Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+

 

At its Galaxy Unpacked event in NYC, Samsung today took the wraps off two of its most eagerly awaited handsets -- the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Just like Apple with the iPhone, Samsung's phone range is more about evolution than revolution -- but that's not to say there isn't quite a lot to get excited about.
 
Both devices include 4GB of RAM and as with previous generations, the Galaxy Note 5 features Samsung's S-Pen Stylus. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ boasts a larger screen than its predecessor but the Note 5's is the same size as before. So what else is new, and when can you get your hands on one?
 
The screens are the undoubted stars of the show here, but Samsung has made some interesting choices in other areas for the phones. Both are available in 32 and 64GB variants. It seems that 16GB models have now been consigned to the history books, but it would have been good to see a 128GB model to go head to head with the iPhone.
 
The storage limitations are highlighted by the fact that neither the Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+ support removable memory cards. Some people will be disappointed to find that the battery in both handsets is not removable, particularly in the case of the Note 5 which sees capacity dropping from the previous version. It is just as well, perhaps, that the battery supports fast charging.
 
Samsung is pitching the Galaxy S6 Edge+ as the phone that delivers the best multimedia experience, while the Note 5 is billed as being "perfect for multi-taskers".
 
The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are slated for launch globally in August, but no precise date has been given -- nor do we yet have any word on pricing.
 

 
Here are the full specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5:
 

SYSTEM	Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
DISPLAY	5.7-inch, QHD Super AMOLED (2,560 x 1,440 pixels, 518 ppi)
PROCESSOR	Octa core (2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz Quad), 64 bit, 14 nm process
RAM	4 GB RAM (LPDDR4)
INTERNAL MEMORY	32/64 GB
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO(2x2), Bluetooth® v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, Location
CAMERA	Rear: 16 MP OIS (F1.9), Front: 5 MP (F1.9)
BATTERY	3,000 mAh (non-removable), fast-charging, wireless charging
DIMENSIONS	153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm
WEIGHT	171 g
PRICE	TBC

 
 
And the specs for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+:
 

SYSTEM	Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
DISPLAY	5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1440 (518 ppi), dual-edge
PROCESSOR	Octa core (2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz Quad), 64 bit, 14 nm process
RAM	4 GB RAM (LPDDR4)
INTERNAL MEMORY	32/64 GB
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO(2x2), Bluetooth® v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, Location
CAMERA	Rear: 16 MP OIS (F1.9), Front: 5 MP (F1.9)
BATTERY	3,000 mAh (non-removable), fast-charging, wireless charging
DIMENSIONS	154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9mm
WEIGHT	153 g
PRICE	TBC

 
~ Mark Wilson

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review... Continue ~ Software, S Pen & New Sensors

Software, S Pen & New Sensors

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes loaded with Android 4.4.4 and their TouchWiz UI, which is a combination largely the same as the Galaxy S5. As the two phones are so similar in their software offerings, and to save me from repeating myself, head over to my review of the Galaxy S5 to learn about the main features of the Note 4.
 

 
However, as the Note 4 is a newer device with a different set of features and hardware, the software isn’t identical. The general interface has received some minor changes (most stock app backgrounds are now white instead of black, for example), some features have been altered and some others have been removed entirely.

The most notable changes to the basic features I have summarised for you below.

• The app switcher has been revised for the larger display, featuring larger images in a cascading tile view.
• There is a shortcut to the camera app on the lockscreen, which comes in handy for quick photo capturing
• The Toolbox has been removed, as it wasn’t a particularly useful feature to begin with.
• The time and weather widget has been visually improved, fitting in much better with the rest of the Android interface. It actually looks nice this time!
• The settings screen has been revised to be easier to navigate. The massively long list of icons, with some options duplicated, is now a simple list that is separated into obvious categories. It’s still pretty long, but it’s no longer terrible.
• The Messages and Music apps now have new landscape modes. Oddly, the basic landscape modes are the same for every other app, most of which don’t make use of the large Galaxy Note 4 display.
• The fingerprint scanner registers finger swipes faster, although the swiping motion required to get it to recognize your fingerprint is still awkward.

Alongside these smaller changes, Samsung has made a few larger ones that bring polish to the overall software implementation. One of these is the brand new multi-window mode, which is completely redesigned to make the most out of the large 5.7-inch display on the Note 4.
 
The previous multi-window mode allows you to split the display into two sections that each would be occupied by a separate application. The feature was handy if you wanted to quickly switch between two apps, but limited. With the Note 4’s new multi-window mode, apps can actually be placed into individual windows and moved around the screen, creating a true multi-application window experience within Android.
 

 

Rather than dragging apps from a tray onto the screen to activate multi-window, you now create a window by swiping diagonally inwards from the top-right corner as if you want to make the app smaller. From there you can move the window around, minimize it to a small circular icon on the display, and easily copy content from one window to another using the Move Content feature. You can have a maximum of five windows on the screen at any one time.
 
Unfortunately the feature still only works with a few of the applications in Android, although some third-party apps like Chrome (and most Google apps), Facebook, and Evernote are supported. Still, despite these restrictions, the revamped multi-window feature can become incredibly useful for multitasking-heavy power users after a bit of practice to learn how it works.
 
S Health also comes with some new features, and this is due to the new sensors found in the Note 4. The first of these new features is UV mode, wherein you point the back of the Note 4 towards the sun and it tells you how intense the UV rays are. This feature is meant to indicate whether you should wear sunscreen or not, although like the heart rate monitor it’s somewhat of a gimmick. You look like an idiot pointing your smartphone at the sun, and most weather apps will already tell you the UV Index for your location.
 

 

SpO2 is another feature that uses a new sensor in the Note 4: the pulse oximeter. This feature’s aim is to tell you how oxygenated your blood is, with a normal level falling within 95-100%. A level from 90-95% is considered low, while below 90% could indicate you are ill and require medical attention. The value itself is a ratio of the oxyhaemoglobin to total concentration of haemoglobin in your blood.
 
All of my readings while testing the SpO2 meter fell within 95-100%, regardless of my diet and exercise patterns. Obviously this is good news for my personal health, though it makes the sensor less valuable. The reading doesn’t indicate whether I should exercise more, drink more or eat better food, just whether I’m healthy or not. And to be honest, I can tell if I’m feeling ill without a smartphone’s assistance.
 
Samsung also fails to inform you within S Health as to what the meaning of the SpO2 reading actually is. The information they provide says that a normal SpO2 range is between 95-100%, and that it can “indicate your fitness level and the intensity of exercise”. However after doing absolutely no exercise I can achieve a SpO2 level of 100%, so the latter claim seems questionable.
 

 

After a bit of research it appears that the meter is useful for people wanting to exercise in high altitude conditions, revealing if you may be at risk of hypoxia. It’s also useful for asthma sufferers wanting to assess their health while exercising. It’s not nearly as useful for healthy individuals who exercise regularly, making it more of a niche feature than something you’ll use every day. I would have liked to see Samsung provide more information about the SpO2 meter so that people like me don’t have to look up what it means.

Moving on to the S Pen, and the experience remains largely the same as past Galaxy Notes. The passive stylus is responsive and comes with more pressure levels than before (up to 2,000 levels), making it one of the best digital pen experiences you can find. S Note is still your number one stop for note-taking, and although it hasn’t changed much compared to the version found in the Note 3, it’s still a solid application filled with features.
 

 

Removing the pen from its slot, or hovering the pen over the display and pressing its button, activates Air Command, which has been consolidated compared to previous iterations. It now features four basic and useful commands: Action Memo, which is a pop-up notepad that saves to S Note and can automatically convert input to phone numbers and addresses; Screen Write, which takes a screenshot and allows you to draw on it; Image Clip for drawing around something on the screen to capture as an image; and my personal favourite, Smart Select.

Smart Select is a conglomerate of past S Pen features added together into the one handy package. It allows you to select items on the screen and capture them to a clipboard, either as text – which is automatically recognized and converted – or an image. The clipboard floats around on the screen, and by clicking and dragging you can add it to input windows such as S Note, emails or messages.
 

 
The feature has a number of excellent use cases. For example you could capture an image of a business card, use Smart Select to convert the address in the image to editable text, and then go straight to Maps from the automatically generated link. You could also capture a paragraph from a website, convert it to text, and email or tweet it alongside an automatically generated link back to the source.

The Note 4 also comes with expanded highlighting options using the S Pen. Pressing the button down and selecting text will now allow you to copy it with ease or even it look it up in the dictionary. Hover previews have been expanded as well, and now include quick action buttons for things such as editing and sharing.
 

 
Another handy feature is found within S Note, called Photo Note. In this mode you can capture notes from a written notebook and convert them to editable shapes within S Note. Alongside S Note’s versatile note-taking features, Photo Note allows you to import written notes into the digital app with ease.

Next Page 

Hardware Overview

 
~ Tim Schiesser

Article Index

1. Meet Samsung's Best: The Galaxy Note 4
2. Display: Quad HD Super AMOLED
3. Software, S Pen & New Sensors
4. Hardware Overview
5. Exynos & Snapdragon Performance
6. Camera: 16 Megapixel Image Quality
7. Camera Features and Video Quality
8. Battery Life
9. Final Thoughts

 

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Verizon) -- Unboxing and first impressions

 

There are many times when tech pundits are wrong about things. I remember thinking the first iPad was a disaster -- who wanted a computer that did not have a USB port for flash drives? The whole world apparently, including myself, only a short while after it launched. The same can be said about Samsung's Note line of smartphones. When the first Note launched, I thought people looked idiotic using such a large phone. I mean, talking on that monstrosity in public? You look like a loon, right? Wrong there too -- people loved it and the industry followed Samsung's phablet lead. Hell, the term phablet is almost a misnomer now, as large screens have become the norm. The screen sizes we considered to be "normal" only a few years ago, are now designated with terms like "mini".
 
So here we are in 2014 and Samsung is still the leader of the large screen movement, although imitators are catching up. Apple got into the phablet game with the iPhone 6 Plus and even Google is set to release the Nexus 6 in conjunction with Motorola. Still, as great as the iPhone 6 Plus is, and as wonderful as the Nexus 6 is sure to be, Samsung releases the Galaxy Note 4 in hopes to remain the gold standard and the one to beat. I finally got my hands on one -- arguably the best one -- the Verizon variant, which will not be released until October 23. Yes, BetaNews has achieved it early and here are my impressions.
 
Notable Specs

• Operating System -- Android KitKat 4.4.4
• CPU -- Snapdragon 805 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• RAM -- 3GB
• Storage -- 32GB, expandable with microSD
• Display -- 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440
• Battery -- Li-ion 3220mAh, Fast Charging (Adaptive Fast Charging & QC2.0)
• Camera -- Front: CMOS 3.7MP w/ f1.9, Rear: CMOS 16.0 MP w/ OIS

Unboxing
 

 
Impressions
 
When taking it out of the box, it is shocking how light it is. You expect such a phone to be heavy, but it is not so. Believe it or not, it is slightly heavier than last year's Note 3 at an acceptable 6.21 oz. I have never experienced wrist-fatigue when using it one-handed. I spent a lot of time with the Note 4 at the official unveiling, but it is hard to gauge just how light it is when it is tethered with a security wire. You can see my initial experience in the video below.
 

 
The back remains plastic, but the faux-leather feel gives it a good grip, so it is not slippery like the iPhone 6 Plus. The band around the body is now metal, lending to a more premium feel. The corners are rounded, but the edges are sharp, and the overall build feels strong and industrial. Of course, you should still invest in a case, as even the most care-conscious owner can drop it by mistake, despite the good grip.
 
Once powered on, the screen becomes the star of the show. The 5.7 inch display is now Quad-HD, or 2560 x 1440. This is the same resolution as the LG G3, but Samsung's technology produces a much more vibrant experience with eye-popping colors and detail. Viewing photos and watching videos are awe-inspiring, as the media pops, and feels alive. Hell, even watching iJustine dressed up as Libby the Lobster on YouTube looked great!
 

 

Speaking of pictures, the cameras on the Note 4 are exceptional -- both the front and rear. The 16 megapixel rear shooter takes gorgeous photos, and the optical image stabilization assures photos are not blurry. Videos can be shot in 4K, something Apple's new handsets cannot achieve. Audio quality for the videos is amazing -- check out the 4K video test below.
 
 
Selfie-fans will love the front 3.7 megapixel camera, as it takes rather nice photos too. The standout feature for me, however, is that the heart-rate monitor located on the back, doubles as a button for snapping front-facing photos. In other words, you do not need to fiddle with tapping the screen or waiting for timers -- a quick tap triggers the shot.
 

The speaker is passable and produces decent sound quality, but it is small and located on the rear. The upcoming Nexus 6 features dual front-facing speakers for an optimal stereo experience. Would I prefer that the Note 4 have that level of audio design? Sure, but the rear speaker is totally acceptable when listening to music or watching movies. Quite frankly, I usually use headphones for that.
 
Actually, the Note 4 has something more important than speakers on the face -- a hardware button that doubles as a fingerprint reader. Many Android purists prefer on-screen buttons, but I am not a fan. Sure, it can lend to a cleaner look, but the on-screen buttons do take up screen real estate and can be easy to hit on accident.
 
The fingerprint reader works very well -- just as good as the Galaxy S5. I know, people hate sliding their fingers, and would prefer a stationary approach like Apple's touch ID. I'm with you there, it would be preferable, but the finger sliding is fine for me, and is close to 90% accurate once you learn the best way to interface with it. Bottom line, sliding your finger is much better than typing a pin or password.
 
What truly differentiates the Note 4 from most phablets, is the inclusion of the S Pen (aka a stylus). My first smartphone was a Treo 650 and I used a stylus quite a bit, so I was hesitant to embrace Samsung's S Pen, as it seemed like a step backwards. This is definitely not the case, as it unlocks many unique features, which makes Android a more usable operating system. Doing something as simple as selecting multiple photos is a dream, as you can hold down the button on the pen to drag and select.
 

 

 

Sadly, the Note 4 ships with Android 4.4.4, but should get a quick upgrade to 5.0 Lollipop. This may be a blessing in disguise however, as 5.0 may have bugs, and is likely to cause issues with existing apps. Android KitKat is a proven and stable base, and should serve well as 5.0 gets straightened out.
 
The love-it-or-hate-it Touchwiz UI is of course on board, and I love it. Stock Android is fine, but Samsung's enhancements are well executed and improve the overall experience. Little things like folder animations and a more user-friendly settings menu makes all the difference.
 
I particularly like the pull-down menu that can be customized and expanded to a full-screen view. While it may be overwhelming for some, this too seems better designed than the stock design, and Samsung deserves major kudos.
 
It's one of those things where, had Google implemented the Touchwiz enhancements, the hardcore Android purists would celebrate them, but because it is Samsung, it is decried.
 

 

Verizon "bloatware" is kept to a relative minimum, and includes "My Verizon Mobile", "Visual Voice Mail", "Verizon Cloud", "Caller Name ID", "VZ Navigator", "VZ Protect" and the very good "Message+". Do I wish these were all optional? Sure, but it really doesn't slow down the phone. Once root is achieved, you can remove all the apps you want, but remember; missing apps can sometimes cause issues with OTA updates.

 

Luckily, Verizon has not neutered the phone -- special features are not removed or hidden. For instance, Download Booster is selectable, which enabled simultaneous Wi-Fi and 4G LTE downloads. Also available is Ultra Power Saving mode, which can extend usage when your battery gets low.
 

 

Conclusion
 
In my limited testing, I can safely declare the Note 4 to be the best Android smartphone on the market today -- powerful, sexy and chock full of features. However, this may be short-lived as the Nexus 6 arrives in November with a bigger screen and similar specs. While I am sure the Nexus 6 will be a great phone, I think Samsung has enough unique features and customizations to make the Note 4 stand-out.
 
The big question that consumers will ask over the next 6 months will be, "should I buy the Note 4 or Nexus 6?" Quite frankly, you probably can't go wrong either way, but if you like getting work done and put a premium on productivity rather than fast Android updates, the Note 4 is for you. Don't hesitate to buy this phone.

 

~ Brian Fagioli

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I can't believe I switched from iPhone 5 to Galaxy Note II

My beloved iPhone 5 recently disappeared -- lost or stolen doesn't matter. Gone is gone. Verizon ticks me off; the warranty is supposed to get me a new one for $100 deductible. But no! VZW wants me to pay full subsidized price again! So, I do what anybody would; I fire Big Red!!!

I go for cost savings and switch to T-Mobile, figuring to buy the top-of-the-line geek Android toy and sell -- or better, trade -- it. I assume the Samsung Galaxy S III is top-geek merchandise but instead T-Mo pushes me towards the Galaxy Note II. What a deal online -- $200. I immediately list it on Craigslist, looking to trade for iPhone 5. To my surprise I get multiple offers. I mean, who as a sane person would want that deal?

Then the day comes. The Note 2 is delivered. And what's this? I like it. But I can't! It's a droid! I decide to test drive, and after 3-4 days I am ignoring the "5" trade offers. I NO LONGER WANT TO TRADE!!!

And now here weeks later I write this on my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 -- a phone I criticized and ridiculed for its gigantic form factor. Worse -- save me, Steve Jobs! -- I can't see myself going back to the fruit! For the record I have used other droids, but NOTHING LIKE THIS!!!!!

I just can't believe I switched!!!!

Rotten Fruit

Some people know me as the vulgar, inappropriate BetaNews comment troll. I let nothing said bad about Apple go unanswered. I am biased but not stupid. Galaxy Note is so much better, and I can't deny it -- much as I really want to.

Taking into account the advancements made by Samsung and the rate at which Apple releases updates and innovations, the future looks grim in Cupertino.

When a hardcore, die-hard fanboy such as myself cannot fathom going back to iPhone, fanboys around the globe better hope that somebody at One infinite loop is paying attention. It seems as though not one of the Apple executives has ever picked up a Galaxy device; their biggest competitor. The threat at hand is not just towards Apple. Samsung is so far ahead of the other Android players that we are moments away from calling it a one-horse race.

Now my loyalty is still with Apple, however, I can no longer be loyal to iPhone. The tragedy in that box is that a smartphone is like the captain of the football team; in other words the smartphone is the MVP of the company mobile product line up. But I just cannot travel backwards in technology, at least not to this degree.

Take Note, Apple

So to be specific, I would say the features or attributes that won me over are the screen, the speed and performance of the device, the improved polish in this version of Android and (surprisingly) the S Pen, which I find myself using abnormally more than expected, especially since I had labeled it a gimmick. I mean this thing can read my cursive handwriting for crying out loud! Not even I can read my own cursive sometimes!

And the final nail in the coffin for Apple, I received early yesterday morning a notice informing me that my device had an update waiting, ready to be installed. So a couple taps on the screen, a device reboot, and 10 minutes later come exciting new features.

Man, that split screen, and even triple screen is just astronomically amazing. So taking phone calls, composing emails, and replying to text messages, all while surfing the web AND watching a YouTube video?... well now, THAT is what I call multitasking!!!

So if I were asked to paraphrase, I would simply state that by all appearances, Scamsung has either acquired or raised and nurtured a talent/skill that I would refer to as "value delivered to customer". While 'ol Scammy put in overtime, behaving like a typical overachieving Asian, the fruit farm travels at the speed of light, metaphorically meaning stuck in time, maybe '08-'09, or zoned out where time (and competitors) stands still!!!"

What's an Apple fan to do but tear out his hair and cry. I love the thing I once loathed and hate myself for it.

~ Carlos Viscarra

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