Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Motorola's new Moto G, Asus ZenWatch the biggest launches this week

It was one of the most exciting weeks in technology this year and here are the key highlights.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Edge, Gear VR, Gear S: Samsung, at the consumer electronics fair IFA 2014 in Berlin, unveiled four new devices - the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Gear VR, and the Gear S smartwatch. The Galaxy Note 4, which has a 5.7-inch screen, is the successor to the company's Note 3 phablet, while the 5.6-inch Galaxy Note Edge comes with a first-of-its-kind display. The Edge's main screen remains flat, while the right edge extends and curves until it reaches the back. The Edge is notable in having a side display for quick access to the flashlight, Twitter, news and frequently used apps.

The Gear VR virtual reality headset was launched as a companion to the Note 4. It won't work with the Edge or other phones. The headset, into which the Note 4 can be docked, has four visual settings that simulate experiences such as sitting in a theater or being on stage. The VR was developed with Oculus, which Facebook bought this year.

Samsung's new Gear S, the company's fourth major smartwatch in a year, comes with 3G cellular connectivity so that it can receive notifications directly from social networks, calendars and other apps. It does not need a companion phone.

2. Motorola Moto G, Moto X, Moto 360: Motorola launched the successors to its successful budget Moto G and mid-range Moto X smartphones. The new Moto G is available (via Flipkart) in India at Rs 12,999, while the new Moto X will go on sale in India in the last week of September. Compared to the old Moto G, the new Moto G comes with a larger display, enhanced cameras, better speakers, microSD card support for additional storage - all at Rs 1000 less than the predecessor.

The company also announced the launch of its Android Wear Moto 360 smartwatch. It will also be available in India later this year.

3. Microsoft's new Nokia Lumia phones: Microsoft unveiled its new range of Lumia smartphones - its new "affordable flagship" Lumia 830 phone, Lumia 730, and the Lumia 735 - at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. The Lumia 830 is the thinnes, lightest Lumia smartphone yet. The company plans to launch the new Lumia 830 in India by October. It will be priced around Rs 26,000.

The company also introduced a five megapixel, front-facing camera phone called the Lumia 735 which has been dubbed the 'selfie-phone'. The Lumia 730 has same specifications as the Lumia 735 except that the Lumia 735 includes 4G and built-in wireless charging.

4. LG G Watch R: With the aim to take on Motorola's Moto 360 smartwatch, LG introduced its circular smartwatch at the IFA trade show in Berlin. The LG G Watch R is designed to run for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. It is encased in a durable stainless steel frame and has an interchangeable 22mm leather strap.

5. Asus ZenWatch: Taiwanese manufacturer Asus showcased its ZenWatch wearable device at IFA 2014. The smartwatch can be paired with newer Android phones to display information and monitor the wearer's activity. The watch can be used to find a phone, something Samsung has done with some of its watches - as long as the phone is also from Samsung.

6. Sony's smartphones and wearables: Sony unveiled three devices with its signature waterproof capabilities - the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3 smartphone, the 4.6-inch Xperia Z3 Compact and the 8-inch Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Sony also unveiled a cheaper, 4.5-inch phone, the Xperia E3, without waterproof capabilities. The company also launched new wearables - its new SmartBand fitness device and SmartWatch 3. Unlike its predecessor, the new fitness band has a small display so you can see the status of various activities.

Sony's SmartWatch 3 has GPS capabilities built in, allowing for more accurate tracking of outdoor fitness activities.

7. Celebrities nude photos leak: Nude photos purportedly showing many top stars took the Internet by storm. Word of the images began spreading early this week and multiple reports suggested that the photos had been obtained by hacking into iCloud accounts. Apple later acknowledged the security breakdown and blamed it on intruders who were able to figure out usernames and passwords and bypass other safeguards. The company said it found no evidence of a widespread problem in its iCloud or Find my iPhone services.

8. Twitpic's closure: The photo-sharing service Twitpic announced its closure, saying it faced an ultimatum from Twitter to abandon its trademark or lose access to the messaging service. Twitpic founder Noah Everett said the demand from Twitter came as a surprise, and that he had no option other than to end the service. Launched in 2008, Twitpic allowed users to post photographs on the messaging platform before Twitter adding its own photo-sharing option in 2011.

9. Xiaomi Redmi 1S: After the successful launch of the Xiaomi Mi 3, Xiaomi introduced its second smartphone in India - the Redmi 1S. It is the first phone of Xiaomi's Redmi family that has been made available in India. This dual SIM phone with a 4.7-inch display is the cheapest smartphone from Xiaomi.

Old wine in new bottle: Samsung Galaxy S Duos 3 hits India for Rs 8,150

Samsung has finally revealed the Galaxy S Duos 3, which has been in news for couple of days. The device has been listed on Samsung India's website for Rs 8,150 and is available in grey and white colours.

The Samsung Galaxy S Duos 3 comes with a 4 inch touchscreen with 800x480 pixels resolution. It measures 121.4 X 62.9 X 10.8 mm and weighs 124 grams. The Galaxy S Duos 3 has a 1 GHz dual core processor, which is supported by 512 MB RAM. Thankfully, it runs on the latest Android 4.4.2 aka KitKat operating system.

The Samsung Galaxy S Duos 3 has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera. It has 4 GB of internal storage and, though it has not been mentioned in the product page, it should have a micro SD card slot for 64 GB card (or atleast 32 GB). This dual SIM smartphone comes with WiFi, micro USB 2.0 port, and an LED flash in the rear.

Needless to say, the phone does not look impressive on paper considering devices like Motorola Moto E, Asus Zenfone 4, and the recent blockbuster – the Redmi 1S.

Samsung launches Android-powered printers, with a 10.1″ screen that connects you directly to the Web

Android has long transcended its smartphone roots, but Samsung is now taking the Google-led operating system to the printing realm, with what it’s calling the world’s first Android-powered printer.

Straight out of left-field, this news falls hot on the heels of the Korean technology giant launching its first tablet for enterprises earlier today, and a virtual reality headset yesterday, so it’s been a busy and diverse week for the company.

The internet on your printer

The new multi-function printer (MFP) models were introduced at IFA in Berlin, and are aimed squarely at the business fraternity. As you can see from this close-up of the printer’s control panel, it very much has the familiar Android look and feel, though with options specific to printing – including ‘Scan & Send’ and ‘Job Status’.

Curiously, the Samsung Smart MultiXpress series feature a 10.1-inch full touchscreen panel that lets you connect directly to the Web, meaning you can access maps, emails, and pretty much any online content without the need for a PC.

There are ten new MFP models, across four separate categories. These are:

• X4300 series of A3 Color MFPs: The X4300 series of A3 color MFPs consist of X4300LX, X4250LX, and X4220RX models with an output speed of 30, 25, and 22 pages per minutes (ppm) respectively. X4300 series are equipped with Dual-Scan ADF technology, enabling them to scan up to 100 double-sided images per minute (ipm) for color and up to 120 double-sided ipm for mono. All models are equipped with Samsung’s Rendering Engine for Clean Page (ReCP) technology and Polymerized Toner, proving sharp, vivid, glossy professional color quality. The X4300LX model MFPs have a print capacity of up to 85,000 pages per month, with 23,000 pages for black and white toner and 100,000 pages for drum.

• K4350 series of A3 Monochrome MFPs: The K4350 series of A3 Monochrome MFPs consist of K4350LX, K4300LX, and K4250RX models with an output speed of 35, 30, and 25 ppm respectively. The K4350 series MFPs are equipped with Dual-Scan ADF technology, enabling them to scan up to 100 double-sided ipm for color and up to 120 double-sided ipm for mono. The K4350LX model MFP has a print capacity of up to 85,000 pages per month with 35,000 pages for toner. Drum has an output of 200,000 pages.

• M5370 series of A4 Monochrome MFPs: The M5370 series of A4 Monochrome MFPs consist of M5370LX and M4370LX models with an output speed of 53 and 43 ppm respectively. The M5370 series MFPs are equipped with Dual-Scan ADF technology, enabling them to scan up to 80 double-sided ipm. The M5370 series MFPs can print up to 300,000 pages per month with 30,000 pages for toner. Drum has an output of 100,000 pages.

• M4580 series of A4 Monochrome MFPs: The M4580 series of A4 Monochrome MFPs consist of M4580FX and M4583FX models with an output speed of 45 ppm. M4580FX is sold through the OA channel and M4583FX is sold with the IT channel. The M4580 series MFPs are equipped with Dual-Scan ADF technology, enabling them to scan up to 60 double-sided ipm. The M4580 series MFP can print up to 200,000 pages per month and 40,000 pages for toner. Drum has an output of 100,000 pages.

So…what do these badboys look like? Have a gander for yourself.

India's smartphone wars: Google's Android One adds to Samsung's worries

Google Inc's (GOOGL.O) partnership with three Indian phone makers is set to rev up fast-growing demand for lower priced smartphones, and spell more trouble for Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) which is rapidly losing share in emerging markets.

Micromax Infomatics Ltd, Karbonn Mobiles and Spice Group are the first phone manufacturers to sign up for Google's Android One initiative, which provides specifications for key hardware parts. Some of the new phones are due to hit the market this month.

The aim is a vast improvement in quality that would lead to a surge in demand for low-end Android phones. Currently many cheap emerging market smartphones run different and somewhat customised versions of the Android operating system, which along with the many variations in hardware make apps on those phones prone to glitches.

While Google plans to push Android One globally, India, the world's third-biggest and fastest growing smartphone market, offers fertile ground for immediate results. Many Indians are buying a smartphone for the first time and a strong reception for Android One could promote common standards and consolidation in a market where more than 80 smartphone companies operate.

But any boom for higher-quality low-cost smartphones in India and other price conscious markets has the potential to exert intense pricing pressure on Samsung. The South Korean firm uses a customised version of the Android operating system but focuses on higher-margin offerings like its Galaxy S series.

"A major threat for Samsung is that Android One will accelerate the race to the bottom on smartphone pricing," said Neil Mawston, a UK-based analyst at Strategy Analytics.

"Android One now makes Google a foe, not just a friend, for Samsung."

A major strategy rethink for low to mid-tier products is now in order for the world's biggest phone maker and top seller in India, analysts say, particularly as Samsung is also losing share to Apple Inc (AAPL.O) at the higher-end.

GAINS FOR GOOGLE

For Google, a strong uptake of Android One smartphones should increase access to the Internet and Google's suite of products.

Analysts and industry sources also note the potential for Google to expand revenue in ways more favorable to itself than in the past, as Android One phones won't come with the heavy customisation that Samsung and other phone makers using the Android operating system provide.

That will mean more default settings for Google products and less competition from rival search engines and other app stores.

For the Indian phone manufacturers, they are banking on Android One to be the weapon that helps them grab further share as well as providing a launch pad for more exports.

Karbonn hopes the programme will expand its overseas revenue to near 20 percent in the next two years, from 5-7 percent now. It is looking to export to markets such as Europe, South Africa and Russia, Chairman Sudhir Hasija told Reuters.

'India is leading the fray globally for Samsung in software innovation in education'

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday announced the launch of its android-based education application under its Media Solutions Centre (MSC) division, as the company takes a shot at the e-learning market estimated at Rs 18.41 trillion. According to a Ken Research Report, the e-learning market - which includes the use of electronic media and all information and communication devices/technologies in education - is set to grow at a compounded annual rate of more than 17 per cent until 2018. Tarun Malik, Director - MSC for South-West Asia at Samsung Electronics, speaks to Shamni Pande about the $216.7-billion electronics giant's new initiative. Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Does the launch of the education application signal a strategic shift for Samsung?

A. Yes, it does. With the launch of our education application, we are initiating a big push in the software innovation space. If you look at the education space then we are looking at potentially 30 million school-going students in India, who we believe, are underserved in some ways. Of course, if you look at the entire universe of students, which includes special education, test-preparation and higher education, then this number is about 200 million.
We will initially focus on the K-12 segment and we are going to offer CBSE curriculum in an interactive manner for students. Down the line, we will also offer ICSE curriculum along with other boards. With this we hope to not only take position in the education/e-learning space, but also in software innovation for the first time. We are also partnering with Aakash Institute to offer test-preparation through their flagship iTutor product. We will not just offer learning, but also assessment content for class 8 up to class 10 as well as medical and engineering entrance exams.

Q. Will it challenge the position of established e-learning players, particularly those dealing in smart-class?
A. It does take us into the e-learning territory. However, we are not challenging others, but merely have worked on our capability sets to fill the existing gaps in the education system. Many players went to sell PC-based learning system to schools, which failed. Today, people like personal devices. Also, we identified some other areas where the learning will be aided by PDFs and simulation videos and even be delivered in 3D through our Smart TVs. There are many players, but none that has gone the whole nine yards to stitch it all up together. Besides, we do have leadership in tablets and Smart TV, so this launch is also focused on our devices. This means that people can buy our android-based app on Samsung Playstore.
Initially, we may just offer it as a promotional add-on with our devices, but we will be selling it. The entire curriculum for each class will cost about Rs 2,000 for one year. However, this price in not fixed and will vary according to the grade. Samsung 's Smart Learning app can be accessed anytime, anywhere with online and offline access points as it is cloud-based service. In short, we are very bullish about this space.
Q. Are you speaking to schools and the government and others for possible partnerships?

A. Yes, we have initiated talks, but we have no announcements to make yet. We initiatlly hope to increase our spread and will launch this commercially on Teachers' Day. About 7,000 stores in India have been equipped to sell education content on Samsung Galaxy Tab, which will be extended to 10,000 stores.
Q. What are the other spaces you are looking at?

A. This is just the beginning, you will hear of many new announcements in the software innovation space from us. There is a whole new team in the MSC that is mandated to come up with innovative applications in different spaces. Of course, they involve our devices. But the India market is leading the fray, globally for Samsung, in software innovation in education. Gradually, we will offer this in other Southeast Asian countries as well. 

Google Can Kill Samsung with Android KitKat and Android One: Here's How

Google's operating system, Android KitKat and the Android One Initiative, signify yet another bad news for Korean Electronics Giant, Samsung.  Emerging markets like India and the Philippines, which are both very populated countries, are switching from feature phones to smartphones. People find it exciting to get the upgrades at cheaper costs.



Although, Google's latest upgrade with its Android Kitkat 4.4 does not impress anybody with more innovative designs and state of the art feature changes, it is certainly able to reach its main goal of being available for all kinds of smartphones, be it high-end or low-end.  Google's intention is to make the operating system a little bit smaller so that it can be used on more devices.  This certainly narrows the wide gap between high spectrum and low spectrum phones.

Lower end devices typically use only 512mb of memory so that they can keep their device affordable according to the Economic Times.  But this makes the smartphones react slower than expected.  However, Google has made Kitkat a more practical operating system, which can run efficiently with just 340 mb of memory. This is an incremental improvement for users in terms of speed and efficiency. With the help of Kitkat, people can now purchase low-cost smartphones but get the high-end experience. Users in India, are particularly ecstatic about this development.

Moving forward, this poses a grave threat to Samsung.  Xiaomi, translated as "little rice" in English, has already penetrated and beaten them in China with $100 smartphone offerings according to TIME.  The danger becomes more imminent with the availability of Kitkat and Android One.  The Android One aims to provide design references to smartphone makers who will price their phones at $100.  Currently, brand names such as Karbonn, Spice and Micromax are hitting the stores and continuing to loom over the Korean titan, Samsung.

Samsung, LG ready to display future of electronics

Samsung Electronics will showcase its updated "smart home" technology and new televisions at the upcoming IFA technology fair in Berlin, with a view to strengthening the company's grip on the global market.

LG Electronics will also roll out new gadgets, including televisions and wireless vacuum cleaners, raising market expectations around the world for Europe's largest consumer electronics conference.

This year's "Internationale Funkausstellung," an international tech fair also known as International Radio Exhibition Berlin or the Berlin Radio Show, but more widely called the IFA, will be held from Sept. 5 through 10, local time, at a convention center called Messe Berlin in the German capital. The event is considered one of the three most significant IT fairs alongside the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

This year, Samsung Electronics will have a presence in a newly built hall, "CityCube Berlin," next to the main convention hall. At its new venue, the company is expected to emphasize the smart home technology in its electrical home appliances, which makes them "smarter."

The smart home concept involves using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to embed Internet connections in home appliances such as lighting systems, air conditioners and washing machines, allowing users to control them remotely or automatically.

The electronics giant will update four new functions ― safety service, energy monitoring, location recognition and voice control ― to its smart home lineup this year.

Samsung Electronics will also show off its technological prowess with 78-inch bendable ultra-high-definition (UHD) televisions and 105-inch curved UHD televisions.

The bendable UHD TV is designed to help viewers concentrate better on the screen. The 105-inch curved UHD TV is the model with the largest screen and is expected to appeal to European consumers.

Yoon Boo-keun, consumer electronics president of Samsung Electronics, will deliver a keynote speech about the future of the company's smart home segment.

It is also said that Samsung Electronics might release a prototype of a new television using a color-reproduction technology called "quantum dots" at this year's fair.

LG Electronics will bring its UHD-class organic light-emitting diode (OLED) television to the fair for the first time in the world.

Ha Hyun-hwoi, president of LG Electronics' home entertainment division, said the company expects that the OLED televisions will replace liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions within two to three years on the strength of their technological advantages in terms of visual clarity.

The company will also exhibit wireless vacuum cleaners, dubbed "cord-zero" models. The company said it had improved the gadget's sweeping power and battery capacity using self-developed motor technology and new battery technology designed for electric cars by another LG Group affiliate, LG Chem.

The major exhibits at previous IFA fairs were domestic appliances and audiovisual apparatuses such as televisions, refrigerators and washing machines. But recent events have diversified to include more "smart" devices, such as new smartphones and "smartwatches."

Samsung Electronics will hold an "unpacking" event Sept. 3 in Berlin before the fair and unveil the Galaxy Note 4, which is expected to be equipped with OLED displays on each side of the device as well as its front panel. The company will also release its new smartwatch "Samsung Gear S," which has a curved super-AMOLED display.

Sources said the electronics giant would release its new virtual reality head-up display device, called "Gear VR," during the fair and set its price at $199. The new device can be connected to the new Galaxy Note 4 and can be used to display a larger version of the smartphone's screen.

LG Electronics will reveal a new smartwatch called the "LG G Watch R." It is the world's first pure round-type smartwatch that features an OLED display. The firm also plans to roll out a new smartphone, the "G3 Stylus," the latest model in the company's G3 smartphone lineup.

Alongside Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, about 1,500 companies including global IT conglomerates such as Siemens, Philips, Dison, Bosch, Sony, Toshiba and Haier will join in from 47 countries, drawing over 240,000 spectators.

How to Factory Reset your Samsung Gear Live Android Wear SmartWatch

Do you want to Factory Reset your Samsung Gear Live Smartwatch? This can be either because you had a bad flash, you installed an app and now things just aren't right, or because it's just slowing down in general. There are many reasons to factory reset your device. The steps are quick and easy, but they are unique. The button combinations are different than most other devices because there really is only one button.

Samsung Announces Level Box Mini Bluetooth Speaker, Kind of Like a Jambox

Samsung added to their line of Level audio products this morning with the announcement of the new Level Box Mini. As the name suggests, this is indeed the smaller version of their previously announced Level Box.

The Box Mini is Bluetooth speaker that offers users “a smart, seamless user experience combined with Samsung’s iconic design and premium sound technology.” The body of the speaker is “metallic,” sports a large 55mm stereo speaker and a passive radiator, which is “optimized to deliver a premium-quality sound that is powerful, crisp and balanced.” You could use it for conference calls or consume media, just like any other Bluetooth speaker. Devices are paired to it via NFC.

Through Samsung’s Level App, a user could control the Level Box Mini by adjusting volume, sending texts via speech, asking S Voice to complete tasks, etc.

Samsung noted in a press release for the Level Box Mini that it is 30% slimmer than the Level Box and includes a 1,600mAh battery that can last up to 25 hours. The Level Box Mini will be available in four colors:  blue, black, red, and silver. Samsung did not mention availability or pricing.

Report: Samsung to Launch “Ultra Sonic” Case Alongside Galaxy Note 4

Samsung is well known for launching a ton of accessories alongside their flagship devices. If the newest leak pans out, then it appears that the company is looking to improve the lives of select Galaxy Note 4 owners, as an Ultra Sonic case is reportedly in development.

With the Ultra Sonic case, the device sends out a burst of ultra sonic signals, and can then relay an audible alert of nearby objects to visually impaired users of the device. According to sources, the case features three range modes – short, middle, and long range. As the range is increased, the signal is narrowed, allowing for a further reach and return of data.

While exact use cases might be limited, Samsung will most certainly show off such ability at IFA in September if in fact the case gets released alongside the Galaxy Note 4.

Thanks to SamMobile, a detailed description of the case has been posted online, so we have pasted it here in an attempt to better understand what exactly Samsung has in store.

Samsung Acquires SmartThings, Deal Reportedly Worth $200 Million

Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that Samsung was set to acquire SmartThings, a company specializing in home automation, for an estimated $200 million. SmartThings has had a short journey on its way to acquisition, having raised over a million dollars on Kickstarter, then receiving an additional $12.5 million in Series A funding late last year.

As for Samsung’s plans, it seems rather clear, as Google went ahead and snatched up Nest, and Apple launched HomeKit. Samsung does not plan on being left behind in this space, as SmartThings is now packing up its office and heading on over to Samsung’s main California office in Palo Alto.

So, what can we expect to see from Samsung down the road thanks to this purchase? For starters, SmartThings specializes in smart water sensors, door locks, light switches, and much more. In the future, these products could come with a Samsung logo on them, but for now, SmartThings will operate independently from the tech giant.

The next five years are looking pretty intense in the home automation space.

Barnes & Noble teases new Samsung Nook e-reader a few days before official launch

Galaxy Tab 4, set to be launched on Wednesday. Digital Reader notes that the company has now emailed out a 30-second teaser video, showing reactions to the device – including one from Grumpy Cat …



The video doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know, but there will probably be few surprises in store anyway. The e-reader is likely to be the same hardware as the Tab 4, but with a different overlay to put books front and centre.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha vs iPhone 6

Samsung's freshly-unveiled Galaxy Alpha is a pretty obvious punt at outdoing Apple's premium approach to design.



While it hasn't been revealed yet, rumours have us left with a pretty good idea of what the iPhone 6 will be like. It also appears like it will launch around the same time as the Galaxy Alpha. So, it's time to get comparing.



Design

Until now, Samsung's approach to design has always been 'the more plastic, the better'. This just doesn't cut it in a world where phones like the HTC One M8 or iPhone 5S exist.

Samsung knows this, so has decided to finally incorporate some more premium materials into its design philosophy. Enter the Galaxy Alpha.

The phone is just 6.7mm thick, which puts it right at the top end of slimmest mobile devices out there. It also uses a metallic wraparound, which gives the phone more of a high-end look.

However, Apple looks to be keeping up its tradition of using as much aluminium as possible. The vast deluge of iPhone 6 leaks all point to a super-slim handset with a glass front and a MacBook-style metallic back.

There is also a rumour that the phone will feature a light-up Apple logo just like that found on the firm's laptops, which, while being largely pointless, is a definite design plus point.

While it's a matter of opinion, if the iPhone 6 turns out looking like it does in leaks, then it knocks the Galaxy Alpha out of the park for design.

Hardware

Samsung has included as many cores as possible in the Galaxy Alpha. It comes with either an octo-core processor or a quad-core 2.5GHz unit.

The iPhone will likely stick at a dual-core chip, with some clever GPU tweaks and increased usage of 64-bit technology. The only way we can know the winner here is with a straight up benchmarking test, which we just can't do yet.

Real-world usage rules apply however, which means that the iPhone will probably feel slick in terms of user interface, but that Android's customisation and raw power will put it ahead for those who are more tech-confident.

2GB of RAM in the Galaxy Alpha is more than enough for quite serious multi-tasking. In fact, the only gap we think Samsung has left here against the iPhone is the decision to go for a 720p screen.

If Apple opts to put a higher resolution and larger Retina display in the iPhone 6, then you can be almost certain that it will take the win on the hardware front. Both screens are 4.7 inches.

It's also worth noting that Samsung has used Gorilla Glass for the Galaxy Alpha, whereas Apple will use Sapphire Crystal, a much stronger compound.

Camera

Samsung has incorporated a 12-megapixel unit into the Galaxy Alpha alongside a 2.1-megapixel camera on the front.

Apple already had a corker of a camera with the iPhone 5S. iOS 8 already does a lot to improve its flexibility, so boost the tech for the iPhone 6 and things will at least be on par with what Samsung is doing here.

Rumours point to a 13-megapixel Sony Exmor sensor unit, which would place the iPhone ahead of the Samsung in the sensor race.

Storage

Bizarrely, Samsung made the decision not to include microSD with the Galaxy Alpha, which means you are stuck with the 32GB that the handset ships with.

Apple always offers numerous storage options for its iPhone going up to 64GB, but this time around, there are whispers of a 128GB option. Expect it to be very expensive.

Release date and pricing

On the subject of pricing, neither manufacturer has announced any costs just yet. Apple doesn't like to mess with prices however, so expect the iPhone 6 to cost around £550 off contract.

As for the Samsung, the specifications read more like a mid-tier handset for the Korean manufacturer, so it's possible that it'll be around £350-£400.

As for release date, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 6 on September 9. Release usually falls two to four weeks later.

Samsung has the phone listed as going on sale at 'the beginning of September', which basically means 'whenever the iPhone 6 doesn't launch'.

Smartphone multitasking review: Samsung vs LG vs Huawei

Smartphones and tablets would be much more useful if they allowed us to multitask the way desktop and laptop computers do.



When I'm watching video, for instance, I have to pause it to read an email or text that comes in. When I'm composing a message to make plans, I have to leave the app to check the weather forecast. For the most part, I'm not able to do more than one thing at a time on a single screen.

That's starting to change with Android devices, though. Windows tablets do let you run multiple apps side by side, but Windows phones do not. The iPhone and iPad don't, either. 

Here, I assess some of the Android devices that offer limited multitasking. These approaches aren't as smooth as what I'm used to on Mac and Windows personal computers, but they are a start. 

Samsung devices
Samsung offers Multi-Window, which lets you see multiple apps running side by side on the screen. You're typically limited to two, though Samsung's 12.2-inch Galaxy Tab Pro tablet let you do as many as four. There's a slider you can use to control how much screen space each app takes.

Multi-Window works with only selected apps, though. You can use Samsung's Video or Google's Play Movies & TV app as one of the selections, but not Hulu or Netflix. Even so, the choices have gotten better since Samsung first made this feature available in 2012.

As much as I like this concept, I've rarely used it on my two-year-old Galaxy S III. It takes me longer to figure out which apps are supported than to simply grab another device and get what I need there. 

Owners of Samsung's Note smartphones and tablets also get a second way to multitask. It's called Pen Window and gets activated when you use the stylus that comes with the device. You simply use the pen to draw a box in the screen. The box floats over the main app on the screen, and apps open inside the box. You can have several apps open at once, and you can temporarily set an app aside by minimizing it into a small dot.

Again, this only works with selected apps.

LG's G3
LG's latest smartphone, the G3, has a Dual Window feature. Just hold the back button and choose two apps to open side by side. As with Multi-Window, you're limited in your choices. You can adjust a slider to determine how much on-screen real estate each app occupies. 

The phone also has Q Slide, which gives you easy access to three apps at once. Unlike Dual Window, these apps are in overlapping windows, similar to traditional PCs. There's a slider to make two of the apps semi-transparent while working on the third. So if you're composing a text message to make plans and need to see whether you're free, you can launch a calendar through Q Slide. Unfortunately, Q Slide works with even fewer apps than Dual Window. 

For the most part, you're limited to messaging, Web browsing and tools such as the calendar and calculator. Dual Window has a few extras, including Maps, YouTube and the photo gallery. Neither offers weather or streaming video services. 

Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
The Mate2 has a feature called Window on Window, or WOW. When you turn it on, a small translucent circle hovers over the home screen or any app you're using. Clicking on it gives you quick access to some basic tools: a calculator, a calendar, a note pad and text messaging. You're limited to just those four. 

The app hovers in a window over whatever you're doing. Hit the arrow to expand it to full screen, or hit the "x" to make it go away. 

The extent of apps available doesn't exactly wow me, but it's another effort toward making mobile devices as useful as laptops. There's more work to do, but I'm glad device makers are working on it.

Report: Snapdragon 805 Processor to Power Galaxy Note 4

The Galaxy Note 4, confirmed to be introduced on September 3 in Berlin during IFA 2014, is reported to be powered by one of Qualcomm’s heavy duty mobile processors, the Snapdragon 805. This should make a few of you happy, as many people (DL staff included), had initially hoped that LG would feature the Snapdragon 805 in this year’s G3 flagship, but instead got the Snapdragon 801.

While the Snapdragon 801 is no slouch, the Snapdragon 805 showcases the new Adreno 420 GPU and up to a 2.7GHz clock speed. If swiping through home screens and multitasking concerns you, then have no fear with the 805.

Sources from Korea, first attributed to ZDNet, but a link to their report has since vanished, claim Samsung and Qualcomm worked out a special deal to lower the price of the silicon, enabling Samsung to save a pretty penny to use the chip maker’s newest processor in the Galaxy Note 4. While the price of the processor makes little difference to the end consumer, it will be interesting to see if other deals are made between silicon makers and OEMs like Samsung, LG, and Motorola.

September 3 is right around the corner. Besides a beefy Snapdragon 805, what else would you like to see in the Note 4? QHD? 16MP rear-facing shooter? Shoot us your wishlist.

It’s iPhone 6 vs Galaxy Note 4: September date for the big Apple-Samsung fight

September is going to be a big month for all technology enthusiasts as both Apple and Samsung will gear up for big launches. With Samsung, it’s going to be the Galaxy Note 4 at the Berlin IFA show on 3 September, while Apple will launch the iPhone 6 on 9 September.

With the iPhone 6, we are going to see a big change from iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c as Apple is expected to launch two new versions of the device, with rumour mills indicating a 4.7-inch device and a 5.5-inch phablet. Where Note 4 is concerned, Samsung could give it a 2K display.

So what should we expect from these two devices? Let’s take a quick look at the differences between the two. Of course a lot of this could be different when the actual devices launch.

Screen: As we’ve noted for Apple, the iPhone 6 will mark a big change as it will finally launch a smartphone with a bigger screen. Given the popularity of phablets, Apple’s iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch version and 5.5-inch version. According to reports, Apple supplier Foxconn has already gone into mass production and the company has asked for 70-80 million iPhone screens to be kept ready.

A report on 9to5Mac had shown that iPhone 6 may get a ‘curved’ display just like Samsung’s Galaxy S3. The slightly curved display glass could be included to accommodate the rounded edges, which means the display may not be convex on the top. With an increase in display size, it remains to be seen what Apple will do with the ‘Retina Display’ and whether the pixel density will go higher than the current 326 pixels per inch for iPhone 5s.

The iPhone 6 is also likely to feature haptic technology that emits minor vibrations depending on the touchscreen area you’ve pressed. This means developers can take advantage of the technology for building intuitive games and apps. Reports also claim that the new haptic motor to be employed in the next-gen iPhone would be two to three times more expensive.

As far as the Galaxy Note 4 is concerned, a report at CMNO had stated that the Note 4 would come with 2K display, and the screen size could increase from Note 3’s 5.7-inch although if that happens we’re wondering what will will happen to the Samsung Mega range of smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 4 is also expected to be waterproof and will have an eye-scanner technology as well, which could scan the eye to pay bills at the grocery store, electricity bills, mobile bills etc. There are also reports that the Note 4’s screen could use Samsung bent screen technology which was showcased at the CES 2013 in Las Vegas.

Processor, RAM, Space: As far as the iPhone 6 processor chip goes it will be the A8 chip and should support 64-bit like the iPhone 5s. Apple’s next set of devices will also most probably come with the next level of the M7-co-motion processor chip. Whether A8 will be dual-core processor or quad-core processor remains to be seen, but Apple has largely ducked the quad-core trend for now. With RAM, it’s likely that Apple will stick to 1GB RAM, although 2GB RAM would really make a lot specs-obsessed people happy. The iPhone 6 will of course stick with Apple’s 16, 32, 64 GB models and is unlikely to support microSD slots.

As far as the Note 4 is concerned, rumours indicate that it will come with an octa-core Exynos CPU or a Snapdragon 800-series SoC, coupled with 4GB RAM (Note 3 has 3GB RAM). The company might as well build both variants, and as seen earlier. Speculation is that the Note 4 will have global LTE coverage. The rumoured features list also includes 128GB onboard storage, and it should support a microSD slot as well.

Camera: Once again with iPhone 6, Apple is expected to stick to the 8 megapixel camera and avoid the megapixel wars. But given that it is ditching the 4-inch screen, we could be in for a surprise here as well. Supply chain speculation however says that such a surprise is unlikely.

Instead, the company will introduce functional improvements including in the optical image stabilization (OIS) module in the 8 megapixel camera. The dual-flash is expected to continue. In addition to this Pacific Crest Securities analysts John Vinh and Kevin Chen reported that  optical image stabilization may be a feature just for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone.

Apple has also got patents for interchangeable mobile camera lenses. The patent mentions a camera add-on that connects using a physical locking mechanism like a DSLR lens, as well as a magnetic component for quicker attachment. Of course, seeing this feature in iPhone 6 seems highly unlikely for now.

As far as Note 4 is concerned, Samsung will give it a bigger camera and rumours indicate a 20.1 megapixel shooter in the rear. The Front camera is reported to be 4 megapixel. However a report on trusted Samsung source Sammobile says that it will be 16 megapixel camera in the rear along OIS and a 3.7 megapixel front camera.

Other big rumours: Apple is reportedly going to introduce Sapphire crystal display protection, which is already there on iPhone 5s’ fingerprint scanner, will now be extended to the iPhone 6’s screen. It is speculated that the next-gen iPhone will have a sapphire crystal display protection to ward off scratches.

A report on 9to5Mac had said that Apple had already set up a plant in Arizona for a new critical component and patented a technology for the sapphire crystal display as well.

Ultraviolet Sensor and eye-scanner are supposed to be the next big changes in the Note 4. According to reports, Note 4 is said to come with an ultraviolet sensor, which can measure UV radiation and alert users about possible precautions via the S Health app. A report on Sammobile said that “ sensor will be used to measure the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and prevent users from damaging their skin, ageing it prematurely, and increasing their risk of skin cancer by giving recommended guidance based on the current UV index level”

It’s clear that both Apple and Samsung have a lot riding on these next two-releases given that smartphone market is seeing in a decline in demand for premium devices and the rise of the sub$100 category. We’ll have to wait and see how they live up to expectations and how many of the rumours come true.

Samsung Electronics, Apple call end to patents war outside U.S.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and Apple Inc (AAPL.O) said they had agreed to drop all patent litigation outside the United States, scaling down a protracted legal battle between the smartphone rivals.

The iPhone and Galaxy handset makers issued nearly identical statements announcing the global ceasefire while vowing to pursue ongoing litigation in the United States, which analysts say involves much bigger amounts of potential damages.

The stand-down is likely to enable Samsung Electronics, the world's top smartphone maker, to shift its focus to its Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi rather than fighting a costly and prolonged legal war with Apple around the world, analysts said.

"It appears that Samsung and Apple, the market leaders, made a strategic alliance as China's Xiaomi is emerging as a formidable rival," said Cho Chang-hoon, a business professor at Sogang University in Seoul.

Last week, Samsung Electronics posted its weakest earnings since the second quarter of 2012, partly hit by rising competition from Chinese smartphone makers.

Xiaomi took China's smartphone crown in the second quarter after replacing Samsung Electronics as China's largest smartphone vendor, data from Canalys shows.

The legal battle between Samsung Electronics and Apple began in the United States in 2011 when Apple first filed a suit alleging that Samsung "slavishly" copied elements of its iPhones, the device which launched the industry.

Days after the initial Apple suit was launched in the United States, Samsung Electronics sued its Cupertino, California-based rival in South Korea, Japan and Germany, kicking off a series of tit-for-tat cases that spread around the world.

The latest agreement ends patent disputes in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries where the smartphone market leaders had engaged armies of lawyers for what analysts said were questionable gains.

The South Korean and U.S. tech giants declined to disclose the terms of the deal, but said it did not involve "any licensing arrangements and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in U.S. courts."

The litigation raged on even as business flourished between the two companies, with Apple depending heavily on Samsung Electronics for components such as chips and liquid crystal displays.

Apple and Samsung Electronics together dominate the global smartphone market with a combined market share of 37.1 percent in the second quarter, according to Strategy Analytics.

"They now see little need to wage a war around the world, which will only fatten the bills of lawyers," said Young Park, a Hyundai Securities technology analyst in Hong Kong, adding that the deal raised the possibility of a final license agreement settling how the companies use each other's patented technology.

He and three other analysts whom Reuters talked to said they do not have estimates for the legal costs that Samsung Electronics and Apple are facing.

A Samsung Electronics spokeswoman declined to comment.

NO MERIT

The agreement comes about a month after Jay Y. Lee, vice chairman and heir-apparent of Samsung Electronics, met Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, during the Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, according to media reports. Last week, Lee again made a business trip to the United States, reports said.

Samsung Electronics did not immediately comment on the reports.

The two companies "decided that there was no merit in dragging on these lawsuits", an industry source familiar with the matter told Reuters, declining to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Nicholas Rodelli, an attorney and adviser to institutional investors for CFRA Research in Maryland, said there had been a "trend towards gradual de-escalation of patent hostilities between Apple and Samsung".

"It's not yet clear whether this is signal or noise, in terms of prospects for global settlement," he said.

In the United States, Samsung Electronics is appealing the result of a blockbuster 2012 trial, seeking to undo $930 million in damages.

While Apple says those damages should stand, the iPhone maker last week withdrew its request for a permanent sales ban against several older Samsung Electronics phones, according to court filings.

Separately, Apple went to trial against Samsung Electronics on a second batch of patents earlier this year and won a $120 million verdict. Apple still has a request pending for a sales ban against newer Samsung phones in that proceeding.

On another front, Samsung Electronics is fighting Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) over allegations it refused to make a royalty payment last year on patent licenses after the U.S. company announced plans to acquire Nokia's (NOK1V.HE) handset business.

Meanwhile, Apple and Google Inc's (GOOGL.O) Motorola Mobility unit agreed in May to settle all patent litigation between them over smartphones.

Apple and companies that make phones using Google's Android software, such as Samsung's top-selling Galaxy series, have filed dozens of such lawsuits against one another around the world to protect their technology.

Samsung Electronics shares closed 1.2 percent lower on Wednesday, compared with the wider market's .KS11 0.3 percent drop.

(Writing by Se Young Lee; Additional reporting by Kahyun Yang in SEOUL; Editing by Stephen Coates and Ryan Woo)

Samsung now lags Micromax in India mobile phone sales

Indian budget smartphone maker Micromax has ousted Samsung Electronics Co Ltd as the leading brand in all types of mobile phones in the April-June quarter, grabbing a 16.6% market share, a recent research report showed.

Samsung had a 14.4% market share, down from 16.3% in the first quarter, said the report by Counterpoint Research. In the smartphone segment, however, Samsung still came out tops.

“Micromax is leveraging its wider distribution reach, growing brand awareness not only in urban but in rural India with affordable low-cost handsets,” said Counterpoint analyst Neil Shah.

In price-sensitive India, local mobile phone makers like Micromax are successfully gaining market share with low cost phones.

These companies mostly use chipsets made by MediaTek, which tend to be cheaper than those made by industry leader Qualcomm Inc, and outsource production to China and Taiwan, instead of investing in manufacturing plants, further helping keep costs down.

Together, local Indian mobile phone manufacturers had about 32% of the domestic market, according to the report, and more than two-thirds of the total shipments.

In the smartphone segment, Samsung still had the largest market share in terms of shipments, at 25.3% during the second quarter while Micromax had 19.1%.

But Samsung’s dominance is slipping, Shah said, adding that in the first quarter, Samsung had a 33.3% market share in smartphones, while Micromax had 16.7%.

India ranks behind China and the US in smartphone sales, with up to 90 million smartphones expected to be sold there this year, according to Counterpoint.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 vs LG G Pro 2 – Top Price and Specs Comparison

Samsung has reached the pinnacle of success and every product they release is seen with good eyes. The Mega 6.3 came in 2013 and the fans had a shock when they saw the gigantic display. The G Pro 2 has hit the markets this year, in February and as expected, its specs and features are more advanced, so yes, in this battle, LG is a winner. But let’s find out more about these two phablets.

Displays, designs and sizes

Galaxy Mega 6.3 features a 6.3inches SC-LCD display with a resolution of 720x1280pixels and 233ppi. The phablet is extremely massive, as it measures 167.6x88x8mm, but it’s not that heavy, weighting 199grams. The exterior body is very pretty, but the phone looks like many of its Galaxy siblings. In addition to the white and black colors, the phablet is also available in purple color.

The G Pro 2 is much smaller, having a display of 5.9 inches, which is True IPS+ LCD and has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protecting it. The supported resolution is higher, 1080x1920pixels, while the pixel density is 373ppi. This phone has two buttons for the volume located under the rear camera, which looks kind of weird. The variants of the colors for this phablet are white, titan, silver and burgundy.

Hardware and OS
The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is powered by a dual core 1.7GHz Krait processor, based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, which supports an Adreno 305 GPU. The device comes with proximity, compass, accelerometer and gyro sensors and it supports WiFi, GPRS, Bluetooth, and it has micro USB and infrared ports. You can choose one of the two variants of internal memories, 8 and 16GB which are expandable up to 64GB. As for the OS, the phablets runs on the Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) version, which can be upgraded to the 4.4.2 (KitKat) version, and it has 1.5GB of RAM.

The G Pro 2, on the other hand, has a more powerful processor, a quad core 2.26Ghz Krait 400, which is baked by a newer Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset and has an Adreno 330 GPU. It has the same sensors as the Mega 6.3, 3GB of RAM and two variants of built in storage – 16 and 32, also expandable up to 64GB. The operating system is Android 4.4.2, non-upgradable.

Cameras
The Samsung phablet has an 8MP rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging and HDR, plus a 1.9MP front camera. The G Pro 2 has a 13MP primary camera with plenty useful features, and a 2.1MP secondary camera.

Batteries

Both of the phablets have Li-Ion removable batteries with the same capacity, 3200mAh. However, the Mega 6.3’s battery allows up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G and 17hours on 2G, and in stand by mode it lasts 420 hours. The G Pro 2’s battery supports up to 14 hours on 2G and 8 hours on 3G.

Prices

The Mega 6.3 can be found on amazon.com at the price of 400 dollars. The G Pro 2 is much more expensive, 550 dollars.

Microsoft sues Samsung for not paying Android royalties

Microsoft is taking Samsung to court, claiming that Samsung has stopped honoring an Android patent licensing agreement both companies have entered back in 2011.

Following fruitless discussions with Samsung over its refusal to continue paying royalties to Microsoft for every device running on Google's Android operating system it sells, Microsoft filed a lawsuit before the U.S. District Court in New York's Southern District on Friday, asking the court to take over the resolution of the dispute between it and Samsung.

In its complaint, Microsoft says Samsung was late in paying its royalties to Microsoft in the fall of last year and claims that Samsung is again threatening to pay its obligations because of Microsoft's recent acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services division. Microsoft is also seeking interest payments that currently go unpaid after Samsung's late royalties payments.

David Howard, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft, says in a blog post that the two companies have gone through "months" of discussions to no avail, citing a "fundamental disagreement" in the companies' understanding of their contract.

"We don't take lightly filing a legal action, especially against a company with which we've enjoyed a long and productive partnership," Howard writes. "Unfortunately, even partners sometimes disagree."

Microsoft also alleges that Samsung's dominant rise to the top of the Android market is likely the reason why it has refused paying royalties. Howard cites data from research firm IDC that says Samsung shipped 314 million Android phones in the first quarter of 2014, a significant jump from the 82 million units shipped in 2011 when Samsung entered the multi-year agreement with Microsoft.

"Curiously, Samsung did not ask the court to decide whether the Nokia acquisition invalidated its contract with Microsoft, likely because it knew its position was meritless," says Howard.

Surprisingly enough, both companies extended the coverage of their contract into 2018 in November last year, after Microsoft's announcement that it was buying out Nokia's phone business and Samsung's late royalties payment for Fiscal Year 2.

Microsoft's Android patent licensing business is a profitable one, generating about $2 billion every year in revenues with a margin of around 95%, says Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund. Microsoft itself has said that nearly every Android device maker pays the company an alleged $5 to $15 in royalties for each device the company sells. The profits, Sherlund says, is used to conceal losses in Microsoft's own entertainment and devices business consisting of Windows Phone, Xbox and Skype.  

For its part, Samsung refused to say anything beyond the fact that the company is reviewing Microsoft's claims and will come up with an appropriate response based on its evaluation.