Samsung's new monitors include one with a billion-color, 3,840 x 2,160 screen

Now that Samsung's shown us the GS5, Gear 2 smartwatch and its latest Chromebook, it's time for the company's lesser-known product teams to come out of the woodwork. Next up: the display division, which today introduced three new models for 2014, including one with a billion-color, 3,840 x 2,160 screen. That would be the beaut you see above, the 28-inch UD590, which is up for pre-order for $700. In addition to that stunner of a display, it does Picture-in-Picture, with no downgrading in resolution as you move to a smaller frame. There's also a dual-screen feature called Picture-by-Picture, which you could theoretically use for split-screen gaming, even though this was really designed with creative pros in mind. Design-wise, it's fashioned out of metal, with thin bezels and a T-shaped stand that leaves room for speakers and other items you might have on your desk. Around back, you'll find a single DisplayPort, along with two HDMI 1.4 sockets for outputting 4K.

Samsung UD590 monitor

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Samsung Chromebook 2 Series on sale in May

Both run Google's Chrome OS, and both are improvements on the previous models. They're faster, slimmer, and have longer battery lives.

They also feature durable textured lids with the kind of fake leather and stitching we've seen on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and the newest version of the Galaxy S4.

The 13.3-inch model has a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen, while the 11.6-inch version has a 1,366x768-pixel display.

Because there are no moving parts, both models wake up in less than a second, and boot from cold in under 10 seconds.

The 13.3-inch model offers up to 8.5 hours of battery life, so it should last you a full working day.

Google's Chrome OS regularly updates itself, giving you the latest features and security settings without you having to lift a finger.

Samsung hasn't set a price yet for either model, so keep an eye on retailers if you're thinking of snapping one up.

Samsung NX Mini is perfect for selfies

The 3-inch screen on the NX Mini rotates 180 degrees, so you can see how you're posing for that selfie. You don't even have to press the shutter, as that could jog the camera, making for a blurry shot. Instead, just wink, and the camera will snap a pic two seconds later.

The 9mm wide-angle lens can also capture a lot of people in a group shot, so it's perfect for recreating that selfie from the Oscars.

The NX Mini may be small, but its 20.5-megapixel sensor ensures images are packed with detail. You can take shots in quick succession using the 6fps Continuous Shot mode, and the 1/16,000sec shutter speed means your pics will be blur-free.

It has plenty more features, too. NFC and Wi-Fi are on board for sharing your snaps wirelessly, and it can even double as a baby monitor – using NFC, it activates your paired smartphone via an app, so you can see if you need to attend to your child.

At 22.5mm thin, and weighing 158g (without the lens), it's a real pocket rocket. It comes in either white, mint green, or black colours.

The NX Mini will be on sale in April, along with a range of NX Mini lenses to choose from. Or you can buy an adapter, and use lenses from the standard NX.

Canadian carriers now pushing KitKat to Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4

Another country sees wide availability of the latest software for Samsung's most popular devices

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 from a variety of regions have been receiving the jump to Android 4.4, and now it seems the Canadian carriers have flipped the switch for their devices. Users across Bell, Telus and Rogers have been reporting that their Note 3s and Galaxy S4s are receiving the large OTA downloads — about 440MB each — to bump up to KitKat, bringing some subtle interface changes and all of the goodies Google has baked into the latest build of Android.

If you're using either of these devices on a Canadian carrier, be on the lookout for the update to arrive in the coming days. If you've already received it, be sure to hop into the forums and let other members know how you're getting along with the latest software build.

iOS 8 will focus on fitness, but on what should Apple set its sights?

For a while now, the tech world has been wondering what industry Apple will change next. Leaks and rumors of Apple’s upcoming mobile operating system, iOS 8, have been swirling about for a couple of weeks now, and it appears as though Apple will delve into the world of fitness tracking, but is this the world Apple should shape?

Fitness apps and wearables have become something of a fad, with FitBit and Nike’s FuelBand as the most notable of the wearables. The fitness wearable market isn’t overflowing with money, but it’s doing well enough to spur companies in other sectors — like gaming peripheral maker Razer — to hop aboard. Netbooks would be an accurate analogy to describe the fitness band market — they were easy and cheap to manufacture, and provide a useful service (in the case of the netbook: affordable, basic computing).

While Apple has been iterating on its phones, tablets, and computers, we’ve been waiting for its next big product line. The rumored iWatch has been the top guess for a while now, but thanks to Samsung’s Galaxy gear — a fine piece of hardware — the public has shown that it isn’t thrilled about shelling out cash for a tiny wrist-tablet. Back at Mobile World Congress, Samsung unveiled the Gear Fit, which basically combined a smartwatch and fitness band. The easy thing for Apple to do is release its own fitness band and smartwatch combo, but the very usage of the device — second screen for your phone and pedometer — limits its ceiling.

The Samsung Gear Fit: kind of a smartwatch, kind of a fitness band.

There is nothing wrong with joining the fitness market — even though fitness bands are currently more or less glorified pedometers and aren’t really able to automatically track a proper weight workout. According to various leaks, Apple’s focus on that market — Healthbook — with the upcoming iOS 8 is quite extensive. However, Apple shouldn’t be focusing on me-too devices in an already-saturated market of middling popularity. Instead, it should blow the doors off a hugely popular-but-stagnant market wide open, or create a new market. This is why Apple should either focus on finally releasing a television, or getting a sleek-looking, affordable Google Glass competitor to consumers before Google can.

It’s no question that the television market is stale, with the most recent innovation being Smart TVs. Basically, this is because there’s really not much left to do with them; the realistic progression would be to include game console and media streaming capabilities, removing the need for us to have an entertainment unit full of PlayStations, Xboxes, and Rokus. This doesn’t mean Apple should perfect some kind of WebTV — it didn’t work before, and it especially won’t work now that we do our bed-based web surfing through our phones and tablets. If Apple chose to leave its mark on the TV world, it should simply produce a very pretty Retina-class television in the usual sleek Apple style, include media streaming support for people that don’t want cable but use services like Netflix and HBO, and even include iOS support and a controller for games. It wouldn’t change the face of television, but Apple could offer everyone the best television available.

Our own David Cardinal, sporting Google Glass.

On the other end of the spectrum, Apple could skip the wrist-wearable world and go right into Google Glass territory. Thanks to the Pebble and Galaxy Gear, we’ve learned that while interacting with smartwatches are easy enough, the very chassis of the device limits their ceiling — the display is too small, you can’t easily talk into it, you can’t quickly and easily type on it, and so on. It’s more likely that we’re going to be either stuck with smartphones for a while, or move to a convenient style of wearable. Google Glass appears to be that wearable, but we’re nowherenear a consumer release, or the product even being that useful. Voice control is much easier to handle when you don’t have to yell at your wrist all the time, and a Glass-style display is much larger than a watch’s thanks to perspective.

Whatever Apple does, iOS 8 appears to be tackling fitness as its next big thing. If it can’t automatically track weight lifting, then it won’t set itself apart from the already-established market. If Apple is going to make a medium-sized ripple rather than a gigantic splash, it might as well set its sights on a market where it could be the only one making that ripple. A high-quality television that allows me to put some of my devices in the closet — and looks beautiful sitting on my TV stand — would make my already-comfortable room an even nicer place to be. If Apple doesn’t want to remove the (pretty good) LG TV from my TV stand, then it’ll have a much easier time putting a computer on our faces than on our wrists — and only have one competitor, who currently sells a limited (beta) product for $1,500.

Google Smartwatch Specs Leak, Show Hardware Comparable To Galaxy Gear 2

Some new details about Google’s upcoming smartwatch, which is said to be made by occasional Nexus hardware partner LG, have emerged from mobile leaker @evleaks, who has a solid track record when it comes to unreleased devices. Shortly after techoblog  reported that Google’s smartwatch development is progressing, @evleaks said that LG was making Google’s device, and that it would debut at the search company’s I/O developers conference this year.

The new specs show a device with a 1.65-inch screen, with a screen resolution of 280 pixels by 280 pixels, which makes for a display density of 240. It also has 512MB of RAM on board, alongside 4GB of storage, which makes it roughly equivalent in many ways to a low-end smartphone. The processor is still a mystery, but based on these stats we can also see that it has a slightly less high-resolution screen that the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2, and the same amount of RAM and internal storage.

Google’s self-branded smartwatch should be arriving soon, given the recent uptick in leaks and a general consensus that we’ll see it this year, so stay tuned to find out what’s up for the tech leader’s take on the emerging wrist-mounted wearable space.

Gold Samsung Galaxy S5 is exclusive to Vodafone

That's because that colour of the S5 will be exclusive to the red network, Vodafone has announced.

Along with all the other colour variants, it'll be available for pre-order on 28 March. Vodafone hasn't given a price or release date yet, but the S5 is slated to hit the shop shelves on 11 April.

Gold has proved a popular colour for high-end mobile phones recently. The gold iPhone 5s was a runaway hit, selling out straightaway. HTC also launched a limited edition gold version of its flagship HTC One.

The Galaxy S5 is Samsung's latest top-of-the range handset. It features fewer gimmicks than the S4, though it has added a fingerprint scanner and heart rate sensor. It's waterproof too, so Samsung may have taken a leaf out of Sony's book.

The S5 is slightly bigger than the S4, with a 5.1-inch screen that has a 1080p resolution. Android KitKat comes as standard.

The S5 will also be available in blue, white, black and copper.That's because that colour of the S5 will be exclusive to the red network, Vodafone has announced.

Along with all the other colour variants, it'll be available for pre-order on 28 March. Vodafone hasn't given a price or release date yet, but the S5 is slated to hit the shop shelves on 11 April.

Gold has proved a popular colour for high-end mobile phones recently. The gold iPhone 5s was a runaway hit, selling out straightaway. HTC also launched a limited edition gold version of its flagship HTC One.

The Galaxy S5 is Samsung's latest top-of-the range handset. It features fewer gimmicks than the S4, though it has added a fingerprint scanner and heart rate sensor. It's waterproof too, so Samsung may have taken a leaf out of Sony's book.

The S5 is slightly bigger than the S4, with a 5.1-inch screen that has a 1080p resolution. Android KitKat comes as standard.

The S5 will also be available in blue, white, black and copper.

Samsung Galaxy Beam successor in the works

The Tenaa entry labels the upcoming device as SM-G3858 and includes several photos of the projector smartphone. 

The phone sports a clear bump on the back which opens up to a wide lens on the top for the projector that could prove handy for watching PowerPoint presentations or even films. 

It also seems Samsung have opted for a sleek metal build that may prove a hit with professionals. 

The filing also reveals specs including a 4.66-inch 800 x 480 display, a quad-core 1.2GHz chipset with 1GB of RAM and a microSD slot with up to 32GB external storage.

The sequel to the Samsung Galaxy Beam will also be running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. 

At 11.6mm thick, it’s much thicker than most Samsung handsets although its nearly a full millimetre thinner than the original. 

No word yet on release date and availability. 

The original Samsung Galaxy Beam was unveiled at Mobile World Congress back in 2012 introducing the cool concept of the built-in pico projector. 

Although the phone failed to take off due to its poor specifications that prevented its projector idea really benefiting anyone. 

Samsung's new smartphone case uses ultrasound to detect people and objects

Samsung's Galaxy S5 may be getting lots of smart new accessories, but the Korean smartphone maker is also making sure its lower-powered phones get some love too. After including various software usability functions in the Galaxy Core Advance at the end of last year, the company today introduced three new accessories that have been designed specifically to help disabled or visually impaired users do more with their Android device. First up is the Optical Scan Stand, a raised bracket that automatically triggers the phone's OCR features to recognize and read aloud text placed in front of the phone. There's also Voice Labels, which are similar to Samsung's NFC-equipped TechTile stickers, but let visually impaired users make voice notes or record short explanations on how to use various devices around the home. Perhaps the most impressive accessory of the three is Samsung's Ultrasonic Cover: a specialized case that uses sound waves to detect people or objects (in a two-meter radius), helping users navigate new surroundings by sending vibration or spoken alerts. Even without the accessories, the Galaxy Advance Core features a trio of physical buttons on the front and dedicated camera and voice recorder buttons on the side, assisting smartphone owners that don't want to rely solely on on-screen controls.

Samsung pushes ahead with 20nm DDR3 RAM, signaling uncertainty about DDR4

Samsung has announced that it is pushing forward 20nm DDR3 DRAM, and has already begun volume production on the next-generation lithography node. Some of you may recall that Samsung has been building NAND flash on 20nm for quite some time, but it’s significantly easier to build NAND flash on next-gen processes than it is to move DRAM to those same nodes. Samsung’s decision to deploy DDR3 at the 20nm node also says interesting things about its DDR4 timelines and confidence in those roadmaps.

Historically, DRAM has been stuck between a rock and a hard place. CPUs from AMD, Intel, and even ARM vendors can afford to be more aggressive with process node shifts; the chips command higher margins and they benefit from being “first” to a given node. NAND flash doesn’t necessarily have the margins of conventional microprocessors, but it’s much simpler to manufacture than DRAM and the company that secures an early lead in manufacturing tends to win the majority of the revenue in this space as well. DRAM, though, isn’t as easy to manufacture as NAND, but it’s nowhere near as profitable as CPUs.

Samsung’s first 20nm DDR3 product: SODIMMs based on a new 4Gb DRAM chip

By moving DDR3 to 20nm, Samsung is setting itself up for significant power savings (new modules supposedly draw 25% less power than previous designs), but it’s also a statement about where the company expects the memory market to go in the next few years. In the past, the memory market was driven by the demands of the desktop and server space first and foremost. True, a low-voltage option existed for smartphones and tablets, but these mobile devices themselves weren’t the driving force behind the space.

DDR3 20nm improves the DDR3 situation, but narrows the gap between itself and DDR4

Ideally (from Samsung’s perspective), it would reserve the 20nm node for its DDR4 products, ship those out in standard and LP form factors, and thus position itself to capture the vast majority of the revenue from this segment. Instead, the company is simultaneously transitioning both DDR3 and DDR4 to the 20nm node. That suggests Samsung doesn’t expect to see a strong shift to DDR4 in the near term and is hedging its bets on the technology accordingly.

Longer time frames, slower updates

Sebastian Anthony’s ugly mug reflected in a beautiful 16nm NAND wafer (Micron I think)

Slowing the DDR4 ramp-up only makes sense given the overall market. The vast majority of the market is no longer upgrading every 2-3 years, which means Samsung faces the possibility of amortizing the steep costs of a new new technology and production node over a long period of time. Putting DDR3 on 20nm may actually improve the economics of DDR4 — it makes it easier to bear the cost of the new RAM, even if bringing those same power savings over to the new platform makes DDR4 relatively less attractive.

We’ll undoubtedly see a few mobile companies start talking about LPDDR4 in 2014, but bulk shipments on the new RAM standard won’t happen immediately — for that, we’ll probably have to wait for the next consumer chipset after Haswell-E. Meanwhile, 20nm LPDDR3 will still offer manufacturers that haven’t designed new SoCs a way to continue using previous architectures but still offer customers a density improvement, cost savings, and power reduction.

Samsung still claims that DDR4 offers a performance and power reduction benefit, but the near-term benefits from shifting to the standard when it debuts later this year are likely to be small — and smaller still when compared against 20nm DDR3. Still, for companies struggling to deal with the high cost of next-generation foundry technologies, “better late than never” still definitely applies.

Samsung Galaxy S5 to come with 2K display, eye-scanning sensor

Samsung at its Analyst Day event in Korea had revealed plans for launching devices with a screen resolution of 1440x2560 pixels (2K) next year.

Now, a new report emerging from Korea suggests such a device is already in development, and that the company will announce the alleged smartphone at MWC in February 2014. However, the report does not confirm whether the alleged smartphone with a screen resolution of 1440x2560 pixels (2K) will be the rumoured, and anticipated Galaxy S5.

Earlier this month, a GFXBench listing had revealed a device codenamed Samsung SM-G900S sporting a screen resolution of 1440x2560 pixels (2K). The device was believed to be the Samsung Galaxy S5, which is expected to come with a 5.0- or 5.2-inch display, making the pixel density an incredible 560ppi at the said resolution.

In addition, the report also reveals that the South Korean giant is working on its next line of smartphones that will equip iris recognition or eye-scanning technology for unlocking the phone, authentication etc. Samsung's expected next flagship smartphone (the Galaxy S5) will probably be the first device to pack such a feature. Unfortunately, the report does not reveal many details of the alleged eye-scanning unlock feature.

The eye-scanning/iris-recognition feature has not been introduced on any smartphone (from a major manufacturer) as an unlocking method, and if the rumour is true, Samsung would become the first handset maker to debut the feature on a smartphone. However, there is no official word from Samsung on the alleged eye-scanning feature.

Previously, Apple and HTC have introduced the fingerprint scanner features to the iPhone 5s andOne Max respectively. The fingerprint scanner feature lets users log-in (and authorise payments, etc., on the iPhone 5s) with a swipe of the fingertip.

Some reports have indicated that Samsung may announce the Galaxy S5 as early as January, in a bid to overcome 'disappointing' Galaxy S4 sales.

Gear Fit: The Most Beautiful Wearable Gadget From Samsung

In recent times Samsung has been known to push boundaries, stepping into new technology categories that other major tech companies are still hesitant to go in to. While others are thinking whether to jump in or not (they will), Samsung is pushing even harder. Samsung today announced a new wearable gadget; a stunning smart watch called the Gear Fit.

Samsung Gear Fit

Samsung at the mobile world congress unveiled quite a few products. The main product was supposed to be the Samsung Galaxy S 5 but it seems another Samsung gadget has stolen the show – the Samsung Gear Fit.

The Gear Fit is a fitness tracker that has a stunning curved AMOLED display that is almost viewable on all angles. You can easily wear it on your wrist and the straps are removable. Samsung has multi-colored Gear Fits including designer ones.

The thing that is really going to draw people towards the Gear Fit is the stunning aesthetics; it is absolutely beautiful to look at. Those of you who appreciate a beauty in a product would definitely want to buy this.

Although the product looks amazing, there is a slight downside. The features in Gear Fit are not as many as those found on its siblings; the Galaxy Gear 2 and the Galaxy Gear Neo. It doesn’t have a camera, speaker or a microphone; maybe Samsung has focused too much aesthetics.

We shouldn’t be complaining too much as this is a fitness tracker, most of the people who are going to buy this will use it in a gym or when working out.

The Gear Fit can measure your rate heart in real-time as well as the ability to count steps. It will also display notifications such as messages or other alerts. The built-in coach feature will let you know how you are exercising, whether to go fast or go slow; something many people are going to find very useful.

Samsung has skipped some features and opted for a light and more durable device. It is rated IP67, the same as Samsung Galaxy S 5; meaning you can use it in water and it is dust resistant.

Samsung Gear Fit will be launched on April 11, alongside the Galaxy S 5, Galaxy Gear 2, and the Galaxy Gear Neo. The price of the Gear Fit is not yet available, we will have it as soon as it is mentioned.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 (Complete Details)

Samsung has finally pulled the curtains on the next-generation Galaxy smartphone – theSamsung Galaxy S 5 is finally here! Those of you who couldn’t wait for the device would be happy to know that the Samsung Galaxy S 5 has received some major upgrades. Well, without waiting any more time lets take a look at what’s new in the Samsung Galaxy S 5.

Samsung Galaxy S 5

Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone manufacture by volume, pumping millions upon millions of smartphones around the world. These smartphones range from low to expensive ones, but the smartphone that you will be interested is the flagship one; the top of the range;the Galaxy S 5.

Today in Barcelona, Samsung unveiled the next-generation smartphone, the ultimate device for Samsung and Android fans.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Design

Let’s begin with the design of the Samsung Galaxy S 5. As you can see from the pictures above and below, the design of the Galaxy S 5 is almost similar to that of its predecessor, the Galaxy S 4. In fact, from the front, both devices are completely the same, one might mistakethe Galaxy S 5 for the 4; something which happened with Apple’s iPhone.

But the back is an entire different story. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 has a perforated back, removing the cheap plastic-y look previous Samsung phones had. This is an update which you might be happy with.

The Galaxy S 5 has a 5.1 inch Super AMOLED 1080p display, almost similar to the Galaxy S 4. The Galaxy S 5 also includes a fingerprint sensor just like the iPhone 5S. But you will have to swipe slightly above the home button to activate it, unlike the iPhone.

Another welcoming feature for the Galaxy S 5 is the IP67-rated water and dust resistance. What this means is that you can submerge your Galaxy S 5 up to one meter (three feet) in water for up to 30 minutes; and it is also dust resistance – which is great.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Camera

Samsung has considerably improved the camera. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 now packs a cool 16 megapixel camera with amazing new features such as automatic HDR and Selective Autofocus.

Automatic HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows you to take great pictures, which many other smartphones already have. But the Galaxy S 5 has HDR for video too; the world’s first. The other interesting bit is the Selective Autofocus; meaning, you can now re-focus on a specific part even after taking the picture; no more blurry photos!

Samsung adds that it has improved the camera user experience, we are yet to find out what this exactly is once we get our hands on it.

Samsung Galaxy Specifications

Samsung has been known to include some powerful specs in their devices, and the Galaxy S 5 is no exception. Samsung Galaxy S5 packs a 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, an IR remote, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE/ANT+, Cat 4 LTE. You get storages of 16GB or 32GB, depending on which one you want.

According to Samsung, they have included the world’s first MIMO tech in a smartphone with the fifth-generation WiFi – 802.11 ac; which is currently used in latest computers.

The battery has been upgraded too, it now features 2800 mAH; which in smartphone terms is quite a lot. This battery will power your Galaxy S5 up to 10 hours of web surfing on 4G LTE, and 12 hours of video playback. The Galaxy S5 has a feature called “Ultra Power Saver Mode” which will only use the most important functions of your device to conserve power. Samsung mentions if you turn on the utlra power saver mode on 10 percent battery, the Galaxy S 5 will last for 24 hours on stand by – which is pretty good.

The Galaxy S5 features an adaptive display which will control your screen based on your surrounds (not sure how this is different from normal “brightness control”). It also has a super dimming mode for those night times.

Samsung Galaxy Health

The technology world is moving towards health and Samsung is leading the way. Samsung today announced a complete new feature and a first of its kind on a mobile device – a heart rate monitor.

The heart rate monitor is situated slightly below the rear camera (you can see from the image above). You simply place your finger on the monitor and it will give you a reading within 5-10 seconds. And, according to initial hands-on, it works as advertised.

Samsung with its new S Health app will track and give you feedback on your health and exercise activities. It calls this new feature the “coach”; a coach that is with you all the time to help you stay fit.

This is definitely a welcome feature from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Price

If you have been impressed with the smartphone, then this is the next thing you want to hear about. What exactly is the price of the Samsung Galaxy S 5? Well Samsung did not give an official price of the device at the stage. But what we do know is that Samsung Galaxy S5 will be available in 150+ countries on April 11; that is the launch date of the Galaxy S 5.

Samsung has definitely introduced a great smartphone, it has paved the way for its future products and set goals on what it wants in the up-coming years. But is the Samsung Galaxy S5 a device worth buying? Well, if you want to take a leap over to Android’s side from another operating system, then the Galaxy S 5 is currently the best smartphone you could go for. But if you own a previous version, then you might think twice before actually buying it.

A galaxy of Gears: Why is Samsung releasing three non-Android smartwatches?

Earlier this week, at Mobile WorldCongress, Samsung unveiled three new smartwatches: the Gear 2, the Gear 2 Neo, and the Gear Fit. Building off of last year’s Galaxy Gear, these devices are fundamentally designed to cover as many use cases as possible. Samsung is obviously angling to gain an early lead in the smartwatch market by ditching Android, but can it really compete against the likes of Google and Apple?

Gear 2

The Gear 2 effectively serves as Samsung’s flagship smartwatch. As the name implies, this is the direct successor to the original Galaxy Gear. Of course, this model has dropped Android in favor of Tizen, and the “Galaxy” moniker is gone as well.

With a redesigned 720p camera, a built-inheart rate sensor, a 1GHz CPU, and a replaceable strap, this is clearly the deluxe model. We don’t know the price quite yet, but the current Galaxy Gear is retailing between $250 and $300, so expect something in that ballpark. This is clearly aimed at the high-end market, and will likely serve as the benchmark against which other smartwatches are judged.

Gear 2 Neo

For the most part, the Gear 2 Neo looks just like the Gear 2, so why does it exist in the first place? Largely, the Neo is a reduced price model: it’s lighter, it lacks a camera, and it will certainly launch at a lower price point come April.

If Samsung can drop the price down below the $200 line, it could potentially reach a much larger audience. In addition, some industries and public venues frown on wearable tech likeGoogle Glass. The fact that the Gear 2 Neo doesn’t ship with a camera actually defangs some of the worries regarding stealth video recording.

Gear Fit

As if we didn’t already have enough fitness gadgets, Samsung’s third smartwatch is all about exercise. It eschews Tizen and Android in favor of Samsung’s own real-time OS, and features a much slimmer form factor. It doesn’t have a camera or a mic, but it does sport a heart rate sensor, gyroscope, and accelerometer for fitness tracking. It connects with your other devices over Bluetooth 4.0, and can display notifications, but it’s strictly designed to aid your workout.

Because it’s smaller and more focused, it’ll probably end up being the cheapest of the three. Other products, like the Nike+ FuelBand and Fitbit Flex, are in the $100 to $150 range. It’s safe to assume that Samsung will be targeting roughly the same price to remain competitive.

Which watch?

Each model here has its own purpose, but are they distinct enough from each other to really make a difference on Samsung’s bottom line? Will a $200 smartwatch sell substantially more than a $250 smartwatch? Frankly, it’s too early to tell. This market is unproven, Apple’s oft-rumored iWatch is still a huge variable, and the Galaxy Gear wasn’t a great product by any stretch. If Apple sees fit to launch its device this year, it could completely change how consumers perceive wearable computers, but until then thePebble is still the best product on the market.

With big players like Apple and Google working in the field of wearable tech, Samsung will be in for some stiff competition. Wearable computers are clearly gathering steam, and everyone wants the stake a claim in this burgeoning industry. If we see a full-scale rollout of Google Glass and Apple’s iWatch in 2014, it’s difficult to tell just how well Samsung could actually compete. We’re definitely in for another major shake-up in the coming months and years.

Samsung Galaxy S5 to be waterproof?

At the event, we should find out the Samsung Galaxy S5’s launch date, price and its specifications.

Rumours have already given us a good idea of what to expect. But with just days before Mobile World Congress opens its doors, one more rumour has found its way on to the internet.

According to ZDNet Korea, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be both waterproof and dustproof. The site did not reveal the source of the quote. However, it has demonstrated that it has close contacts in Samsung in the past.

The flagship version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t waterproof. However, Samsung did produce a waterproof version of the phone in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active.

We’ve also heard suggestions over the last couple of months that Samsung may include waterproofing and dustproofing as standard in the Galaxy S5.

Rival Sony already includes waterproofing and dustproofing as standard in its Xperia range of smartphones.

Get Free Nokia Lumia 1020 & 1520 By Trading iPhone 4/4S & Galaxy S 2

Those of you who are looking for new smartphones in exchange for previous ones should be happy to know that Microsoft has introduced a new exchange program for smartphones. If you were thinking to get a Nokia Lumia smartphone, now is your chance. In exchange for any Phone 4/4S and Samsung Galaxy S 2, Microsoft will provide you with a Lumia 1020 and 1520 for free!

Microsoft has introduced the trade-in program for Apple’s iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy. Those of you who want to try out a new mobile operating system (which Microsoft wants you to do), are now eligible for the trade-in program.

If you currently own an iPhone 4, Phone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy S 3; Microsoft is ready to take your phone and in return give you a brand new Lumia 1020 or 1520 depending on your choice!

Lumia 1020 packs a staggering 41 megapixel camera, enough to put some DSLR’s to shame (pixel wise). It has Nokia’s PureView technology, Optical Image Stabilization, and amazing high-resolution zoom.

Lumia 1520 isn’t far behind, it has a great camera too with a 21 megapixel, enough to take some stunning shots.

Both these Lumia phones are a great camera phone and come with a Microsoft’s Windows operating system for mobile devices.

This trade-in program expires on March 2, 2014. Here are some other details regarding the trade-in program from Microsoft:

• Qualifying 2-year (new or upgrade) contract required.

• Sales tax may apply.

• Colors and availability varies by store.

• Devices must be in good working condition.

• See store associate for more detail.

Samsung will unveil major Tizen changes at MWC, to combat Google’s Android lockdown

Say you’re Samsung. You own one of the world’s most popular mobile phone franchises. You’ve got a history of driving enormous revenues in the smartphone market — for many people, Samsung and Android are nearly synonymous terms when talking about the mobile phone industry. Headed into Mobile World Congress, easily one of the largest smartphone events of the year, you invite members of the press to attend… the debut of your next-generation operating system?

Apparently, yes. According to multiple reports, Samsung’s major unveil at MWC in February will focus on the operating system it’s been building for the past few years rather a smartphone launch. Presumably, Samsung will announce the Galaxy S5 at its own event, as it did last year with the S4. The fact that the Korean manufacturer wants to put such an emphasis on Tizen, however, is still surprising given that the OS has only shipped on a handful of camera SKUs to date.

Google’s Android lockdown

There are multiple alternative mobile phone operating systems in various stages of development, from Mozilla’s Firefox OS to Ubuntu Touch. Tizen is one of the only projectsbacked by a company as massive as Samsung — but having made so much money on Android, why is Samsung looking to leave it in the first place? It’s all about control — but the story there is more complicated than you might think.

Ars Technica wrote a major piece on how Google has used the Android ecosystem (ostensibly open-source) to tie its own services to the platform. Over the past six years, Google introduced open-source applications that provided basic functionality, then replaced them with its own closed-source apps in later versions. Once it’s created a closed-source version, the open-source flavor is effectively orphaned. Updates for the open, Android versions of the keyboard, calendar, photo app, or music player have been few and far between since the “Google” version of each application debuted.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Hardware specs, software, and release date rounded up

It is now all but confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 will be unveiled on February 24 at Mobile WorldCongress in Barcelona. Earlier this week, Samsung sent out invites to an “Unpacked 5″ event, and in the last few days various insiders have leaked information about the event itself. While the S4 was released at a glitzy soiree in New York City, insiders say that the S5 will have a more reserved, business-like introduction in Barcelona. Another inside says that Samsung won’t be putting quite so much emphasis on gimmicky features, such as the S4′s Air View, with the S5 — instead, we should expect gentler, more mature innovation.

The rumor mill currently indicates that the Galaxy S5 will have an ultra-high-resolution screen (possibly 2560×1440), an all-new aluminium chassis, and possibly some kind ofbiometric scanner (fingerprint or retina). If the Galaxy S5 is unveiled in Barcelona, it will probably be released some time in March.

Let’s dive into everything that we know about the Galaxy S5′s hardware, software, release date, and price.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Hardware specs, software, and release date rounded up

• By Sebastian Anthony on February 6, 2014 at 12:38 pm
• 33 Comments

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It is now all but confirmed that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 will be unveiled on February 24 at Mobile WorldCongress in Barcelona. Earlier this week, Samsung sent out invites to an “Unpacked 5″ event, and in the last few days various insiders have leaked information about the event itself. While the S4 was released at a glitzy soiree in New York City, insiders say that the S5 will have a more reserved, business-like introduction in Barcelona. Another inside says that Samsung won’t be putting quite so much emphasis on gimmicky features, such as the S4′s Air View, with the S5 — instead, we should expect gentler, more mature innovation.

The rumor mill currently indicates that the Galaxy S5 will have an ultra-high-resolution screen (possibly 2560×1440), an all-new aluminium chassis, and possibly some kind ofbiometric scanner (fingerprint or retina). If the Galaxy S5 is unveiled in Barcelona, it will probably be released some time in March.

Let’s dive into everything that we know about the Galaxy S5′s hardware, software, release date, and price.

Galaxy S5 release date

First off, we should note that Unpacked 5 isn’t guaranteed to be the launch of the Galaxy S5. Previously, it was rumored that Samsung’s MWC event would focus on software and its Tizen phones, with the Galaxy S5 receiving its own separate event in the following weeks. Given the invitation’s prominent use of the number 5, though, it would be very sneaky if Samsung didn’t unveil the Galaxy S5 at MWC. Samsung tends to release its flagship Galaxy phones about a month after their unveil — so expect a Galaxy S5 release date around the end of March or beginning of April.

Galaxy S5 hardware specs

Rather unusually for a smartphone, the Galaxy S5′s hardware spec is still quite nebulous. Most reports agree that the Galaxy S5 will receive a higher-res screen — possibly as high as 2560×1440 (560 ppi, if the screen size remains at five inches). Beyond that, it’s mostly guesswork. The S5 will almost certainly have a beefy SoC — but odds are, it probably won’t be a 64-bit chip (except for Apple’s A7, there simply aren’t any 64-bit ARM chips ready to go). RAM-wise, there are a few reports that the Galaxy S5 might be the first smartphone with 4GB of RAM.

There are also fairly solid rumors that the Galaxy S5 will have some kind of biometric sensor — either a fingerprint or retina scanner. Evleaks, a fairly renowned leaker with a good track record, says the S5 will have a fingerprint scanner.