Samsung Galaxy Note Edge (GSM)
T-Mobile to Add 700MHz Support to Select Phones
T-Mobile plans to make some of its handsets compatible with its 700MHz spectrum through a software update. Today, only the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge can use LTE on T-Mobile's 700MHz spectrum. T-Mobile said it will provide the system update to the Motorola Nexus 6 in the early part of 2015, followed by the Sony Xperia Z3 and Samsung Galaxy Avant in May, and the ZTE Max later this year. Two tablets and T-Mobile's Z915 LTE 4G Hotspot also support the 700MHz airwaves. T-Mobile is supplementing its AWS-based LTE network with its 700MHz holdings in select markets around the country. The company is still in the process of deploying LTE to all its 700MHz spectrum.
Samsung Releases Milk Video
Samsung today announced Milk Video, a video content discovery service for Galaxy-branded smartphones. Like Samsung's Milk Music, Milk Video has a refined user interface that makes browsing the best way to find new and interesting videos. According to Samsung, Milk Video will learn and refine its content recommendations every time people use it to create a more personal experience. Some of the content partners include Condé Nast, Funny Or Die, Red Bull, Vevo, and VICE. Samsung says it is working to score more content down the road. Milk Video is compatible with the Galaxy Note II, 3, 4, and Edge; Galaxy Mega; and Galaxy SIII, S4, S4 Mini, and S5 smartphones. It is free for owners of these devices to download from the Play Store.
Samsung to Use Curved Screens to Sell More Phones
Samsung hopes to differentiate its smartphones from its competitors' phones by using more curved displays. Samsung is on track to record a huge loss in profit for the year thanks to weaker-than-expected sales of phones such as the Galaxy S5 and Note 4. It has also lost ground to low-cost competitors in markets such as China. Now that big-screened phones are a healthy device category, Samsung is looking for different wants to set its products apart. One way it will do that is to use curved displays, such as the one on the Galaxy Note Edge. "A change in the platform can bring about a variety of new considerations," said Note Edge designer Kim Nam-su. "I think a curved screen is a big solution for overcoming those [competitive] challenges." Reuters suggests Samsung's ability to mass produce curved displays at a lower cost than its rivals gives it an advantage in this respect. The Note Edge is set to go on sale in the U.S later this month. Samsung also plans to resurrect sales of mid-range devices.
US Carriers Agree to Sell Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
Samsung today announced that the five largest wireless network operators in the U.S. will sell the Galaxy Note Edge beginning this month. The Note Edge is a variant of the Note 4 that has a unique, curved display that provides extra screen space for controls and shortcuts. Samsung said AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and U.S. Cellular will carry the Galaxy Note Edge in both black and white. The Note Edge goes on sale November 14. Carriers have yet to reveal their individual pricing plans.
ITC Says It Will Hear Nvidia's Complaints About Samsung
Nvidia announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate Nvidia's claims that Samsung is violating Nvidia's intellectual property. Nvidia filed legal action against Samsung last month, alleging some of its devices violate patents pertaining to graphics processing on mobile devices. Nvidia called out the latest Samsung handsets, including the Galaxy Note 4, Note 3, and Note Edge, as well as the Galaxy S5, in the litigation Last year, Nvidia said it would license its processor designs moving forward, but it has yet to score any such deals. The company has filed similar litigation against Qualcomm.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Edge are MirrorLink Compatible
Samsung and the Car Connectivity Consortium today announced that the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are both MirrorLink compatible. MirrorLink is a connectivity tool for pairing smartphones and cars. It works across smartphone platforms and car manufacturers, and is the only vendor-neutral standard available. With MirrorLink aboard, the Note 4 and Note Edge will be able to connect to select in-car infotainment systems, allowing drivers to more safely access their phone's content when behind the wheel. Apple and Google have both announced their own connectivity solutions for cars, which are part of iOS 8 and Android Release L, respectively.
Nvidia Sues Qualcomm and Samsung Over Patents
Nvidia today filed legal action against Qualcomm and Samsung, alleging both firms are violating patents it holds regarding graphics processing on mobile devices. "They're using our technology for free in their devices today and they're shipping an enormous number of devices," said Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang. Nvidia called out the latest Samsung handsets, including the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Edge, as infringing on its patents. Nvidia filed separate complaints against the two companies with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to block the import of Samsung's devices into the U.S. Samsung said it will defend itself. Qualcomm didn't comment on the lawsuit. Last year, Nvidia said it would license its processor designs moving forward, but it has yet to score any such deals.
Hands On with Samsung's Galaxy Note Edge
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge isn't the first phone to ship with a curved screen, but it's the first with a non-uniform curve that's mostly flat but spills over the edge to cover both the front and the right side. It's similar to a concept phone Samsung showed off a couple of years ago, but now it's here, it's real, and you can actually buy one soon. We spent some time with it; read on for our first impressions.
Galaxy Note Edge Brings New Meaning to Curved Display
Samsung today announced the Galaxy Note Edge, a large-screened smartphone that has a unique curved edge along one side of the display.The edge provides quick access to frequently used apps, alerts and device functionality. The Note Edge shares many specs with the Note 4, though the display is slightly smaller at 5.6 inches. It uses the same processor (quad-core 2.7GHz) and camera combination (16-/3.7-megapixels), as well as Samsung's TouchWiz user interface and apps. The Note Edge will be sold later this year by all four top national U.S. carriers.
Liveblog of Samsung Galaxy Note event
Summer is over, and that means it's time for Samsung to announce a new Galaxy Note device. We're live from the NYC event, where Samsung actually bought a large, trendy building in the meatpacking district for this and future events. Tune in for details as they're announced.
