Samsung to announce the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 and 9.7 on April 29th in Malaysia

The Tab A is now official in Canada, and Canada’s southern “sibling” is expected to see Samsung’s latest tablets arrive in stores on May 1st, but other countries won’t see the new tablets until some days or weeks in the future.

Fortunately, Malaysian customers who’ve been hearing about the Tab A series won’t have to wait much longer until the two tablets are revealed in their country. Malaysian site Soyacincau says that Samsung Malaysia has sent out invitations to the local event and next Wednesday, April 29th, is the magic date.

We already know the Tab A specs, but the biggest drawback in the tech media pertains to the device’s low, iPad 2 screen resolution (1,024 x 768p), which is nowhere near as impressive as Samsung’s Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440p) resolution on the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6, and Galaxy S6 edge, or Samsung’s TabPRO and NotePRO tablets.

There are a few things to consider when comparing the Galaxy Tab A screen resolution to that of the NotePRO and TabPRO, however: 1) the TabPRO and NotePRO series are now 14 months old and arrived with Android KitKat, whereas the Tab A series will arrive with Android 5.0 Lollipop; 2) the Tab A will receive at least two years of support (2015-2017), whereas Samsung’s old Pro tablet lineup will warrant a refresh this year but the current Pro tablets can only count on one more year of support before they are no longer update-eligible. Finally, the Tab A looks to be an inexpensive “Note tab”-like device for those who’d rather not pay $700 or $800 for a Samsung tablet. These budget-friendly individuals will content themselves with a below-expected screen resolution, provided that the build quality meets or exceeds their expectations.

Malaysian customers, have you been eyeing the Tab A as your next tablet of choice? Do you want the 9.7-inch Tab A and crave the stylus support? Are there any questions you have about the Tab A series? If so, feel free to ask them in the comments below.

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Researchers claim Galaxy S5 flaw can allow hackers to clone fingerprints

Researchers from security firm FireEye claim that even though biometric information on the Galaxy S5 is stored in a secure enclave it is possible to grab that information before it reaches that protected area, thus allowing hackers to clone fingerprints for subsequent attacks. Researchers Tao Wei and Yulong Zhang from FireEye will talk about this at the RSA conference tomorrow, they’ve conducted this research on the Galaxy S5 as well as other Android devices with fingerprint sensors.

The researchers say that hackers don’t even have to focus on breaking into the secure enclave where biometric data is stored, they simply need to collect data from the device’s fingerprint sensor. According to them any hackers can do that provided they have user-level access and can run a program as root. They wouldn’t need to go any deeper on the Galaxy S5, the malware used to perform this only requires system-level access. So in theory this would allow the hacker to directly read the fingerprint sensor at any time and once they have the data they can use it to generate an image of the fingerprint. Wei and Zhang said that after they discovered this they reached out to Samsung but haven’t heard back yet. They did say that this vulnerability isn’t resident on Android 5.0 or later versions so if you want to protect yourself against this threat, best update.

In a statement emailed to Forbes a spokesperson for Samsung said: “Samsung takes consumer privacy and data security very seriously. We are currently investigating FireEye’s claims.”

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Samsung patents Nike FuelBand and JawBone UP fitness tracker rival

Smart fitness devices are but one subset of the growing wearables category in mobile tech, but they’re a testimony to the desire of consumers to get fit, have ways to monitor their fitness, and so on. Samsung has pioneered the move of major tech giants into the smartwatch category with one smart fitness band (the Gear Fit) and four smartwatches (Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, Gear S) in recent memory, but it seems as though the company intends to stretch its reach – if a new patent is any indication.

A patent Samsung filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) shows that the Korean manufacturer intends to create a slim and trim fitness tracker that can double as a loop string. It’s likely that the loop could be used to hang the device up on something when not in use (ex.: the consumer isn’t exercising), but it may be the case that the clasp attached to the end may allow the individual to wear it around the neck (though the patent does not include statements about the fitness tracker’s jewelry use) or as a keychain holder for the user’s keys (when he or she is out and about in the elements).

The patent, titled “Mobile communication device” and filed in March 2014 and published yesterday (April 21, 2015), shows that Samsung’s got fitness tracker manufacturers in mind with this device, with the company citing “JawBone’s” UP3 and UP Move fitness trackers, Xiaomi’s Mi Band fitness tracker, Misfit’s Shine personal fitness tracker in the patent.

Other patents, such as one from August 2014 (titled “Flexible communication device with a display”), show that the “loop” created by a fitness tracker apparatus could be placed across the shoe during fitness, while another seems identical to the trademark JawBone design for its smart fitness trackers and comes with a heart rate monitor on the band.

We’re not surprised that Samsung wants to extend its reach into the smart fitness tracker market; like all wearables, there is certainly a place for it. We’ve seen Samsung come up with some innovations in the wearables space, and we’re anxiously awaiting something along the lines of a Nike FuelBand or JawBone Up smart fitness tracker in the future – with the trademark Samsung touch in tow.

 

 

 

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New Galaxy S6 commercial breaks out the colors to promote Samsung’s ‘most beautiful display yet’

Another day, another promo for the Galaxy S6. Samsung’s latest TV ad for its new flagships focuses entirely on the display. It shows just how nicely the display can handle vibrant and vivid colors, the Galaxy S6 has already received a lot of praise in many reviews for its amazing display. Research firm DisplayMate recently concluded that the Galaxy S6′s display is tied with the Galaxy Note 4‘s as the best display ever to have been used in a smartphone.

Samsung is well aware of that, no wonder it terms the Quad HD 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution 5.1-inch display with 557 pixels per inch as its “most beautiful display yet.” There’s no doubt in the fact that many customers base their decision to purchase a device after looking at its display, it’s clear that they will certainly be impressed by the one Samsung has put inside the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge. Couple that with a metal body and impressive specifications, you just might have a winner on your hands.

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Samsung’s new infographic puts the spotlight on revamped TouchWiz for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge

Samsung introduced a revamped and streamlined user experience for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, the new TouchWiz you find on these handsets has a simple interface and a more customizable look and feel. The company published a new infographic today which details all of the improvements that were made to TouchWiz before it found its place on the Galaxy S6. The infographic shows that Samsung made it a priority to simplify the user interface, it chose bright and simple colors for intuitive function complemented by clear and simple app page designs. Galaxy S6 owners also get the ability to download themes and personalize their device any way they like, they can change almost the entire look and feel based on their preferences. The Galaxy S6 edge’s People Edge features gets mentioned in the infographic as well, it uses the curved edge display to notify users of important calls from people who matter to them the most.

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Google Play Services gets updated to enable Android Auto on the Galaxy S6

There have been many reports recently about some of the latest Android devices not working properly with Android Auto and Google has now come through with a fix. A new update has been pushed out for Google Play Services, which basically manages Google’s apps and services on an Android device, and it enables Android Auto on the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge.

Google announced Android Auto last year, the software lets users extend the Android experience of their smartphone to the car’s touchscreen system. Many major car manufacturers have already committed to supporting this platform in their newer models and OEMs have also developed aftermarket head units which bring Android Auto support for existing vehicles.

Apps like Google Maps, Google Now, Google Play Music, Spotify, Pandora and many others can then be used when an Android device is connected to the system. The custom user interface has been designed in a way that requires minimal interaction from the driver so that they can keep focusing on the road, it’s also possible to control Android Auto using voice navigation. It works only with devices running Lollipop and since the Galaxy S6 is already on the latest iteration of Android you shouldn’t have any problems now when hooking it up to an Android Auto system.

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Galaxy S6 has reportedly not performed up to Samsung’s expectations in South Korea

A report out of Korea claims that the Galaxy S6 has not performed as well as Samsung would have like it to on its home soil, apparently the company has only managed to sell just over 200,000 units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge combined ever since both smartphones were released on April 10. The report says that earlier sales forecasts might have been exaggerated as data shows that sales were significantly lower than the 300,000 pre-orders placed for the handsets.

Many analysts believe that the Galaxy S6 will perform quite well in the market with some estimating that Samsung might move as many as 70 million units, while others are more conservative with estimates of 50 million units. Some industry watchers do say that it’s not alarming that Samsung only managed to sell just over 200,000 units in the first ten days given that South Korea’s smartphone market is heavily saturated and that the country is strictly regulating carrier subsidies on smartphones. A local handset retailer cited in the report says that the market expects Galaxy S6 sales to improve once carriers decide to increase the subsidies they’re offering on Samsung’s new flagships.

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Samsung applies for Gear W and Wheel UX trademarks

Samsung’s first round smartwatch, the Gear A, is currently undergoing development, and we’ve talked in detail about various aspects of the watch in recent weeks. One of those aspects is the new UI that the Gear A will be introducing to Samsung’s smartwatch lineup as a result of its circular design, with the Gear A to employ a rotary bezel ring and a digital crown for letting users operate the interface.

Well, it looks like this new UI is something Samsung is taking very seriously, as the company has applied for trademarking Wheel UX at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, hinting at its plans for making more round smartwatches that will all employ a similar round look. That’s further supported by the fact that Samsung has also trademarked the name Gear W; in addition to revealing that multiple new Gear smartwatches could be in the making, it also confirms that Samsung is moving to the same naming convention that it has employed for so many of its recent smartphones.

Check out the trademark applications at the source links.

Via | Source 1, Source 2

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Samsung reveals more details about Themes feature for new and upcoming Galaxy devices

After calling UI designers to work with them on Themes for the Galaxy S6 and the S6 edge, Samsung has revealed more details about its Theme Service on its official blog for developers. According to Samsung, the Theme Service is a combination of three things – device framework for theme customization, a theme editor, and a global store where these themes will be listed.

According to Samsung, the new theme editor is an easy to use tool, and doesn’t require any prior experience in software development. It supports drag-and-drop functionality, and then developers can instantly preview key screens to check how the themes would look when applied on to a device. The tool also provides information about the size of images and suggests developers to use optimised files to make themes lighter and more efficient. Theme developers can then upload the APK directly to the Theme Store for free or with a certain fee for each theme.

With the help of the new theme editor, designers and developers can modify the following things in the supported devices.

• 1. Lock screen
• 2. Home screen background
• 3. Application icons
• 4. Notification pop-ups
• 5. Backgrounds and elements for 14 pre-installed basic applications – Phone, Contacts, Messages, Email, Music, Video, Calculator, Alarm/Clock, S Planner, Smart Manager, Settings, Memo, My files, and Voice recorder
• 6. Sounds – screen touch sound, dial keypad tone, keyboard sound, hardware key sound, and cancel button sound.
• 7. Fonts – number font and clock font

Note: Sounds for ringtone, alarm, and notification will be supported in the future.

Samsung has also explained the process to participate in making and distributing themes for compatible devices. With support for more devices coming in, it will be a good opportunity for designers and developers to make themes for support Galaxy devices.

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