10 things you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 5 in NYC yesterday and there has already been a great deal of coverage of the handset. It is hard to beat getting hands-on with a phone but there are important factors that could sway you one way or the other when it comes to making a purchase.
Samsung has already produced an infographic pulling out what the company thinks are its highlights. To help you decide if the Galaxy Note 5 should be on your shopping list, here are ten things you need to know.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ pricing revealed
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ earlier today, there was a lot to take in -- but information about pricing was notable by its absence. As these are both flagship handsets, low prices were never going to be on the cards, but as the day has worn on, carriers have revealed how much you can expect to pay.
Pre-ordering starts today, so you don't have much (well... any) time to save up, but we now know how much the two handsets will cost from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Read on to see how much you'll have to part with.
Hands-on and first impressions with Samsung Pay, Galaxy Note 5, and S6 Edge+
Today was Samsung Unpacked in New York City, and I was there live. Hundreds of tech journalists made the pilgrimage to the Lincoln Center to learn about the company's newest smartphones.
Sadly, there was little magic in the building, as the devices were leaked well in advance. Ever see a movie trailer that gives too much of the movie away, and then you go to see the film, and you have already seen the best parts? Yeah it was like that. No surprises. Still, both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ seem to be wonderful new phones.
What's hot about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5? [Infographic]
With the launch of the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung is hoping to revitalize the mobile arena and reclaim its place as the handset manufacturer of choice. The latest addition to the Galaxy Note range feature much that's familiar, including Samsung's S Pen, but the overall specs have increased.
As an alternative to leafing through lists of hardware specs in dull lists, Samsung has produced an infographic highlighting everything it believes is great about the Galaxy Note 5. The company appears particularly pleased with the screen and camera, as these are singled out for special attention.
Samsung Pay launches in Korea in August, US in September
The main thrust of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event was to launch the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, but the company also provided some details about Samsung Pay. With so many similarly-specced smartphones vying for attention, each manufacturer needs to offer something slightly different, and Samsung is hoping that a new digital payment system will prove attractive to people.
Going head to head with Android Pay and Apple Pay is Samsung Pay. As well as offering compatibility with the newly announced Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, Samsung's payment system is supported by many of its older handsets. It will launch in its home country of Korea on August 20, and will spread to the US at the end of September. So why pick this payment system over the alternatives?
Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
At its Galaxy Unpacked event in NYC, Samsung today took the wraps off two of its most eagerly awaited handsets -- the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Just like Apple with the iPhone, Samsung's phone range is more about evolution than revolution -- but that's not to say there isn't quite a lot to get excited about.
Both devices include 4GB of RAM and as with previous generations, the Galaxy Note 5 features Samsung's S-Pen Stylus. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ boasts a larger screen than its predecessor but the Note 5's is the same size as before. So what else is new, and when can you get your hands on one?
Watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event here LIVE
Samsung is holding its annual Galaxy Unpacked event at New York’s Lincoln Center today, and we’ll be there to bring you hands-on reports following the presentation.
We’ll have to wait to see what’s unveiled, but it’s expected the South Korean tech giant will be announcing two new 5.7-inch smartphones -- the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge Plus -- and maybe a new smartwatch, the Gear A. If you can’t be at the event, don’t worry, you’ll be able to watch it right here live.
Will Stagefright force all mobile makers to release monthly security updates?
Stagefright took the Android world rather by surprise. As well as catching the industry with its pants down, it highlights a problem of mobile security: it's just not taken seriously enough. In response to the Stagefright vulnerability, both Samsung and Google announced new monthly security update cycles.
Not to be outdone, LG has now followed suit, and it would be surprising if we didn’t see more manufacturers of Android handsets doing exactly the same in the coming weeks. But in announcing its own monthly security update schedule, LG has highlighted another stumbling block for mobile security. Carriers.
Samsung and Google to release monthly OTA Android security updates
Google and Samsung announced today that they are taking steps to ensure the ongoing security of Android phones and tablets. Both companies said that over the air (OTA) updates will be released on a monthly basis with Google focusing on its range of Nexus devices.
Samsung made reference to the recent StageFright vulnerability in announcing that its Galaxy devices are in line for regular security updates. While Google will be pushing out OTA updates directly, Samsung is currently in talks with global carriers to ensure that updates can be delivered "about once per month".
Here is how Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus look
As you may well be aware, Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge Plus will be revealed at an Unpacked event next week, and given the close proximity of the launch, it’s not surprising to see images of the phones leaked.
Check them out above -- they were leaked by the ever resourceful Evan Blass (as spotted by The Verge). Both handsets look pretty much as expected, with the Galaxy S6 edge Plus not changing much as you would imagine, and the Galaxy Note 5 following much in its footsteps with the premium metal and glass design.
Samsung slashes Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge price by €100
Struggling to return strong profits, Samsung has slashed the retail price of its flagship smartphones -- the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge -- by €100. After the deduction, the revised cost of the 32GB variant Galaxy S6 is €599, whereas its Galaxy S6 Edge counterpart will slightly break the bank at €699. The smartphones were launched just four months ago.
For now, the price reduction only seems to be visible in Netherlands, but as Samsung pointed out earlier during its quarterly earnings call, it will be “adjusting the price" of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge everywhere. The company is also rumored to launch two new smartphones, namely the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5 in the coming days.
Samsung will focus on Galaxy S6 edge Plus instead of Note 5
Samsung is planning to unveil the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge Plus on the same day, August 13, but only one of the devices will reach the international market.
Instead of focusing efforts on the Galaxy Note 5, as Samsung has done in previous years, the Galaxy S6 edge Plus will be the primary device. The Galaxy Note 5 will only be in select markets, where the Galaxy Note series has performed strongly before.
5 features to expect from Samsung's Galaxy Note 5
If you’ve been following the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 leaks for a while, you might already be able to get a clear idea of what you should expect. We still think that there might be some changes to the exact details of the upcoming flagship, but reports suggest that the next Note device might be released as soon as next month.
So, to set our expectations and also be able to get some surprises from the smartphone giant, here are the five things that you (and we too) should expect from Samsung’s new Note device.
Samsung's SE370 monitor offers wireless phone charging
Your monitor can be so much more than just a device for displaying your desktop -- it can also supply power to other things. Extra ports on the back of a screen are nothing new, so the idea of using a monitor to charge your phone might not seem groundbreaking; but the Samsung SE370 can do it wirelessly.
The monitor is available in 23.6 inch and 27 inch models and features an integrated Qi wireless charging plate so compatible handsets can be charged without the need to fiddle with USB cables. In addition to space and time-saving features, Samsung has taken care to ensure that wireless charging is not the only reason to buy the monitor.
Samsung's Galaxy S6 is secure-enough for UK government
If you’re a government employee in the UK, looking for a device secure enough for you to use, you can go for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge.
The Communications and Electronics Security Group (CESG) has said that the duo of handsets meet the compliance standards for its Commercial Product Assurance requirements.
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