Samsung dominates smartphone market, squashes Apple and other makers
There is a very good reason as to why some people easily dismiss any report on the state of the smartphone, tablet or phone market. Research companies often get their forecasts wrong, and just as often adjust the numbers to reflect any significant change in shipments or sales. Credibility is gained over a long period of time, through spot-on analysis and research, but is easily lost after a questionable report.
Truth be told, predicting the future is a fool's errand. Those who rely on forecasts in order to make their case are just as likely to withdraw their bold remarks once the quarterly or yearly reports arrive. The credibility issue grows bigger when two research companies, namely IDC and Strategy Analytics, cannot agree on counting smartphone shipments, in a single quarter.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 -- champagne tablet experience at beer price
Last month, I sold my Nexus 7 and declared that I didn’t miss it. At first, the declaration was true. However, as time marched on, I began to long for a tablet. When lying in bed, I tried using my Chromebook but it just wasn’t comfortable. And so, I began to search for a new tablet.
I considered the iPad (full size and mini), Android tablets, and even the Surface RT; I was open to anything. However, as my research continued, I decided to stick with Android. I like iOS and Windows RT but I have too much money invested in the Android ecosystem. I really liked the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 but was turned off to the high price tag ($399.99). Luckily, Samsung has released a tablet that is similar to the Note 8.0 but for $100 less -- The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0.
Samsung Galaxy S4 bests Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 in battery life tests
With an increasing focus towards beefier hardware -- faster processors, more RAM, larger and higher-resolution screens -- it's easy to lose sight of an important part in having an enjoyable smartphone experience -- battery life. The sheer performance has significantly increased over time due to a drastic technological advancement in chip making, but batteries are mostly the same now as they were a couple of years ago (only bigger).
It's no surprise then that smartphones quickly run out of puff after a mere couple of hours of intense use. So what if you want a top-of-the-line handset that is also an excellent battery life performer? Well, according to Which.co.uk, you should get a Samsung Galaxy S4 and look past the Apple iPhone 5 or Nokia Lumia 920.
Samsung acquires Boxee
In 2008, Boxee started out with just an app. In those early days it could be used on computers and Apple TV, but soon the company launched its own set-top box. That endeavor was lost in the noise of competitors like Roku and Google TV, but now the little media-oriented Boxee may have found a new road and its savior from oblivion.
News breaks that Samsung, the electronics maker behind the Galaxy lineup of Android devices and many popular smart TV's and other devices, snapped up Boxee. Since there is no official announcement made by either party, I reached out to Samsung for a statement.
Sprint gets its first Windows Phone 8 devices -- HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo
On Wednesday, US mobile operator Sprint announced that the new HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo will be the first Windows Phone 8 devices to join its portfolio. The two handsets arrive this summer in Sprint's online and brick and mortar stores.
"We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo", says Sprint's Fared Adib. "Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today". On a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the 8XT and the ATIV S Neo will be available for $99.99 and $149.99, respectively.
Samsung announces a faster flagship -- Galaxy S4 LTE-A
The Galaxy S4 LTE-A is the flagship Samsung should have launched instead of the Galaxy S4. The handset, which was unveiled earlier today, is the least compromising and most powerful entry in the maker's high-end Android lineup.
Samsung touts the Galaxy S4 LTE-A as "the world’s first commercially available LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) smartphone". That's a rather bold claim, considering the pretty vague release date -- "this summer". The South Korean maker does not provide exact numbers, but says that the cellular technology offers "double today's LTE speeds" (which, on the Galaxy S4, are 100 Mbps for download and 50 Mbps for upload).
Samsung launches ATIV Beam for NFC file sharing between its Android and Windows Phone lineups
Despite the fact that both operating systems support Near Field Communication (also known as NFC), users cannot transfer files between Android and Windows Phone devices. The implementation is different on the two platforms, with manufacturers complicating things further by employing branded software to handle any interaction. I've learned this the hard way after trying to move files between the Google Galaxy Nexus and the HTC Windows Phone 8X.
Android and Windows Phone device maker Samsung wants to bridge the NFC gap between the two platforms with ATIV Beam, a new app launched on the tiled smartphone operating system. The software allows ATIV Odyssey and ATIV S users to share files with Android-based Galaxy devices.
Samsung announces new Galaxy NX Android camera
Android continues to slowly insinuate itself into the camera market, from whence it began -- it is a slow process, but the phones started that way as well, so look out. The latest announcement is a new Galaxy NX camera that pushes this to the next level from the past version of this experiment.
The Galaxy NX sports a 3G/4G LTE connection along with WiFi, as well as an array of interchangeable lenses. The 20.3MP APS-C Sensor produces images which Samsung claims are bright and detailed, even in low light conditions, while the DRIMe IV Image Signal Processer delivers the speed and accuracy which today's photographers are looking for. In addition, Samsung touts an Advanced Hybrid Auto Focus (AF) System which ensures accurate phase and contrast detection for your shots and a 1/6000 sec shutter speed and 8.6fps shooting that lets you capture the action as it’s happening.
AT&T to offer Galaxy Note 8.0 for $199.99 with Samsung smartphone bundle
Almost four months after Samsung unveiled the 8-inch device, late-yesterday, AT&T announced that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will finally be available this Friday through its online and brick and mortar stores. At the US mobile operator, the tablet runs for $399.99 on a two-year agreement.
On a two-year contract, for the same $399.99, AT&T subscribers can also get an ASUS VivoTab RT (which runs Windows RT) or a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Similarly, the 16 GB Apple iPad Mini with cellular connectivity runs for $359.99, which is $40 less than what the carrier charges for the Galaxy Note 8.0.
Samsung unveils the Galaxy S4 zoom -- Android smartphone meets huge camera
If you thought the Galaxy S4 lineup could not grow any bigger you would be wrong. South Korean manufacturer Samsung announced, on Wednesday, the fourth member in its upscale smartphone family -- the Galaxy S4 zoom. The handset differentiates itself from the pack by offering a whopping 16 MP back-facing camera with 10x optical zoom. Yes, it's rather large and heavy because of it.
"As communication continues to become increasingly visual in nature, people wish to capture and share their moments in the highest quality possible, but often do not have the space or inclination to carry a dedicated camera for this purpose", says Samsung CEO JK Shin. "The Galaxy S4 zoom changes this forever, combining the industry leading functionality and connectivity of the Galaxy S4 with the high quality photographic experience you’d expect from a compact camera. The result is truly the best of both worlds, without compromise". Surely, the "without compromise" part sounds too good to be true.
Nokia dominates the Windows Phone market, leaves little room to HTC and Samsung
Today, cross-promotion network AdDuplex sent me its latest Windows Phone report for June 2013 which, once again, places the Nokia Lumia 920 as the most popular device running Microsoft's tiled mobile operating system. The handset accounts for 12 percent of all Windows Phones, followed by the Lumia 710 and the Lumia 800 with 11.6 percent and 10.6 percent share, respectively.
According to the report, the Finnish maker is behind nine of the 10 most popular Windows Phones. The only non-Lumia entry in the top is HTC's Windows Phone 8X which takes the ninth place. The most noteworthy changes in the rankings comes from the Lumia 520 and the Lumia 620, which have managed to surpass older Nokia-branded Windows Phone to take the fourth and the fifth place, respectively.
Samsung unveils the rugged Galaxy S4 Active
Following the Galaxy S4 Mini, on Wednesday, South Korean manufacturer Samsung introduced a new smartphone in its high-end Android lineup. Called the Galaxy S4 Active, the handset sports similar hardware specifications to the company's current green droid flagship -- the Galaxy S4 -- but in a more rugged packaging.
"The Galaxy S4 Active is the newest addition to the Galaxy series and is purposefully designed for active users who love the outdoors", says Samsung CEO JK Shin. "Samsung has taken the innovative features of the Galaxy S4 and added breakthrough protective design elements to create a device that thrives in an active environment and is built for a lifestyle of travel and exploration".
Samsung reveals two new Galaxy Tab fondleslabs running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
South Korean manufacturer Samsung unveiled, on Monday, two new tablets as part of its Galaxy Tab 3 lineup. The fondleslabs, available in 8-inch and 10.1-inch display trim, run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and feature mid-range to low-end hardware specifications.
Despite touting them as offering an "exceptional reading and entertainment experience", both the 8-inch and the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 tablets come with TFT displays sporting a resolution of 1280 by 800 (the ppi -- pixels per inch -- density is 189 and 149, respectively). That's on par with other 8-inch devices like the Galaxy Note 8.0 but significantly behind 10.1-inchers like the Google Nexus 10 (2560 by 1600 resolution and 300 ppi).
Microsoft hits a new low, compares Samsung Galaxy S4 to Nokia Lumia 521
Microsoft's marketing lacks consistency. The software giant goes on from releasing some of the most memorable smartphone commercials to ridiculing itself through pathetic ads. In a new low, Microsoft's Windows Phone evangelist Ben Rudolph decides that "How much tech gear can you get for the price of a Galaxy S4?" is a (fair) question which should be answered with: a Nokia Lumia 521 and a bunch of other things.
The first problem is that this question is not addressed to a broad range of potential Galaxy S4 buyers, but rather US residents looking to purchase Samsung's Android flagship. I'm going to call it for what it is -- deceptive. Ben Rudolph kicks off with the local price of the device at BestBuy, where the retailer asks $749.99, even though it can be had for roughly $100 less through Amazon, where it's listed at about $650.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is a sheep in wolf's clothing
On Thursday, South Korean manufacturer Samsung announced a new smartphone part of its upscale Android lineup, called Galaxy S4 Mini. The handset is marketed as a smaller variant of the company's current green droid flagship, the Galaxy S4, but don't expect any of the latter's bells and whistles.
The Galaxy S4 Mini is shorter, narrower, thinner and lighter than its predecessor, the modest Galaxy S III Mini. However, it can easily be compared to the Galaxy S II (the company's older Android flagship) rather than newer halo devices when it comes to hardware specifications. It's a sheep in wolf's clothing and not the other way around.
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