Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date, Specs, Rumors

Samsung Galaxy S5 Concept Art

Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date:

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is anticipated during the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona between February 24 to 27. The Mobile World Congress is when Samsung previously released the Samsung Galaxy S4 so we would be surprised if the next-gen flagship didn't also come out around roughly the same time frame. We expect the Samsung Galaxy S5 to come out during the Mobile World Congress 2014 to be followed by the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 during IFA Berlin 2014.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs and Features:

The Samsung Galaxy S5 specs aren't official but we do have plenty of information about them. The Samsung Galaxy S5 design is expected to be aplastic body. Early on there was some talk in Design 3.0 that the Samsung Galaxy S5 would have an all-metal body like that found on the HTC One and the iPhone 5s. The Samsung Galaxy S5 will have a plastic body but Samsung is developing a premium high-end line of Samsung devices, the Samsung Galaxy F series which is likely to have a more all-metal premium body. The Samsung Galaxy S5 design was also rumored to have a flexible display similar to what is currently available for the Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex but that doesn't seem likely just yet either. Samsung is probably working on a separate set of truly flexible devices that it will launch separately from the Samsung Galaxy S5.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has basically been confirmed to have a 64-bit processor, which means that it will require at least 4GB of RAM in order to take advantage of those capabilities. Adding to the certainty that we will see a 64-bit processor for the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the fact that ARM has recently announced that it will be adding 64-bit processor support to Android Open Source. Essentially what this means is that the groundwork is already being laid for when Android becomes capable of 64-bit processing.

If you aren't aware, ARM doesn't manufacture any ARM-based products themselves. What they do is: license their instruction sets to third party companies, allowing them to design their own products implementing ARM's architectures, System-on-Chips, memory, interfaces, and radios. Guess who just happens to license this technology from ARM? You guessed it. Samsung and Qualcomm. (For what it's worth, Apple does this too.)

The Samsung Galaxy S5 processor itself in addition to being 64-bit with 4GB of RAM will be a next-gen Exynos octa-core processor. Interestingly Samsung is also preparing to develop it's own CPU core technology rather than just taking licenses from ARM, "The slide on Samsung's 64-bit CPU plans shows a two-step approach, first developing 64-bit cores based on ARM designs, then moving to its own bespoke designs, similar to the way Qualcomm operates. The plans could be seen as a way for Samsung's phones to become even more vertically-integrated." Android Central also reports that in addition to thisSamsung is planning on upgrading it's displays to 560ppi AMOLED screens over the the 440ppi SuperAMOLED panels found on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and it will include 4K capabilities.

Samsung also showed where its mobile displays will be heading in 2014, with slides revealing plans for 560ppi AMOLED panels with an RGB subpixel arrangement - a considerable step up from the 440ppi SuperAMOLED used in the Galaxy S4, which features a diamond PenTile subpixel arrangement. Resolution-wise, an additional slide shows Samsung is targeting 1440p (2560x1440) resolution smartphone displays in 2014. A little basic math tells us 1440p with a density of 560ppi points to a screen size of around 5.25 inches. But that's nothing compared to the projection for 2015, which has phone displays reaching the dizzy heights of 2160p (3840x2160 or 4K) the year after next.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 camera will be a 16-megapixel ISOCELL cameraaccording to the latest reports. The implications of this will be improved low-light photography, according to SamMobile, "ISOCELL technology allows for better low-light photography, while also producing images with better color reproduction, sharpness and richness compared to the BSI technology used today." On the other hand there is not yet confirmation of if the 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera includes optical image stabilization (OIS) which is odd because OIS is considered an industry norm at this point and is found on the Nexus 5 camera. At this point that's a fair amount to know about a device that won't show up till early 2014. We're sure that Samsung will be tweaking and modifying what it intends to bring to consumers with the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Xbox One

Xbox One first impressions

Hands-on from E3 2013

A lot can happen in eight years. When it launched the Xbox 360 back in 2005, Microsoft was the underdog, Xbox was a games-focused brand and the idea of streaming movies and TV to a console was beyond most peoples' horizon. Now 2013 sees Microsoft in arguably the strongest position of all the console manufactures, with its new console presented as the centre of a more general connected entertainment experience - as they like to call such things these days.

This isn't simply a games console, but the centrepiece of Microsoft's living-room ecosystem, bringing games, sports, TV, music and movies together in one device, working seamlessly with tablets through Xbox Smartglass and with voice and gesture controls through the second-generation of Kinect. It certainly does a lot of stuff, and much of it very well, but the big question we're left with at this year's E3 is whether it's stuff that people really need or want, and whether a little of the focus has been lost on games.

Xbox One - Hardware

In the flesh, concerns about the physical design of the Xbox One pretty much evaporate. While it is larger than the current Xbox 360 it doesn't have the infamous 'coffee table' dimensions of the original Xbox, and the new matt/gloss black two-tone finish looks pretty good. Pair it with the new compact and angular Kinect, and the two look like they should be part of a home entertainment setup, The Xbox One doesn't announce itself as a gaming device, and will happily settle in with the PVR or Blu-ray player below your flat-screen TV.

There's not much to see at the front - just the Blu-ray drive and the Xbox logo button - but the rear carries a healthy selection of ports, including an HDMI input and output, two USB3 ports, a digital optical output and Gigabit Ethernet. It also sports dual-band 802.11n WiFi, with a 5GHz option for optimal speed.

Read 10 things we learned about the Xbox One at E3 2013



We still don't know everything about what's inside the unit. We know it runs an 8-core AMD Jaguar x86 CPU, but not the exact specs or the clock speed. We know it runs an AMD 7000-series Radeon GPU, believed to be similar to the Radeon 7790 and running 768 shader units within 12 compute units, but full details and confirmation have yet to emerge.

Microsoft has stated that there's 8GB of DDR3 RAM installed, along with a 500GB hard disk, and we know that around 3GB of that RAM is used to handle the system's three operating systems - one to run games, one to run entertainment, comms and background tasks, and one to switch between them. All this leaves the Xbox One trailing Sony's PS4 in terms of specifications, but at this stage it's almost impossible to say what impact this might have in terms of in-game graphics or gameplay.

Read our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison to see how the two compare directly.

Xbox One - The User-Interface and Smartglass

The Xbox One has been designed from the ground-up to be controlled not just by a conventional joypad, but through voice and gesture commands with Kinect and through touch with a SmartGlass companion app. The overall UI will be familiar to anyone who has used Windows 8 or Windows 8 Phone, to the extent that you can pin and unpin games and services as you like on the homescreen, or run apps like Xbox Music or Skype in a reduced Windows Snap view while you do something else in the main view. 

Microsoft's initial Xbox One reveal demonstrated many of the UI and media playback features, and we haven't personally seen them explored in much detail at E3. We have, however, seen Smartglass at work on the Xbox One, with Microsoft keen to demo new Smartglass 'experiences' that let you check your progress and achievements in the games you're playing, plus Smartglass remote control features for the Xbox One's TV functions, complete with an attractive and info-packed TV guide. How this will work with UK TV services remains to be seen. 



There's also talk of using a Smartglass app on your tablet while on the move to purchase DLC content that downloads before you get home, and of other features - like friends' achievements and in-game videos, designed to engage you in the world of Xbox even when you're not playing on the console itself. Most of all, Smartglass will have a bigger role to play in actual games on Xbox One. If you're not using a Smartglass app to call in artillery fire on the zombies in Dead Rising 3, you're using it to sculpt the ground for your gameworld in Microsoft's new create and customise gaming title, Project Spark
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/xbox-one_Games_review#bJhpQrltYKYZPH1c.99

10 Upcoming Technology That May Change The World

1. Google Glass

Augmented Reality has already gotten into our life in the forms of simulated experiment and education app, but Google is taking it several steps higher with Google Glass. Theoretically, with Google Glass, you are able to view social media feeds, text, Google Maps, as well as navigate with GPS and take photos. You will also get the latest updates while you are on the ground.

(Image Source: YouTube)

It’s truly what we called vision, and it’s absolutely possible given the fact that the Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin has demo’ed the glass with skydivers and creatives. Currently the device is only available to some developers with the price tag of $1500, but expect other tech companiestrying it out and building an affordable consumer version.

2. Form 1

Just as the term suggests, 3D printing is the technology that could forge your digital design into a solid real-life product. It’s nothing new for the advanced mechanical industry, but a personal 3D printer is definitely a revolutionary idea.

Everybody can create their own physical product based on their custom design, and no approval needed from any giant manufacturer! Even the James Bond’s Aston Martin which was crashed in the movie was a 3D printed product!

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

Form 1 is one such personal 3D printer which can be yours at just $2799. It may sound like a high price but to have the luxury of getting producing your own prototypes, that’s a reaonable price.

Imagine a future where every individual professional has the capability to mass produce their own creative physical products without limitation. This is the future where personal productivity and creativity are maximized.

3. Oculus Rift

Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift. This history-defining 3D headset lets you mentally feel that you are actually inside a video game. In the Rift’s virtual world, you could turn your head around with ultra-low latency to view the world in high resolution display.

There are premium products in the market that can do the same, but Rift wants you to enjoy the experience at only $300, and the package even comes as a development kit. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

The timing is perfect as the world is currently bombarded with the virtual reality topic that could also be attributed to Sword Art Online, the anime series featuring the characters playing games in an entirely virtual world. While we’re getting there, it could take a few more years to reach that level of realism. Oculus Rift is our first step.

4. Leap Motion

Multi-touch desktop is a (miserably) failed product due to the fact that hands could get very tired with prolonged use, but Leap Motion wants to challenge this dark area again with a more advanced idea. It lets you control the desktop with fingers, but without touching the screen.

(Image Source: Leap Motion)

It’s not your typical motion sensor, as Leap Motion allows you to scroll the web page, zoom in the map and photos, sign documentss and even play a first person shooter game with only hand and finger movements. The smooth reaction is the most crucial key point here. More importantly, you can own this future with just $70, a price of a premium PS3 game title!

If this device could completely work with Oculus Rift to simulate a real-time gaming experience, gaming is going to get a major make-over.

5. Eye Tribe

Eye tracking has been actively discussed by technology enthusiasts throughout these years, but it’s really challenging to implement. But Eye Tribe actually did this. They successfully created the technology to allow you to control your tablet, play flight simulator, and even slice fruits in Fruit Ninja only with your eye movements.

(Image Source: Eye Tribe)

It’s basically taking the common eye-tracking technology and combining it with a front-facing camera plus some serious computer-vision algorithm, and voila, fruit slicing done with the eyes! A live demo was done in LeWeb this year and we may actually be able to see it in in action in mobile devices in 2013.

Currently the company is still seeking partnership to bring this sci-fi tech into the consumer market but you and I know that this product is simply too awesome to fail.

6. SmartThings

The current problem that most devices have is that they function as a standalone being, and it require effort for tech competitors to actually partner with each other and build products that can truly connect with each other. SmartThings is here to make your every device, digital or non-digital, connect together and benefit you.

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

With SmartThings you can get your smoke alarms, humidity, pressure and vibration sensors to detect changes in your house and alert you through your smartphone! Imagine the possibilities with this.

You could track who’s been inside your house, turn on the lights while you’re entering a room, shut windows and doors when you leave the house, all with the help of something that only costs $500! Feel like a tech lord in your castle with this marvel.

7. Firefox OS

iOS and Android are great, but they each have their own rules and policies that certainly inhibit the creative efforts of developers. Mozilla has since decided to build a new mobile operating system from scratch, one that will focus on true openness, freedom and user choice. It’s Firefox OS.

Firefox OS is built on Gonk, Gecko and Gaia software layers – for the rest of us, it means it is built on open source, and it carries web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3.

(Image Source: Mozilla)

Developers can create and debut web apps without the blockade of requirements set by app stores, and users could even customize the OS based on their needs. Currently the OS has made its debut on Android-compatible phones, and the impression so far, is great.

You can use the OS to do essential tasks you do on iOS or Android: calling friends, browsing web, taking photos, playing games, they are all possible on Firefox OS, set to rock the smartphone market.

8. Project Fiona

Meet the first generation of the gaming tablet. Razer’s Project Fiona is a serious gaming tablet built for hardcore gaming. Once it’s out, it will be the frontier for the future tablets, as tech companies might want to build their own tablets, dedicated towards gaming, but for now Fiona is the only possible one that will debut in 2013.

(Image Source: Razer™)

This beast features next generation Intel® Core i7 processor geared to render all your favorite PC games, all at the palm of your hands. Crowned as the best gaming accessories manufacturer, Razer clearly knows how to build user experience straight into the tablet, and that means 3-axis gyro, magnetometer, accelerometer and full-screen user interface supporting multi-touch. My body and soul are ready.

9. Parallella

Parallella is going to change the way that computers are made, and Adapteva offers you chance to join in on this revolution. Simply put, it’s a supercomputer for everyone. Basically, anenergy-efficient computer built for processing complex software simultaneously and effectively. Real-time object tracking, holographic heads-up display, speech recognition will become even stronger and smarter with Parallella.

(Image Source: YouTube)

The project has been successfully funded so far, with an estimated delivery date of February 2013. For a mini supercomputer, the price seems really promising since it’s magically $99! It’s not recommended for the non-programmer and non-Linux user, but the kit is loaded with development software to create your personal projects.

I never thought the future of computing could be kick-started with just $99, which is made possible using crowdfunding platforms.

10. Google Driverless Car

I could still remember the day I watch the iRobot as a teen, and being skeptical about my brother’s statement that one day, the driverless car will become reality. And it’s now a reality, made possible by… a search engine company, Google.

While the data source is still a secret recipe, the Google driverless car is powered by artificial intelligence that utilizes the input from the video cameras inside the car, a sensor on the vehicle’s top, and some radar and position sensors attached to different positions of the car. Sounds like a lot of effort to mimic the human intelligence in a car, but so far the system has successfully driven 1609 kilometres without human commands!

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

“You can count on one hand the number of years it will take before ordinary people can experience this.” Google co-founder, Sergey Brin said. However, innovation is an achievement, consumerization is the headache, as Google currently face the challenge to forge the system into an affordable gem that every worker with an average salary could benefit from.

Play Station 4 : Sony's Big PS4 Review Event

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It's just a few days before Sony launches their next-gen console. So they've rented out a few floors of New York City's The Standard hotel to showcase some of the PS4's upcoming games. Three of us from Kotaku are currently wandering the hotel, preparing to play some games and ask some questions.P

In the meantime, we've brought you a few glimpses of how Sony has set the place up to show off their shiny new hardware. P

And, hey, if you happen to be in NYC and walking down the High Line, you might even be able to peep through some windows to check out the PS4 for yourself. Just make sure you're not staring into someone's house by accident. P

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Update: Since a few people have asked, we're not basing our review of the console or its games from our experiences at this event. We'll have some private time with them, too. We're mostly attending to get more hands-on time, and some face time with the developers and executives.