Samsung launches phones with quad, triple cameras

MANILA - Samsung launched on Thursday the Galaxy A9, its first smartphone that features 4 cameras in the rear, as well as the galaxy A7, its first phone to feature 3 cameras at the back. 

The Galaxy A9 sports a first-of-its kind rear quad camera, that includes a 10MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, an 8MP 120 degree ultra wide lens, a 5MP depth lens, and 24MP main camera. 

The Galaxy A9 also features a 6.3 inch super AMOLED screen with 1080 x 2220 pixel resolution, 6GB RAM, 128 GB of storage with an option to add micro SD card up to 512GB, and a 3800 mAh battery. 

It also has a curved glass curved back. 

The Galaxy A9 will be available in the Philippines on Dec. 1, with a suggested retail price of P32,990.

The Galaxy A7 meanwhile features a 8MP 120 degree ultra wide lens, a 24MP lens, and a depth lens. 

It also features a 6-inch super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2220 pixel resolution, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with an option to add a micro SD card up to 512GB, and a 3300 mAh battery. 

The Galaxy A7 will be available in the Philippines starting Oct. 27 at a suggested retail price of P17,990. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Four cameras? Samsung sets new Galaxy device launch

The invitation offered few details but the mention of "4x fun" led to speculation the about a new smartphone with four cameras or possibly a foldable handset.

The South Korean electronics giant, the world's leading smartphone maker, unveiled its latest flagship Galaxy Note 9 in August.

Samsung and other device makers are looking for ways to boost momentum in a sluggish smartphone market.

Research firm IDC expects worldwide smartphone shipments to decline 0.7 percent in 2018 to 1.455 billion units, with growth likely to resume as 5G devices become available.

Despite its leadership position, Samsung saw a 22 percent drop in mobile technology sales in the second quarter.

The news from Samsung comes days after Apple unveiled a new lineup of iPhones focusing on the premium smartphone segment at prices starting between $749 and $1,099 for US customers.

Apple recently slipped to third place in the smartphone market behind Huawei, even though the Chinese firm's sales in the United States are limited.

Google, which is looking to gain ground in the premium segment with its own branded handsets, has scheduled a media event October 9 expected to unveil its updated Pixel handsets.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Samsung Electronics reports record Q4 and full year profits

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics reported a 73-percent jump in its fourth quarter net profit on Wednesday, setting a record for any three-month period, mainly driven by demand for its memory chips and display panels.

Net profit for the October to December period rose to 12.26 trillion won ($11.4 billion), up from 7.09 trillion won a year earlier, the South Korean tech giant said in a statement.

Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, has had to overcome a humiliating recall of the Galaxy Note 7 device and the jailing of its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong on corruption charges, but its financial performance has gone from strength to strength. 

Operating profit came to 15.15 trillion won in the fourth quarter, up 64.3 percent won from a year earlier, it said. Sales were up 23.7 percent to 65.98 trillion won.

Fourth quarter earnings were driven by the components business, with the largest contribution coming from the memory business that manufactures DRAM and NAND chips, the company said.

"Orders for high-performance memory products for servers and mobile storage were strong," but seasonal factors impacted growth for the System LSI and Foundry businesses, it said.

The display panel business, which manufactures OLED and LCD screens, saw increased shipments of OLED panels for premium smartphones, but profitability for LCD panels decreased due to weak seasonality.

Earnings in the mobile business declined due to a hike in marketing costs, Samsung said.

For the full year, net profit was also a record at 42.19 trillion won, up 85.6 percent on 2016, on sales of 239.58 trillion won.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Samsung may unveil Galaxy S9 early in challenge to iPhone X

MANILA - Samsung Electronics will move up the unveiling of its Galaxy S9 and S9+ phones in 2018 compared to previous years, presenting a new challenger to chief rival Apple's iPhone X, according to two reports.

The S9 and S9+ will look nearly identical to this year's S8 and S8+, the first Samsung phones to sport near bezel-less displays, but with improved cameras and processors, according to Bloomberg and Venutre Beat.

The S9 line will be unveiled by late February, one month earlier that its predecessor's launch in 2017, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. Venture Beat said the phones would be presented at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January with an official launch to follow in March.


The screen sizes will stay at 6.2 inches for the S9+ and 5.8 inches for the S9. The larger model will pack a dual lens rear camera, similar to the one on the Galaxy Note 8 which launched last September, according to the reports.

The fingerprint sensor will be positioned below the rear camera lens, according to Venture beat. It was located to the right of the lenses in the S8 and Note 8 lines, making it hard to reach for some and leaving the camera prone to smudging.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Samsung unveils new Galaxy Note 8

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a new model of its Galaxy Note as it seeks to leave behind the debacle over exploding batteries in the previous generation of the device, and mount a renewed challenge to Apple and its soon-to-come iPhone 8.

Introducing the Note 8 "phablet" at an event in New York City, executives repeatedly thanked fans who had remained loyal to the device.

"None of us will ever forget what happened last year," said Samsung president of mobile communications business DJ Koh.

"But, I will never forget how millions of dedicated Note loyalists stayed with us; so let me express my deepest gratitude."

The South Korean giant laid claim to being the first smartphone maker to field a "phablet" device -- combining features of smartphones and tablets -- when it introduced the first Note five years ago.

Samsung did not disclose the price of the Note 8, which will hit shops on September 15 but will be available for pre-orders starting Thursday.

Note 8 features include dual cameras on the back, with improved image capabilities, and a signature "S Pen" for drawing or writing on touch screens.

"All in all, it was a good day for Samsung," Moore Insights and Strategy analyst Patrick Moorhead said at the event.

"The Note 7 is clearly behind them and now it's onto the future with the Note 8."

The analyst depicted the Note 8 as Samsung's best opportunity in years to gain market share in the fiercely competitive premium smartphone market.

iPhone turns 10

The Note 8 debut comes on the heels of Samsung launching new Galaxy 8 smartphones, and as the South Korean consumer electronics giant and fellow market leader Apple seek wow factors that can help them fend off challenges from rising Chinese-based manufacturers.

Apple is under particular pressure to dazzle as the culture-changing California iPhone maker looks for a way to maintain its image as an innovation leader in a global market showing signs of slowing.

Apple is expected to unveil a 10th anniversary version of the iPhone in September.

"Clearly, Apple wants to do something different," NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker told AFP.

Reports say the new iPhone will include a high-quality, edge-to-edge screen with a notch in the top for an extra camera supporting 3D facial recognition.

Some speculate that the back of the new handset will be glass and will offer wireless charging.

Meanwhile, Google-made Pixel smartphones that debuted last year will likely get a second generation in the months ahead.

Global smartphone sales saw a modest decline of 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2017, an IDC survey showed.

Samsung maintained top spot in the crowded field with a 23.3 percent market share, while Apple held onto second place with 12 percent, according to IDC.

"Samsung had the Note 7 debacle, but it appears their troubles are behind them," GlobalData analyst Avi Greengart told AFP. "Samsung is doing some amazing things with its display and design."

'Infinity' and beyond

Note 8 handsets boasted "infinity" screens that span edge-to-edge on handsets, to enhance the viewing of video or help to juggle multiple tasks.

Samsung said it also built its Bixby virtual assistant smarts into Note 8 as it battles to compete with artificial intelligence being meshed into handsets powered by Apple or Google-backed Android software.

Note 8 also boasted water and dust resistance, along with wireless charging capability.

"We appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community," Koh said during a presentation focused almost as much on Note fans as it was on the new handset.

"They've been a constant inspiration to us, and we designed the new Note for them."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Samsung faces 'biggest test' with Galaxy S8 launch

SEOUL - The world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung will unveil its latest flagship, the Galaxy S8, on Wednesday in New York as it seeks to move on from last year's humiliating recall crisis.

Samsung Electronics was forced to discontinue the Galaxy Note 7, originally intended to compete with Apple's iPhone, after a chaotic recall that saw replacement devices also catching fire.

The debacle cost the South Korean company billions in lost profit and hammered its global reputation and credibility, during a torrid period when it has also been embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong, heir to the parent Samsung group, has since been arrested and indicted for bribery, along with four other senior executives, in connection with the graft scandal that saw ex-president Park Geun-Hye impeached.

Samsung blamed the Galaxy Note 7 crisis on faulty batteries, apologized to consumers for causing concern and was forced to postpone the S8 launch.

 The Verge, a US-based online news network specialising on technology, described the new device as Samsung's "biggest test ever".

"It now needs to reassert its reliability while also rebooting its technological advantage," it said.

On its website, Samsung says the latest addition to the Galaxy lineup represents "the start of a new era", but has offered little information about its new hardware features.

Some leaked images of the new phone suggest the Galaxy S8 will sport a larger curved display than its predecessor the S7, at 5.8 inches, while maintaining a similar body size.

The home button on the front of the phone appears to have been replaced by a fingerprint scanner on the rear, while it is also speculated to have an iris scanner, most likely used for unlocking the handset and authorising payments.

Samsung announced last week that its new voice-powered digital assistant Bixby will debut with the phone, which will have a set of pre-installed applications that will work with the interface.

The South Korean electronics giant late last year bought Viv, an artificial intelligence startup with co-founders who were part of the team that built virtual assistant Siri, which Apple bought some seven years ago.

While Samsung has yet to confirm a release date and pricing, the Galaxy S8 is expected to be available in late April with a price range of around $900 to $1,000.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Face recognition for payments coming to Samsung Galaxy S8: report

MANILA - Samsung users will soon be able to verify mobile payments by looking at their smartphones as the the company is planning to include facial recognition technology in its upcoming Galaxy S8 handset, according to a news report.

Face recognition for mobile payments will be a first for smartphones and the Galaxy S8 will also come with fingerprint and iris scanners for added security, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources.

The South Korean company is building Samsung Pay to challenge rival Apple Inc's Apple Pay, which is available on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

The Galaxy S8 is expected to be launched in late March. Leaks suggest that its headline feature will be a screen that wraps around the sides and occupies almost the entire front of the handset.

It will the Samsung's first premium handset since its recall of the Galaxy Note 7 late last year, after some units caught fire. The company blamed the fires on faulty batteries.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Samsung to launch AI digital assistant service for Galaxy S8

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said on Sunday it would launch an artificial intelligence digital assistant service for its upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone, seeking to rebound from the Galaxy Note 7's collapse and differentiate its devices.

The world's top smartphone maker in October announced the acquisition of Viv Labs Inc., a firm run by a co-creator of Apple Inc.'s Siri voice assistant program. Samsung plans to integrate the San Jose-based company's AI platform, called Viv, into the Galaxy smartphones and expand voice-assistant services to home appliances and wearable technology devices.

Samsung is counting on the Galaxy S8 to help revive smartphone momentum after scrapping the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7, which will hit its profit by $5.4 billion over three quarters through the first quarter of 2017.

Investors and analysts say the Galaxy S8 must be a strong device in order for Samsung to win back customers and revive earnings momentum.

Samsung did not comment on what types of services would be offered through the AI assistant that will be launched on the Galaxy S8, which is expected to go on sale early next year. It said the AI assistant would allow customers to use third-party service seamlessly.

"Developers can attach and upload services to our agent," said Samsung Executive Vice President Rhee Injong during a briefing, referring to its AI assistant.

"Even if Samsung doesn't do anything on its own, the more services that get attached the smarter this agent will get, learn more new services and provide them to end-users with ease."

Technology firms are locked in an increasingly heated race to make AI good enough to let consumers interact with their devices more naturally, especially by voice.

Alphabet Inc.'s Google is widely considered to be the leader in AI, but others including Amazon.com, Apple and Microsoft Corp. have launched their own offerings including voice-powered digital assistants.

Samsung also hopes to differentiate its devices, from phones to fridges, by incorporating AI. Competition from Google's new Pixel smartphones, armed with the US firm's voice-powered digital assistant, adds to the urgency.

The South Korean firm has said it plans more acquisitions to bolster its AI and other software capabilities.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung offers mid-range after too hot Note 7

MANILA - Samsung, still reeling from the death of its overheating Galaxy Note 7 flagship, is launching a mid-range handset ahead of the peak holiday shopping season.

The Galaxy J7 prime, with its all-metal build looks more like Apple's iPhone rather than the mostly glass Note 7, and Samsung's early 2016 flagships, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

At P13,990, or less than half the price of the Note 7 or even the discounted S7 Edge, the phone scrimps on some features. It has a smaller 5.5-inch screen, runs on 3GB of RAM, with a base storage of 32GB.

It also has a smaller battery at 3300mAh, but Samsung promises it can last a whole day of browsing and Facebook on mobile data.

Samsung touts the J7's "S power planning" feature, which allows the user to manage battery life, ensuring the device has enough juice to take calls, or forward them when power is too low.

The J7's battery, at full charge, lasted for the whole day on mobile data with minimal internet browsing and use of Whatsapp, Viber, Facebook, and Twitter apps.

There were also no issues of heating while the phone was plugged in for wall charging.

The phone comes with last year's Android OS, Marshmallow, out of the box, even as other handsets launching at the same time, though premium ones like LG's V20 and Google's Pixel, ship with Android Nougat.

The J7 Prime's fingerprint sensor can be used to restrict access to images, Wi-Fi networks, and apps aside from locking and unlocking the device.

Samsung claims the J7's 13-megapixel shooter can produce high-quality low-light snaps. Testing the rear camera indoors on low-light, the images produced were crisp, but an outdoor test at night produced a grainy image.


The device also has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies.

For its mid-level price tag, the Galaxy J7 Prime delivers a smartphone with reliable battery life and a decent camera.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung offers exchange, full refund for Note 7 in Philippines

MANILA - Samsung Philippines on Wednesday urged Galaxy Note 7 owners in the Philippines to power down their devices and exchange them for a different model or get a full refund.

The South Korean electronics giant has halted production of the flagship smartphone after replacement units that followed a global recall were found to overheat and catch fire like the original models.

If customers opt to get the S7 Edge, Samsung said it would reimburse the price difference with the more expensive Note 7.

Samsung advised customers to transact in the store where they bought their phones.

Note 7 owners can also contact Samsung customer care at +63 (2) 422-2111 or visit their website at http://www.samsung.com/ph/note7exchange.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

When batteries explode: five questions

SEOUL - Samsung is warning consumers to stop using its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after a spate of battery explosions.

It was the latest in a string of lithium-ion battery fires on products ranging from laptops to hoverboards to airliners -- and a reminder that pushing the technology envelope can sometimes be problematic.

Here are some things to know about the recall and why batteries can be a fire hazard.

HOW DO THESE BATTERIES WORK AND WHY DO THEY CATCH FIRE?

A lithium-ion battery is a kind of rechargeable battery that uses different materials, one holding positive ions -- the cathode -- and the other holding negative ions -- the anode.

These ions move one way when charging, and back again when discharging -- being used.

These two layers -- or conductors -- are never supposed to touch, so manufacturers insert separators to keep them apart.

Unfortunately, the chemical reaction that makes batteries work also creates heat. Overcharging the packs -- or charging them too fast -- can lead to fires.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH SAMSUNG'S BATTERIES?

We don't know exactly, but Samsung has given some clues. It said parts of the battery that should never touch came together due to a "very rare manufacturing process error".

Gadget makers weigh all sorts of factors like performance, cost and safety when rolling out their next-generation technology.

And the race to push more battery life into their latest phone or tablet can lead to unexpected results.

"Smartphone makers are trying to squeeze these batteries into a small, thin package," said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo.

"Since batteries generate energy through a chemical reaction, it's really hard to reduce the risk (of fire) to zero.

"Sometimes convenience comes with a price."

HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?

Yes. Battery fires have been reported in products including Sony Vaio laptops, last-year's must-have toy the hoverboard, electric bikes and even Boeing's Dreamliner jet.

In Samsung's case, faulty batteries caused some handsets to burst into flames during charging.

Cases of exploding batteries continued to emerge following the recall announcement, as users claimed a burning device had damaged a hotel room in Australia or set a car on fire in the US.

HOW EXTENSIVE IS THE PROBLEM?

Not very. Millions of lithium-ion batteries are produced annually with a tiny fraction of those catching fire or exploding.

At the start of this month, Samsung had received reports of about 35 incidents involving the phone's batteries.

"It's not easy to know if Samsung's problem is the same as others...at this point," Yasuda said.

"If its battery suppliers sell these same ones to other producers,it could possibly affect them too."

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SAMSUNG AND OTHER GADGET MAKERS THAT USE THESE BATTERIES?

It will damage Samsung's reputation and likely hurt profits at a time when it is feeling the squeeze from Apple's iPhone and Chinese rivals in the lower-end category. The mobile business accounts for a major share of Samsung's profits.

It will also put pressure on gadget makers to figure out how to make battery packs safe for ever-smaller devices.

"We always want batteries to be safe but also to be more efficient," said Guy Marlair, a France-based safety expert.

"The more that we boost the battery's performance, the higher the energy density in a small space and the tougher it is to manage security."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung mobile recovery suffers blow as Galaxy Notes 'catch fire'

SEOUL - The recovery in Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s mobile business suffered a blow on Thursday as reports of exploding batteries forced the firm to delay shipments of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, and knocked $7 billion off its market value.

Investors drove the stock to two-week lows after the global smartphone leader told Reuters late on Wednesday the shipments had been delayed for quality control testing, and that shipments to South Korea's top three mobile carriers had been halted.

Faults with the new premium flagship device could deal a major blow to the South Korean giant, which was counting on the Galaxy Note 7 to maintain its strong mobile earnings momentum against Apple Inc's new iPhones expected to be unveiled next week.

"This is some major buzz-kill for Samsung, especially given all of the hard-earned excitement that products like the Note 7 have been garnering lately," IDC analyst Bryan Ma said.

"The pending Apple launch puts all the more pressure for them to contain this quickly. The timing of this couldn't have been worse."

Samsung did not comment on what problem it was trying to address or whether other markets were affected besides South Korea.

Sister company Samsung SDI Co Ltd said that while it was a supplier of Galaxy Note 7 batteries, it had received no information to suggest the batteries were faulty.

Several people posted images and videos of charred Galaxy Note 7s online and said their phones had caught on fire.

"Be careful out there, everyone rocking the new Note 7, might catch fire y'all," one user said in a YouTube clip showing a burnt Note phone. It was not immediately possible to confirm the veracity of the clip.

Samsung's shares, which hit a record high of 1.694 million won last week, fell 2 percent, and Samsung SDI tumbled 6.1 percent, versus a 0.1 percent fall for the broader market .

Several South Korean media reports, without citing direct sources, said Samsung would soon announce a plan to recall affected Note 7 phones and replace their batteries as opposed to giving the users a new device. A Samsung spokesman declined to comment on the reports.

DAMAGE CONTROL

Last year, production problems for the curved displays for the Galaxy S6 edge model resulted in disappointing sales, and Samsung risks a repeat this year if it cannot address the Galaxy Note 7 problems quickly.

Its mobile profit is on track to post annual growth for the first time in three years, thanks to robust sales of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge devices that it launched in March to critical acclaim.

The Galaxy Note 7 received similar praise, raising expectations for strong sales in the second half. Samsung said in August demand for the new handset, priced at 988,900 won ($882) in South Korea, was far exceeding supply, pushing the firm to delay the launch in some markets.

HDC Asset Management fund manager Park Jung-hoon said it now appeared inevitable that Samsung's smartphone average selling price and profits would miss lofty second-half expectations.

"Apple is supposed to show off the iPhone 7 next week and this issue has emerged, so the current state of things do not look good," he said.

Though a components pick-up will buttress overall profits, Park said mobile operating profit might decline by up to 200 billion won for July-September.

The mobile division accounted for about 54 percent of Samsung Electronics' January-June operating profit of 14.8 trillion won.

Hyundai Securities said in a report that the Galaxy Note 7's problems should be resolved within a "few weeks".

The brokerage retained its third-quarter operating profit forecast of 8.5 trillion won.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung plans initial production of 5-M Galaxy S7 phones: report

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's top smartphone maker, plans an initial production run of about 5 million of its upcoming Galaxy S7 smartphones, South Korea's Electronic Times reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

The paper said Samsung is planning to launch two different versions of its new flagship smartphone: a 5.2-inch flat-screen version, and a 5.5-inch, curved-screen version that will be called the 'Galaxy S7 edge'.

Samsung plans to initially make 3.3 million of the flat-screen devices and around 1.6 million of the curved-screen version, the report said, with plans to launch the handset in February.

A Samsung Electronics spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung raises production target for new Galaxy phones

SEOUL - South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has raised its production target for the new flagship Galaxy smartphones following positive market reception, the Electronic Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The South Korean paper, citing an unnamed source, said Samsung increased its total production target for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge devices to 8 million units for April from 7 million previously. The company's production target for March remained unchanged at 5 million units, according to the paper.

A Samsung spokeswoman said the company did not comment on rumours or speculation.

Designed from scratch in an operation dubbed "Project Zero", the Galaxy S6 and its curved-edges variant are critical for Samsung's plans to reverse plunging smartphone revenues that led to its first annual earnings fall in three years in 2014.

The new phones have been well-received for the revamped design and various technological improvements, prompting some brokerages to increase shipments forecasts for Samsung smartphones this year. They will start selling in 20 countries on April 10.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung won't use Qualcomm chip for new Galaxy S: Bloomberg

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd will not use Qualcomm Inc's processors for the next version of the South Korean technology giant's flagship Galaxy S smartphone, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

The report said Samsung, the world's top smartphone maker, tested the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip and decided not to use it, without offering details. Samsung will use its own processors instead, the report said.

A Qualcomm spokesman declined to comment on the report. A Samsung spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumors.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung unveils slimmest Galaxy phones

MANILA -- In a bid to harness the robustness of LTE, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. recently launched three models of the Galaxy A Series, the latest model line to join the brand’s roster of smartphones.

In a launch held at the Bonifacio Global City, Samsung business unit director of information technology and mobile communications Digs Dimagiba said the Korean technology giant will roll out the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7.

“We at Samsung are very excited to be launching the new Galaxy A7, A5 and A3.” said Dimagiba, “The Galaxy A7, A5 and A3 feature a refines and trendy full metal unibody and powerful features, offering the most stylish smartphone device to cater to the demands of our young and trend conscious consumers.”

Dimagiba said the Galaxy A Series carries Samsung’s slimmest smartphones to give users greater flexibility and convenience. The Galaxy A7 measures 6.3mm thin, while Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 comes at 6.7mm and 6.9mm, respectively.

He added the three devices feature a refined full metal unibody design that will come in variety of colors to accommodate the personal style and preference of diverse users. The Galaxy A3 will come in black and white, the Galaxy A5 in black, white, gold and silver, while the Galaxy A7 will come in black, white and gold.

With a 5MP front-facing camera, the Galaxy A series also gives selfie addicts an easier time than ever before. Dimagiba said innovative photo-taking features, such as wide selfie, voice and palm gestures activation, animated GIF, "beauty face" features (face retouch, eye enlarge and slim face) and rear-cam selfie, allow users to capture attractive selfies in high resolution by automatically detecting and focusing on a person’s face.

Users are also able to quickly and easily share photos or videos on their favorite social media channels with the device’s fast network speed of LTE Category 4 standard.

A super AMOLED display gives Galaxy A users a more vivid viewing experience by delivering clearer images with deep contrast and better viewing angles for more vivid, colorful content in virtually any environment, even under bright sunlight. The Galaxy A7 is powered by an Octa Core (1.5GHz Quad Core and 1.0 GHz Quad Core) processor to deliver seamless multi-tasking and faster browsing experience. Meanwhile, the A5 and A3 feature a Quad Core 1.2 GHz processor.

In addition, the Galaxy A Series sports popular features exclusive to Galaxy devices, such as ultra-power saving mode, private mode and multiscreen, as well as adjustable audio which intelligently adapts and enhances sound output based on the user’s surrounding environment.

The Galaxy A5 is priced at P19,990 and Galaxy A3 at P16,990 can be purchased in Samsung stores and authorized dealers beginning this month, while the Galaxy A7, priced at P24,990, will be available in February.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung unveils mid-tier handsets with premium feel

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled two new mid-tier handsets with a premium design as it prepared to deliver a riposte to its low-priced Chinese rivals and reclaim its title as the top brand in the world's biggest smartphone market.

The Galaxy A3 and A5 will be Samsung's first devices to feature fully metal bodies and its thinnest smartphones to date. In size, they are comparable to those of the top-of-the-line Galaxy S5, though of lesser screen resolution quality.

Samsung said on Friday that it will start selling the Galaxy A3 and A5 in China sometime in November. It classified them as mid-tier, and said they will be launched in other "select markets", without disclosing the pricing.

The announcement, combined with hopes for an earnings recovery and bigger dividends, pushed Samsung's shares to a two-month high in Seoul in midday trade on Friday.

The news comes a day after Samsung reported its worst quarterly operating profit in more than three years. Earnings from its handset division slumped 73.9 percent from a year earlier.

The company said its responses to "rapid shifts in the competitive landscape" were not quick enough. It vowed to revamp its offerings.

"For our mid to low-end smartphones we will enhance product competitiveness by differentiating our displays and materials as well as upgrading camera functionality," Senior Vice President Kim Hyun-joon told analysts on Thursday.

The world's smartphone leader is regrouping as it lost market share in annual terms for the third straight quarter in July-September, according to Strategy Analytics.

It has been beaten by Apple Inc's iPhones in the premium segment and undercut by Chinese rivals like Lenovo Group Ltd 0992.HK and Xiaomi Inc at the bottom end.

Samsung will likely accept lower margins going forward to preserve market share and growth volume, analysts said. But most do not expect a firm recovery until mid-2015 at the earliest.

"A lineup change is a costly process, just like re-doing your home interior design," said KTB Investment analyst Jin Sung-hye.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 in Philippines

Launches freebies app, Gear 2 and Gear Fit

MANILA - South Korean tech giant Samsung on Thursday officially unveiled its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy S5 in the Philippines.

Samsung is releasing Galaxy S5 globally on April 11, although it will likely hit Philippine stores later this month.

 Coco Domingo, marketing head for mobile phones for Samsung Philippines, revealed that the 16GB model of the Galaxy S5 will be available, at the latest, the third week of April with a starting retail price of P34,990.

It will be available in four colors -- black, white, blue and gold.

"Basically, the features of the [Galaxy] S5 enhance what users use the most," said Domingo, noting the phone's better camera, the heart monitor and a "bigger" battery.

The new Samsung phone boasts a 2.5GHz Quad core application processor, a slightly better version of the 1.9GHz model of the S4, and now runs on Android KitKat 4.4.2.

It has the same screen resolution as that of its predecessor, albeit a tenth of an inch larger. The Galaxy S5 is heavier and thicker than previous models but is now IP 67 certified, meaning it can survive in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes and is completely resistant to dust.

 

It comes with a finger scanner that acts as a screen-lock password, which can save and identify up to three different fingerprints, and a heart monitor.

The Galaxy S5 also has a power saving mode, which turns the screen to black and white and allows the smartphone to perform customizable basic functions -- messaging and calling -- for nearly two weeks on a single charge.

But perhaps, the most notable improvements on the Galaxy S5 can be found in its camera and in the addition of the download booster. The former, a rear facing 16 megapixel camera, boasts the fastest auto-focus of 0.03 seconds, a real-time HDR mode, and a DSLR-like selective focus function. It also now has the capability to take 4k (3849 x 2160) video.

The download booster allows the simultaneous use of LTE and Wi-Fi for faster download speeds, maximizing the MIMO technology support added.

Other updates for the Galaxy S5 includes support for the USB 3.0, a patterned design, and wireless charging.

To coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S5, Samsung also announced the availability of fitness-oriented wearables Gear 2 (P13,490) and the Gear Fit (P8,990)

Samsung also launched the Galaxy Life, a free-to-download application which provides exclusive privileges, discounts to partner establishments such as Yabu, Charles & Keith, and Bikram Yoga.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why South Korea telcos released Samsung Galaxy S5 early

SEOUL - Samsung voiced annoyance Thursday after South Korean telecoms operators released its latest smartphone ahead of schedule in order to dodge sales restrictions imposed by regulators.

The world's biggest mobile phone maker had planned to release the Galaxy S5 -- first unveiled in February -- globally on April 11.

But the South's top operator SK Telecom, along with smaller rivals KT and LG Uplus, started selling the phone on Thursday.

Seoul's telecoms regulators have suspended all three firms from signing up new customers for 45-day periods each -- ranging from March to May -- as a penalty for offering illegal discounts.

SK Telecom's business suspension begins April 5 -- before Samsung's planned Galaxy S5 launch date -- and continues until May 19.

Samsung said in a statement that the earlier-than-scheduled release was made "independently" without its consent.

"We express our regret at this decision and we are working to verify all the facts," it said, adding it would stick to the April 11 release date for the rest of the world.

SK Telecom said the early release was motivated by a desire to "meet customer needs more quickly". It declined to elaborate further.

Samsung is hoping the Galaxy S5 will cement its lead in the global smartphone market.

The South Korean giant made about 30 percent of all smartphones sold in the world last year, nearly twice the share of arch-rival Apple.

The Galaxy S5 boasts a range of new features including a fingerprint scanner and a built-in heart rate sensor.

But Samsung faces a daunting challenge to keep momentum in the increasingly competitive and saturated market.

Competition is fierce in South Korea's vibrant mobile market, where the number of subscribers exceeds the country's total population of 50 million as many use several handsets.

Nearly 70 percent of the subscribers use smartphones -- one of the highest penetration rates in the world.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Samsung jumps into crowded music market

WASHINGTON -- Samsung on Friday unveiled a free music service for users of its Galaxy smartphones, entering a crowded market that includes Pandora, Spotify and Apple's iTunes.

The service dubbed "Milk Music" will offer some 200 ad-free radio stations to US customers with Samsung Galaxy devices.

"Milk introduces a fresh approach to music that reflects our innovation leadership and our focus on creating best-in-class consumer experiences," said Gregory Lee, president and chief executive of Samsung Telecommunications America.

"We're offering consumers amazing, rich music experiences built around what matters most to them and their lifestyle."

Milk is powered by the radio service Slacker. The company suggested it may take a page from Apple by offering "unique music programming from top selling and emerging artists" available exclusively through the platform.

The South Korean Electronics giant, which is the world's biggest smartphone maker and is challenging Apple in the US market, said the service will be offered with no log-in required and no need to browse for a specific artist or song.

It will have 200 genre-based and curated stations and some 13 million songs, and like other service will allow six song skips per hour per station.

Apple last year introduced its ad-supported iTunes radio service, which also allows customers to make purchases from the iTunes catalog.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com