SYNAPSE CIRCUIT UPGRADING YOUR HANDSET FOR XMAS?

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

AN UPGRADE FOR CHRISTMAS... 

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! Season’s Greetings! It’s great to see you as always! I hope that all is well and that you are winning in your preparations for Christmas!

Hey, are you due for an upgrade? You ought to read the Synapse Circuit Smartphone Christmas Recommendations!

#SynapseCircuitTopSmartphones #GalaxyNote4 #G3 #GalaxyS5 #MotoX2014 #MotoG4G2013 #MotoG2014 #Fonepad7LTE

WHY ME?
I find myself asking that question almost every time I do a bit of mystery shopping visiting London’s mobile retail outlets... What happens is this: Whenever I am in a mobile retail outlet store invariably a complete stranger comes up to me and says something along the lines of, “I am done with the iPhone! It’s s**t! I am going for a...” Hold that thought! I will tell you what these men (they are all men) tell me that they are getting instead at the end... Let’s get it on! Here are my recommendations...

1. SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4
This is my current daily driver! The form factor is just amazing when compared to the Galaxy Notes 2 & 3; it no longer feels like a “phablet” and I am surprised to find that I can operate it with one hand – bearing in mind my hands are quite big! I take a size ‘large’ in Marigold gloves! The real metal edge really does make a difference but I would have gotten the Note 4 regardless because the Galaxy Note concept is the pinnacle of Android handsets. In my mind it destroys the iPhone 6 Plus in every way:-

* 5.7” Quad-HD screen; the best screen going!
* 16MP camera; 4K video recording and excellent 1080p video options!
* Android & TouchWiz combination is outstanding as it allows for great functionality!
* The S Pen; the latest S Pen design is awesome and in use it feels very natural!
* Removable battery and storage expansion via microSD card up to 128GB! Superb!
* The design is far more superior; the iPhone 6 and Plus are the blandest designs ever!

Read the full review here: Synapse CircuitGalaxy Note 4 Review

It’s unsurprising that the Galaxy Note 4 has become more desirable than the Galaxy S5 as Synapse Circuit predicted that the 5 inch plus form factor is no longer an issue; the Galaxy S4 just looks like a Galaxy Note (3 & 4) mini in comparison. We LOVE the big screen form factor than not! Sure, there are those out there that say they prefer a smaller screen yet the demand for the larger screen keeps escalating!

Please note (see what I did there?) that despite the up to 6” handset there are apps specifically for the tablet! Don’t kid yourself thinking, “Yeah, I have the best of both worlds!” No! What you have is a darned good handset but there are some useful apps out there on the tablet! Let’s move on...


2. LG G3
LG did exceptionally well with the LG G3; it beat Samsung by placing a quad-HD screen on a premium handset! Some may argue that the Galaxy S5 should have come second but when you take the unique design and simple functionality into consideration this is what made the G3 one of the best premium handsets on the market today and it no doubt affected the Galaxy S5 sales.

The 5.5” q-HD screen justifies what I have been saying all along about ‘Phablet Phenomenon’. Another thing is that LG decided to add a removable battery! Well done! The 13MP camera is pretty darned good too! There’s storage expansion via microSD card up to 2TB! WOW!!!

3. SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
For some reason Samsung didn’t release the UK version of the Galaxy 5 with a quad-HD screen however they (Samsung) put a great deal of effort into making the Galaxy S5 everyday proof with water and dust resistance. The pulse reader helped to make the Galaxy S5 a must have for Android sportspersons with the enhanced S Health functionality!

The Galaxy range of camera is consistently excellent and the Galaxy S5 16MP camera gave it a considerable advantage for ardent mobile photography fans! If correct the 16MP camera is the same one that is in the Galaxy Note 4! Again, the removable battery and microSD up to 128GB!

4. MOTOROLA MOTO X 2014
Now if you prefer to buy your handset outright and you’re looking for a balance between features, hardware and functionality then the Motorola Moto X 2014 might be an option! What is immediately striking about the Moto X 2014 is the brilliant design what with the front-facing speakers! What’s more is that you are able to customize the Moto X 2014 to look the way you want it to which is a great idea! The base Moto X 2014 costs £419 that gives you:-

* 5.2" AMOLED full HD 1080p display.
* 13MP camera which is above average - not the best but very good.
* 16GB storage
* 2GB RAM
* 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon CPU from Qualcomm

Considering that some of the super-premium handsets can cost around £650 to £750 the Moto X 2014 is very competitively priced. See the full review here: Synapse Circuit Moto X 2014 Review

One unique feature is the ability to use your voice to interact with the handset! It’s also water resistant!


5. MOTOROLA MOTO G – 2013 & 2014
WOW!!! Motorola certainly came back from the abyss with a range of handsets from premium to budget! Here in joint fifth are the Moto G 2013 4G and 2014 3G models! Let’s start with the last year’s Moto G...

Moto G 4G around this time last year sold out in just about every mobile retail outlet in London! It costs £145 and you do get quite a decent handset for the money – especially with 4G connectivity thrown into the mix!

* 4.5” 1280 X 720 HD, 329 ppi display!
* 8GB of internal storage; microSD cards up to 32GB
* 1GB RAM
* Qualcomm MSM8x26 quad-core A7 1.2GHz
* 5MP camera

If you like your handset compact and modest then this will certainly do the job! It’s so inexpensive that it could become a secondary handset or ideal for a teenager.

The second generation Moto G came back strong but controversially without 4G! The screen gets bumped up to 5 inches but the ppi is reduced from 329 to 294, the design is in keeping with the Moto X 2014 and the amazing front-facing stereo speakers and an updated Qualcomm 1.2GHz quad-core CPU! Just add £5 to the cost! The camera is upped to 8MP and it is very good!

The great advantage with both models is that you get more or less a pure vanilla Android experience! You just have to weigh up if the 5” screen and front-facing stereo speakers are more desirable than having 4G! I personally went with the 2014 model as I have 3 main 4G handsets that I use daily! Both handsets represent exceptional value! It has been understood that the Google Nexus 5 handset is no more once the stock has sold out, well the Moto G models can replace it – kind of! What I do hope for is a second generation Nexus 5 that will be a step up from the Moto G 2014 i.e. full HD 5.2” display, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 2GHz quad-core CPU, 13MP camera and stereo front-facing speakers for around £200! Oh, it’s gotta have 4G too! The potentially huge 6” display on the Nexus 6 may prove to be too much for some but I like it! Speaking of the Nexus 6, I didn’t get an opportunity to review it – maybe next year! However, it does look good though!

Oh, the Moto G 2014 has a dual nano SIM capability! Cool!

Motorola Moto G 2014 Review

And lastly...


6. ASUS FONEPAD 7 LTE
Okay, this might seem like an odd choice but if you are looking for a true “phablet” then the Fonepad 7 LTE could truly offer you the best of both handset and tablet!

* 4G LTE!
* 7" 1280x800 display!
* 2X2:Intel® Atom™ Multi-Core Z2560 Processor 1.6 GHz with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology!
* Dual front speakers!
* 16 GB of internal storage!
* 1.2 MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear camera!
* MicroSD expandable up to 32GB!

The only downside is that on the fly you will need a Wi-Fi connection if you want to use it as a phone! Unfortunately, because it is a 7” device it is registered as a tablet and as a result you can’t use the data aspect of a standard SIM. If you haven’t read my solutions to this proposition here’s what you can do:-

1. You can use a Mi-Fi device which is a personal Wi-Fi unit; most network providers offer up to 15GB of data for around £15 to £20 on 4G!

2. If you happen to have a main driver (another handset) you can use it as a personal Wi-Fi spot and tether the Fonepad 7 LTE to it – especially if you have an unlimited data plan! Some network providers prevent tethering or limit it to around 2GB! You can get around this by using a tethering app – the best ones are usually the ones you pay a little for!

3. You can rely on “trusted” Wi-Fi spots i.e. if you are a coffee bar poser like I sometimes am the Wi-Fi in such places is usually free!

4. I am quite sure that you can use a data only SIM that typically gives you 1GB for around £8 or 10GB for around £15! Obviously, you will have to shop around for the best value. Do ask your network provider to give you a deal as you are a long term costumer and you might get the 10GB for £10 or £12 instead of £15!

From there you download these free messaging, voice and video calling apps such as Viber, Skype, LINE, Kakao, Tango and WeChat for fine examples as alternatives to a typical mobile SIM. When used sparingly such a set-up can work! But you have to be careful of apps that use data in the background – especially social networks, news and weather feeds and GPS!

The choice is yours!

The Fonepad 7 LTE costs around £200 but considering you get a tablet and a phone it is pretty good value! Once again, there are some apps that are only available to the tablet and you may find that these apps are crucial to your daily operations. It would be ideal for network providers to allow for the standard SIM to work with phone enabled tablets in the foreseeable future!

Fonepad 7 LTE Review


REASONS TO GO ANDROID
If you are thinking of leaving the iTunes phone ecosystem here are some sound reasons to go Android!

01. If you are not going to be anal about this idea of “premium” you can pick up a decent handset for a much lower price ratio in comparison to the iPhone either to purchase outright or on a monthly contract!

02. You have so much choice! You can have a screen size that suits you!

03. There are so many different designs to choose from! The HTC One M8 is a great looking handset and you are probably wondering why it is not on this list... ...it’s the camera that lets it down! Other than that it does look amazing! If photo and video is important to you like it is to me then the HTC One M8 will almost certainly disappoint! But if you just take pictures to update your social networks, etc then give it a go by all means!

04. In addition to having different internal memory configurations you can extend the storage with a microSD card!

05. As a power-user you might appreciate that many Android handsets come with a removable battery! Nothing worse than having a phone for business only for the battery to die on you midday!

06. If you are not going to be anal about this idea of “premium” you can pick up a decent handset for a much lower price ratio in comparison to the iPhone either to purchase outright or on a monthly contract!

07. The key Google apps i.e. Drive (Docs, Sheets and Slides), Chrome, Translate, etc communicates better in the Android environment.

08. Google Now is better than Siri!

09. You can get a hybrid phone and 7” tablet that will not break the bank!

10. The Android operating system gives you more scope and is not as restrictive as iOS.

11. Android productivity apps outputs to a file format compatible with PC and Mac!

12. By rooting (jailbreaking on the iPhone) handset you can choose from a fairly wide range of custom ROMs and have more control over your device and privacy.

13. If you are not happy with the user interface overlay such as TouchWiz, Zen and others you can replace it / them with a launcher! Not forgetting that Android has great widgets to add to the customization!

14. If you are not happy with the default keyboard you can replace it with another and / or have multiple keyboards that you might use for different apps. That said, I personally prefer the official Google Keyboard app as it does the job! At the moment, as far as I am aware, third party keyboards meant for use with iOS brings up instability issues!

15. In addition to Google Now you can use virtual assistant apps such as Speaktoit Assistant that allows the user to give voice commands to interact with the handset.

REASONS TO STICK TO iPHONE
You’ve invested into the OSX and iOS ecosystems i.e. your desktop / laptop is a Mac; you may think that it is easier to keep everything firmly uniformed.

HERE’S WHAT STRANGERS TELL ME THEY ARE DITCHING THE iPHONE FOR
Yes, I opened this article with various strangers approaching me in mobile retail outlets that randomly tell me what they think of the iPhone and why they are ditching it. Here’s the handsets they are getting instead:-

1. Samsung Galaxy Note; it was version 3 at the time and it wouldn’t surprise me if there is more of an uptake for the latest and best version, 4.

2. Samsung Galaxy S; at the time of being approached the Galaxy S5 was and still is on the market.

3. Sony Xperia Z3; the Sony handset has made quite an impact on the mobile phone market. Many people like that designs, I don’t appreciate the design of Sony handsets.

4. HTC One M8; many people love the design and metal body of the One M8 (and M7) but I wonder if they are happy with the camera results.

5. LG G3; LG has created a fantastic design language in the G3 that makes it so very desirable over many handsets. I make no secret that I am a Samsung person primarily for the build, functionality, removable battery, microSD card and power but the G3 is very tempting. It could very well be that my next handset will be a choice between the Galaxy S6 and the G4! But well done, once again, to LG for this stunning design!

I still have no clue as to why 90% of the time I visit a mobile retail outlet that a total stranger approaches me to let me know what he feels about the iPhone and why he is ditching it!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT UNPACKED 5 PART 1

The Galaxy S5: I like the design. It's growing on me already!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

UNPACKED 5 PART ONE:
THE AFTERMATH!
#Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GS5 #MWC2014 #GalaxyS5Prime #Unpacked #Gear

Good very late evening / early morning, Synapse Circuit Readers! Are you ok? Did the Samsung Unpacked 5 leave you feeling a little shell-shocked? I am feeling shell-shocked and feel compel to write my way back to a calm reality...

"With the Galaxy S5, Samsung is going back to basics to focus on delivering the capabilities that matter most to our consumers."

JK Shin
President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung

SAMSUNG EAT HUMBLE PIE???
Noooooo! That’s not the Samsung I know! The Samsung that I know are innovators; and the Galaxy S4 was and still is brilliant! It is said that the sales of the GS4 was a bit of a disappointment but I find it hard to believe. Could it be that Samsung actually believes that their Air Gestures / View and Smart Stay / Pause, etc were a failure and that’s why the GS4 didn’t sell as well as they had expected? C’mon! That can’t be right because the GS3 started it off and that is still a great seller!

I really think that Samsung is suffering from being... Er... Uhm... Great! Look, my GS2 is still going like the day it came out of the factory (thanks to CyanogenMod 11, KitKat custom ROM). I would have gotten the GS3 only it didn’t coincide with my upgrade. Greatness could be a major problem for Samsung as the GS3 is still selling like hotcakes – especially as it has been reduced in price and will probably come down a tad further now that the Galaxy S5 is here!

Again, like I said in my coverage of the Unpacked 5 event, Samsung appears to be looking to keep it powerful and accessible for the masses who like their technology invisibly powerful. In other words: easy to use through intuition. This is how Apple makes the iPhone appealing.

But what about the people who love technology and wants it anyhow Samsung delivers it?

I LOVE TECHNO
I don’t know if I am in a minority... I probably am... But I LOVE technology and I love Samsung’s innovations! Literally, I fell in love with the GS3 after my initial shock regarding the design. And I am of the opinion that Samsung hasn’t done enough by the way of design and, like Apple, they have become a little precious about not wanting to rock the boat just in case people don’t like it. But design is one of Samsung’s many strong suits! When the GS2 came out I was so impressed that I had to have it right away! I loved and still love the design – it’s like it was chipped out of some black crystal! I guess that’s why I was initially shocked by the GS3! That was a great leap in design! But the leaps from GS3 to 4 and 5 have not been so wide.

What about me, Samsung? What about me? What about my love for all things tech-tripped out? I can’t help but wonder about this Galaxy S5 Prime... It has been inadvertently leaked by a third party protective case manufacturer. By the process of logical elimination, the Galaxy S5 Prime must be the one without the ‘Home’ button. Check it out here:

http://synapse-circuit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/synapse-circuit-samsung-galaxy-s5-prime.html

There’s still a possibility that the, potential, GS5 Prime model could look quite different from what is shown in the picture. What I have noticed from revisiting the picture is that there is no Heart Rate Monitor where the flash is (on the back) on either of the models. In fact not only is the ‘Home’ button missing on one of the models, there is no ear receiver grill too! Now what does that mean? Does it mean that the protective case manufacturer does not have the design of the GS5 Prime?

What I have noticed with Samsung is that they put out their premium handset i.e. the Galaxy S4 and then they dilute it with the GS4 Active and Zoom. So, I think this time around, Samsung have put out what they see as the Standard GS5 and will probably release more advanced models such as the much rumoured GS5 Prime with the 2K screen further along down the line. I would love to see Samsung either scrap the Galaxy S Zoom device in favour of putting it into a top notch handset. I felt that the Galaxy S4 Zoom was a good idea but wrapped up in an average handset. Please do not do that again, Samsung! Give me – us, a higher spec than the GS5 handset and whack a tripped out camera on it! 20MP? If you are reading, Samsung... I don’t suppose you can turn the headphone socket into a dual external microphone socket for decent video sound? Is that what you have in store with the GS5 Prime?

Anyhoo, let’s not get ideas above our station! But look at the Galaxy Note 3 - it has all that lovely techno-whiz-bang stuff that people love so much! People are buying it! I would get one if I could! But I guess I am in line for a Galaxy Note 4! It’s fine by me!

Let me close this article with a positive from a GS3 user:

“Guess I'm going from the GS3 to the GS5. Its upgrade time! It’s definitely a big jump up from my GS3 which I love dearly...”

GS5 SPEC:-

NETWORK
LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)

DISPLAY
5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)

AP
2.5GHz Quad core application processor

OS
Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)

CAMERA
16MP (rear), 2.0MP (front)

VIDEO
UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization
Video Codec : H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

AUDIO
Audio Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC
Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA

CAMERA FEATURES
HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
IP67 Dust and water Resistant
Ultra Power Saving Mode
Download Booster
S Health 3.0
Quick Connect
Private Mode
Kids Mode

Google Mobile Services: Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube

CONNECTIVITY
WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2)
Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE / ANT+
USB: USB 3.0
NFC
IR Remote

SENSOR
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture (IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor

MEMORY / STORAGE
RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 16/32GB
microSD slot upto 64GB

DIMENSIONS
142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g

BATTERY
2800mAh
Standby time: 390 hrs / Talk time: 21 hrs

What do you reckon?

Review coming very soon.... Stay tuned (pun unintended but works so well)...    

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG UNPACKED 5

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
UNPACKED 5, THE GALAXY S5 & GEARS!
#Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GS5 #MWC2014 #GalaxyS5Prime #Unpacked #Gear

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that all is well with you! Yes, the wait is long over as the Galaxy Unpacked 5 has just finished.

If you missed the live event I will give you a rundown...

SUBDUED: TH E UNPACKED 5 PART 1
My goodness... What happened?? The Samsung Unpacked 5 event saw Samsung at their most humble! Gone was the flair and supreme showmanship! No celebrity presenters to speak of! It was a very odd Unpacked for Samsung indeed... I am a bit shell-shocked!

If this is part 1 I can only imagine that part 2 will feature the Galaxy S5 Prime (as leaked by a third party protective case manufacturer). How about the S5 Zoom? S5 Active? Or have we seen an amalgamation of the S5 and what would be a separate Active device? S5 Mini? The Unpacked for the Galaxy Note 4 probably will not be announced until August / September 2014.

THE GALAXY S5: DESIGN
I did my best to prepare us for not too much of a design departure and I am glad that I did! The design...

Well, as a fan of Samsung I can say that I appreciate the design. I am not wowed by it but I do appreciate that it’s water and dust resistant (not waterproof and it probably won’t last long in a sandstorm).

As predicted, the Galaxy S5 design takes up from where the Note 3 left off. I guess the faux leather backing hasn’t made it to this model... Could it be designated for the Galaxy S5 Prime? Here’s the GS5 spec:-

NETWORK
LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)

DISPLAY
5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)

AP
2.5GHz Quad core application processor

OS
Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)

CAMERA
16MP (rear), 2.0MP (front)

VIDEO
UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization
Video Codec : H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

AUDIO
Audio Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC
Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA

CAMERA FEATURES
HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
IP67 Dust and water Resistant
Ultra Power Saving Mode
Download Booster
S Health 3.0
Quick Connect
Private Mode
Kids Mode

Google Mobile Services: Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube

CONNECTIVITY
WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2)
Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE / ANT+
USB: USB 3.0
NFC
IR Remote

SENSOR
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture (IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor

MEMORY / STORAGE
RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 16/32GB
microSD slot upto 64GB

DIMENSIONS
142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g

BATTERY
2800mAh
Standby time: 390 hrs / Talk time: 21 hrs

GALAXY S5: FIRST IMPRESSIONS SPEC-WISE
The Galaxy S5 ticks all the boxes when it comes to specifications and features. I think the LTE and Wi-Fi support is outstanding and should be rocket of a handset! I was expecting 3 or 4GB of RAM but it’s 2GB, which is good enough.

The Finger Scanner has made it! I am curious as to how this works! And if that’s not enough, there’s a Heart Rate Sensor where the camera flash is (at the rear.

Speaking of the camera... Yes, it will capture 4K video and it’s a 16MP instead of the anticipated 20MP. The camera has some depth of field attributes that is a feature on SLRs, Selective Focus, but I do believe that the camera software is more simplified. I have to see it to believe it! HDR promises to be faster and I can’t wait to test this!

WHAT SAMSUNG SAYS OF CUSTOMERS WANTS
Samsung says that the customer “Wants a powerful, fast but simple technology...” That’s why the camera has been overhauled to be practically minimalist in comparison to the Galaxy S4.

Normally Samsung would talk about sharing the latest Galaxy S screen with other Galaxy S models and compatible televisions. They would also talk a little more about their TouchWiz improvements, but it was said that the S features wouldn’t get in the way of the interface.

And once again, there was no mention of Android (the GS5 is running KitKat) or a listing of specification.

I am not too sure about all that... Yes, I appreciate that the S features on the interface are streamlined, etc. Of course, a faster camera is desired. But with regards to the camera I would have wanted a simplified interface and an option to have more complex photography attributes presented to me. Hmmmm...

MY OVERALL THOUGHTS OF THE UNPACKED 5, GALAXY S5 & GEAR 2014
This was a tactical launch from Samsung. I suspect that this is just the beginning of their onslaught. Again, this was part 1! And in part 1 Samsung made sure that they hit certain marks such as the LTE 4 and Wi-Fi connectivity with no uncertainty! They have made a great and compelling argument to the everyman and everywoman. What they have done with the Galaxy S5 presentation is to iPhone-ized it. “iPhone-ized” it??? Yes, Samsung has presented the GS5 as a simple, back to basics handset. It’s practical, fast, powerful and very simple to use. It should appeal!

Yes, Samsung introduced the full Gear family: Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit – the first wearable device to feature a curved AMOLED display! Cool! I am curious about the Gear pricing!

Samsung knows that the competition is stronger than ever this year! I am quite sure that come part 2 we will be seeing the Galaxy S5 Prime and other handsets introduced to the Galaxy Family! HTC is coming! As is Sony and LG to name a few! And of course, we are expecting the iPhone 6! Usually, Samsung introduces the next Galaxy S successor at around April / May but it has come in February! You have to suspect that something is going on! Wink, wink!

I love the Electric Blue colour! I did state in one of my articles that I wished for an Electric Blue colour and Samsung has made me feel that they did it just for me! Aaah! Lol! Oh, I would say that the bezel and handset is slightly thicker to accommodate for the water and dust resistance. Again, I do prefer a thicker handset just because it makes it easier to take pictures! There’s nothing more nerve-shredding than taking a photo with a device that is wafer thin! The slightest knock and I shudder to think!

I can’t wait to review one!

SOUND
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Samsung introduced some new headphones! Looking good! I wonder how they sound?

Great idea! Payment through using a fingerprint verification.

Oooh... I have to try it!

Jock strap...

Get fit with the Samsung Gear Fit!

The Gear 2 gets a "Home" button.

Great colours! Blue, Blue Electric Blue...

The Galaxy S5 Heart Rate Monitor.

 Samsung's J. K. Shin wearing the Gear Fit.

 Once your children get a hold of your phone you may not get it back!

If the battery says "10% power" the Ultra Power Saving Mode kicks in and extends the battery for 24 hours! That's amazing! Essentially, the GS5 screen is reduced to black and white.

Now you can hide your pictures! ;) 

I can't wait to hear them!

The user interface promises to be simpler.

What do you reckon?

Review coming very soon.... Stay tuned...

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 PRIME

'Home' button.

No 'Home' button.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 PRIME? HOME BUTTON OR NOT?
#Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GS5 #MWC2014 #GalaxyS5Prime

Good late afternoon / early evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! As always, I am hoping that all is well in your world!

3 more days to go before we find out what Samsung has in store for us! Perhaps it’s time for a little bubble bursting... Hahahaha!

GRAND DESIGNS
I don’t know about you but I always get carried away with the concept renderings of any new top of the range handset – let alone Samsung’s premium devices! I see one that I think is feasible and set my sights on it only to be disappointed. But the disappointment dissipates when I see what the latest handset has to offer in terms of spec and function; Samsung has never failed to deliver!

If the pictures above are anything to go by then I am disappointed with the GS5 handset design. I was and still am expecting something of a departure...Radical? I can only dream of a radical design from Samsung! It’s not like that cannot be radical. It could very well be that once they have their flexible display problems ironed out we’ll be seeing some weird and wonderful looking devices!

Anyhoo, it could be that the third party case manufacturer is predicting the look of the GS5 but then again you can see that there are two distinct handsets (four if you take the colours into consideration). One handset features the (in)famous ‘Home’ button and one does not! Hmmmm... So, which one is the prime: the one with or without the ‘Home’ button? And does that mean that only one of them will have the fingerprint scanner?

Hmmmm... There’s a clue that the GS5 and Prime models aren’t genuine: the date is 23 February and not the 24^th to coincide with the Unpacked event.

So, fingers crossed for that design departure! I do think that Samsung will have stiff competition from the likes of HTC and LG! The design is a key factor!

What do you reckon?

Review coming very soon.... Stay tuned (pun unintended but works so well)...    

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 5 DAYS TO GO 4 GS5

No contest, right? 

With specs like that I want the Samsung tablet!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
5 DAYS TO GO... HERE COMES THE GALAXY S5!
#Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GS5 #GalaxyGear2 #Tizen #MWC2014

Good late evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope you’ve had a good day and if your day is unravelling where you are... ...there’s still time! 

As we’re counting down to the main event we’re going to see a few more leaks that include spec changes... Lately, I’ve seen online rumours that the “Galaxy S5 Prime” that is said to feature a 2K screen is “not expected to arrive too soon...” In other words, all we’re seeing is rumour and disinformation... In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the sources of rumours are just a way to bring traffic to their respective websites. However, you can’t ignore or get into the guessing game!

Oh, guess what? Samsung are back to their ol’ fun antics again! Yay!

AD INFINITUM
Yes, that’s right! I am on about the latest Samsung ads that put Apple in their place! When you see such ads it makes you realize – even more – that Apple products aren’t up to their hype!

I love the ad that compares the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 to the iPad Air. I have yet to get a tablet and I reckon that the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 could be it! I can see that it has quality over the iPad (Hot) Air in terms of screen resolution, build and multitasking function.

And the ad that compares the Galaxy Note 3 to the latest iPhone 5S is great fun! What’s more is that the information is accurate! Apple can’t beat Samsung products: FACT! The only thing that Apple can do is attempt to sabotage Samsung with endless lawsuits for standard interaction on a mobile device. Apple wants to make like they are the beginning and end of mobile devices.

It shows that Apple have nothing inventive in the tank! Whenever you hear someone from Apple talk or read an interview they are always griping and taking shots at the competition. Cook and co thinks that by continually slating the competition that their (Apple) products will be better by default. But I guess this idea is working because the iPad Air is said to be the biggest selling tablet at the moment. People are easily brainwashed!

These ads should air (no pun intended) on British TV! I think these ads will shock those who think they know best!

MORE RUMOUR...
...it is said that Samsung will reveal Galaxy Gear 2 with the Tizen operating system. Hmmm... Could there be any truth in that? I guess the only way it could be true is Tizen being completely compatible with Android and apps! Remember, the first Galaxy Gear works with Galaxy handsets and it would defeat the purpose if Tizen weren’t compatible.

Yes, there is a rumour that Samsung will reveal one Galaxy S5 with Android and the other Tizen. To me it does not make sense for Samsung to confuse the marketplace with a version of the GS5 that could leave people confused, thus causing folk to go onto the competitors. I know that people are eyeing up the next incarnation of the HTC One – The Newer All Shiny One or whatever it will be called!

MY PREDICTION FOR THE GS5
What we will see revealed at the MWC14 on Monday will be the following...

A new design based around a 5.2” screen that’ll be 1080p that’ll be sharper than the GS4.
An improved 16MP camera.
A fingerprint scanner.
A 2.5GHz CPU with 3GB RAM.

Oh, we will probably see refinements in the TouchWiz overlay! But that’s about it!

I think this build up concerning this 2k 560 dpi screen may come as a big disappointment to some!

In my estimation the key things for Samsung to get right is the design, camera and fingerprint scanner – if scanning your fingerprint is too clunky then it’s game over already!

The design has to be more of a departure from this similar looking range. I personally like the designs as they become more refined with each release. Just look at how beautiful the Galaxy Note 3 looks compared to the Note 2! The Galaxy S3 was a grand statement in design and the S4 looks more like a Note 2 mini! Samsung has to somehow present the GS5 with something that looks out of this world come Monday!

I thought the GS4 camera was good but it was slightly disappointing as Samsung is capable of more. The competition has more than caught up with the camera on both the GS4 and Note 3, but I give the edge based on quality to the Galaxy range.

I am slightly concerned about this fingerprint scanner... It has to be a very, very decent implantation or it becomes a focal point of derision which I would not want for Samsung or my future Galaxy S5! I am due an upgrade at some point!

5 whole days... It is torturous for this Samsung fan! Lol!

MY PREDICTION FOR THE SAMSUNG MWC14 UNPACKED
Come Monday we’ll see the Gear 2. We all know or should know that the initial Gear was put out in a rush in order to beat Apple. Apple was a no show and I can only assume that they are perfecting their iWatch device!

If Gear 2 will be revealed I suspect that it will be an Android device and that it will be a big improvement!

Then Samsung will reveal a new Exynos chip – perhaps it’ll be 64 bit and that it will be coming to the Note 4!

Knowing Samsung I do think that there will be other iterations of the Galaxy S5 i.e. Zoom, Active and so on. If the new Exynos chip is 64 bit and it is not in the Galaxy S5 then I do suspect that a “Prime” model will be on the cards. Why? Ok, glad you asked...

It is no secret that Samsung wants to punish Apple for their seemingly endless contempt (and unfairly so); the iPhone 6 is said to be due around September – I think! So, it would not surprise me if Samsung put out a GS5 Prime model that features the 2k screen as well as the Galaxy Note 3. Some people still find that the Galaxy Note phablet is too big and it is a possibility that people would opt for the smaller GS5 Prime instead.

But I am quite certain that Apple will be launching at least 3 different handsets this year:

iPhone 6 4.8”
iPhone 6 6”
iPhone 6C 4.8”

When Apple are pretty quiet you just know that they are going to buck a trend that will go against its once hard and fast rule. Apple are a business at the end of the day and if they see Samsung enjoying great success with their Galaxy Note range then they will reluctantly follow suit for the money and to be seen as keeping up with the competition. I have always said that Apple should not speak in public with regards to their “Hand Science” design that allows the iPhone to be used comfortably in one hand! This is why Samsung have created the ad that shows the iPhone as dated in comparison to the Note 3 which has a HD screen! In doing so Samsung will show the audience that it is Apple who are copyists! Kudos to Samsung!

What do you reckon?

Review coming very soon.... Stay tuned (pun unintended but works so well)...    

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 7 DAYS TO GO... GALAXY S5

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

7 DAYS TO GO... THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 WILL BE REVEALED...
#Samsung #GalaxyS5 #GS5 #MWC2014

Good late evening / early morning, Good Friends! I am getting ready to wrap it up for this session! I see that you are enjoying my articles! Good! That makes me so very, very happy!

Are you foaming at the mouth over the Samsung Unpacked event on the 24^th of this month? I am certainly getting there! Hahahaha!

DÉJÀ VU? WISHFUL THINKING?
Yes, as always I have fallen for one of the concept images out there of what will be the Galaxy S5! I was trying to avoid it but I just cannot help it! I find myself wishing that a particular concept design will be it! But wait a minute! That concept looks awfully familiar! Didn’t I see it at the 2013 CES? Yes, Samsung demonstrated their YOUM display and showed off a prototype handset that looks remarkably like one of the concept renderings of the Galaxy S5! Gosh!

FEELING...
I’ve got a nagging feeling that what we will see on the 24^th will be more of a refinement of the prototype handset.

What I would love is if the display was a high resolution plastic as demonstrated in the video below! This would mean no more horrid screen breakage!

But is the YOUM technology ready? We’ve seen the Galaxy Round and it wasn’t released in large numbers because it is understood that Samsung is not able to deliver high volumes of the flexible display! I am also inclined to believe that Samsung had to release the Round just to be the first! Samsung are not only competing with Apple but LG too! LG seems to have a flexible display technology in the works that threatens to detract from what Samsung is preparing or has prepared! You have probably noticed that LG has released a couple of stunning handsets of late that I will write about soon!

The bottom line is that all the major Android manufacturers are gunning to topple Samsung from its rightly deserved number one spot and so they have to deliver something very special on the 24^th!

What do you reckon?
Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT - SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 24 FEBRUARY LAUNCH 2014 GALAXY S5 PRIME?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 

24 FEBRUARY LAUNCH 2014
GALAXY S5 PRIME?
#GalaxyS5 #SamsungGalaxyS5 #S5Prime

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! It may please you to know that I am feeling back on my game! Yay! I hope you’re feeling good – if not great too!

Yes, I have been trying to track the progress of Samsung Galaxy S5 news! And here is the latest...

BARCELONA, 24/02/2014
Once again anyone and everyone who loves mobile phone technology are looking to the 24^th February to learn what Samsung will deliver for the Galaxy S5! The next Galaxy S release is a bigger event than that of the iPhone and that’s principally due to a number of factors:

1. Design. What will the Galaxy S5 look like?
2. The tech! What will the S5 feature that no other premium handset features?
3. How will Samsung introduce this new model or models?

COMPETITION?
At the moment it seems as though Samsung is the main competitive force against Apple. The iPhone is strange device in that it’s not as inventive as it was when it first came out but it is still big in America! And in the ongoing Patent Wars, Apple was slammed by the judge for using nationalism to sway the jury! I think that pretty much sums up the reason behind the iPhone’s popularity in the States!

However, in Europe the Android handset is king and it appears that Samsung is king! I know I have said it before, but it is amazing to see that Samsung handsets have taken over the iPhone on London streets! Once upon a time all you could see on the streets of London was a sea of iPhones! Today is a totally different thing! Today you will see just about every model that Samsung has to offer! What is surprising is that many Galaxy Note users are women! Talk about size matters!

Apple has been trying to make an ad campaign against the bigger Android device but it has not escaped my notice that those smug ads about the iPhone “hand science” ideal have been phased out! The reason for the phasing out of the “hand science” ads is, no, not only are the ads inaccurate, it’s because Apple want a slice of the phablet market too! The rumour is that Apple will release the iPhone 6 in two sizes and one of them is reported to be 6”! This I have gotta see! Should Apple go against their own “hand science” I would wanna see the promotional videos that will accompany it! Lol!

GALAXY S5 PRIME?
By the latest “leaks” it seems as though that there will be two initial releases of the Galaxy S5: standard and prime! What’s funny is that when I was seeing conflicting specs i.e. QHD screen or 1080p screen I immediately thought, “Could this be the Galaxy S5 and the S5 Zoom?”

I don’t think that Samsung will make a “prime” and standard. Why? I have it mind that Samsung, pissed off with Apple’s whining, have decided to up the ante and make the QHD 560dpi screen the new standard in a premium handset screen! I don’t think Samsung would risk releasing two versions of the same handset as it will detract from the main Galaxy S5. Maybe, just maybe the 1080p screen will feature on the GS5 Zoom and what will be the GS5 mini that I suspect will be the same size as the GS3!

Although the Galaxy S4 Zoom was a brilliant combination of camera and phone but the feeling was that the screen could have been of a higher resolution! And that’s the reason why I think that the 1080p resolution will be the standard of the Galaxy S5 offshoots!

Motorola have proven that a powerful budget handset is possible and therefore it has changed the market. Motorola has raised the bar and Samsung is going limit its phone production as a result where budget handset is concerned.



DESIGN & BUILD
So far the size of the phone is 5.25” which is in keeping with current rumours.

I get the feeling that the frame will be metal – probably aluminium. And the back will be polycarbonate in the faux leather style that debuted on the Galaxy Note 3 that has found its way onto the Galaxy S4!

It’s very hard to tell what Samsung will do for the overall design; I would like to think that the main image of the GS5 is it! However, I try not to think about it too much as to avoid disappointment! Well, the GS3 initially was met by disappointment when it was announced in London!

CAMERA?
Will it be 20MP or 16MP? One can only hope that the camera will be of a very high quality! I noticed that with the Galaxy Note models the camera has an edge over the GS models! I think it’s the software that makes all the difference.

Fingers crossed that the camera will be decked out for greatness!

GIMMICKS?
From the teaser put out by Samsung themselves I think it is safe to say that the TouchWiz interface is going to look and feel very different than before.

But I wonder if Samsung will go all out on interface “gimmicks” on the GS5... I personally liked Smart Stay, Air View, Smart Scroll, etc. I didn’t and don’t think that they are gimmicks; I think these interactions are great – sure, they need the right conditions to work i.e. lots of light where Smart Pause is concerned but the interactions show that Samsung are thinking out of the box! Plus if you don’t like them you can always turn them off! I do hope that Samsung continues to build upon what they have done with the GS4 and GN3!

Roll on! I can hardly wait for the 24^th to come!

What do you reckon?   

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com