Galaxy S5 to arrive 24 February, but questions remain over Samsung's future
An update to the premium Galaxy S range might fail to boost Samsung's profits as Apple continues to control high-end market
The Galaxy S4 smartphone has sold more than 40 million units.
By JAMES VINCENT
Tuesday 04 February 2014
Samsung is likely to unveil the latest handset in its best-selling Galaxy S range on 24 February.
The South Korean company has sent out invitations to an event titled 'Unpacked5' at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, all but confirming the rumours that the Galaxy S5 will be going on sale in the next couple of months.
The new handset will arrive at a difficult time for the company. Although Samsung is still the number one player in the smartphone market (with Apple close behind, shipping a record 51 million iPhones in the previous quarter) there are new challenges from Chinese company Lenovo.
The world's top PC maker recently purchased Motorola's hardware division from Google and is now looking to expand into mobile devices. Like Samsung it will be targeting the lower end of the market - the only segment where demand is still growing, driven by emerging markets in the Asian Pacific region.
The Galaxy S5, however, will be challenging Apple's iPhone as a premium device. Various rumours and leaks suggest the smartphone could have a 64-bit processor like the iPhone 5S, as much as 4Gm of RAM and a full HD 5- or 5.2-inch screen.
These hardware specifications are all within normal expectations, though leaked images of the S5 also show that the phone will be visually refreshed. A big difference between Samsung devices and Apple's has been the build quality, and it's been suggested that the S5 will drop the plastic case in favour of leather and aluminium, bringing it closer to the polished metal design of the iPhone.
Samsung's TouchWiz interface also looks like it will be revamped to include Google Now-style cards on the home screen, using big pictures and a clean, light font to put key information such as calendar events, feedback from health apps and emails front and centre.
However, some analysts believe that Samsung's sales strategy (launch expensive hardware with solid profit margins for early adopters; discount for average customers; rinse, and repeat) might be running out of steam: the company posted its first profit decline in nine quarters last year.
Apple has traditionally dominated high margin sales, but it has an impressive software infrastructure to add value to its ecosystem, as well as finely tuned advertising to lure in customers. Samsung so far has concentrated on delivering hardware, and the S5 might need more than a spec boost to succeed in the market.
First Look At Jumper Card, An Indiegogo Project That Looks To Put A Small Battery Pack And Sync Cable In Your Wallet
Published on February 4th, 2014
Written by: Cameron Summerson
As we've clearly seen over the past several months, there's a new trend in portable charging solutions making the rounds on crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Some are simply smaller cables with an interesting design, while others - like ChargeCard, for example - are little more than a cable with a different form factor. Along those same lines is the Jumper Card, a new product that just hit Indiegogo today. Basically, it combines the idea behind ChargeCard with a very small (480mAh) portable battery - something that seemed to be exactly what people wanted from ChargeCard.
Before we take a closer look at the unit itself, let's talk about its specs:
480mAh battery, should provide around 10% charge for most smartphones
1/4-inch thick
About the size of a credit card
MicroUSB, Lightning, and iPhone 30-pin connectors
Built-in flashlight
Jumper card next to ChargeCard, a credit card, and a stack o' credit cards.
While that mostly sounds good on paper, Jumper Card faces certain hurdles right out of the gate - like battery tech, for instance. As a result, it's much thicker than a typical credit card thanks to its internal battery; in fact, it's about the thickness of five credit cards. For something you may want to toss in your wallet, that's pretty thick. Other than that, however, the overall form factor is on par with a normal credit card.
One major area where the Jumper Card differs from the ChargeCard (aside from the battery, of course), is that it features the three most popular connectors on mobile devices: microUSB, Apple's Lightning connector, and the old-style 30-pin iPhone connector all on one dongle. That's incredibly useful for anyone who has multiple devices.
It also has a little flashlight built in, which is just cool. It's pretty bright, too.
Using the Jumper Card is pretty easy and far less awkward than the ChargeCard, because the cables are thin and quite flexible. Both ends (USB and the multi-dongle) pop out of place, making it good as a sync/charge cable, which seems to be its primary use. The internal battery is presumably an "emergency" backup since it only supplies the device with 10% charge (give or take depending on the device, of course).
That brings up a pretty important question: how long will the Jumper Card hold its charge? According to the FAQ on the Indiegogo page, "up to one year." That's good info to have for anyone who might throw the Jumper Card in a wallet, purse, or backpack and leave it there until it's actually needed.
Overall, the idea of the Jumper Card is good, and the execution is probably as good as it can be given current battery technology. The addition of a flashlight is a good idea, especially for something that's really designed to be on your person most of the time. If you'd like to support the project, $25 will score a Jumper Card when it's supposed to be ready in April of this year.
HTC M8 first live picture is here, has two rear cameras
HTC M8, the successor of HTC One, has leaked numerous times before. We heard lots of rumors throughout the last couple of months - we saw the rear panel, alleged specs, heard rumors about a twin UltraPixel camera, saw its virtual buttons, the M8 even got tipped for a March release, after a New York announcement.
Today we have the first live picture of the HTC M8, not just the panel. It shows its back, where we can clearly see the twin cameras and the dual-LED flash. This means the next One won't pack a fingerprint sensor, or at least it won't be one on its back.
So, summarizing all the rumors to date, the HTC M8 should pack a 5" 1080p display, run on Snapdragon 800 chipset, and sport twin UltraPixel cameras of unknown (but probably higher than 4MP) resolution. The official announcement event will probably happen in New York very soon, while the M8 is expected to hit the shelves in March.
Samsung wants Olympians to hide the Apple logo on their iPhones during opening ceremonies
By Daniel Eran Dilger
Samsung is giving a free Galaxy Note 3 to every athlete competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but�those who receive one are reportedly required to ensure that the Apple logo is nowhere to be seen if they use an iPhone to record events at the opening ceremonies.
Olympians have increasingly turned to smartphones to capture photos and video of the festivities, and the handsets are often caught by television cameras covering the event. Samsung wants to ensure its brand is the only one seen, according to a report from Slashgear.
Samsung's plan was outed by members of the Swiss Olympic team, who noticed the guidelines inserted into the athletes' gift bags.
The Olympics provide an unparalleled advertising opportunity, with television coverage spanning the globe. Though figures for 2014 are unknown, it is thought that Samsung spent at least $100 million to sponsor the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
After showing us a dual camera setup on its back earlier today, the HTC M8 appeared yet again. This time around, we get to see the alleged front of the yet to be announced smartphone in a couple of leaked photos.
HTC M8
The two images reveal that the upcoming device looks a lot like its predecessor, save for the significantly smaller display bezels and on-screen Android navigation buttons. The latter are said to be removable via a swiping gesture (the photos support this theory, as on one of them, the handset is without on-screen buttons).
We must note that the original source of the photos has already removed them. In our book, this means that we are indeed looking at the real thing.
Alleged specs of the HTC M8 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, 5" 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, dual 5MP camera setup, and Sense-d Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The device is tipped to go official in March at an event in New York City.
HTC exec casts doubt on M8 pic, as new images generate more controversy
Overnight, we saw the arrival of an image claiming to reveal the HTC M8, showing off the weird dual-camera configuration previously mentioned in leaks and hinted at by way of case designs. But is this really the M8 we're looking at? A couple new developments cross our desk this evening, with an HTC executive casting doubt on that earlier find, and a couple new pics surfacing - though ones that are already attracting some criticism themselves.
Mark Moons is HTC's regional director for the Benelux area of Europe, and he took to Twitter this morning - just hours after that "M8" image surfaced - to post "somebody has been photo shopping...." He doesn't go into more detail nor specifically address the M8 (though we suppose even acknowledging the model publicly would be risky in his position), but given the timing and the content of his message, it's difficult to believe he's talking about anything else.
We also get a couple additional "M8" pics, this time showing the phone's front. The problem is, while this could be viewed as a black HTC One that's had a larger screen Photoshopped in, the rumors we've heard of the M8 largely mirroring the One have us wondering if this could actually be how the phone might appear.
One curious aspect of this set is how the phones' virtual buttons seem like they can disappear from the home screen. We suppose that could be a possible software feature, but we still have concerns that these might be fakes. Note, for instance, how the background image isn't just covered-up by the Android buttons when they slide into place, but the entire picture scales to accommodate them - that would look quite odd to see happening in action. As such, treat these shots with an abundance of caution until we have something to back them up.
Will the iWatch be CHARGERLESS? Apple could use solar and kinetic qpower to run its rumoured smartwatch
By Victoria Woollaston
11:56 03 Feb 2014, updated 12:41 03 Feb 2014
Reports in the New York Times claim the first-generation smartwatch will be charged wirelessly, using existing technologies currently used with select smartphones and cases.
Yet future models of the wrist-worn technology may even be powered by solar or kinetic energy to make sure they never lose charge.
Apple is rumoured to be working on an alternative way to charge its much-rumoured iWatch, concept pictured, to remove the need for wires and chargers. Reports claim the first model will be charged wirelessly, while future models may be powered by solar or kinetic energy
Solar panels could be fitted underneath the display of the iWatch, for example, and harness the sun's energy.�
Casio, for example, already uses solar technology in its G-Shock range of watches that can receive thermal and electrical energy and use it to recharge watch batteries through solar panels on the face of the watch.
This is further supported by the fact that in September, Apple posted a job vacancy looking for someone with solar expertise.
Other rumours state the watch will have a curved screen and run the next-generation of Apple software, likely to be called iOS 8.
The patent described a 'wearable accessory device' with a 'flexible display' that could use the same technology as a child's slap wrap to mount a flexible touchscreen on a user's wrist.
It also detailed a method in which the battery life could be extended, including a 'solar panel array spread across a surface of the accessory device', or 'a kinetic power source similar to those found on some wristwatches.'
These current claims confirm plans laid out in an 2011 Apple patent. The patent described a 'wearable device' with a 'flexible display' that could use the same technology as a child's slap wrap, patent image pictured. Its battery life could be extended, using a 'solar panel array', or 'a kinetic power source
Other watchmakers, including Casio, already use solar technology in their products. For example, the Casio G-Shock, pictured, can receive thermal and electrical energy and use it to recharge watch batteries through solar panels on the face of the watch Animation of what the iWatch could look like
'An accessory device designed to be worn on a leg or arm could greatly benefit from this sort of power generation, and could lengthen the amount of time between charging,' the application continued.
Similarly, a patent filed in 2009 detailed how Apple wanted to harness kinetic energy from the movement of an arm or leg as the wearer was walking.�
The curved screen and design rumours were bolstered by a further patent, awarded last year, which gave Apple the option to install a flexible battery into future products.
Last week, reports claimed Samsung was also looking at adding a curved screen to its own next-generation smartwatch, dubbed Galaxy Gear 2.�
The original watch launched in September last year and was heavily criticised for its chunky design and poor battery life.
The lockscreen is shown as having a basic black and white interface, and according to Hamilton, it would show the time and date, as well as a button to activate Apple�s voice assistant Siri
Once unlocked, the phone�s homescreen would have four app icons stacked with a page controller on the right-hand side. Users could then swipe up or down to move between pages of apps, in a similar way iPhone users can swipe left and right
Some analysts claimed the device was rushed out to make sure it was one of the first on the market, beating Apple and Google to their respective rumoured devices.�
Whereas Apple may have delayed its own smartwatch release to learn as much about what customers liked, and didn't like, in the Samsung version.
Since the first Apple iWatch rumours emerged in 2012, a number of artists have created concept images of what it may look like.
Many resembled the square and clunky design of Samsung's Galaxy Gear, yet the latest images from Californian designer Todd Hamilton imagine a much more sleek and elegant curved device.
Hamilton took inspiration from fitness bands, as well as the look and functionality of Apple's iOS7, to create a watch that is 'like something Apple would actually produce.'
The concept watch is shown as a simple band, fitted round the wrist like the Nike Fuelband, with a curved touchscreen.
Previous iWatch concept images, including this one from MacUser magazine, featured a square screen, and a clunky design, that more closely resembled Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch
Samsung beat Apple to the smartwatch market when it released its Android-powered Galaxy Gear, pictured, in September. However, its design, functionality and battery life has been heavily criticised and experts believe Apple may have delayed its iWatch release to learn more about what customers like, and don't like.
Thanks for the lessons, please see part of body part where watch can be worn, yes fully covered arm with access to plenty of sunlight, hope you find the picture helpful in clarifying your confusion.
What goes around comes around. Apple totally deserve this. They started all this and now it comes back to bite them in their own abackside.
Apple sued for $2 Billion in Germany
Apple has been sued for $2 Billion by the German company, IPCom, due to alleged patent infringements. The patent is for mobile phones giving priority to emergency calls over a cellular netw1ork. IPComsource chased the patent from Robert Bosch, a German automobile parts maker. Seeing as this technology has existed in mobile phones for a long time, and virtually every phone uses the feature, it's hard to see IPCom as having a real shot at getting an amount anywhere near what they're asking for in the lawsuit. It seems to be a very obvious case of patent trolling, which is heavily practiced in the consumer technology space.
This isn't the first time, however, that this patent has been brought up in courts. Nokia has also been sued by IPCom, along with other cell phone manufacturers. HTC, Vodafone, Ericsson, Nokia, and Apple have all previously attempted to get this patent deemed invalid by the European Patent Office.
IpCom demands $2.12 Billion from Apple for the patent infringement. Apple hasn't been reached for comment on the lawsuit, but the Cupertino-based company's legal team probably isn't sweating bullets.
Apple wants to help you correct a text message after you send it
February 6, 2014 | Lance Whitney
A freshly published patent describes a way to let you correct any mistakes in a text message after you send it but just before it's actually sent.
Apple/USPTO
We've all made embarrassing mistakes in text messages, whether on our own or through the device's autocorrect feature. An Apple patent filing envisions a way to fix those mistakes before anyone else sees them.
Published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, a patent application named "Transient Panel Enabling Message Correction Capabilities Prior to Data Submission" outlines a technology that would give you a chance to correct any mistakes before the message is actually on its way.
As Apple acknowledges in the patent filing, autocorrect is a handy feature but it's hardly perfect. Though it's designed to help you type your message by predicting your words, autocorrect has a tendency to predict the wrong word at times. Further, typos you make yourself can often escape your attention, especially if you're in a rush to send out that text.
Via Apple's invention, you'd be able to review and make last-minute corrections to a text after you hit the Send button but just before the message is actually sent. After you send your text, you'd have a moment to fix any errors; otherwise the message goes out as is. That moment would be quick so as not to delay the back-and-forth exchange between you and your fellow texter.
As Apple describes it in the usual patentese:
A programmable device such as a smartphone allows a user an opportunity to make final corrections to textual data in a message after the user has instructed the device to send the message, but before transmittal of the message. The opportunity is temporary, to avoid impeding the flow of communication, and the textual data is transmitted unmodified if the opportunity to modify it is not accepted. Modifications made during the opportunity period may be used to adapt an autocorrect functionality of the programmable device.
As always, a patent filing doesn't necessarily mean the technology will ever hit the real world. But here's hoping this one does.
PhoneDog's Official Smartphone Rankings (OSR) hit week 100, and while some new smartphones have joined the charts, your favorites still found the number one spots. �The HTC One, with its beautiful metal build and fantastic specifications, has been in first place on the People's Choice chart for nearly half of the OSR's existence. �With 46 weeks under its belt at number one, will it top the chart again next week?� Yes Duh!
MT PLEASANT, SC - February 6, 2014 - PhoneDog Media's Official Smartphone Rankings� (OSR), the gold standard for ranking the best smartphones on the market by placing votes from readers and experts in their respective charts, made it to week 100 with no surprise on the People's Choice chart. �The top 5 remained the same from last week, with the HTC One garnering 127 votes, Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 earning 65 votes, and the LG Nexus 5, LG G2, and Nokia Lumia 1520 rounding out the group
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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