Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 is reportedly 50% faster than Samsung’s flagship Exynos CPU
We’re all eagerly awaiting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820, and hoping that it doesn’t have the same heating issues that plagued the Snapdragon 810. A new rumor circulating is adding to the hype train, claiming that the upcoming 820 will be 50% than Samsung’s current flagship Exynos chip.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 currently uses the Exynos 7420, and it’s nothing short of a powerhouse processor. If Qualcomm manages to make a processor that’s effectively 50% faster than that, they’re going to have an incredibly powerful CPU for 2016.
All things considered, though, it’s important to remember that Samsung will also likely introduce a newer processor to compete with the Snapdragon 820, so the 50% faster metric won’t be totally accurate if we’re comparing apples to apples. However, we haven’t heard anything about Samsung improving performance by 50%, so things are shaping up nicely for Qualcomm next year, which is great news after their rough 2015.
source: Weibo
via: G for Games
Come comment on this article: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 is reportedly 50% faster than Samsung’s flagship Exynos CPU
Samsung shows off flexible, bendable wire batteries for smartwatches and wearables
Samsung has shown off some new battery tech that we could start seeing in smartwatches and wearable tech in the next few years. The battery is unique in that it features a wire shape that’s extremely flexible, which should theoretically maximize the amount of juice a device can hold that takes up all of the available space in a watch face or wristband. Samsung claims this could result in up to 50% better battery life.
The company really put the battery technology through its paces by bending it 50,000 times. Even after all of that abuse, they still functioned as batteries, which is extremely impressive. Samsung even had a prototype smartwatch that utilized the wire battery effectively, so this technology isn’t incredibly far off.
With how fast and effective processors are, even in wearable devices like smartwatches, battery technology is the next market that stands to make the biggest impact on mobile devices. After all, nobody likes charging all of their devices every single night.
source: Business Korea
via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung shows off flexible, bendable wire batteries for smartwatches and wearables
Samsung releases the Gear S2 Experience app to give you that smartwatch feeling
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Samsung has been known to offer “Experience” apps which give you a brief taste of what it’s like to own one of their devices. Well, now Samsung is extending its demos to smartwatches as well, producing the Gear S2 Experience which aims to highlight the best features of their new smartwatch, the Samsung Gear S2. Among the experiences offered by the app, you’ll be able to take a 360 degree virtual tour of both the standard Gear S2 and the Gear S2 Classic. You’ll also be able to try out a few of the Gear S2’s in-built features like its health apps and the new and wonderful rotating bezel ring which controls how the user interface is navigated.
If you’re interested in how the smartwatch is going to look on your arm, the Gear S2 Experience app even lets you customize a Gear S2 to your liking (including watch face), then take a photo of your arm where the Gear S2 will be superimposed onto your wrist. It’s a novel feature, but one that people concerned with accessorizing will appreciate. In case you want to know what the Gear S2 looks like to use in real life, Samsung also produced a number of tutorial videos for the Gear S2.
If the Gear S2 Experience sounds like the kind of app you want to try out, you can download it for free right now – Play Store link below:
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.js
What do you think about the Gear S2 Experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Samsung Tomorrow via SamMobile
The post Samsung releases the Gear S2 Experience app to give you that smartwatch feeling appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Images from promotional video of Samsung Galaxy View surface
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We’ve known about Samsung‘s giant 18.4-inch tablet, the Samsung Galaxy View, for some time now and it appears that some leaks are starting to come through the gaps. The latest one comes from a promotional video for the tablet and appears to show the device in-use in the home and even while travelling. The first thing astute Samsung fans will notice is that the Galaxy View doesn’t actually have a physical home button, somewhat of a shock for a Samsung device given how Samsung has religiously included one on all their devices – having said that, a physical button on the front of the device actually makes very little sense, so it’s clear Samsung has thought about the design of this tablet, even going so far as to ditch one of their characteristic features.
The other interesting features of the Galaxy View appears to be its dock which allows it to stand by itself and also includes a handle to allow easy carrying. We’re not sure whether the dock is actually a kickstand, but it all looks very sleek despite being 18.4-inches. And for those of you who make video calls a lot, the Galaxy View also apparently has a 1080p front facing camera. We’re genuinely interesting to see where Samsung takes the Galaxy View as they’ve always had a good eye for design for usability.
What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy View? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: SamMobile
The post Images from promotional video of Samsung Galaxy View surface appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Best smartwatches right now
Although smartwatches have yet to become mainstream, tech lovers like me feel the need to have one. Over the past year, numerous smartwatches of all different brands hit the market hoping to get slapped on your wrist. But not all of them feature the same functionality. With new manufacturers getting involved in along with those who are already returning with a second generation product, it has become harder than ever to choose the one that best suits your needs best.
All-around champ: Huawei Watch
If you’re just entering the world of smartwatches, why not start out here. The Huawei Watch is one of the best offerings out there running Google’s Android Wear platform for smartwatches. Android Wear is still a work in progress but constantly receives updates adding additional features and reducing battery consumption. Without the need to go through carriers and all that mess, Google pushes updates directly to the watch so there’s hardly any wait to get the latest and greatest.
Unlike many smartwatches form last year that feature a square display, the Huawei Watch closely resembles actual watch design. Its round face is the most durable on the market built with sapphire crystal and can hold up to just about anything. For an added durability, the Huawei Watch includes an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
Huawei didn’t forget that everyone has different tastes in design. That’s why the company made the process of swapping out bands as easy as possible. At Huawei’s website, buyers have the choice of different colors and band options. Under the hood, the Huawei Watch includes the typical hardware specifications for a smartwatch these days. The Huawei Watch’s 1.4-inch full circle AMOLED display is perfect for viewing outdoors. The quality is crisp and never shows a pixel with its included 286ppi. It’s powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage space. Cellular connectivity is not included here; however, users will get a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer, vibration motor and heart-rate monitor for tracking daily activities. The Huawei Watch is made of 316L stainless steel and weighs in at 48g without the band. Huawei estimates 1-2 days of battery life.
The Huawei watch comes in a luxurious box, making it feel like a rare piece of jewelry. To charge the smartwatch, users must place the watch on a magnetic charging cradle that comes included. Pricing begins at $349 and goes up from there depending on the band you so desire. It’s compatible with Android devices running version 4.3 and up and Apple users running iOS version 8.2 and later. With all the functionalities of Android Wear, a variety of Android apps to download, built-in sensors for checking notifications, fitness tracking and a high durability that’s built to last, make the Huawei Watch the perfect companion for your smartphone.
[Huawei] [Google Store] [Best Buy] [Amazon]
Functionality: Samsung Gear S2
The Gear S2 from Samsung is all about functionality. Samsung worked on this smartwatch for an extended period of time to ensure consumers get the best experience possible. It runs Samsung’s very own Tizen software with the new Circular UX. The new user experience is everything other than what one gets with Android Wear. The Gear S2 makes a very good impression, one that is far superior than that of its predecessor, the Gear S. Nearly everything has changed here. You no longer get the bulky body the Gear S came with. Rather, you get a sleek round display with a rotating bezel for a new way of interacting with what’s on the screen.
Based on my usage and coverage of the Gear S2, there isn’t much not to like. Samsung really did a great job with this one. Tizen offers a wide range of functionality that Android Wear fails to offer and built-in cellular connectivity gives one the option for standalone functions. These include making and receiving calls (with the built-in speakerphone) and going on a run without having your phone on-hand.
On top of all that, you still get all the capabilities of a normal smartwatch such as apps (which Samsung worked hard to get), interchangeable watch-faces as well as notifications and calendar reminders right on your wrist.
The Gear S2 comes in a bevy of options including different colors and watchbands. The price tag varies on the model but starts at $300. It’s compatible with Samsung phones and the company recently added support for many other Android phones. But, sorry, no iOS support here. The Gear S2 and S2 Classic are some of the best looking smartwatches out there and offer a wide-range of functionality.
Standalone: LG Watch Urbane LTE
The LG Watch Urbane LTE is the first Android Wear device to offer cellular connectivity. However, it should be noted that the smartwatch is not for sale just yet but will be prior to the holidays.
LG’s newest smartwatch foreshadows the direction Android Wear could be heading in. With built-in cellular connectivity, users can carry out a number of features that other Android Wear smartwatches need a phone for. These include using online based apps, making and receiving phone calls, receiving notifications and monitoring fitness like a professional. The cellular connectivity guy, though, comes with some downsides. This smartwatch relies on the band to contain some sensors, meaning it cannot be replaced. Altogether, it has a larger body then the original Watch Urbane with a body that’s 3mm thicker.
The full-circle LG Watch Urbane LTE smartwatch is compatible with all Android devices running version 4.3 or higher and iOS devices running version 8.2 and above. The price will likely be north of $350, considering that’s what the original Watch Urbane was priced at without LTE connectivity. If you’re looking for an Android Wear device that brings something new and you want more independence, this is the perfect one for you.
Design: Motorola Moto 360 (2015)
The Moto 360 (2015) expands even more upon the original Moto 360, one of the most anticipated smartwatches ever. With the enhanced second generation Moto 360, Motorola cleaned up its design a bit, added a more powerful processor, a better display and more customization options via its Moto Maker tool. With Moto Maker, buyers get to choose a band, body color, bezel color, pre-installed watch-face and more. And all models are IP67 rated for water and dust resistance.
This time around, Motorola decided to produce different sizes for men and women. Pricing starts at $299 and goes up from there depending on your choice of design and size.
The new Moto 360 runs the newest version of Android Wear, Google’s platform for wearables. The feature most rave about is the design. The smartwatch features a round display (360×330) with a design that is slimmer than the majority and more attractive to the eye. The screen is made out of Gorilla Glass 3 for added protection and has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage space and either a 300mAh or 400mAh battery depending on the model. Motorola promises its smartwatch will last a full day on a single charge. The new Moto 360 also includes a variety of sensors that make Android Wear operate to its full capability. These sensors include a built-in accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, vibration/haptics engine, optical heart rate monitor, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and dual microphones. A combination of these sensors allow the watch to track all your fitness data, receive notifications from your connected smartphone (Android 4.3+, iOS 8.2+) and pretty much anything else you want to do. Motorola has also made it easy to exchange different watch bands using standard band 16/20/22mm sizes. You won’t have to worry about the difficulty of plugging a cable in such a small confined space because the Moto 360 carries over wireless charging capabilities from its predecessor.
The Moto 360 has already launched in many countries and has generated a lot of attention over recent months. If you’re in the market for a new smartwatch and want one that stands out from the rest, the new Moto 360 has our recommendation.
[Motorola] [Google Store] [Best Buy]
Performance: Pebble Time Round
The Pebble Time Round does things a bit differently. Rather than putting a bunch of gimmicks together and throwing lots of features into a smartwatch that many people have no intend on using, Pebble takes a more conservative approach. The Time Round is a taste of Pebble in a new round body. Users get access to everything that comes inside the standard Pebble Time but in a different design. Pebble is marketing the smartwatch as the thinnest and lightest smartwatch ever made, and boy is it thinner than it looks. After wearing a thicker watch on your wrist for some time, putting on the Time Round feels out of the ordinary. But not everyone is loving the new design of the Time Round due to its super large bezel around the display. The company says it was the only place to put some of the required sensors. With the smartwatch’s unique slim profile, not all the sensors were able to fit in the small confined place.
The Time Round’s interface evolves around its hardware buttons which are used to navigate through the interface. The most stand out capability is Pebble’s timeline feature that shows all one’s daily tasks, calendar events, notifications, appointments and reminders in a day by day layout. It’s super easy to navigate and nothing gets in its way. The smartwatch is very reliable when it comes to receiving notifications and hardly ever misses a beat. Crashes, bugs and studders are completely unknown on this device as performance exceptionally exceeds par.
The variety of sensors built into the Time Round allow it to track one’s steps, fitness data and lots more. Best of all, whether you have an Android or iOS device, the Time Round can connect to just about all of them due to its lacking need of an app store. What you get when you open the box is pretty much what you get. Don’t be discouraged! There are still plenty of options to play around and customize your watch. This is an area where other manufacturer’s seem to overboard and bombard people with options, which can seem a bit overwhelming at first. The Time Round costs $249 just about everywhere you’ll look. And if you’re not big into the design of the Pebble Time Round, Pebble offers the Time and Time Steel with the same, if not lower, cost.
All in all, Pebble has well deserved a spot on this list with its Time Round. If you’re constantly switching ecosystems and don’t want to keep having to replace your smartwatch, this comes in handy. And if you’re one of those people who can’t stand plugging in their smartwatch nightly to charge, the Pebble Time Round’s whopping week-long battery life will catch you buy surprise. This smartwatch’s astonishing performance and great reliability are very much appreciated.
Closing
All five of these smartwatches have their reasons to be on this list. The ecosystem, battery life, functionality and design all contribute to what makes them independent from each other. This year was predicted to be the year of the wearable, and it looks like manufacturers have done enough to satisfy that claim. There’s still plenty of room for improvement as people are still facing a brief question: do I really need this? Others are waiting for that ‘wow factor’ before they buy one. Next year will likely be another big one for wearable technology and we can’t wait to see what time research and development brings. With these smartwatches already on the market, one could be reasonably excited about what’s in store for next year.
Come comment on this article: Best smartwatches right now
Samsung Pay is now available on all major US carriers
Samsung has opened the floodgates to its mobile payment solution in the US. The company announced today that Samsung Pay now works with all major US carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular and, despite some drama, Verizon. In order to take advantage of this feature, which is Samsung’s answer to Apple Pay, you’ll of course need to have a compatible smartphone — like the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ or Galaxy Note 5. Samsung Pay first became available Stateside in beta on September 28th, but as of today anyone on one of the big networks can start using it. To do so, download the app from Google Play, enter your debit/credit card information and you’ll be set.
Via: The Next Web
Source: Samsung
Virtually try on the Samsung Gear S2 with this new app
Smartwatches are pretty expensive, and that’s certainly the case for Samsung’s new Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic smartwatches. Not only are they second screens that we wear around our wrists, they’re also fashion accessories, after all. So if you’re interested in trying one before you make the big purchase, you’re going to want to download the new Gear S2 Experience app that’s just made its way to Google Play.
Like most other Samsung Experience applications, this new app gives you a good look at the design and features that you’ll get with the device. You can take a closer look at the design with a rotatable 3D model of the watch, and even play around with the rotating bezel in different situations. The app will also walk you through some of the health tracking features that come with the watch. Take a look at the screenshots below to take a better look:
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See also: Samsung Gear S2 unboxing and first impressions
The coolest part of the app allows you to virtually customize and try on the Gear S2 using your phone’s camera. Now, this certainly isn’t the same as trying on the device in real life, but it will be able to help you decide which model is right for you.
If you’re interested, the Gear S2 Experience app is now available for free in the Play Store.
Samsung Gear S2 racks up some impressive sales in South Korea
Samsung’s new Gear S2 smartwatch has been available for a few weeks now, with U.S. sales commencing at the beginning of October. While we don’t have any sales figures of the smartwatch in the United States at the moment, residents of South Korea have really taken a liking to the device. According to a report from The Korea Herald, Samsung has been selling around 2,000 Gear S2 devices daily, which is double what the company sold for the original Gear S.
The report states that of the three Gear S2 models (Gear S2, Gear S2 Classic, Gear S2 with 3G), the 3G-capable variant accounts for roughly half of the daily sales, with the other two types taking up the other half. Samsung has already sold through its initial inventory of the Gear S2 Classic, as well.
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See also: Samsung’s Gear S2 3G will cost a $50-60 premium over its Wi-Fi counterpart
Samsung’s newest smartwatch features a 1.2-inch circular display with a 360 x 360 resolution, a dual-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of on-board storage. It also comes with NFC, allowing users to purchase goods around the world with their smartwatches using Samsung Pay. We’ve already gone hands-on and unboxed the device, and our full review is coming very soon.
What are your thoughts on the Gear S2? Are you a fan, or are you more interested in the new Android Wear hotness?
Leaked Galaxy View renders: home button not included
Samsung teased the Galaxy View some weeks ago, hinting at what a grand design it has planned for – presumably – the last part of the year. The product is expected to be a giant 18.4-inch tablet, yet in light of naming conventions, is seemingly not intended to be a follow-up to last year’s Galaxy NotePRO 12.2. Today SamMobile has obtained and published what appear to be official press photos of the new tablet. Let’s take a look and analyze each of the main talking points:
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Based on the two pictures above, it would appear that the Galaxy View will have a handle build into the back side of the tablet. This makes sense given the large form factor, and indeed has been used before, such as in some of Sony’s final VAIO offerings. It appears to have a curved shape and allows the tablet to either recline or have a more up-right position.
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The above two pictures point out something pretty peculiar: there is seemingly no home or capacative buttons to be fond along the bottom bezel. These have long since been a standard Samsung staple, and as such the View would join the few and now-forgotten Galaxy Note 10.1 , Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, and Galaxy Tab 7.7, to do without them.
It seemingly makes sense again, given that the device in question is so large and thus the idea of someone trying to use the buttons to navigate might be somewhat cumbersome. In their place look to be the default Android navigational buttons (blurred, in the left image), though there is a mysterious square on the bottom left-hand corner: don’t expect TouchWiz to be gone.
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The last two leaked pictures indicate that the device looks to be relatively thin, and will have several ports along the right side, including what looks to be USB and a headphone jack.
Despite some claims, the benchmarks leaked a short while ago do indicate there is a front-facing camera, and indeed the small artifact located near the center of the top bezel (right picture) would offer additional – yet unofficial – confirmation. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any chance of getting a rear camera.
Speaking of specs, here are the GFXBench score result that was covered earlier:
Given the large screen size of this tablet, some have raised question as to why Samsung would only use a FHD display on something this large, yet paradoxically uses a QHD panel on a tablet with an 8.4-inch display. Ultimately we won’t know the full details and total spec listing until the product is officially unveiled by Samsung.
The device is definitely going to enter a rapidly expanding – and crowded – “big tablet” market with the iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface 4 and Surface Book, however Samsung is by far the largest offering. It remains to be seen as to if this is intended as a productivity device or not.
What do you think? Does the Galaxy View look quite nice with the hinge? Has Samsung made the right decision to apparently remove the front buttons? Leave us your thoughts in the comments!
Samsung Pay finally comes to Google Play for Verizon users
Samsung Pay has been around for awhile now, on various carriers in the United States including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and even U.S. Cellular. Verizon was notably missing from the list when Samsung launched its mobile payment service back in September, but Big Red was quick to let users know that it would bring support for Samsung Pay to compatible devices via a future software update. That update arrived to the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 5 and S6 Edge+ on October 18th, though there was still no way for owners of these devices to actually download the application from the Play Store.
That changes today, as Samsung Pay has finally made its way to Google Play. If you happen to own one of the devices listed above and currently use Verizon’s network, head to the Google Play link below to download the app. If you have a supported device and already have the app installed thanks to a previous software update, the app should show up as “installed” in the Play Store.
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In case you’re unfamiliar, Samsung Pay uses both NFC and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) to make mobile payments. You’ll need a VISA, MasterCard or American Express card from Bank of America, Citi or U.S. Bank in order to use the service at the moment, but Samsung says support for more banks and cards will be added in the near future.
AIVAnet 