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Samsung offers in-person service for Galaxy phones in the US
Ask iPhone owners why they remain loyal and they'll likely cite convenient support as one reason: they can walk into an Apple Store and get a prompt fix that's rarely available for other devices. Samsung is taking steps to level the playing field, however. From March 15th onward, you can visit one of 300-plus uBreakiFix service locations in the US and get officially sanctioned in-person repairs on recent high-end Galaxy phones, ranging from the S6 and Note 5 through to the S9 and Note 8. The two companies are promising same-day repairs, often in less than 2 hours for "most" problems.
Samsung brings back its free Gear VR promo
Miss out on your chance to get a free Gear VR headset by pre-ordering a Galaxy S7? You can rest easy. Samsung is launching a US Father's Day promo that gives you a gratis Gear VR when you buy one of the company's higher-end phones from the past year, including most Galaxy S6 and S7 variants (sorry, no S6 Active) and the Galaxy Note 5. The deal also gives you an Oculus bundle with "hit games and experiences." You'll have to buy the phone between now and June 19th to qualify, but that's no big deal if you were already thinking about an upgrade and just needed a nudge to get moving.
Samsung will lend you a free Galaxy Note 5 while you're in Korea
South Korea really, really wants you to know that it's a technology hub, and it's willing to offer some unusual perks to tourists to underscore that point. The Korea Tourism Organization is teaming up with Samsung and SK Telecom to offer free Galaxy Note 5 phones to "select" visitors coming through Seoul's main airport (about 250 per week) for up to five days. The hope, of course, is that you'll be so impressed with the country's mobile technology prowess that you'll share it with your friends back home. You only get 1GB of data, but that beats paying through the nose for international roaming or local prepaid service.
Samsung fixes the Galaxy Note 5's backwards pen problem
Samsung isn't just relying on warning labels and "read the manual" suggestions to prevent people from inserting the Galaxy Note 5's S Pen the wrong way. A Phandroid reader has discovered that newer Note 5 models have an updated slot design that makes it feasible to eject a backwards stylus without breaking the detection mechanism -- you won't have to panic because of a simple mistake. It's not certain which models have this stealthy upgrade, although it wouldn't be surprising if many of the freshest units make the grade.
Galaxy Note 5 wrapper warns you to insert the pen the right way
You probably don't need someone to tell you to insert the Galaxy Note 5's pen the right way, but Samsung isn't about to take any chances. As evidenced in a recent unboxing, at least some newer Note 5 units come with a wrapper advising you against inserting the S Pen backwards lest it "damage the pen and your phone." Is this one of those obvious "coffee is hot" warnings meant more to avoid frivolous lawsuits than anything else? You bet. However, we can't exactly fault Samsung for including it. While most of the people who've shoved the pen in backwards knew what the consequences would be, there's bound to be someone, somewhere who's genuinely caught off guard.
A heat gun, suction cup, razor and bravery yields a clear Galaxy Note 5
Remember when the best way to make your gadget look more futuristic and all-powerful was to make it clear? Reddit user Skarface08 does. That's why he or she took a heat gun and suction cup to the back of a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 to pull its glass back off and then used a razor to remove the colored inside. Boom: clear glass view into the internals of your phone. Of course, this will absolutely void the warranty of your expensive device, so think twice (or three times even) before taking this on yourself. I certainly don't have the steady hands likely needed to make this viable -- but if you do, more power to you.
Marriott wants you to take a VR vacation in its hotel rooms
You've just checked into your hotel after an all-day marathon of running across airports to avoid missing connections; eaten a ton of crappy, overpriced airport food because you missed a connection; are dead tired and just want to go to sleep. But maybe after your travel nap you want to see something new without putting pants on and leaving your room. Well, if you've checked into certain Marriott Hotel locations you can summon a Samsung Gear VR for 24 hours of your stay and do just that with a new pilot program. It's called VRoom Service (get it?) and is a joint deal between the Korean tech juggernaut and the hotelier. The draw here is what the pair are calling "VR Postcards" which is a fancy way of describing video experiences wherein people talk about their feelings regarding travel, according to Fortune.
The iPhone 6s Plus vs. the competition: Big is beautiful
Apple may have finally embraced larger phones last year, but this year's announcement of the 6s Plus doesn't mean we're going to see a 6-inch iPhone any time soon. We're still looking at the same 5.5-inch screen size, though with faster internals and some snazzy new features like 3D Touch. But, with larger displays becoming the norm, users now have to think about more than just the screen size. We've matched up the iPhone 6s Plus against some leading handsets to make it easier to decide which big-screen phone has what it takes to be your next device.
New in our buyer's guide: the Galaxy Note 5, OnePlus 2 and Moto G
Phones and gaming. Gaming and phones. That's about all we're adding to our buyer's guide this month. Since we last checked in, we've inducted a trio of new handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Moto G and the OnePlus 2. (And yes, we'll soon have to update the iPhone part of the guide too.) Meanwhile, we also decided that the Wii U and the New 3DS XL deserved spots in our gaming guide, along with a nod to toys-to-life products like Amiibo, Skylanders and Disney's Infinity series. We'll be back next month, but until then, feel free to poke around our complete guide to see our top picks.
Don't stick your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 stylus in backwards
Is it a design flaw or user error? There's a new hullabaloo over the stylus on Samsung's brand new Galaxy Note 5, as first noticed by an Android Central forum user. Up until now, every previous Note model was designed so that the stylus couldn't be inserted blunt-end first. However, the Note 5's pen goes in either way, and doing it wrong could have dire consequences. The original poster, "FrogVomit," said that "there was no forcing whatsoever" when he accidentally inserted the pen blunt-end first, though he had to pull hard to get it back out. The result? The pen removal detection broke permanently.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review: the best big phone just got better
For a while there, companies like Palm and Microsoft insisted that the mark of a serious smartphone was the ability to write on it with a stylus. The industry seemingly changed its mind with the advent of capacitive touchscreens, and the stylus became something to scoff at, a holdover from antiquated operating systems like Windows Mobile and Palm OS. But then there's Samsung, which has been trying for years now to keep the idea alive with several versions of the Galaxy Note, a phablet that never quite felt or looked as nice as it should. Well, those days are over. The new Note 5 is the best big phone Samsung has made yet, and it just might make a believer out of a few naysayers.
Samsung's next big thing is a free trial program for iPhone owners
You know Samsung isn't afraid to taunt Apple with ads. But now, in the name of marketing, the South Korean company is introducing a program that aims to lure users away from the iPhone. With Ultimate Test Drive, Samsung's giving owners of Apple's smartphone the chance to try its new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, at no cost and for 30 days. Samsung says the devices will include a data plan and be compatible with any US carrier, though right now it's unclear what customers are expected to use as collateral. "We want to give people the chance to try out Samsung's latest and greatest smartphones firsthand without any obligation through our Ultimate Test Drive," says Elizabeth Solomon, vice president of marketing at Samsung.
Samsung's fast wireless charger is available for pre-order, sort of
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+, it also revealed a fast wireless charging pad that takes advantage of the smartphones' new, speedier Qi charging spec. Well, you can now pre-order that charging pad... in a manner of speaking. The $70 peripheral is available to purchase on Samsung's website as I write, but dropping it in your cart reveals that it's back-ordered and doesn't have an estimated ship date. You'll be waiting an unspecified number of weeks before this is sitting on your desk, then. If you can afford to wait, however, it could be a good complement to Samsung's latest supersized devices -- you won't have to wait ages to top up your phone just because you hate cables.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 isn't coming to the UK
At Samsung's big Unpacked event today, the company unveiled two new flagship phones: the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. But, as we've learned, only one of them is headed to the UK. The S6 Edge+ -- a super-sized version of Samsung's curved-screen beauty -- will be up for preorder on August 18th, before its official launch on September 4th. No pricing information is available just yet, but one way or another, all the major carriers have effectively confirmed they'll be ranging it, so no great surprises there. What is pretty surprising, though, is Samsung's decision not to release the new Note 5 over here. In fact, S Pen diehards across Europe will be saddened to hear the Note 5 is only slated to launch in the US and Asia -- at least for now, anyway. Samsung told us that it hasn't ruled out a European release entirely, but it certainly isn't happening this year. As to the reason? Samsung hasn't volunteered one yet, but we'll let you know if/when we manage to track one down.
Samsung's launches a keyboard cover for its newest phones
Those rumors that Samsung would launch an oddball keyboard add-on? They're true. The Korean tech firm has unveiled a Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy Note 5 that, as the name suggests, gives you both a case and a hardware keyboard for those times when you need to punch out long messages. It'll retail for $80 when it launches in a few weeks, and will also be available for the Galaxy S6 Edge+, as well as the smaller S6 and S6 Edge. The case consists of two parts: A rear panel and the front keyboard, which can be snapped onto the back of the phone when you don't need it. Once attached, the screen adapts to the keyboard, and there are conventional navigation buttons to replace the capacitive ones you've lost. We can't imagine too many Note 5 owners picking this up (part of the point is that big screen), but it could hit the spot if you're jonesing for a BlackBerry-like experience on an Android phone.
Meet the Galaxy Note 5: Samsung's most elegant phablet yet
In case the news hasn't already been spoiled for you, Samsung just officially revealed two new phablets, and the updated Galaxy Note 5 is easily the more fascinating of the pair. It's the sleekest, most powerful Note yet (obviously), but -- more importantly -- it's also the most elegant. In fact, after spending a little time with the Note 5, it began to feel like the sort of device that might change a Note naysayer's mind about the "giant screen-writing phone" formula entirely.
Galaxy Note 5 photo leak shows a giant, pen-toting S6
At last, real-life images of the finished Galaxy Note 5 have leaked through Droid-Life... and if they're accurate, they confirm a lot of hopes and fears. The good? It's basically an upsized Galaxy S6 with a stylus, including a vivid (likely 5.7-inch) display, a metal-and-glass body and a spring-loaded S Pen. And check out that curved back -- this may be easier to hold than the S6 despite its larger frame. It's also clear that Samsung has redesigned the S Pen software to fit in line with the S6 aesthetic, although it's not certain whether the changes are more than skin deep. Spec leaks point to a hefty 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 should be an evolutionary upgrade
Still wondering what Samsung is going to unveil at its August 13th event? Well-known tipster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) might have just removed what few doubts are left. He not only posted official-looking snapshots of both the Galaxy Note 5 and its curvier S6 Edge+ sibling, but revealed purported specs for the Note 5. From all indications, at least the Note 5 is going to be more of a refinement (at least, in terms of hardware) of the Note 4 than a revolution. You're still looking at a 5.7-inch quad HD display, a 16-megapixel rear camera and 32GB of built-in storage. The biggest changes are the Galaxy S6's octa-core processor, a bump to 4GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel front cam... and, unfortunately for some, the removal of the microSD card slot.
Samsung teases an August 13th event with a big, curvy Galaxy
That rumor of Samsung holding a phone event in August to beat Apple to the punch? At least some of it is true. The Korean tech giant has announced a second Galaxy Unpacked event that will take place in New York City on August 13th. It's not saying much about what's in store, but the curvy, imposing profile in the teaser image hints at the upsized Galaxy S6 Edge+ that we've seen in leaks -- and of course, the Galaxy Note line is nearly due for its yearly refresh. Whatever shows up, you can be sure that we'll be there to give you a closer look.
WSJ: Samsung launching Galaxy Note 5 early to beat Apple
Samsung is believed to be bringing the launch date of the Galaxy Note 5 forward by a few weeks in order to beat Apple to the punch. The Wall Street Journal believes that the Korean company will announce its phablet gigantophone in August and get it into stores ahead of the iPhone 6S. It's a break from tradition, since Samsung normally refreshes the Note line at IFA in the first week of September. Last year, however, the iPhone 6 arrived around the same time and, presumably, stole enough thunder to prompt the change.
