Samsung | Fone Arena

Samsung partners with Tata Motors to bring Drive Link infotainment system to cars

At the ongoing Auto Expo, Samsung and Tata Motors have announced a tie up to bring closer integration between smartphones and automobiles. The collaboration revolves around bringing Samsung’s Drive Link application to Tata’s fleet of vehicles. A derivative of MirrorLink technology, it will let users duplicate their smartphone interface on an in car display and use it for navigation, media access as well as to answer calls. Tata is expected to introduce Drive Link integration in its passenger car range early next year. Continue reading “Samsung partners with Tata Motors to bring Drive Link infotainment system to cars”

Samsung and Cisco come together for a 10 year cross license deal

A few days back, Samsung and Google signed a 10 year deal for licensing patents and last week, Google and Cisco signed a cross license agreement. To complete the love triangle, Samsung and Cisco are now signing a deal for cross licensing.

Continue reading “Samsung and Cisco come together for a 10 year cross license deal”

Samsung Huron Windows Phone 8.1 specifications leaked?

Samsung will still be making Windows Phones, if the previously leaked press image of its first Windows Phone 8.1 device is to be believed. Codenamed “Huron”, the Samsung made Windows Phone will be a sequel to the ATIV S that coincided with the launch of WP8, the big reboot to Microsoft’s fast growing platform. But Samsung hasn’t announced any device since, so at this moment, this leak comes more as a surprise than the usual expected ones. Curiously though, the render, leaked by evleaks, shows off a device that looks exactly like the ATIV or a Galaxy, but misses the camera button on the side, which used to be mandatory for Windows Phone. And of course, the screen is “off” so we are not able to get a glimpse of Windows Phone 8.1 either, which evleaks claims the phone is running on. But there are more details.

Continue reading “Samsung Huron Windows Phone 8.1 specifications leaked?”

Samsung launches Educational Galaxy Tab in the US

Samsung goes after Apple’s business again. This time, Samsung follows Apple into the educational domain where the presence of Apple’s iPad seems to have increased. Apple’s iPads have a lot of content in the educational domain and with the ever expanding iTunes Textbooks and iTunes U Course Manager, it justifies the demand of tablets in the educational domain. Samsung has spotted a way to increase its tablet market share and has announced a tablet with a special focus on educational content.

Samsung-Galaxy-TabPro-8.4-1 Continue reading “Samsung launches Educational Galaxy Tab in the US”

Samsung to roll out 60 stores across Europe, in collaboration with Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse, one of the largest retailers with over 1700 stores in Europe, is entering into a crucial partnership with Samsung, in which it will operate 60 new Samsung exclusive stores across Europe, as a “preferred partner”. This is also an interesting development for Samsung, as this deal will massively improve the retail foot print in all the Android-loving parts of Europe. These new 60 stores will be Samsung exclusive experiences, with Carphone Warehouse contributing its part with retail experience and run Samsung’s stores with what it calls “Carphone Warehouse’s assisted sales tool and connectivity platform”, all with Samsung tablets.

Continue reading “Samsung to roll out 60 stores across Europe, in collaboration with Carphone Warehouse”

Samsung Life Times – a new app under development for Samsung devices

Samsung is known to release new flagship devices along with a lot of software features and gimmicks. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is one of the heaviest skins in terms of RAM consumption and it comes with a lot of default apps that you cannot uninstall. According to the rumor mill, Samsung’s TouchWiz reportedly getting a big overhaul alongside the launch of Samsung Galaxy S5. But just a couple of days back, Google and Samsung entered into an agreement for patents and Samsung may be toning down on the TouchWiz to make it more Google like.

Samsung-Life-Times-1 Continue reading “Samsung Life Times – a new app under development for Samsung devices”

Samsung reportedly toning down TouchWiz tweaks and apps due to pressure from Google

Samsung, the world’s biggest Android manufacturer, is reportedly toning down its TouchWiz UI tweaks and own custom apps due to pressure from Google, reports re/code. Not long before, the Korean Chaebol unveiled a range of new Android devices at the Consumer Electronics Show, all featuring the company’s latest and heavily modified Touchwiz “Magazine” UX, that looked nothing like Android. And then we saw a couple more leaks of its adaptation for the mobile form factor, and even that was a drastic departure from the previous version of TouchWiz, let alone stock Android. This might have set Google off and reportedly, the two companies have come to a compromise(among many other things) in which Samsung will tone down its UI tweaks and replacement apps for Google’s services, going forward.

The image above, taken from a Ars Technica opinion piece paints a clear picture of how Samsung had its own ecosystem around Android, replacing almost every little Google service possible. It is all set to change soon.

Continue reading “Samsung reportedly toning down TouchWiz tweaks and apps due to pressure from Google”

Samsung Galaxy Gear gets another price cut to Rs. 14,999 in India

Galaxy Gear is the first Smartwatch from Samsung, the world leader in consumer electronics. One would have expected it to sell like how the Note sold, even after reviews lambasted it for being too big and otherworldly, but that isn’t the same case for the Galaxy Gear. It has received price cuts after price cuts and we are now at a stage in which it sells at a price of Rs. 14,999 in retail, a huge 8,000 discount from the original launch price of Rs. 22,990. The price has fallen by almost 40%, which indicates the kind of demand that the product is getting in the market. Sure, the market is not really a “Smartwatch” market per se, but bundling it with the Note 3 was a clever strategy from Samsung, which unfortunately did not work in its favour.

Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy Gear gets another price cut to Rs. 14,999 in India”

Samsung working on a QHD (2560×1440) display for smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S5, the next iteration of Samsung’s flagship series, may have a few weeks before it is officially launched, but the tech industry is well aware of the features and the specifications that this beasty device will pack. There have been a lot of calculated speculations about the display that will be used by Samsung on its next flagship.

Continue reading “Samsung working on a QHD (2560×1440) display for smartphones”

Samsung to issue OTA update for Galaxy Note 3 to bring back support for accessories

Samsung started rolling out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for its latest and greatest flagship – Samsung Galaxy Note 3 a week back. Ever since the update, some users have complaints that some unofficial accessories have stopped working. Samsung was blamed that they had terminated the support for third party accessories with the latest update. But that is not the case. Samsung has acknowledged this problem and have mentioned that they will be issuing an OTA update to bring back the support.

samsung-galaxy-note3-9020 Continue reading “Samsung to issue OTA update for Galaxy Note 3 to bring back support for accessories”

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 Review – Grand Successor

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is the successor of Samsung Galaxy Grand which was launched more than a year ago and was a huge hit. Despite having average specifications, Galaxy Grand managed to make a huge impact on the mid-range smartphone market and its successor – Galaxy Grand 2 improves upon most of the short comings of its predecessor.

samsung-galaxy-grand-2-review-3 Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 Review – Grand Successor”

Purported new Samsung TouchWiz UI leaks, Magazine UX and flat icons revealed

Samsung not only unveiled its new tablets yesterday, but also showcased a new Magazine UX for those devices, with panes and tiles reminding us of Flipboard and the Metro UI of Windows 8. Today, we are getting to see leaked images of, what is supposedly, the new Samsung TouchWiz UI for phones. Featuring stylish flat iconography and similar Magazine UX elements, the new TouchWiz, if real, seems like a step in the right direction. At least it is now heading to a place where the whole industry already is – Flat user interfaces. The typography also seems to have gotten a facelift too, but with just three screenshots, it is hard to tell which is which and how all of it will work like.

Continue reading “Purported new Samsung TouchWiz UI leaks, Magazine UX and flat icons revealed”

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 and 8.4 with high resolution 2560×1600 displays made official

Just after announcing the new Galaxy NotePRO and the TabPRO with 12.2 inch screens, Samsung also unveiled other form factors in the same range, but with the same super high screen resolution of 2560×1600 in the Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 and TabPRO 8.4. With different target audiences in mind, these form factors build upon the success of the previous 8 inch and 10 inch tablets from the company. Just like the 12.2 inch tablets, they too sport the Super clear LCD display with a ridiculously high WQXGA resolution and similar internals with Exynos 5 Octa or Snapdragon 800 Processors. They also have the same leather-like backs and the hardware home buttons on the front, bringing all of them in line with the design language of the Galaxy Smartphones.

Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 and 8.4 with high resolution 2560×1600 displays made official”

Samsung Galaxy S5 coming during MWC, says Samsung VP

Samsung is known to announce its flagships in a its own event, but looks like things are about to change for the South Korean electronics giant. Samsung’s VP has stated that the company’s new flagship – Samsung Galaxy S5 will be announced during MWC 2014 that is scheduled in February.

samsung-galaxy-note-3-vs-galaxy-s4-13 Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy S5 coming during MWC, says Samsung VP”

Samsung launches ‘Stay New’ 18 months EMI and Buy Back offers for its flagship Galaxy devices

Samsung Stay New

Samsung Mobiles has launched Stay New ownership plan on its flagship Galaxy devices, that lets users buy flagship Galaxy devices with low EMIs and Easy Buyback offers to upgrade to newer models after 6 months of purchasing a device. The smartphones and tablets covered under the Stay New platform are Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 2, Samsung S4, Samsung S4 Mini, Samsung S3, Galaxy Tab 3 and Galaxy Tab 10.1. Continue reading “Samsung launches ‘Stay New’ 18 months EMI and Buy Back offers for its flagship Galaxy devices”