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Showing posts with label Samsung smartphones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samsung smartphones. Show all posts

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Is A Midrange Phablet Coming Soon

There are some joys to owning a larger phone. Games are easier to play. Images are clearer. Children sing constantly wherever you go. OK, maybe not that last part, but there is something about a bigger phone that can be appealing… or at least, so Samsung hopes.

My Name Is Neo

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is, despite the name, not a step up from the Note 3, Samsung’s current high-end megaphone. Instead it’s actually a midrange version, situated halfway between the Note 2 and the Note 3. Essentially imagine those two phones having a relatively inexpensive baby, and you’ve got the general idea. The Note 3 Neo will have the looks of the Note 3, but a more modest processor.

Neologism

Essentially, the big difference is in the guts of the Neo. It’s got a “hexa” processing set up, which means there’s a 1.7 Ghz dual-core processor and a 1.3Ghz quad-core stuffed in the Neo. That’s a better setup than the Note 2′s lonely quad-core processor, but the Note 3 is packing two quad-core processors, so if it’s raw power you want, you’re going to have to buy a Note 3. Also taking a step down is the camera, which is essentially the same as the Note 2′s. But it does get the smart gestures and the Magazine UX, so those are some good bonuses.
Oh, and yes, it will still come with the little pen that slots into the body. It wouldn’t be a Note without one of those, after all.

Aiming For The Middle

There’s no pretending that the Galaxy Note 3 Neo is anything other than a midrange phone. But by the same token, it’s nice to know that they’re still making those phones, and that people who want to get a bigger phone without breaking the budget will be able to have their needs met. Or at least those of us playing Tapped Out will be able to get more real estate.
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Samsung And Trek Team Up To Make Smartphone-Friendly Bikes

The bicycle is one of the more effective means of conveyance out there. But it’s also not necessarily one best-suited to our connected lifestyle; if you see a cyclist on his or her phone, you’re probably seeing somebody about to get hit by a semi. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be some phone-friendly innovations on your bike, and Trek and Samsung would like to show off a few.

Charging While Pedaling

The first, and simplest, addition is a charging cradle between the handlebars. Designed, as you may have guessed, for Samsung devices, you simply slot your device in between and can use it as a GPS or other tool while your pedaling ensures it doesn’t lose any juice. In other words, it’s fairly similar to devices we’ve seen and tried out, but with a Samsung focus. The other bike is, however, the more interesting.

Tracking Your Cycling

The second prototype uses sensors and syncs with your Galaxy Gear to track your workout as you cycle. That’s pretty interesting not least because it’s been difficult for cycling fans to get accurate data on what they’re achieving; most cycling apps are essentially running apps with different algorithms. If the sensor set becomes more common, it might be better able to tell you where you’re slacking and where you’re doing well. And, hey, it’d bring cycling in line with most other sports.

Charging Up

These bicycles are just prototypes, for now: Samsung was showing them off as part of their CES booth, and it’s not clear when, if ever, we might see this technology gracing bike shops. But it’s definitely some interesting stuff, and if anybody’s got the reach to put a product like this out there, it’s Samsung. We’ll keep you posted when it starts looking like it’ll be widely available.

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