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  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Going back to a Curvy Display

    Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Going back to a Curvy Display

    Ever since the debut of the Galaxy Note Edge, curved displays have been a trademark of Samsung flagship phones. And although in recent years the company seemed to be moving away from the extreme slanted edges of the aforementioned model and some of its successors, the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 may actually draw inspiration from Samsung’s older designs.

    The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S10 and S10+ have very subtly curved displays that serve mostly to accentuate the extremely thin side bezels and as an excuse for the Edge Screen to exist. With the initial “wow” factor of the curved design gone, it made sense for Samsung to dial back the exaggerated contours in favor of a more restrained look.

    All that said, according to resourceful leakster @UniverseIce, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 may flaunt a “more aggressively curved display than the Note 7.” The unfortunate Galaxy Note 7 didn’t have an extremely curved screen, at least when compared to some older designs, so it would be interesting to see what the Samsung does with the Note 10. If the company is going back to displays with more pronounced curved edges, we’re hoping that it does so with a clear idea of how to enrich the user experience. When the Galaxy Note Edge launched, its slanted screen was certainly new and different from anything else on the market, but the company itself later proved that the functional aspects of the Edge display can be successfully replicated on more subtly curved designs.

    Another interesting remark that Ice Universe makes is that “more than one brand” will follow Samsung’s example and launch a device with a “more aggressively curved display.” This trend didn’t really take off in the past, but if the Note 10 does, indeed, do something very creative or convenient with this rumored design, then more companies may follow suit. We’ve been hearing rumors the OnePlus 7 may have a curved screen, though they are conflicting.

    Earlier this year, we envisioned what the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 may look like, based on rumors and preliminary information. We suggested that the Note 10 might have a hole-punch selfie camera, akin to that of the Galaxy S10+. However, Ice Universe later told us that he expects the Note 10 to have a smaller camera opening than the Galaxy S10. He didn’t specify whether that means a single front-facing camera or just a smaller opening for the two lenses.

    Last month, Ice Universe tweeted: “Da Vinci is symmetrical.” This may seem cryptic at first, but since the Galaxy Note 10 is codenamed Da Vinci, this could be a hint that the phone’s front-facing camera may be centered, rather than offset like on the Galaxy S10. Many people wanted the S10 models to have centered selfie-cameras—if only for symmetry’s sake—and this may actually happen with the Note 10.

    What do you make of all this? Do you miss the more rounded screen edges that some Samsung phones had in the past, or are you just fine with the more subtle designs of the past couple of generations? What about the screen camera punch-hole? Centered or offset to the right? Yes, we know, you’d rather it disappeared for good, but that’s not happening this year, apparently. Tell us what you think in the comments below!

  • Samsung Brings inexpensive Galaxy Fit-e fitness trackers

    Samsung Brings inexpensive Galaxy Fit-e fitness trackers

    Unveiled back in February, the Galaxy Fit is likely get a cheaper brother, which hasn’t been officially introduced yet. Samsung was quite vague regarding the Galaxy Fit’s availability saying that Galaxy Fit-e will be launched in Q2 2019, and didn’t offer any details about pricing.

    However, we’ve just learned that the Galaxy Fit-e will be launched in the United States on May 21. Android Pit reports the fitness tracker has already been listed on Samsung Albania website with a price equivalent of just $35.

    The inexpensive Galaxy Fit-e sports a monochrome PMOLED display and a small 70mAh battery that should offer about one week of battery life. The fitness tracker is waterproof (5 ATM) and very light (15g).

    It comes with all the fitness and health specific features, including sleep and pulse tracking, notifications and exercises. Samsung Galaxy Fit-e will be available in three colors: black, white, and yellow.

    Apparently, Samsung Albania jumped the gun on the Galaxy Fit-e since no other Samsung website lists the fitness tracker yet. Also, take the information with a grain of salt until the South Korean company make the Galaxy Fit-e official.

  • Samsung to gather all Galaxy Fold units sent out to reporters

    Samsung to gather all Galaxy Fold units sent out to reporters

    Samsung’s first smartphone with a foldable display is writing history, no doubt about it. What will this segment of the tech industry archives say exactly, is still uncertain. It seems like every day we get a new development in the saga of the Galaxy Fold.

    First, reviewers around the world got Galaxy Fold units ahead of the launch, as is tradition, to give users insights about how the new device feels to use. The initial feedback was mostly positive. Reporters said that the hinge mechanism is durable and satisfying to use and the crease in the display is barely visible when handling the device. That raised hopes among consumers that the Galaxy Fold is more than a prototype that Samsung has decided to sell to a few customers.

    But that joy was short-lived, at least for some of the testers. Pictures of damaged displays started showing up on Twitter and while some were caused by the users which mistakenly tried to peel a layer of the display, others were of no fault of the person handling the Galaxy Fold.

    Samsung has handled the situation as best as possible. Damaged units were replaced almost immediately, but now the company is going even further. Yesterday, Samsung announced that it is postponing the release of the Galaxy Fold to give itself time to investigate the various issues the device had and hopefully come up with ways to prevent them.

    Naturally, in order to investigate, Samsung needs to get said units. The move is already underway. Sources familiar with the situation have said that Samsung is going to retrieve all units that it sent out to reviewers in order to take a thorough look at them. So far, none of the reviewers with working units has mentioned that they’ve had to part ways with their Galaxy Fold.

    As soon as the Galaxy Fold was announced and the tech behind its foldable display was explained, concerns were raised about its durability. In order for the display to be able to bend, Samsung had to ditch the battle proven Gorilla Glass and go for something softer, in this case, plastic. The Galaxy Fold’s in-folding design provides some protection for the large inner display, but there are a couple of caveats that have proven to be a weakness for the device.

    One is the small gap that’s left between the two panels when the phone is closed. While it’s not a large one, it’s enough to get random small objects that might be lurking in your pocket stuck in the fold of the display, causing scratches or potentially even damaging the OLED panel under the protective plastic.

    The other is the area between the hinge and the display, which also appears to be a lucrative spot for unwanted debris to sneak into. Then once you unfold the display whatever is stuck under it starts putting pressure on the display matrix and can easily damage it, which was the case with one of the devices sent to reporters.

    Now all that’s left to see is how long the launch of the Galaxy Fold will be delayed and what changes Samsung is going to make. With units initially expected to start shipping around April 26, it’s obvious that a large number are already manufactured and waiting in storage somewhere. Making any design changes at this point will be a costly and slow process. On the other hand, Samsung can’t afford to send devices that might break within a week to customers that are paying $2000 for them. We’ll see how this situation unfolds (pun intended) as it might be one of the most difficult things Samsung has had to deal with since the Note 7 fiasco.

  • Samsung Galaxy Studio creates Heartbeat Experience

    Samsung Galaxy Studio creates Heartbeat Experience

    Samsung Galaxy Studio pop up in Causeway Bay marks the Galaxy S series’ 10th anniversary smartphone.

    Interactive digital lights in the studio allowing participants to create visually stunning motion images responding to their own heart rates and eye images in order to demonstrate the quality of the latest Galaxy S10 phone camera.

    Every participant visiting the Samsung Galaxy Studio will be equipped with a Galaxy S10 smartphone to experience different zones, where they can personally try out the phone’s extensive functions. Participants will be awarded limited prizes upon completion.

    “Samsung has been upholding the belief of innovation for the past 10 years, bringing consumers an excellent smart mobile experience,” said Samsung Electronics HK MD Yiyin Zhao. “At the same time, we understand how Millennials crave for an all-new experience, so we opened the all-new Galaxy Studio in Causeway Bay, where fashionistas gather.”

    Visitors who register at the check-in counter to get a Galaxy S10 smartphone with the Galaxy Buddy app installed are then led through different experience zones. After completing an experience, participants receive a digital stamp through the Galaxy S10’s NFC tag function. Participants may redeem gifts after collecting four digital stamps, and are encouraged to upload their photos to their social media accounts.

     

  • Samsung to launch four Galaxy Note 10 models

    Samsung to launch four Galaxy Note 10 models

    Samsung has already outlined its strategy for its next lineup of flagships – Galaxy Note 10, and it involves a lot more than just two phablets. Our most recent report concerning the Galaxy Note 10 series claimed Samsung plans to launch two models in Q3 2019, temporarily dubbed Note 10e and Note 10+.

    The reason behind Samsung’s decision to launch a smaller Galaxy Note 10 this year is probably related to the success of the Galaxy S10e. Samsung has yet to disclose any Galaxy S10 sales numbers, but we do know the volume of the units shipped in the first day of availability was 120% of the Galaxy S9.

    Now, a new report coming from the South Korean media claims Samsung will launch not two, but four Galaxy Note 10 models. That’s because the smartphone giant doesn’t want to miss the 5G bandwagon and at least two Note 10 variants will include the new technology.

    Along with this piece of information, the report contains some details about the Galaxy Note 10 configurations and the reason Samsung has decided to come out with at least four models rather than just one or two.

    At least two different LTE models and with 5G support

    The first thing mentioned in the report is that the two LTE-only Galaxy Note 10 models will boast 6.28-inch and 6.75-inch displays. They are not mentioned by names, but they might as well refer to them as Note 10e and Note 10+. These “cheaper” Galaxy Note 10 smartphones will have triple and quad camera setups, but there are no details about the battery.

    A third Galaxy Note 10 model will feature 5G support and the specifications of the display and the rear camera “are almost the same as those of the LTE model,” sources familiar with Samsung’s plan claim.

    The fourth Galaxy Note 10 variant that isn’t mentioned in the report could be the smaller Note 10e that popped up early this month, which is rumored to sport a 6.4-inch display. Apparently, all Note 10 models will include larger than 6-inch displays and the Note 10e should be the smaller of them all.

    To summarize the latest rumors about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 10, the South Korean company plans to launch two or three LTE models and one 5G variant, which will only be available in those markets that already benefit from 5G network coverage.

    Based on these reports, it appears that Samsung will apply the same marketing strategy as it did with the Galaxy S10 lineup, but that’s quite unusual for the Note family. While Samsung’s Note series remain premium, we can’t help but wonder what many fans of the phablets will think when they will be give the option to choose from multiple Note 10 variants with less than stellar specs.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 10 availability and price

    The report outed by the South Korean media earlier today mentions that industry source claim Samsung plans to unveil the new Galaxy Note 10 devices on August 8. Although we expect the smartphones to be available for pre-order shortly after the official announcement, they might not hit the shelves until late August.

    As far as prices go, there’s little to no information about how much the Galaxy Note 10 will cost, but we don’t expect these to go lower than $1,000. Considering that the cheapest Galaxy Note 9 was available for $1,000 and the most expensive $1,250, there’s a high chance that the “lesser” Note 10 models will cost around the same amount.

    The Galaxy Note 10 5G variant is an entirely different matter and while we’re certain that it will be the most expensive of the four, the final price remains a mystery for now.

  • Samsung Galaxy A20 goes official with solid features

    Samsung Galaxy A20 goes official with solid features

    Samsung is determined to completely overhaul its Galaxy A line, but the amount of device the South Korean company plans to launch in the remaining of the year is a bit overwhelming. We know of at least four Galaxy A phones that should be unveiled in the coming months, and three that have already been launched on the market – Galaxy A10, A30, and A50. Specs-wise, the Galaxy A20 sits between the A10 and A30 and so does in terms of price.

    What’s really amazing about this phone is that it retains some of the features that make its bigger brothers, the Galaxy A30 and A50, so appealing such as the massive, high-quality display and camera setup.

    It retains some of the “premium” features of its bigger A30 and A50 brothers

    The main selling points of the Galaxy A20 are no doubt the Super AMOLED display and the dual-camera on the back side. Of course, there are other important specs that make the Galaxy A20 an interesting budget choice for those who can’t afford a mid-range or flagship device, so let’s take an in-depth look at what the phone has to offer. First off, if you’re one of the many people who absolutely hate notch, the Galaxy A20 is not for you.

    Although it includes a minimally invasive waterdrop notch, it’s still there to bother your sense. However, if you don’t mind the compromise, the Galaxy A20 has a great 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which features 720 x 1560 pixels resolution. It’s the same display that Samsung included in the Galaxy A30 and A50, but you’ll be getting this one much cheaper.

    As for the other selling point of the Galaxy A20, it’s no longer unusual for mid-tier phones to include dual rear cameras, Samsung’s new handset is no exception. The dual camera consists of 13 + 5 megapixels sensors, but there’s also a secondary 8-megapixel camera in the front for selfies. Since this is a budget offering, Samsung included a less powerful chipset inside, the same packed inside the cheaper Galaxy A10. The Exynos 7884 is a new addition to Samsung’s line of chipsets and should be on par with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 processor in terms of performance.

    Android 9 Pie & Samsung One UI on a budget

    Even though it’s the most powerful smartphone out there, the Galaxy A20 ships with the latest Android 9 Pie operating system on board and Samsung’s One UI overlay. It’s too early to talk about Android Q since the new version of the OS hasn’t been released yet, but the Galaxy A20 has the required hardware for a software upgrade if Samsung decides to go for it. Samsung’s proprietary SoC (system-on-chip) is paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 512GB via microSD card. That’s the standard memory configuration for a mid-tier smartphone these days, but we’re surprised Samsung did not launch more than one models based on the amount of memory.

    We’re happy to see that Samsung understood how important is for customers to be able to use their phones for longer times without being forced to recharge them. The Galaxy A20 is powered by a massive 4,000 mAh battery, which should be enough for at least a few days of average use.

    Finally, we noticed a fingerprint sensor on the back side, a nice addition for a budget offering. We’re also told that Samsung Galaxy A20 comes with NFC (Near Field Communication) support, which means you’ll be able to use mobile payments services while on the go.

    Samsung Galaxy A20 price, release date, availability

    As far as the price and availability go, Samsung Galaxy A20 is only available for purchase in Russia for the moment, but we expect the smartphone to arrive in other European countries in the coming weeks.

    Price-wise, this is a cheap device for what it has to offer, as customers can buy one for around $215 outright. It’s also worth mentioning that phone prices in Russia tend to be slightly higher than the rest of Europe, and clearly higher than US prices, so a less than $200 price is definitely possible.

  • The Galaxy S10 has helped Samsung triple its market share in China

    The Galaxy S10 has helped Samsung triple its market share in China

    Samsung has been the number one smartphone manufacturer for years. It dominates key markets such as North America and Europe, while also remaining a strong player across Asia. In China, though, the situation is pretty different. Despite the company’s best efforts, over the past few years Samsung has seen its market share drop to a measly 1%. But thanks to the recent release of the Galaxy S10 lineup, things seem to be improving.

    The Samsung Galaxy S10 has accelerated growth in China

    According to reliable industry insider Ice Universe, Samsung’s market share in China has almost quadrupled since the beginning of the year, going from just 1% in early January to an impressive 3.6% during the tenth week of 2019 (March 4th to March 10th). The primary source of this growth is the recently-announced Galaxy S10 lineup.

    The new flagship series, which launched globally on March 8th, has reportedly been outperforming last year’s Galaxy S9 lineup by massive margins in China. In fact, the number of Galaxy S10/S10+ units sold within the first two hours of pre-orders was allegedly equal to double the number of Galaxy S9/S9+ devices sold during the first day.This impressive performance has also extended to a number of key global markets. In both the US and the UK, the Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records for Samsung. The most popular model proved to be the Galaxy S10+, despite its higher price.

    10 million Galaxy S10 units could be shipped this month alone

    Although predictions do vary by analyst, the overall consensus appears to be that Samsung’s Galaxy S10 trio will achieve sales of between 40 and 45 million units by the end of 2019. Around 20 million of these should ship by the very end of June. If this is successfully achieved, the new lineup will have outperformed last year’s Galaxy S9 duo, which sold 19.2 million units during the same period. In regards to short-term performance, recent forecasts have suggested the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e are on track to ship a combined 10 million units by the end of this month alone.

    Things are looking positive for Samsung in China

    As a result of intense competition from local brands, Samsung revamped its mid-range strategy late last year. The South Korean giant started implementing a number of new designs and focused heavily on its mobile cameras. Additionally, it promised to make flagship features more accessible by introducing them to consumers via the new Galaxy A-series. So far this year, the company has introduced the public to the Galaxy A10, A20, A30, and A50. These represent some of the company’s best value-for-money offerings in years and help cater towards a range of consumers in the budget segment.

    Eventually, these four devices will be joined by the Galaxy A40, Galaxy A60, and Galaxy A70. As indicated by their respective names, these will target consumers with slightly larger budgets and should help cover any remaining price points that Samsung doesn’t yet have covered. Lastly, Samsung’s new Galaxy A series should be completed by the Galaxy A90. This device will act as the most expensive model but should still cost less than the Galaxy S10e. In fact, a rumor floating around leads us to believe that it may be some sort of budget flagship powered by the Snapdragon 855. The smartphone is also rumored to include a bezel-less display paired with a unique pop-out camera mechanism which will remove the need for separate front and rear cameras thanks to its ability to rotate.

  • Issues with Samsung Galaxy S10 line results in shorter battery life

    Issues with Samsung Galaxy S10 line results in shorter battery life

    According to posts on Reddit and the Samsung U.S. community forum made by owners of the new Samsung Galaxy S10 line, the accidental touch protection feature on the phone is not working. This includes the “Block accidental touches” option that is supposed to keep the display off when the phone is in a dark place, like a user’s pocket. The latter uses the handset’s proximity sensor. As a result, not only is the phone butt-dialing random people, when the device is pulled out of a pants pocket, the dialer is often on the display with a bunch of numbers, letters and symbols typed in. Some are blaming the placement of the proximity sensor, which is found on the status bar just above the “%” symbol used to show how much battery life is on the phone.

    Galaxy S10 users say that their phone takes screenshots, opens apps and even turns on the flashlight while in a pocket or a purse. The latter is quite an achievement since it requires the screen to be dragged down twice and the flashlight icon to be tapped. For some users, they can feel the handset vibrating in their pocket and when the device is pulled out from there, it is running hot and the battery is draining faster than it should be. The failure of the accidental touch protection feature to work can lead to some embarrassing moments. For example, a Galaxy S10 owner didn’t realize that his phone had butt-dialed the police emergency number. When he returned home, the cops were there asking if he had an emergency.

    Butt-dialing calls, overheated phones and shorter battery life are some of the symptoms

    One Galaxy S10 user had an interesting theory. He said that the proximity sensor might be seeing light through his pants, keeping the screen on as a result. The sensor is designed to turn off the screen when something is in close proximity to the display. This turns off the screen when you are on a call and the device is placed to your ear, in order to save battery life and prevent accidental touches. The original Apple iPhone was the first smartphone to offer this feature. Testing his theory, this Galaxy S10 user covered up the proximity sensor with his hand with the device in his pocket, and the screen stayed. He believes that Samsung has not calibrated the accidental touch protection correctly. Another user figured that because he had the fingerprint unlock turned on, his phone was constantly scanning for a fingerprint when the display was pressed against his leg with the device in his pocket.

    While many Galaxy S10 owners listed a variety of problems they had trying to keep their phone asleep inside their pocket, one Galaxy S10e user says that he was able to prevent the phone from turning on and butt-dialing from his pocket by disabling the “Lift to Wake” setting. Another user noted that disabling “Always On Display” and “Double Tap to Wake” resulted in more battery life on his phone when he pulled it put of his pocket (50% vs 20%), which he cited as an indication that turning off those features managed to fix the issue.

    But not every Galaxy S10 user who disabled these settings found success. While Samsung forum moderators are certainly aware of this issue, there has been no reaction from Samsung itself. Perhaps Samsung is working on a software update that will fix the problem. For now, if disabling some of the aforementioned features does not help, you might want to consider topping off the battery before you head out just in case your

  • Free Spotify premium service for Samsung Galaxy S10 buyers

    Free Spotify premium service for Samsung Galaxy S10 buyers

    With the Samsung Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ all officially launching today, music streamer Spotify has announced that its Android app will be pre-installed on all three models in the U.S. Additionally, the Spotify app will come loaded out of the box on the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and certain Galaxy A units in the states as well. The latter are mid-range phones offered by Sammy.

    Besides pre-installing the Spotify app on these Samsung Galaxy handsets, state-side users will receive a free six-month subscription to Spotify’s premium U.S. service as long as they are not a current subscriber to the music streamer. While Spotify does offer a free ad-supported tier of service, it does not come with certain features available to premium members. Those features include unlimited skips, and the ability to download music that can be played offline. Premium members can also play any track in Spotify’s library, and songs are streamed in High Quality.

    Spotify normally offers a free 30-day free trial to its premium tier, after which pricing is $9.99 per month. Families with up to six members can pay $14.99 monthly, and students with a verified .edu email address are charged only $4.99 a month.

    Last August, Samsung and Spotify teamed up to take on Apple Music. Spotify became Samsung’s new “go-to music service provider” as it tries to keep its lead over Apple Music world-wide. Launched in October 2008, Spotify has yet to turn a profit and has embarked on a campaign to transition subscribers from its free tier of service to a subscription plan.

  • The Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records

    The Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records

    The Samsung Galaxy S10 series apparently experienced a pretty sluggish start in South Korea. Globally, though, demand for the devices has proven to be quite high. So high, in fact, that the Galaxy S10 series has set new pre-order records for the US and the UK.

    In both markets, the Galaxy S10+ proved to be the most popular model of all with a sales share of 57%. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e, on the other hand, accounted for the remaining 43%. However, it’s unclear which of these two proved to be the most popular.

    As for colors, UK consumers largely favored the new Prism Black option – it accounted for a whopping 47% of pre-orders. The color preference of US consumers wasn’t specified but lack of stock suggests that Prism White was the general favorite.

    Unfortunately, no specific pre-order numbers were provided. But the records do suggest the Galaxy S10 series could be just what Samsung needs to maintain its number one position throughout the rest of the year. The news also bodes well for the recently-revised shipment estimates by Ming-Chi Kuo. For those of you that may be unaware, the popular analyst recently increased his Galaxy S10 sales predictions to between 40 and 45 million units as a result of popular demand.

  • Samsung US stores opens door

    Samsung US stores opens door

    South Korea’s Samsung will launch the first three of a planned network of North American stores this coming week, timed to coincide with the expected release of its next-generation Galaxy smartphone. The smartphone-focused Samsung US stores will open in the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City; the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles; and Galleria in Houston. The openings have been interpreted as a branding exercise more than a sales driver by some industry experts, given the predominance of Apple iPhones in America. Samsung currently has 24 per cent of the US market, as opposed to Apple’s 44 per cent, with both manufacturers selling most of their handsets through carrier-operated stores.

    “Our new Samsung Experience Stores are spaces to experience and see Samsung technology brought to life, to empower people to do what they never thought was possible before”, said president and CEO of Samsung Electronics America YH Eom.

    “We want to build a ‘playground’ for Samsung fans – a place to learn about and try out all of the amazing new products we have to offer.”

    The Samsung US stores will encourage visitors to linger in-store while experimenting with the brand’s 4D VR and immersive 4K gaming products.

    Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2019 presentation, scheduled for San Francisco on Wednesday, is widely rumoured to serve as a launchpad for a new foldable phone.

  • Samsung to release feature-rich phone to take on Huawei

    Samsung to release feature-rich phone to take on Huawei

    Samsung is releasing a phone with robust functions specifically designed to meet the challenge posed by Huawei. It has fast internet speeds — utilizing 5G wireless — is foldable and has an innovative screen design. Last year’s smartphone market can be summarized in one sentence: Apple’s defense, Huawei’s catch-up and the fall of Samsung Electronics.

    According Counterpoint Research, Apple’s share in the super high-end smartphone market, those priced over $900 (880,000 won), was 79 percent in the third quarter of 2018. In the $600-$900 market (660,000 to 880,000 won), Apple (61%) surpassed Samsung Electronics (21%) by a large margin, and in the $400-$600 range (440,000 to 660,000 won), Huawei (17%) was right behind Samsung (25%).

    At this critical moment, Samsung Electronics celebrates the 10th anniversary of the release of its “Galaxy” smartphone. The Galaxy Black came to market in April 2009. A new Galaxy S10, a commemorative issued for the anniversary, will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 in Barcelona, Spain this February. The name of the new S10 is “Beyond.”

    Samsung’s says it wants to outdo itself with the latest release.

    In the new S10, Samsung’s Infinity-O Display will be embedded. The display has a small hole in the screen for the selfie lens, so almost the entire face of the device is screen. The proportion that is screen is more than in Apple products, which utilize more real estate for the lens.

    The fingerprint-identifying sensor does not require separate hardware, but is found within the screen. The sensor itself utilizes Qualcomm ultrasonic-wave technology, which can identify prints that are less readable due to water or soil on the screen. Instead of scanning the user’s iris, the new model will utilize facial recognition, as is done with iPhones.

    It is expected that Samsung will maintain the 3.5mm-earphone jack, which has been scrapped on iPhones. It will also be 5G capable, allowing for a 1.5-gigabyte movie to be downloaded in less than a second. Samsung announced last month it will supply the world’s first 5G phones to Verizon and AT&T.

    Huawei is expected to release its own 5G phone in the first half of the year.

    Early versions of the new Galaxy S10, to be released in February, will not be 5G capable. It is possible that the S10 with a 5G communications chip will be released separately, as was done with the Galaxy S5 broadband LTE-A model, which was separately released in 2014.

    It was expected that LG Electronics will release its 5G smartphone this April or May, but it changed its goal for release to late March. Apple might not equip new iPhones, which will be released this year, with a 5G-communications chip.

    A telecommunications industry source said, “Apple originally did not really care about the speed of telecommunications that much. Apple might embed 5G in the iPhone in fall.”

    Smartphone competitors are seen pushing foldable phones in 2019. According to market research firm Strategic Analysis (SA), shipments of foldable smartphones globally will increase gradually from 3 million in 2019 to 14 million in 2020, and ultimately to 30 million in 2022.

    Chinese phone market Royole released a foldable first, in October last year, ahead of Samsung Electronics and Huawei. Royole will release its 7.8-inch Flex Pie foldable phone at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), to be held in Las Vegas from Jan. 8-Jan. 11. Royole led the market but has received criticism about the quality of its device.

    The Galaxy foldable phone will be released in February. It will have a 7.3-inch screen as well as a 4.58-inch screen. The initial run will be about 1 million units.

  • DFS and Bally To Launch Exclusive New Galaxy Sneaker for Men and Woman

    DFS and Bally To Launch Exclusive New Galaxy Sneaker for Men and Woman

    DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, and Swiss luxury brand Bally are bringing back classic 1980s design with the launch of the new DFS x Bally Galaxy sneaker for men and women.

    A replica of one of Bally’s most iconic products, the new Galaxy is the company’s lightest sneaker yet. Available in two versions, a maroon for men and a blush derivation for women, both pay tribute to Bally’s origins in elevated sportswear, mixing luxury suede and leather detailing with a more breathable canvas and a new sporty treaded sole that provides greater traction.

    “At DFS, newness and innovation are hallmarks of our approach to delighting our customers. We are thrilled to be partnering with Bally on this exciting rendition of the Galaxy sneaker, and to introduce yet another product to our customers that is available only at DFS stores worldwide,” said Sibylle Scherer, DFS President Merchandising and Consumer Marketing.

    “Born in 1983 and recently relaunched, Bally’s Galaxy remains as modern and stylish as ever, whether you’re hitting the track or walking the city streets. We are delighted to be partnering with DFS to share this iconic sneaker with a whole new generation of Bally lovers,” said Frédéric de Narp, CEO Bally Group.

    The Galaxy is part of Bally’s Retro Sneaker Collection, a re-release of some of the company’s most iconic sneaker styles from the past four decades. The new collection includes four replicas of the most successful lace ups, from hip-hop era classics to tennis shoes and sporty runners.

    DFS and Bally will officially launch the new Galaxy sneaker on Saturday May 12 at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, City of Dreams. Following its release, the sneaker will be available exclusively at T Galleria by DFS stores worldwide.

  • More stores for Berluti Asia

    More stores for Berluti Asia

    Berluti Asia will open in India before year’s end, to be followed by a third store in Macau next year.

    It has stores in Macau Galaxy (pictured) and Macau One Central, with the third location yet to be revealed.

    In India, it is being introduced through an exclusive partnership with luxury retail group Bequest, reports Fashion Network. Bequest has exclusive rights in India already for such brands as Bang & Olufsen, and also has plans to expand the presence of UK cosmetics brand Molton Brown and Paris-based perfume house Creed.

    “Berluti is our first association with LVMH,” says Bequest group CEO Gaganmeet Singh. “We are also in advanced talks with Brunello Cucinelli and other brands.”

    Berluti will launch at Emporio mall in Delhi.

    The luxury shoe brand, which has 53 monobrand stores internationally, was founded in Paris in 1895, adding menswear to its range in 2011 as well as a bespoke service. Bought by LVMH in 2012, ,the label started to roll out globally the following year with stores in Shanghai and Tokyo as well as London and New York.

    In September last year the label appointed Colombian ready-to-wear fashion designer Haider Ackermann as creative director.

    His collections are working well with clients in all geographical areas, says Berluti CEO Antoine Arnault. “Chinese clients are swarming back, and Japan too is going very well.”

  • Samsung confirms launch of refurbished Galaxy Note 7s

    Samsung confirms launch of refurbished Galaxy Note 7s

    Samsung Electronics said Sunday it would start selling a refurbished version of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone this week after an embarrassing recall over exploding batteries rocked the tech giant last year.

    The recall of millions of Galaxy Note 7 devices cost the world’s largest smartphone maker billions of dollars in lost profits and hammered its global reputation.

    The refurbished device, made of recalled, unsealed Note 7 handsets and unused components are outfitted with new batteries, Samsung said in a statement.

    The limited-edition phone — the Galaxy Note Fan Edition (FE) — will hit shelves in South Korea on July 7, Samsung said, adding it would only sell 400,000 units at home.

    The firm said it would decide later whether to release the refurbished edition elsewhere, which is priced at 699,000 won ($611) domestically, far lower than the previous version that was nearly $1,000.

    About three million Galaxy Note 7 handsets were returned to the firm last year, but campaign groups including Greenpeace have expressed concern that discarding the phones could harm the environment.

    “The latest launch of the Galaxy Note FE… has a significant meaning as an environment-friendly project that minimised the waste of resources,” Samsung said in a statement.

    The recall — the largest-ever by the South Korean tech giant — was deeply embarrassing for Samsung, but it has just launched a new flagship device, the Galaxy S8, to positive reviews and strong orders.

    In April Samsung posted its biggest quarterly net profit in more than three years, although the company has come under pressure on wider fronts.

    Lee Jae-Yong, the Samsung group’s vice-chairman and heir to its leadership, is on trial for bribery over his role in a massive corruption scandal that brought down impeached former president Park Geun-Hye.

    Lee is accused of bribing Park and her confidante Choi Soon-Sil with millions of dollars to seek regulatory favours.