo | Grinders Above and Beyond | Panda Express | Swinging Doors |
| Banana Republic | Dominos | Gymboree | Pep Boys | Tabasco |
| Barnes & Noble | eBay | Legal Sea Foods | Puckett’s Grocery | The Container Store |
| Bass Pro Shops | Express | Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que | Regal Entertainment Group | Toys “R” Us |
| Bob Evans | GameStop | Max & Erma’s | Rue 21 | Whole Foods Market |
| Bow Tie Cinemas | Gap | Nike | Shoney’s | Wooden Nickel |
Source: Business Wire
The post Samsung Pay now incorporates buying and using 50 popular gift cards appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Pay stores your gift cards, lets you buy new ones
Samsung Pay was already handy for using the company’s line of Galaxy phones to take care of mobile payments via credit and debit cards. Making good on its promise ahead of the holidays, Samsung added the ability for you to use those gift cards you’re sure to receive in the weeks to come. Similar to the bank and credit card methods that Samsung Pay already employs, the app will allow you to load those gift cards to keep your pockets free of extra clutter on your next shopping trip.
The company says 50 retailers have opted in so far, with the likes of Babies”R”Us and Toys”R”Us, Bass Pro Shops, Domino’s, eBay, GameStop, Nike, Regal Entertainment Group and Staples all on board. You can also buy and share gift cards with your pals thanks to the app’s built-in store. If you forget to grab a present before heading to a birthday party, you can nab a gift card and send it to your friend’s Samsung handset. While Samsung’s biggest rival in mobile payments, Apple Pay, does allow coupons and rewards cards, Cupertino doesn’t yet support gift cards.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig]
Source: Samsung (Business Wire)
Galaxy S7 Plus: Rumored 6-inch phablet CAD video render leaks
When it rains, it pours, and in the land of gigantic Galaxies it seems this one is having a bit of a sudden spring. Just days ago we reported on the first “legitimate-looking” CAD renders of the Galaxy S7 courtesy of a case maker. Along with it was news of a 6-inch Galaxy S7 Plus variant, though unfortunately no images were provided. Today, Steve Hemmerstoffer of nowhereelse.fr posted a new animated CAD render on his Twitter feed, @OnLeaks. The movie, which was made in collaboration with uSwitch, purports to show the Galaxy S7 Plus in all its living large livelihood.
We want to remind our readers that (1) the CAD render is in no way confirmation of a final product design, or a real product, period. In addition (2) the discussion that follows is speculation based on current and deductive knowledge and reasoning and should not be assumed to be factual. Until Samsung itself provides hard information, all of this is just a rumor. With that out of the way, let’s look and see:
The video shows a device that measures 6-inches, and clearly looks like the Galaxy S6. There are no curves sides, thus it is evident this is not an Edge variant. New rumors have suggested Samsung will make both a standard “small” Galaxy S7 and a 6-inch Plus size. What’s more:
- USB 2.0 is prominently featured. SamMobile has cited an exclusive leak it published earlier this year that claims the S7 will make use of USB-C and thus suggests the first render is a fake.
- The camera module does seem to protrude more noticeably than on the S6.
- The thinner, rectangular Home button can be seen.
We suspect this CAD render was created by using the design elements from the earlier leak. It is relatively easy to extrapolate what a 6-inch device would look like when you already “know” what the standard sized variant will be. This is also a thoroughly refined piece of CG as opposed to the more crude, basic leak from earlier.
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uSwitch reports that @OnLeaks obtained the image “from his most trusted source, [and]are based on detailed blueprints that are supplied to third-party accessory manufacturers ahead of a phone’s launch.” The phone, which features a more rounded frame, is detailed as being 163.40mm tall and 82.00mm long. In addition, it is purported to be 7.82mm thick (or 9.05mm from the rear camera bump). The home button/fingerprint sensor is listed as being “18mm x 5mm, while the S6’s measures 16mm x 6.7mm.”
Is this the actual source of today’s video?
We do wish to point out that uSwitch made a mistake in reporting that the front camera has been moved to the left of the panel: it’s clearly visible on the top right part of the unit.
2/C or not 2/C
Regarding the USB 2.0 issue, this remains a point of contention. Samsung would be missing a significant new milestone if its next flagship were to set sail without USB Type C on board. This is the same company which put USB 3.0 on its Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, and even the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 tablet.
At the same time, anyone who remembers the reaction to Apple’s decision to go from its original port size to Lightning may be familiar with the outrage that followed. Accessories and peripherals will no longer work with such a port, and Samsung has already alienated some customers – perhaps for good – with its decision to remove microSD support and a user replaceable battery.
While SamMobile claims the S7 will have USB-C, the site has been mistaken before, such as earlier this year when it was reporting an Android 5.1 update to the Galaxy S6 would allow RAW image support. (Unfortunately said website is not working at the moment, however when it does this story will be updated to include links to the aforementioned references.)
Analysis and Wrap-up
While the notion of Samsung making a Plus-sized Galaxy S7 is not surprising in-and-of-itself, the idea of a six inch phablet might be a bit harder to swallow. The company has not released such a similar sized smartphone since the Galaxy Mega 2, and to this day has not released any flagship smartphone that was in excess of 5.8 inches. While it’s possible the S7 Plus could be a “novelty” in terms of wanting a truly titanic device to offer a clear differential, it’s also possible the entire rumor is just an over-sized bag of hot air.
If there is anything that can be taken away from today’s movie leak, it’s that whomever created it has done a very nice job with their CG prowess. The question remains however, if this is a legitimate leak or if it’s ultimately someone’s pet project based on what we already “know” about Samsung’s next big thing.
Please feel free to leave your comments in below and tell us what you think of a giant sized Samsung smartphone. Interested? Too big?
Samsung Pay update adds support for gift cards
Earlier this year, we received word that Samsung Pay would get a major update later in the year. Now that time has come! Samsung Pay now supports gift cards from over fifty popular merchants.
Just in time for the holiday season, users of Samsung Pay can now store and use gift cards on their mobile device. Some popular merchants on board consist of Babies”R”Us, Toys“R”Us, Bass Pro Shops, Domino’s, eBay, GameStop, Nike, Regal Entertainment Group, Staples and over forty others. Additionally, the Samsung Pay mobile application has added a section where users can purchase gift cards. For all the information regarding the update and the full list of supported merchants, check out the press release included down below.
Samsung Pay Makes It Easy to Purchase, Store, Use and Share Gift Cards Directly from Your Phone
Samsung Pay now supports 50 popular merchant gift cards in new gift card store
NEW YORK – December 10, 2015 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced today that Samsung Pay, the most accepted mobile payment system that works at the majority of merchants today, now supports 50 popular merchant gift cards as well as a gift card store that enables users to buy gift cards from supported merchants for themselves, friends and family directly within the Samsung Pay app starting today. Samsung Pay allows you to purchase, store, pay with, and share gift cards right from your Samsung phone.
Samsung Pay supports 50 popular merchant gift cards including Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us, Bass Pro Shops®, Domino’s®, eBay, GameStop®, Nike, Regal Entertainment Group and Staples in partnership with Blackhawk Network. More gift card options will be added to Samsung Pay in the coming months. In addition to using these cards in stores across the U.S., Samsung Pay also supports the purchase of select gift cards—for yourself, friends and family—directly within the app itself.
“With the support of more than 50 major retail gift cards and the launch of the in-app gift card store, Samsung Pay is bringing consumers an easier way to use gift cards ,” said Injong Rhee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, Global Head of Samsung Pay. “People love gift cards, but how many of us have gone to pay for something only to realize we have a gift card sitting around somewhere at home? With Samsung Pay, you can easily carry your gift cards with you everywhere you go and not have to worry about a card going unspent. Another feature that is unique to Samsung Pay is the ability to buy gift cards and gift them to friends within the Samsung Pay app itself. We hope this will provide greater flexibility, access and choice for Samsung Pay customers heading into the holiday season.”
Samsung Pay supports many of the country’s major banks and continues to expand its partnership ecosystem. Click here for the full list of financial partners that support Samsung Pay.
- SIMPLE: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, users can simply swipe up, scan their fingerprint and pay.
- SAFE: Samsung Pay uses tokenization, Samsung KNOX, and fingerprint authentication to provide secure payments. And, as terminals are upgraded to EMV, that security is leveraged, too.
- ALMOST ANYWHERE*: Samsung Pay is compatible with the majority of existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals. That means Samsung Pay works at more places than any other mobile payment service.
About Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and available almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card. Combining NFC with Samsung’s proprietary MST technologies, Samsung Pay provides consumers a way to pay almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card at millions of merchant locations. Samsung continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem for Samsung Pay to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers while enabling an easy and safe payment experience.
*Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards, Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visitwww.samsung.com/pay to learn more. Some card reader terminals may require software updates to be compatible with Samsung Pay.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and America’s fastest growing home appliance brands. To discover more of the award-winning products you love with Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies that redefine the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space with the open platform SmartThings, our broad range of smart devices, and through proactive cross-industry collaboration. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, and for the latest news, feature articles and press material, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.
Come comment on this article: Samsung Pay update adds support for gift cards
AMOLED sees massive spike in Q3 2015, Samsung has 95.8% of the market
While Samsung has made major movements with AMOLED panels, those who purchase or use devices from other OEMs may be unaware of the differences between traditional LCD and OLED. Recently however, the market has been changing and AMOLED panels have been gradually disseminating to different devices. According to a new report by market research firm IHS, in fact, sales of the organic panels increased 100% from last year in the third quarter alone with 79 million panels shipped.
The total value of displays shipped during Q3 is estimated at $3.29 billion. Samsung comprises the vast majority of market share accounting for 95.8% which has created for it a massive lead, not unlike that of another company with respect to the global smartphone sales. Additional information gleaned from the report also states that from Q2 2015 to Q3 2015, worldwide shipments of AMOLED displays increased 35%.
Samsung has recently been eyeing an increase in display production which many believe is directly connected to rumors that Apple’s 2018 iPhone will finally make use of an organic panel. Also reported recently, Samsung is selling off an LCD factory to focus on AMOLED.
Japan Display Industries has also been reported to have an interest in AMOLED panels with a rumored release around Spring 2018. Sony itself announced a partnership last year that was aimed at the same.
All about AMOLED
We have covered AMOLED in great detail including a new variant set to take off in the next couple of years called PCOLED which has a longer duration for the organic components. Let us breifly summarize the good and bad points of the technology.
The good
In general, the display technology is touted as having superior color reproduction and contrast, as well as being more power efficient due to the independent light production each pixel can produce.
LCD for reference, relies on a single backlight which must be activated even if just one pixel is displayed. This ultimately results in extra power consumption and, in the case of the Moto X Style for example, a questionable defeat of the very active notification display feature Motorola so proudly produced.
The enhanced colors create a very unique and for many, immersive viewing experience that ultimately can not be achieved with LCD panels. Ultimately though it may take a side-by-side comparison for some to discover the nuances provided they are not familiar with AMOLED at all.
The bad
Critics of AMOLED often claim that color reproduction appears “cartoonish” or “oversaturated” and thereby creating an unrealistic and undesirable image. Companies like Samsung have long since been including a Display setting toggle to downgrade the enhanced colors of AMOLED, and even new products such as the Nexus 6P and HTC One A9 include similar functionality.
The Nexus 6 was blasted with screen burn-in bitterness for some users.
Another cited sore spot for AMOLED is burn-in. While this can happen to any display, over the years some people have made comments of in-store display devices with horrible burn-in issues. Even last year’s Nexus 6 was cited as having a problem. Users found that both the notification tray and the on-screen geometrical navigation buttons being “fixed” and noticeable especially when on certain color backgrounds.
It was suggested that in some cases, the issue might be simply “image retention” and would go away shortly rather than permanent damage to the panel. Solutions were largely centered around apps that “inverted” the colors and would thus “burn-in” all the other areas of the display making the offending bits irrelevant. Unfortunately this basically meant that one had to deliberately damage their screen.
Is it right for you?
LG has also used an AMOLED in its G Flex line.
With AMOLED now becoming a larger presence in the mobile market, it may only be a matter of time before your OEM of choice includes or gives the option to buy a product using it. The question is ultimately if you will if you want it. Some have an almost religious affinity to the tech while others spare no opportunity to point out what they see as its drawbacks.
To this end we would like to invite those interested to take a quick survey located below. We have one for those who use AMOLED now, one for those who want to, and one for those who don’t. After, please feel free to leave your candid comments in the space below!
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Samsung’s Smart View app makes it easier to share content with its Smart Televisions
Many of us own smart televisions, but one of the greatest pains is sharing content to them from a smartphone or tablet. It just never seems to work as you think it should, with many TV and smartphone companies coming up with their own, sometimes proprietary, solutions that often don’t work well (or at all) with other brands. Samsung Smart TV owners will have experienced some of this frustration, which makes the Smart View app an interesting proposition with Samsung adding support for other brands as well as other operating systems.
Samsung’s Smart View app is available for Android, iOS, and even the Windows operating system on your PC, allowing you to share videos, photos, and music from your smartphone, tablet or computer directly to your Samsung Smart TV. The app is available in Beta form on selected Samsung Smart Televisions at present, with a full roll-out planned for early 2016.
If you haven’t bought a Samsung Smart TV recently, you’ll be pleased to find out that the Smart View App will work with a range of models built from 2011 onwards. All you need is to make sure your TV and smart device are operating on the same WiFi network.
Supported Samsung Smart TV’s
- 2011 LED D7000 and above, PDP D8000 and above.
- 2012 LED ES7500 and above, PDP E8000 and above.
- 2013 LED F4500 and above (except F9000 and above), PDP F5500 and above.
- 2014 H4500, H5500 and above (except H6003/H6103/H6153/H6201/H6203).
- 2015 J4500, J5500 and above (except J6203)
Your smartphone or tablet should be running Android 4.1 or above, or iOS 7.0 and above. PC systems should be running Windows 7 and above, along with the following recommended specifications: Intel Core 2 Duo @2.0GHz, 2GB of RAM and at least 1024 x 768 resolution.
The Smart View App is in beta form at present, with Samsung inviting feedback from users before it moves to the mainstream. You can download the Smart View app from the Play Store link below.
Source: Samsung
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Smart View app makes it easier to share content with its Smart Televisions
Galaxy announces the Gear S2, Gear S2 Classic and a new Galaxy A8 variant for Japan
Galaxy has announced 3 new products today, one of which is the Galaxy Galaxy A8.
Galaxy has had a tough time in Japan. After facing severely diminished market share results at the hands of the iPhone and Sony’s Xperia brand, the company – known as Samsung overseas – has taken some drastic steps in 2015 to try and rebuild its brand. Steps have included stripping its Korean namesake off all products/advertising/social media, giving the Galaxy S6 away free on contract beginning this summer, and releasing just three mobile devices this year, with the most recent being the original Galaxy Active Neo. Today that number was bumped up to 6.
Galaxy has just announced three brand new products for Japan: the Gear S2, the Gear S2 Classic, and a Galaxy A8 variant – a Japan exclusive. Some had been waiting for news of key flagships like the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, or even the Galaxy Tab S2, but they will continue to remain elusive.
The Galaxy Gear S2.
The Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic are the same devices which were launched by Samsung back in September. The Galaxy A8 was released back in July elsewhere with a Snapdragon 615 or Exynos 5430 SoC; the Japanese variant will include a Octa Core Exynos 5433 SoC with Mali T760 MP6 graphics instead. It will retail for 76,680 yen, or roughly $623.
Yes, Galaxy is actually comparing the A8 with the Note 3.
The struggle continues
Do you like your Galaxy device devoid of Samsung branding? Import a Japanese variant, though don’t expect firmware updates.
At this point in time, many readers and Samsung followers are well versed in the difficult situation facing the Korean conglomerate. Key markets where a stronghold was once assured – China and India – have seen market share erode at the hand of keen competitors who have severely cut costs yet released worthwhile hardware.
In the Land of the Rising Sun however, Galaxy Mobile Japan faces…something else. The end result is marketing such as this:
#GalaxyA8 のディスプレイは約5.7インチの大画面、Super AMOLED（有機EL）で屋外でも鮮やかです✨解像度はフルHD（1920×1080）で細かな文字もはっきり
https://t.co/ghbUgAX0YW pic.twitter.com/ol78YAuivJ
— Galaxy Mobile Japan (@GalaxyMobileJP) December 9, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
This:
And this:
Here is the Galaxy Galaxy A8. Note the lack of any branding on the front side, and Galaxy branding on the back.
Once upon a time (i.e. prior to Spring 2015) reality would have been a bit different. The tweet and YouTube video, both posted by Galaxy Mobile Japan, would have been posted by Samsung Mobile Japan. The phone would have carried the Samsung branding on the back side. Unfortunately, all of this might potentially remind customers of the company’s Korean origins.
Wrap Up
The Galaxy is everywhere…customers, not.
Galaxy’s 2015 mobile phone line-up in Japan to-date now consists of the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy Active Neo, and the Galaxy A8. If you find that list a bit too brief, consider that LG didn’t release the G4 or V10 either, just a sole heavily modified offering called the isai Vivid. HTC for that matter, only released one Japanese carrier device this year.
While the situation makes sense given ever-dwindling market share and a resistant consumer base, it is still curious the extent to which Samsung has basically given up in Japan; to note it does not sell computers, cameras, appliances, or even televisions here. Even the display business is now finished as well, which means all it has is mobile.
Well, there is always 2016!
AIVAnet 