Samsung Unpacked 5 Event Live Blog

Here on the ground in Barcelona, Samsung's got a big banner just outside Mobile World Congress' main hall inviting us to "Meet the Next Galaxy." And we're pretty sure that's confirmation of the rumored Galaxy S5, what with its supposed 2K display, fingerprint scanner and ability to float in mid-air while mowing your garden. Alright, so maybe that last bit's just part of our spec wishlist. Whatever it is Samsung unpacks for us to see, you can also expect there'll be a new Galaxy Gear Smart watch on hand and maybe even an ultra-lux Galaxy F (for 'fancy') to go with it. It's all going down right here at 2PM EST / 8PM CET today, so tune in for all the news live as it happens. So grab a cup-o-joy and let's sit back and wait.

Where to watch Samsung Unpacked 5 2014 S5 Event

Excited? Sure enough we are. But the catch is where to watch or read all of these info that will be causing hype at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 5 2014 S5 Event? 

No worries; with iTechnoBlog, you are all set for the big launch.

Here's a list of places to catch the big show :

www.Samsung.com

Yes you saw that coming didn't you? Well, Samsung will be livestreaming it's S5 event on its own website.

Then for other video streaming options, there's YouTube; a quick search on YouTube "Samsung Galaxy S5 Event Live" will result an abundant supply of videos to watch that are livestreaming.

Written (Live Blogging)

Now some of you just don't have enough data to watch to stream live so don't take stress, you can always tune to LiveBlogs. So here's the list;

- firstly you can bookmark www.itechnoblog.com as we will be live blogging and live posting right here on the site. So why need other sources.

- www.Engadget.com; known vastly for its famous live blogging, Engadget has the best writers and the juiciest stories for you.

- www.cnet.com; just another site;

- www.idownloadblog.com

- www.redmondpie.com

- www.techcrunch.com

So that's it for the websites; hope you enjoy every bit of the Unpacked 5 Event and stay tuned to www.itechnoblog.com for the latest in the Samsung.

See you in a couple of hours!

S5... The Coutdown to Zero Hour

10 hours remaining until the Korean tech giant Samsung unveils the rumoured Samsung Galaxy tomorrow at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Over the years Samsung has dominated the MWC with their state of the art and surreal devices such as the line of S4’s and Galaxy tablets but according tech experts around the world, this year is going to be a unforgettable one.

There are many speculations to what the S5 would look like but after reviewing their teaser video, viral pictures on social networking sites and not to mention their Unpacked Invites with the superscript 5, I have compiled a summary of some of the features expected.

Samsung's Unpacked Invite

Wet, fit and alive! These are the focal words of their teaser video indicating a Waterproof flagship smartphone. No, no it’s not going to be like the S4 Active pictured below. A more intelligent camera suite is expected since during their teaser video they sort of go slo-mo at some places and give a stunning High-Def feel to it.

Samsung Gaxy S4 Active

Also a finger-print scanner is believed to give it a more sense of security which will be raising a few of Apple’s eyebrows.
Now to its software, a new tiled version of the Android operating system is anticipated but it is quite unlikely too since sources say Android wasn’t too happy about the so called major cuts and improvements they did to the Note 3 software but the circular icons in their Unpacked Invites suggests otherwise.

 

Two new additions to the wearables line is expected and hopes are high for them to be compatible with the S5. The screen of the S5 according to leaks looks something like the not too long ago released S2 but with the speculations of a larger Curved screen.  A more faster and stable CPU and motion processer should also pack the S5 with a lot of power and stability if they want to compete with Apple’s iphone 5. 

So in conclusion a new interface, bigger screen, outdoor friendly features and a new and improved camera are just some of the features to expect but I personally expect something more superior and surprising. Check in tomorrow for the latest from the MWC. Brandan Out!

Galaxy Gear 2 And Galaxy Gear 2 Neo Press Images Leak Ahead Of Launch

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to make its long-awaited appearance at Mobile World Congress next week, but while the Korean outfit’s latest and greatest smartphone may be the main attraction, it’s looking as though there’ll be quite a few other products in tow. The Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which launched alongside the Galaxy Note 3 in September, is considered by many to be a failure, with generally negative reviews reflected by poor sales. But not one to throw in the towel, Samsung looks to be back with not one, but two new wearable gadgets, and courtesy of yet another Evleaks, we may just have our first proper glimpse of both.

The Evleaks Twitter account seems to get the scoop on all the upcoming gadgets, and by and large, its leaks prove legitimate. With less than two days until MWC kicks of in Barcelona, Spain, a new leak via the handle purportedly showcases a Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Gear 2 Neo, both of which are expected to be officially announced at Samsung Unpacked 5.

The Galaxy Gear 2 looks relatively similar in form factor to its predecessor, but while technology world may have baulked at the original Galaxy Gear, it was more the high price and generally poor functionality that let the product down as opposed to the design.

Meanwhile, there also looks to be an alternative in the form of the Galaxy Gear 2 Neo, which packs an alternative design to the standard Galaxy Gear 2. Considering the recently-released Galaxy Note 3 Neo is somewhat cheaper and less powerful by comparison to the main device, one would expect, for the sake of keeping things as easy-to-understand as possible, that the Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch range will follow a similar pattern.

As such, we expect the decidedly cheaper-looking of these two smartwatches to tone things down when it comes to specifications, but still maintain enough bite to (finally) give consumers the performance they’re looking for.

Whatever the case is, we will be live updating our website from the latest in the Mobile World Congress on Monday, so stay tuned to iTechnoBlog.

Samsung's next Galaxy will be wet, fit, and alive

Mere days away from its big Unpacked event at Mobile World Congress, Samsung has issued the first video teaser for the major product it'll announce in Barcelona: the next Galaxy. Anticipated to be the Korean company's new flagship phone, the Galaxy S5 still remains a mystery, but there are a few intriguing hints in the new video.

The words "fit," "wet," "outdoor," and "alive" are among a series of nouns and adjectives flashed on the screen, reiterating earlier talk of Samsung adding more fitness-centric features and potentially some weatherproofing as well. The video's also replete with slow-motion scenes and the terms "focus" and "selfie" also make an appearance, which would point toward Samsung potentially matching Apple's slow-mo video options and looking to expand on its camera software suite. All those hints are universally accompanied by the superscript 5 that we saw in Samsung's earlier teaser.

• Source Samsung Mobile (YouTube)

Microsoft to bring Android apps to Windows

Of Microsoft’s many challenges in mobile, none loom larger than the app deficit: it only takes a popular new title like Flappy Bird to highlight what the company is missing out on. Windows 8 apps are also few and far between, and Microsoft is stuck in a position where it’s struggling to generate developer interest in its latest style of apps across phones and tablets. Some argue Microsoft should dump Windows Phone and create its own "forked" version of Android — not unlike what Amazon has done with its Kindle Fire tablets — while others claim that’s anunreasonably difficult task. With anew, mobile- and cloud-focused CEO in place, Nokia's decision to build an Android phone, and rumors ofAndroid apps coming to Windows, could we finally see Microsoft experimenting with Google’s forbidden fruit?

Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is seriously considering allowing Android apps to run on both Windows and Windows Phone. While planning is ongoing and it's still early, we’re told that some inside Microsoft favor the idea of simply enabling Android apps inside its Windows and Windows Phone Stores, while others believe it could lead to the death of the Windows platform altogether. The mixed (and strong) feelings internally highlight that Microsoft will need to be careful with any radical move.

Android is the mobile equivalent of Windows

Android is the mobile equivalent of Windows on desktop PCs — it’s everywhere. That growth shows no signs of stopping, and it represents a huge blockade for Microsoft’s mobile efforts across multiple market segments. iOS might still dominate developer interest for new apps, but Android has successfully bridged the gap on the smartphone side, something Windows Phone is still far from achieving. Android apps usually debut alongside their iOS equivalents, or shortly afterwards, and developers are clearly investing time and money on both platforms. For Microsoft, meanwhile, it’s a challenge of growing Windows Phone shipments and apps. Running Android apps on Windows Phone and Windows could serve as a Band-Aid.

Of course, this is a refrain we’ve heard before — the specter of BlackBerry’s failed effort to boost the relevance of its BlackBerry 10 platform by supporting Android apps looms large. Still, Microsoft is a different beast: it has the large backing of its enterprise, server, and cloud software sales to provide it with the cushion required to make radical moves. Nokia also ships considerably more smartphones than BlackBerry does. That doesn’t mean the prospects of running Android apps across Windows and Windows Phone are a guaranteed success story for Microsoft, but it may have the momentum to successfully co-opt Android that BlackBerry lacked.

While the latest rumors suggest that Nokia is significantly forking Android to push its own apps and Microsoft’s services to the masses with a low-cost handset, sources say that Microsoft’s plans could be far less involved. The company wants to enable Android apps on Windows and control the store that consumers download them from, but it’s unlikely that it will want to handle the complex job of supporting an additional platform. Instead, if such a plan goes ahead, it will likely involve a third-party "enabler."

Where might Microsoft go for assistance? Android on Windows is a muddled mess right now, but Intel and software firm BlueStacks might be good places to start. Intel is pushing its own Dual OS concept to let PC makers create hardware that runs both Android and Windows. Meanwhile, AMD has sided with BlueStacks — a company that Intel has even invested in itself — to allow users to run Android apps inside Windows with the help of an ARM processor embedded in some of its chips. BlueStacks has been enabling Android apps to run on Windows for a few years now, and it has signed deals with Lenovo and Asus to ship its software on their PCs.

It’s remains unknown whether Intel or BlueStacks are in active partnership discussions with Microsoft. A BlueStacks representative refused to provide comment to The Verge, but sources familiar with Intel's plans have indicated that the chipmaker has been pushing Microsoft to provide Android apps in its Windows Store.

Regardless of who is involved, any official method for running Android apps on Windows and Windows Phone would need to be extraordinarily simple for consumers to understand and use. While the reality of virtualizing Android apps on Windows is far from simple, if apps were packaged up in a painless install method within the Windows Store and approved by Microsoft, consumers would be more likely to get on board. Then again, BlackBerry hasn’t had much luck winning anyone over, and Amazon’s Appstore is filled with out-of-date apps ferried over from Google Play.

Android apps on Windows presents developer challenges

Such an approach would also raise questions over how developers could tweak and manage their applications for Microsoft’s implementation and process, and it could confuse and alienate native Windows developers even further. There’s also a risk of developers giving up on Microsoft’s "Metro" apps entirely, settling for the easier option of app porting over building something entirely new. Microsoft would have to weigh up the technical aspects, partner considerations, and the effect on business models before any decision is made either way.

Why would Microsoft want to do any of this? The answer is simple: "embrace, extend, and extinguish." It’s a phrase Microsoft used internallyto describe its own strategy for disrupting standards and competitors in the 1990s. While Microsoft has been trying every trick to convince developers to build for Windows Phone and Windows, it has to answer the mobile reality the company faces. Embracing Android and extending it to the Windows and Windows Phone app stores could help Microsoft temporarily in the app race, but it might also stem the flow of consumers choosing Android- and iOS-based smartphones and tablets.

Consumers sign in to Android devices with their Google accounts, and in to iOS with their iCloud accounts. By comparison, relatively few are using Windows 8 machines or Windows Phones to sign in to Microsoft’s own cloud services. Microsoft is making moves with OneDrive and other apps across Windows, iOS, and Android, but the overall app shortage on Windows and Windows Phone is the larger concern. If Android apps or even Office, OneDrive, and other services on rival operating systems help pull people over to Microsoft’s devices and platforms, then it might not matter if consumers are opting to use Android or "Metro" apps on Windows or Windows Phone, as long as they’re using a Microsoft account to sign in to their device and utilizing Microsoft’s services. Nokia’s upcoming "Normandy" Android handset will also push consumers towards Microsoft’s services, alongside having the benefits of being a low-cost handset running some popular Android apps.

Microsoft now has to decide on a big mobile bet

For Microsoft, the idea of Android apps running on Windows is as much about preventing more consumers moving to Android as it is building up consumer use of its cloud services. If Microsoft can convince more consumers to purchase its own Windows-powered devices because they now have access to key Android apps, then that might just help its own tablet and smartphone prospects. While any realistic implementation of Android apps on Windows will not likely be ready untilMicrosoft’s Windows 9 work is ready in 2015 at the earliest, if at all, Microsoft faces an ongoing battle over the cloud and the long, slow decline of the PC in consumer markets. The software giant is alsoconsidering free versions of Windows Phone and Windows RT to entice OEMs to produce devices, but embracing Android and enabling it could be the next step. Microsoft is never going to "extinguish" Android, but its long-term success requires that consumers look at its hardware and services seriously. Windows 8 was enough of a big risk on the PC side, but Microsoft now has to decide whether it wants to make an equally big — and unorthodox — bet on mobile.

Samsung teases the power of its S5 with new touch wiz icons

A week ago, Samsung sent out invitations to its first big Unpacked event of 2014 — taking place on February 24th — with the prominent inclusion of the number 5 in the title. Today, the company's buildup steps up with the revelation of a new icon set, hinting at a redesigned TouchWiz interface and extending the theme of 5. Each of the newly rounded and flattened icons includes the superscript 5 after its name, suggesting Fun, Speed, and Life to the power of 5.

Images have already leaked suggesting a lighter TouchWiz for the upcoming Galaxy S5, though they haven't shown this kind of gradient-free, minimalistic look before. Then again, Samsung did say that it wants to take its flagship Android phone "back to basics." As to the S5 itself, the inclusions of Outdoor and Fitness titles among the teased apps could suggest new functionality to assist an active lifestyle, while the Privacy link may be a hint at Samsung seeking to capture the present desire for greater anonymity.

Windows Phone 8.1 notification centre leaked in these newest screenshots

Microsoft is currently preparing its first major update to Windows Phone 8. A highly requested Notification Center feature will be included with Windows Phone 8.1, allowing users to customize and control their app notifications. Winphollowers has published screenshots from an internal Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, detailing the new Notification Center in Windows Phone 8.1 The Verge and Engadget  can confirm these are genuine screenshots of Windows Phone 8.1.

MICROSOFT CALLS IT ACTION CENTER

In the first screenshot, the Notification Center, or "Action Center" as Microsoft is labelling it, is shown when you take a short swipe from the top of the screen. This will display four basic quick settings that are shortcuts to options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other system settings. All four are customizable, and the basic Action Center also displays the date and a battery level percentage. If you pull down further on the Notification Center, a full "Action Center" is displayed. The second leaked screenshot shows how toasts and notifications from apps are collected in the full version of Action Center, and they can also be silently added, updated, and deleted in this view.

This latest screenshot leak follows a previous example showing the separate volume controls for Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft is finally splitting volume controls for ringer / notifications and media / apps in the upcoming update. It’s a minor addition, but a highly requested feature from Windows Phone users. Microsoft is also building its own Cortana personal assistant into Windows Phone 8.1. Foursquare, Bing, and other data sources will help power the service, and it’s expected to be unveiled alongside all of Windows Phone 8.1’s features at the Build developer conference in April.

Upcoming Windows 8.1 Update Will Boot Directly To Desktop By Default

In what will likely be toasted in tech circles a victory for users, it looks like a forthcoming Windows 8.1 update could boot to the traditional desktop by default, skipping (although not removing) the tiled interface that many have begrudgingly become accustomed to. According to The Verge, which cites sources familiar with Microsoft’s OS plans moving forward, the "Metro" (or Modern) landing screen will not greet users upon booting, but can be reinstated within the settings for those who require it.

Although the dust has settled and the original furore has, for the most part, died down, it’s fair to say that Windows 8 hit many users like a freight train. A completely revamped, somewhat bamboozling user interface was beset upon many desktop users, and although those purchasing touch-based Windows 8 devices had some idea of what they were letting themselves in for, many on PC and notebook neither wanted, needed, or could make any sense of the new UI, which Microsoft used to call Metro.

Prior to dropping Windows 8, Microsoft seemed fairly confident that users would take kindly to the new approach, but while the release wasn’t as disastrous as the likes of Vista, it certainly left many reeling in bemusement.

Microsoft would never openly admit to taking a massive step back, but the remonstration was enough for the Redmond company to make some subtle, but well received alterations with the subsequent Windows 8.1. An option for booting to desktop, which seemed to counteract the whole push for the universal, tile-focused UI, was drafted in, and now, the software maker looks to be going the whole hog in bringing the old desktop back.

The move is being made with traditional, keyboard-and-mouse computer users in mind, which is something that most of us saw all along. Tiles are pretty and intuitive on a Surface Pro or a Lumia 1020, but when you’re sitting at home on an old Compaq hooked up to a Dell display, the Windows 7-esque approach is going to win every time.

The update is also expected to facilitate the pinning of Metro apps to the taskbar, while the Start Screen will also be blessed with search and shut-down buttons for easy access to said functions.

(Source: TheVerge)