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| Nokia Lumia 1520 |
Between Nokia Lumia 1520 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which will you will buy as a gift this Christmas? Here are the specs and price range before you decide.
Aesthetics
Beauty is a matter of perception. Which between Lumia 1520 and Galaxy Note 3 is better? Aesthetically, this basically depends on your taste. The two gadgets both offer distinct designs. Lumia 1520 has a smooth polycarbonate unibody while Galaxy Note 3 has the classic leathery feeling, which remind you of a real notebook. Lumia 1520 is 162.8 mm x 85.4 mm x 8.7 mm in dimension. It is considerably larger than Galaxy Note 3 with a 151.2 mm x 79.2 mm x 8.3 mm. Lumia 1520 is available in yellow, white, red, and black. The Samsung phablet has more colorful choices: black, white, pink, merlot red, rose gold black and rose gold white.
Ergonomically speaking, Samsung's phablet is easier to carry than a Nokia. It is also lighter at 168 grams compared to Lumia 1520 which is 209 grams in weight.
Screen And Display
Lumia 1520 has a 6-inch screen while Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7-inch screen. Both phones have full-HD resolution of 1, 920 x 1,080 pixels with Galaxy Note 3 having a slightly greated pixel density of 386 ppi compared to Lumia 1520 with 367 ppi.
Performance
Lumia 1520 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2 GHz processor with 2 GB RAM, almost the same as Galaxy Note 3's 2.3 GHz quad-core processor.
The big difference is in the operating system. Lumia 1520 is run by Microsoft Widows Phone 8 Black while Galaxy Note 3 is run by Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean). Critics still consider the Android OS as superior to Windows Phone 8. If you're into apps, Galaxy Note 3 is the better choice as Jelly Bean offers about 650, 000 apps in contrast to Widows which only offers only approximately 125,000 apps.
Camera
In terms of camera, Lumia 1520 has a whopping 20 MP camera unit. If you're a photo aficionado, Lumia 1520 is a better choice compared to Galaxy Note 3's 13MP camera. Both phablets has optical image stabilization, autofocus, face detection and panorama.
Battery Life
In theory, Lumia 1520 gives you a longer battery life with a 3,400 mAh than Galaxy Note 3 which only has a 3,200 mAh battery. More so, when it is run by Windows Phone 8, it consumes less battery life as compared to Android's Jelly Bean.
Extras
Galaxy Note 3's killer feature is its improved S Pen. By clicking the S Pen, you can now run the Note 3's Air Command for access to five key buttons: Scrapbooker, S Finder, Action Memo, Pen Window and Screen Write. Lumia 1520 does not offer a free stylus and the stylus available for Nokia does not have the features of the S Pen.
Price Range
Lumia 1520 is slightly more expensive at a price range of $629 to $925 in Australia. Galaxy Note 3's price starts at $614 up to $899.
Ultimate Decree
If we put the S Pen into the picture, Galaxy Note 3 would kick Lumia 1520's ass. Taking it out of the picture, Lumia 1520 will offer a good fight. If you're into apps, then choose Galaxy Note 3. If you're more of a photo person, then choose Lumia 1520. //ibtimes.com
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| Galaxy S5 |
“The current capacity for flexible panels is not high enough for the Galaxy S5, which will be rolled out early next year. Curved ones will be unveiled late next year as a Galaxy variant rather than as a flagship model,” said Kim Jong-hyun, an analyst at Seoul-based Eugene Investment & Securities.
In line with this, the Suwon-based tech giant earlier delayed its investment in the A3 line for flexible organic light-emitting diode panels to early next year.
Currently, the company is capable of handling 8,000 5.5-generation sheets per month to produce up to 500,000 flexible panels for smartphones, with a 30 percent yield. With the A3 line investment, the capacity may rise to 1 million panels late next year, said a source close to Samsung who declined to be identified.
Samsung’s Galaxy Round, with a battery that is not curved and a display composed of both glass and plastic, will reportedly sell only 50,000 units domestically.
Apple is not expected to adopt curved displays for its iPhone 6 either, as the only capable flexible suppliers ― Samsung Display and LG Display ― cannot even meet their own needs. LG Display is capable of handling 12,000 4.5-generation sheets per month, reportedly producing fewer panels than Samsung.
“It is difficult for Apple to adopt curved display next year, though 2015 is more plausible,” said John Seo, an analyst at Shinhan Investment.
Another industry source said that since Japan Display is even further behind, LG Display may serve as the leading vendor with Samsung Display close behind. The possibility of adopting panels from Chinese companies is much lower, the source added.
“Apple is a very difficult client. Suppliers must disclose every cost and detail and reap little profit. Chinese companies may not stand it at least for now,” a source said.
Despite Samsung and LG’s growing anxiety over the fast game of catch-up that Chinese companies are playing in the LCD industry, OLED technology development appears to be slow in both the smartphone and television segments. The two Korean firms ambitiously and competitively unveiled their large OLED TVs early this year, which consumers have turned away on their high cost.
“Next year, both Samsung and LG will focus on ultra-high-definition TVs, as the yield issue for OLED TVs is not expected to be solved by then,” Kim of Eugene Investment said.
Android 4.4 KitKat update is now available for people who use the Google Play editions of HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. They follow Motorola's Moto X, which first got access to Android 4.4 KitKat on Nov. 19 less than one month after Google revealed it.
Android 4.4 KitKat's new features include a new launcher, a new dialer that incorporates search, Hangouts with consolidated text, video and MMS, new HDR+ software for cameras and deep app linking for Google search.
But the version of KitKat on the Moto X and the Google Play versions of HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 doesn't have the Google Experience Launcher available on the Nexus 5, which was unveiled at the end of October. The Google Experience Launcher, meant as a Nexus 5 exclusive, lets you swipe left for Google Now, trigger Google Search through an “OK Google” hot keyword and has a new options for customizing the look of your operating system.
The Google Play editions of HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 differ from the ones sold by carriers in that they are offered unsubsidized without a contract and operate on “pure” Android rather than the company's customized skins.
Source : TechCrunch
South Korean news website ET News is reporting that the Galaxy S 5 is set to go into production as early as January. That will give Samsung a handful of months to produce devices for a launch sometime in March or April, just as it did this year with the GS4.
As for the actual device, Samsung is expected to outfit the gadget with a 64-bit processor, similar to the one introduced by Apple on the iPhone 5s. These new kinds of processors deliver richer graphics and better performance.
Besides the processor, the device is expected to come equipped with 3-gigabytes of RAM, a 16-megapixel camera and a 4,000-milliampere-hour battery. For the software, Samsung is expected to deliver an Android 4.4 KitKat version of its TouchWiz interface.
The report also said Samsung will make two versions of the GS5, standard and premium. The premium model is to feature a metal shell and a flexible display; the standard model is to come with a plastic shell and display that can't flex, as most smartphones currently use.
Source : latimes.com
Source: Android (Google+)
Via : Engadget
In what seems like its 1,457th new smartphone release this year, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Grand 2, a new device that is sized somewhere in between its Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone and its Galaxy Note 3 flagship phablet. The new device features a 5.25-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, an 8 megapixel camera, 1.5GB of RAM, a 2,600mAh battery and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
Samsung didn’t mention pricing or availability for the device but given its less-than-cutting-edge specs we can assume that it will targeted more as a mid-range device in emerging markets. Samsung has released so many smartphones this year that it’s difficult to keep track but an incomplete list includes the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy Note 3, the Galaxy S4 mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom, the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, the Galaxy S4 Active and the Galaxy S4 mini La Fluer.
Via: Yahoo News
The current rumors point toward a Q1 2014 release of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone, but what new toys and features will Samsung bring to the table? For starters, it might start scanning your eyes for security reasons.
Samsung already uses face detection technology as part of its software package (like Smart Stay and Smart Scan), but this would go further. If you have a NEXUS pass, then you may have used a retina scanner at the airport. You’ve probably seen these scanners in movies too. The embedded iris scanner would likely use the front-facing camera, unlocking your phone without the need to enter a PIN code.
This goes further than the sometimes buggy, sometimes too lax face detection unlock. It could also be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner, but it could be better: it doesn’t require touch and it processes the biometric data more quickly.
Speaking of Apple, even though some people may say that 64-bit processing isn’t yet necessary for mobile, we see it in the iPhone 5S. The Samsung Galaxy S5 could follow suit with a processor based on 64-bit ARM architecture too. This is in line with previous announcements made by Samsung that they too would be pursuing a 64-bit smartphone.
Source : IB Times
Benchmark optimization has become a fairly regular occurrence, especially in the case of Android smartphones. Just last month, Samsung was accused of artificially juicing the Galaxy Note 3, and despite prompt denials from the smartphone vendor, the evidence is overwhelming that Samsung and its competitors regularly cheat on benchmark tests. Solutions have been proposed and according to Engadget, GameBench believes it has the best method yet.
GameBench, a startup with a focus on the Android gaming market, has developed a test that it claims is “uncheatable.” The GameBench app runs in the background while you are playing a game, measuring the frame rate and the battery drain. GameBench used the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One for a sample reading, and although the S4 suffered from a higher rate of battery drain, its median FPS remained higher in every tested game. Even without rigging the benchmarks, Samsung still wins. The charts from GameBench can be seen below.
Via: Yahoo News
Samsung has reportedly shipped 800,000 Galaxy Gear smartwatches to retailers in the last two months.
According to Reuters, Samsung has moved a bunch of Galaxy Gear watches. Here's the catch: All that gaudy figure proves is that Samsung can fill the channel. What remains to be seen is whether consumers will buy these smartwatches.
With promotional activity among retailers for the holidays, Gear may get a big push. At a $300-ish price, however, Gear may be too limited.Samsung noted that the reception to Gear has been better than expected. Indeed, Gear was largely viewed as an experiment. The biggest issue with Gear is that it relies on your smartphone. Samsung just widened the audience by allowing Gear to work with its Galaxy S4 smartphone.
Bottom line: Don't get carried away with the Gear shipments yet. Until you start running into folks in crowds with Galaxy Gear smartwatches take sell-through expectations with a big grain of salt.We'll know how the Gear channel fill played out in the first quarter when Samsung reports its next results.
Via: ZDNet
Hardware
There are two systems to consider when evaluating the Galaxy NX's hardware: the 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and DRIMe IV image processor, and the 1.6GHz quad-core Pega-Q chipset that keeps the Jelly Bean (4.2.2) operating system purring at an entirely usable pace. The NX is first and foremost a camera, and it's a powerful one at that, and smartphone chips, like WiFi, LTE and HSPA+ radios, and a virtually unlimited array of apps, transform this otherwise ordinary mirrorless model into a robust connected beast.
Shape and size aside, the NX is aesthetically more akin to a smartphone or tablet. There are far fewer buttons and dials than you'd expect to find on a camera -- instead, all settings are adjusted from within the Android camera app, which you'll access through the 4.8-inch, 720p, touch-enabled LCD. There's also a 0.46-inch SVGA electronic viewfinder, which outputs a more traditional preview screen, with information like aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
From the front, the Galaxy NX looks like any other EVF-equipped mirrorless camera. It's taller, wider and heavier than most similarly specced models on the market today, but not uncomfortably so. There's a lens release and focus-assist light flanking the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit optic around front, then a pop-up flash (with release), hot shoe, microphone, power button, control dial, video record button and shutter release up top. On the left side, you'll find a standard headphone jack, a micro-USB port (which you'll use to charge the camera) and an HDMI port. The bottom contains a tripod mount and a large door covering the micro-SIM, microSD and battery compartments. All three components, including the relatively massive 4,360mAh cell, slide in behind the large extended grip.
Source : Engadget
EOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Most mobile phone users have never heard of Tizen. Neither have car owners or anyone with a fridge.
Samsung Electronics Co. wants to change that.
The South Korean electronics giant is in a quiet push to make its Tizen operating system a part of the technology lexicon as familiar as Google's Android or Apple's iOS. Its ambition doesn't stop there. Samsung sees the software in your car, fridge and television too.
The first developer conference in Asia for Tizen wrapped up Tuesday after a two-day run, bringing together app developers and Tizen backers from Samsung, Intel and mobile operators.
Samsung did not announce a Tizen phone, but it made a pitch for developers to create apps for the mobile operating system that is yet to be seen in the market. Samsung promised to give out $4 million cash to the creators of the best Tizen apps.
Samsung supplied about one third of the smartphones sold worldwide in the third quarter, nearly all of them running on Google's Android. Its early bet on Google's free-of-charge operating system served Samsung well and the company's rise to top smartphone seller also helped Android become the most used mobile platform in the world. According to Localytics, 63 percent of all Android mobile devices in use are made by Samsung.
But while Samsung was wildly successful with selling its Galaxy phones and tablets, it had little success in locking Galaxy device users into music, messaging and other Samsung services. Google, however, benefited from more people using its search service, Google Play app and other Google mobile applications on Galaxy smartphones. Owners of Galaxy devices remain for the most part a slave to Google's Android update schedule and its rules.
About nine in every 10 smartphone users are tied to either Google's Android or Apple's iPhone ecosystems, generating profit for Google and Apple every time they purchase a game or application on their smartphone.
That is partly why Samsung wants to expand its control beyond hardware to software, by building its own mobile operating system.
"With only hardware, its influence is limited," said Kang Yeen-kyu, an associate research fellow at state-run Korea Information Society Development Institute. "Samsung's goal is to establish an ecosystem centered on Samsung."
The consolidation of global technology companies in the last few years reflects such trends. Apple has always made its own operating system for the iPhone. Google Inc. acquired Motorola Mobility in 2011 and Microsoft Corp. announced in September its plan to buy Nokia Corp., leaving Samsung the only major player in the smartphone market that does not make its own operating system.
Samsung executives told analysts last week that the company plans to beef up its software competitiveness through acquisitions and splashing cash on the development of mobile content and services.
But Tizen's start appears bumpy. Samsung said earlier this year the first Tizen phone would hit the market this fall but it has not materialized. Samsung declined to comment on release schedules.
Even though Choi Jong-deok, Samsung's executive vice president overseeing Tizen, said a launch of Tizen phone or televisions will happen "very shortly," analysts said Samsung is unlikely to reveal the first Tizen device until February of next year, when the company said it will announce winners of its Tizen app contest.
During the developer conference, Samsung gave more clues about how its first Tizen device would look and revealed that it has recently launched a Tizen-based camera in South Korea.
Tizen would work across a vast range of consumer electronics made by Samsung, encompassing mobile devices, televisions, fridges as well as wearable devices. The mobile operating system will also work with automobiles. Samsung and Intel said Toyota Motor Corp. and Jaguar Land Rover are working together to bring Tizen OS to vehicles.
"You can build an application once and relatively easily move from device to device," Mark Skarpness, director of systems engineering at Intel Corp., told the conference.
Samsung and Intel are also aiming to capture a bigger share of business in emerging markets where demand for cheaper smartphones is growing. Skarpness said future versions of Tizen will support lower-end phones, the same direction that Google is taking with its latest version of Android, KitKat.
Via: Yahoo News
Samsung has given financial analysts a peek into the future of mobile phones.
At its analyst day on Wednesday, the smartphone maker showed off prototypes of foldable phones and devices that could reach consumers within the next few years, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Reporters were not allowed in on the fun, and even the analysts in attendance were restricted from taking photos. But one description paints a good picture of
The first one they showed us was the size of a [Galaxy] S3 smartphone which can be folded in half from top to bottom," Daiwa Securities analyst Jae Lee told the Journal. "So like a compact powder used by women." Another device was the "the size of a lengthy wallet which can be unfolded on both sides into the size of a tablet computer." Lee said, adding that both of the devices looked pretty good.
Jefferies analyst Sundeep Bajikar said that the foldable devices "would further expand Samsung's competitive advantage in premium smartphones."
Samsung aims to unveil phones with foldable displays by the end of 2015. However, the actual products will likely take longer to reach consumers. The evolution from curved to bendable to foldable displays will require that the glass used in today's screens be replaced by plastic able to withstand heat and bend at sharp angles yet be as clear as glass, the Journal noted.
Via: CNET
Samsung aims to unveil phones and other devices with foldable displays in another two years, give or take.
At an analysts event Wednesday night local time in Seoul, Korea, Samsung CEO Kwon Oh Hyun presented a slideshow revealing the company's display technology timeline for the next few years. As shown by blog site Sammy Hub, the slideshow highlights the progression planned by Samsung leading up to foldable phones.
The company has already hit its first milestone of a curved-display phone with the recent introduction of the Galaxy Round. Though some people have questioned the benefits of a phone with a curved display, at least one researcher said he believes the technology is a major innovation.
Next on Samsung's to-do list are devices with bendable displays, due out sometime in 2014. And that will pave the way to devices with foldable screens, slated to debut around the end of 2015.
Just what are the differences between curved, bendable, and foldable displays? You can learn more through CNET's FAQ: "What you should know about flexible displays."
Via: Cnet
Samsung specs show the Zoom has a Pega dual-core chip and a 2330 mAh battery.
The Moto G is reportedly a low-priced entry-level version of the Moto X, which sells as a developer edition, unlocked, for $650.
All Motorola would say in a graphic of the globe emblazoned with a Motorola brand "M" was "Save the Date, 13 November 2013." The globe likely indicates a global launch.
Some reports, including at Androidandme, indicate the Moto G could have an unlocked price $215, even with a quad-core processor.
Last week, Sprint announced four new smartphones, including three for Nov. 8: the Samsung Galaxy Mega for $199.99 and the Galaxy S 4 mini for $99.99, as well as the LG G2 for $199.99. The HTC One max will also be available soon for $249.99, Sprint said.
Source : Computerworld
Let’s be fair. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been out on the market for several months already and the Google Nexus 5 has only been out for a day. If they’re both flagship-caliber devices, it would make sense that the Nexus 5 would be more powerful and more compelling, but is that really the case? Let’s break it down.
Performance: As far as raw processing power, the Nexus 5 has the leg up. It gets a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, compared to the admittedly speedy 1.9GHz processor in the SGS4. The Nexus 5 has the edge in graphics too with its Adreno 330 GPU, offering twice the performance of the Adreno 320 in the S4. Both phones get 2GB fof RAM.
Winner: Nexus 5
Winner: Nexus 5
Storage: The internal capacity of the two phones is the same. You can choose between 16GB and 32GB flavors, but the Galaxy S4 has the advantage of a microSD expansion slot for up to 64GB more.
Winner: Galaxy S4
Winner: Galaxy S4
Display: Both phones have a 1080p display, but the Nexus 5 is marginally smaller at 4.95-inches. That gives it a slightly better pixel density and people say the IPS panel on it is the best available. Some people might prefer the more saturated look of the S4 displays. And so, this is really a matter of personal preference.
Winner: Tie
Winner: Tie
Camera: We were hoping for a 13MP shooter in the Nexus 5, but LG and Google went with the 8MP unit presumably for cost savings. The optical image stabilization is a major plus too. The S4 has a 13MP camera, plus a variety of modes like Drama Shot for added fun.
Winner: Galaxy S4
Winner: Galaxy S4
Size and Weight: Both phones weigh in at right around 130 grams with practically the same footprint too. The S4 is marginally thinner, but that may or may not be advantage depending on the ergonomics of the phone. In the end, the difference is neglible.
Winner: Tie
Winner: Tie
Software: If you’re a fan of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI and all the jazz that comes along with it, then you’re going to like S4. Some of it can feel like bloat, but some of it can be useful too. On the other hand, there’s something special about vanilla Android, especially when you know you have the newest version first (Android 4.4 KitKat) and you’ll be first in line for updates.
Winner: Nexus 5
Winner: Nexus 5
Price: I don’t think we really need to get into this. The outright price for the Nexus 5 is about half that of the SGS4. Carrier subsidies could balance things out, but the $349 outright starting price cannot be ignored.
Winner: Nexus 5
Winner: Nexus 5
Tallying up the score, we have three points for the Nexus 5, two points for the Galaxy S4 and two ties. Of course, some of these points may be more important than others to you. If 8 megapixels will do and you don’t need a microSD slot, then the Nexus 5 is the obvious choice. If you want a higher megapixel count with more camera modes, and you don’t care much for KitKat anyway, then the S4 might still be good.
Then again, the Galaxy S5 is rumored to launch in only a few more months. But, by then, we might already be thinking about the Nexus 6 (or whatever it’s called). The grass is always greener just beyond the horizon, isn’t it?
Source : Geek.com
Via : Mobilemag
For Older Phones
Q. I have heard that the next version of Google’s Android operating system will run on older phones that couldn’t handle some of the newer updates. How can I find out if my handset can use the system?
A. Android 4.4 (also now known as KitKat, in keeping with the software’s tradition of dessert-themed nicknames), is expected this month. On its Web site, android.com/kitkat, Google says, “It’s our goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody.”
Still, check with your phone’s manufacturer or wireless carrier for announcements about your particular model. And even if your phone is on the list for an official update from the manufacturer or carrier, it often takes longer for the software to become available after Google releases an update.
Many hardware makers have customized Android to work better on their own devices and have added their own features to it — like custom interfaces or special apps — so putting out a new version of the system often requires some extra time. And most do not bother to update software for models more than a few years old, partly because of outdated hardware and partly because of the desire to sell you a new phone. (Owners of Google’s recent Nexus phones typically get the update quickly, as Google puts out its own straightforward version of Android.)
Some people have gone the unofficial route and modified their devices outside of the manufacturer’s official guidelines. While this typically voids any warranty that may be left on the phone or tablet, it is one way to get newer software, and the Web has plenty of instructions for doing so.
Getting the Red Out
Q. Why does my camera flash twice?
A. Check your camera to see if it has a “red-eye reduction” setting — and if that setting is enabled. Cameras with this feature rapidly fire the flash twice for each photo. The first flash illuminates the scene enough to cause the pupils in a person’s eyes to contract a bit from the brightness. The second flash then goes off when the shutter snaps to capture the scene.
The red-eye situation happens when the bright light from the flash creates a reflection from the blood vessels in the back of the subject’s eyes. Causing the pupils to contract right before the second flash fires helps reduce or eliminate the glowing red effect by letting less light into the eye. Because eye pupils are larger in darkened rooms, they allow in more light, so turning on a lamp or moving to a brighter room can also make for fewer pictures of people with a demonic gaze.
Even if you do end up with a few devil-eyed people in your photos, you can easily touch up the images with photo-editing software. Plenty of desktop and mobile photo-editing programs include a red-eye tool that looks for a range of bright red tones in a picture and converts them to a neutral black or dark gray.
TIP OF THE WEEK Ever spend a few moments coming up with the perfect Facebook status update — only to notice after you hit the Post button that there is a spelling error or typo in the text? Facebook added the ability to make corrections in comments last year and recently extended the editing function to status updates as well.
To make corrections after posting in your desktop browser, click on the status update in question on your Facebook page and then click on the small gray menu icon in the top right corner. From the drop-down menu, select Edit. Once you have repaired your prose, click the Done Editing button to post the modified version on your Facebook timeline. J. D. BIERSDORFER
Via : Nytimes.com
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Samsung hasn’t released official figures of the sales of its Galaxy S4, but it sold like hot pancakes, delivering 20 million units to consumers in its first two months in the market.
There are rumors that Samsung didn’t hit its sales goals for the GS4 and is planning to follow the product up with the Galaxy S5 launch in January 2014. The new member of the Galaxy line is said to hit stores by February instead of March or April.
Just to recall and emphasize that the planned Galaxy S5 is earlier than usual, the Samsung Galaxy S4 was unveiled in March 2013 and rolled out to the market in April. The Galaxy S3, on the other hand, was unwrapped in May 2012 and also hit the shelves later that month. Even earlier generation like the Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy S were released in May 2011 and June 2010, respectively.
As per sources, Samsung Galaxy S5 will sport a metal exterior and have a 64-bit eight-core Exynos 5430 processor. It will also have a 16-megapixel main camera featuring image stabilization and improved low-light environment performance.
The GS5 will also join the bandwagon of smartphones with a fingerprint scanner. There were also news that the finger scanning technology was meant for the Galaxy Note 3 but had to pull back after issues with quality.
The brain of the Galaxy S5 will feature the latest Heterogenous Multi-Processing (HMP) Solution. Samsung made the move after criticisms that the Exynos 5 5410 didn’t utilize all of its eight cores. The company produced the Exynos 5420, used on the 3G Galaxy Note 3, which can maximize the true potentials of the chipset. The Exynos 5430 will most likely be on a collision course with the Qualcomm LTE 64-bit chips that might be released soon.
All of these are rumors, and it will still be a waiting game until Samsung confirms any of these details. There are also contrasting reports that Samsung will still be developing the Galaxy S5 through the first few months of 2014. There are rumors that the manufacturer is still shopping for suppliers of the aluminum chassis and that these deals will be finalized early 2014. The same is true for the updated camera.
Do you think the GS4 is performing badly in the market and forcing the manufacturer to release the Galaxy S5 earlier than usual?
Samsung has unveiled a raft of new software tools to help developers create apps specifically designed for its devices.
The South Korean firm is releasing five new software development kits (SDKs).
It said they would make it easier to create programmes that can share content on its phones, tablets and TVs.
The company announced the news in San Francisco at its first ever developer conference. It is already the best-selling Android device manufacturer.
Samsung wants to defend that position by ensuring new software takes advantage of its devices' proprietary features, such as support for its S Pen stylus and its Multi Window function, which allows two apps to be run in split-screen mode.
"Consumers want the best possible experience," Samsung Senior Vice President Curtis Sasaki told the BBC.
"So, part of our job is to get developers excited about supporting all of our new features. That ends up benefiting the consumer with much better
Stand-out smart devices
In holding a developers conference, Samsung follows the lead of other firms including Apple, Google, Microsoft and Blackberry.
All are seeking to offer unique software features to help their platforms stand out.
In the last couple of years Samsung has overtaken Apple to become the world's top-selling smartphone maker.
But, unlike Apple and Blackberry - which develop both their own hardware and the operating systems that power it - Samsung relies on a third-party OS, Android, which is engineered by Google.
The same software is also used by many of Samsung's competitors - including Sony, HTC and LG.
Although Samsung adds its own TouchWiz user interface to the system, its use of Google's OS means its customers may find it relatively easy to migrate to other Android devices when they decide to upgrade.
It also means that customers who purchase apps after they buy a device typically funnel revenue to Google rather than Samsung itself, a situation the Asian firm is keen to address.
Dawn of Tizen
The electronics giant is also working with chip maker Intel to develop a new open source operating system called Tizen.
Tizen is also attractive to developers, as it promises to run software written in the HTML5 web language smoothly.
Tizen did not feature prominently in Samsung's San Francisco event. But it is seen as part of a long-term strategy to give the firm more flexibility in the way it develops relationships with its customers.
Mozilla's Firefox OS also relies on HTML5, offering developers the prospect of cross-platform compatibility in which they can write a single version of their app for multiple operating systems, helping cut costs and coding time.
HTML5-based apps can also be made to work on Android and iOS. But developers - including Google and Facebook - faced performance issues when they released products using it, and later switched to native versions.
The first handsets running Tizen were expected to be out by the end of 2013, but that date has now slipped. They are expected to be aimed at the lower end of the smartphone market, rather than premium models.
Samsung has previously hinted at greater ambitions for the Tizen OS, indicating it might feature in everything from TVs to systems for car infotainment (media content mixing information with entertainment).
There has also been speculation that Samsung could take another tack by "forking" away from the Google-released version of Android.
This would involve it developing its own version of Android, which would no longer offer all of the search firm's services.
So, for instance, it might only support the Samsung Apps and Hub marketplaces but not the Play equivalents - preventing Google from taking a cut of sales.
To date, Amazon is the only company to have succeeded at doing something similar, with its Kindle Fire tablets.
But that has come at a price - namely that some developers have not made the necessary tweaks to make their software compatible with Amazon's customised version of Android, Fire OS.
Source : BBC News
Via :Engadget
Source : Engadget
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