SYNAPSE CIRCUIT SAMSUNG UNPACKED 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NETWORK
LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)

DISPLAY
5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)

AP
2.5GHz Quad core application processor

OS
Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DIMENSIONS
142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can’t wait to review one!

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

Great idea! Payment through using a fingerprint verification.

Oooh... I have to try it!

Jock strap...

Get fit with the Samsung Gear Fit!

The Gear 2 gets a "Home" button.

Great colours! Blue, Blue Electric Blue...

The Galaxy S5 Heart Rate Monitor.

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

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

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

Now you can hide your pictures! ;) 

I can't wait to hear them!

The user interface promises to be simpler.

What do you reckon?

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

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

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

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

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

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do you reckon?   

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

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

Synapse Circuit Dot Com