Galaxy Gear update brings full notification support to Samsung’s smartwatch

The Galaxy Gear is Samsung’s first attempt to break into the wearable computing market, but so far reception has been fairly lukewarm.

The Gear is a pretty cool looking gadget with a lot of potential, but the problem is that it also arrived to store shelves feeling  a bit unfinished. Not only did the Gear solely support the Note 3 at launch, it also has been hindered by limited apps and a notification system that often requires you to whip out your phone to actually find out what’s going on...

Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority

Will the Samsung Galaxy S4 be King of the Smartphones

The race has been going on for years … which smartphone would be the thinnest? the fastest? or perhaps highest resolution camera? And for 2013 it seems to be all about the screen resolution. With many smartphones all launching with 1920x1080 full HD resolution screens, what could be next?

At the end of April 2013 we will see the Samsung Galaxy S4. Yes, it is fast, has a a nice camera and a full HD screen to top it off. I personally remember when Samsung announced it. With their tongue on cheek presentation they showed us Smart Pause, where the video you are watching pauses when you look away. Next up is Air View & Gesture, where you greasy fingers do not even need to touch the screen to navigate your way around. And then we have S Health which tracks your activity, daily food intake and weight … promising a fitter you.

These features are just a few of the many new enhancements which I termed gimmicks when I first saw them. However, we all need to take a step back and think, what else could Samsung do to move this type of technology forward? And I think they are brave in trying to give us some really unique features. OK, so everyone will use S Translator every day, but if you find yourself in a foreign country, perhaps on holiday, you will be glad to have it at your disposal. I strongly believe that all manufacturers are beginning to realise that things like a high megapixel camera on a tiny phone sensor is not a cutting edge feature. Rest assured, when they react to the Galaxy S4 you will see them all squashing in tonnes of new features to their 2014 products. By then, Samsung may well have the lead that they need to take the top spot in this sector.

As with every new smartphone launch, a good selection of accessories always follow and one that caught my eye is official View Cover. Without even opening the cover you can see the current time & useful notifications, the contrasting colour of the display peeping through is awesome and… it looks very sexy too.

By now you should now that I try new smartphones out practically every day. I am an avid iPhone user, but have been tempted away with the likes of the Lumia 920 and a couple of years back, the Blackberry Bold 9900. I feel very strongly that Apple need to react to their competitors smartphones, with their lovely high res large screens. The App argument is no longer an issue either (at least where Google Android is concerned). With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4… of course I will be testing & reviewing it. Who knows, if it delivers on performance, as I am sure it will, the SGS4 might find its way into my pocket and if it does the View Cover is mine too.

Samsung Galaxy Camera reaches Canada on December 7th with carrier-independent 3G

Canadians won't have to race to the border or gamble on an import if they're jonesing for a Samsung Galaxy Camera to call their own. As of December 7th, they'll find the Jelly Bean-touting shooter sitting either in a local Black's Photography store or the official Samsung store in Burnaby, BC. The Canuck model keeps the HSPA+ data we've seen in the AT&T version, but the similarity in networks up north works to a budding photographer's advantage: a data micro-SIM from any of the larger carriers will be enough for some 3G photo sharing. Samsung is oddly silent on just how many toonies it will take to buy the Galaxy Camera, although a near-perfect parity in currency suggests the Canadian price won't be too far from the $500 US sticker.

[Source: Engadget]

Colours! Samsung's Galaxy Camera pops at Photokina with vibrant orange and magenta paint jobs

Another Photokina star is Samsung's Galaxy Camera, which launched to much fanfare several weeks ago at IFA, but dominates the company's photo-themed booth at the biennial photography show in Cologne, Germany. There's not much more to report on the hardware side, apart from confirmation that certain versions of the Android snapper will pack LTE, but there are indeed some very shiny new finishes to gawk at. First up is a bright orange flavor -- if you feared that the Galaxy point-and-shoot's rather large footprint wouldn't attract enough attention on its own in the field, you shouldn't have any such concerns with an orange model. Also of the neon persuasion is a flashy pink version, which like the aforementioned color, should draw many an eye. We were quite pleased with the black and white models we saw at IFA, and while Samsung clearly has a few colorful prototypes in circulation, the company says they're only being considered at this point, with your feedback determining the final options. So, what do you think? Would you buy an orange or pink Galaxy Camera? Let us know in the comments after the break.

[Source: Engadget]

Kno textbooks arrive on Android with the Galaxy Note 10.1, take on a social side

Kno's post-hardware textbook platform has called the iPad its only tablet home for more than a year; it's about to spread its wings. Starting with a bundled presence on the Galaxy Note 10.1, Kno is an option for K-12 and college students who'd rather go the Android route. While all the 3D, note-taking and navigation features remain the same, there's an obvious selling point in supporting the S Pen (and hopefully other pens) to more directly put thoughts to virtual paper -- or, let's admit it, doodle in the margins. All of us, Android and otherwise, get a new Social Sharing component that lets us crib each other's notes before the big exam. We're still waiting on Kno for other Android devices as well as the already-promised Windows 7 support, but it's hard not to appreciate at least a little more variety in our digital learning.

[Source: Engadget]

Potential Samsung Galaxy Note 2 bezel gets snapped, measured at 5.5 inches

Here's an image purporting to be of the Galaxy Note 2's bezel, and if it's a fake, it's a very good one. Taken by a (sharper-than-usual) blurrycam snapper wearing factory-style dust booties, the hardware suggests a chunky, squared-off design for the second-generation phablet that rejects the Galaxy S III'smore curvaceous body. The ruler draped from corner-to-corner jibes with earlier rumors that it would have a slightly expanded 5.5-inch canvas for your S-Pen fun. We just have one question: does that photo make it look curved along the horizontal axis, or is the loose component just bendy?

[Source: Engadget]

Galaxy Note 10.1 already shipping from Negri Electronics ahead of likely mid-August announcement

While Samsung hasn't exactly been forthcoming about the release date for the long-awaited Galaxy Note 10.1, high-end phone retailer Negri Electronics apparently has taken matters into its own hands. Despite the fact that Samsung has a "major Galaxy announcement" scheduled for mid-August, Customers can now drop $749.50 at the retailer to put in a pre-order for the device. According to the Negri Electronics Twitter account, orders will begin shipping today.

The white unlocked model up for sale includes both Wi-Fi and 3G connections, runs Android 4.0, has a resolution of 1280 x 800, and is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor — same as we heard way back in February when the Galaxy Note 10.1 was introduced at Mobile World Congress. It also looks identical to a model that leaked out just a few weeks ago. After a long five months and lots of new tablets on the market, our enthusiasm for this tablet may have diminished a bit — but it's still probably the most stylus-friendly option on the market. If you're interested, you can place an order now right here.

[Source: The Verge]

Samsung announcing 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II at August 15th press event?

A 5.5-inch successor to the Galaxy Note will be announced at Samsung's August 15th press event, according to BGR's anonymous source. This aligns well with previous rumors, which could indicate that the company's unbreakable plane display technology (UBP), 12-megapixel camera, and Android 4.1 are coming along for the ride. Then again, Samsung's August 15th event could be the launchpad for a different stylus-equipped device, the Note 10.1.

[Source: TheVerge]

Samsung Galaxy Tab - Thinner

This is my favourite video of the three, really liking the look of this device. Thinner Than Ever Before. 8.6mm is not a lot of space to work with even in the best of conditions, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab does what other tablets can only dream of, twice as fast, in the sleek design you've come to expect of all Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Just remember to keep a pencil handy if prying hands are to be kept at bay...

Samsung Galaxy Tab - Faster

Now Even Faster. Make buffering a relic of the past, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab's lightning fast processors handling even the largest of video files with ease. So next time a wayward toddler threatens to erupt, save yourself the embarrassment of a restaurant tantrum and see the Samsung Galaxy Tab's performance for yourself.

Samsung Galaxy Tab -- Lighter

Samsung have produced three videos about their new Galaxy Tab, this is the first one which is pretty neat. Weighing in at a dainty 565 grams, The Samsung Galaxy Tab is as light and portable as they come. Whether you're late for an important meeting or just carrying it around town, the Samsung Galazy Tab will feel like it's not even there -- and you'll never get fired again. Now find us another tablet which can promise that.