Dear Google, your OEMs can’t keep up!

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich turned into Android 4.0.1 (October 21, 2011), 4.0.2 (November 28, 2011), 4.0.3 (December 16, 2011), and 4.0.4 (March 25, 2012), which then turned into Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (July 9, 2012). Then, there was Android 4.1.1 (July 2012) and Android 4.1.2 (October 2012), followed by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (Nov. 2012). Android 4.2 was followed by Android 4.2.1 (Nov. 2012) and 4.2.2 (February 2013), which was then succeeded by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (July 2013).

Then, there was Android 4.3.1, which, after a big update to 4.3 was met by another big update in Android 4.4 KitKat (Oct. 2013). KitKat brought a host of incremental updates: 4.4.1 (December 2013), 4.4.2 (December 2013), 4.4.3 (June 2014), and 4.4.4 (June 2014). Then came Android 5.0 Lollipop (November 2014), 5.0.1 (December 2014),  5.0.2, and then Android 5.1 (March 2015) and 5.1.1 (April 2015). The announcement of the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X in September brought the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Nexus devices on October 5, 2015.

Now, in just two months, Android 6.0.1 has been released and there is an Android 6.1 Marshmallow on the way, confirmed by a renown leakster in the business regarding a new HTC device codenamed “Perfume.” Yes, in just eight weeks, we’ve gone from the Android 6.0 Marshmallow confirmation to Android 6.0.1, which brings over 200 new emoji, fonts, and a new Google keyboard, and Android 6.1 will be an even bigger update than 6.0.1. Android 6.1 will bring not only security updates but also improvements to Google’s own AMOLED display colors, with some Nexus 5, 6, 6P, 5X, and Player users noting that their devices are now displaying washed-out colors on certain occasions. Google has said that it’s solved the problem internally, but will need a new update past 6.0.1 (hence Android 6.1) to deliver a fix.

Yes, there are some updates worth having, and Google aims to bring the best Android experience to its Nexus customers as well as OEM customers. However, why is it that we need to have Android 6.0.1 at all? Why not have saved all the new emoji for Android 6.1 and provided two updates to Marshmallow instead of what will eventually become 3 updates (6.0, 6.0.1, 6.1, and beyond)? These Android updates are starting to become what I call “update spam,” updates for the sake of updating. In addition, many of the Nexus updates contain new bugs that the new updates create while fixing old ones at the same time. Perhaps taking time to iron the bugs out of new updates before their releases would help OEMs catch their breath some before clawing through a second successive update.

Google, do you not realize that you must take your OEMs into consideration? After all, the success of Android has been on the shoulders of OEMs who should be considered when these updates are released. Not only do OEMs have to push the updates from Google, but they also have to provide their own tweaks and changes to their UI overlays or add additional features for their users within these updates.

Why make the work harder for them and, in turn, frustrate customers who continue to grow upset with Samsung (for example) because it takes 4 months to update from 5.1.1 Lollipop to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, for example? And now that Android 6.0.1 is announced, what will Samsung customers say? “Samsung, Nexus devices are on 6.0.1, and I’m still on 5.1.1; I’m two updates behind!” Then, Samsung customers complain about Samsung when it’s not Samsung’s fault that the company has to add additional bug fixes and enhancements for 6.0 and send it out as Android 6.1 Marshmallow.

This is not to say that updates are bad; they’re not. However, it appears as though Google is creating fragmentation through updates. Since Google owns Android, and can pass the updates along as it pleases (which, of course, comes after updating its own Nexus devices), how can other OEMs be blamed if Google passes along one update like Android 4.4 KitKat while creating Android 4.4.2 KitKat in the same month, for example? Before the 4.4 update arrives, the OEMs are already two updates behind.

Let me paint a picture of what OEMs must endure when updating devices. First, they start with a ROM, say Android 5.0, but then, while updating devices, Google releases Android 5.0.1 and 5.0.2. At this point, OEMs are forced to start over with the current ROM if they want to provide the latest (which would be 5.0.2). Instead of starting over again and again, OEMs choose to continue with the ROM they have. The only problem is that, now that Android 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 are out, customers won’t be so happy with 5.0. If Google released Android 5.0 and saved the incrementals for Android 5.1 while waiting for a few months, perhaps Android OEMs could all update to Android 5.1 Lollipop at the same time. The same goes for Android 6.0, 6.0.1, and 6.1.

Some have blamed Android OEMs for the fragmentation (with their UI overlays and additional software, such as Samsung’s TouchWiz), and others have said that Google needs to force OEMs to stop adding their own “flair” to Android, but perhaps another solution to all this would be for Google to stop sending so many incremental updates in-between major ones. For example, Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 Lollipop were enough for Android Lollipop; there was no need of a 5.0.1, 5.0.2, and 5.1.1. In the same vein, Android 6.0 and Android 6.1 are enough; there’s no need for an Android 6.0.1 that brings a new Google keyboard, fonts, and emoji. I’m sure that no one’s dying to use that “Taco” or “Unicorn” emoji so badly that they’ll just have a heart attack if they have to wait until Android 6.1 to experience it.

What Android OEMs bring to the table is a good thing, and Android’s freedom of choice is what makes it the world’s most popular platform. If the benefits of fragmentation are going to be seen for what they are (“benefits” and not “handicaps”), then Google has got to step up, be the “Parent” of Android (not compete as one of the “children”), and stop with these incremental updates that deliberately place Samsung and other OEMs behind its own Nexus devices as though Google’s Nexus devices are part of the OEM competition. If Android 6.1 is on the way and will provide all of 6.0.1 and then some, why do we even need Android 6.0.1 in the first place?

Updates should be like sweets, sent sparingly.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1miSCzo
via IFTTT

Samsung will reportedly ramp up production at Vietnam facilities

A new report out of Korea claims that Samsung Electronics is going to increase the proportion of production of smartphones in Vietnam from 30% to 40% in 2016, and that this is the first time that the proportion of production in Vietnam will surpass that of its facilities in China. It’s also said that Samsung is going to begin producing household appliances like ACs, TVs and refrigerators in the country from next year. From the looks of it this means that Vietnam will emerge as the biggest production base for Samsung products ranging from mobile devices to appliances.

Expansion of social overhead capital and cheap labor cost is reportedly what’s enticing Samsung to shift the bulk of its production to this country, and even as China’s labor and tax regulations get more strict, labor expenses are still almost half of China in Vietnam. The report does quote an unnamed person associated with Samsung who says that while the company’s new production facilities will come online in Vietnam next year, it can’t be discussed just how much the production of new products will increase at these facilities.

Via

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1NqMmMH
via IFTTT

Samsung celebrates 50 years of football by giving customers a $200 discount

There are some pretty cool promotions to choose from these days if you’re in the market for a new Samsung smartphone. Buy one Samsung smartphone at AT&T and get the other one for free, or go with T-Mobile if you want flat $75 off the Galaxy Note 5 or the Galaxy S6. Samsung also has a promotion for customers in the United States, it’s celebrating 50 years of football by offering a discount of $200.

Customers can get $200 off a purchase made on Samsung.com when they purchase a qualifying Samsung smartphone and also activate Samsung Pay. Qualifying handsets include the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 edge, the Galaxy S6 edge+, the Galaxy S6 Active or the Galaxy Note 5. They then have to submit a valid online offer claim, the receipt will be needed in this step for the claim to be filed. The fineprint can be read on Samsung’s Promotions website. This promotion runs through January 20, 2016.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1INEUyj
via IFTTT

World’s first upright piano made entirely of Samsung tablets spreads cheer in London

Classically-trained pianist Myleene Klass spread Christmas cheer at London’s Spitalfields Market using the world’s first upright piano that’s made entirely out of Samsung tablets. This piano is made with over 100 of the company’s latest tablet, the Galaxy Tab S2, and in proved to perform quite well under the able hands of Myleene Klass. “The Samsung Tab S2 piano is a real first and nothing like I’ve ever played before,” she said.

Vice President of IT & Mobile at Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland Conor Pierce extolled the virtues of the Galaxy Tab S2, saying that it’s a tablet designed for those who want an ultra-slim tablet that helps them explore new content wherever they might be, even if in the middle of the bustling Spitalfields market in London. It’s a pretty interesting way to promote its latest tablet, passers-by would have certainly doubled back to see the contraption, and perhaps it may even have convinced some of them to give Samsung’s new tablet a chance.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1lYN9gx
via IFTTT

Samsung rumored to release four models of the Galaxy S7

In just a couple of months from now Samsung is due to unveil the Galaxy S7 most likely that the Mobile World Congress 2016 in February, the company has unveiled previous S series handsets in line with MWC as well, so there’s no reason to believe that it’s going to stray from tradition this time around. For now there’s no concrete evidence to support that Samsung will release multiple models of the Galaxy S7, but a new rumor claims that as many as four models of the Galaxy S7 will be released.

As per the rumor Samsung is going to release the Galaxy S7, the Galaxy S7 Edge, the Galaxy S7 Edge Plus and the Galaxy S7 Plus, however no model numbers have been revealed as yet to support this claim. Per our information there’s only the SM-G930 and SM-G935 in the pipeline right now, or the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge, the most we can expect is the Galaxy S7 Active which may not arrive until a few months after MWC 2016 and like its predecessors may only be limited to AT&T in the United States. Take this rumor with a big dose of salt as there’s no concrete evidence as yet to support this claim.

Via

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1Mbf1TP
via IFTTT

T-Mobile offering $75 discount on the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy Note 5

The holiday season is a great time to get great discounts on some of the best products and both the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 fit that description. T-Mobile is offering a good discount on the handsets, $75 to be precise, the promo code can be used on any internal storage variant of the two smartphones.

The carrier mentions that this deal is only available for a limited time so those who are interested in picking up the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy Note 5 for less shouldn’t really waste any time. All they need to do is use the DEAL75OFF promo code upon check out after picking out either the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy Note 5 which costs $624.99 and $504.99 respectively after discount.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1QEFEHj
via IFTTT

Samsung Pay will take you to see Usher this New Year’s Eve

Samsung has been using a variety of methods to promote Samsung Pay adoption, we’ve even seen it offer cold hard cash if you activated Samsung Pay in the United States, and now it’s running yet another promotion for precisely that purpose. Samsung Pay users in the United State get a chance to be treated to an “exclusive, special performance and private New Year’s Eve party” featuring Usher in Los Angeles. As part of this promotion the company has also launched a Samsung Pay nationwide shopping experience at 50 malls across the country where customers can try out and activate the mobile payments service on their supported handsets.

Those who activate Samsung Pay at one of its 50 mall locations from December 10 through December 21 will be given the chance to win two round-trip tickets to Los Angeles with hotel accommodations and access to a New Year’s Eve concert and party. Unfortunately this promotion doesn’t consider those who have already activated the payments service on their handset. The Samsung Pay mall experience will remain in place till January 10 so that the most number of shoppers can learn more about this service and activate it. List of participating mall locations is available on the Samsung Promotions website.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1QmKaeO
via IFTTT

Buy One, Get One Samsung smartphone free at AT&T

If you’re in the market for a new Samsung smartphone perhaps you might want to consider the promotion that AT&T has just launched. The carrier’s Buy One, Get One free promotion is now live and it covers the “most popular smartphones” on its network. Supported handsets include the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 edge, the Galaxy S6 edge+, the Galaxy S6 Active and the Galaxy Note 5.

Those who opt for this promotion will need to pick up both devices on AT&T’s Next installment plan, the free handset is going to be covered by 30 bill credits of $21.67 each, which comes out to $650. AT&T will apply these bill credits within 3 bills, customers will also need to get a Mobile Share Value plan of at least $70 per month on both phones in order to be eligible for this promotion. If the service is cancelled before it’s up then customers will have to pay off the balance of the second phone. This means that customers will be locked to AT&T for 30 months if they want to keep the second phone for free so only those who wouldn’t mind being stuck to this carrier for 30 months should consider it.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1Yd1RwH
via IFTTT

Samsung rumored to be developing new virtual assistant for mobile devices

Virtual assistants on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have proven to be quite useful, look no further than Apple’s Siri, which compelled companies like Microsoft to come up with alternatives like Cortana. Samsung has its own assistant in the form of S Voice though it’s not nearly as powerful as those options, but the company is rumored to be fixing that.

According to a new rumor Samsung has started developing a new virtual assistant for its mobile devices, it’s also claimed that the assistant will be based on the S Voice app however it will feature a much more powerful search feature as well as clever notifications. Nothing else is known about this rumored virtual assistant at this point in time, seeing as how the company has a habit of launching major new software features alongside new hardware, it won’t be wrong to assume that the new assistant may be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S7 at MWC in February 2016.

Via

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1Y7cBlD
via IFTTT