Product Review: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ - Send Us Your Comments

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ makes you feel like disappearing down an underground cavern while keeping a close eye out for tricksy hobbitses. It is precious. It is achingly desirable. It is futuristic. Slap it down on any beer stained pub table and it will make every other phone look old school. The main allure comes, of course, from the unique, curved dual-edge display.

There’s nothing else like it, apart from its smaller sibling the S6 Edge. It’s streets ahead of the Note 5 and iPhone 6 Plus when it comes to appeal.  An aluminium alloy frame is sandwiched between the tough Gorilla Glass 4 screen and back. It’s an upgraded version of the metal on Samsung’s previous phones and should help it avoid the (in our experience unfounded) Bendgate furore caused when the latest iPhones were released. One thing it hasn’t managed to resolve is quite how easily the rear glass attracts greasy fingerprints. It’s a problem the S6 and S6 Edge also suffers from and it’s not too bad on the Sapphire Black version we’re testing here. Opt for the new silver coloured Edge+, though, and be prepared to regularly look like a cricketer getting ready to bowl.  Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen technology is one of the best you can get on a phone or tablet and the super-sharp, Quad HD S6 Edge+ makes the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pale in comparison, literally. Colours pop and blacks are deep – this is the best screen you can get for watching movies on the go. Share your comments on the Samsung 6S Edge+ with us or visit the the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium:

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Apple's New iPhone 'Mini' Announcement - Facts and Fiction Abound

iPhone 6c/iPhone 5se branding: iPhone 6c or iPhone 5se? If there’s one thing a smartphone needs to become successful, it’s strong branding. 

While we’re sure Apple has a host of ‘you-need-this-phone’-esque adverts up its sleeve for after the announcement of the smartphone, no one is quite sure what it’s called right now. Since the rumours of a 4in Apple smartphone originally surfaced, it had been widely referred to as the iPhone 6c – the upgrade to the budget (see: not so budget) iPhone 5c that was released back in September 2013 alongside the iPhone 5s. However, more recently we’ve seen a flurry of different nicknames for the 4in iPhone including the iPhone 6e, iPhone 7c, and lastly, the iPhone 6 mini. While we’ve always been confident of the iPhone 6c branding, the most recent rumour suggests that we may have got it wrong, and in fact the upcoming 4in iPhone is rumoured to be called the iPhone 5se. Even though we’re not a fan of the name (is it pronounced ‘ce’ to sound like the letter C?) 9to5Mac sources provided a great explanation behind the branding: “The “se” suffix has been described in two ways by Apple employees: as a ‘special edition’ variation of the vintage 4-inch iPhone screen size and as an ‘enhanced’ version of the iPhone 5s”. It’s also internally codenamed “N69” for those of you that are interested. What are your predictions for the new Apple iPhone? Share your comments with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone.

Product Review: Is the Huawei's Mate 8 Smartphone the Right Fit for You?

Huawei's all-metal, 6-inch Mate 8 has a lot going for it, especially its long-lasting battery and high camera quality.  large size is polarizing and won't fit comfortably in all hands, dim screen lighting and low screen resolution. So is the Huawei Mate 8 a good fit for with your smartphone needs? Send us your comments here at the Smartphone and Table Zone. The prices alone aren't the problem; they're in line with premium rivals. The problem is that the Mate 8 just isn't a premium phone, certainly not premium enough to best the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Google's Nexus 6P,  two of the phones we would look at if you're thinking of going large (scroll to the end for a full specs comparison). Part of my recommendation to skip the Mate 8 stems from the other, admittedly minor drawbacks, including a screen resolution that's lower than I'd like on a phone of this size. A much lower price would help blunt those flaws and give fans of big phones a good alternative in an all-metal build. However, if you can get the Nexus 6P or Galaxy Note 5, or even the LGV10, do that instead. You'll get more for your hard-earned cash. Advantages of this new phone include long-lasting battery, run's Android V6.0 software recent version of Google's software, and a loud speaker audio.Is the Huawei's Mate 8 Smartphone the Right Fit for You? Share your comments with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone:

Gfk Research: Smartphone Market Trends - 2016 and Beyond

Gfk Trends and Forecasting has identified four major technology and market trends in the smartphone arena.  First, bigger screens: Globally, sales of smartphones with larger screens (5”+) grew +180% in 2014, and have continued to drive growth in the first quarter of 2015. 

Share of such devices grew from 32% – or one third – of the global smartphone market in the first quarter of 2014, to 47% – almost half – in the first quarter of 2015. So it is no surprise that supersize screens are expected to be the largest  sales segment worldwide in 2015, surpassing the 4 to 4.5” segment for the first time. Second, the rise of 4G: 4G-enabled devices surpassed 50% share of the global smartphone market for the first time in the first quarter of 2015, buoyed by continued price erosion of 4G smartphones. Our forecasts point to 4G device share increasing further in 2015, reaching 59% in the fourth quarter of 2014. Third, cheaper handsets: In the first quarter of 2015, low-end smartphones – those priced below $250 – saw their share increase to 56%, up from 52% in Q4 2014, at the expense of high-end models ($500+), while the market share of mid-range devices ($250-$500) remained stable. And forth, the fast growth of emerging markets: The rapid growth of the smartphone market has been shown to slow at country level when saturation point is approaching. For this reason, Spain and France are expected to see a slowdown in smartphone unit growth in 2015 compared to 2014.Which trends are you observing which will have the greatest impact on your smartphone use and productivity> Share your comments with the Smartphone and Tablet Zone. Source: GfK Trends and Forecasting has identified four major trends in smartphone technologies and markets.

Product Review: Microsoft's Lumia 950 - A Last Chance to Break into the Market

Something about the clean, simple interface appeals to me as an alternative to the relative clutter of Android and Apple's iPhone, and chats I've had with Windows phone fans do make me believe that there are people out there better served by this approach to mobile software. The Lumia 950 starts at $550 in the US, but you'll need to check with carriers, since their prices and payment plans will vary. AT&T, for example, sells it for $600 outright, $150 with a two-year contract, and for monthly installments that vary between $20 and $30 per month depending on which of its three Next plans you choose. Share your comments on the fate of Microsoft's smartphone with the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium:

That's why it pains me to see the Windows 10 update in the Lumia 950 fall so short of its promise. The hardware itself is fine, if disappointingly uninspired. But the software, especially the buggy new Continuum feature that's supposed to let you turn your phone into something approaching a full-on Windows PC, only highlights Microsoft's inability to meaningfully keep up with Android and the iPhone. Yes, the phone has a gorgeous display that's easy to read outdoors and camera image quality that keeps me smiling, especially in low light. I can even deal with the plastic construction because of the Lumia 950's removable battery and microSD card slot, which many metal phones don't have. the Lumia 950 costs too much and offers too little for all but Windows diehards to take seriously. It's been five years since Microsoft rebooted its old, failing Windows Mobile software into the Windows phone platform we see today, and the company still hasn't been able to work out the kinks. Microsoft's future as a world class software-maker for mobile phones is looking dim.

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What Lies Beyond the Apple iPhone 6S?

Apple's so-called "iPhone 6c" will have a 1,642 mAh battery, slightly larger than the iPhone 5s battery's 1,570 mAh capacity.

The report, citing "insider Foxconn employees," also corroborates multiple rumors claiming the 4-inch iPhone will feature an A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB base storage, Touch ID and the same 2.5d curved glass used on the iPhone 6 and later.  Apple's suppliers will reportedly begin mass production of the much-rumored smartphone in January ahead of a potential March 06 announcement and April 06 launch.  At least five sources have now predicted the "iPhone 6c" will launch in early 2016 since rumors about the device began circulating this year.  In November, often-reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara reported that Apple has developed a new 4-inch iPhone that is essentially an iPhone 5s with sixth-generation iPod touch features, including an A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.1 and an improved FaceTime HD camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture. The "iPhone 6c" may also come in three colors and lack 3D Touch.  Just what and when will Apple the S6 successor? Share your predictions with the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium.

Smartphone Innovations in 2016 - A Look Forward

2016 may provide to be the year of breakthrough innovation in the smartphone universe. Samsung and LG have teased us with the likes of the Galaxy S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and the LG GFlex 2,  but will someone to take these ideas to the next step, with a bendable phone or at the very least a phone which makes good use of its curves.

 There's talk that Samsung is readying a foldable phone for launch in early 2016, so it's possible it could arrive at MWC.  There's also a good chance we'll see the Samsung Galaxy S7 at MWC 2016 and we hope so too, especially after how impressive the S6 was. Battery life is a key concern again and it would be good if Samsung could return some of the features it cut from the S6, like a microSD card slot and a water resistant build.Windows Phone  has had a tough time up against the might of Android and iOS, but Windows 10 Mobile is finally here and it's accompanied by the impressive Microsoft Lumia 950 and Microsoft Lumia 950XL. Huawei and ZTE always have big stands at MWC, and MWC 2016 won't be any different - but the devices they're peddling are usually less eye-catching than the more established names. I'd like to see a real flagship contender from each firm, which will actually launch in a timely fashion around the world (with prices revealed up front) and minus the weirdness the brands can sometimes suffer from. Which innovations would you like most to see in the New Year? Send your comments to the Smartphone  and Tablet Emporium.

At the Intersection of Smartphones and Virtual Reality

Your smartphone is the single most important device in VR. It’s the engine for a dam-burst of creativity from Samsung, Avegant, Carl Zeiss, and even Dodocase, that twee-est of Apple case makers. Even Oculus itself has embraced smartphone VR, through Samsung and its Galaxy-compatible Gear VR headset. In fact, it was the Gear VR that convinced programming legend John Carmack to join Oculus in the first place, says Nick DiCarlo, who runs the virtual reality team at Samsung.

“We showed him mobile, and he’s like ‘whoa. Now I have this even bigger vision for that. At GDC this week, Carmack threw his and Oculus’ weight fully behind Gear VR. “The official formal strategy,” he said, “is that Oculus goes big, full consumer [push] on Samsung’s next release cycle.” The emphasis on smartphone VR is not altogether surprising, given that most of the ingredients to turn your phone into a virtual reality wonderland are already there. It probably has a good screen. It almost certainly has enough processing power to show you a movie in virtual reality, or to play a simple VR game. ” The first goal of the VR industry is to just get people to try it. Which smartphone vendors will be among the first to introduce VR features into their smartphone? Surely Apple and Samsung are on the shortlist, however, being a first-mover in this segment may be an emerging smartphone player whose name we do not yet know. Send your pick's to the Smartphone and Tablet Emporium.