Samsung reportedly already planning Galaxy Gear 2 with GPS

Samsung reportedly already planning Galaxy Gear 2 with GPS

The Galaxy Gear 2 could already be in the works

Samsung just announced its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, but a second-gen successor is reportedly already in the works.

The Galaxy Gear 2 will feature improvements like greater device compatibility and GPS capabilities, Korean site media.daum.net (via Tech Kiddy) reported today.

Rumor (and logic) has it that the Galaxy Gear 2 could launch next year at CES or MWC, two of the biggest tech conferences out there.

But besides the much-appreciated addition of a GPS chip, other possible improvements in the Galaxy Gear 2 are the stuff of speculation.

To-do list

The current Galaxy Gear will only be compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 at launch, though future Android updates like the Android 4.3 release for the Galaxy S4 will add more devices to that list.

To improve on that the Galaxy Gear 2 will need to launch with full Android device compatibility, which seems perfectly reasonable to us.

In addition, the first-gen Gear reportedly comes with a battery life of about 25 hours, so users who wear it all day will probably need to charge it overnight.

In comparison Sony's Smartwatch 2 can supposedly go three to four days between charges, so an improvement in battery life for the Gear 2 would help catch it up to its competition.

Beyond that we're just guessing, but from where we're standing it seems Samsung would do well to take that $299/£299 (about AU$320) price point down a few notches as well.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Gear kick off tonight at midnight on AT&T.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S5 may touch down in Android and Tizen versions

Samsung Galaxy S5 may touch down in Android and Tizen versions

Android and Tizen, assemble!

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of life's inevitabilities, and it seems like the wheels are well in motion. First we heard that it will most likely come packing a 64-bit processor chip and now it sounds like the phone may offer up both Android and Tizen variations.

Samsung is clearly keen to push Tizen OS but will be keeping a grip on the popular Android interface for the time being, with Android 4.4 KitKat expected to go live October.

Co-CEO of Samsung, Boo-Keun Yoon, said that the plan is to use Tizen on future phones and tablets, with the S5 likely to come in both a Tizen and Android version.

Eye of the Tizen

Other rumoured features of the phone include an optical image stabilisation camera and a body built from aluminium and magnesium.

We even saw some patent images surface recently, pointing to what might be a less nature-inspired look found on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Right now we're expecting Samsung to stick to its cycles and release the Galaxy S5 in March 2015.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Jolla now compatible with Android, hopes Sailfish can ride some coattails

Jolla now compatible with Android, hopes Sailfish can ride some coattails

Your Jolla now works with Android

Finnish start-up Jolla announced today that its Sailfish OS is now compatible with Android software and hardware, an achievement it hopes will help Sailfish speed into the global market.

In a press release Jolla said that Sailfish users will now be able to "take full advantage of the Android application ecosystem," naming specific Android apps, like Instagram, WhatsApp, Spotify and popular Chinese messaging app WeChat, that are compatible with Sailfish.

Sailfish users can download Android apps directly from "various app stores globally," the release said, though which ones exactly is unclear (GigaOM says the Google Play Store is not in the cards - we reached out to Jolla to find out for sure).

In addition, the Sailfish OS is now compatible with common Android hardware, "particularly smartphones and tablets."

Break on through

This makes it easier for existing Android hardware manufacturers to develop Sailfish-based devices, since they can put the OS on the same hardware they're already using for Android - but will it be enough for the OS to make inroads into the global market?

The mobile market is dominated by a disproportionately small number of operating systems, making it difficult for new options to make a dent.

But Android is already in global use, and Jolla might just be able to ride its coattails to success.

"We believe Sailfish with Android compatibility is a highly relevant mobile operating system option for major mobile companies in Europe and in Asia," Jolla CEO Tomi Pienimäki said in today's press release.

He added that they are "already in discussions with several major Asian vendors."

All aboard

Jolla was formed by ship jumpers from Nokia who left after the company ditched its Linux-based MeeGo OS in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform.

Sailfish was built from the ashes of MeeGo, and Jolla's been sailing that schooner ever since.

Now that Microsoft has officially taken control of Nokia devices and services division, Jolla believes that "the strategic position of Jolla and Sailfish OS has strengthened significantly," according to its announcement.

And in response to "positive feedback and increased demand" Jolla through its website this week will offer a second batch of Sailfish phone pre-orders aimed at "Finnish customers who want to express their passion for the Finnish mobile industry."

We've asked Jolla to clarify some points, like what app stores and apps Sailfish is compatible with, and we'll update this story when we hear back.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Jolla hopes Sailfish can ride Android's coattails to success

Jolla hopes Sailfish can ride Android's coattails to success

Jolla and Android, sitting in a tree

Finnish startup Jolla announced today that its Sailfish OS is now compatible with Android software and hardware, an achievement it hopes will help Sailfish enter the global market.

In a press release Jolla said that Sailfish users will now be able to "take full advantage of the Android application ecosystem," naming specific Android apps, like Instagram, WhatsApp, Spotify, and popular Chinese messaging app WeChat, that are compatible with Sailfish.

Sailfish users can download Android apps directly from "various app stores globally," the release said, though which ones exactly is unclear (GigaOM says the Google Play Store is not in the cards - we reached out to Jolla to find out for sure).

In addition, the Sailfish OS is now compatible with common Android hardware, "particularly smartphones and tablets."

Break on through

This makes it easier for existing Android hardware manufacturers to develop Sailfish-based devices, since they can put the OS on the same hardware they're already using for Android - but will it be enough for the OS to make inroads into the global market?

The mobile market is dominated by a disproportionately small number of operating systems, making it difficult for new options to make a dent.

But Android is already in global use, and Jolla might just be able to ride its coattails to success.

"We believe Sailfish with Android compatibility is a highly relevant mobile operating system option for major mobile companies in Europe and in Asia," Jolla CEO Tomi Pienimäki said in today's press release.

He added that they are "already in discussions with several major Asian vendors."

All aboard

Jolla was formed by refugees from Nokia who left after the company ditched its Linux-based MeeGo OS in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform.

Sailfish was built from the ashes of MeeGo, and Jolla's been sailing that ship ever since.

Now that Microsoft has officially taken control of Nokia, Jolla believes that "the strategic position of Jolla and Sailfish OS has strengthened significantly," according to its announcement.

And in response to "positive feedback and increased demand" Jolla through its website this week will offer a second batch of Sailfish phone pre-orders aimed at "Finnish customers who want to express their passion for the Finnish mobile industry."

We've asked Jolla to clarify some points, like what app stores and apps Sailfish is compatible with, and we'll update this story if we hear back.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Siri grows up and comes out of beta for iOS 7

Siri grows up and comes out of beta for iOS 7

Apple gets Siri-ous

It's been two years since the launch of Siri and since this time the service has managed to rise from being a gimmick to, well, a much-improved gimmick.

Now it seems that the service has freed itself from its beta shackles with the upcoming launch of iOS 7.

Spotted by 9to5Mac, the blurb for Siri on Apple's official page has been altered so that the words 'beta only' are nowhere to be seen.

Beta banned

It now reads: "Siri is available on iPhone 4s or later, iPad with Retina display, iPad mini, and iPod touch (5th generation) and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply."

As well as this, Apple has removed its FAQs for the service - presumably you now have to ask Siri how to do things, rather than looking on a website.

Siri has been given something of an overhaul for iOS 7. As well as improved voices, you can now ask it a number of new things, such as "play my last voicemail", "turn on Bluetooth" and "increase my brightness".

The integration of iOS in cars will also see Siri pop up in a number of vehicles in the near future. Which we are more than happy with - as long as Siri responds when we call it KIT.


Source : techradar[dot]com

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