Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini release date, news and rumours

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great phone, but it’s also big and expensive, so a smaller, cheaper alternative could certainly find itself some fans.

Sadly we’re still waiting for one, but there were shrunk down versions of the last two Samsung flagships so we’re pretty confident that a pint sized version of the S5 will turn up sooner or later. While nothing’s been confirmed we’re also starting to get a picture of what we might be in store for, so pull up a chair and read on for all the news and rumours regarding the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini.

Release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini could be touching down very soon indeed. The S4 Mini arrived at the end of June last year and most internet speculation is currently pegging the end of June as the likely date for the S5 Mini too.

There’s little to go on for pricing, but the S4 Mini launched at around £350 so there’s a fair chance the S5 Mini will follow suit.

Display

We’ve seen a user profile for a device believed to be the Galaxy S5 Mini and it was listed as having a 1280 x 720 display, which unfortunately would mean it’s not full HD, but it would be an improvement on the 960 x 540 Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini.

The actual size of the S5 Mini’s screen is likely to be 4.5 inches, as several rumours have pointed in that direction, most recently SamMobile received a whole heap of information about the handset from an anonymous tipster, and among the details was the fact that the device will have a 4.5 inch 720p screen.

That would make it marginally bigger than the 4.3 inch Galaxy S4 Mini but still a lot smaller than the full fat Galaxy S5.

Design

The Galaxy S5 Mini looks to have a very similar design to its larger sibling, right down to a mottled back, if images received by SamMobile are anything to go by. The same source also claims that the handset will be IP67 certified dust and water resistant and that the back cover will be removable.

Power

One area where the Galaxy S5 Mini may differ substantially from the Galaxy S5 is in its power, but there’s conflicting information here. A user agent profile revealed a Snapdragon processor running at 2.3GHz, but Sam Mobile reports that it will have a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 3470 processor alongside 1.5GB of RAM, so it remains to be seen what we’ll actually get, but the latter of those two seems more likely as we’d expect it to be downgraded from what the Galaxy S5 has.

Camera

Current rumours point to an 8 megapixel main camera and a 2.1 megapixel front facing one, both of which can shoot video in 1080p. On paper that would make it the same as the Galaxy S4 Mini’s camera if true, though it’s entirely possible that other improvements have been made.

Features

According to SamMobile the Galaxy S4 Mini will have a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor just like the more expensive Galaxy S5. It’s also thought to support Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC, have 16GB of built in storage, a microSD card slot, run Android 4.4.2 KitKat and share many software features with its big brother, such as Ultra Power Saving Mode.

If all of this comes to pass then the Galaxy S5 Mini could be a far more compelling handset than its predecessor, with some solid specs and a number of high end features. If it really is going to be announced at the end of the month then we should soon know whether or not these rumours are true.

Amazon smartphone release date, news and rumors

ONLINE RETAIL GIANT Amazon is expected to announce its debut smartphone, likely to launch under its Kindle brand, at an event in Seattle on 18 June, with the firm looking to challenge the likes of Apple and Samsung.

We've rounded up everything we already know about the Amazon Kindle smartphone so far, and will update this as we learn more, so keep this page bookmarked.

Release date
It's pretty much confirmed that Amazon will launch a Kindle smartphone at the firm's 18 June event, which it teases in the below video, but there's no word yet as to when the device will hit shelves.

However, given Amazon's track record of prompt device release dates, it likely will arrive before the end of the month, despite the Wall Street Journal having previously claimed that it will go on sale in September.

Price
Amazon's smartphone, much like its Kindle tablets, likely will be cheaper than its top-end rivals, such as the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S5. It's unclear how much the smartphone will cost - but it's expected to be priced similarly to the Google Nexus 5.

Specs
Of course, with Amazon yet to unwrap its debut smartphone, the handset's specifications remain to be announced. However, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the device - telling us almost all we need to know about it.

The screen is expected to be the Amazon smartphone's standout feature, with rumours claiming that it will boast a 4.7in HD 720p screen, complete with three-dimensional features. According to reports, the display will support glasses-free 3D images, which it will achieve by using Retina tracking technology embedded in four front-facing cameras. This also will apparently allow users to navigate the device by moving their eyes.

The WSJ reported in April, "The 3D screen technology can sense the movement of a person's eyes and whether the screen is moving closer to a user's face, according to people familiar with the matter. In response, the phone will be able to automatically zoom into images as it moves closer to a user's face and could manipulate text and images as a person moves the phone."

Beyond its screen, the Amazon smartphone reportedly will look a lot like Apple's iPhone, with leaked images (above) pointing towards a boxy, glass-coated casing, complete with exposed screws on its rear. It;s unclear what material the device will be built from, but given that it's likely to be cheaper than its competitors, we'll put our money on plastic.

The Amazon smartphone likely will arrive running Google's Android 4.4 Kitkat mobile operating system, although the firm will skin this in its heavy custom user interface, similar to that found on its Kindle smartphones. This skin likely will provide the phone with Amazon's "Mayday" feature, and will offer access to Amazon's Appstore, which has tripled its content over the past year.

Other rumoured specifications include a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a yet-unspecified dual camera set up, and support for 4G LTE.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to get two versions

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 4 will be released in two separate variants, one with a curved OLED screen, and the other with a conventional flat display. This is according to the latest report from the company’s native South Korea.

The curved panel may be similar to the one used in the Galaxy Round (pictured below), or it could actually be a three-sided YOUM display, similar to the prototypes Samsung has previously demonstrated.

The sources for the information are said to be a couple of executives at local Samsung partners. These people think the world’s biggest smartphone maker will want to impress the world at IFA in Berlin this September.

The next top of the line Samsung phablet will only be using a curved screen in “niche markets”, while the version with a good-old flat display will take care of the mass-market. This is likely due to issues with making as many of those flashy bent panels as Samsung would need were it to exclusively use the new tech in the Note 4.

Along with the Galaxy S devices, the Notes are the best selling items in the company’s portfolio, so ramping up flexible OLED production to the necessary levels probably isn’t feasible – at least not this year.

Samsung will apparently lease 6000 square meters of the IFA exhibition venue, in which it will showcase many new products.

Aside from the Galaxy Note 4 in its two iterations, we’re also going to see Samsung’s competitor for Google Glass surface. Even more wearables, home appliances, as well as curved OLED TVs will be presented too.

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed any of this, as you could probably guess.

-GSM ARENA

LG G3 reportedly outselling Samsung Galaxy S5

The recently launched LG G3 smartphone has been selling like hot cakes in its parent country South Korea, where it started selling from May 28.

According to a reports the LG G3 sold more than 100 thousand units within five days of its launch. It has become the fastest selling LG device ever.

According to a different news report, the LG G3 has been selling around 25,000 to 30,000 units per day while its competitor the Samsung Galaxy S5 sold around 7,000 to 8,000 units per day during the launch week. So, the LG G has outperformed its rival the Galaxy S5 in home market.

LG G3 versus Samsung Galaxy S5 is seen as battle between two titans from the same land–South Korea. Launched on May 27, LG G3 is the successor to the company’s well-received LG G2. LG G3 comes with a 5.5-inch Quad HD display with 538ppi with four times the resolution of HD and almost two times higher resolution than a Full HD display.

The device sports a 13-megapixel OIS+ (Optical Image Stabiliser Plus) camera with a laser auto focus that can shoot sharp images in a fraction of the time required by conventional phone cameras. It has polished metallic skin on the rear cover that is lightweight and fingerprint-proof.

How to Save and Improve iPhone Battery

Battery draining is a major problem with iOS device. Whether you are using iPhone, iPad or iPod the battery doesn’t works the same as it was working when you bought it. Initially, when your device is new battery performance and power backup is very good but after 6-8 months you will find its performance deteriorating.

Well, there are certain steps you can take to save and improve your battery performance. This can help you in crucial times when you need your phone’s battery the most.

Here, we are listing certain powerful steps that can actually help you.

1. Turn off location services

Location services consume your phone battery at a very fast rate. It’s a good option to turn your location services off when you are not using them through any app. Turning off GPS saves your battery power a lot.

For this, under the settings option go to privacy>location services. You will find slider options to turn the location services on/off. Either turn off location services for all the apps or for individual apps as you wish.

2. Turn off as maximum notifications

You get notifications for mails, messages, IM apps notifications etc. Turn off as many notifications as you can. They drain your battery. If you do this then even with your WiFi and Bluetooth on you will find less battery draining.

Disable app notifications except the important ones. Go to the setting menu and then under Settings go to Notifications. Tap category or app. You will again see toggle button and then disable the ones which are less important or are not important at all. This will increase your standby time.

Try to check your email, Facebook, Twitter manually. Push emails also d

3. Turn off Airdrop when not required

iPhones now come with airdrop that helps in sharing files, photos or videos with friends when they are close or in range. But it implements heavy toll on your battery. So, try to keep it off when you have no use of it.

For this, go to the Control Center and tap Airdrop, under that select off and you are done. Whenever you need it again, simply turn it on.

4. Check for Updates and Disable auto updates

We have so many apps in our iPhone and they keep on updating very frequently. Disable auto updates of apps. Try to update your apps manually.

Updating your apps is also beneficial as the newer versions. The newer versions of apps are generally more optimized and they try to do their work by using as less battery as they can. So, go for updates manually whenever you find time.

5. Use Battery Saver and optimizer apps

There are a number of battery saver and optimizer apps available in the iTunes. Most of them are available for free, some are charged. These apps do a lot of functions to save your battery. They keep track of the background activities, screen brightness, WiFi when your screen is lock etc.

They are quite powerful. Some of them actually extend your battery life.

6. Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth

WiFi and Bluetooth suck your battery. Don’t keep them on all the time. Turn them on only when you need them otherwise keep they off. It will preserve your battery. Go to the Control Center and turn it off.

7. Minimize Background Apps

A number of apps keep on running in background. Some of them are useful while some others are useless. So, our advice is try to minimize the number of background apps and save battery

8. Turn on Airplane Mode while charging

If you want to charge your phone at super fast speed then turn on airplane mode. iPhone gets charged very fast in airplane mode. This can help you when your phone battery is very low and you need charge. Airplane mode disables radio signals so it can charge your phone at great speed.

Samsung profit rises 26% on smartphone boost

Samsung Electronics has reported a 26% jump in profit in the third quarter driven by strong smartphone sales and a recovery in its memory chip business.

It made a net profit of 8.24 trillion won ($7.6bn; £4.7bn) in the July-to-September quarter, up from 6.56tn won during the same period a year earlier.

Operating profit rose to a record 10.2 trillion won during the quarter.

The firm said sales of smartphones, a key driver of its growth, are expected to rise further in coming months.

It said that sales "will gain momentum due to year-end promotions over the holiday season and an improved line-up of mass-market smartphones".

Increased competition

Samsung has posted record operating profit in six of the past seven quarters, mostly due to the growth of its smartphone division.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Like Nokia, Samsung may hit a limit in increasing market share”

Kim Sung-sooLS Asset Management

The firm has enjoyed success in both the top-end as well as lower end of the smartphone market, giving it an edge over rivals such as Apple which makes only top-end phones.

Its growth in the sector has seen it become the world's biggest smartphone maker.

However, there have been concerns over whether Samsung can continue to grow at such a strong pace, not least because of increased competition and saturation of some key markets.

"Samsung has done well, having rapidly caught up with Apple in the smartphone market. But I'm concerned whether Samsung would be able to do better," said Kim Sung-soo, a fund manager at LS Asset Management.

"Like Nokia, Samsung may hit a limit in increasing market share. Apple is also fighting back, signalling an uphill battle for Samsung."

Analysts said that the company needed to come up with more innovative products to help sustain its growth rate.

For its part, Samsung has been taking steps in that direction.

Earlier this month, it launched a smartphone with a curved display screen, beating its rival LG by at least a few months to offer a handset featuring flexible-screen tech.

In September, it unveiled a smartwatch with a colour screen that can show alerts, be used for voice calls and run apps. Again, it edged firms such as Microsoft, Apple and Google to unveil such a device.

Chip demand

Samsung's latest earnings were also boosted by its semiconductor business, which saw profit more than double to 2.1tn won, the highest in three years.

Revenues in the division rose 12% over the previous quarter to 9.74tn won.

The firm saw its bottom line buoyed by stronger chip prices after a fire at a plant owned by rival SK Hynix caused tightened supply in the market.

Samsung supplies chips to other smartphone-makers, including its biggest competitor Apple, and expects demand to pick up as the year draws to a close.

However, its consumer electronics division, which includes TV manufacturing, saw a decline in profit due to a drop in demand in China and Europe.

But Samsung said that it expects the unit to bounce back in the current quarter, not least due to holiday season shopping during the end of the year. 

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24665480