Galaxy Note 4
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Samsung crams even faster LTE into the Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4 is already one of Samsung's best smartphones, but a new model focused on maximizing 4G could make it more of a catch. The LTE-A Tri-Band CA Galaxy Note 4 (what a mouthful) can handle three different frequency bands simultaneously and aggregate them into a single, theoretically faster connection. The improved handset, which Samsung says is the first "commercially available" smartphone with such a setup, supports both Category 6 (up to 300 Mbps) and Category 9 (up to 450 Mbps) LTE networks -- but the kicker here is its ability to pick out and jump between the best available bandwidths.
Tell us how you really feel about the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy Note 4
Sure, smartphones have been getting larger and larger every year. And for those who really want to go big, large-screen "phablet" Android phones have risen to fill the demand. But iPhone users who wanted a larger screen have always been left wanting -- until last months' release of the iPhone 6 Plus, that is. The 5.5-inch screen makes it the largest iPhone yet, but can it compete with Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 flagship? Now that both devices have been available for a while, we want to know how you, our readers, feel about your big-screen phone. Do you like having more screen real estate? Does the extra 0.2 inch on the Galaxy Note 4 make a difference? How do your favorite apps look on the 6 Plus? Is the stylus on the Note 4 still a draw? If you switched to Android for a big phone, have you switched back to iOS? You read our reviews; now we want to read yours. Leave a user review on the product pages for the iPhone 6 Plus or the Galaxy Note 4 detailing your unique experiences, and we'll be featuring the very best comments about both devices in an upcoming post.
Apple's new iPhones outsell the Galaxy Note 4 in Samsung's home country of Korea
In a strange twist, Apple's new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are outpacing the sales of the Galaxy Note 4 on Samsung's home turf in South Korea. According to the Wall Street Journal, pre-orders for the new iPhone models reached 100,000 units on the first day, as compared to 30,000 for the Note 4. Sales were brisk at carriers KT and LG Uplus, with the providers processing more than 70,000 orders in the first 30 minutes of ordering. Rival carrier SK Telecom failed to disclose its sales figures, but confirmed it had sold through its first two batches of inventory and has opened up reservations for a third. This jump in iPhone sales may only be the beginning, with analysts such as Lee Seung-woo of IBK Securities predicting the new iPhones will generate five times the sales of the Note 4. Samsung is the current leader in the Korean smartphone market with 63 percent market share as compared to Apple's 6 percent. Long a leader in the large phone category, Samsung lost its competitive edge following the launch of the larger 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launched in September 2014 with record first weekend sales of 10 million.
Galaxy Note 4 owners get three months free of OnLive gaming
Ahead of the Galaxy Note 4's release in the US tomorrow, Samsung has a last-minute incentive for potential buyers as well as those who have already pre-ordered. The company just announced a new partnership deal with OnLive, which gives owners of its fresh, big-screen handset three months of free gaming through the streaming platform. Samsung's promotion is part of the Galaxy Gifts Package, a collection of free software from its own app store, and will give users access to titles from OnLive's PlayPack bundle, such as Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders, Rogue Legacy and many more. The OnLive service is typically $9.95 per month -- so not only do you save some cash, but also have the chance to try it without any attachments. Once you have your Note 4, the OnLive app can be downloaded from the Galaxy Apps shop.
Samsung calls the iPhone 6 Plus a Galaxy Note wannabe in latest ad
Following Apple's announcement of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Samsung is kicking its advertising into high gear, mocking Apple's new devices at every turn. The latest promo, titled "Then and Now," berates Apple for following in Samsung's footsteps by adopting the oversized iPhone 6 Plus, calling the device a copycat of the Galaxy Note.
Samsung partners with Montblanc on a chic Galaxy Note 4 stylus
At IFA 2014 Unpacked, Samsung has announced that it's partnering with venerable pen maker Montblanc on two custom styluses for its new Galaxy Note 4. The "Pix" and the "e-StarWalker" are done in the pen maker's classic, chunky style for any Note smartphone or tablet user. Montblanc calls it a "digital writing" device, a clear sign it's targeting those for whom a flimsy plastic pen just won't do. It also revealed two flip covers for the Note 4, the "Extreme" in a threaded fabric that mirrors Samsung's Galaxy S5 "Band-Aid" design, and the "Soft Grain" with a classic leather look. There's no word yet on availability or cost, but we don't imagine that a digital writing device comes cheap.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 leak suggests huge QHD display and improved camera
If there's one thing that you're guaranteed to see at IFA, it's Samsung showing off the fourth version of the Galaxy Note. Unfortunately, any surprise factor the company might have been relying on has been lost if this credible-looking spec list is true. Indonesian retailer Erafone is claiming that the new flagship will arrive with a 5.7-inch 1,440 x 2,560 (515 ppi) Super AMOLED display and a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. Like other Samsung units, the device will come in two variants, one packing a quad-core Snapdragon 805 (SM-N910S) and an octa-core version running an Exynos 5433 (SM-N910C) that we assume will remain in Korea. Rounding out the notable specs are 4GB RAM, up to 128GB of microSD card storage and Android KitKat 4.4.3. According to the retailer, the device is priced at IDR 9,499,000, which roughly converts to $812, but either way, September 3rd simply cannot come fast enough.
