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Showing posts from October, 2017

Samsung replaces all CEOs, delivers strong Q3 mobile performance

The new leadership includes Kinam Kim, Hyunsuk Kim, and Dongjin Koh. Samsung's released some true heavy-hitters this year with the Galaxy S8, Note 8, and Gear Sport, and while the company has been dishing out some of its best products in years, big things are happening behind the scenes. Most recently, Samsung announced that it'll be replacing all of its current CEOs effective immediately. The three new co-CEOs at Samsung Electronics include President Kinam Kim, Hyunsuk (HS) Kim, and Dongjin (DJ) Koh, and they'll respectively be succeeding Vice Chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon and Presidents Boo-Keun Yoon and Jong-Kyun Shin. DJ Koh oversees the development of Samsung's Galaxy phones. Kinam Kim has been with Samsung since 1981 and is also serving as CEO of Samsung Display, whereas HS Kim has helped the company lead sales in the television market for 11 consecutive years. If DJ Koh's name sounds familiar, that's because he oversees the development of Samsung

Samsung Gear Sport Review

The smartwatch never had it easy. On the one hand, offer too small a list of skills and people question your value; on the other, do too much and the resulting complexity can overwhelm the wrist. Perhaps the Samsung Gear Sport, therefore, signposts the route through that tricky balance: by focusing resolutely on healthy living, can it also bypass those lingering questions of "why shouldn't I just use my phone?" Samsung's circular OLED is still nice, both colorful and straightforward to read outdoors, but the Gear Sport has a little less of it than its Gear S3 sibling. At 1.2-inches it's a fraction smaller than the other watch, and combined with the fairly chunky case it leaves the Gear Sport feeling less refined and more like Samsung prioritized function over form. The black model is sober and discreet, while the blue version edges toward toy-like. At least you can change the bands readily: Samsung used a standard 20mm strap, so while it will have rubb

Samsung’s Mining Rig Lets You Collect Cryptocurrency Using 40 Old Galaxy Smartphones

Making Old Hardware Useful Consumer behavior when it comes to smartphones — particularly flagship devices like Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy phones — has become quite predictable. As these premier devices get upgraded every year, most people tend to stick to their device for only two years. Most find themselves with older smartphone models that, more often, are just left unused in closets. But what if you could turn those old phones into something useful — say, a cryptocurrency mining rig? Enter an engineering team from Samsung called the C-Lab, purpose of which is to find creative solutions or projects. This team has come up with innovative ways to make these older devices useful — a process called "upscaling" or repurposing. One of these projects, which the C-Lab presented at Samsung's developer conference in San Francisco, upscales old Galaxy S5s into a bitcoin mining rig. Image credit: Kyle Wiens Cryptocurrency mining has become popular in re

Nokia 8 smartphone full review: handset no match for its biggest rivals, Apple and Samsung

The comeback of Nokia phones may have begun in February 2017 with the launch of four underpowered handsets, but it really wasn't until last month's release of the Nokia 8 smartphone that consumers began taking it seriously. That's because the Nokia 8 is the first Nokia handset in more than decade that bears comparison with the best smartphones produced by rivals such as Apple and Samsung in terms of specifications and raw power. But is that enough? Design and hardware Right out of the box the Nokia 8 takes a hit because of its relatively large bezels. If this phone had been released even six months ago, when big manufacturers began adopting edge-to-edge screen, it would have been considered passable. . But it's autumn 2017 now and Apple, Samsung, LG, Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo and even obscure Chinese brands have been launching all-screen phones. It's hard not to deduct some points here. And lest you think slim bezels are just for looks, know that the Nokia 8 is

Samsung Promotes Smartphone Display As Google Pixel 2 Display Has Problems (Video)

Samsung Promotes Smartphone Display As Google Pixel 2 Display Has Problems (Video) - Geeky Gadgets We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more //]]> Source: Samsung Promotes Smartphone Display As Google Pixel 2 Display Has Problems (Video)

Samsung to introduce voice- powered digital assistant 'Bixby' 2.0 next year to take on rivals

SEOUL: South Korean technology major Samsung will introduce the second edition of its voice- powered digital assistant 'Bixby' next year that will work on multiple devices, including televisions and refrigerators, a top company official said today. This will help the global smartphone leader further strengthen its position against companies like Google, Apple and Amazon that also have virtual assistants -- Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa, respectively. "We would introduce Bixby 2.0 in 2018... it would be designed to be available on any and all devices," Samsung Electronics V-P, Mobile Communications Business, Ji Soo Yi told reporters here. He added that "this means having the intelligence of Bixby act as the control hub of device ecosystem, including mobile phones, TVs, refrigerators...". Bixby 2.0 would have "one work on one platform" command structure and would integrate all operating systems like Android and Samsung's Tizen. Howev

Here's the best smartphone camera you can buy

The Samsung Galaxy Note8,  the iPhone 8 Plus, and the Google Pixel 2 all claim to take incredible photos. But we wanted to know which one was the absolute best — here's what we found out. The following is a transcript of the video: Antonio Villas-Boas: So we have three new phones. In testing these things, we took into account how you would be using it. We left all the settings untouched. Just like they would, straight out of the box. So we've got these phones the iPhone 8 Plus, the Galaxy Note8, and most recently the Google Pixel 2 XL. Color: this one was kind of a no-brainer actually. The Pixel 2 XL was clearly the winner here. It might not have produced the most accurate color, but it did produce the best color. As in I can just take the shot without really worrying about editing at all. The iPhone 8, specifically and surprisingly, kind of had muddy-ish colors. And this was also somewhat surprising, the iPhone 8 Plus seemingly had issues reproducing the correct color. A

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Smartphone Review

For Samsung, the big one is here: the next Galaxy Note release. A lot is riding on the Galaxy Note 8 because of its predecessor's massive failure a year ago. The great success Galaxy S8 earlier in the year proved that the Korean giant could effectively turn things around, and the Note 8's performance is what could seal the deal. In our Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Smartphone Review, we'll cover the good, the bad, and if this top gun is worth its steep price – thanks to our friends at Verizon Wireless! Overview Price: $929 on Amazon unlocked or $40/month on VerizonAvailable: Sept. 2017Model: Galaxy Note 8 Summary: The Galaxy Note 8 is finally here to replace the huge Note 7 failure a year ago. It closely follows the Galaxy S8's successful formula of tiny bezels and excellent hardware, but with a secondary rear camera and that excellent S-Pen stylus experience. There are only a couple things keeping the Note 8 from smartphone perfection. What We Liked Almost bezel-l

Why Google’s smartphones struggle to take on Apple and Samsung

GOOGLE is the world's richest internet company, boasting 4.5 billion active users, services in 123 languages, and offices in 50 countries. Its software powers more than eight in 10 of the world's mobile phones, according to Gartner, and its search engine answers a similar number of the world's web searches, according to Statista. So why can't it seriously challenge Apple and Samsung when it comes to selling smartphones? The internet giant will return for its second run at the smartphone crown on October 31 after launching pre-orders for its two new handsets last Friday. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, manufactured by HTC and LG respectively, add new hardware and software features to its range, including water resistance, greater storage, squeezable sides, and the best-rated smartphone camera on the market. But analysts argue it may take more for the company to convince users to ditch their existing smartphones — and brand loyalty — to take a gamble on Google.

Apple, Samsung and Huawei are Working on Foldable Phones

This year was the year of minimal bezels on smartphones. But in 2018, the next big trend might just be handsets with foldable displays. China's ZTE might just have been the first manufacturer to debut a foldable smartphone. This week, the company launched the Axon M, a device with two displays that can fold out for a larger screen real estate. Samsung and Apple have also been rumored to be working on their own foldable phones. Now, the world's third largest phone manufacturer announced that they too are jumping on the foldable phone bandwagon. China-based Huawei told CNET earlier this week that they are working on a foldable phone, which could be ready to launch as soon as next year. CEO Richard Yu told the publication that they "already have a working sample." But there are some hurdles ahead for Huawei, and indeed for any OEM exploring the form factor. For starters, Huawei said that its product needs better and more flexible screen tech to overcome the cur

Huawei May Release Its Foldable Smartphone Next Year

Chinese manufacturing Giant, Huawei, is in the news again after releasing the interesting Mate 10 smartphone series. This time, the company is reportedly working on a foldable smartphone which could be released sometime in 2018. The likes of Samsung Galaxy X and ZTE's Axon M foldable smartphones has been in the news and now Huawei is joining the speculation list. According to Huawei's CEO, Richard Yu, the company already have a "working sample" which still needs some improvements in its mechanical design. For now, this smartphone is "work in progress" and it is not ready to hit the market because it also needs a "better, more flexible screen technology". Yu further said that presently, Huawei's foldable phone has two screens with a "small gap" between them. "That's not good and we should get rid of that gap," he added. ZTE's Axon M is expected to be released soon via AT&T however, it has just th

Samsung is working on an app that brings Linux distros to Galaxy smartphones

Back when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 in March, it showed off a new feature alongside the handset: DeX. Essentially, this is the Korean company's version of Microsoft's now-defunct Continuum. It allows users to turn their phones into a desktop computer, complete with monitor, keyboard, and mouse, using a special dock. As was the case with Continuum, there's still little incentive for using the dock over a real PC. But Samsung is offering Note 8, Galaxy S8, and S8+ owners a compelling reason to buy a device: Linux on Galaxy, an app that lets users run Linux distributions on a Galaxy handset. As Linux software and apps are designed to be used with a keyboard, mouse, and large display, users will get the most out of Linux on Galaxy by using a DeX dock. The app appears to be aimed primarily at developers who want to carry their work around with them. Samsung says it will let them "code using their mobile on-the-go and seamlessly continue the task on a larger dis

Google’s Pixel 2 competes mightily with high-end Apple and Samsung phones

After using Google's new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL for several days, I've concluded they are the best Android phones I've ever used and a worthy competitor to Apple's new iPhones. One reason is, of course, the new hardware. But I'm just as impressed with the phone's simple but clever operating system software that makes it a joy to use. I spent most of my time using the XL version because I prefer a larger phone. But when it comes to specifications, software, camera quality and features the two models are identical, so what I have to say about the larger model also applies to the smaller one, except when noted. For example, the XL has a larger and higher capacity battery and a higher resolution screen and, according to Google, gets up to 7 hours of battery on a 15-minute charge. My battery performance on the XL was considerably better than what I got on the Pixel 1. It lasted all day which, for me, is unusual. Both versions are water resistant and both come wit

Consumer Reports says old Samsung phones are better than Apple’s brand new iPhone 8

Apple already sold millions of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus units, but launch weekend estimates fell short of what's expected from typical iPhone launches. It's not that the iPhone is losing its appeal all of a sudden, but this year isn't a usual one for Apple. The best iPhone of 2017 hasn't even launched yet, as the iPhone X won't be released until early November, which is why many buyers skipped the iPhone 8 models. But the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are still great phones. In fact, we called the 8 Plus the best smartphone in the world right now, boring though it may be. The testers over at Consumer Reports don't agree though, and they believe that old Samsung phones are better than the iPhone 8. The organization ranked the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus as the top two devices when it comes to performance, Yonhap News reports. The iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8 were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with Samsung's 2016 Galaxy S7 sitting in the third

Here's How Huawei's Latest Bevy of Smartphones Undercut Apple and Samsung

With the iPhone 8 and Galaxy Note 8 on the market, Huawei has weighed in. China's Huawei has unveiled a new line of smartphones that match or even improve on key features offered by Apple or Samsung while undercutting their rivals on price. Huawei aims to distinguish itself through technological advances that will put it on a level playing field with the most coveted premium-priced devices, helping to boost profitability that has been undermined by heavy discounting in the chase for market share. Monday's product launch in Munich introduced Huawei's new Mate 10 series, touting high-end cameras, screens, and batteries, but at prices 15-30% below more or less comparable Apple and Samsung smartphones. Huawei was the world's No.3 smartphone maker by shipments last year, temporarily overtaking Apple as No.2 in June as consumers awaited the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X lineup, data from Counterpoint Research shows. With Apple's latest models now on the market, Huaw

Samsung’s Galaxy S9 To Feature 3D Facial Recognition As Company ‘Reverse Engineers’ Face ID; Snapdragon 845 Will Power The Smartphone

Well folks, it's time we start to look at the future again. You've got to love the rumor mill. Just as we're done with the iPhone and Pixel launches, information for Samsung's Galaxy S9 is surfacing. The first leaks on the smartphone came to light early on in 2017. It's believed that owing to improved production processes, Samsung is able to expedite the smartphone's development. With the iPhone X, Apple upped the stakes in the smartphone world by quite a bit. Now, looks like Samsung will once again follow suit. Take a look below to find out more. Apple's 2017 iPhone event made us reminisce of better times. It reminded us when the company used to be ahead of the curve or where 'the puck will be, not where it is'. Face ID marks the official introduction of 3D facial recognition in the mobile world. And it's Apple who ushers the change in. But, now it looks like Android will catch up sooner than expected. Just a couple of days back a Ch

Gaming company to launch a smartphone that's as powerful as the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 combined

Razer is a company known to a lot of gamers for its high-end laptops and accessories. But now it appears set to release a cutting-edge smartphone to rival the likes of Samsung and Apple. The company has announced it will be holding an event on November 1, and revealed a teaser image showing someone looking at a small, handheld screen. Industry experts have been quick to sniff out rumours and, according to Phone Radar, the specifications on the upcoming phone are set to rival the Apple iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Read More While the screen and the storage space will be on a par with those phones, the RAM is rumoured to be up at 8GB - double what most flagship smartphones offer. The phone is believed to be running on Google's Android operating system but will be tweaked to favour gaming. Read More Razer is known for making gaming products Earlier this year the company bought a smartphone manufacturer called Nextbit Systems for an undisclosed fee. Th

T-Mobile Phones To Soon Include Samsung Galaxy S8 Active With Rugged Specs

The Galaxy S8 Active is expected to soon launch on T-Mobile, according to tech informant Even Blass. The Venture Beat team recently learned that there will be a model of the device under the number SM-G892T. The device is currently exclusive to AT&T under the model number SM-G892A. The Galaxy S8 Active has been available at the carrier since August, selling for $850. The Galaxy S8 Active is Samsung's rugged version of the Galaxy S8 flagship and is one of the first outside of the premium line to feature an 18.5:9 aspect ratio and no home button. However, the S8 Active does not feature a dual-edge curved display like its cousin. Instead, it's design includes a military-grade polycarbonate back and a metal frame and bumper to reinforce its shatter, dust, and water-resistance. The Galaxy S8 Active also includes Samsung's AI assistant, Bixby, adding features, such as a feature called Activity Zone, which allows users to access activity-based applications, such as sto

Samsung Technology Retail Solutions: Traditional Scanner or Rugged Smartphone?

As warehouse technology continues to evolve, many retail distribution facilities are moving to rugged smartphones as the preferred device for tracking and managing inventory. Warehouse workers have traditionally used barcode scanners and dedicated devices, which have been the backbone of data capture in these cases for the last 20 plus years, to scan, track and manage products and materials in warehouses. While these devices can offer basic scanning functionality, the need for a more efficient and cost-effective model is causing a demand for new technology in the supply chain. Barcode Scanners Versus Smartphones Because traditional barcode scanners are single-purpose devices, they can typically scan much faster than smartphones. These devices are well-suited for scanning-only applications, and they can read tags from a greater distance, in low-light conditions and around packaging obstructions. Some of these devices are in fact Windows devices, and can run multiple applications

New Samsung image sensors use dual pixel for fast AF and fake bokeh

Samsung Electronics has launched a couple of new image sensor—both intended for use in mobile devices—under its ISOCELL sensor brand—the ISOCELL Fast 2L9 and the ISOCELL Slim 2x7. As the model name suggests, the ISOCELL Fast 2L9 is part of the Fast line-up, providing fast autofocus speeds, even in low light conditions. To achieve this, the chip is using dual-pixel technology with two photo diodes at each pixel location. This not only speeds up autofocus but, according to Samsung, also allows for creation of a software-based bokeh-effect without the need for a dual-camera, which is more or less what Google's new Pixel 2 devices do. The 12MP sensor comes with a 1.28µm pixel size, which is slightly smaller than the 1.4µm currently used in Samsung flagship phones. At 0.9µm, the pixel size is even smaller on the second new sensor, the Slim 2X7. Like the Fast 2L9, it is designed to fit into even very thin devices without the need for a camera bump, but this one comes with a highe

Bug in Samsung smartphones causing SMS messages to fail

The Galaxy S8 has been on the market since April, enjoying quite the success as Samsung's flagship smartphone. Unfortunately for some users, however, something seems to be playing havoc with sending and receiving SMS messages. Users across the world have been affected by a bug that seems to be causing messages to fail sending and receiving on the Samsung Galaxy S8, with confirmed cases in Canada, Australia, France, the UK and across all four major US networks. As usual, users took to the official Galaxy S8 subreddit to get to the bottom of it. "Oh wow, I honestly thought it was just my mom's ancient flip phone not sending messages," explains user Ep260. "Turns out it actually was my newfangled smartphone." The Guardian further confirmed that the issue exists on multiple Galaxy S8s, missing approximately one in five messages, including two-factor authentication codes sent via SMS. When the very same SIM card is inserted into another device, the is

OUKITEL K8000 is coming, world’s first 8000mAh smartphone

Nowadays, our smartphone plays a significant role in our life. Choosing a good smartphone that can be used for a long time is important. Not only price but performance, camera, storage and battery capacity should be considered. To satisfy all these needs, Oukitel is releasing a new big battery device: Oukitel K8000 which is devoted to being the most durable smartphone when it comes to battery life. As its name suggests, Oukitel K8000 features an 8000mAh battery which can serve you for 5 days on a single charge. Oukitel claims it is the most durable battery smartphone due to several reasons. The 8000mAh high-density battery surely offers a long time use as it is the second largest battery in the world. Secondly, the K8000 will get 5.5″ HD  Samsung AMOLED display. As the display is the most power-hungry component on a smartphone, the company chose to go with an AMOLED display which is more power-effective. Lastly, it will come with Android 7 OS which does an excellent job when it

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is the best smartphone on the market and the $1500 device you deserve

WHEN Apple announced the $A1829 iPhone X, I was quick to dismiss the product suggesting Samsung's $A1199 S8 was far better value for money. And even though I was impressed with Oppo's R11, Sony's Xperia XZ Premium and Huawei's P10, I found myself constantly going back to Samsung's S8. I truly believed it was the best smartphone currently on the market and knew it would take something very special to convince me otherwise. Then Samsung released the Galaxy Note 8. If the Galaxy Note sounds familiar it's because it was the phone that Samsung globally recalled last year after multiple cases of exploding batteries that had the company in damage control. via GIPHY So when the company announced the Galaxy Note 8, it hoped the phone would be able to resurrect the device's legacy from the ashes — literally. And has it been able to achieve this goal? Let's just say I might have a new favourite device. There is no denying the $A1499 Note 8 is an e

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 is losing text messages on all carriers

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ have had a relatively scandal-free life so far, and while that sounds like a dig at the Galaxy Note 7, most phones usually have some kind of issue, however small. And unfortunately for Samsung, the Galaxy S8's tiny issue is here. Tons of users have been reporting missing text messages on their Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, and it seems to affect users on all major carriers. One of our own writers at Talk Android has also been experiencing the issue, and there are Reddit posts filled with complaining users, so it's not an isolated incident. The problem doesn't only impact the default messaging app on the phone, so third-party apps and services are still affected. There are tons of potential solutions to the problem, like turning WiFi and advanced messaging off, but they're not solving the problem for everyone. The issue is gaining traction because of how many users are experiencing the problem, but Samsung has been mum so far. It is a