Samsung, Google And Apple To Face Competition From Chase Pay

JP Morgan Chase is set to launch its very own smartphone payment method, according to a recent statement from the company. This move will put JP Morgan Chase in direct competition with rival services from big name companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung.

Known as Chase Pay, this payment method will be based on CurrentC, which is a retailer-led mobile payment system. What's interesting is that the tech minds of the world have largely dismissed CurrentC for its reliance on barcodes as opposed to NFC (near-field communications) technology, which is seen as more sophisticated and which is also the technology that Apple, Google, and Samsung have all adopted.

The app displays a barcode on the customer's smartphone screen that the retailer then scans in order to complete the payment. In addition to that, there is also a version that works online. Sure the barcode method may not be super fancy and cool like the tap payment NFC system though it does mean that Chase Pay will be more compatible with a far larger number of smartphones. Users that have phones that are incompatible with  other payment systems could discover that their phones work with Chase Pay just fine.

The Chase Pay platform will debut to Chase Bank's credit, debit, and pre-paid card account holders, which now number 94 million, and will also tie into any of their retailer loyalty cards. This pairing is really good for CurrentC as Chase is one of the largest bank and card issuers in the country. This will also ensure that CurrentC will see a huge boost in the market while also ensuring that Chase Pay is accepted at a large number of major retailers.

CurrentC is currently being developed by Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), which is a consortium of some of the largest retailers in the United States, including Wal-Mart, Target, Shell, Exxon, CVS, Dunkin Donuts, and Sears. One of the major driving forces behind this development was the desire of retailers to prevent companies like Apple and Google from gaining a look at their businesses and the purchases of their customers. In addition to that, CurrentC also doesn't impose transaction fees.

CurrentC has yet to officially launch, which means that Chase Pay will be unable to launch until CurrentC does. Trials of the technology are currently taking place though that doesn't really offer a solid time frame on when this technology will get in the hands of consumers. The only date we have to go off of is one that JP Morgan Chase announced, which was mid-2016.

Content originally published here

---

Sharing this story on Social Media? Use these hashtags! #Smartphones #NFC #SmartphonePayments #ChaseBank #ChasePay #CurrentC

Rumored Galaxy S5 Neo to Have Mid-Range Specs

If you have a Samsung Galaxy, then you should be excited for what is coming out later on this year. SamMobile has leaked out details for the new Samsung release, the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 Neo.

The Galaxy S5 Neo will offer a lot of the same qualities as last years smartphone. It will have a 16-megapixel rear camera, 16GB of internal storage, 2GB RAM and a 2,800mAh battery. In addition to that, it is also said to be the same size and weight of the original model.

Looking for a Quote on a Smartphone Rental for your business event? Rentacomputer offers the latest smartphone rentals on the market in addition to other mobile devices, like the Apple Watch and Two-Way Radios!

If you're wondering what the difference with the Neo is, there isn't much of one. The S5's Qualcomm processor is now a 1.6GHz 64-bit octa-core Exynos chipset from Samsung. Also it's said that the S5 Neo's front facing camera is now 5-megapixels instead of 2, meaning that the quality of the photos are very close to that of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The Galaxy S5 could also offer support for LTE-A connectivity, which isn't found in the original model. This will allow your data connections four times the speed of the traditional 4G LTE.

So if you're looking for a new Samsung Galaxy, be patient for the S5 Neo to come out later on this year. It may be sold in single-SIM and dual-SIM versions and could also come to China, India and Russia.

Content originally published here

Samsung's Galaxy S6 Can Do 7 Things Apple's iPhone 6 Can't

Photo Credit: Kārlis Dambrāns

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is now available and it won't take long before people start throwing out comparisons of the phone to the iPhone 6 (and 6 Plus). People will vehemently defend either their iPhone 6 or their Galaxy S6, saying what each phone can and can't do. Well a neat little video (which can be viewed below) popped up over at Business Insider showing some of the things the new Galaxy S6 can do that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus definitely can't.

The fist thing that the S6 can do that the iPhone 6 can't is launch the camera app from literally any screen. By simply double-clicking the Home button the Galaxy S6's camera app will instantly launch. You could be on your home screen, in an app, surfing the web and you have instant access to your camera app. What makes this feature even better is that you can even do this from the lock screen meaning you'll never miss another perfect photo opportunity again!

Once your camera app is launched you can then take a picture with the front-facing camera by tapping on the sensor on the back of the phone. We've all experienced the struggle of trying to take a selfie by ourselves or with a group and fumbling around with the picture button on the front of the screen. This new sensor is located in a more natural location for where your finger will most likely be when taking pictures with the front-facing camera. In addition to that, you can also take pictures with the front-facing camera by tapping anywhere on the screen.

One of the coolest new features is the ability to multitask by running multiple apps on the same screen. Placing your finger in the top left corner of your screen when an app is running allows you to drag and resize the app screen, much in the same way you can on a computer screen. When this is happening the app is still running in its own window, allowing you to open up other apps, resize them and multitask to your heat's content.

Health and fitness apps are all the rage these days and a lot of smartphones are starting to come with these apps pre-installed. However, the Galaxy S6 does you one better as it has the technology already built into the phone. By tapping the S Health app you can check your body's heart rate by placing your finger over the back sensor when prompted.

Battery life in smartphones is one of the key things that developers are always trying to have over each other. The longer your smartphone can go without needing to be charged is a huge selling point but most smartphones don't have many options for conserving battery life aside from lowering the screen brightness. The Galaxy S6 comes with a Power Saving Mode and an Ultra Power Saving Mode, allowing you to adjust how much battery your phone is burning through.

Speaking of battery life, another detriment to some smartphones is the duration of the charging period. Well, the Galaxy S6 can charge fast, I mean really fast. According to a video within the video Samsung's Justin Denison can be heard telling a crowd of people that the Galaxy S6 only takes 10 minutes of charging to get up to 4 hours of everyday use. Denison also states that to charge from 0 to 100 takes roughly half the time of the iPhone 6. The Galaxy S6 also supports wireless charging (wireless charging pad sold separately).

When it comes to debates between smartphones, especially the Samsung Galaxy Series and Apple's iPhone Series, everybody claims that their phone can do things the other can't. Well, this video shows you 7 things that the Galaxy S6 can do that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is actually incapable of doing. Check out the video below!

Apple's iWatch Rumored To Have Round Face, But Should You Even Care About Wearables Anymore?

I'm a firm believer in "Don't knock it until you try it". The way that technology continues to grow and progress is so alarming that it's almost scary. I feel there is a shift happening right now. Some of us are oblivious to it. Others may know exactly what I'm talking about. New technologies are popping up left and right it seems. The biggest "trend", as some may call it right now, has got to be the wearables. There are so many of them popping up that I'm sure many of us have seen them somewhere. Google Glass was one of the main wearables that caught the attention of many people. After the "smart glass", we saw a lot of the smartwatches coming into the spotlight. Just about every large consumer tech company is creating their own wearable. Samsung has advertised their Galaxy Gear well enough that everyone should know about. Then there is Apple.

Apple is, essentially, the top dog in terms of overall consumer popularity and usage. They know this as well. They're far from oblivious. I can't tell if they've made the conscious effort to hold off on releasing their own version of the smartwatch. I suppose it wouldn't be too farfetched to say that Apple's iWatch is just fashionably late, but then again, it may be a business strategy.

Apple has had time to look at the competition. They've been planning and observing. Because of this they've been able to see the crowd response. They've looked at how the customers are reacting to the design of these smartwatches. Most of the smartwatches out there (including the Galaxy Gear) have a square face. This is where Apple's tardiness may have benefited them. Again, their absence in the smartwatch field is up to interpretation from anyone and everyone, so I could be wrong with my assumptions. Having said that, I personally think that this was their plan. The newest rumor spreading over the internet isn't regarding the release date or price. The rumor is actually talking about the design. Instead of the ever-popular square face, Apple's new iWatch is rumored to have a round face design. This could be the entire reasoning behind the whole "year late to the party" thing. Design does play a big role in this type of technology, especially since it can be viewed as a fashion statement.

Even though Apple may be the company to pull the wearable out of the grave, I still feel that the wearable is on its way out. It's not become popular enough to warrant any real purchase. There are usually certain stipulations involving these gadgets. They normally have to be coupled with some other type of mobile device, i.e. your cell phone. The smartwatches out now aren't designed to stand alone. If Apple's design team is able to make something that can stand alone and doesn't need to be tethered to a phone, they may just cause the wearable market to thrive.

If Apple isn't able to keep the wearable market alive with their iWatch, then I feel it's safe to say that the wearable market is a dead end. They've had the time to analyze the reception of the new devices and are able to develop theirs with that reception in mind. Here's hoping that the iWatch can make the change, but if Apple can't do it, then it would be my suggestion to the rest of the consumer tech companies to throw in the towel.

iPad Airs Are Available For Rent Today! Contact www.RentOuriPads.com At 888-736-8301

Source.

This Security App Will Email You Pictures Of Who Stole Your Phone

This past Wednesday, Lookout added some new features to their mobile security app. These are features that you won't find on most other mobile security apps. With Lookout, you can now protect yourself from malware and spyware, and with the newest version of the app you can even protect yourself against theft. Now, the app will send theft alerts just minutes after it detects suspicious activities.

That moment when you realize you haven't checked your phone in a bit and you decide to grab it from your pocket just to find out that it isn't there is one of the most terrifying experiences anyone can have. Especially if your phone is a really expensive one that would cost a lot to replace or if you have a lot of personal information on it. The goal for Lookout with their new features is to help put your mind a little more at ease in those dark times of fear and desperation.

The way it works is pretty awesome. You can set up a custom list of actions that will trigger alerts. For example, you could make it so that your phone triggers an alert when someone removes the SIM card, enables airplane mode, turns the phone off, or if someone enters the wrong passcode.

When one of these things happens, it triggers an alert. When an alert is triggered, your phone will immediately snap a picture with its front facing camera and will record the exact location of the device. Once the picture has been taken and the location has been recorded, it will send you an email with a picture of whoever has your phone and give you its location so that you can go track down your stuff and beat someone up for stealing your phone. Or, you know... just ask nicely to have it back or call the cops. The email it sends will also give you the resources you need to file a police report on the spot if you want.

The app itself is free for either Android or iOS. To get the theft alert feature you'll need a subscription that costs $3 a month or $30 a year. It seems like a very small price to pay for any business travelers out there who find themselves in different places and situations more often than most people. If you already have the app, you can use the theft alert feature for free until September.

Theft and violence have been growing problems that surround smartphones and smartphone users recently. It has become such an issue that some states are even passing new laws to combat those issues. In California manufacturers are even requiredto give customers a way to remotely disable their phones and wipe them clean in order to prevent as much damage as possible.

This isn't the 1950's, and crime seems to be affecting everyone these days. You might as well protect yourself with one of the coolest security apps out right now.

Are You A Travelling Businessperson In Need Of A Tablet Or Laptop Rental? Contact www.Rentacomputer.com Today At 877-736-8772

New Mid-Range Galaxy Tablets From Samsung Could Be Perfect For You!

Let it be known that tablets are taking over completely, if they haven't already. What used to be thought of as a luxury can now be found in almost any home, and to be honest, no one is really complaining. Obviously though, this didn't happen over night. There is a lot that has gone into making these devices more affordable and accessible. The biggest reason is obviously the price range has decreased. With so many other companies following suit from Apple's iPad, almost any tech company offers a multitude of different tablets for customers to choose from. Ever since the release of the iPad and it's many progressions, tablets are no longer a burden to get. Companies like Samsung are even offering tablet options for customers who may want something better than the bottom, but not too many bells and whistles at the same time.

Samsung has actually just released a new line of tablets for those of you who may be looking for a newer mid-range tablet. Perfect for those of us who may want to have our tablets do what we want them to do, as well as do a bit more.

The new Tab4 series could be perfect for that college student in need, or the business exec with the meeting next Friday.

For Your Next Samsung Tablet Rental Call Rentacomputer.com At 800-736-8772

If we look under the hood to see whats making these mid-range tablets so "mid-range-y", we'll find some decent inner workings. A Quad-core 1.2GHz processing chip along with the Android 4.4 KitKat OS should guarantee that your new mid-level tablet works exactly how you need it to. Again, nothing to flashy, but definitely will get the job done. The tablets come standard with Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi capabilities as well so you'll be able to surf the web properly and have your video conference calls on your Bluetooth headset. For those concerned about the photo taking qualities, the new tablets will come with a 3MP rear camera and a 1.3 MP front facing camera. The screens aren't bad either, coming in at 1280x800 pixel resolution rate.

So far there are only 3 sizes for the Tab4 series as well. Samsung has released a 7 inch model, an 8 inch model, and a 10.1 inch model as well. You're given the choice of either black or white when going with your tablet. Aesthetically they look very clean, as you would expect from Samsung. It does seem a bit weird to have a model that is only 1 inch bigger than another when they all have the same specs. Not sure if that extra inch is really gonna mean anything in the long run other than the slightly larger screen. If you are going for a larger screen though, you may as well cut out the middle man all together and just go for the 10.1 inch model. Either way it's all up to the customer.

If Samsung is able to put the price tag at somewhere around $350, then you can bet that all of the other tablet competitors have something to be nervous about. Half of the time, the name is what raises the price of a device. However, if Samsung can give you a good quality device, with their name, and put it at a reasonable price, then they are showing that they can hang with the big dogs and possibly sway some customers over to their side.

If you aren't sure about the tablet though, it may be the best choice to rent before you buy and commit. At least this way, you can see what you may possibly want to throw you're money at later on.

Source.

AT&T to Get Samsung Rugby Smart on March 4th

Samsung has developed a new rugged smartphone, designed to withstand some rough handling. The device, known as the Samsung Rugby Smart, has been popping up here and there but the company has just announced that the Rugby Smart is officially coming to AT&T stores on March 4th. If you have been waiting for a Samsung smartphone that can withstand heat, dust, dropping, water and just about anything else you can throw at it, then you only have about two weeks to wait.

The Rugby Smart is said to be completely waterproof, meaning you can fully submerge this baby for as long as 30 minutes in up to one meter of water. The actual phone is built to military-specification 810F standards which means that it should be able to handle quite a beating as well. Samsung has issued a press release detailing full specs of the Rugby Smart as well, so you can fully understand what this phone will survive.

The device is also said to launch with Android 2.3 as an operating system and come with a 3.7" WVGA Super AMOLED screen. In addition to that, the Rugby Smart will have 4GB of internal storage, 1,650mAh battery and a 1.3MP front-facing camera for video chat and a 5MP rear-facing auto focus camera with LED flash and 720p HD recording. As far as physical size is concerned, the Rugby Smart will measure 12.19mm thick and weigh 4.2 ounces. The device will be officially launched at AT&T on March 4th for a reasonable $100.

According to Senior Vice President of Devices for AT&T Jeff Bradley, "The Samsung Rugby Smart is perfect for active customers who need another level of durability with their smartphone." Dale Sohn, President of Samsung Mobile, added, "We continue to bring the highest quality devices - the Rugby Smart is the ultimate smartphone to withstand extreme conditions. AT&T customers are now able to stay connected with a durable smartphone while experiencing even the roughest environment."

Source: Engadget - Samsung Rugby Smart officially coming to AT&T March 4 for $100

DVD Video Projectors are exactly what they sound like, a combination unit that combines a DVD media player with a video projector, cutting out the need for multiple pieces of electronics and wiring.

32GB Samsung Galaxy Nexus GSM Supposedly Canceled

If you were really looking forward to getting your hands on the 32GB version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, then I have some rather bad news. The GSM model was originally was supposed to be available with either a 16GB or 32GB model, but the 32GB has yet to make it into physical form. That may be due to the fact that online retailer Expansys-USA Samsung has officially canceled the device. Well, it may just be delayed, though recent reports aren't looking favorable.

The Galaxy Nexus was shipped without support for a micro-SD slot, which would allow for extra storage, leaving users to contend with whatever built-in storage their model came with. The Galaxy Nexus on Verizon comes with 32GB of storage, but everybody else, including GSM models, can only get 16GB devices. Lots of users have been waiting for the company to ship 32GB versions online with no luck.

An "official" comment from an employee at Expansys named Corey has just been released stating that Samsung has, for some unknown reason, canceled or delayed the 32GB model, though it is uncertain as to whether or not this information is viable. The statement reads, "We've just been notified this morning that Samsung has dropped the Galaxy Nexus 32GB from production. At this time it looks like they will not be releasing it. Not good news at all. Corey, EXPANSYS-USA."

A lot of people have been specifically waiting for this exact version to come out. The 32GB GSM Galaxy Nexus was also showing up as discontinued early Tuesday morning at the online retailer, though now it seems to have disappeared from the site completely. If more information on the 32GB model comes up, we'll be the first to have it, though the outlook doesn't look good that you will be getting this device any time soon.

Source: Android Community - Samsung Galaxy Nexus 32GB GSM canceled according to online retailers
Engadget - 32GB GSM Galaxy Nexus canceled, Google hopes you really like streaming

Put your eye on the problem with Camera Security Now, installing security cameras since 1999. We install in the US and we can help you do it yourself.

Call us toll free 877-422-1907 between 8am EST and 5pm PST M-F. Talk to an expert about your serious security camera needs.

Samsung Officially Reveals the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

Samsung has officially unveiled its newest tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). This device is the successor to the original Samsung Galaxy Tab which was released back in 2010. The tablet runs Android's Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and is built around a 7" 1,024 x 600 PLS LCD display and comes equipped with a 1GHz dual-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM, WiFi and a 3MP rear-facing camera.

However, if you just bought a new Samsung Galaxy Tab and are upset, don't be because there is a lot of information about this device that suggests it is a budget model targeted at entry-level consumers. The main camera is fixed-focus and doesn't have an LED flash, plus the front-facing camera is only a VGA resolution camera as opposed to your standard 1.3MP or higher camera. In addition to that, the device is only 10.5mm thick, which makes it kind of chunky compared to most other tablets released by Samsung.

The reason for the bulk is to accommodate WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS and HSPA+ connectivity. There is also 16GB to 32GB of internal storage along with a microSD card slot and a 4,000 mAh battery to top it all off, though Samsung has yet to announce how long the battery will last.

Like I said earlier, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is the operating system, making the Galaxy Tab 2 the first one released by the company to come pre-loaded with the software. Other software includes TouchWiz modifications, content hubs, ChatON IM, KIES Air and support for DLNA. That's all the information Samsung has released so far with specific pricing and release dates still unavailable, though it was announced that it's scheduled to be released first in the UK at the beginning of March.

Source: Engadget - Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), offers Ice Cream Sandwich on a seven-inch platter
Slash Gear - Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 delivers entry-level Ice Cream Sandwich
SammyHub - Samsung's 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2, runs Android 4.0

A Copier Rental is a quick way to mass produce important documents for potential customers at an event or conference. Renting office equipment is simple and easy and it can also save you loads of time and money. Rentacomputer.com has been offering copier rentals to more than 1000 cities worldwide for over 20 years.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance Gets Pre-Order Status in U.K.

Reports are coming in that the Galaxy S III from Samsung won't be showing up at MWC 2012 this month which leaves the Galaxy S Advance as the only other smartphone to catch the eye of attendees. Even though it isn't available at the moment, the device has been popping up all over the internet via pictures and is largely considered to be the replacement to the Galaxy S Plus.

TechPinas has already claimed to have had some hands-on pictures from the S Advance, as well as a video of the new smartphone way before its release. Even though the S Advance lacks some of the power and features of the Galaxy S II, it is still a pretty solid device. The phone comes with a 1GHz dual-core processor along with 768MB of RAM, a 4" WVGA Super AMOLED display with curved glass (ala Galaxy Nexus) and a 5MP camera with LED flash. In addition to that, the S Advance also comes with a 1.3MP front-facing camera, 8GB of internal storage and Android Gingerbread for an operating system.

The biggest drawback to the Galaxy S Advance is that we won't be seeing it in the United States anytime soon. However, if you live in the United Kingdom then you're in luck because Clove, a smartphone retailer in the U.K., has already outlined pre-orders for the S Advance starting at £295, or $467. The device should ship around the end of February, more specifically the 27th so you better hurry if you are looking for a pre-order.

Source: Android Community - Samsung Galaxy S Advance spotted in the wild, hits pre-order status

TechPinas, Samsung Galaxy S Advance Philippines Captured on Video! Android 2.3.6, Confirmed!

Clove - Samsung Galaxy S Advance Available To Order, Launching Late Feb

Engadget - Samsung Galaxy S Advance snapped in the wild, pricing in tow

Power Point Projectors
Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.

Ice Cream Sandwich Not Coming to Samsung Galaxy S or Original Galaxy Tab

It is a sad, sad day for any and all who own the Samsung Galaxy S and/or the Samsung Galaxy Tab because it has just been confirmed that neither device will be receiving Android's Ice Cream Sandwich update. The company recently sent out update schedules on which devices will be receiving Ice Cream Sandwich and when they will receive it and, unfortunately, neither the Samsung Galaxy S nor the Samsung Galaxy Tab (7" original version) made the list.

Fortunately, the later models of Samsung's products will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich treatment, like the Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy R, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. However, that means very little to the millions of users who own Samsung's 2010 flagship smartphone or the company's first jump into the tablet market.

An interesting fact is that the Nexus S, which is surprisingly similar to the Galaxy S, is getting the update. That begs the question as to why the Galaxy S is not. Samsung explained that the reason the Galaxy S is not getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update is due to a combination of factors: using the TouchWiz skin, included video conferencing software, additional widgets, carrier software and localization, all of which make it extremely hard for Samsung to deliver an update. Aside from all of that, Samsung also refers to issues with RAM and ROM management.

What is even worse is that this confirms fears about further fragmentation with Android and Ice Cream Sandwich. The new operating system was supposed to fix the issue which is why it is so unsettling to see a powerful device like the Galaxy S get left behind. On the contrary, Apple has delivered its newest iOS 5 software to the iPhone 3GS, which was released in 2009, one year before the Galaxy S.

If you're pretty technically skilled then, you may be able to hack your Galaxy S to run Ice Cream Sandwich, though I am assuming many users are not. This is definitely sad news but I predict that as operating systems get more and more advanced, we will see them popping up on less and less older devices.

Source: Phone Arena - Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab not getting ICS

SMBnow.com is news of, for and by SMBs!
SMBnow.com... The Small & Medium Business Magazine!

Courts Decide That Australia Won’t Be Seeing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

In Australia this week, a court decided that it will be complying with Apple’s request to participate in a temporary ban of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. This means that consumers in Australia will most likely not be seeing the newest version of Samsung’s tablet during the holiday season.

Samsung released a statement after the decision was made. It stated that the company was disappointed with the court’s decision, but it would "take all necessary measures including legal action in order to ensure our innovative products are available to consumers."

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Justice Annabelle Bennett believed that there were several different factors that were in Apple’s favor. Earlier this month, Samsung informed the court that it would consider cancelling all plans to sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1 if they placed a ban on the tablet. Despite this, the Herald reported that Bennett said, "she had to weigh this consideration against the loss and injury that could be caused to Apple should Samsung be allowed to sell the iPad rival."

Samsung had been confident that they would be able defeat Apple with a countersuit which it filed in September, but clearly things didn’t work out as well as they had hoped.

"Our wireless standard patents are essential for mobile business. We will continue to legally assert our intellectual property rights against those who violate Samsung's patents and free ride on our technology," Samsung said.

The Herald reported that Apple released the same statement that it had issued earlier this year, "This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."

Patent blogger Florian Mueller said that of course the issue will not be completely resolved until the full trial has concluded, but by the time that the trial is complete "the product will likely be obsolete in this rapidly evolving market," he wrote in a blog post.

"After today's decision, I believe no company in the industry will be able to launch any new Android-based touchscreen product in Australia anytime soon without incurring a high risk of another interim injunction," Mueller wrote.

"If Apple wins the Australian case at the end of the main proceeding, all Android-based products will effectively be shut out of the Australian market forever, unless Google or its device maker partners settle with Apple," Mueller said. "Therefore, Google and Samsung will have to fight very hard to have the asserted patents declared invalid, or at least have their scope narrowed."

Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Servers and the latest in Portable Tablet PCs are available from your computer rental company, Rentacomputer.com.

Talk to a Rentacomputer.com Tech Travel Agent Today!
Call Toll free 800-736-8772.

Samsung's Galaxy WiFi 3.6 is a Smartphone without the Phone

This may be a surprise to a lot of you out there, but there are some people who want a powerful Android device without the costly monthly contract of a phone plan. Well, they do exist and Samsung has launched the Galaxy WiFi 3.6 as a response. The Galaxy WiFi is an Android device reminiscent of a smartphone without a SIM card, ergo you can't make calls on it.

If you are wondering what kind of consumer would want a device like this, then think of the iPod Touch from Apple. A lot of people like having a simple phone that makes calls and sends texts and they also like the idea of having an Android device that launches apps, connects to the internet, browses the web, etc... on the side. This is especially useful for people on a tight budget.

That is where the Samsung Galaxy WiFi 3.6 comes into play. This is an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) device that comes with a 1GHz OMAP processor, a 3.65" screen, 8 or 16 GB of memory (which is expandable through a microSD card), WiFi connectivity and a 2-megapixel camera on the back. In addition to that, it also comes with a VGA camera on the front for video calls.

Other things that come on your traditional smartphone come on this device such as GPS, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, accelerometer and compass. In addition to that, it also supports a wide variety of video and audio codecs, making it an all around nice device for multimedia, gaming or app use on the go.

The Samsung Galaxy WiFi 3.6 will launch in the United Kingdom in the beginning of October and will be available from retailers such as Dixons, Amazon, Littlewoods, HMV and Argos. It will cost around $242 for the 8GB version and around $274 for the 16GB version. Pricing and availability for other countries has yet to be announced.

Source: Mashable - Samsung Galaxy WiFi 3.6 Takes the "Phone" Out of "Smartphone"

The Security Camera Blog



Get a regular infusion of new security camera technology information, video and news. Easy to subscribe in a reader or by email.

We help you stay in touch with the latest security camera features.

ITC to Hear Samsung's Case Against Apple

On Wednesday, July 27 the International Trade Commission decided that they would hear out Samsung’s patent case against Apple.

The commission "has voted to institute an investigation of certain electronic devices, including wireless communication devices, portable music and data processing devices, and tablet computers," the ITC said in a statement. What Samsung wants is for the commission to block all U.S. imports of iPhone, iPods and iPads.

At the end of June, Samsung filed a complaint against Apple just two months after Apple sued Samsung. Apple claimed that Samsung had copied the look and feel of the iPhone and the iPad with its Galaxy S smartphones and tablets. That’s when Samsung turned right around with a countersuit that claimed that Apple was infringing on five different patents that were related to some of Samsung’s wireless network technology.

Apple then came back with some more complaints at the beginning of July. They attempted to block the import of Samsung Galaxy S phones as well as the Galaxy Tab tablets.

Apple recently was informed by the ITC that its Mac OS X operating system is in violation of patents from S3 Graphics related to graphics chips; however, its iOS is fine. Bloomberg said that the ruling on the case could possibly lead to a U.S. ban on the imports of certain Macs.

FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller mentioned the fact that S3 is in the middle of being bought out by HTC, another company that is dealing with patent issues involving Apple. He did say, however, that he did not think that the S3 ruling would help HTC out at all.

"It looks like HTC is going to have to use patents other than the four at issue in that proceeding in order to put Apple under serious pressure," Mueller wrote.

"Right now it seems that the validity of those four S3 patents is uncertain, and even the worst-case scenario for Apple may just come down to a need to equip its Macintosh computers with Nvidia chips."

"The iPhone, iPad and iPod product lines aren't even affected at all. Against that background, Apple can apparently keep pursuing its multiple lawsuits against HTC," he said.

Find out what is going on in the Tech Army World.



What are the Top 10 Money Making Missions?

What other companies have joined and what do they do?

How do I join the
Tech Army Organization ?

SakTel First Carrier in North America to Confirm Samsung Galaxy S II

SaskTel, the Saskatchewan-based cellular carrier, will soon be the first North American carrier to confirm plans to release the new Galaxy S II smartphone from Samsung. The timing of the announcement suggests that the device may be on track for a wider launch via multiple North American carriers sometime in July.

The phone, which will be running on the Android OS platform, recently broke an internal record for Samsung by selling more than 1 million units in Korea within 30 days. US carriers are expected to acquire the smartphone with some slight differences. Recent reports are pointing to the label Attain for the model from AT&T.

The second-generation Galaxy S will offer a 4.3-inch screen that capitalizes on Samsung's improved Super AMOLED Plus technology. In addition to that, the profile has been reduced to 8.9mm with other features including a revamped TouchWiz interface and support for 21Mbps 3G networks.

The current Samsung Galaxy S has been one of the hottest selling smartphones on the market and, if the U.S. is anything like Korea, the Samsung Galaxy II will be just as hot, if not more so. Unfortunately, Samsung has yet to announce specific launch plans for North America.

Source: Electronista - SaskTel first North American carrier to confirm Galaxy S II

The Security Camera Blog



Get a regular infusion of new security camera technology information, video and news. Easy to subscribe in a reader or by email.

We help you stay in touch with the latest security camera features.

Touchscreen Problems Arising for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

While the new super slim tablet PC from Samsung, otherwise known as the Galaxy Tab 8.9, looks great and is getting a lot of people excited, Samsung Electronics is finding itself in a little bit of a pickle with the device that was, in all fairness, a little rushed in order to compete with Apple's iPad 2.

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 was able to succeed in becoming the world's thinnest tablet coming in at 8.6mm. This was all due to the touch screen being integrated with the tempered glass known as G1F. The iPad 2 comes in at 8.8mm thick. Despite that achievement, however, Samsung is having a little difficulty putting the device out on the market due to the low process yield ratios of some key components.

This is very troubling for the company because if this problem continues, then Samsung's goal of selling 10 million units this year may be affected as well. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 incorporates both G1F and the GFF technologies. Samsung was originally planning on selecting two local panel makers and starting the new manufacturing of the Galaxy Tab 8.9 later this month. However, this yield problem popped its ugly little head up resulting in the shortage of some components.

Samsung was forced to take drastic measures and brought in two GFF panel manufacturers in addition to the ones they already had. To simplify, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 takes two different types of touchscreens. A GFF touch panel is roughly 30% to 40% thicker than its G1F counterpart. In addition to that, the GFF's light transmittance is lower than the G1F which makes the display's overall performance poorer. According to Samsung, "There is nothing certain about the specifications of the 8.9-inch version of the product with the 10.1-inch model having yet to hit the market."

Source: Etnews - Samsung Electronics Applies Two Different Touch Screens to Galaxy Tab 8.9

Computer Service Now

Samsung's Galaxy S II Sells 1 Million Units in First Month

Samsung started the week off with some good news stating that the Samsung Galaxy S II set a record for the fastest-selling smartphone in Korea. The Galaxy S II, which is a dual-core Android handheld, hit one million in sales in its first month alone. If you want to put that into perspective, it is about one phone sold every 3 seconds. This is incredible news considering the original Galaxy S smartphone took a full 70 days to reach one million units sold.

The Galaxy S II shipped back in the later part of April to Korea, the homeland of Samsung, and hit the 100,000 mark in three days, then doubled in eight and passed 500,000 units sold in two weeks. Samsung attributed the rush to hardware, pointing out the highly improved 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen. Samsung also added that other features, like the newer TouchWiz interface, super thin 8.9mm design and 21Mbps 3G, were also responsible for the rush of purchases.

The super fast sales rate of the Galaxy S II just goes to show you how intense the fight for smartphone supremacy is in Korea. Apple managed to wrangle 300,000 iPhone pre-orders in Korea and quite possibly came close to beating out Samsung's numbers. However, Apple's device still faces limitations from the past that Samsung has not had to face like limited carrier availability.

Until the addition of SK Telecom back in March, Apple was only able to pump out phones via KT. Samsung and LG have a virtual duopoly in Korea which has led to KT and other carriers supporting foreign devices. However, this has caused corporate retaliation. Samsung, for example, held back on marketing support for KT's Omnia line due to the carrier's iPhone deal.

Overall Galaxy S II sales are expected to be much larger due to the fact that the smartphone has a strong presence in Europe and other key parts of the world. Samsung is expected to repeat its all-fronts strategy in the United States with the launch of the Galaxy S II on almost all the major US carriers in slight variants.

Source: Electronista - Samsung Galaxy S II hits 1m units in Korea, breaks records

The Security Camera Blog



Get a regular infusion of new security camera technology information, video and news. Easy to subscribe in a reader or by email.

We help you stay in touch with the latest security camera features.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Makes Move to Gingerbread

If you own one of those fancy new Galaxy Tabs, then have I got some good news for you! Samsung has officially began rolling out Android 2.3.3, otherwise known as Gingerbread, to any and all active Samsung Galaxy Tabs.

News of this exciting update first came in from Androidiani and was later confirmed by users from XDA-Dev. If you are a Galaxy Tab owner in Italy, you can start updating your device to Gingerbread via KIES now.

Sources from SamFirmware have also confirmed the Galaxy Tab's move to Gingerbread stating that the Galaxy Tab is now receiving the update with rom coming online within the next couple of days.

Full details of the update are below. I don't know what it is about updates and food names, I mean we've got Honeycomb, Gingerbread and even Ice Cream Sandwich. I'm beginning to think that these technology companies have their minds on something other than updates.

The firmware version of KIES is : P1000XXJPZ.
This rom is running Android 2.3.3
Firmware Version: 2.3.3
Versione banda base : P1000XXJPZ Base-band version: P1000XXJPZ
Versione Kernel : 2.6.35.7 - se-infra@SEP-52 #2
Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7 - if infra-SEP-52 @ # 2
Numero build : GINGERBREAD.XXJQ1
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.XXJQ1

Source: The Galaxy Tab - Samsung started rolling out Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) update for Galaxy Tab in Italy! [With Upgrade Video]

The Security Camera Blog



Get a regular infusion of new security camera technology information, video and news. Easy to subscribe in a reader or by email.

We help you stay in touch with the latest security camera features.

Wi-Fi-Only Samsung Galaxy Tab Available Soon

On Wednesday, April 6 Samsung announced that it will be releasing a Wi-Fi-only version of its Galaxy Tab in the United States. It will be available on Sunday, April 10 and will be selling for $349.99. The original 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab was released seven months ago in September. When it first was released, the only mobile carrier that offered the tablet was Sprint. They originally offered it for $399.99, but the company required that users commit to a two-year data plan that would cost $29.99 at least. Since the Galaxy Tab launched, it has become available on all of the major U.S. mobile carriers. "We are excited to have the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab join our growing portfolio of Galaxy-branded devices," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile, in a statement. "The 7-inch Galaxy Tab is the first truly mobile tablet on the market, allowing users to comfortably hold the device in one hand while typing or navigating the Web with the other." The Galaxy Tab features an Android 2.2 operating system, a 7-inch TFT display with 1,024 by 600 resolution, weighs 13 ounces, and is 12 millimeters thin. It comes standard with 16GB of internal storage, but if that isn’t enough room for you, it offers microSD expansion that will allow for up to 32GB of additional storage.

Samsung made another announcement recently. Sometime in the near future there will be a 10.1-inch and an 8.9-inch version of the Galaxy Tab. There will also be 5-inch and 4-inch Galaxy Player models that will be available.

Projector Rentals Are Great for Business Meetings

Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.

Samsung Renames Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Galaxy Tab 10.1V

There was a lot of buzz going around that Samsung was dropping their first installment into the tablet market, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, for a larger, thicker and newer tablet. Well, after much speculation, a lot of rumors and even more closed-door conversations that seemed a little too fishy, it has finally been revealed that those reports are completely NOT TRUE.

Samsung has, however, announced that the Americas will, in fact, be getting a thinner, lighter and newly designed model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab on June 8th, 2011. However, according to UK's Vodafone as well as Samsung representatives, the carrier will definitely be sticking with the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 which launched last month in February at Mobile World Congress.

In order to prevent confusion between the two devices, Samsung is renaming the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V. According to a spokesperson from Vodafone, "The Galaxy Tab 10.1V remains a Vodafone exclusive and will still be one of the first Android 3.0 devices to launch. We'll announce pricing and availability in due course."

You heard correctly. Following the hyped announcement at CTIA in Orlando, Florida about a brand new, super slim design, nothing appears to be changing with the initial British release. Samsung has also stated that the new model may not even appear in the United Kingdom at all. Not everything is negative though. While it is slightly thicker then the upcoming Samsung tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1V does feature an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera as opposed to the 3-megapixel camera on the device that is now known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Vodafone has also confirmed that the Galaxy Tab 10.1V does not feature the Touchwiz UI that Samsung demoed at CTIA.

Source: Pocket-lint - Full flat Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 still on for UK release... via Vodafone

Security Camera Solutions