Samsung Galaxy S5 Guide

Galaxy S5 rumors

From square to round: UI changes in Galaxy S5

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Following the teaser of the galaxy S5 launch date, Samsung now teases us with a new picture related to the unpacked event.

This time, one prominent element in the teaser is the round shape of app icons.

Of course, this does not just mean shape changes in icons of apps: from square to round.

It probably hints some radical changes in TouchWiz, which is widely criticized as a Gingerbread-age Android UI.

Actually, there are no major changes in TouchWiz in last 3-4 years.

In January, when Samsung revealed the giant tablets (Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro) , we noticed the new user interface for TouchWiz. But the controversial Magazine style UI is obviously not suitable for a 5″ device.

The old-fashioned, bloated and bloodily-slow TouchWiz really needs  a revamp.

The purported image confirms:

  • This is a Galaxy S5 event. This is unarguable. No Tizen devices yet. This is not a Galaxy S5 rumor.
  • Very likely, Samsung will launch more than one Galaxy S5. A few variants of Galxy S5 will be revealed as well. Some rumors suggest there are premium and standard versions  at least. Maybe there will be 3 variants of Galaxy S5 to be launched.
  • A new UI with refreshed TouchWiz. But how new? At least it is more than a simple icon shape change. My guess is a more or less an evolutionary revision. Don’t expect too much.
  • Don’t expect so many fancy (and useless) new features as in Galaxy S4. Samsung started to correct the errors in Galxy S4 when launching Galaxy Note 3. Instead of introducing so many useless or half-baked features, Samsung now is trying to polish existing Samsung-specific features and introduce a few new and impressive features.

What actually are the changes in Galaxy S5 UI? We will only know them on February 24.

Anyway, the Galaxy S5 launch will determine the destiny of Samsung in mobile market.… Read the rest

Samsung Galaxy S5 launch date: February 24

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Samsung just announced that they will host an “Unpacked 5” event at Mobile World Congress on 24th February.

Surely, this is an event for Samsung Galaxy S5. Galaxy S5 launch date will be February 24, 2014.

This is not another  Galaxy S5 rumor.
Now Samsung reveals the Galaxy S5 launch date. The next question is when the  handset will be available.

If we check the release history of Samsung Galaxy S, S2, S3 and S4, it is not difficult to estimate Galaxy S5 will be released in late March to early April (4-6 weeks after the Galaxy S5 launch date).

Due to the lackluster sales of Galaxy S4, it is understandable that Samsung desperately wants to release Galaxy S5 as early as possible. Naturally, this Galaxy S5 launch date is a bit earlier than that of Galaxy S4.

Although Samsung is the No.1 Android  phone manufacturer, and they can easily maintain this position in next one or two years, the margin for error becomes less and less thanks for the competition from Apple, LG, Motorola (now owned by Lenovo, which has very deep marking pocket), HTC, Sony, and maybe even Nokia.

Samsung climbed to the top position through Galaxy S2 and S3. Galaxy S4 is more or less a failure.  Galaxy S4 packed so many half-baked features. Some users try to disable some of them once they get the handset. Galaxy Note 3 made some corrections on this.

The Galaxy Note  Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro introduced a new Magazine UI.  As both of them will be  available after February 13, we have no chance to test it for real usage.

So, Galaxy S5 very likely continue the correction by releasing a few prominent, not just bling-bling, features. The UI will very likely follow Galaxy note 3, not Galaxy Note Pro.

The Galaxy S5 launch date is critical for Samsung.  After this launching event, we will have a clear picture whether Samsung starts to go downwards or upwards.

So, book your calendar for February 24, Galaxy S5 launch date.

As  usual, the event will be live-streamed through YouTube.… Read the rest

Galaxy S5 Rumors

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galaxy s5 rumorsSamsung Galaxy S5 probably will be one of the most exciting, or the most disappointed, smartphones in 2014.  We will know it once it is released.

But for now, let the rumor mills run.  I will share with you some Galaxy S5 rumors. Please read it as entertainment, not a technical report.

Anyway, you should already know this post is about Galaxy S5 rumors, not technical review of galaxy S5. Just to confirm.

What is the Galaxy S5 release date? When will the release date be announced?

Just for laypersons. Release date means you can buy the product on that day. The product usually is  announced or launched (it is usually demoed  as well in the event) before the release date. For Samsung, most flagship smartphones and tables are released once month after they are announced.

Just for comparison, Samsung’s best buddy, Apple,  usually release new products one week after the announcement.

This one month, or one week, usually is calculated by some marketing genesis. If it is too long, people already forget the announcement. If it is too short, the message or the goodies,  has not been spread like virus.

Apple fanboies are generally loyal to their lord and spread the message very fast, so Apple usually  chooses one to two weeks between release date and the launching date.  Samsung does not have such loyal fans, so their marketing guys need time to spam the world for the announcement. This surely take longer.

Come back to the Galaxy S5 rumor, Samsung very likely release Galaxy S5 in Q1 2014, slightly earlier than the release date of Galaxy S4 in 2013.  Samsung executives may want to release Galaxy S5 early, but product development cycle may stop it.

The sales of Galaxy S4 is not as good as expected. But  don’t get it wrong. Samsung still plans to sell over 100 million Galaxy S4. In some regions, Galaxy S4 was just released.  If Galaxy S4 has not released in your region (yes, there are still a few such regions!), just wait for Galaxy S5 because S4 will never be released there.

Samsung will surely have a big and exclusive event for Galaxy S5. So do not expect that Galaxy S5 will be announced during the major events in January to March 2014 , e.g., MWC2014. Such events are for small players. Have Apple announced any products in such vents in last 7 years? Samsung now thinks themselves as an Android apple.

So, when? Probably even Samsung’s top earners do not know the exact date yet.   Samsung enjoys the rumor. Rumor may help them  decide when to stop the Galaxy S5 rumors.

Updated: Samsung almost confirmed the Galaxy S5 launch date is February 24 

Will Galaxy S5 be plastic or metal? Definitely not wood (as Moto X)!

There is no secret that Samsung loves plastics. They are expert of plastics. They can make plastics like leather (in Galaxy Note 3).

The two most common excuses to avoid other materials are:  plastic … Read the rest

Will Galaxy S5 use curved screen (flexible display)?

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samsung-flexible-displayAs the releasing date for Galaxy S5 is closing, more and more rumors are circulating around. Just like any other hi-tech products, some rumors are proven to be correct eventually, because technology is predictable.

For such rumors, you my check our live post on latest Galaxy S5 rumors.

One of the most  important aspects of today’s smartphone is the display.  A vivid screen is essential for the success of flagship smartphones.

Samsung does have an edge over other smartphone manufacturers on the smartphone screen, due to its dominance in OLED  technology.  Although there are some critics on OLED display on its over-saturated colors (i.e., unnatural), most consumers still enjoy the vivid color it provides.  Samsung has never been shy on putting OLED panels on almost all flagship smartphones.

So, there is almost no question that Galaxy S5 will use OLED panel. The size will be around 5-5.25″. The resolution will surely be at full HD or even QHD (2560*1440)

The question that bugs many geeks is whether Samsung will use curved display for Galaxy S5.

Is flexible display for smartphone new?

Flexible display is not new. But using it on smartphones is just starting.

Samsung claimed the title of the first smartphone with a curved screen (flexible display) in early October. However, Galaxy Round is available in very limited regions. And it is not well-polished.

For Samsung, claiming the title is more important than fine tuning the product.  LG G Flex probably is better tuned with the curved screen.

Now Samsung has time to catch-up in using flexible display on smartphones.  Samsung is good at following, not at leading. Galaxy Round is an example; Galaxy Gear is another example.

Although Samsung has the technology, and may have the yielding capacity in the factory as well, but very unlikely Samsung will use flexible display in Galaxy S5 for following 3 reasons.

1. Samsung still does’t know how to re-invent smartphone with a curved screen

Changing from flat screen to a curved screen is not an incremental iteration. To benefit from the flexible display, re-invention of smartphone is needed.  Otherwise, most users will not see the need for such a crived screen.

Galaxy Round is just one experiment for Samsung to test curved screens.  It is a Galaxy Note 3 without S Pen. It is an enlarged Galaxy S4 with curved display. Essentially, Samsung has no idea how the flexible display should be used.

LG G Flex uses the curved screen to address the durability issues (with the help of the flexible back cover). But it apparently distorts the content noticeably.

So, Samsung will continue to experiment flexible display on more sizes.  But they will use it on mainstream products only when someone else comes out with a revolutionary idea.

2. There is not enough competitive pressure on taking the risk

Samsung is now unarguably the king of Android phone. They are comfortably enjoying the success of Galaxy S series.

There are many critics on Samsung’s lack of innovation.  … Read the rest