SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 

SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 & S8+ THE THRILL IS GONE...

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! Did you have a good weekend? Have you calmed down over Samsung's great big reveal? Ha ha! Read on!

#Samsung #GalaxyS8 #GalaxyS8+ #Bixby #DEX

POST UNPACKED EVENT SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 & S8+

London, 02 April 2017 The thrill is gone for mobile phone press launches. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the recent Samsung Unboxing Event in New York on the 29 March 2017. But look: Deja vu?

PREMONITION?

Expectations management, that's the nature of the “leaks”. I get it. I understand. But these “leaks” detract from the impact of such a huge press event. Don't you want to be surprised?

The big reveal turned out to be the big confirmation. That said, I was very, very pleased with what Samsung has delivered. The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have gone down in history as the best designed smartphones ever! It's one thing to see the pictures and video of these awesome handsets, it's another to have it in your hands!

It's fairly early in the year but it looks like Samsung have won the Smartphone of the Year Awards already! It looks like the iPhone 8 is going to be pretty much the same.

The only point of disappointment, mild disappointment, is the camera setup. I was hoping for a dual camera or something different… But it remains to be seen what the camera app will bring to the table.

ON DISPLAY

By the looks of it, Samsung played it a little cool, a little safe with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Nothing overly spectacular in terms of technological advances that ushered in the Galaxy S4. Certainly nothing to tax the battery in the extreme!

The screens are set to 1080p by default and one has to manually switch to 2k. Some people seem to be upset with this default setting. But it makes sense to not have the display set to 2k when it's not needed. No doubt people will have the screen set to 2k all the time as this is what the standards dictate. However, I think it's a great idea to switch to 1080p to save battery consumption. You're not going to notice much of a difference when interacting with social media networks and surfing the web on the 1080p setting. Samsung calls this HD Plus.

I think many Android fans have it in mind that having continuous full on hardware power is best but when that power is doing nothing in the pocket then it's a waste. No doubt switching to 2k will be great for VR and 4k videos.

ALL HANDS ON DeX

If the price is right, I think that DeX will be a winner! Samsung had something similar to DeX in the form of a hub for the Galaxy Note 2 that for discontinued for some reason - possibly it was too advanced for it's time. DeX makes sense in this current era of inexpensive PC 1080p, 2k and 4k monitors.

Samsung have been in partnership with a few developers to take advantage of the version of Android that has been optimised for desktop environment. I would imagine that DeX could speed up the development of Android tablet apps. It's about time!

Should the DeX hub come in at under £200 then I'm sure that consumers will go for it in a big way! Can you believe that right now there are people out there with a Windows XP system that's struggling to be of any use? All such XP folk would need is a decent phone upgrade, the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus and DeX. Problem solved! Yes, there are a limited range of apps optimized for DeX but that will change over time. I'm going to get DeX as I can envisage hooking it up to my TV setup for an even smarter TV experience.

MY EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS

It appears that Samsung is aiming the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models at the average consumer that appreciates high-tech simplified and with sublime aesthetics to match.

There's enough power under the hood to please the hardcore hardware fanatics as the Snapdragon 835 system on a chip is one of the best there is. Samsung's own Exynos chip is practically the same as the 835!

While I don't think the Snapdragon 835 and the Exynos chips will smoke the iPhone A10 (and forthcoming A11), the respective performances won't have you thinking about the iPhone. I never think about the iPhone when using my Android handsets that includes the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Premium Android handsets just do what they're meant to.

As a result, I'm expecting an all-round top performer in terms of camera, responsiveness and usability where apps are concerned.

SCANNERS

I'm not on about the 80’s Sci-Fi Horror Thriller. I'm on about the ways in which you can unlock the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models. You've got the fingerprint reader at the back that has been awkwardly placed next to the camera lens; then there's facial recognition that's been a part of Android for a good while now, and, finally, the iris scanner! In a way I'm surprised that Samsung didn't throw in a voice recognition unlock for good measure!

If you ask me, it looks as though Samsung are trying to outdo the forthcoming iPhone 8 as it is reportedly coming with a facial recognition unlock. And Apple may have worked out how to put a fingerprint reader under the screen!

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were rumoured to come with a fingerprint reader under the screen but once you have an iris scanner would you care for a fingerprint​ scanner under the screen?

The facial recognition unlock could work for specific functions such as DeX. But the safest way to secure the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models is the iris scanner, followed by the fingerprint reader, and followed by a password.

REASSURANCE

I think that Samsung have played it relatively safe due to the unfortunate issue of the Galaxy Note 7 battery. As I've stated earlier, Samsung has walked a balance between gorgeous futurist aesthetics and superlative technological advancement that can freak out some users. Look, the iPhone is successful because it's simple (and some would argue that it's boring too).

Samsung has managed to achieve the best looking handsets in the world that's married to technological advancement wrapped up in the guise of simplicity. That's not an easy thing to do. Again, what makes Samsung's Galaxy series of premium handsets stand out is the Synapse Circuit “All-Round” factor that other handset manufacturers can seem to match. HTC is a prime example, great designs but the camera is truly lacklustre!

FINALLY… ARE THE GALAXY S8 AND S8 PLUS PERFECT?

Above: The price is right at £779!

I suspect that there will be some that'll say the speaker isn't as loud in comparison to other flagships. But we seldom use our handsets at full blast in public. And when you're at home the volume level is fine. Personally, I'd be more inclined to use a Bluetooth speaker to get more mileage out of music and video. At the same time, I would've loved to have seen Samsung place a set of stereo front facing speakers on one of their flagships!

The placement of the fingerprint reader is not the best; I'm sure users will learn to pick up the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in a certain way that reduces smudging the camera lens - if they use it.

Is Bixby any good? Think of Bixby as a baby; it relies on people using it on a regular basis for it to learn and, consequently, get better. I'm going to give it a try. I think that the ability to control certain apps and the phone itself via voice commands is a welcome additional functionality. I also think it's a good idea to give it its own hardware button instead of making it activate through a voice command, “Okay, Bixby!” I'm sure that a voice commanded Bixby is in the pipeline. I'm quite sure that a voice activated Bixby could work on the bigger Galaxy Note 8 that features advances in technology to make a voice activated Bixby worthwhile.

I think that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are pretty darned perfection! I'm after the Plus version!

Review coming soon…

Thank you for reaching!

Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

THE NEXT GALAXY AFTERMATH SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Above: The sublime and superb Galaxy S6 Edge! My next handset! Youbetcha!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
SAMSUNG THE NEXT GALAXY UNPACKED, MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BARCELONA 2015

THE AFTERMATH

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! It is great to see you as always! How are you? Are reeling in delight or a shocked disbelief over the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge?

Here’s my thoughts... Read on...

#Samsung #TheNextGalaxy #UnpackedEpisodeOne2015 #GalaxyS6 #GalaxySEdge #GalaxyS6Edge

AN OUTCRY
It seems that some Android fans are outraged at the non-removable battery and no microSD card slot but they must have known that a handset made from “premium” materials will come at a price! Some are saying, “Samsung has made an Android iPhone. Forget it!” If that’s you then what were you expecting? Did you purchase the Galaxy S5?

According to CEO & President of Samsung Electronics, JK Shin, the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge were based on customer feedback. Many of you didn’t want the Galaxy S5 as there were complaints about the dimpled removable back, the swipe fingerprint sensor, plastic build and the overall design being similar to the predecessor, Galaxy S4. Personally, I can’t understand it... I think the Galaxy S5 is a great handset! I have recently started my keep fit regime to have an S6 (sexy 6) pack (hee hee) for the summer and the water resistant Galaxy S5 is just the ticket when I am out jogging, etc.

Sometimes I don’t understand the Android consumer... I mean, if a removable battery and microSD card was of great importance then why buy into the Google Nexus line? Let me try to guessplain (guess + explain = guessplain) why Samsung has made this move...

TURNING THE TABLES:
BEATING APPLE AT ITS OWN GAME
We have witnessed Apple taking its design cue for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus from the larger Android screens – notably Samsung. Now should Samsung drag Apple to court over stealing a 5.5” screen display that was first on the original Galaxy Note? Of course not! That’s progress!


Above: Do you see how bland the iPhone is? Ive can't design handsets like these... Are you nuts? 

THE ETHICS OF AESTHETICS
Sure, the Galaxy S6 is curvy like the iPhone and places the speaker and headphone socket at the bottom and that’s where the similarities end. Of course there is no way that Jony Ive can ever think of designing an iPhone with a wrap around dual edged screen; even the concept artists / designers work on future iPhones look better that Ive’s work.

The Galaxy S6 Edge is especially a work of pure art!

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN
Essentially, Samsung has stamped its authority upon the smartphone market. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: it is about time that Samsung uses its own processors in its smartphones as they manufacture a number of processors for other companies such as Apple. Apple thought that they could go elsewhere and now they are coming back for more. I don’t think there was ever any plan to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 as the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are nearly ready to go! April 10 2015 and the Galaxy S6 Edge is mine! As Samsung made a considerable loss it just had to jettison Qualcomm in favour of its own Exynos chip!

SHATTERING ILLUSIONS
No matter how practical and durable plastic is people kept going on about metal and now we have metal and glass! iPhone fanatics have stated that they wouldn’t want a plastic Samsung handset because it doesn’t feel premium. And because there is a great rivalry between Samsung and Apple the way forward had to be a combination of metal and glass – Gorilla Glass 4 to be precise. I am going to see if I can shatter it! Now is the perfect opportunity for disgruntled iPhone fans to get a hold of a premium Android handset! I am surprised that Samsung didn’t announce a Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge made from platinum studded with diamonds! Lol!

UNMOVED: THE POWER OF THE GLORY
The thinness of the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge meant that the battery could not be removed; plus there is wireless charging and that the battery can have up to 4 hours of usage from a 10 minute charge. Let’s look at the implications of that...

In truth I find that my Galaxy S2, S4, Note 2 and Note 4 do not run out of juice with a good amount of usage. For me usage includes: email, social networking, Internet and YouTube viewing. Oh, not to mention a bit of productivity using Google Docs and Blogger when I am doing my ‘Tablets in the Wild’ series of articles spotting how many people are using tablets on the streets!

Anyhoo, with the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge I can see myself having a wireless charger at home and carrying the default charger in my bag to charge – if I need to – when I am enjoying a cup of herbal tea at a coffee shop. While this is not as convenient as a spare battery I know that it only takes 10 minutes to get about 4 hours worth of usage which is ample enough to get me back home. I have saved a bit of money on a spare battery but then again I would have purchased a wireless charger that can also charge my Nexus 6! I think that’s a win situation.

TOTAL RECALL
Now people are bitching because there is no microSD card slot, “No microSD slot no sale!” Think about it (no pun intended), the iPhone has sold regardless of not being able to expand the storage capacity because of iCloud. It is only natural for Samsung to sell the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge based on capacity: 32, 64 and 128 GB. Yes, it is going to be more expensive but this is what you wanted, right? You wanted “premium” and you can’t say that you don’t have it. I am quite sure that Samsung would have made the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge like the Galaxy Note 4 but the disappointing sales figures for the Galaxy S5 put paid to a removable back. And, once again, the thinness meant no room for a microSD card slot. Samsung has simply got to claw back some profit as the loss in 2014 was quite severe by the tech media accounts.

I don’t have too much of an issue with no memory expansion; I can only download so many apps that do more or less the same kind of thing. I try to pare my app usage down to what I see as the best in the category and for my needs. It is great that Samsung has skipped the meagre 16GB default for 32GB!

I can store my pictures and videos on Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive with a generous 115GB for 2 years – the length of a network contract. I think that a flash drive should work on it too which could be another addition / solution. I don’t see why people are pooping their pants over no memory expansion.

You shoot your 1080p or 4K video, edit it, output and upload to YouTube then store the raw, unedited footage and edit on any one of the cloud storage solutions mentioned above. If you want to keep a hard copy you would simply hook up your Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge to a computer and transfer the files to be burned to a DVD / Bluray disc. Perhaps photo and video recording will be faster as a result of not
going to a microSD card. Speaking of the camera...

PICTURE THIS
The camera, by the looks of it, is worth its weight in gold! Samsung has never let me down with its cameras yet! When Samsung makes a claim or claims about its products I can take it to the bank! The camera on the Galaxy S3 was a milestone for quality and functionality that kept getting better with each year for both the Galaxy S and Note line. So, to see Samsung reference the iPhone 6 Plus camera in comparison to the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge means that the iPhone camera has been beaten outright! There is no doubt about that. I have come to know Samsung quite well and it doesn’t make claims that aren’t true. As a keen smartphone photographer I know that I am going to use the Galaxy S6 Edge camera a great deal.



The only thing I can’t say that I appreciate about the camera is the lens; the lens protrudes a lot and I do worry a little about scratching the lens. On the other hand I do intend to get a protective case for the Galaxy S6 Edge that should give some protection to the camera lens.

I can almost guarantee that the camera on the Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge will not be beaten by any other manufacturer this year! It is very possible that the ASUS ZenFone 2 & ZenFone Zoom might have something special about them but I can almost guarantee that the camera on the HTC One M9 is going to be a disappointment. I don’t know why HTC can’t put a decent camera into its flagship!

Anyway, the camera is one of the reasons why Samsung handsets have been my main driver over the years and it looks like it is going to stay that way. Again, I am a little flummoxed when people can’t see just how brilliant the Galaxy S6 & S6 cameras are. Even if I wanted to try something else I am unable for the camera alone!

These are the main factors why Samsung has beaten Apple at its own game! I also think that Samsung Pay has already won the “war” as it working with what is there already. Apple Pay, if I am correct, seems to want to coerce bank and payment systems to work exclusively with its technology. Whereas Samsung Pay works with systems already in place!

I can see Apple losing more of the market share due to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge as they are clearly better handsets! The screen on them just blows the “Retina” screen away!

ODDLY
From what I have seen of the tech media reaction to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, Android tech media in particular, they seem surprised that Samsung have kept things like Air Gestures, Smart Pause, etc are still within TouchWiz. That’s crazy! These features are outstanding and the Galaxy Note 4 utilizes some of these gestures with the S Pen. This reaction to these features by the Android tech media makes me wonder if they know how to use TouchWiz to the fullness. Very odd!


Above: The pebble inspired Galaxy S3. A great design for its time that has gotten better over the years. The Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge are the best ever! 


These Air Gestures and eye tracking features need good lighting to be able to function properly. If the front-facing camera aperture is F1.9 and makes for better low light photography these Air Gestures, etc could perform much better than on the Galaxy S4. I will give you a full review in due course!

Let’s not forget that the iPhone does not have such beautiful Air Gestures, eye tracking and S Pen – if we’re making a comparison to the 6 Plus and Note 4.

Once again, the iPhone is closed off environment to the Android open one. And this is one of the many reasons why the iPhone doesn’t appeal to me. Even if someone one gave me an iPhone for free I wouldn’t use it. So, I don’t really understand why some people think that the iPhone is so wonderful. Samsung and Android all the way, Baby! Samsung remains the King of Android!

SPECS:-
GALAXY S6

NETWORK  
GSM / HSPA / LTE

LAUNCH      
Announced 2015, March
Status: Coming soon. Exp. release 2015, April 10

BODY           
Dimensions: 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm (5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 in)
Galaxy S6 Edge Dimensions: 142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm (5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 in)
Weight: 138 g (4.87 oz)
Galaxy S6 Edge Weight 132 g (4.66 oz)
Build: Corning Gorilla Glass 4 back panel

SIM    
Nano-SIM

FINGERPRINT SENSOR
Fingerprint sensor (PayPal certified)
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

DISPLAY      
Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size: 5.1 inches (70.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Galaxy S6 Edge screen size: 5.1 inches (72.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels (577 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 4
TouchWiz UI

PLATFORM 
OS: Android OS, v5.0.2 (Lollipop)
Chipset: Exynos 7420
CPU: Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU: Mali-T760

MEMORY     
No microSD card slot
Internal: 32 / 64 / 128 GB
3 GB RAM

CAMERA      
Primary: 16 MP, 3456 x 4608 pixels, optical image stabilization, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, Auto HDR, panorama
Video: 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, dual-video rec.
Secondary: 5 MP, 1080p@30fps, dual video call, Auto HDR

SOUND        
Alert types: Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker
3.5mm jack   

COMMS        
WLAN           
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, LE, apt-X
GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
NFC
Infrared port

USB  
microUSB v2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), USB Host

FEATURES 
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, gesture, heart rate
Messaging: SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
Browser: HTML5
Java: Java MIDP emulator
 - Wireless charging (Qi/PMA/WPC) - market dependent
- ANT+ support
- S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
- Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll
- Air gestures
- OneDrive (115 GB cloud storage)
- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
- MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264 player
- MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+/FLAC player
- Photo/video editor
- Document editor

BATTERY              
Non-removable Li-Ion 2550 mAh battery
Galaxy S6 Edge 2,600mAh battery

MISC 
Colors: White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz

SAY IT LOUD, I AM SAMSUNG AND PROUD!
Without a doubt the Galaxy S6 Edge is going to be my next handset! And the good news is that it is coming to a wide range of UK networks come April 10! I am sure that there is going to be either a fairly substantial an upfront cost and / or monthly fee! But this is the price we pay for “premium”.

Speaking of “loud” I am looking forward to finding out about the audio features! I want to know if Soundcamp is one of the default apps or available to download from the Galaxy App Store.

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

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SAMSUNG MARKETING POWER vs APPLE SMOKE AND MIRRORS SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Above: A successful Samsung Genius Bar parody.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
SAMSUNG’S MARKETING POWER vs. APPLE’S SMOKE & MIRRORS

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? It is so good to see you as always! I hope you are getting maximum joy out of your tech! More reviews are coming! Say, it’s been a while since Synapse Circuit hosted a competition... Wait and see... Wink, wink...

Whether you like or even love Samsung or not you can you honestly say that you haven’t talked about a Samsung device – namely the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge? Weren’t you impressed by the Galaxy Note 4? And what about the often sublime Samsung adverts – especially when they mock the “Sheeple” or “iSheep”? But, hey, someone begs to differ...

"Everybody talks about Apple. Nobody talks about Samsung, or Microsoft, for that matter," says former Apple CEO John Sculley.

#Samsung #GalaxyS6 #GalaxySEdge #GalaxyS6Edge #Unpacked2015 #MobileWorldCongress2015 #MWC15

TELL A LIE OFTEN ENOUGH AND YOU’LL START TO BELIEVE IT
It’s as though the people at Apple are cyborgs in that what comes from their mouths is a vehement constant denial of the competition, “Apple is fantastic. Apple is amazing. Apple is wonderful...”

Well, it hasn’t always been like that as the massive tech war that amounted to an undue lawsuit to prevent Samsung products from competing around the globe. People were certainly talking about Samsung then (and now)!

I have exposed Apple on many occasions from the destruction of the music industry with iTunes, exaggerated sales figures and how the iPhone 5 tanked as did the 5C. However, despite these, er, hiccups the Apple skin remains shiny and bright. There may be a rotten core below the surface.

Just about everybody who follows tech news knows that 2014 has been hard for Samsung due to the ever changing Android market; the standards have definitely been upped somewhat. What was a high-end handset 2 years ago is now a budget one today. We know about the Chinese manufacturers and how they have cornered the mid to mid-high end market. However – and I keep saying this – I have yet to see a handset from a Chinese manufacturer that can rival the premium Samsung models, Galaxy S and Galaxy Note. There is no doubt that these mid to high-end Chinese handsets are a cost effective alternative to Samsung and other premium staples but I would imagine that a majority of Android fans in the West would prefer a Galaxy Note or Galaxy S over something like the OnePlus One. Well, I know that the Galaxy Note 4 has great audio support for music composition on the fly and I suspect that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will have the same audio features and more besides.

While the Chinese have switched from Samsung and Apple to national manufacturers such as Xiaomi, for example, it is not going to happen globally. Even if Xiaomi or OnePlus entered the US and European markets in a big way I do not think that we’ll switch all of a sudden! Just look at Huawei over here in the UK – they are still struggling to break the stranglehold of Samsung, LG and HTC. The only market that Huawei can tap is the budget one. And it is the same with ZTE (here in the UK); they are now forced to create better handsets with a lower price.

Then you look at other Android competitors such as Acer and Archos, they are forced to create better handset at a lower price entry.

GALAXY S5
Once again, the Galaxy S5 was a pedestrian “back to basics” offering from Samsung; it is what people have been talking about from the initial unpacking until now! So, all eyes are upon The Next Galaxy Unpacked come March 1^st at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

But you’d be hard pressed to find someone that will talk about the failure of the iPhone 5 and 5C. Apple won’t talk about it because they behave like those failures never happened. Given the choice of a Galaxy S5 and an iPhone 5 or 5C I wouldn’t have to think about it: Galaxy S5!

The Galaxy S5 is still a great handset that features a great camera amongst other features such as the heart rate monitor.



Did Samsung’s marketing power or lack thereof have an adverse effect on the Galaxy S5 sales? It’s a tough one to call because the general consensus from the UK tech magazines put the LG G3 on top of the UK Android market and no matter how many ads Samsung take out in magazines and television it is hard to dissuade the public from tech magazine (paper and TV) recommendations. The Galaxy S5 simply didn’t capture the imagination of the majority of tech media in the UK. As a Samsung fan myself I wasn’t very impressed with the Galaxy S5 design but beyond the design it was the best handset of 2014 only coming second to the Galaxy Note 4 released in September. And on the streets I see so many people with Galaxy Note 3 handsets – men and women! Y’know, I have yet to see someone with an LG G3 on the streets...

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE:
TAKING ON THE iPHONE
It’s one thing taking on the rest of the Android manufacturers but to take on the iPhone??? Well, actually it is not that big of mountain to climb because Samsung premium handsets are better than the iPhone. Yes, really! Here:-

1. THE DESIGN IS BETTER.
Yes, I do understand the idea of “premium” materials but that’s not necessarily the whole story. We all know that all smartphones suffer from a weak battery. To be able to swap out the battery on the Galaxy S series up to 5 and the Note series to the current fourth incarnation is the hallmark of a great design. Just the other day when I was in a coffee shop in Soho I witnessed a group of Asian patrons with their iPhones plugged into the wall.


Above: Chief Apple designer, Jony Ive. You'd look miserable too if all your designs were surpassed...

One more time... We interface with the screen and so having a big 5” screen on the Galaxy S5 and 5.7” on the Galaxy Note 4 makes the rest of the handset quite superficial. Show one person that is infatuated with the back of the phone and I’ll show you an elitist ill-informed person that is in love with the Apple logo. The only time I really interface with the back of my Galaxy handsets is to change the battery and check my heart rate. That’s it! With the iPhone the forehead and chin, so to speak, are quite big and unsightly. Jony Ive is simply overrated as a designer. All Ive can do is just criticize and bitch – very boring!

2. MORE FUNCTIONALITY
The functionality of the Galaxy S and Note series are unsurpassed. Because Apple isn’t able to imbue the iPhone with such functionality they call Samsung’s innovations “gimmicks”. Once a person goes from the iPhone to a Galaxy Note, for example, they rarely go back. I have to admit that I find it hard to believe when someone tells me that they have gone from a Galaxy Note to an iPhone 6 Plus as I think they are either lying for effect (to prop up Apple) or they simply didn’t make use of the Galaxy Note. Yes, Apple announced record breaking sales and profits but I do think that it’s the affluent Chinese market that has helped. Android still has over 80% of the market and Samsung is still on top!

The iPhone cannot beat Android and Samsung’s TouchWiz for functionality. Yet, that said, TouchWiz can produce some lag where the fluidity of the interface goes. I can’t say that a little lag here and there has ruined my enjoyment of the Galaxy S and Note handsets. I can’t say that I have noticed any lag or stutters on the Galaxy Note 4 thus so far.

3. PRODUCTIVITY
You’d think that the Apple App Store has a greater edge over Google Play Store the gap that was once there has closed considerably. In addition Samsung is creating apps for its own Galaxy App Store; granted that the Galaxy App Store features many apps that can be found on the Google App Store there are a few apps pertaining to the Galaxy S and Note handsets. 

Once again, the productivity apps can output to file formats for further work on a PC or Mac. This is why serious technology fans go for the Galaxy range of premium handsets over the iPhone.

The iOS operating system is just a front for iTunes.

MARKETING: THE DIFFERENCE
In some ways Apple is very clever; over the years Jobs has cultivated an acute elitism in the personal computing market, “We’re Apple Macs and we are superior to PCs...” Apple had to do something to stem the tide of Microsoft, Windows and inexpensive PCs. Apple jacked up the prices and invested in some revolutionary designs for the time with its Mac computers. It’s like Apple reinvented its brand to appear like a Rolls Royce to the rather bland Ford PCs. But that was a little over 10 years ago. Today we have some brilliant looking PC cases, well designed monitors and interchangeable components such as a graphics card for example. A well made PC can beat a Mac in price and in functionality.

Apple has just repeated the jacked up price formula for the iPhone and iPad; it’s that brand building that captured the minds of the consumer looking to buy into prestige. Add the constant Apple derision of the competition and you have a bunch of people hating the competition for no real reason and this is why many people find it hard to reason with iPhone fans on social networks such as Google Plus.

When you look over at Samsung it is entirely different... What Samsung does is just concentrate on how good its products are. As you know one of the ways Samsung has shown that its products are better is with those wonderful ads that poke fun at the ‘iSheeple’. Apple can never do ads like that. As I have been saying for the longest time that the Apple lawsuit persecution has given Samsung a great deal of publicity! I still chuckle at the iPhone 6 Plus keynote, “Look, it has a landscape mode!” said Peter Schiller. I laughed so hard at the time. The audience, made up of press and Apple personnel, clapped like trained seals. Wow! Isn’t that fantastic?

You’ve only got to look at the build-up for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to see that Samsung are masters of marketing. It will be interesting to see how Samsung markets the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge post the Unpacked event in Barcelona in a couple of days time.

But a good product or products should speak for themselves. Should Samsung get the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge right then they’ve done 80% of the marketing already. There’s a bit of panic in that some Android fans are saying that the next Galaxy won’t have an microSD card slot “copying the iPhone” and will not be water or dust resistant. I can just about live with a non-removable battery on a Samsung but with all the pictures and videos I take with my Galaxy handsets I will need a microSD slot! As for water and dust resistance... ...I’ve never really needed such protection.

I think the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Unpacked event is the most anticipated ever! It has overshadowed all the other manufacturers attending the Mobile World Congress; the tech media has written an article practically every day based on pure speculation, Samsung’s finances, “leaked” pictures and so on... What I’ve tried to do is to step back a little and try and put the clues together. I didn’t want to join in with the rumour manufacture and photo leaks from unofficial sources. Such tech journalism is lazy in my opinion. I try to put some effort in my journals. Lol!

We’ll just have to wait and see what Samsung reveals this Sunday!

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A NEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY

APPLE BIASED MEDIA ASSAULT ON GALAXY S6

Above: Samsung's press invite for the 1st March 2015 at the MWC, Barcelona, Spain.
I am looking forward to unpacking whatever form the Galaxy S6 or S Edge takes!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
APPLE BIASED MEDIA CLAW AT THE SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED GALAXY S6!

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? It is great to see you as always! I hope that you are keeping warm in this chilly weather. I do my best to keep the sniffles at bay! I also hope that you are making the most of your tech!

I think that all this wishful thinking that Samsung will fade into obscurity is nuts! Plain and simple! What I find even more nuts are “news” sources with an obvious bias towards Apple... Find out why Apple is afraid of Android and Samsung in particular... Read on...

#Samsung #GalaxyS6 #GalaxySEdge

MEEOUCH!
Reading from the blatant Apple biased tech media can be a hoot sometimes... Most of the time the Apple biased media is just plain silly! One source has it that because Samsung “stopped copying Apple products” its fortunes have taken a tumble! LMAO!!! I never saw an iPad Tab 7, did you? I didn’t recall an iPhone Note? Furthermore, the Galaxy 10” tablet series looked nothing like the iPad! Let’s not forget that Apple had to publish an apology to Samsung on its UK based website. Talk about bias! Good gosh!

What this source and many others are referring to about Samsung “copying again” is that the Galaxy S6 could feature a unibody made from aluminium and glass. This is nothing new of course as a few Android manufacturers have done this already. Now it appears as it is Samsung’s turn to go metal and glass! Big deal! I have noticed that the Apple biased tech-media don’t state that Apple have copied the Galaxy Note what with the adoption of the 5.5” screen for the 6 Plus. Uh-uh! But they are quick to state that the 6 Plus is breaking sales records, etc. Funny, huh?

Still, it’s good that the as yet unannounced Samsung Galaxy S6 is getting some coverage. Such “news” just piques my interest even more – as if I couldn’t get more interested! True to my word I have resisted posting up “leaked” images of what could possibly be the Galaxy S6 but if they are anything to go by it looks like iPhone meets the HTC One M series (without the front-facing speakers, sadly).

Besides, the Galaxy S6 and its S Edge variant may have already been “leaked”. And if the “leaked” pictures are anything to go by then the Galaxy S6 still retains the Samsung design language. I am very much of the opinion that these “leaks” are put out on purpose to ease super-high unrealistic hopes and in the case of the Galaxy S Edge it is to tease the public!

I didn’t opt for the Galaxy Note Edge because of the Gear VR unit that I will get later on but I do WANT the Galaxy S Edge for sure! All I can say at this point is that I hope the Galaxy S Edge isn’t exclusive to one mobile network as it was with the Galaxy Note Edge. I think it is an odd way to sell such awesome new designs.

Yes, as I stated in another article: when Samsung showed off the concept handsets with a curved YOUM screen at CES 2013 the press and consumers alike acknowledged these concept handsets as “advanced” and now that these awesome concepts are in production the Apple biased media, once again, is placing a negative spin on these innovations!

Apple is said to be working on a stylus for a possible forthcoming iPad Pro and uses “Air Gestures” too! Now where have I heard that term, “Air Gestures”?

I FEEL THE NEED...
THE NEED FOR...
Judging by the “leaked” benchmarks for the Galaxy S6 or S Edge it looks as though Samsung has produced the fastest Android handset on the planet. And it looks as though my wish for a 5.5” screen is dashed! Here’s what could be the Galaxy S6 innards:-

5.1” 1440 x 2560 display.
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor.
20MP main camera.
5MP front-facing camera.
3GB RAM.
32GB internal storage.
Android 5.0.2.

The Exynos 7420 processor has set a new record at 60,978 points, beating Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 quite comfortably.



This makes me very happy as I am a Samsung Galaxy S user and it also makes me wonder why Samsung couldn’t do this for the Galaxy Note 4. There again, most handsets are designed well in advance. Still, the Galaxy S6 and S Edge appear to be the pinnacle of Android handset design. Oh, it looks as though 4GB of RAM is out of the question! Lol! Now I am curious as to why ASUS has put 4GB of RAM on one of its ZenFone 2 models... Anyhoo... The 20MP camera is very exciting for me as I do LOVE to take pictures on my mobile whenever I am on my travels in Central London. Samsung cameras have never let me down yet! Okay, briefly with the Galaxy S4 which was remedied with a software update soon after.

Sticking with the camera, I do hope that 4K video recording will have no time restrictions.

There’s no mention of external microSD storage but I suspect that Samsung will allow for it as it always has! Now that 4K video recording has taken hold I think it would be advantageous for the capacity of microSD cards to increase! By now I would have thought that up to 500GB is possible on a microSD card, no? Serious video makers will want to take advantage of what 4K has to offer!

Photo and video editing... It would be great if Samsung features some desktop-like apps for picture and video editing to compliment such a great – potentially great – camera!

A SOUND BET
Another aspect of the Galaxy S6 and S Edge to be excited about is the sound facility; Samsung design and builds its flagships around multimedia. As a result the Galaxy Note 4 is a gift to musicians as there is compatibility with IK Multimedia’s music hardware interfaces and apps for Android as it is on iOS. So, if you want to use your handset for the purpose of music making without going iOS then the Galaxy Note 4 is the best offering out of all the OEMs (original equipment manufacturer). I am expecting the same for the Galaxy S6 and S Edge.

I do make music when I get the chance and I am looking forward to exploring music making on Android mobile devices in due course.

And if you are a journalist the Galaxy S6’ relatively small screen factor could change your working life. I used to record interviews using my Galaxy S and an assortment of digital cameras with HD video recording capability. Today I would use my Galaxy Note 4! In the future I see myself using the Galaxy S Edge!

I do think that the tech-media – Apple biased or not seem to be ignorant of the flagship Galaxy S (and Note) audio capabilities. There are some music / audio apps that require a Samsung premium flagship handset for best results. Now do you understand why I bet on Samsung each and every time for my main drivers?

64-BIT ANDROID FRENZY
I just love it when Apple tries to put the squeeze on the Android industry; Cook and co remind me of the coyote in the famous Roadrunner cartoons that always gets caught in his own traps! I do think that Apple have already started to regret forcing 64-bit on Android before it was ready. It was bad for Google and OEMs in the short run. It’s always going to be good for the consumer as the 32-bit handset prices should fall dramatically come summer when 64-bit floods the Android marketplace. This is why ASUS have gone all in with a decent 64-bit handset at a decent price point from the off with the ZenFone 2. Other OEMs have a number of budget 64-bit handsets to bring to the Android marketplace! But not all 64-bit chips are made equally! It looks as though Samsung and it 7420 Exynos chip could land them on top of throne when it comes to chip manufacturing. I know that that Apple is going to use Samsung again for more chips! And I would imagine that other Android OEMs will start using Samsung chips in the not too distant future. Samsung can start clawing back what it has lost in chips alone! Look at the loss that Qualcomm is anticipating because Samsung is using its own chipset on the Galaxy S6 and S Edge? Not taking anything away from Qualcomm they make great chips and I reckon Samsung will still use Qualcomm chips on smaller handsets and tablets.

CHIPPED ACCESSORIES
Talking of “chips”! It looks as though Samsung will require accessory manufacturers to authenticate Galaxy S6 and S Edge accessories with a Samsung issued chip! I think this is about time! I think it is important for consumers to purchase accessories made specifically for Galaxy products knowing that they have been approved by Samsung. I am not talking about just cases... Yes, cases are important as some do not cater for the NFC capability on the Galaxy Note 4 for example. I think it is more important for battery extension accessories such as a power-stick or power-case. I believe an unapproved battery extension for my Galaxy S is what caused it to not function properly. As a result I never use anything that does not have the Samsung branding upon it.

It looks as though that there will be a number of decent accessories that consumers can trust with regards to Samsung products. The thought of a non-removable battery on a Samsung flagship does disturb me somewhat; I’ll be relieved to know that I can use a protective case that also houses a battery extension. Bring it with those authentication chips!

SAMSUNG PAY? BE AFRAID... BE VERY AFRAID...
Ah, that’s another rumour doing the rounds regarding Samsung “copying Apple”. If this rumour turns out to be true then I can only imagine that this is a rebranding of Samsung Wallet and its ability to make payments with PayPal. This is no big deal! Samsung had the Wallet before Apple had Apple Pay. Nothing wrong with a bit of rebranding – if the rumour turns out to be true. I feel that I have to keep reminding people that iOS and Android are two different platforms. The main difference between Android and iOS is that it’s better... Lol! Seriously (even though it true), the main difference is that Android isn’t saddled with another computer operating system that is the equivalent of OS X (and to some extent Windows) and therefore Android can serve both OS X and Windows with applications that save in OS X and Windows compatible formats. So, this is the real reason why Apple is afraid of Samsung’s flagships! It is also a reason why Microsoft is desperately trying to garner interest in Windows, etc. Microsoft has bought a mobile phone manufacturer (Nokia) but there is very little desire for Windows phones. It’s no wonder that Microsoft has invested a reported 70 Million in Cyanogen – the start-up company that will most likely produce a forked version of Android at the end of the day. Again, look where that got Amazon and its Fire phone...

IN CLOSING
I have pointed out that there is no real challenger to the Samsung crown when it comes to its high-end premium flagships. Many of the Chinese OEMs have yet to reach the European and US markets. Because the UK lost mobile device retail outlet Phones 4U last year it has meant that some of the best alternatives to Samsung’s mid-high down to the budget end of the market have been denied to consumers. Phones 4U had the LG L budget range that was quite popular. If you lost your phone or broke it beyond repair or that it costs more than it’s worth then you’d pick up an LG L. However, I think that Motorola has put paid to the budget end of the market whereby the LG L range is dead in the water and even this seems like it could be for the short term as there will be a few budget 64-bit handsets that may prove to be more powerful than the Moto G 2014 for example. So far Motorola haven’t announced that they’ll be releasing a 64-bit equivalent of the Moto G 2015.



Above: Samsung's new lead designer, Lee Don-tae.

I do think that Samsung can also redefine the sub £200 handset market by either using lesser Qualcomm 64-bit processors or Samsung’s Exynos processors. In fact this is a good opportunity for Samsung to experiment with new designs in the form of plastic 64-bit handsets aimed at the budget market now that they have hired designer, Lee Don-tae who worked for Tangerine where Jony Ive worked before starting with Apple.

I don’t think Samsung is going to fade away anytime soon...

We’ll just have to wait and see what the actual Galaxy S6 and S Edge are about... It’s only the 10^th of February! Only 18 more days to go! Lol!

Thank you so much for reading Synapse Circuit!

Expect more reviews, news, opinions, competitions and more from Synapse Circuit!

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

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

A NEW SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY! 

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT APPLE vs SAMSUNG 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

APPLE vs. SAMSUNG: THE WINNER IS...


Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers. How’s it going? I hope that all is well! Yes, I am looking to continue the Animation Special soon! It’s coming! Thank you so much for reading the first instalment.

Hey, I am sure that you have heard the latest in the Tech War between Apple & Samsung. Do you think that Apple scored a victory?

Here’s a pictorial guide...

#Apple #Samsung #SamsungvsApple #iPhone #GalaxyS #GalaxyNote #GalaxyZoom #GalaxyS4Zoom #GalaxyKZoom #GalaxyS5 #GalaxyS5Premium #GalaxyNote4


WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Well, I am going to let you know what I think...

Even the most dedicated iPhone / Apple fanatic can’t deny their eyes. The church of Apple has to concede that there is another and more powerful Technological God in our Galaxy...

THANKS FOR READING...
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