Samsung
Latest
Samsung announces 3,000 MB/s enterprise SSD, shames competition
The ink has barely dried on Samsung's last SSD announcement and the South Korean manufacturer has already made it obsolete by orders of magnitude. This 2.5-inch enterprise-class SSD isn't for us regular Joes, but if you thought the company's EVO 840's 540 MB/s was zippy, hold on to your desk chair. The newly announced NVMe SSD XS1715 reads data at a mind-numbing 3,000 MB/s. Hitting these absurd numbers isn't without a caveat, though, as this SSD won't run on a SATA-6 port -- it requires a PCIe hookup. When these speed demons do arrive, they'll be available in 400GB, 800GB and 1.6TB sizes. Oh, and we want one. For business.
Samsung unveils not-so-entry-level SSD 840 EVO with up to 1TB of space
Disappointed that most entry-level solid-state drives are limited in capacity, speed or both? You'll be happy with Samsung's newly unveiled SSD 840 EVO, then. While it's badged as a starter model, the 2.5-inch SATA drive carries up to 1TB of storage, or twice as much as the regular SSD 840. Thanks to both 10nm-class flash memory and a multi-core MEX memory controller, the EVO range is also faster than you'd expect from the category. Depending on the model, sequential write speeds have doubled or tripled versus the original series, peaking at 520MB/s; the flagship 1TB edition can read at a similarly blistering 540MB/s. Samsung doesn't yet have US pricing for the SSD 840 EVO line, although it expects the drives to reach "major" markets worldwide by early August, with other regions coming later.
4K for £4k: Samsung's latest Ultra HDTVs arriving in the UK
If you're in the mood for more pixels and have the pounds sterling to back it up, there's good news: you'll be able to grab Samsung's 55- and 65-inch 4K TVs later this month in the UK. The smaller UE55F9000 model is going for £4,000 and the UE65F9000 will set you back a cool £6,000. While that's a lot, it's a far cry from Samsung's first UHD TV, the 85-inch S9 model that ran a Fortune 500-level $40 grand (about £26,000). On top of the extra resolution, the new models will give you Samsung's latest goodies like quad-core processing, Micro Dimming LED tech, 3D, built-in WiFi, and an embedded camera. You'll also get an Evolution Kit that'll let you upgrade to future UltraHD standards, if and when they come -- though at that sum, we hope you won't be left wanting for a long, long time.
Apple, Samsung will hit appeals court in August
Computerworld is reporting that Apple and Samsung are headed to the US Court of Appeals where Apple will try and convince the court to issue an injunction regarding infringing Samsung products that relate back to last summer's Apple / Samsung case in California. Apple and Samsung will appear before the court on August 9th and each side will present a 15-minute oral argument. If you recall, Apple last summer was on the winning end of a US$1.05 billion judgement against Samsung, a figure that was subsequently reduced by $450 million on account of jury miscalculations. Judge Lucy Koh, who oversaw the California case, considered, but ultimately opted not to issue an injunction for the Samsung products that were found to be infringing. In December, Koh issued a ruling stating: To the limited extent that Apple has been able to show that any of its harms were caused by Samsung's illegal conduct (in this case, only trade dress dilution), Apple has not established that the equities support an injunction. So in light of that, Apple is off to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. to argue otherwise. The reality, however, is that any Appeals Court ruling, even if in Apple's favor, will have little discernable effect on the marketplace. The accused products from last summer's trial were effectively outdated during the trial. Now one more year has passed, and some of the accused Samsung products are no longer available for purchase. In short, the legal system moves much slower than the rate at which Samsung releases new products. Tim Cook said as much himself when he appeared before a congressional hearing this past May. I think the US Court system is currently structured in such a way that tech companies aren't getting the intellectual property protection they need. Our cycles are fast, the court system is very long and the foreign competitors in the US can quickly take IP and use it and ship products with it and they're to the next product as well. I would love to see conversations between countries and see protections between IP globally. For us, our intellectual property is so important, I would love the system to be strengthened in order to protect it. Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung have yet another case brewing in the Northern District of California and that is scheduled to begin in early 2014.
Apple allegedly working with Samsung on chips again
Apple and Samsung have had a complicated relationship dating back to 2007 when Samsung became the exclusive producer of chips for Apple's iOS devices. Despite this business connection, the two companies have been attacking each other with a series of lawsuits claiming patent violations of functions on each company's phones. In April, we reported that Apple would be dropping Samsung's chips in favor of chips from TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Unfortunately rumors have surfaced indicating it doesn't appear that those plans are going to work out. Now the Korean Economic Daily is reporting that Apple's 2015 iOS device will still be using Samsung chips, specifically the 14-nanometer FinFET. These chips will power what is expected to be the iPhone 7. As of press time we don't know what this means for TSMC and Apple's relationship. It's possible the different chips will be used in different models of phones, with TSMC and Samsung both finding a home inside iOS devices. Still the idea of working with one company for 2014 only to move back to the old company you worked with in 2015 seems a little strange. We'll keep you updated if more information develops.
Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite launching on July 28th for $800
Last month, Samsung gave us a look at two new ATIV Book 9 Ultrabooks, both of which will replace the company's famed Series 9 lineup. While the ATIV Book 9 Plus, with its QHD+ display and brand-new Haswell chip, may be a tad more exciting than the Book 9 Lite with its unspecified quad-core processor, it's the latter machine that's getting US pricing info today. At the end of the month, Samsung will offer the Book 9 Lite for $800. That relatively affordable sum gets you a 13.3-inch, 1,366 x 768 capacitive touchscreen, 128 gigs of SSD storage, AMD Radeon graphics and up to 5.5 hours of battery life (according to Sammy's Mobile Mark 12 tests, that is; the company saw 8.5 hours on Mobile Mark 7). In our brief hands-on time, we found both the Plus and Lite models to be comfortable; the main differences are the Plus' superior processor, higher-res display and slightly sleeker design. While both machines seem like solid options, we'd be remiss not to mention that the Plus will likely get a US launch date of its own very soon -- and its higher-end specs could make it worth the wait. If you're already set on the ATIV Book 9 Lite, though, you can get your pre-order on now at Samsung's site, or look for the machine in stores starting on July 28th.
Apple allegedly working with Samsung again on chips for 2015 devices
Samsung has been exclusively making chips for Apple's iOS devices since the first iPhone started shipping in 2007 -- we don't need to tell you that makes for an odd relationship. Several months ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple would switch to TSMC for next year's iOS portfolio, but now there's some strange news coming out of Korea. According to a local publication, Apple's 2015 iOS devices will use Samsung's 14 nanometer FinFET technology, starting with the iPhone 7 (not the 6S?). Why would Apple switch to TSMC for just one year and then go back to Samsung? Is Apple planning to rely on both TSMC and Samsung for different product lines? Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until Chipworks breaks out its microscopes to find out what's really going on.
Refresh Roundup: week of July 8th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
The Weekly Roundup for 07.08.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 07.12.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom review: a messy marriage of smartphone and camera
More Info Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom hands-on Samsung Galaxy Camera review Samsung Galaxy S 4 review Android on a point-and-shoot? Last year we learned that it could be done. But with some features that duplicate the functionality of a smartphone without an ability to make calls, Samsung's Galaxy Camera was a confusing mix of form and function. It was very much a first-generation device, and while they may have regretted it later, some curious early adopters did drop $500 for the soon-to-be-obsolete hybrid. The cumbersome compact, with its massive 21x lens and power-hungry 4.8-inch touchscreen, may not have won over the photography community, but Samsung's 2013 approach has a much better chance at success. With a design that's based on the Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom adds a fair amount of heft to accommodate the feature that sets it apart from every other smartphone on the market: a 10x 24-240mm optically stabilized lens. But it's still pocketable, believe it or not, and it functions quite well as a phone. While the Galaxy Camera was first and foremost a camera, the Zoom's primary function is as an ordinary Android smartphone -- albeit one with a larger sensor and a powerful lens. Can it replace both devices? And will you want it to? Shoot past the break for our take.%Gallery-193692%
Boost Mobile ships Samsung Galaxy Prevail II for $180 off-contract
Well over two years after the original graced Boost Mobile's shelves, Samsung's Galaxy Prevail II is being announced for the same carrier. Available for just $179.99 in off-contract form, the handset ships with Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), a 4-inch WVGA touchscreen, 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing cam, and a 1.4GHz processor. You'll also find a 1,750mAh battery, inbuilt GPS / WiFi modules and Bluetooth 4.0. The prepaid carrier is hawking this on its contract-free $55 / month plan, which just so happens to shrink by $5 per month for every six on-time payments -- in other words, those who hang around long enough will eventually be paying as little as $40 / month for nationwide talk, text and picture messaging, as well as web access. Not too shabby, eh?
Apple pushed to investigate source of tin used in iPhones
Apple is investigating claims that tin used in its products comes from mines on Bangka Island in Indonesia. This comes after environmental watchdog Friends of the Earth (FoE) pressured the tech giant to identify the source of the metal used for soldering components in iDevices. While the island region is one of the largest suppliers of tin in the world, mining conditions are far from ideal. Landslides consistently claim the lives of workers, and mining itself has had an adverse effect on the local environment. The group successfully pressured Samsung to admit its involvement with the area's tin supplies in April. For its part, Apple commissioned a fact-finding visit to learn more and is helping to fund a new study on mining in the region so they "can better understand the situation." Or maybe they could save some time and money by reading the one conducted by The Guardian and FoE from last November. You know, the one that found that unregulated tin mining leans heavily on child labor, destroys the environment and causes on average 100 - 150 miner fatalities every year. Cupertino has already vowed to not use conflict minerals and appointed a former EPA administrator to focus on its environmental efforts, so it at least looks responsible. Now to see if it can back up its actions.
Samsung SM-N900 model numbers surface, hint at future Galaxy Note
Samsung is reportedly working on its third Galaxy Note smartphone in as many years, but there's been little in the way of official details. Thanks to some digging round the web, though, a few model numbers have come to light. Samsung's own user agent profiles mention two new Note family members, the SM-N900A and SM-N900T, both of which carry 1080p screens. Some extra sleuthing at an Indian importer has also revealed references to a root SM-N900 device as well as P, S, V and R4 variants. Unfortunately, there isn't much more to know -- while the naming schemes likely reflect different carriers and regions, there's no tangible clues as to where each model belongs. If some of these numbers resurface in the near future, however, we won't be surprised.
Samsung's 65-, 55-inch Ultra HDTVs will ship to the US in August
After releasing its massive 85-inch UHD TV with a stunning $39,999 price in the US earlier this year, Samsung is ready to follow up with a few models that are more easily attainable. The 65- and 55-inch F9000 UHD TVs will carry US pricetags of $7,499 and $5,499, respectively, with pre-orders starting July 21st and shipments expected in early August. Samsung just began delivering these in its home country, and others like Sony, LG, Sharp and Toshiba are starting to offer 4K TVs in smaller sizes (not to mention value priced contenders like Seiki.) The F9000 series includes all of Samsung's latest features like 3D, Micro Dimming Ultimate LED display, Wi-Fi and an embedded camera, plus support for Evolution Kit upgrades the company claims will let it keep pace with any future UHD standards.
Apple asks ITC to stop impending ban on iPhones and iPads
The International Trade Commission (ITC) a few weeks ago issued an order banning the import of older generation iPhones and iPads to the extent they infringe upon Samsung owned patents. With the ban scheduled to go into effect on August 5th, Gigaom today is reporting that Apple filed a motion with the ITC asking for a stay on the impending ban until an appeals court weighs in on the ruling. Apple writes that the ban will "sweep away an entire segment of Apple's product offerings" and that they will suffer irreparable harm if a stay is not granted. If the Orders go into effect, Apple will lose not only sales of its iPhone 4 (GSM) and iPad 2 3G (GSM) products but also the opportunity to gain new smartphone and tablet customers who otherwise would have purchased these entry-level devices. Should the Commission's decision be reversed or modified on appeal, Apple will have no recourse to redress this harm. Apple further points out that if a stay is granted and the appeal process ultimately proves fruitless, Samsung will have recourse to the extent they can seek compensation for any potential loss of FRAND royalties. The iPhone 4, Apple writes, was the fourth-best selling smartphone in the US in 2012. In a separate appeal filed with the United States Trade Representative about two weeks ago, Apple argued that upholding the ban would make the ITC an "outlier internationally and domestically." Apple's most recent motion can be read below. Apple ITC Request for Stay
Samsung offers $4 million bounty to populate Tizen app store
Samsung has over $4 million up for grabs to entice would-be developers toward its Tizen mobile OS. If you're feeling crafty -- and who isn't futzing in the garage these days? -- you have until November 1st to submit an app based on the South Korean giant's upstart ecosystem. Games take the lion's share of the prize, with the top title walking away with $200K out of the category's $340K. The winning non-game application (music, social networking, et cetera) takes home $120K, and the 10 best HTML 5-based apps each net $50K. While we've seen this sort of stunt before, the end results typically speak for themselves.
Samsung ATIV Odyssey now available on US Cellular for $50 after rebate
The obscure ZTE Render's had its fair share of good times as US Cellular's Windows Phone, but the carrier's now ready to add its first WP8 device to the lineup: the Samsung ATIV Odyssey. The smartphone, which has been available on Verizon for several months, finally launches online today and in stores this Thursday for $50 on contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. The device offers a WVGA display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage with microSD expansion, NFC, a 2,100mAh battery and 5MP rear camera with 1.2MP front-facing cam.
Galaxy S4 Active hits UK shops starting at £495 contract-free
The water-loving Active version of Samsung's flagship phone is now up for grabs in the UK, sim-free. Unlocked Mobiles has the ruggedized GS4 listed at £495, while Carphone Warehouse has it stocked at £530, comparable sums to the Galaxy S 4 when it launched. As you may remember, the model brings waterproof sealing to stock Galaxy S 4 internals (5-inch 1,080 x 1,920 screen, quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and LTE capability), while settling for a lesser 8-megapixel camera. Still, you'll be able to bring those megapixels to an underwater environment most Samsung models would shun. So, while you could save yourself a few pounds by going with the standard issue Galaxy, dropping a few extra quid a the source will mean when you get tossed in the pool at your next BBQ you'll only lose your dignity, not your phone.
Google plugs Android APK security hole, says partners have patched code
Bluebox Security unearthed a potentially devastating Android security issue last week that would allow hackers to turn legit APKs into malware. Less than a week later, Google's Android Communications Manager, Gina Scigliano, told ZD|Net that the bug has officially been squashed and that partners have received the right patches -- Samsung is already shipping devices that are inoculated against the exploit. Play by the rules by installing apps from the Google Play Store and you never have to worry, but if you want to be on the safe side, give Lookout Security a spin.
