DoCoMo has decided to omit Samsung from its winter devices after the Samsung Galaxy S4 missed the summer sales target by 30%. DoCoMo has chosen models from Sony, Sharp and Fujitsu instead.
During the summer, Sony’s Experia A managed to sell 1.3 million units at DoCoMo, while the Galaxy S4 moved just 700,000 units.
Sony seems to be on a bit of a roll at the moment with its Xperia range.
S4 UK Sim free phones are now receiving the big update from Samsung. This is BTU devices.
Improvements and fixes in the new Software Update:
-New Camera firmware
-Smearing issue has been fixed (Purple effect while scrolling)
-Smart Pause Toggle
-Move Apps to SD Card
-HDR Video (Can record HDR video)
-Semi-transparent status bar
-New Icons in Settings
-Secure boot status (About Phone)
-Increase legibility (Display) (New feature)
The update is 347mb. If you haven’t received it go to settings, about device, software update.
The version number after update is i9505XXUBMGA.
HTC have acquired the services of Robert Downey Jr in their $1bn ad campaign. And guess what, I think it’s a genius idea.
Why? Well at the moment most of the tech press are slating it, saying HTC are off their rockers. So round one to HTC because a) everyone remembers it and b) they all recall its about HTC.
Then there is the creative aspect of this idea. What is grow. What HTC brand name become more aware amongst the general public.
And Here’s To Change, HTC 😉
The Microsoft built YouTube app for Windows phones, shut down by Google in May and re-introduced by Microsoft this week, has been shut down by Google again.
A YouTube spokesperson says “Microsoft has not made the browser upgrades necessary to enable a fully-featured YouTube experience, and has instead re-released a YouTube app that violates our Terms of Service.”
Clearly no love lost between these two companies.
A little over a month ago, a leaked system dump from the upcoming Sony i1 Honami revealed that it could capture video at 4K (4000 x 2000) resolution.
Phonearena and esato have uncovered a slideshow presentation regarding the Honami, which confirms that it can record video at 4K.
This really sounds too good to be true but the official reveal on the 4th September is not now far away, so soon all the specifications will be public.
The iPhone is now has a 4 inch screen. Will Apple release a larger screen like many of the flagship android phones. Well if you look at AT&T stats, this may be a long wait.
Back in January of 2013, 9 out of 10 customers on AT&T chose the 3.5 or 4-inch iPhone over all other smartphones, including all bigger smartphones, combined. 6 out of 10 customers on Verizon did likewise. In the last quarter, reported in July of 2013, more than 5 out of 10 customers on both AT&T and Verizon still chose the 3.5 or 4-inch iPhone over all other smartphones, despite the iPhone 5 being halfway through its product cycle, and the presence of newer, bigger rivals like the enormous Samsung Galaxy S4 and the gorgeous HTC One, as well as various other, larger Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phones.
I really think Samsung, Sony or HTC need a mini version that has proper specifications and not scaled down specifications. Or maybe they just can’t build a phone that small with all the features like Apple does?
LG is updating the Vu II, with the Vu III.
LG Vu III will feature a 5.2-inch (1280 x 960) 4:3 display, a Snapdragon 800 SoC, 13MP camera, and support for 150Mbps LTE-Advanced networks.
But, once again whilst a 4:3 is ideal for web browsing and magazine reading, it is not an iPad, it is a phone. And this display size creates a rather wide phone that is difficult and uncomfortable to hold.
Anyway, it is due to be official announced at IFA on the 4th September 2013.
Welcome back to my last part on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. Earlier parts can be found here.
So, let’s start by saying that I have returned my S4 Zoom, due to one issue / bug that just frustrated me. Annoyingly, everything else about the phone and camera was fine. The battery was removable, it had a micro SD card slot, it was based on the S4 Mini so a competent performer. It also can take good photos and the optical zoom and xenon flash assured you always got a decent snap. It even had preset modes to take the guess work out of what advanced settings you needed for a waterfall, fireworks, and many other scenarios photos. It even had a centre button, handy for turning the phone on whilst sitting on a table.
But for a camera first, phone second device, it was a weakness or fault in the panoramic mode that let the device down. As mentioned already, panoramic photos were being captured at only 400-600kb maximum file sizes, resulting in poor pixel count and not acceptable for a camera phone.
However, if you never take panoramic photos, then the S4 Zoom is a fantastic piece of kit. Sadly, I do take many due to living in a very scenic place, and consequently the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom has been returned.
Another day another new phone from Samsung. The Samsung Hennessy is a dual-screen Android flip phone with a pair of 3.3-inch 320×480 touch displays and runs Android 4.1 on a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, an outer screen with 3 capacitive keys, a 1,500mAh battery, microSD slot, 5-megapixel rear camera and dual SIM support for CDMA and GSM radios, GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi.
Is there no shape, size or screen that Samsung doesn’t have a product ? Amazing feat really.
So apart from the new Sony Honami iL, another phone many are looking forward too, is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung’s replacement Phablet for the Note 2.
The Note 3 is rumoured to feature a larger 5.86-inch 1080p display, 3GB of RAM, an eight-core Exynos 5420 processor or Snapdragon 800, and 16,32 or 64GB of internal storage. However, don’t expect 16gb internal storage to have more than 10-11gb free to the user. A micro SD slot will be available for photo and media storage. Battery capacity has been increased to 3,200mAH, but again this probably will be needed for the more powerful screen. The 13mp camera is likely to have optical image stabilisation, potentially making this a better camera than the Samsung Galaxy S4 which does not feature this option.
The screen will be a 1080p HD Super Amoled. The device will feature android 4.3 from launch.
I am looking forward to seeing this phone, but I do hope we have the option from launch to buy the 32gb version.
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