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Tag: Galaxy S

  • Samsung Galaxy S5 Will Likely Be Plastic

    Samsung Galaxy S5 Will Likely Be Plastic

    Rumors in recent weeks have excited Samsung smartphone fans with fantastic tales of a metal backing and chassis for Samsung’s next Galaxy S smartphone. Though fans can still hope they should prepare, however, for yet another hard plastic case similar to the Galaxy S III and Galaxy S4.

    A DigiTimes report today revealed that chassis manufacturers in Taiwan (those which almost certainly would create such components for Samsung) have not begun mass production on anything resembling a metal chassis for a Galaxy S5. The report’s unnamed sources stated that Samsung is “still evaluating” using a metal chassis for its high-end smartphones, but that it doesn’t appear to be ready to implement such a solution for its upcoming Galaxy S device, which is expected sometime during the first quarter 2014.

    The metal Galaxy S rumors, according to DigiTimes, had pointed to several manufacturers who could produce such components for Samsung, including Catcher Technology, Ju Teng International, and BYD.

    The report’s sources went on to state that it might actually be a bad idea for Samsung to make its high-end smartphone chassis metal. Production costs are a factor, of course, and would undoubtedly increase with metal components. However, the sources also pointed out that Samsung has managed to seriously challenge Apple’s high-end smartphone supremacy with its current Galaxy S designs, suggesting that consumers might not care that the devices have plastic shells.

    Instead of metal, the DigiTimes report states that Samsung is more likely to use plastic combined with carbon fiber or fiberglass for its smartphone chassis. This suggestion matches industry predictions that plastics will become more important to the overall mobile device industry as it matures.

  • First Galaxy S5 Rumor Appears: 16MP Camera

    First Galaxy S5 Rumor Appears: 16MP Camera

    It’s a given that Samsung will release the Galaxy S5 (or Galaxy S V, however they want to brand it) within the next year. The company’s Galaxy S III smartphone rocketed Samsung to being a real Apple competitor in the high-end smartphone space. The Galaxy S4 has kept up that momentum, which is edging out other high-end Android smartphone manufacturers, such as the floundering HTC. Next year’s presumed Galaxy S5 will carry on this legacy while Samsung positions its low- and mid-priced offerings in markets (China, Brazil, India) that are actually expected to see large growth in the coming years.

    Korean publication Electronic Times News today kicked off the Galaxy S5 rumor mill with a report on the device’s camera. The S5 will reportedly feature a 16 Megapixel camera when it launches. The image sensors for the camera are rumored to be manufactured by Sony. The S5 camera is also rumored to come with Optical Image Stabilization, which the report states was delayed from inclusion in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3.

    Samsung already offers a 16 megapixel camera smartphone, the Galaxy S4 Zoom. That device, however, has the camera as a focus of the device, with a larger lens and accompanying shape. Nokia last month also announced a camera-centric smartphone – the Lumia 1020. That device carries a large 41MP camera and comes with a suite of photography apps and features. Unlike these devices, the Galaxy S5’s rumored camera would, presumably, fit in a module designed to compliment the normal form-factor of Samsung’s flagship Android smartphone brand.

    (Image courtesy Samsung)

    (Electronic Times News via BGR)

  • Samsung Galaxy S4 to be Shown Off in Times Square

    Samsung Galaxy S4 to be Shown Off in Times Square

    Earlier this week, Samsung revealed that the unveiling of its next flagship Android smartphone will take place in New York City on March 14. The Korean company invited people to “come and meet the next galaxy,” implying that the event will be the unveiling of the Galaxy S IV, which has been rumored for some time.

    Today, Samsung has followed up on its announcement with another invitation. This time, the company is inviting people to come to Times Square on March 14. A new invitation, seen below, was posted to the Samsung Facebook page. The message “be ready 4 the next galaxy” isn’t too subtle in indicating that the Galaxy S IV is coming.

    People are invited to come to Times Square at 7 pm on March 14 to “experience Samsung’s new flagship smartphone at Times Square.” It’s unclear whether the actual devices will be shown off at the location (and, if so, whether people will be able to actually hold one or turn it on), or whether the Samsung announcement will simply be streamed live at the location.

    Everyone who isn’t a New Yorker, or who doesn’t want to stand out in the cold for a look at a smartphone that won’t be available for weeks, the Samsung presentation will be streamed live on the SamsungMobile YouTube channel.

    Samsung Invitation

  • Samsung Galaxy S4 2013: Announcement Coming March 14

    Samsung Galaxy S4 2013: Announcement Coming March 14

    Earlier this month is was rumored that Samsung would be unveiling its new flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S IV, on March 14 in New York City. It turns out this particular rumor was solid, as Samsung has now announced an event that will take place in New York on March 14.

    The event is called “Samsung Unpacked” and is labeled as “Episode 1” for 2013, implying that other “Episodes” could be scheduled for later this year. The event will begin at 7 pm EST and will be streaming live on the SamsungMobile YouTube channel.

    Samsung isn’t playing this cagey the way Sony did with its recent PlayStation 4 announcement, however. The invitation photo posted to Samsung’s Facebook page plainly invites people to “come and meet the next galaxy.” Also, the story first broke when Samsung’s J.K. Shin, head of mobile communications, reportedly stated that the Galaxy S IV would be the subject of a March 14 announcement.

    The Galaxy S IV is expected to be a big seller for Samsung, which last year began to dominate the high-end Android smartphone market. The device is rumored to have a 4.99-inch AMOLED display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a eight-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13 MP rear camera.

  • Samsung Galaxy SIV To Be Unveiled On March 14 [Rumor]

    Samsung Galaxy SIV To Be Unveiled On March 14 [Rumor]

    Much like the annual release of the iPhone, we can now count on an annual release for Samsung’s Galaxy S line. The latest model – presumably called the Galaxy S IV – will be unveiled sometime in March. The previous rumor said the date would be March 15, but a new rumor pegs it as one day before.

    SamMobile reports that the Galaxy S IV will be revealed to the world on March 14 in New York City. The news comes from Eldar Murtazin, founder of a large Russian telecom Web sites. His tips are reportedly solid so many are assuming that this is the date Samsung has planned for the big reveal.

    The Galaxy S IV, much like the iPhone 5S, has been the subject of many rumors and reports lately as people want all the information they can get on Samsung’s new flagship mobile device. The latest rumors say the device will feature a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED HD display with a 1920×1080 resolution, an Exynos 5 Octa CPU, a Mali-T678 GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 13 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front camera.

    So, when will you be able to get your hands on the newest Galaxy S? The latest rumors put the launch date at some point in April. There’s no word on how much it will cost, but I would assume it would be about the same as the Galaxy S III.

    Speaking of which, it’s probably safe to assume that the Galaxy S III will get a price drop around the time of the Galaxy S IV launch. That means Samsung’s current flagship device will become even more popular, which is kind of hard to believe after its already stellar success.

  • Samsung Galaxy S IV Announcement Coming March 15 [RUMOR]

    Samsung Galaxy S IV Announcement Coming March 15 [RUMOR]

    Though Samsung‘s flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, has been a huge success for the Korean manufacturer, the company isn’t about to let its dominance of the Android mobile market slip away.

    Rumors last year put the announcement of Samsung’s next Galaxy S phone as early as February or May. Today, the latest rumor puts a more specific date on the announcement.

    SamMobile is reporting that the announcement of the Galaxy S IV will come on March 15. The report cites an unnamed “trusted insider” as stating the new smartphone will go on sale sometime at the beginning of April. Europe and Asia are predicted to get the device first, with the U.S. having to wait for a May or June launch.

    Though the invitations for the announcement event are expected to go out this month after the Mobile World Congress conference, the location of the announcement is still secret, even from the anonymous source. Last year’s announcement of the Galaxy S III took place on May 3 in London.

    SamMobile is the same website that provided the supposedly leaked image of the Galaxy S IV back at the beginning of January. The device is rumored to have close to a five-inch screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.

    (via BGR)

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Top 40 Million

    Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Top 40 Million

    It’s official – the Galaxy S III is a real competitor to the iPhone. Samsung revealed this weekend that it has sold more than 40 million Galaxy S III smartphones. That’s as many units of the Galaxy S II that have sold in the nearly two years it has been available. The original Galaxy S only managed 24 million units sold. In total, the three Galaxy S smartphones Samsung has released have sold more than 100 million units.

    This news comes just as Apple is reportedly cutting orders for iPhone 5 components. Although the iPhone 5 was another a fast-selling record-breaker for the company, it appears that the anticipated demand for the device hasn’t materialized. The announcement has led to another drop in Apple’s stock price, which has been falling since the release of the latest iPhone.

    Samsung’s stock, on the other hand, has been steadily increasing since the release of the Galaxy S III. The Korean company’s latest announcement included the fact that average daily sales of their flagship Android smartphone are currently 190,000. Samsung has effectively taken over the high-end Android smartphone market, causing companies such as HTC to falter.

    Rumors are currently putting the release of the iPhone 5S (or whatever it will be called) and the Galaxy S IV will be released at the beginning of this summer. With the competition finally heating up, 2013 looks to be another transformative year for smartphone markets.

    (via BGR)

  • Samsung Galaxy S IV Image Leaked [RUMOR]

    Samsung Galaxy S IV Image Leaked [RUMOR]

    A purported image of Samsung’s next flagship Android smartphone appeared online today. Courtesy SamMobile, the above picture depicts a device that is similar to the Galaxy S III, but with a few notable alterations.

    SamMobile credits an “insider at Samsung” as the source of the pic, and admits there is no way to confirm it’s the real thing. Still, the design seems to be in keeping with recent Samsung offerings, such as the Galaxy Note II and the Galaxy Premier. It’s almost certain to be closer to the real Galaxy S IV than, say, some of the crazy iPhone 5 mock-ups that were created in the year before that smartphone’s release.

    One thing to note about the above picture is the thinner side bezels, at least when compared to the Galaxy S III. The Galaxy S IV is already rumored to have a 4.99″ screen and a 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. Other rumored specs include a quad-core Exynos processor and a 13 MP rear camera.

    Also noticeable about the leaked image is the lack of a physical home button. Google has been re-designing it’s Android operating system for use with devices that have no back, home, or menu buttons, and it appears Samsung may be leading the way with buttonless devices.

    Something that is certain, unlike the image, is that Samsung has teased a big announcement of “something new” at the Computer Electronics Show (CES) next week. It certainly could be the next Samsung smartphone, but it’s more likely that Samsung will create its own event for the debut of such a big product – sometime in February is the current rumor.

    (via BGR)

  • Galaxy S IV Could Have “Unbreakable” Screen

    Galaxy S IV Could Have “Unbreakable” Screen

    A Reuters report is fueling rumors that the next Galaxy phone from Samsung could have an “unbreakable” display. Rumors already predict the Galaxy S IV will have a larger display than the Galaxy S III, as well as a quad-core processor, 13 Megapixel camera, and better screen resolution.

    Reuters quotes a UBS analyst as stating Samsung will likely release the Galaxy S IV in the first half of 2013, and perhaps as soon as April. The analyst also believes that Samsung’s production of “unbreakable plastic substrate displays” has improved enough that they will be a feature of the new flagship smartphone. Samsung’s best smartphones are already quite resilient, thanks to the arduous tests the manufacturer uses to vet its handsets.

    There are also rumors that Samsung will deploy flexible or foldable screens by 2014. Samsung has invested heavily in OLED displays, which use plastics instead of glass. As far back as the Consumer Electronics Show in 2011, Samsung has been able to demonstrate AMOLED screens that are flexible. One year ago, Samsung had announced plans to release phones with flexible displays “as early as 2012.” The Korean tech company isn’t likely to release any new, unannounced phones in December, so the analyst prediction for the Galaxy S IV seem to be a safe one.

    Apple’s successor to the iPhone 5, rumored to be the iPhone 5S, has also been predicted to have a mid-2013 launch window. Earlier this year rumors also surfaced that Apple was looking into purchasing flexible OLED screens from Samsung.

  • Samsung Galaxy S IV Could Be Out By May 2013

    Samsung Galaxy S IV Could Be Out By May 2013

    Mobile technology is moving at breakneck speeds. The Galaxy S III that you just bought for a family member this holiday season will be obsolete by May of next year if rumors are to be believed.

    GSM Nation reports that sources close to Samsung say that the company will announce the newest Galaxy smartphone in April, and launch in May. That would put it one year after the launch of the Galaxy S III and a months before the rumored launch of the iPhone 6.

    We may know a potential release date, but will the Galaxy S IV improve greatly upon the already great Galaxy S III? According to rumors, the S IV will be similar in design to the S III, but feature more powerful specs and a larger screen.

    The current rumors suggest that the Galaxy S IV will sport a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080. GSM Nation notes that this would put it above the iPhone 5’s current retina display resolution of 640×1136.

    Such a large display will require quite a bit of power, and the S IV will reportedly have that and then some. The rumors suggest that Samsung will be utilizing its own Exynos 5450 quad-core CPU. It will be clocked at 2.0GHz for a sizable jump over the Galaxy S III’s 1.4GHz quad-core CPU.

    The final rumor suggests that the Galaxy S IV will be equipped with a 13MP camera. It will be a noticeable improvement over the 8MP camera in the S III.

    As expected, Samsung isn’t saying anything just yet. The company is most likely going to use CES or Mobile World Congress as a platform to hint at the device with an official reveal coming a few months later.

  • Apple Requests Samsung Product Bans Following Verdict

    Apple is wasting no time taking advantage of its big court victory against Samsung last week. Having read through the verdict, Apple has now released a list of 8 Samsung devices it says it wants banned from being sold in the U.S. Bloomberg is reporting that a court filing by Apple requests that Judge Lucy Koh, who oversaw the Apple vs. Samsung trial, to ban the following devices:

    • Galaxy S II 4G
    • Galaxy S II (AT&T)
    • Galaxy S II (T-Mobile)
    • Galaxy S II Epic 4G (Sprint)
    • Galaxy S II Skyrocket
    • Galaxy S Showcase
    • Droid Charge
    • Galaxy Prevail

    While some of these devices would be hard to find on U.S. store shelves anyway, the Galaxy S II has been among Samsung’s best-selling smartphones. A ban on the Galaxy S II could be costly for the company. An injunction hearing on September 20th will be held to determine which products, if any, should be banned.

    The verdict had a predictable effect on both Apple and Samsung’s stock prices, sending Samsung’s market value plummeting. News of actual product bans, not just the fear of bans by investors, would no doubt harm Samsung’s stock prices even more. Still, the entire endeavor may end up having been worth it for Samsung, which over the past year has begun to consolidate the Android smartphone market and is now is a real position to compete with Apple.

    Since the jury in last week’s trial returned a verdict of $1.049 billion against Samsung for violating Apple patents, both companies have issued their take on the verdict. Apple has declared itself a victim of its own brilliant design and innovation, while Samsung has lamented the state of U.S. patent law and the stifling of competition they believe the verdict represents. Meanwhile, Google has been rather dismissive with regard to the case, stating that the verdict doesn’t affect its core Android operating system, and that some of the Apple patents are being re-examined by the U.S. Patent Office anyway.

  • Samsung Hits Success With Its Galaxy Note and S Devices

    Apple is really good at what they do. Just looking at sales numbers for the iPad and iPhone prove that. You know who else is really good at what they do? Samsung, with its Galaxy Note and S devices, has been on a roll lately.

    That roll ended up with Samsung selling 7 million Galaxy Note devices worldwide since the device’s introduction. I was one of those skeptics who didn’t think a phone/tablet hybrid could do well on the market. Samsung has proven me wrong and their success could be what’s driving Apple to create the rumored mini-iPad.

    The Galaxy Note may be doing well, but it’s nowhere near the success that the company has seen with its Galaxy S line of phones. The Galaxy S has now reached 24 million in worldwide sales. Despite being released after, the Galaxy S II has now reached 28 million in worldwide sales. Samsung also pointed out that it sold eight million Galaxy S II and two million Galaxy S devices since last February.

    So, what’s next for Samsung? The Galaxy S III, of course, which has already launched across Europe. Over nine million pre-orders have been taken for the device as well so it’s pretty obvious that Samsung has another hit on their hands.

    The Galaxy series sales news must have Samsung patting themselves on the back and for good reason. The company is moving on up and becoming one of, if not the most, important players in the Android scene. Google’s acquisition of Motorola may put a little dent in their plans as Motorola starts to roll out specially designed Android phones straight from Google.

    Samsung may not have the advantage from a software standpoint, but they obviously know what they’re doing when it comes to hardware. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the most important thing. Android is so flexible that you can change the software if it bothers you that much. You can’t change the hardware of your phone yet. That’s where Samsung needs to apply itself to gain the advantage.

  • Google Wallet On Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S (AT&T), According to Reports

    Google Wallet On Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S (AT&T), According to Reports

    Several reports have come out indicating that AT&T has quietly begun allowing users of the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S NFC-enabled smartphones to download Google Wallet.

    Slashgear reports that the download requires that an AT&T SIM be loaded into the phone.

    Google has made it clear in the past that it has big plans for Google Wallet, so any blocking by carriers is a huge pain in the butt for the company. For one, Google has already rolled Google Checkout into Google Wallet. It’s also an important product to the expansion of Google Offers, the company’s Groupon clone, which continues to frequently launch in new markets. This could turn into a significant provider of revenue for the company.

    Verizon had blocked Google Wallet on the Galaxy Nexus, though they didn’t like to use the word “blocking”. Verizon put out a statement that said:

    Recent reports that Verizon is blocking Google Wallet on our devices are false. Verizon does not block applications.

    Google Wallet is different from other widely-available m-commerce services. Google Wallet does not simply access the operating system and basic hardware of our phones like thousands of other applications. Instead, in order to work as architected by Google, Google Wallet needs to be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones.

    We are continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue.

    Still, there has been healthy skepticism about that explanation, given Verizon’s investor role in ISIS, a competing payment service, which AT&T and T-Mobile also invest in.

    Since then, hacks have been revealed to get Google Wallet on Verizon, but nothing official.

    In fact, while the app has reportedly appeared in the Android Market on AT&T, there hasn’t been any official acknowledgement of this by either Google or AT&T, interestingly.

  • iPhone 5 To Get A Liquipel Waterproof Coating (Rumor)

    One of the most interesting entries in this year’s CES conference was Liquipel. This remarkable technology promises to make your gadgets completely waterproof. Now it looks like some upcoming smartphones may have Liquipel technology right out of the box.

    According to a rumor published by Today’s iPhone, Apple’s next iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S III will ship with a Liquipel coating. The report comes from a source inside a British independent phone retailer. Apparently insurance policies relating to the two phones are being changes to alter how they handle water damage, the leading cause of insurance claims on mobile devices.

    While this is a rumor and deserves its fair share of skepticism, this is exactly the kind of thing Apple likes to do with its products. When the iPhone 3GS launched, Apple made much of the oleophobic coating on the device’s screen. A waterproof coating like Liquipel (or HzO’s Waterblock technology) would be a relatively small change that Apple could turn into a major selling point. What’s more, it would be fantastic news for the 75% of us who take our phones with us to the toilet.

    While there are no devices that currently ship with a Liquipel coating, getting your device treated is a fairly simple process, provided you can stand to be separated from your phone for a couple days. For $59.99 Liquipel will treat an iPhone 4S within 1-2 days of receiving the device. For an extra $10, they will treat it within 2 hours.

    Here’s a video of Liquipel in action.

    What do you think? Would a waterproof coating be a strong selling point for Apple’s next iPhone? Sound off in the comments.