TouchWiz

Yesterday when Samsung introduced its new Galaxy Pro lineup of tablets, it also showed a redesigned TouchWiz tablet interface. This morning, notorious leaker @evleaks has post some images of a redesigned TouchWiz interface for smartphones. Given that Samsung just redesigned its tablet UI, it only seems logical that it would now change up the smartphone interface, although we can’t confirm if this is the exact interface that the company plans to go with.

It’s unclear what version of Android this skin is meant to run on top of, but presumably it’s running over the latest version, which would be Android 4.4 KitKat. TouchWiz, as usual, doesn’t look a whole lot like stock Android in these images. There’s no transparent notification bar, no stock lock screen, and no stock launcher. One thing you will notice, however, is that many of the icons are flat, much like with iOS 7.

There appear to be a few new widgets, as well, including support for widgets on the lock screen. One new widget looks to be a Google Now-like feature for telling you how long it will take to get to a certain place.

More than likely, we’ll see this interface debut on the Galaxy S5 or Note 4 rather soon.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The CyanogenMod team has a whole lot to celebrate in the last two weeks with a new round of funding, CTS certification of the Oppo N1 and now a total of 10 million CM installs. According to the company/team’s CM website, the Android modification hit more than 10,000,000 downloads in the last few days.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Speaking at Samsung’s analyst day in Seoul, South Korea, the company’s Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun admitted that they need to work on improving their software. “Even though we’re doing the software business, we’re not as good as we are in hardware.” Kwon didn’t specify which aspect of his company’s software he believes needs help, be it the software on the company’s televisions or its TouchWiz software that graces its ridiculously large Android lineup of devices.
Expand
Expanding
Close

As a blogger, taking great, print-quality photos when covering events or doing reviews is a necessity. So carrying around a big DSLR or comparable digital camera system has become a necessary evil. I say evil because the camera world and I just don’t understand each other. The camera market has become stale and full of devices that cater to professional photographers, while seemingly ignoring the incredible innovations that have happened with mobile devices in recent years. Just because pro photogs want their tried and trusted physical controls and pricey glass, doesn’t mean there isn’t room for beautiful touch screens with easy to use UIs, WiFi, LTE connectivity, USB charging, and everything we love about the app and developer ecosystem that we get with Android.

Samsung is the only company that gets it: It’s the first to integrate what is essentially a full Android smartphone on the back of a full fledged, professional mirrorless camera system. It’s the big brother, high-end version of the Galaxy Camera (review) point and shoot it introduced last year.  It’s an intriguing concept and certainly where I hoped camera manufacturers would look to when attempting to take their professional product lines out of the stone age, so I’ve been more than excited to have the opportunity to put the device to the test over the last few weeks.

DESIGN/ SPECS:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Way back at Google I/O 2013, it was announced that Samsung would be partnering with Google to release a Galaxy S4 variant running stock Android. Nearly two months later, the device is finally available to the masses and I’ve been using one as my daily driver for about a week now.

When the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 was originally announced, I was really intrigued by the idea. Google has been releasing Nexus devices for the past few years, but I’ve never really fallen in love with one. They’ve all been good, but not great hardware. Nexus devices generally don’t feature top-of-the-line specs and are meant, in Google’s eyes, purely for developers to test apps their apps on.

Seeing how I had loved the original Galaxy S4, but couldn’t stand the bloated TouchWiz overlay, the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 seemed like the perfect device for me. Near-stock Android paired with high-end, future-proof ‘resistant’ specifications. A match made in heaven, so to speak.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung has received criticism for the amount of storage its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone allows users to access out of the box, but CNET reports that Samsung may be considering ways it could optimize the operating system and free up more space for users.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone runs a custom variant of Android, which allows the company to include features not on other Android phones including Google’s own Nexus phones, but the feature-heavy OS comes at the cost of using half the capacity on a 16GB device.

We’re quite fond of the software featured on the Galaxy S4 as it allows it to stand out from other comparable smartphones, and the Galaxy S4 allows users to add to its storage with microSD cards which you can buy for less than 10 bucks in many cases, something the Apple iPhone and HTC One compromise on for design.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the more interesting products released in 2012 is the $500 Samsung Galaxy Camera— a little combination of an Android smartphone and a high-end point-and-shoot camera with a 21X optical zoom.

Samsung isn’t the first one on the scene with an Android point and shoot. That award goes to Nikon with its $350 Coolpix S800c, and technically Polaroid, too. However, with Samsung’s leadership role in smartphones, as well as a strong point-and-shoot camera business, this one is the most anticipated with knock-your-sock-off specs.

But, how does this translate to real world?

Expand
Expanding
Close

While we heard previously that Samsung was beginning to roll out Galaxy S III Jelly Bean updates in Poland, the carrier confirmed today users in the United States would see the update in the “coming months.” We still do not know exactly when to expect it, but Samsung said Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular will announce specific timing for the over-the-air updates separately. We will of course notify you when they do. Samsung’s full press release is below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg2rwyEYe5c]

I spent the last week with two Samsung Galaxy S IIIs—a Sprint version and an AT&T version. Sprint’s version is LTE, which has not rolled out yet, so it has been on the slow 3G CDMA. AT&T’s version is also LTE, which I am often able to get access to while on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. For that reason, I have used the AT&T version most of the time. But really, they are the same phone, which is the big news here…

Expand
Expanding
Close

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L4l8zhx6TeA]

The Verge’s Vlad Savov just completed an extensive breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy S III that unveiled in London earlier this month. The review is fully-equipped with video, imagery, and hordes of information. One such video is above, while a snippet of its wrap-up and a grading chart are below:

Links to 9to5Google’s coverage of the S III launch event are after the break.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The Samsung Galaxy S III is being unveiled in London right now, but the first hands-on reviews have already hit the web. Check out the first-impressions below, and then head over to 9to5Google’s live gallery to get full coverage of the launch event.

Expand
Expanding
Close

I am an Apple devotee, through and through, so much so that I have not even bothered to look elsewhere to satisfy my tech-junkie needs—and yes, that means I have never played with an Android device in my entire life.

Enter the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6. This Gingerbread-powered media player landed in my lap earlier this week and taunted something more. Unfortunately, due to my inexperience with Android devices, I am left to compare this offering to the next best thing in my mind: the fourth-generation iPod Touch. This should not be a problem, however, as both devices compete in the same product category.

Galaxy Players 4.0 and 5.0 released in 2011 for $229 and $269, respectively, and this week the South Korean-based firm added to the PMP lineup with its Galaxy Player 3.6 for about $100 less at $150. The price is definitely more attractive, but are users just getting what they paid for? Read more to find out.

A gallery of images is below.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The rumor mill is grinding away after a Samsung representative announced the Galaxy S III is now in the testing phase, while other reports indicate the device will sport a Galaxy Nexus-like screen without employing PenTile pixel layout.

AsiaE reported the device is undergoing tests in South Korea. The phase typically lasts two months, but the article suggested Samsung wants testing done sooner. Meanwhile, Korean website DDaily said the smartphone’s 4.65-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen will not employ the PenTile pixel layout.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Just in case you had not heard that Samsung pushed its Galaxy Note Ice Cream Sandwich update from Q1 2012 to Q2 2012, here is a reminder on Samsung’s Mobile USA Facebook page. Perhaps as a bonus, this build of ICS appears to be extremely light on TouchWiz. Is there any chance Samsung is dumping its overlay?

Thanks Allegrotechie!

Expand
Expanding
Close

.

Not a bad deal on one of the better Android tablets out there. Woot
Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung today announced its latest addition to the Galaxy device lineup, the Galaxy Pocket smartphone seen on the right. As the name suggests, this Android 2.3 Gingerbread device easily fits into your pocket as it is just 12mm thin and weighs only 97 grams.

The diminutive phone packs a 2.8-inch QVGA 240-by-320 pixel resolution display, 832MHz processor, 3GB user memory (expandable to 32 gigs via MicroSD cards), built-in FM radio, and runs Samsung’s upgraded TouchWiz user interface. On the connectivity front, the Galaxy Pocket supports Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi wireless networks, and 3G HSDPA 3.6Mbps cellular networks.

The included social features cover Samsung’s Social Hub and the downloadable ChatON cross-platform communication service. The Galaxy Pocket will be available in Italy starting from March and will gradually roll out to Europe, CIS, Latin America, Southeast and Southwest Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and China. No price points, model numbers, or United States availability information were released at press time.

Spec sheet is above the fold.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung Mobile today took the wraps off the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2—its latest addition to the Galaxy-branded media player lineup. A missing link between the 4-inch and 5-inch Galaxy Player, the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2 is just 8.9mm thin and sports a 4.2-inch 800-by-480 pixels LCD display with premium IPS technology offering wide viewing angles. There is a VGA-class videoconferencing camera on the front and a two-megapixel camera on the back.

The gizmo is powered by a gigahertz chip with 512MB RAM, packs in 8GB/16GB storage, and it has a MicroSD slot for up to 32GB storage through memory cards. Connectivity features include Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. Software-wise, the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2 runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface.

It is essentially an entertainment/gaming/PMP device, because the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2 comes preloaded with Samsung Apps, Hubs, a Smart TV remote control program and premium EA games. The South Korean company did not reveal pricing or availability details, but if history is an indication, its price will likely compare to Apple’s current-generation iPod touch that starts at $199. The introduction of the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.0 further solidifies Samsung’s strategy calling for a variety of screen sizes across its mobile lineup that now includes Android smartphones, media players and tablets offered in a wide variety of sizes extending from the smallest 3.2-inch to the 10.1-inch flavor.

Expand
Expanding
Close

When Google unveiled Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, we quickly learned that a refined version of the “Holo” system theme would be used throughout the operating system. Now, Google has announced in a blog post on the Android Developers website that it will require vendors to use the theme to gain access to the Android Market and Google apps and services. Android Framework engineer Adam Powell explained:

In Android 4.0, Holo is different. We’ve made the inclusion of the unmodified Holo theme family a compatibility requirement for devices running Android 4.0 and forward. If the device has Android Market it will have the Holo themes as they were originally designed. This standardization goes for all of the public Holo widget styles as well.

The benefit, according to Google, will be easier to implement future updates for vendors. As The Verge pointed out, “it most definitely does not mean that Google is enforcing usage of the theme on” third-party developers. It will, however, allow developers to avoid using the system themes of TouchWiz and other third-party skins, and instead they can utilize Holo. Powell wrapped up Google’s final thoughts on the decision below:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung has expanded their tablet lineup by announcing the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus in the United States. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus’ main differentiator is its ability to act as an extra peripheral in your home theater setup. The Plus ships with the Peel Smart Remote, which works great with the built-in infrared sensor. Specs on the 7.0 Plus include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 3-megapixel rear-facing camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, Android Honeycomb (TouchWiz UI), and 7-inch 1024×600 display. The device also comes in a 16GB or 32GB version.

The Peel Smart Remote application not only acts as a remote for your home setup, but suggests content for you to watch. The Galaxy Tab Plus 7.0 is available for $399 on November 13th, and pre-orders will begin October 23rd.

It will be interesting to see how this does in the face of the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire which is priced at $199 but doesn’t have cameras, 16GB RAM or many of the other features of the full Android Tab 7.0.

We’ll have a review by then. Press release after the break:

Expand
Expanding
Close