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Thursday, September 4, 2014

New phablets and a virtual reality headset from Samsung

Samsung has used the IFA electronics trade show in Berlin to announce two new mobile devices and a virtual reality headset.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the latest version of the company’s stylus-controlled phone/tablet hybrid. It’s equipped with a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixel) display, a 16 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 3.7 megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera.

​​Features include multiple microphones for better noise cancellation and selective playback of individual voices when recording a group conversation.

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There was another addition to the ‘Galaxy Note’ range: the Samsung ​Galaxy Note Edge. It’s fractionally smaller, with a 5.6-inch screen, but is notable for having a screen that curves around the edge. This enables users to touch a shortcut icon for apps, alerts and other functions, even when the cover is closed.

Both handsets run Android v4.4. ​The Galaxy Note 4 will be available from next month, while the Galaxy Note Edge will go on sale later this year.

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A new accessory for the Note 4, the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, was announced at the same time. This is a headset that uses the Galaxy Note 4 in conjunction with Oculus technology to create a virtual reality experience without needing a dedicated electronic device.

It’s described as a beta version of the product; availability is expected by the end of 2014. A collection of 360-degree videos and 3D movie trailers from will be pre-loaded on a memory card with the VR headset.

JK Shin, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said ““The Samsung Gear VR goes far beyond expectations of how mobile technology can be used to consume content, and is a powerful representation of the progressive innovation of the Gear series. We are pleased to have partnered with Oculus VR to bring this incredibly immersive mobile content experience to consumers.”

[Oculus VR blog]

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Opinion Articles

RIM boss ignores the questions when asked about BlackBerry difficulties and competitors

What went wrong? What did you learn from the iPhone?

Mark Bridge writes:

Live TV and radio interviews. They can be worrying things, even when you’re not expecting to be challenged too much. I know this from experience. So when your company is launching a much-delayed operating system, you’d expect a few difficult questions… and you’d be ready with a response.

The official response of RIM is apparently to ignore the questions.

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Mobile phones transform lives in Africa

Jennifer Lazuta of voanews.com writes:

Rene Mendy, a street vendor in Dakar, has never had enough money to open a bank account. But now, thanks to an emerging mobile phone banking service, he has access to many financial services.

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Last week at The Fonecast: 28th January 2013

Figuring out the figures

Mark Bridge writes:

I didn’t study economics at college, which is probably one of the reasons I have a very simple perspective on quarterly results. As far as I’m concerned, they fall into one of three categories: much as expected, better than expected or worse than expected. Anyway, it’s the time of year when some of the biggest names in the mobile telecoms industry publish their financial results – so here we go.

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Bringing personalised radio to your smartphone

We interview Shankar Meembat about the UTuneMe radio app

Mark Bridge writes:

Targeted advertising on mobile devices is something we’re all getting increasingly familiar with. Visit a web site and there’s a good chance you’ll see an advertisement that’s aimed directly at you, perhaps using information about the sites you’ve previously visited, the type of smartphone you’re using or even your location.

Yet listen to the radio or stream music on your smartphone and that same level of personalisation hasn’t been aavailable. That’s all changing now, with help from a new service called UTuneMe.

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Why Huawei should get out of the mobile handset market

Why Huawei should get out of the mobile handset market

or why Huawei need to spend their £1.6 billion profit on marketing

James Rosewell writes:

Huawei is a company one can’t miss at Mobile World Congress. They bring their own building!  Plus last year a wonderful “Pegasus” flying horse sculpture made using Ascend handsets was proudly displayed next to the main fountain to hail the launch of the Ascend series of handsets.

Huawei has been busy following MWC12. They now run major parts of Everything Everywhere, Three and O2’s network in the UK. On a less positive note they’re not welcome in the US.

But how has the devices side of the business performed?

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