Tuesday 3 March 2015

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Galaxy Note 4: Spec comparison

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 has been quite a revelation when compared to the company’s last gen flagship. Not only does the device take a fresh approach with the design, there’s also a lot of grunt under the hood which overshadows the Galaxy Note 4 by some distance. The Galaxy Note 4, on the other hand, is a delight for multitaskers with the large screen and the powerful hardware.
How does it stack up against the Galaxy S6, though, on paper? There’s some difference in the devices of course, but lets take a look at the respective specs sheets just to see how they fare against one another.
Galaxy S6Galaxy Note 4
Dimensions143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, 176g
Display5.1-inch, 2560×1440 pixels, 557 ppi, Gorilla Glass 45.7-inch, 2560×1440 pixels, 515 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4
Processor64-bit Exynos 7420, 14nmExynos 5433/Snapdragon 805
Memory3GB LPDDR4 RAM3GB LPDDR3 RAM
Rear camera16-megapixel, f1.9, OIS, Real-time HDR, 4K video16-megapixel Sony IMX240, f2.2, OIS, Real-time HDR, 4K video
Front camera5-megapixel, f1.93.7-megapixel
Internal storage32/64/128GB32GB
Expandable storageNonemicroSD up to 128GB
Battery2,550 mAh, wireless charging, Fast Charge3,220 mAh, Fast Charge
SoftwareAndroid 5.0.2Android 4.4.2 (upgradeable to 5.0)

INRIX working with Samsung on driving-related apps and services for the Galaxy S6

INRIX today announced that it is collaborating with Samsung on driving-related apps and services for the Galaxy S6. Both companies have worked together in the past on similar projects. The idea is to provide users with apps and services that make it easier for them to go around in their cars. One such service the two companies are working on is called “Car Mode.” By downloading and installing Car Mode on the Galaxy S6 users will be able to take advantage of a special driver friendly user interface that features large fonts and buttons with voice controls, making it easier for users to control essential features of the device without having to divert their attention from the road.
INRIX President and CEO Bryan Mistele said “Together with Samsung we’re transforming how millions of drivers navigate their world. We look forward to extending to S6 owners the time and money-saving benefits Note owners have come to expect from INRIX on their mobile devices.”

Samsung officially introduces the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge in a new promotional video

After officially unveiling two new beautiful high-end Android smartphones yesterday at its Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event, Samsung has released two promo videos. The first promotional video focussed on the design of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge, while Samsung is calling the second one as the “official introduction”.
The video showcases all the important aspects of these devices including their sleek new metal-and-glass design, a “revolutionary” 5.1-inch QHD Super AMOLED dual-edge display, the combination 16-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera, the all new 14nm Exynos 7420 processor with LP-DDR4 memory, as well as Fast Charging and built-in wireless charging.
The video showcases some aspects and features of the curved display and Samsung’s new contact-less payment system; Samsung Pay. A completely new Clear View cover as well as Samsung’s battery pack make an appearance in the video as well.

Samsung Netherlands is offering free wireless charger with Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge

Unlike its previous flagship smartphones, Samsung has removed the ability to swap batteries in the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. They feature non-removable batteries with capacities of 2,550 mAh and 2,600 mAh respectively. However, both of them have fast charging abilities as well as inbuilt wireless charging circuitry. Samsung has also showcased a new wireless charger which supports both WPC and PMA standards, which are the most prominent ones in the industry right now.
Samsung Netherlands is offering a free wireless charger asa  gift with the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. This special promotion is applicable for people those who pre-register to buy Samsung’s latest flagship devices and purchase them between April 10 to April 30, 2015. The wireless charger on the offer is worth €24.99, but interested customers can get it for free if they provide their name and email address to get the unique promotional code.
Galaxy S6 Wireless Charger

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have the IMX240 camera sensor

You might have come across camera samples from the Galaxy S6′s 16-megapixel sensor. If you didn’t, you totally should, because from what we can tell looking at the samples, it’s hands-down the best camera Samsung has ever shipped on a phone. And, in agreement with our previous exclusive leaks, it has officially been established that both the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge have Sony’s IMX240 camera sensors embedded in them, something we were able to confirm by taking a peek into the phones’ system files.
The sensor itself is paired with a lens of f/1.9 aperture, which allows plenty of light to hit the surface, often translating into high-quality low-light imaging. Also, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge offer quick access to the camera by always keeping the camera app in standby – users can double tap the home button twice when the screen is off to start taking pictures in under 0.7 seconds.
For all the details on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, don’t forget to check out our hands-on experience.
s6-s6-edge-camera-imx240

Here are some real camera samples from the Samsung Galaxy S6

Every flagship phone’s official announcement is usually followed by the manufacturer releasing samples showcasing the prowess of the device’s camera. These samples, however, are usually touched up and processed, making them poor examples for deciding the real-life camera performance. Samsung released quite a few camera samples from the Galaxy S6 after the device was unveiled, but you can now look at some actual images that we managed to take using the S6 at MWC.
As you can see in the images below, the Galaxy S6 can capture a lot of detail and seems to handle noise very well (even when we photographed a plant, something that is often a difficult thing for smartphone cameras). Daylight imaging has always been a strong suit for Samsung’s cameras though, so while the S6′s camera is quite impressive when there is ample light, we will need to take some pictures in low-light conditions to see if Samsung has managed to improve in that area on its latest flagship.
Check out the samples below, and don’t forget to check out our hands-on experiencewith Samsung’s new Galaxy S devices!
s6-camera-sample-sammobile-1

Samsung talks about the evolution of display on its mobile phones

Samsung has been in the mobile phone business for a very long time. Back in 1988 the company released its first analog mobile phone, the SH-100, which was not that different from other mobile phones at that time. In 1994 came the SH-770, the first Samsung device to have a 3-lined display, with sections dedicated for icons, numbers and menus. It was a big step up and since then Samsung has continued to take monumental strides in display technology. The company has published a new infographic online which shows just how rapidly its display technology has evolved over the years, highlighting its most recent achievement in the process, the 5.1-inch Quad HD dual curved edge display on the Galaxy S6 edge.
samsung-display-infographic

3-2-2015 Firmware Updates: Galaxy S4 mini LTE, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy J1

Samsung has a plethora of phones and tablets in its lineup, and regularly releases firmware updates for various devices. These can include major updates, which bring a newer version of the OS to a particular device, or minor ones that improve performance and stability and fix bugs. Software updates for Samsung devices roll out in various regions every day, and you can find out which firmware updates were pushed out by the company over the weekend through our firmware list.
As usual, you can download each of these firmware from our firmware section (simply enter your device’s model number to view all firmware for that device) in order to update to a new firmware manually, or as a means to return to your phone or tablet’s stock software.
Country (Product Code)ModelModel NameVersionPDA
Afghanistan (AFG)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Afghanistan (AFG)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
Afghanistan (AFG)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5
Algeria (TMC)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Argentina (Claro) (CTI)SM-G357MGALAXY Ace 4 LTE4.4.2G357MUBU0ANK1
Baltic (SEB)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195XXUCOB1
Baltic (SEB)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBOB1
Baltic (SEB)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBNI3
Baltic (Black Edition)(SEB)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195XXUCOB1
Baltic (La Fleur)(SEB)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195XXUCOB1
Belgium (Proximus) (PRO)SM-A500FUGALAXY A54.4.4A500FUXXU1ANL6
Bosnia and Herzegovina (TEB)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUAOA2
Bosnia and Herzegovina (TEB)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANI3
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH TELECOM) (BHT)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Brazil (Oi) (ZTR)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195UBUCOA1
Cellular south (XAR)SM-T230NUGALAXY Tab4 7.0 Wi-Fi4.4.2T230NUUEU0ANK2
China (Open China) (CHC)SM-A5000GALAXY A54.4.4A5000ZCU1AOB2
Colombia (COO)GT-S7582LGALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582LUBUAOA1
Ecuador (ECO)SM-A500MGALAXY A54.4.4A500MUBU1AOB2
Egypt (EGY)SM-G130EGALAXY Star 24.4.2G130EXXU0ANL1
Egypt (EGY)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Germany (DBT)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Greece (EUR)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCOA2
Greece (EUR)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCNK1
Guatemala (TGU)SM-G800HGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800HXXU1ANL1
Hungary (XEH)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
India (INU)SM-G750HGALAXY MEGA24.4.4G750HXXU1ANI4
India (INS)SM-G750HGALAXY MEGA24.4.4G750HXXU1ANI4
Iraq (MID)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Iraq (MID)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Iraq (MID)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
Iraq (MID)SM-N910HGALAXY Note 44.4.4N910HXXU1AOB1
Ireland (Meteor) (MET)SM-G130HNGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HNXXU0ANL1
Israel (ILO)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBOA3
Israel (ILO)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOB4
Italy (ITV)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Kazakhstan (SKZ)SM-G900FGALAXY S54.4.2G900FXXU1ANG2
Kazakhstan (SKZ)SM-G900FGALAXY S55G900FXXU1BOB2
Kazakhstan (SKZ)SM-G530HGALAXY Grand Prime4.4.4G530HXXU2AOA3
Kenya (AFR)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5
Kenya (AFR)SM-G900FGALAXY S54.4.2G900FXXU1ANG9
Kenya (AFR)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Korea (LGT)SHV-E210LGALAXY S III4.4.4E210LKLUKOB1
Korea (LGT)SHV-E210LGALAXY S III4.4.4E210LKLUKNK5
Korea (LG Uplus) (LUC)SM-A500LGALAXY A54.4.4A500LKLU1AOB4
Libya (BTC)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Luxembourg (LUX)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCNK1
Luxembourg (LUX)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
Luxembourg (LUX)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCOA2
Morocco (MAT) (MAT)SM-A500FGALAXY A54.4.4A500FXXU1ANL1
Morocco (MWD) (MWD)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Netherlands (PHN)SM-G900FGALAXY S55G900FXXU1BOB7
Netherlands (PHN)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Netherlands (PHN)SM-G355HGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355HXXU0AOB3
Netherlands (PHN)SM-G900FGALAXY S55G900FXXU1BNL9
Netherlands (PHN)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBOA1
Netherlands (PHN)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Netherlands (PHN)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBNI3
Nigeria (ECT)SM-G900FDGALAXY S54.4.2G900FDXXU1ANJ2
Nigeria (ECT)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Nordic countries (NEE)GT-I9295GALAXY S4 Active4.4.2I9295XXUCNK4
Nordic countries (NEE)GT-I9295GALAXY S4 Active5.0.1I9295XXUDOB4
Open Austria (ATO)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBOA1
Pakistan (PAK) (PAK)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
Pakistan (PAK) (PAK)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Pakistan (PAK) (PAK)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5
Panama (TPA)GT-S7582LGALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582LUBUAOA1
Panama (TPA)SM-E500HGALAXY E54.4.4E500HXXU1AOA6
Panama (TPA)SM-G355MGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355MUBU0AOB2
Paraguay (Claro) (CTP)GT-S7580LGALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580LUBUANJ2
Paraguay (Claro) (CTP)GT-S7580LGALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580LUBUAOA1
Poland (XEO)SM-T360GALAXY Tab Active4.4.4T360XXU1AOA4
Poland (XEO)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Portugal (MEO)SM-G355HGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355HXXU0AOB3
Portugal (TPH) (TPH)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCOA2
Portugal (TPH) (TPH)SM-V700GALAXY Gear2.2.1.1V700XXUCNE9
Puerto Rico (PCT)GT-N7100GALAXY Note II4.4.2N7100UBUFNK1
Puerto Rico (PCT)GT-N7100GALAXY Note II4.3N7100UBUEMK4
Romania (ROM)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Romania (ROM)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Romania (Cosmote) (COA)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195XXUCNK1
Romania (Cosmote) (La Fleur)(COA)GT-I9195GALAXY S4 mini LTE4.4.2I9195XXUCNK4
Russia (SER)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
Saudi Arabia (ACR)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Saudi Arabia (WTL)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-A500FGALAXY A54.4.4A500FXXU1ANK1
Saudi Arabia (STC) (XFU)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Slovakia (XSK)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Slovenia (SIO)SM-G850FGALAXY Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2BOA2
South Africa (XFE)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
South Africa (XFE)SM-A500FGALAXY A54.4.4A500FXXU1ANL1
South Africa (XFE)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
South Africa (XFM) (XFM)SM-A300FGALAXY A34.4.4A300FXXU1AOAB
South America (Open Line) (NBS)SM-A300MGALAXY A34.4.4A300MUBU1AOA3
South East Europe (SEE)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Spain (PHE)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXCU0AOB2
Spain (PHE)SM-R380Gear 22.2.1.2R380XXU0BOA2
Spain (PHE)SM-R380Gear 22.2.1.2R380XXU0BNL2
Spain (PHE)SM-T365GALAXY Tab Active LTE-A4.4.4T365XXU1AOA3
Sri Lanka (SLK)SM-A300FGALAXY A34.4.4A300FDDU1AOA2
Sri Lanka (SLK)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOA9
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)GT-I8200LGALAXY S III mini VE4.2.2I8200LUBUAOB1
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)SM-E500MGALAXY E54.4.4E500MUBU1AOA2
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)GT-I8200LGALAXY S III mini VE4.2.2I8200LUBUANI1
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)GT-I8200LGALAXY S III mini VE4.2.2I8200LUBUAOB1
Tunisia (TUN)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Ukraine (Kyivstar) (SEK)GT-I9190GALAXY S4 mini4.4.2I9190XXUCNJ4
Ukraine (Kyivstar) (La Fleur)(SEK)GT-I9190GALAXY S4 mini4.4.2I9190XXUCOB1
United Arab Emirates (XSG)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700XXU1ANL1
United Arab Emirates (XSG)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5
United Arab Emirates (LYS)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Unknown (TPD)SM-A300FUGALAXY A34.4.4A300FUXXU1ANL4
Unknown (MRU)SM-J100HGALAXY J14.4.4J100HXXU0AOB4
Unknown (MRU)SM-J100FGALAXY J14.4.4J100FXXU0AOB5