Category: Samsung

Features The iPhone 6 Needs To Take On The Galaxy S5

With the release dates of the iPhone 6 drawing closer, the rumor mills are warming up. Almost on a daily basis one can get a leaked specs and images for the new iPhone. From its screen sizes to heapdphone jack, all are under constant speculations from tech maniacs like us. So we decided to do a checklist to figure out what the iPhone 6 really needs to have to take on Samsung’s current flagship, the Galaxy S5.

Display

In times when displays of 4.5 inch and above are fast becoming the norm for smartphones, iPhone’s 4 inch screen just doesn’t cut it anymore. Multimedia experience on the iPhone, though well appreciated seems restricted because of the screen size. There are talks of the next installment might arrive with two screen size options, one with a 4.7 inch display and the other touted to be named as iPhone air which will have a screen size of 5.5 inches. Currently the Samsung Galaxy S5 with its 5.1 inch super AMOLED full HD screen with 432 ppi is stunning to look at.

Design

Metallic designs are a must. Most of the complaints regarding the S5 is its plasticky feel. The perforated polycarbonate back panel of the Galaxy S5 received mixed reviews. The apparent leaked images of the new iPhone do not impress a lot yet, but they might as well be mock ups. A Micro SD expandable memory slot will definitely make the iPhone 6 a must buy. Considering the iPhone 5 faithfully follows the same design principals of the iPhone 4, it is time for some serious makeovers.

Battery

Now we don’t have a winner here currently. The current batteries, 1560 mAh on the iPhone and 2800 mAh on the S5 are known for their dismal performance. Considering the thinning down and increased screen size of the iPhone, battery will be a challenge. Introduction of battery saving features are also necessary. In the iOS 8 beta version, a new feature called Grayscale has appeared which seems like a battery saving feature, its efficiency though is still under consideration. A revolutionary thing that Apple can do is provide the option for removable batteries, but that’s just asking for too much.

Camera

There aren’t a lot many people who will complain about the camera of the iPhone. Optical Image stabilization is necessary. Though most phones are offering 4K recording, its not advisable to have one on the iPhone with its limited storage scenario.

Software

On the OS front, iPhone can have an easy battle considering the innovative features like handoff included in the iOS 8. The new messaging app and a turbo charged spotlight will give the iOS an edge over the Android OS. Though the Android L is not far behind and we might see some good competition in this arena but if the Kitkat situation is an indication, it will take some time to reach the Android phones.

Overall after a fantastic release of the iOS 8 and its pioneering inter-connectivity options with the OSX, the hype around iPhone’s next avatar has greatly increased. The competition is constantly updating itself and companies like LG, HTC and perhaps Motorola will pose some serious challenges to the iPhone. So the once in a year release of the iPhone this year has to be nothing short of spectacular, for its own future.

July 13, 2014

Hands On with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

Samsung has constantly held its position in the tablet market, a market where many have come and failed. The company has seemingly changed its perception toward the way they will devices going forward, and the first look comes from the new Tab S series of devices.

One thing that we appreciate a lot is that the Tab S 8.4 is a true little brother of the Tab S 10.5 where both slates have identical specifications from processor to display resolution and even the internal RAM and storage. What differs is the size of the screen and the battery capacity which are both reduced from the 10.5 incher to get the desired size needed for the Tab S 8.4 .

The display is just phenomenal, it’s like taking the display of the Note 3 and blowing it up to fit the size and then adding 4 times the pixels. Its bright, extremely vivid and beautifully saturated. It is also a pretty large Super AMOLED display, considering a couple of years back Samsung was dealing with issues manufacturing a 4 inch Super AMOLED panel with Full HD capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 comes with a 8.4 inch 2560 x 1600 pixel display that is simply awe-inspiring. The company is also calling it the highlight of the tablet as the usual features from the previous generation tend to follow suit.

The back panel on the Tab S 8.4 is also a “Smarter and Larger” version of what we saw on the Galaxy S5, even though it looks much more classier and cleaner on the tablets and especially so on the Tab S 8.4 in the titanium copper colour.

SPECIFICATIONS	GALAXY TAB S 10.5-INCH	GALAXY TAB S 8.4-INCH
BATTERY CAPACITY:	7,900(mAh)	4900(mAh)
DISPLAY	10.5-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution:2560 x 1600 pixels	8.4-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
CAMERA	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel
RAM	3GB	3GB
PROCESSOR	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)
INTERNAL STORAGE	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB
SOFTWARE	Android 4.4 Kitkat	Android 4.4 Kitkat

July 12, 2014

Hands On : Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4

Samsung is ready to take on the iPad, yet again, with its new slew of tablets. The Galaxy Tab S is a reboot of what Samsung has been doing in terms of the overall feel of the tablets.

The new tablets are aimed at the Rs. 35-40 thousand price bracket, with pre orders already open on Samsung’s E Store.

The Tab S 10.5 and Tabs 8.4 both run on the Exynos 5 Octa chipset, have 3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB storage capacities, infact both have almost the exact same specs except for the size of the screen. See the full details below.

Specifications	Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch	Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch
Battery capacity:	7,900(mAh)	4900(mAh)
DISPLAY	10.5-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution:2560 x 1600 pixels	8.4-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
CAMERA	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel
RAM	3GB	3GB
Processor	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)
Internal Storage	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB
Software	Android 4.4 Kitkat	Android 4.4 Kitkat

In terms of look and feel these tablets are much nicer looking than expected, they feel premium and look the part. The Tab S is extremely slim at 6.6 mm and extremely lightweight at just 467 gms for the LTE variant 10.5 inch Galaxy Tab S.

Samsung has also cut down on the bloatware and offers some interesting productivity apps and services to the user out of the box – free of cost. The Tab S devices run Android KitKat 4.4.2 out of the box with a proposed Android L update shortly after the final release.

Initial impression of the screen will simply blow you away, the screen is very sharp and thanks to it being a Super AMOLED the colours look very alive and vivid.

Stay tuned for our full round up.

July 10, 2014

Leaked Images Reveal Samsung’s Virtual Reality Headset, The Gear VR

Facebook is working on it, Sony and Google too; so why should Samsung stay back and let them steal the thunder? Rumors are flying around high about Samsung’s plan to launch its own virtual reality headset. The device will take on Sony’s Project Morpheus headset and Oculus VR. And now, Sam Mobile leaked the first photo of the company’s forthcoming virtual reality headset the Gear VR yesterday.

Unlike the Oculus, the Gear VR won’t be a complete virtual reality headset on its own. The Gear VR headset introduces a modular design and structure providing users with dock for their Galaxy phones into the front. Gear VR will require a Galaxy phone in order to work because the design doesn’t include motion sensors or a screen independent of the docked smartphone.

Rumors started earlier this year, reporting that Samsung is working on an Oculus Rift-style virtual reality headset which was confirmed by Business Insider later. The leaked image is said to be first glimpse of the alleged Samsung virtual reality headset. Sam Mobile, in its post claims that the rumored virtual reality headset made by the South Korean giant will be announced alongside the alleged Galaxy Note 4 at IFA this year.

The leaked image of the alleged Samsung Gear VR headset purportedly shows its design and form factor. The report reveals that we can expect a ‘see-through button’ on the right side. It uses the smartphone’s rear-facing camera sensor to offer a video feed of the real outside world. It is also said to include a touchpad under the see-through button to navigate through the user interface on the Galaxy smartphone.

Also, same as with the company’s other Gear wearables, the alleged Gear VR is also said to get its dedicated section, including apps for the virtual reality headset. The report names some of the apps likely to be made available after the announcement, which include Theatre, 360 Player, and Gallery. In addition to this, Samsung Gear VR SDK will be also made available shortly after the launch, some reports reveals.

The headset will enter the still infant market of Virtual Reality market, which is dominated currently by the Facebook-acquired Oculus Rift. With the Gear VR, Samsung can make use of its marketing ability and reach markets where Oculus will take some time to reach. Samsung has the ability to do that, provided their product stands out and is appreciated by the consumers.

July 9, 2014
Rumor Roundup: All You Need to Know About the Samsung Galaxy F

Samsung, is working towards breaking new grounds with it’s upcoming Galaxy F (also referred to as the Galaxy S5 Prime.) This one seems to be targeted towards the ‘premium’ metal smartphone segment.

A couple of leaks for the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy F have making rounds apart from the rumors of its production. Recently, new leaked live photo of the Samsung Galaxy F emerged and it seemed to confirm that the said smartphone will in fact feature a metal frame.

In terms of looks, Galaxy F, is not exactly different from S5. The buttons, the Samsung logo, even the finger scanner, the camera hump, and heart monitor; everything is where we’re used to seeing it in the S5. The biggest change is said to be the metal back that is made with brushed aluminum, a material which has a more premium feel and better heat dissipation properties than plastic.

Reports so far also pointed out that the Galaxy F will come with a super high-res Quad HD (1440 x 2560-pixel) with screen size of 5.24 inches, but given the most recent announcement of the Korea-only S5 LTE-A with a 5.1” Quad HD panel, it seems that the Galaxy F might also come with a 5.1” screen.

With an expected fall release date, it seems like Samsung may ship the Galaxy F with the latest and most powerful Qualcomm chip – the Snapdragon 805 with the new Adreno 420.

The F is also said to have a better finger scanner than the Galaxy Tab S tablets, while we are not expecting it would be a match for fast and accurate one on the iPhone, we would still love to see how Samsung will tackle this problem.

With a visual upgrade, this device not only will be a powerful smartphone but also a good looking one. Till now, we are not sure what the price of this S5 upgrade. The Galaxy F release date is rumored to be in September. With Apple’s rumored plans to bring in the next iPhone and a 5.5-inch iPhone ‘Air’ around the same time, Samsung might reconsider their plans.

July 8, 2014
Android Wear Based Samsung Galaxy Gear Live Now Available in India

If you were waiting for the Android Wear based smartwatches then your wait is over. Samsung has released its Android smartwatch OS based Galaxy Gear Live at the Play Store for Rs15,900.

Android Wear was one of the most exciting announcements at this year’s Google I/O. The OS has a number of good features. The Galaxy Gear Live was introduced along with the LG G watch and the MOTO 360 watches.

The watch sports a 1.63 inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display with 278 ppi. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz processor and a 512 MB RAM. The phone sports a 4 GB internal storage which is good enough for the functions it offers.

The Gear Live has a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and the best part, it is water and dust resistant. The watch takes its juice from a 300 mAh battery.

The Android Wear has a lot of features right out of the box. It is voice controlled device and lets you access and reply to important notifications from your phone. It is almost a portable control for your phone with health monitoring features of its own. It can be used for checking messages and emails, doing online searches, navigation and a lot more.

The Android wearables will definitely get a boost with the Android Wear. Presently the Moto 360 with its round display looks the most alluring but its other first generation Android wear siblings don’t fall too far behind.

July 7, 2014
Samsung’s Second Attempt at a Camera-Centric Phone : The Galaxy K Zoom

Samsung has launched the Galaxy K Zoom in India, a Galaxy S5 camera variant, and is now up for pre-order exclusively on Amazon India. The exclusive pre-order was opened yesterday at midnight. Its predecessor, the S4 Zoom was also launched on the same day last year but was not received well in the market because of its poor performance and bulkiness.

Samsung is now trying its hands again in the same segment with Galaxy K Zoom that holds a better processor and a leaner body. The leaner body might help this variant since the chunky lens of the S4 Zoom was a major deal-breaker. This s5 camera variant is priced at INR 29,999 and will be delivered July 9th onwards.

Samsung’s second crack at a modern “phone camera” is based on its popular Galaxy S5. The Galaxy K zoom fashions a huge 20.7-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor at the back accompanied by a Xenon flash and also features optical image stabilizer (OIS) for low-light imaging. The rear camera supports 10x optical zoom.

The rear camera comes with some advanced camera usability features and functions, including AF/AE (Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure) separation. Also Pro Suggest mode that comes with camera offers 5 optimized filter settings. The Selfie Alarm assists users in taking timed selfies. The Galaxy K Zoom also houses a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

When compared to the Galaxy S4 Zoom that came with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, the Galaxy K zoom features a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD (720×1280 pixels) display. The new camera variant runs on Android 4.4 KitKat same as the Galaxy S5, the latest flagship device of the company.

Also it comes with a hexa-core processor (a quad-core 1.3GHz and a dual-core 1.7GHz), 2GB of RAM, 8GB inbuilt storage expandable via microSD card (up to 64GB), and a 2430 mAh battery. The Galaxy K zoom will be available in two variants – LTE and 3G – while other connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and NFC.

The K zoom is thicker than the S5, it’s heavier and it has a lower-resolution display. The only area where the K zoom tops the S5, by a mile we might add, is where the camera is concerned. Though it certainly has a great camera, the deal breaker for most of the buyers will be the performance of the phone which also took the Galaxy s4 Zoom down the drain.

July 3, 2014
Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 Specs Leaked

We have been hearing rumors about the new successor of the Samsung Mega series for quite some time, and now it seems like Samsung is finally pulling up its sleeves and getting ready to launch.

Recently, the Galaxy Mega 2 has had most of its important specs leaked because a pre-production unit has been put through the paces of a well known graphics benchmark. It is said that the handset maker might offer a plus-size device with a budget-friendly price tag.

Specs of Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 as per the GFXbench

Benchmarks on GFXbench disclosed a 5.9-inch display that targets a low to mid-range market, though earlier rumors suggested that the new device will sport a 6″ display (a slight difference). However, Samsung has maintained the same resolution as its predecessor at 1,280 x 720 pixels.

It is likely that the new Mega 2 will be Samsung’s first smartphone to run on 64-bit processor with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core chipset. There are also rumors floating that the new Samsung Mega 2 may run on Android L. Galaxy Mega 2 will have 720p HD resolution, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 12 MP rear camera, and a 5 MP front shooter for selfies.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, released last year

Other Galaxy Mega 2 features listed on GFXbench includes accelerometer, barometer, Bluetooth, gyroscope, compass, GPS, light sensor, NFC, proximity sensor and Wi-Fi. Apart from these features not much is known about the phone’s specs or when it will be released. It is said that with the Mega 2, Samsung is trying to introduce low-end Note-like phones in the mid-range segment.

July 2, 2014
Samsung Launched iPad Rival, The Galaxy Tab S

Samsung has launched its two latest tablets, Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4. The two models are scheduled for a mid-July release in both 3G and 4G LTE variants. The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets were first unveiled on June 13 at an event in New York. This new line of high-end tablet computers, obviously, rivals against Apple’s iPad.

As far as specs and user experience are concerned, Samsung has done a great job but the prices are higher than what Apple is offering. The Galaxy Tab S features Super AMOLED displays. AMOLED stands for active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes which are already found in smartphones made by Samsung and a few other manufacturers. But until now, tablets haven’t used them because larger AMOLED screens are difficult to produce.

Besides producing richer colours, AMOLED allows the Galaxy Tab S tablets to be thinner and use less power because screens typically don’t require backlighting. Samsung did release an AMOLED tablet in 2012 which didn’t sell well because it was too expensive. The new ones will be priced more competitively. The Galaxy Tab S tablets are a quarter of an inch (6.6 millimeters) thick, which is thinner than the iPads. The smaller version is also lighter than the iPad Mini, while the larger one is about the same as the iPad Air.

Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 are powered by an Exynos 5 Octa processor (1.9GHz quad-core+ 1.3GHz quad-core), and 3GB RAM. The devices run Android 4.4 (KitKat) with Samsung’s customized UI. These feature 16GB internal storage and a microSD card slot that supports cards of up to 128GB. Both the variants sport 8MP rear cameras with LED flash and a 2.1MP front-facing cameras. In terms of connectivity, the tablets offer Wi-Fi (including 802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.0, IrLED, 3G and voice calling capabilities.

The new tablets will also allow users to make calls and the device can be unlocked using a fingerprint. The tablets can support up to eight user profiles, so members of a single family can get separate home screens simply by swiping their finger on the sensor.

Until now, iPad rivals have succeeded largely by undercutting Apple on price, and better hardware hasn’t been enough. AMOLED screens could change that, because Samsung certainly have an edge with it. The Galaxy Tab S range will be available in India at Rs 37,800 for 8.4 inch and Rs 44,800/- for 10.5 inch variant. It comes in two colour options, Titanium Bronze and Dazzling White.

July 1, 2014
Samsung Refreshes its Galaxy Line-Up With Four New Budget Phones

Samsung is getting ready to play its card in the ever-crowded budget phone segment with the release of its four new phones. The Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Young 2, Galaxy Ace 4 and Galaxy Star 2 are successors of the best-selling range of Samsung phones. These newly launched Galaxy smartphones are touted to be targeted at the affordable segment. The South Korean consumer electronics giant, as of now, has not revealed any pricing or availability details of the four smartphones.

All the four phones run on KitKat 4.4 with the company’s TouchWiz Essence UI. While, Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, and Galaxy Young 2 are dual-SIM devices, the Galaxy Ace 4 is a single SIM device and has been launched in 3G and LTE variants.

1. Galaxy Core II

Galaxy Core II is the most powerful device among the recently announced phones. It is equipped with a 4.5″ WVGA display and runs on a quad-core 1.2GHz processor. Furthermore, it includes 768MB of RAM, 4GB expandable storage, a 5MP rear camera with a LED flash, a VGA front snapper, and a 2,000mAh battery. Samsung Galaxy Core II offers fast 3G connectivity with 21Mbps downlink, dual-SIM, Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with GLONASS and FM radio. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and will become available in White and Black colours.

2. Galaxy Young 2

A small sized smartphone with 3.5″ HVGA display phone, Galaxy Young 2 is backed by a 1GHz single-core processor clubbed with 512MB of RAM. There is a 3-megapixel fixed-focus rear camera. It comes with 4GB inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The phone provides you with connectivity options including Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, GLONASS, 3G and Micro-USB. It measures 109.8×59.9×11.8mm and weighs 108 grams. The Galaxy Young 2 packs a 1300mAh battery and comes in two colour variants – Iris Charcoal and White.

3. Galaxy Star 2

The Samsung Galaxy Star 2 also comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA. It is powered by a single-core Spreadtrum SC6815A clocked at 1GHz alongside 512MB of RAM. The smartphone sports a 2-megapixel fixed focus rear camera and includes 4GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The phone has 1300mAh of battery and for connectivity it includes Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Micro-USB options. The major dissapointment in this phone would be the fact that it does not have 3G network support.

4. Galaxy Ace 4

The Samsung Galaxy Ace 4, as mentioned earlier, comes in two variants – LTE and 3G. The Galaxy Ace 4 3G features a 1GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4-inch WVGA display, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD slot, 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, and a 1,800 mAh battery. The LTE variant of the Ace 4 gets a faster processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, and a higher-capacity 1,800 mAh battery. The smartphone comes with Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, GLONASS, and Micro-USB connectivity options. Both variants will be available in Iris Charcoal and Classic White colors.

July 1, 2014
Samsung takes aim at the iPad Air with New Slim Galaxy Tab S

Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy Tab S, a new flagship tablet. The new device was introduced at an event Thursday evening in New York City and It will be available in two sizes: 8.4 and 10.5 inches.

Samsung called it a high-end tablet with an emphasis on entertainment and consumption. Google, Netflix and Flipboard are said to be the most important content on the tab. The Galaxy Tab S fashions a high-resolution SuperAMOLED display with 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, giving a tough competition to iPad ‘retina’ display. Samsung said its screen technology provides better color and deeper contrast, while consuming less power than the LCD displays in most tablets. It is the first time, Samsung has made available a tablet with SuperAMOLED display. At the back, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 feature an 8MP camera with a 2.1MP at the front.

Galaxy Tab S is also equipped with an adaptive display, which will change the white balance of the tablet based on the ambient light. The screen also has a less reflectivity in bright sunlight. The device also has a fingerprint scanner same as Galaxy S5 which can be used by eight people to login to different profiles.

Samsung is emphasizing the magazine content in the Galaxy Tab S with its own magazine display called Papergarden. The company also announced partnerships with Condé Nast, Marvel Comics National Geographic, who will be working on bringing titles to Papergarden, complete with interactive features.

Both Tab S tablets size variants are just 6.6mm thin, or 0.26 inches; thinner than the iPad Air. The weight is 465g for the large size and 294g for the smaller design. Both sizes come in white and bronze, and Samsung is offering optional covers as well as a keyboard.

The Tab S can also be synced to Galaxy S5 through SideSync, Once paired, the tablet can mirror the tablet’s screen in a smaller virtual window, letting users take calls on the tablet via its speakers and microphone. SideSync can also be used to transfer files or even run apps.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S is a strong contender against iPad, However, time will tell how it is received by consumers. In the U.S., the Samsung Galaxy Tab S will cost $499 for the 10.5-inch version, and $399 for the 8.4-inch.

Specifications

[tabs]

[tab title=”10.5 inch”]

Display

10.5” (267.2mm) 2560×1600(WQXGA) Super AMOLED

Bearer

Wi-Fi Model

– Wi-Fi Only

LTE Model

– LTE : 800/900/1800/2600+850/2100

– 3G : HSPA+42.2 850/900/1900/2100

– 2G : GSM/EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Memory

3GB RAM, 16/32GB Memory, MicroSD (up to 128GB)

Camera / Flash

8M w/ Flash LED + 2.1M Full HD

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO

WiFi Direct, BT4.0

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou (Not supported in USA, Canada)

Dimension, Weight

Wi-Fi Model : 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6mm , 465g

LTE Model : 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6mm , 467g

Battery Capacity

7,900mAh

OS / Upgrade

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Messaging & SNS

Google+, Gmail

LBS

Google Maps

Other Services & Applications

Samsung Magazine, Professional pack, Multi-user mode,
SideSync 3.0, Gear & Gear fit manager

PC Applications

Samsung Kies

UI / Web Browser

Samsung UI / Android, Chrome Browser

Audio

MP3, AAC ,AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Video

H.263, H.264 (AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Recording : FHD (1920 x 1080) @30fps

Playback : WQHD (2560 x 1440) @30fps

Connectors

USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear jack

[/tab]

[tab title=”8.4 inch”]

Display

8.4” (212.8mm) 2560×1600(WQXGA) Super AMOLED

Bearer

Wi-Fi Model

– Wi-Fi Only

LTE Model

– LTE : 800/900/1800/2600+850/2100

– 3G : HSPA+42.2 850/900/1900/2100

– 2G : GSM/EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Memory

3GB RAM, 16/32GB Memory, MicroSD (up to 128GB)

Camera / Flash

8M w/ Flash LED + 2.1M Full HD

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO

WiFi Direct, BT4.0

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou (Not supported in USA, Canada)

Dimension, Weight

Wi-Fi Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 294g

LTE Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 298g

Battery Capacity

4,900mAh

OS / Upgrade

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Messaging & SNS

Google+, Gmail

LBS

Google Maps

Other Services & Applications

Samsung Magazine, Professional pack, Multi-user mode,
SideSync 3.0, Gear & Gear fit manager

PC Applications

Samsung Kies

UI / Web Browser

Samsung UI / Android, Chrome Browser

Audio

MP3, AAC ,AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Video

H.263, H.264 (AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Recording : FHD (1920 x 1080) @30fps

Playback : WQHD (2560 x 1440) @30fps

Connectors

USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear jack

[/tab]

[/tabs]

June 13, 2014
LG G Watch Specs Leaked
Looks like Smart watches are focus device for manufacturers now. LG had announced its own Smart watch called the LG G watch and it looks quite impressive. It is stated to release on the 7th of July this year and will be showcased at the Google I/O conference.

Some of the features that LG had featured on its website are:
1. Compatible with Android: A wide option of devices to connect your watch to.
2. Sleek and Sexy Metallic Body: Comes in Black and White
3. Water and Dust Proof: Outside Friendly
4. Always on Screen: No Stand by brings it closer to real watch experience.
5. Gives all functionality of a Smart Watch: Navigation, Reminders, memo.
6. Voice controls through Google Now: To play music, record memos and lot more.
LG’s G Watch looks a sure shot challenger to Samsung’s Galaxy Gear. On the design front it looks really classy with pure black and the white being incorporated to Gold elements.

Now @upleaks has leaked the specs on the watch even before its release. So lets see what is under the hood of LG’s Smart watch and if has the hardware potential to take on the Galaxy Gear.

#GWatch spec sheet pic.twitter.com/EZx0UDPEK8

— UpLeaks (@upleaks) June 10, 2014

The watch is powered by the new Android Wear OS. The display is a 1.65-inch LCD screen with 280×280 pixel resolution. The processor on the G Watch is a quad-core Snapdragon 400 (with APQ8026 CPU) chipset with an 4GB LPDDR2 RAM .

G Watch also has 4GB of storage. It runs the latest Bluetooth 4.0 which is great for portables. The battery is a 400mAh Li-Po battery which is rated to give 36 hours of standby time and can be charged in under 2 hours.

This sure looks like a gadget to look forward to and if LG prices it right, it could be a winner for LG as well as a great introduction to the world of Android Wear OS. Hope it is as simplistic and awesome as they have shown in their OS video:
June 12, 2014
Top ten predictions for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The Galaxy Note 4, successor to the Note 3 which was the bestselling phone from Samsung’s stable, is around the corner. Note 3 was a benchmark on which most of the future premium devices were designed, like the Galaxy Tab pro.

So here we give you a roundup of all the things we know about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3. (more…)

June 3, 2014
Samsung Introduces Android Killer, Tizen OS

Seems like even Samsung is getting bored of it similar looking phone line up. The company is now in the process of releasing another Linux based OS by the name Tizen. The first phone to run on this OS will be the Samsung Z. This is a huge step from Samsung to move away from Google based Android OS and create its own unique identity.

Samsung wants an OS that can be used across its ecosystem. Tizen has already been used by Samsung on the Galaxy Gear 2 which had some good features. The Samsung Z will be its first full-fledged phone avatar of the operating system and we’ll definitely be waiting to get our hands on it.

The phone was supposed to be released at the World Mobile Congress in 2014 but it got delayed. It is now most likely to be slated to launch in the Russian market by September of this year.

The Samsung Z will be powered by a 2.3 GHz quad core processor and have a 4.8 inch super AMOLED screen. It will have a decent 2600 MaH battery. Samsung has said that the phone has ability to give maximum run time for the battery size because of its superior power saving measures.

The main camera on the phone is an 8 megapixel shooter and it will have a 2.1 megapixel selfie camera (front camera). It has an internal memory of 16 GB, which is expandable upto 64 GB via Micro SD.

Samsung Z almost looks like the usual TouchWiz fare.

Samsung has stated that it opted for Tizen because it is said to give faster boot up time and better multi-tasking capabilities. The OS also promises superb 2D and 3D graphic quality, smoother scrolling and an improved rendering performance for web browsing. Currently Tizen version 2.2 looks like a close cousin of the Android Jellybean with minute variations. So its to be seen if the above mentioned capabilities will inspire people to go for a device with a heart of Tizen.

One of the major reasons Samsung is putting its cards on Tizen is for its ability for multi-platform integration. It can be used in mobiles, wearable’s, vehicle infotainment and TV’s. In fact, Samsung just released an SDK to create apps for the Tizen based TV systems. These TV’s will have support for hand gestures, mobile device pairing and voice commands. Something most of the Smart TV’s have been banking on.

Samsung is the largest Android device manufacturer and its complete departure in the future from the market in favor of the Tizen will create a huge void. That open market space would be left for other competitors to conquer. As of now and for some considerable future, Android will continue to be the lead OS for the mobile market. It’s yet to be seen if Tizen has the boldness to take on an OS being used by majority of smarphone users.

June 2, 2014
Samsung’s Tough Boy, Galaxy S5 Active Officially Launched

Two weeks back we were introduced to Galaxy S5 Active, through a leaked video by TK TechNews. And now Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Active is available today on AT&T. Unlike it’s other counterparts, it is rugged and tough.

The Galaxy S5 Active has the same full-HD AMOLED 5.1-inch screen. Its 16-megapixel camera and fingerprint sensor are also lodged into the rugged smartphone. That said, water-resistance is now part of the original Galaxy S5’s bag of tricks. There’s also the shock-resistant, dust-proof shell and a burlier look. Even if it’s a dreamy rendered view we’re seeing here, the metallic details and finish could well win over Galaxy fans that aren’t pro-plastic.

There’s an extra “convenience key” on the side of the phone that gives you easy access to all the phone’s apps that are related to outdoor activity.

Although the casing looks hardier than that of the Galaxy S5, it’s reasonably slim — a far cry from the bulky “rugged” phones of yesteryears that often looked closer to military hardware than something you’d carry in your pocket. It’ll be offered in “camo green,” “titanium grey,” and “ruby red” colorways.

The critics though are questioning the need for this phone as its predecessor, the Galaxy S4 Active, since the regular Galaxy S5 already offers more protection against the elements than most other devices on the market. Without a whole lot of extra functionality to define it against the water-loving Galaxy S5, the S5 Active’s main appeal could well end up boiling down to its tough-guy exterior.

The phone currently is only available in the USA. you can buy the S5 Active for $200 with a new, two year contract, for $27.50 per month with AT&T Next 18, for $35.75 per month with AT&T Next 12.

AT&T is also knocking $50 off the price of the Samsung Gear Fit if you buy it alongside the Galaxy S 5 Active.

May 30, 2014