Korea’s two largest mobile phone makers have certainly made an impact in the industry. Currently, the LG and Samsung both occupy spots in the top three mobile phone manufacturers in the world –coming in second only to Finnish super giant Nokia. It is also pretty well known in the industry that the two are solid supporters of the Google Android operating system as well.
LG’s Optimus series focuses on both the Windows Phone 7 and the Google Android mobile platforms with Samsung’s Galaxy line up of devices are composed of a pure Android line (including the Galaxy Tab touch screen tablet). However, despite their strong backing for the open source platform –and the fact that Samsung has had a direct hand in the development of the Nexus S, the bottom line is that both companies still do not know what to do with the Android Gingerbread update.
This is mostly due to the fact that Google has yet to release specific details on the hardware requirements for the latest version of the platform. LG has already made the mistake of jumping the gun by announcing yesterday that there would be no update for the Optimus One with its 600MHz CPU. The statement has since been retracted and now, LG is still undecided.
The same goes for Samsung. With the Galaxy S already doing so well, they see no reason to back off from a good formula; while they are not against an update, they would like to see first how it would affect the overall performance of the device.
In any case, there is really no need for further concern. The Android update to Gingerbread is still not officially out, and many phones are still waiting for an Android 2.2 Froyo update. Google will certainly be helping out manufacturers make the transition once the update is officially available for download.
Posts Tagged ‘samsung’
Samsung and LG: Still Pondering Gingerbread Update
Friday, December 10th, 2010In the News: Nokia, Asus, Google and More
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Nokia has decided to make the most out of the delayed launch for the N9 N-series MeeGo smart phone. The device was supposed to launch this December, but due to a wide variety of reasons, the N9 never made it to the production lines in time.
Now it appears that development has been cancelled in order to upgrade the current specs of the device, and the new focus of the updates hardware is for gaming. A new processor clocked at 1.2 GHz and a graphics card that can process 160 polygons per second has been added in the device –further improving the current hardware that includes an 8 mega pixel camera, a 4.2 inch touch screen and more.
Asus’ E600 Windows Phone 7 handset has finally been put up in the FCC list which means that the device is about to hit the production lines and will be shipped straight to sellers soon. While there is still no confirmation on the device’s actual price and launch date, many expect to see this Asus device ready by the end of the year.
The Android OS is getting a new supporter in the form of the Carphone Warehouse. Graham Stapleton, Carphone Warehouse’s chief commercial officer firmly believes that the Android OS will be leading the technological forefront. Currently, the gadget retailer has an exclusive deal with Google in order to distribute the Nexus S Android smart phone when it finally comes out.
The Nexus S has been developed by Google and Samsung and it brings together plenty of the best technologies both sides can offer. In terms of hardware, the new phone will pack NFC, a super AMOLED touch screen, an 8 mega pixel camera, a 1.2 GHz CPU and more. The OS itself will be the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread version. Expect to see the Nexus S smart phone in Carphone Warehouse’s stock before the end of the year comes.
Future Forecast: More NFC in Smart Phones
Tuesday, December 7th, 2010
Near field communications technology, the name certainly rings a bell for anyone who has been keeping tabs on the latest tech news. Apple was the first major company to jump into the bandwagon by acquiring an NFC specialist company earlier this year. While actually implementation and application of the technology has yet to pass, it is hard to deny the Cupertino based company’s knack for being one step ahead of innovative trends.
And they are most probably right on their hunch. Nokia has already installed NFC chips on some of their newer smart phones with hardware activation simply a matter of releasing an update to the OS. Samsung, currently one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry has also confirmed that they will be making use of NFC technology on their smart phones starting next year (which is less than a month away).
But is NFC what we really need? The most likely answer is yes. Despite some of the security concerns and other matters that people usually shrink away from, the fact that most of today’s smart phones today already contain so much sensitive and personal information means that the application of NFC technology will hardly be hindered by privacy concerns.
The applications will range in a wide variety of uses. The most often given examples include the use of smart phones for micro transactions –from banking to purchases, phones with NFC technology may be used in order to pay for a wide variety of goods or for transferring funds. Other applications include using the technology as an electronic lock opener, as an identification device and more.
Thanks to the advent of new encryption technology that allows NFC to be more secure and stable, the application of this new phone feature in our daily lives may expand to even more uses.
Mobile Innovations: Display Screens
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
The arrival of the touch screen lead to one very important factor: larger screens. Where the older use of keypads meant that older handsets had to sacrifice the space in the face of the device for control and display; the touch screen combined both. Now, just a couple of years down the line, the smart phone industry is booming thanks to touch screens, and here is a quick look at the latest developments with mobile phone display technology.
HTC is going in a completely different direction than they previously had when it comes to innovations. This time, the Taiwan based phone maker has announced that it will go for a novelty act with the launch of the first Android smart phone with a 3D display. While this makes for an interesting first, the applied use of parallax display technology outside of gaming is not that impressive.
To begin with, even Nintendo’s 3DS is raising eyebrows when it comes to actual usefulness. With smart phones –meant to be used on the go and when one is busy, there simply is the question of “does anyone have the time to appreciate 3D on a small screen while you are mobile?”
Korean phone makers Samsung and LG are working on more practical display technologies with the use of LED and LCD technology. Just several months back, Samsung has made plenty of progress promoting the AMOLED and Super AMOLED touch screen displays, with the later variant even matching Apple’s Retina display technology.
However, Samsung has stated that AMOLED technology is too expensive to produce and has since turned to the Super LCD instead. Their newer version of the tech, named as the Super PLS LCD, boasts of very impressive visual quality. LG’s new LED based technology takes the conservative approach as they push for the Quantum Dot LED (QLED) that provides the same quality of images as an AMOLED screen, but at a very power efficient setting.
Do We Need Brand Loyalty?
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
An interesting study has come up recently. According to a survey from GfK, many people tend to be loyal to a specific mobile platform or operating system. As for manufacturer however, the choice is not that big a deal.
Of course, the study does get a bit skewed since those loyal to the Apple iOS and the RIM BlackBerry OS would be forced to stick to Apple’s iPhone devices and RIM’s smart phones –the operating systems are proprietary after all. But looking at the Google Android –which is currently the fastest growing OS in terms of the number of users, there are plenty of choices in brands.
Sure, HTC and Samsung are among the top favorites, but Android phones made by Motorola, Asus, Acer, LG, and other phone makers are also selling well. This is due to the fact that people only care about the operating system of the smart phone and not the actual phone itself (with specific devices being chosen for specs and not for their brands). With the Windows Phone 7 OS already out, expect to see a similar situation for Microsoft’s new mobile platform.
So the question now is: does it matter which brand we choose? The only real consideration on the per-brand selection is the fact that each phone maker has their own custom user interface (Samsung TouchWiz, HTC Sense, etc). Aside from that, there is very little to think about.
Another study has announced that the average UK household has been hoarding over 700 Pounds worth of old mobile phones. These can often be resold too –which is a great help for the coming holidays. A quick look at older phones often reveals a vast diversity in the choices of brands.
Smart Phones: the Latest Developments
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Nokia has announced that they are focused working on the power failure issues that are affecting the Nokia N8 Symbian^3 smart phone. Following a recent new update from retailers that have held off from selling the device (due to high return rates), it appears that a major issue concerning the device’s hardware has been spotted. So far, it has not been confirmed if a software-based fix would suffice or if this issue can only be repaired by actually fixing the hardware itself.
Korean phone maker Samsung has announced that it will have a pretty large lineup of Windows Phone 7 devices. In fact more than half the device they produce will be made of WP7 phones while the remaining 40% goes to Galaxy Android devices and the remainder will be Bada based handsets. For those not familiar, the Bada OS is a proprietary open source mobile platform developed by Samsung for its mobile handsets. So far, over a million Bada devices has been sold.
Another HTC phone is being rumored to be launching in the US first –with no confirmation of a possible UK release date: the HTC Knight. So far, initial details on the device show that it will be a 4G capable smart phone. Once again, here is to hoping that the device will be getting a name change then gets shipped locally to the UK.
Cupertino based Apple has announced that they will not continue with the development of the embedded SIM card. This is after many local network operators have stated that if Apple pushes through with the plan to create embedded SIM cards on their devices, they would start boycotting all of Apple’s devices –including the iPhone 4.
Originally, Gemalto was supposed to develop and manufacture the sim cards. Apple has had a very outstanding relationship with operators and unlike with other phone makers and developers, Apple cannot afford to antagonize the local networks.
The Touch Screen Revolution: Practicality Over 3D
Thursday, November 18th, 2010
A couple of months ago, the entire tech industry was abuzz with developments for portable displays that made use of 3D effects. While interesting, the development is hardly anything that can be considered as ground breaking or more importantly, useful. Besides, when browsing the screen on the go, being able to appreciate 3D effects is the last thing that users would care about. Not to mention all that potential to cause distraction or even mild headaches and nausea.
But now, it seems that display makers are finally back on track when it comes to making innovations for touch screens. Hitachi has recently shown off a small capacitive touch screen display that is pretty much everything that we would see in a modern smart phone. What is so special is not the capacitive display, but the fact that a stylus was used.
Indeed, a stylus compatible capacitive touch screen has already been invented. For those of you enjoying the glory of touch, gestures and even multi touch, it is easy to forget that the transition from stylus to fingers was not a pure upgrade. While capacitive devices can certainly do more, there are some unique control aspects that only the stylus can deliver: precise controls. This is particularly helpful when accessing menus designed for mouse controls (web sites with small buttons, etc), but more importantly, it emulates pen strokes.
The narrow tip of the stylus far matches a pen than the surface of a finger ever would. So far, there is no official data as to when Hitachi will be releasing the new technology. But when it does come out, expect demand for this handset to be strong particularly for business users.
In other display screen related news, the Nexus S might be using a curved touch screen display. Samsung is already confirmed to be working on bendable touch screen technology, and it would not be surprising to see it used in an actual device.
Mobile News: Today’s Main Highlights
Monday, November 15th, 2010
Looks like 4G is taking a while to hit UK shores, while the technology is already present in several European territories, it is the US that gets to play with consumer hardware the most. HTC’s latest handset, the Mecha (also known as the HTC Incredible), sports 4G connectivity capabilities; perhaps the Digital Economy Bill can be retrofitted to consider adding in 4G standardization as well. In any case, should this handset ever make it to the UK, expect it to get a quick name change.
Moving on to more local news, it seems that the general consensus here is that tablets are impractical. With very expensive price tags and features that are already present in netbooks and mobile devices, the lure of the tablet is not that strong. After all, people are only willing to spend so much just for a bit of convenience. This however, is not to say that there are not budget friendly tablets around –but buyers should expect those to have slightly lower specs than the branded ones. Currently, the cheapest high end tablet is under RIM, the BlackBerry PlayBook.
Speaking of Research in Motion, the Facebook application for the BlackBerry OS has been updated to include new GPS features. This means that maps are already available along with the new Facebook Places feature that the social networking site is heavily promoting in order to compete against the fast growing Foursquare mobile application.
Lastly, it seems that Samsung is working on yet another Android handset. Far from the already widely spread Nexus S handset, this new phone is believed to be sporting even better features. Currently, the rumors state that the phone will have a 1.2GHz CPU, 16GB of internal memory, an 8 mega pixel camera and support for 1080p HD video. For now however, the specs are not yet final, but we can expect to hear something official before the end of the year.
Mobile Manufacturers: Profit Reports and More
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Strategy Analytics has officially announced that Apple’s iPhone sales have now surpassed that of RIM’s BlackBerry handsets. The folks at Cupertino have taken an ego bruising blow from Google several weeks back when it was announced that they were trailing behind the leader pack in distribution right after Android distribution surpassed both BB OS and iOS devices. With 14.1 million handsets being brought out to the market, Apple is now aiming its sights at catching up to the Android. RIM made 12.1 million units during the same economic period.
Phone manufacturer Samsung has announced that profits has risen a dramatic 12% for this quarter. With 71.4 million handsets being sold all over the world in the past three months, it is no wonder that this Korean phone maker stands as the third largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. The sales of the Android Galaxy series, particularly, the Galaxy S, has further pushed the Samsung brand’s reputation in the smart phone industry.
LG on the other is not doing so well, the current sales shows a significant decrease from their performance last year –an outstanding 99% decrease is hitting the Korean phone maker pretty hard. As a precursor this, LG’s CEO has recently stepped down from his post as inactivity within the company has seen a continued decrease of profits for LG this year.
Motorola has just announced that sales are now continuously growing. While the situation for the phone maker was not as dire as it was for Sony Ericsson last year, the fact that Motorola was bordering on the red for the most of 2009 was not a good sign. With the release of the DROID/Milestone series, the company has since picked up its pace and is expected to bring in a better profit margin in the coming months.
Next Google Brand Handset is From Samsung
Friday, October 29th, 2010
Korean phone maker Samsung is taking a post right beside Android giant HTC as they too are now among the only phone makers to ever come up with Google branded hardware. The original Nexus One smart phones were manufactured by HTC and possessed 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen displays, 5 mega pixel cameras and of course, 1GHz CPUs.
The new handset from Samsung has yet to have its details revealed, but it certainly shows that the device is pretty exciting for many. Most are already speculating that the phone would have a 1GHz CPU much like the original, but it will also be packing much larger touch screen display –and since this is Samsung many are hoping for the use of super AMOLED or SLCD technology for the display.
In any case, the launch of the Nexus Two (or so many believe that this will be the device’s name) will be carried out this coming November 8 in New York, US. The launch will coincide with the US launch of Windows Phone 7 handsets (which came out locally by about a week too).
Google is also quietly developing new functions and features for the Android OS. Today sees the launch of the Places Search function on the search engine. Basically, all this does is narrow down all search results to map locations.
This may not seem like much of a big deal, but for those who actively use Street View, Google Maps and any GPS assisted travel functions, places search is a godsend. Even with all the detailed maps and other information that can be found, being able to easily type in a keyword and have Google narrow down search results is a big convenience that should not be ignored. Expect to see this function to be used quite a lot especially by those who spend plenty of time travelling around.