Tag: Tizen OS

Samsung Z2 Tizen Phone Leaked

Samsung is not letting go of Tizen or the Z series handsets easily, and that may not be a bad thing. Samsung had first released the Samsung Z1 and skipped the Z2 to launch the Samsung Z3 last year.

It appears that this ultra-budget handset, the Samsung Z2, is ready to make an appearance after all. According to import data listing, Samsung is importing a handset with the model number SM-Z200F, with a screen size of 4 inches for a price of approximately Rs. 3400.

Rumors in the past have pegged this phone to have a unique design and construction, along with a 960 x 540 pixels resolution display and a 2000 mAh battery. The phone is also expected to be a dual-SIM phone.

While Tizen penetration is nowhere near what Samsung expected it to be, it looks like the company is not going to give up on it yet. With the recent leaks of the Gear Fit 2 restarting people’s interest. This Tizen 3 based Z2 may be a decent ultra-budget option for those in need. Although, it is a little difficult to guess what final price the handset will launch at, a rough calculation of the SM-G600F seen in the data above which is for Rs 6782 but launched for Rs. 9990. We can expect the Samsung Z2 to launch for Rs 4490 or in that region.

May 9, 2016
Samsung Has Surprisingly Sold One Million Units of Tizen Powered Z1 Since January 2015

It seems Samsung has not lost hope yet with Tizen. Z1, the company’s first phone to run on Tizen OS, got negative responses from critics and consumers alike. It seemed the low price of Rs. 5,000 wasn’t enough to save the phone from extinction. As we previously stated, the phone was barely unique and failed to find space for itself in the brutal smartphone marketplace. Still, Samsung never lost hope in its homegrown OS, also known as the company’s answer to Android One.

It seems Samsung’s faith in Tizen has paid off.

Today, Samsung India said that it has sold a record 1 million Tizen-powered Samsung Z1 smartphones since its launch in January 2015.

Asim Warsi, vice-president-marketing, Mobile and IT, Samsung India, said:

Our insights have shown that consumers hesitate to move beyond the familiar basic and simple interaction with their mobile devices. Keeping this in mind, Samsung Z1 features an easy to use UI that offers a smooth and fast experience to ensure a seamless migration to smartphones.

Samsung is reportedly developing Z2, the successor to Z1. The phone is speculated to feature a 4-inch WVGA display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 768 MB RAM, 4 GB inbuilt storage, and 1500 mAh battery. If the company plays its cards right, Z2 could strengthen the future for Tizen OS.

July 1, 2015
First Images of Samsung Z2 Running on Tizen

Samsung’s next Tizen OS-powered smartphone is yet to get an official announcement from the Korean electronics giant. But thanks to an online leaks, we now have an idea what Samsung will offer with its upcoming Tizen-based smartphone. A set of pictures are circulating online which are said to be of the upcoming Samsung Z2.

The leaked images of the tentatively titled Samsung Z2 give a hint of its design. The Z2 seems much like Samsung Galaxy S3 mini with identical display size and body (plastic frame and metal texture). The Tizen Store is also shown in the picture, which displays some of the popular downloads like Opera Mini, WhatsApp and more.

Past rumours suggest that the next Samsung device running company’s Tizen OS will feature a 32-bit quad-core CPU with 1GB of RAM and Tizen 3.0 UI. The device will sport a qHD (540×960) TFT-LCD display and will pack a 2000mAh battery.

The phone will be another entry-level offering with basic features. The company aims to make room for itself in the Android-ruled market. The smartphone will launch in more countries than just Bangladesh and India, which first saw the release of Samsung Z1. Samsung is expected to bring out the Z2 in the first half of 2015.

May 5, 2015
Samsung Z1 Successor Running on Tizen is Reportedly in Works

Clad in a plastic body and embedded with Tizen OS, Samsung Z1 was barely unique and failed to find a space for itself in the brutal smartphone marketplace. However, the Korean electronics giant seems to be standing firmly behind its operating system and is reportedly working on expanding its smartphone portfolio running on the Tizen OS.

As per Tizen Indonesia blog post, Samsung is working on the successor of Z1 that would run on the company’s Tizen OS. Rumour mills suggest that the iteration (temporarily titled Z2) would have a slightly higher display resolution of 540x960p which is a qHD display. The presently available Z1 features a 480×800 WVGA display.

Samsung claims most of the major apps are available on Tizen OS

Tizen OS was criticized for being an Android clone. In spite of the unfavorable reviews for Tizen based Z1, Samsung made a marginal profit by selling 100,000 units in India in just one month and sold 20,000 handsets in less than 30 days in Bangladesh. The reason may be the low-price device and the much hyped new operating system from a major company that led people to give it a try.

There are no more speculations about the Z2, but it will surely stand close in specs with the Z1 which has a 4-inch WVGA display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 768 MB RAM, 4 GB inbuilt storage, and 1500 mAh battery. Samsung can probably attract more audience if it adds some unique features instead of just emulating Android. The consumers have embraced new operating systems like the MIUI and Cyanogen for their varied appeal. Being Samsung, the company can afford to take a risk here as it desperately needs a popular device in the affordable segment of smartphones which is currently dominated by Indian and other Asian brands.

February 19, 2015
Samsung Following LG WebOS’ Footsteps to Make Tizen the Next Big Thing for TVs

LG’s WebOS inclusion in TVs brought out revolutionary products. It marked the beginning of the era of smart TVs. The WebOS was well received by the tech community, and the reason is it’s snappy, engaging and a simple operating system. It seems like Samsung has understood the popularity of the WebOS and is going the LG way.

Meanwhile, Tizen OS on TV is the mini version of WebOS. Just like WebOS, Samsung’s Tizen-based TVs feature a panel at the bottom of the screen that depicts apps. The LG’s WebOS is advanced and highlights the screen shot of the ongoing programme. The Smart Hub on Tizen OS allows for seamless navigation and throws recent apps on one screen. The content can be shared from the TV to different devices, enabling users to have a multi-screen integrated experience. It provides easy and seamless navigation across videos, games and the web. Whereas on WebOS, there’s a Launcher Bar to optimize the menu and everything is right in front of you. Through the Magic Motion remote control, users can point, click, and scroll your way through the interface.

At the Samsung Thailand Forum 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand

WebOS is the heart of the TV’s user interface and with Tizen entering the game, it will take some time to make a concrete ground for itself. Samsung is leaving no stone unturned and is embedding electronic equipments with the Tizen OS. The company has announced that all forthcoming smart TVs will pack its own OS. Samsung Z1 is already running on Tizen OS, and the Korean producer has confirmed to launch Tizen-powered electronic products like refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machine in the coming future.

We will see the Tizen OS on the new SCurve TV by Samsung. If Samsung does the significant alterations, it can draw a considerable audience to its Smart Tizen TV; becoming the second favorite OS after WebOS. Samsung is, presently, showcasing its newest innovations at the Samsung Forum 2015 in Bangkok.

February 16, 2015
Tizen-Powered Samsung Z1 Gets a Poor Response from the Indian Market

Samsung’s latest offering, the Tizen-powered Z1, was meant to be a ray of sunlight for the South Korean-based firm. The company expected to gain a foothold in the market by reaching maximum number of customers, subsequently boosting its declining market value. But things didn’t go as planned.

After its release on 14^th January, Samsung Z1 gained many responses, but almost all negative. The phone reviewers, as well as consumers, criticised its camera resolution and the dearth of applications for the device.

Samsung Z1 packs an ordinary set of specs, but what makes it stand out from the other available choices is the Samsung’s own operating system,Tizen, that has been developed to compete with Google’s Android.

For now, Tizen has a long way to go before it can battle with the already established contenders. The lack of apps turns out to be the biggest disappointment of the Tizen-powered smartphone.

Customers responded that it’s not the cheap smartphones they look for, but its the specifications that make the device. The South Korean electronics producer put its point forward saying that the Z1’s exclusive benefits are its simple interface, long battery life and faster page-loading speeds, which are all thanks to Tizen.

If Samsung puts an effort to expand its Tizen-based smartphone line-up beyond televisions and watches, they will get in touch with that segment of the Indian market which is still not accessible to smartphones. Meanwhile, the company hasn’t stated its plan to launch the Z1 in other countries. It says that its only focus, as of now, is India.

January 21, 2015
Hands On with the New Tizen-Based Samsung Z1

Android has taken over the market share and is widely available across multiple brands. Companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola and a lot of other companies have greatly benefitted from the Google’s open source operating system. But several electronic giants are attempting to come out of Android’s shadow and set up their own operating systems.

Samsung is attempting to break free from Android’s dominance with its homegrown Tizen OS. Samsung had already inducted Tizen in its Gear family of smartwatches and now they have launched the first phone based on the OS.

We got our hands briefly on the new Samsung Z1 which is the first phone based on the new operating system.

The Samsung Z1 totally looks like something that came out of Samsung’s stable. It has recognizable features including the physical button at the center. The phone has a metal-like casing that along with the polished back panel gives it a premium feel.

The Z1 is being marketed as a multimedia device and offers multitude of content through its tie-up with hungama.com and live tv options like BoxTv. But it comes with a 4-inch WVGA display that doesn’t feel adequate for a complete multimedia delight. The bit that is appreciated is the expandable storage option which is up to 64 GB; an amount great for multimedia hoarders.

Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI

Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI on Samsung’s Android devices. The only thing missing is the app drawer. The drop down menu too looks exactly the same as TouchWiz UI with similar setting options. It will be familiar interface for anyone switching from an Android device or upgrading from a feature phone into a smartphone.

Samsung claims most of the major apps are available on Tizen OS

The company has attempted to bring features from its higher end devices on Z1 like the ultra power saving mode, which up until now has been available on premium handsets like the Galaxy S5 and Note 4. It also offers 500 MB of free data plan with Reliance and Aircel for six months.

Overall, in the brief amount of time we spent with the device, we were excited to see Samsung trying to bring something new to its consumers. The device still falls short of competing with products like the Redmi 1S and the Moto E but is still a good effort. The company said that they will be refreshing their line-up of devices over the future and we would like to see where the new path leads Samsung.

January 14, 2015
Samsung to Bring its Tizen-Powered Device to India on 10th December

Samsung is under a lot of stress lately. The past couple of years haven’t been very friendly to the company’s business number. The consumer electronics giant has steadily lost market share in the smartphone game over the past few months. The company has decided to go back on the drawing board and recreate its next flagship from scratch. The company is also making a bet with a new operating system to create an alternative to the Android operating system.

The company is ready to launch a new Tizen OS powered device. It has already been using the OS on some of its wearables. Samsung says that this smartphone will be in the affordable range and come at a price of around Rs. 5000.

The phone will be called Z1. It was previously codenamed Kiran. According to Sammobile, Samsung will hold an event on the 10th of December to unveil the device.

The Operating system looks like Touchwiz on Android and doesn’t looks as inviting as other UI’s in the market.

According to the reports, the Z1 will have a 4 inch WVGA display with a resolution of 800x480p. The device will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Spreadtrum SC7727S processor along with a Mali-400 GPU and 512MB RAM. It will have a primary camera of 3.2 MP and have a VGA front camera.

You can find several Indian competitors at the price that Samsung is offering the new Z1. The specs are low for the device to take on any kind of multimedia. Although low-resolution videos and games may have a chance on the Z1.

Samsung has the capital and the backbone to beat companies like Xiaomi and Moto at their own game but somehow it refuses to do it. It is not sure as of yet as to how much support or apps are available for the Tizen ecosystem, and that should dissuade people further from adopting the new OS. It’s good that Samsung is attempting to provide alternatives in the times of the Android dominance, but it seriously need to bring devices that are aspirational at any price point. Tizen too looks like TouchWiz, which has become exceptionally boring in recent times. Samsung, if you want our money, you got to earn it.

December 2, 2014
Tizen-Based Samsung Smartphones Expected to Debut in India First

India is likely to be the first country that will see the launch of a new range of budget devices. Lately, Samsung featured its own in-house mobile operating system Tizen. According to reports, the South Korean manufacturer is expected to launch a smartphone within a month in India that runs on the Tizen OS.

Based on the Linux platform, Samsung is doing all that it can do to make their OS popular among consumers. The company launched the operating system with their wearable platform and did manage to get a positive response. Reports also suggest that the latest Tizen-based handset will be competing against the smartphones under Rs. 10,000. It is rumoured to have a 4-inch touchscreen, dual-SIM ability, a 3.2MP camera and 512 MB RAM with standard connectivity features. In terms of memory, it is rumored to have 4 GB of internal memory expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card.

Experts are quite skeptical over the launch of the new mobile operating system, as Android still rules the roost with almost 3/4th of the market share. The low cost Firefox OS phones did manage to do quite well, though primarily for their inexpensive pricing. India being a major playground for smartphone manufacturers, the ploy could turn the tide in favour of Samsung, who has reportedly lost five percent share from the last quarter.

The likes of Xiaomi and Huawei have captured a huge amount of market share after launching budget Android handsets. Recently, Google also announced its budget Android One devices for India. Will this strategy work out in Samsung’s favour, is something we have to wait and watch.

November 10, 2014