SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG TALK 8 GAME OVER

Above: The Galaxy Note Edge. The Edge Screen seems practical; I must have it!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SAMSUNG TALK 8:
GAME OVER

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers. How goes it? Did you see the Apple keynote? Do you find yourself giggling over Phil Schiller waxing lyrical about “landscape mode”? I was shopping for dinner earlier on today and I must have looked like a nutcase laughing to myself recalling that “landscape” moment. Something so simple has become a landmark for Apple and its much celebrated iPhone. Golly!

One thing is for sure during the keynote it became very, very clear - and quickly so - that Samsung’s technological firepower proved to be too much for Apple to bear!

SAMSUNG HAVE...
...THE EDGE!  
#Samsung #SamsungGalaxyNote4 #GalaxyNoteEdge #GalaxyAlpha # #SamsungUNPACKED2014Episode2 #Mega2 #GalaxyS6

THEY CAME TO DESTROY
Bewildering! If I had to think of a single word to describe Samsung’s efforts this year that would be it: “bewildering”. Other words would be: Ferocious and virulent! Top Gun! Despite the rapidly morphing Android market Samsung keeps coming on like the Terminator. Galaxy S5 disappointment, “I’ll be back...” The emerging markets in Asia toppling Samsung from the top spot, “F*** you, a**hole...” And upon last night’s Apple keynote, “I now know why humans cry...” Apple just buckled under the pressure. I don’t have to tell you that the innards of the Galaxy Note 4 trump the iPhone 6 Plus at least four times over! The Galaxy Note 4 QHD 5.7” screen has burned the iPhone / iPad retina to a crisp! Earlier this year the Galaxy Tab S range of tablets just took apart the iPad. I think Google really needs to get the tablet app situation under control and support what Samsung (and other manufacturers) are coming up with. I can’t deny that some of the Android apps for video editing and eBook creation are a little ropey. Some of these video editing apps are just adware! It’s a pain in the ass!

To be honest with you, Apple just looked silly last night. What was Conan O’Brien’s joke again? Ah, “iPhone 6; last year’s Samsung’s Galaxy...” Ba Boom! Tish! <Drum ‘n’ snare> However, the spec on the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge is years ahead of the iPhone 6 Plus in sheer technological and design terminology! Futurama vs. The Flintstones! It’s not worth me listing the spec of the iPhone 6 handsets as it makes no sense whatsoever!

In one of my Apple Talk articles I pointed out – mostly to iPhone nut-jobs = iDiots – that a mid-range handset like the Motorola Moto G 4G is near enough as good – if not better than the iPhone 5S and some of them simply could not believe or want to entertain it! They kept going on about this “premium” nonsense because of a bit of metal! Wow! And no doubt that the iPhone faithful will lap these new versions up! They’re only too willing to pay over the odds for such inferior technology! Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone is a good handset but it’s cleverly overpriced by the Apple smoke ‘n’ mirrors hype machine.

DIGITAL CLOWN(S)
Above: Techno Doomsday? iPhone fans wish they'd say even less and do a lot more! 

That’s how I would describe Apple with regards to its keynote last night. If Futurama ever comes back on the air (God, I hope it does) the Apple iPhone 6 keynote could be referenced as some kind of weird futuristic night of comedians. “Is... n’t... ...it... fan... ...tas... ...tic?” <Tim Cook’s head in a jar drawls> No it bloody well isn’t!!! No matter how slowly Cook speaks in this deliberately hypnotic slow enunciation talk he cannot get away from the fact that what he headlined was a comedy of errors.

“Hey, now it’s in landscape mode...” Ba Boom! Tish!  <Applause> “Ladies ‘n’ gentlemen put your hands together for Phil Schiller! Was... ...n’t... ...he... ...fan... ...tas... ...tic?” Er... NO!!!

And then came the biggest joke of the night, “Apple Watch”. Not iWatch as in Edward Snowden’s whistle blowing revelation that the National Security Agency and other Secret Service Agencies around the world had been spying on the digital output from the iPhone and other devices as much as the tech giants protested that they never consented. Yeah, right! When the security of the first world has your nuts in its hands you are going to cough! Anyhoo...

I had to laugh when I heard the AppleWatch dial was called the “Digital Crown”. But you have to hand it to Apple in that they know what they are doing when it comes to promotion. They must have sat around for a year with this design brief in mind, “How can we give the lazy tech media something that translates into favourable headlines?” Yes, Digital Crown is already being used by these, er, uhm... “Tech media / journalists” (?) to state that the AppleWatch is the crowning glory of the smartwatches. What the...???? Anyone with a modicum of commonsense will tell you the following:-

1. There’s a reason why the AppleWatch is called the “AppleWatch” and that’s because you will need an iDevice to work with it i.e. an iPhone and presumably an iPad too! Everybody!!! Ditch your Android devices, get an iPhone 6 or 6L and get the AppleWatch! Yay! You’re in business! Oh, but you have to wait until next year!

2. Android Wear based smartwatches should work within the Android ecosystem and they will not cost as much as the AppleWatch – at least to my knowledge thus so far!

3. The Samsung Gear S is a phenomenal looking smartwatch in my humble opinion and I want one! I own 3 Samsung handsets: Galaxy S2, S4 and Note 2. I am after the Galaxy Note Edge this year and I am totally happy that the Gear S will work, presumably, with just the Samsung handsets. It’s logical.

4. I am spoiled for choice when it comes to Android based smartwatches and the Moto 360 and ASUS ZenWatch look like good alternatives.

But, hey: Anything for a cheap headline at the expense of some great technology coming from the competition, eh?

And, of course, for the iPhone faithful they get a free album from some other Digital Clowns calling themselves musicians. Wonderful!

UNDERSTATED
Compared to the Apple keynote the Samsung reveal looks understated. No daft videos of a “designer” speaking as if from the Heavens about the painful ethos of the design process. Nobody standing in front of a still photograph said to be taken by the new device to show how great a picture can look because of the enhanced new camera features. What we got from Samsung was people actually taking live pictures using a few of the camera modes such as Wide Selfie!

The products, mostly, speak from themselves. I state “mostly” because Samsung, for reasons assumed by myself, do not extensively demonstrate its product functionality ever since the Galaxy S4 launch. We got glimpses via well thought out videos that show the multi-microphones for example. That’s what I call FANTASTIC!!! I used to be the sort of journalist that interviewed people and I could have done with this facility on my handset!

We saw the newly enhanced S Pen and what it can do... And what did those other guys show? Land-freaking-scape mode. It’s not funny anymore! Stop laughing! The AppleWatch didn't show why it was better above the competition... But wait! There is no competition because Apple only serves its own ecosystem whereas Samsung has to compete with other Android Wear manufacturers! Now if Samsung made a smartwatch aimed at the iOS ecosystem that would be a different proposition.

GEAR S
Now that’s what I’m talking about! A real great looking smartwatch! None of this idiotic retro “Digital Crown” nonsense but a well thought out interface that includes a QWERTY keyboard! Some idiot tech personality (an irritating one at that) claimed that the Gear S interface is “crap” or something like that but I bet he hasn’t used it extensively. I think it takes a while to get used to a new device. But as an iPhone owner he is going to get the AppleWatch even if he “probably won’t use it”. How’s that for “cool” swagger? Why bother? It’s stupid! Good luck to him!

I think the Gear S has got the right idea and it deserves to take off as I’m sure it will! The great advantage is that you do not need to link it to smartphone accept initially when you power it up! A UV monitor can be useful to help you avoid skin cancer!

Tizen deserves a shot – especially if it works with Android!

GEAR VR
Above: The awesome Gear VR! Videodrome? You have to see that movie!

Now the Gear VR is a brilliant compliment to the Galaxy Note 4 handset unlike the AppleWatch is to the iPhone in terms of functionality and cost. I have understood that the Gear VR will cost a remarkable $199! Now compare that to the $349 AppleWatch; yes, I know they are two different products but don’t the loyal iPhone folk deserve a break? Instead of a free U2 album it would have been useful if Apple gave its hardcore fans a decent price on its smartwatch. Never mind, if they want to pay that price then good luck to them. When Apple tells you to like U2 you had better comply! Ha ha!

The Gear VR makes me weigh up if I should go for the Galaxy Note Edge or Note 4 or both! But I have a bit of time to think about it! I may hold out to see what the Galaxy S6 will bring! Another curved screen design? Hmmmm... I am so curious about the GS6... Right now I am imagining watching my favourite movies on the Gear VR! I’m also imagining the educational potential – the closest thing I will get to that gizmo featured in the Matrix movie that implants knowledge into the brain... “Whoa... I know Kung Fu...”

NOTHING IN THE TANK?
That’s essentially what Apple showed last night. Again, if you love the iPhone I am truly happy that you can now get to enjoy your own big screen without looking over my shoulder! Lol! But it shows that there is a potential flaw in iOS that it isn’t able to adopt resolutions above 1080p! I asked, “Surely there must be more to the Apple event other than larger screens?” I really thought we’d be witnessing QHD retina or something like that and if not how about some new iPads to take the (Galaxy Note) edge off the lacklustre iPhone 6 models? Uh-uh! Instead we got to see a glimpse into 2015 with the AppleWatch and its Digital Clowning... Ooops! I meant Crowning glory! Sheesh!

You know what? Apple would have done well to utilize a hologram of the great ringmaster himself to introduce the products... Wait... There’s more...

This is the “out there” products that require a “new definition”? NO!!! Now wouldn’t it have been great if Apple produced a smartwatch that can be used by anyone that is not dependent upon the iPhone or any other phone? That’s my definition of an Apple product requiring a new definition!

I am sure that Samsung / Android users could transfer files from the Galaxy Note 4, for example, to the Mac computer as I do with a PC.

One more time! I don’t hate Apple. I would like to see them bring some actual innovation to the world of tech. What Apple has done is to take old concepts and made them mainstream. However, iOS is proving to be a little undercooked in that it has a resolution problem and can’t currently match the Android QHD screens.

Take the iPad as a greater example of being not well thought out:-

1. The iPad is the reimagining of the Microsoft computer tablet that proved to be too expensive and troublesome to realize. The iPad is undoubtedly a great device but when there is an ultra-slim Macbook Air available you have to ask yourself, “Do I really need this extra expense?” And, “Am I not better off using proper programs as opposed to applications?”

2. There is no longevity in the iPad – not if you feel that you must get the next version a year later. In my opinion Android tablets have a longer shelf life – especially Samsung tablets! Also if you feel that you must get the latest best thing you haven’t lost such a big investment as you would with an iPad.

3. The cost of a 4G enabled iPad is nuts compared to the cost of manufacture! Again, the latest trend in Android tablets is to bring in 3G / 4G connectivity either by default or at a better cost ratio to the consumer.

Is it any wonder that the iPad sales are in decline? Look at how potentially cumbersome it is to carry around; sure, it’s not as cumbersome as carrying a laptop around all day but you’d still prefer a smaller large screen device. And this is probably why Apple was reticent to go larger with the iPhone. Samsung doesn’t have a problem regarding cannibalization. Apple’s cannibalization:-

iPhone 6 Plus cannibalizes the iPad mini and possibly iPad.

iPad mini cannibalizes the iPad.

iPad possibly cannibalizes the Macbook Air.

Tell a lie – inadvertently! Because the Galaxy Note has really come into its own (with version 3) I think that it is preferred over the Galaxy S range – for some people! I see the Galaxy S5 as an everyday busybody handset that is powerful but not as stacked in functionality as the Note 3 (and 4). It just goes to show that the Galaxy Note (3 & 4) places computing power in everybody’s hand! The iPad comes across as a device for the unbearable snooty up-themselves-type and that’s not what technology is about. Well, not in my books!

The wonderful ability that Samsung has is the suspense it creates regarding new products. Because the Galaxy S5 has taken a bit of a knock from notable (hee hee... no pun intended...) competitors Samsung has to come back with something stronger for the Galaxy S6! I look forward to the guessing frenzy, the “leaks” and finally learning about the actual device very soon!

POWER
The beauty of Samsung handsets is that the battery can be replaced! I don’t understand why iPhone users don’t understand this. The amount of times my iPhone friends say that they will call me back when they get home because the battery is dying and they have no other recourse than to plug it into the wall! If you are lucky you can charge your iPhone whilst at a cafe – if you can find an outlet!

All I have to do with my Galaxy handsets is just replace the battery! And not to mention the new power saving options on the newer models! I also have to say that I prefer a removable polycarbonate battery cover over non-removable metal that has the potential to scratch and dent!

Plus I have access to expand the storage via a microSD card up to 128GB on the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5.

That’s what I call power!

Things to think about...

THANKS FOR READING...

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

STANDBY FOR REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS!

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 SAMSUNG TALK 6 THE EDGE

  Above: Oooh, this is the cutting Edge of handset technology! The Galaxy Note Edge.

  Above: The Galaxy Note 4 out in the open!

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SAMSUNG TALK 6:
UNPACKED EPISODE 2 2014:
BERLIN * BEIJING * NEW YORK 2014 THE BIG DAY

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you? I hope that all is well in your world! Today we got some awesome news in the form of the fantastic Galaxy Note 4!

Did the Galaxy Note 4 launch make your day?

I for one am very, very happy to know that the Galaxy Note 4 will be my upgrade later on this year! I hope to bring you a review before then!

Above: Samsung's D. J. Lee doing Kraftwerk

GALAXY NOTE 4 & EDGE!  
#Samsung #SamsungGalaxyNote4 #GalaxyNoteEdge #GalaxyAlpha # #SamsungUNPACKED2014Episode2 #Mega2 #GalaxyS6

DELIVER US FROM THE ORDINARY
Okay... Hmmmm... I have to get it out straightaway that the Galaxy Note 4 does not have a 64-bit processor. However, that’s not such as big deal as we Galaxy Note owners know what the device is capable of!

The Galaxy Note 4 design is a noticeable refinement of the Galaxy Note 3 but with a metal edge! I can’t say that I am disappointed with the design as my 2 year contract meant that I had to bypass the GN3! But we have the QHD screen as desired! YAY!!!! And thankfully the battery remains removable! But Samsung, predictably, didn’t stop there! Uh-uh! Samsung truly unloaded... ...BIG TIME!!!!

FULLY UNPACKED EPISODE 2
First let me say that the event was beautifully presented; it was an excellent balance of the showmanship and fact featured! Unpacked Episode 2 reminded me of the introduction to the Galaxy S3 (with Suzi Perry presenting) only this time around we have UK TV presenter and brainbox, Rachel Riley (who coincidentally co-presents a TV tech show that Perry used to present on) co-presenting alongside Rory O’Neil (Samsung Marketing Director Europe) and David Park (Senior Manager Samsung HQ). Together they had a presentation style that is similar to our favourite tech TV programmes and it worked! They concentrated on what the products can do and how they will enhance our lives. No hidden snide or blatant attacks towards the competition but a pure Samsung vision of our not too distant future – October to be more precise as to when these products will be available in the retail outlets! 

Above: UK TV presenter Rachel Riley

I was pretty much close when I speculated that we’d see two versions of the Galaxy Note 4. We now have the Galaxy Note Edge handset that makes use of a curved screen! It came as a pleasant surprise even though the Galaxy Note Edge has been an open secret... Will they? Won’t they? Samsung has finally made it a reality! Let’s look at the spec starting with the Galaxy Note 4:-

NETWORK
2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) or 4G (LTE Cat 6 300/50Mbps)
* May differ by country and carrier

CPU
2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor
1.9 GHz Octa-Core (1.9GHz Quad + 1.3GHz Quad-Core) Processor
*May differ by country and carrier

DISPLAY
5.7 inch (143.9mm) Quad HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440)

OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)

CAMERA
Rear Facing: 16 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Smart OIS
Front Facing: 3.7 Mega pixel camera with f1.9
Rear Facing Camera : HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty face, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More, Dual Camera
Front Facing Camera: Selfie, Wide Selfie

VIDEO
Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8
Recording & Playback: up to UHD

AUDIO
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊)
(＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support

S PEN OPTIMIZED FEATURES
Air Command (Action Memo, Smart Select, Image Clip, Screen Write)
S Note, Snap Note, Direct Pen Input

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Multi Window
Ultra Power Saving Mode
Voice Recorder (Normal Mode, Interview Mode, Meeting Mode, Voice Memo)
Download Booster
S Health 3.5
Dynamic Lock Screen
Briefing
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 PCIe
GPS / GLONASS / Baidu
NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.1 (BLE,ANT+)
IR LED (Remote Control), USB2.0, MHL 3.0

SENSOR
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB, IR-LED
Proximity, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Finger Scanner, UV, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO2 (Dependent on market)

MEMORY
32 GB Internal memory ＋ micro SD slot (up to 64GB)
3GB RAM

DIMENSION
153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm, 176g

BATTERY
Standard battery, Li-ion 3,220mAh, Fast Charging (Adaptive Fast Charging & QC2.0)

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE EDGE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

NETWORK
2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) or 4G(LTE Cat 6 300/50Mbps)
*May differ by country and carrier.

CPU
2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor

DISPLAY
5.6 inch (141.9mm) Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440 + 160)

OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)

CAMERA
Rear Facing: 16 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Smart OIS
Front Facing: 3.7 Mega pixel camera with f1.9
Rear Facing Camera: HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty face, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More, Dual Camera
Front Facing Camera: Selfie, Wide Selfie

VIDEO
Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, Recording & Playback: up to UHD

AUDIO
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊)
(＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support

S PEN OPTIMIZED FEATURES
Air Command: Action Memo, Screen Write, Image Clip, Smart Select,
S Note, Snap Note, Direct Pen Input

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Multi Window
Ultra Power Saving Mode
Voice Recorder (Normal Mode, Interview Mode, Meeting Mode, Voice Memo)
Download Booster
S Health 3.5
Dynamic Lock Screen
Briefing
Edge screen UX: Revolving Interaction, Immersive apps(Camera, Video, S Note),
Ticker board, Express me, Quick Tools, Night Clock, etc
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 PCIe
GPS / GLONASS / Beidou
NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.1 (BLE, ANT+)
IR LED (Remote Control), USB2.0, MHL 3.0

SENSOR
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB, IR-LED
Proximity, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Finger Scanner, UV, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO2 (Dependent on market)

MEMORY
32/ 64 GB Internal memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB)
3GB RAM

DIMENSION
151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3mm, 174g

BATTERY
Standard battery, Li-ion 3,000 mAh, Fast Charging (Adaptive Fast Charging & QC2.0)

Apart from the slightly smaller curved edge and processor options the Galaxy Note Edge is pretty much the same as the Galaxy Note 4. Both models are subject to availability in their respective international markets. Certainly the Galaxy Note Edge is a limited edition and I just hope that it is available in the UK!

I do love the functionality of both models! The Galaxy Note Edge has different edge screen displays for notifications, fast app selections and in camera mode we get a virtual shutter button! Yay! I love it! I do love the 16MP camera with the optical stabilization for clearer pictures on both models! And there is also the introduction of the Wide Selfie front-facing camera mode to take a picture of you with a substantial number of people beside or in the background from a wider angle than before! Cool!

WISH FULFILMENT
With regards to the hardware and design I really didn’t expect too much of a departure with the exception of the Galaxy Note Edge. I am quite happy with what was delivered! The leaks gave me an indication of what to expect and so I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, the Galaxy Note 4 comes in a selection of different colours:

"Charcoal Black," "Frost White," "Bronze Gold,” and “Blossom Pink”. Where's my "Electric Blue"?

This could mean that certain international markets may just get the Charcoal Black and Frost White only and / or have a choice of colour much further down the line. I can only hope that by the time I am due for my upgrade that the Blossom Pink choice will be available to me! I doubt it! Lol! But it doesn’t matter too much!

The event started off with a couple of musicians playing live with the aid of what appeared to be the Galaxy Note 3 i.e. synthesizers and drums were triggered from the GN3 devices to great effect! However, the presenters did not go into detail about the default apps. I’ll just have to see when the Galaxy Note 4 becomes available for review!

I can tell you that I want one more than ever and I will go for the Galaxy Note Edge! It could be that I may opt for the Galaxy Note 4 too when my contract on the Galaxy S4 is up! But who knows what the Galaxy S6 will bring to the table? The jury remains out on this one! To be continued!

TOUCHWIZ
We didn’t get to learn anything much about TouchWiz other than it was going to be less intrusive. But from what I have seen the UI overlay looks like a good improvement. I wonder how the pernickety (iPhone biased) reviewers will score it...

You probably won’t have to wait for my review as the Samsung quality speaks for itself. I can’t wait to get my hands on it to see for myself! My Galaxy Note 2 makes use of the Nova Prime launcher!

I noticed that Samsung refrained from going into great details about the TouchWiz UI functionality which I think is wise as it could detract from the main features!

GEAR S
I was very impressed with the Galaxy Gear S and according to the presenters there are over 1k apps available for it! I do love the design of the Gear S based on the gorgeous looking Super AMOLED curved screen! As you know it features its own SIM card on 3G and it also syncs with the Galaxy S and Note handsets! You can go jogging and leave your main handset at home for example!

Samsung has gone to great lengths in its smartwatch offensive and I think that Gear S has an immense potential to affect the mobile device market in a big way! I would imagine that Samsung has been doing its best to get the smartwatch right as Apple are gearing (hee hee) up to launch its smartwatch, iWatch(?) and the press is bound to make a bigger deal of it than with Samsung’s efforts unfortunately! It’s funny... ...whenever Apple does any sort of launch be it the iPhone, iPad, etc they usually get international news coverage on the TV but Samsung rarely gets the same attention. The Gear S should not be overlooked! I want one already! Lol!

GEAR VR
As predicted we saw the Gear VR making its debut too! Hmmmm... I think the Gear VR will go down well with gamers and those who like an immersive interactive experience. Me? I am not too sure at this moment in time as I have never been a gamer. But I can see potential for applications of an educational nature. The only catch I see with the Gear VR is that it you need the 5.7” Galaxy Note 4 in order to experience the virtual environment as it is the Gear VR screen! Bummer! This makes sense in terms of the Galaxy Note Edge being somewhat of a limited edition. I am sure that absolute tech fanatics will opt for both devices (GSN 4 and Edge) as I can envision the GN Edge as being something of a collector’s edition that nobody will part with!



So, I think that the Gear VR requirements have safeguarded the Galaxy Note 4 from cannibalization whereby it eats the Galaxy Note Edge sales and it leaves the Galaxy S market intact for those who want a premium handset without the delightful technical elaborations that make up the Galaxy Note. I do believe that the Galaxy S market has become smaller. Obviously, we do not yet know what Samsung will do for the Galaxy S6 to make it outstanding.

CONCLUSION
Yes, I reckon there will be some disappointment because there is no 64-bit processor! However, Android 5 could make a vast difference in terms of response on the hefty 2.7 GHz quad-core and 1.9 GHz Octa-Core (1.9GHz quad + 1.3GHz quad-core) processors. 64-bit isn’t that much of a big deal in my opinion as I can’t see on the iPhone 5S what it does to enhance the usability.

It will be interesting to see what Apple launches in 6 days time; will the iPhone 6L make its debut and if so will it detract from the Galaxy Note 4 and Edge? It’s hard to tell as I suspect that Apple may not be able to feature a QHD screen because it will make it a pain for the app developers to create apps in that high resolution. App resolution is what kept the iPhone screen so small for so long.

In my opinion Samsung has showcased great products today that should see them rise to the top where innovation and desirability is concerned. As someone who loves to be creative I can’t see any other choice than the Galaxy Note 4 or Edge as my next handset. Oh, I was hoping for a 7” Galaxy Tab S with 4G built in as it could have been my tablet purchase but I guess that such a device could be in danger of cannibalizing the Galaxy Note 4. However, you ought to note (pun unintentional) that there are apps specifically for the tablet starting at 7”! If you intend on picking up a Galaxy Note 4 or Edge expecting to access apps made for the tablet you had better think again!


  Above: You can't beat a Galaxy Note!

Above: Musical Notes!

But to leave you on a positive note (sorry, unintentional) there are great enhancements in the Galaxy Note 4 and Edge that makes it a MUST HAVE for the purpose of business, journalists – what with multiple microphones for conducting interviews, musicians, photographers and other creative endeavours. I am hoping that I will be able to upgrade a month or two early!

Things to think about...

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

STANDBY FOR REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS!

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 SAMSUNG TALK 5 UNPACKED 2

Above: A Samsung design patent that bears some resemblance to the silhouette that appears in a promotional video preview. Is this the new form? Not long to find out! 

 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
SAMSUNG TALK 5:
UNPACKED EPISODE 2 2014:
BERLIN * BEIJING * NEW YORK 2014 PREVIEW

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you this early, early morning of the day of the biggest mobile device launch in history? I hope your day was great and productive!

Are you excited about the launch of the Galaxy Note 4? I sure am!

It is said that Samsung are going through a hard time at the moment and I take this with a pinch of salt! Sure, the Chinese manufacturers have been able to come in at the mid to... ...err... mid-high(?) end of the market at a low cost to the consumer. However, I have not seen anything yet that can hold a candle to the phenomenal Galaxy Note handset!

64-BIT GALAXY
NOTE 4?
#Samsung #SamsungGalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha # #SamsungUNPACKED2014Episode2 #Mega2 #GalaxyS6

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
I think this is the one that Samsun fans and those who love the larger handset that’s loaded with the fastest processor and features galore! I think the Galaxy S5 sales may have been a tad disappointing for Samsung because there is a great anticipation and expectation for the Galaxy Note 4! The reason why I am thinking this way is because of how quickly the Galaxy Note 3 became popular on the streets! It seemed to me like every other person was busting out their Galaxy Note 3 handsets – men and women from all walks of life! This uptake was more than the GN2 when it initially came out. The GN3’s form factor had a lot to do with it becoming popular! As I have said in a previous article, by increasing the screen and slimming down the bezels the GN3 became very easy to handle and it’s very thin too!

Another theory is that the hardcore Android fans were waiting for a 64-bit handset! Yes, last year there was some talk about Android going 64-bit and many of us though this could have been a possibility towards the end of 2013! Now we know that Android 5, Lemon Meringue Pie or Lollipop will be 64-bit compatible I believe that many folk decided to hold off from getting a new phone until the Galaxy Note 4 launch! Samsung has always been saying that they were just waiting on Google to add 64-bit compatibility to Android. So, this is what we’re expecting from the Galaxy Note 4! There is no point in speculating upon the hardware as we are hours away from knowing exactly what this baby entails!

WISHES
As far as the hardware goes I think we’ll get the QHD screen and by the looks of the silhouette from one of the promotional preview videos we will be getting a newer design. Oh, I do hope that we in the UK – if not internationally – the 64-bit processor just so that we can say we’ve got it! Ha ha!  But what I wish for are the following:-

1. A decent video editor: titles, audio tracks, fades / wipes, special visual effects, audio effects (noise removal and enhancing) etc. I think that the video editors on Android could do with a boost! C’mon, these beautiful Android babies are capable of 4K video recording and therefore it is about time we got a video editor that rocks! It is said that Samsung delivers a lot of “bloatware” and this is Samsung’s opportunity to clean up where the preloaded software applications are concerned!

2. I would love an eBook creator that not only puts out popular eBook formats but to wrap up HTML5 publications into an APK so that business / creatives can distribute publications in a variety of different ways: eBook, PDF (including audio and video) and APK! Cool! It probably will not happen but still...

3. I would like to see Samsung partner with a music composition app programmer to create a default app for recording the voice and making music with output to popular audio formats such as WAV and MIDI! If you look at Samsung’s recent Galaxy Note ads you can see a variety of users including a musician!

4. A professional photo / manipulation app that does away with Adobe Photoshop, etc! I think it’s about time we could perform high quality edits to compliment the awesome camera on the Galaxy Note!

Again, Samsung could partner with a developer or start their own division of dedicated app developers. There’s no doubt that Samsung can come up with the goods as far as hardware is concerned but I do think it is time for them to step up its game with applications!

5. Hey, with the S Pen I think it is time for a drawing app that is not too dissimilar to Adobe Illustrator! It can happen! I think such default applications on the Galaxy Note will make it sell by the millions!

So, here’s hoping that us creatives and business users will get something substantial in the default app department to compliment the glorious hardware!

I am so curious to know what 64-bits will bring to Android apps – that is if the Galaxy Note 4 will get the 64-bit CPU!

TOUCHWIZ
Personally, I do not mind TouchWiz – with the Galaxy S3 onwards it has been great! I do not notice any lag! I have seen odd reviews that takes away points from the Galaxy S and Note because they find TouchWiz heavy but we all should know by now that it is possible to replace TouchWiz with a host of great launchers out there in the form of:-

Nova (and it’s prime version)
GO Launcher
Buzz
Apex
& Google’s own Google Now Launcher

All the above can be found under ‘Personalization’ on the Google Play app store!

But I am very curious as to what Samsung will do to TouchWiz on this outing! I would imagine that Google will create a more functional launcher when Android 5 is ready! That way we have the option for a purer Android experience. I would imagine that the core features of TouchWiz can be accessed as apps / widgets!

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
What else could Samsung be showing off in a few hours time? They’ve revealed the Galaxy Gear S which is a fantastic looking smartwatch that makes and takes calls too! The Galaxy Gear S uses Samsung’s own Tizen operating system! So, how compatible will it be with Android? Hmmmm... I can see that Samsung are ushering in Tizen quite subtly as I think this is where they can get to express themselves technologically! Have you heard / read the rumour that Samsung are looking at acquiring Cyanogenmod? If this is true it could be good for Samsung to be independent of Google or they can still put out Android handsets and give users the possibility of loading a Samsung version of Cyanogenmod.



Perhaps we’ll see the virtual reality headset, Galaxy Head Gear? I am curious about the virtual reality headset and how it fits into the Samsung Galaxy scheme of things!

Now would it be feasible for Samsung to reveal two different versions of the Galaxy Note 4? I was thinking that it could be an advantage to go even larger for those, like me, who LOVE massive screens! I was thinking something along the lines of 6.5” or 7”! Can you imagine a 7” Galaxy Note that would be a hybrid of the Galaxy Tab S? I can! But, hey, that’s just pure fantasy on my part! What am I like, huh?

EXCITEMENT
I tell you, it is very exciting anticipating this great launch. I am predicting that Samsung will have a huge hit and will be a milestone moment them! The Galaxy Note 4 certainly appears to be a very desirable handset and it isn’t even announced! Soon! Very soon!

Things to think about...

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

STANDBY FOR REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS!

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 SAMSUNG TALK 4 LOSING ITS MARKET SHARE?

Above: A Galaxy Note 4 concept.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
SAMSUNG TALK 4: LOSING ITS MARKET SHARE?
Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. How are you tonight? I hope you had a great day and chilling out in the lounge taking things easy! And if your day is currently unravelling there is still time...

I tell you it never ceases to amaze me how people can react to my articles! It is a constant amusement when people take simple things out of context and complicate things... Why? I just don’t know... Hahahaha!

Anyway, Samsung seems to be going through something of a system failure where the premium handset is concerned... Can Samsung reboot?

WHAT WENT WRONG?
#Samsung #GalaxyAlpha #SamsungGalaxyNote4 #GalaxyAlpha #GalaxyS5LTE #GalaxyS5Prime #GalaxyTabS #GalaxyTab4NOOK #SamsungUNPACKED2014Episode2 #Mega2 #GalaxyS6

GALAXY S5
As with all major Samsung Galaxy S and Note launches there is a massive wash of endless speculations, wishes and “leaks”. I think the “leaks” are done on purpose for titillation purposes and it works! By golly these “leaks” have folk salivating like a Bloodhound! Expectations ride high and we expect to reach climax on the launch date itself.



What we got on the day 24^th day of February 2014 was a very unusually sombre Galaxy S5 launch by Samsung’s own flamboyant standards. Gone was the theatrics that launched the Galaxy S4 into the consciousness of the consumer and media. Gone were the elaborate stage scenes that went to show off the powerful features of the Galaxy S4... The Galaxy S5 felt like the GS4 and a half! What happened to this premium version intrepidly dubbed the “Prime”? Talk about the fireworks failing to go off! Don’t get me wrong... I think the Galaxy S5 is a superb handset that I would have upgraded to if had been coincidental; at this rate I am heading for the Galaxy S6 and certainly a Galaxy Note 4 this year! Oh, goody!

I thought the dust and water resistance was a good idea as is the heart rate monitor! I know of several physical fitness trainers who got the GS5 specifically for the heart rate monitor. Oh, let’s not forget the fingerprint scanner! I thought it worked quite well. I know that the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5S doesn’t always work according to my nephew and friends who have this device. I guess nothing is perfect and that’s no reason why the Galaxy S5 should result in disappointed sales. Here are a few theories...

THEORIES
1. The Galaxy S5 did not meet with the qHD screen resolution expectations.

Can this be true? Surely, the 1080p screen is sharp enough? The screen on the GS4 is pretty awesome and is higher than that of the iPhone 5S. But there again the iPhone 5S is said to be selling better than the GS5, so perhaps it’s not the screen.

2. The design was too similar to the GS4 to feel completely new to for some people, right?

Well, I think so! I have said in another Samsung Talk article that a new design is part of the upgrading experience!  Only the most loyal Samsung followers would have upgraded to the GS5 while there are the Android consumers who trip out on the highest specs!

3. Samsung fans were waiting for the announcement of the Galaxy S5 Prime – they could have been holding out for this nonexistent handset. Well, the Galaxy S5 based K Zoom and Active was released pretty quietly. Could it be that they were waiting for the Galaxy S5 LTE-A G906S as this variation features the 1440 x 2560 5.1” Super AMOLED, 577 ppi screen.

This one seems very plausible to me! But Samsung seems to be confusing the market perception by releasing GS5 variants internationally.

4. Samsung fans are holding out for the Galaxy Note 4!

I will tell you why in a bit why I think this is plausible...

5. Not metal?

Huh? Well, look at the iPhone Antenna Gate with poor signal reception due to the metal chassis.

What do you reckon so far?

SCHIZOID ANDROID
Once upon a time I thought I had an idea of what a “premium” is about but lately the lines have become very, very blurred these days. On the one had we have Google and the Nexus line that has an anti-premium philosophy. When the Nexus 5 went retail in the high street it sold out! Then if that wasn’t enough the then Google Motorola released the mid-range but budgeted priced Moto G in November and that too sold like hot cakes! But the specs on the aforementioned handsets would at one time be considered as “premium-ish”! Well, obviously not by today’s standards.

Then we have Chinese manufacturers that have blurred that line even more with a range of beautifully design handsets from Xiaomi, OnePlue, Oppo, Huawei, ZTE and a few more! The “premium” handsets that are coming out of the manufacturers mentioned above are pretty amazing! It is not surprising that Samsung are having a tough time in China right now. However, Samsung remains on the top of the throne in India and are said to be opening up a manufacturing plant in Indonesia!

Then one has to take into account that the idea of the “phablet” has just gotten bigger as I have pointed out! Again, there is now a trend for 7” tablets with 3G or 4G built in that facilitates receiving and making calls. This kind of tablet has become the new “phablet” and this is going down well with consumers! Therefore the Galaxy Note now seems like the standard handset. I caught myself thinking, “Maybe I’d just opt for two Galaxy Note handsets when both my contracts are up...” Then I think, “Well, the Galaxy S6 could be a very big departure in design...” I no longer see the Galaxy Note as a “phablet”.

Just imagine what would have happened if Samsung had released the Galaxy S5 looking like the LG G3, which, by the way, is selling like hotcakes.



DESIGN & FUNCTION
More than ever Samsung is going to have to dig really deep when it comes to design. The look and feel is just as important as the innards. I think Samsung are pinning their hopes for resurgence with the Galaxy Note 4! Once again, I do not want to speculate too much on the forthcoming Galaxy Note 4 but a Samsung executive has said that the Galaxy Note 4 will take on a new form and I hope this is the case (no pun intended)! I’ve also understood that the CPU will be 64-bit or standard 32-bit depending where it is released internationally. Fingers crossed that us Europeans get the 64-bit version! But you know what? I am getting the Galaxy Note 4 regardless! I think metal chassis or not I think the GN4 is an excellent example of what can be regarded as a “premium” handset! I have yet to see the Chinese manufacturers produce the equivalent of the Galaxy Note! Although well established manufacturers that are HTC and LG have produced a “phablet” of some sort they do not seem able to match the Galaxy Note’s functionality. I have also yet to see such a “phablet” coming from the aforementioned Chinese manufacturers and I am sure that we’ll be seeing a formidable phablet soon... But in the meantime... ...I am looking forward to finding out what the Galaxy Note 4 will bring to the table!

THE FUTURE / ANDROID 5 “L”
I envisage Samsung matching the likes of Huawei, Lenovo Motorola, Google, etc when it comes to high end but mid-ranged priced handsets. I wouldn’t put it past Samsung to have a line of handsets ready for the Winter Holiday’s / Christmas. I am actually surprised that they haven’t put out a Galaxy Tab S 7” with 4G built into it so that it can also be used as a phone – that appears to be the future of Samsung’s phablet range.

And, hey! I don’t know about you but I am finding these thin handsets to be a bit of a pain battery-wise! I would love a thicker handset if it meant a two day battery life on 80% at the end of the second day! Do any of you remember the NEC handsets that enabled video calling on 3G when it first launched? Do you remember that one of the handsets came with a spare battery? Why not include a spare battery – a bigger one in addition to the standard with an alternative back cover? I think this is the best option than to use non-branded battery extension packs / kits that can ruin the handset (like it did my Galaxy S1 – I would love to restore it).

I also envisage Samsung putting out great cost effective mid-range handsets with a budget price by foregoing its TouchWiz overlay for the pure Android 5 “L” operating system as I believe that this is Google Android coming of age! I can understand that with a premium handset that is the Galaxy Note (4) it needs that TouchWiz magical innovation that enhances usability and functionality that makes it desirable for demanding, productive users. However, if you take notice of what appears to be happening on the market below the Galaxy Note is that users seem to want the pure Android interface; this is what makes the Google Nexus and Moto G fly out of the shops! A retailer tells me, “People tend to buy the Nexus 5 and Moto G because they will be able to get the latest Android updates when they are released...” I am not too sure if this is true of the Moto G but I know it to be true for the Nexus range of handsets. Now if Samsung could release pure Android on some handsets I think they’d be onto a winner!

This gives me the indication that many Android users (and possibly ex-iPhone users) want a practical cost effective handset that is able to make voice / video calls, take a decent enough picture and video and a nice screen size to enjoy multiple mediums i.e. YouTube content, etc. If what is said is true in that cost effective handsets make up the majority of Android sales it means that the Android version of premium is more of a niche but still lucrative. I mean... ...take me as an example of a smartphone fan and ardent user: I have about 7 handsets and 4 of them are premium of the zeitgeist in which they were created:

Samsung Galaxy S2
HTC One X
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Samsung Galaxy S4

I got those handsets because I wanted the absolute best camera at the time and that is one of the key reasons why I would keep upgrading to the Android version of premium. The rest of the phones serve a secondary function. Don’t worry... I am going somewhere with this...

Effectively, what I am saying is that I do not upgrade all my handsets to premium only two of my handsets are premium. I would like to replace the Motorola RAZRi as I find it to be very, very slow and if I could get an inexpensive handset in the area of the Moto G 4G I would like to do so. Here’s where I am going with this...

I would imagine that a lot of cost goes into the development of TouchWiz when many people do not appreciate it on what I would describe as cost effective high-end that is not premium such as the Galaxy S and Note. So, with that reasoning wouldn’t it make sense if Samsung just put out what essentially is a Nexus handset? Samsung wouldn’t have to think too much about implementing Android 5 and can add their wonderful interface innovations via widgets.

Also, I like the idea of having the option to choose from a range of colours released simultaneously than to wait until further on down the line... This is where I feel that plastic is brilliant! Plastic is inexpensive and therefore once the spec has been decided upon it is just a matter of finding out what colours the consumer find the most appealing and put ‘em out!

A decent quad-core processor, 4G, 1.5GB RAM, 32GB internal storage – expandable via microSD, 12MP main camera and a 5” screen running pure Android 5 (and beyond) for around £15 per month on a UK contract or £180 unlocked! Do you think it can be done? If you look at the Microsoft Nokia handsets they seem to have won some fans and now that Microsoft has killed off the Nokia X Android handset this is the perfect opportunity for Samsung!

In any event if people want a pure Android experience Samsung ought to do a phone as described above as I believe it will sell very, very well!

ALPHA BETA
The Android market is certainly a fascinating one because of the different philosophies that each manufacturer has for the Android handset and tablet. The Galaxy Alpha certainly looks the part of a fashion statement in a similar way that the iPhone is; I will be watching out for it! I want to see how it does!

I would like to see Samsung being more inventive with its designs; boring is quite frankly what I think of when I look at the iPhone. Samsung does not need to go down that path!

That said, I think the Galaxy Tab S is the step back into the right direction! I thought the launch was back to their former grand but meaningful-selves. Let’s hope that Samsung can keep it going!

Oh, best wishes with the Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK tablet!



Things to think about...

THANKS FOR READING...
Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

STANDBY FOR REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS!

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