Why is Samsung Gear S3 less attractive than Gear S2 when released?

Don’t get me wrong. The Gear S3 in overall is an upgrade compared to the previous generation S2. Here are some of notable improvements of the Tizen-powered smartwatch:

1. Larger battery capacity: 380 mAh which promised to give standby time up to 4 days, compared to 250 mAh on Gear S2 which can last between 2-3 days with normal use.
2. Gorilla Glass SR+ which should be more damage resistant compared to Gorilla Glass 3 on S2.

Those two factors are the only things that I consider as positive upgrades. Of course they keep all the essential features that made the S2 a solid product in the smartwatch category. Always-on display, rotating bezel, wireless charging, and interchangeable bands, they are all still there on Gear S3.

Now here’s why I feel the new release of Gear S3 feels like an unworthy upgrade:

1. Larger size
   OK, this is very subjective matter. But for me personally, one of the biggest decision factor to get the Gear S2 because it was one of the most compact smartwatch out there, while still packing a lot of functionality. At 49 x 46 x 12.9 mm, the Gear S3 is about 15% larger than Gear S2 Classic which measures at 39.9 x 43.6 x 11.4 mm.
2. Heavier
   Thanks to the larger size and increased battery, the Gear S3 Classic weighs 57 g. Gear S2 Classic weighs just 42 g, that’s 26% lighter. To be fair, the extra weight may help to give a more premium feel. But for me it is unnecessary because the built and finish are pretty much the same.
3. Lower PPI (pixel per inch)
   Still related to the increased size. While the screen is about 15% larger, Samsung did not make any attempt to increase the screen resolution. Both Gear S2 and Gear S3 have the same display resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. This means lower PPI for Gear S3 at 278 ppi, compared to 302 ppi on Gear S2.

What should they have focused on: software

The Samsung Gear S line has so much potential to grab wider market, if only they put their priority and meet their promise in terms of software development. Yes, I am talking about Gear Manager for iOS to allow iPhone users to connect and manage Gear S2/S3 and enjoy its full potential. It has been almost a year since they released a statement to make iOS version of its Gear Manager app.

iPhone users have been anxiously waiting for its official release, but as of today it is still stuck in a closed beta status. Instead of trying to refresh the hardware with “half-baked” upgrades, Samsung should have allocated its resources to get the iOS app into the public first.

Is Gear S3 a good buy?

At $350 retail price, in short and very personal opinion, I would have to say no. Unless you just want to have a bigger model and using a small(er) watch is against your style. The larger battery life is not a huge deal either. Smartwatch is designed to be charged daily anyway. A 4 days battery life is probably only beneficial if you are going on a short trip and don’t want to bother bringing the wireless charger with you.

On the bright side, with the Gear S3 already available in the market, it’s time for the sellers to clean up the stock for older Gear S2 which means selling them at discounted price. Samsung Gear S2 is now sold at $250 and the Gear S2 Classic at $300. At this price range, it would make a perfect holiday gift.

Shop for Samsung Gear

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There are so many good things about Samsung S7 and S7 Edge, most of them answer the customers’ critics from their predecessors:

Bigger battery

I have no problem with my S6 Edge and it has enough juice to last entire day, but more active mobile users have been pretty frustrated with the battery capacity. Besides, bigger battery is always a positive thing.

microSD slot

To me, having the ability to use external storage is one of the selling factors with Android devices compared to iPhone. By putting this feature back, it is a big deal. 32GB for internal storage is usually more than enough to install all the apps you need. What’s hard to predict is how much memory you will need to store all the media files, including camera photos.

Better camera

The S6 takes beautiful shots, but I am still struggling to get better focus and result when it is in lowlight environment. Taking the words from Samsung and early reviewers, the S7 camera will solve this problem.

Better design

Even though I understand that Samsung really wanted to make a smartphone that would be as thinnest and possible with the S6, the flat back and protruding camera give constant annoyance to most users including myself. Luckily Samsung’s team of designer decided to fix those by making the S7 has less camera bumb and back cover shape that is easier to hold with a small price of being 1.1 thicker. No problem, function over design.

Dust and water-resistant

Accidents happen. While this is not going to be a decision factor, having an extra feature for protecting your precious gadget better is always welcomed.

Bigger RAM and faster processor

Well, nobody would buy newer smartphone if it has the same RAM and processor as previous generation.

Solid black color option

No more sapphire or blueish black like with the S6, which why I ended up buying mine in white.

In short, Samsung has done mostly everything right with the Galaxy S7.

Why the bigger screen for S7 Edge, Samsung?

I have come to believe that Samsung thinks a bigger screen size is required for the market to justify the extra $110 to get the Edge version on top of the “edge” screen.  Probably the sales of S6 Edge+ (5.7″) were better than S6 Edge (5.1″) and they used this insight to determine the product line variations.

As a customer, we are now stuck to having a phone that barely fits into your jeans pocket in order to get that super fancy curvy edged screen.

Will there be a smaller Samsung S7 Edge?

Who knows. But knowing Samsung, they might release a new version of their flagship phone line before a full year. Just like when they added S6 Edge+ into the S6 family.

Let me hear your thoughts about bigger S7 Edge screen and whether you would prefer to have it the same size as its sibling.

Shop for Samsung Galaxy S7

The post Smaller Samsung S7 Edge, that would convince me to upgrade appeared first on Michael Sunarlim.

• Rounded bezel makes it more like you are wearing a watch instead of a gadget
• Gear S2 uses rotating bezel for navigation vs Apple Watch’s digital crown, personally it feels more natural
• More affordable – Gear S2 Classic ($350) finishing is equivalent to Apple Watch edition (not Sport) 38mm with leather band ($650)
• Gear S2 Classic is also compatible with any strap that has a standard 20mm pin
• Apple Watch was released sooner which means it might already close to its end of life and the next generation coming soon

However, I am trying not to put too much hope regarding when Samsung is actually going to get its Gear Manager iOS app available. It is known to be less committed to deliver when it comes to software products. Apple also plays a big role whether the app is going to pass on the app approval process.

Does this mean iPhone users are completely out of options to use the Gear S2? Not really.

Samsung Gear S2 could connect with iPhone… before the firmware update

Surprisingly, the earlier version of Gear S2’s firmware allows the device to connect and communicate with iPhone out of the box. Based on reports from passionate users on XDA Developers Forums, updating to later firmware version will break this functionality. Don’t ask me why the developers took this one step back.

So the best chance to use Samsung Gear S2 with iPhone is not to connect it to the Gear Manager app (on Android) at all. You will not be able to use it optimally, but in my opinion better than not connecting at all with your primary phone.

Activate Samsung Gear S2 in standalone mode – bypass the activation

Like most smartwatches, you need to connect the device as you unbox it with a smartphone running its supporting app. Same case with Samsung Gear S2, when you turn it on the very first time it will guide you to connect it through its Gear Manager companion app. Otherwise you will not be able to use it at all.

Turns out you can bypass this process and use it as standalone mode and only running with its default apps and watch faces. Here are the steps:

1. When prompted to connect to Gear Manager app, tap on the small yellow icon on the top of the screen multiple times.
2. A message will pop up and ask you do a long press, follow the instructions
3. Viola, it will open the home screen and you can start using the watch

Next step is to connect the watch with your iPhone via Bluetooth like you normally do with other accessories. There, you have successfully connected Samsung Gear S2 with your iPhone.

What’s working and what’s not

As mentioned above, do not expect anything fancy out of your Gear S2 in standalone mode. The default apps are very limited and you cannot add new watch faces. You’ll get almost every single notification, including when you are getting an incoming call, from your iPhone on the Gear S2 screen. The bad news is you cannot actually interact with it.

So far, I can live with this. At least until Samsung fulfills its promise and get Gear Manager app available in the App Store.

Update January 7, 2017: Samsung Gear S on App Store

Samsung’s official Gear S for iOS has been officially released and can be downloaded here.
Thanks for all readers who have been following and contributing to this post.

Update April 14, 2016: Gear Manager iOS leak

One of the fine readers of this post shared what seems to be a leaked (non-final) version of Samsung Gear Manager for iOS. Please read this comment below onwards for steps to connect the app from your iPhone to the Gear S2. Thank you David, Steven, Matchev and Russ for sharing your experience testing the leaked/demo app.

Shop Accessories for Samsung Gear S2

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Motorola made an great move that gave them a hope to win their share in the hyper competitive market of smartphones when they introduced Moto G back in late 2013. Instead of trying to compete with flagship models from other brands such as Samsung Galaxy S line, HTC One, or Google’s own Nexus series to name some, they turned their focus on middle market. It was actually a more challenging market to enter as they would need to compete with Chinese phone makers who could always offer a lower priced models in a blink of an eye.

That did not stop Motorola to win in that tough category though. Notable number of very positive reviews made it as one of most popular phones available under $200 that year. All thanks to the right mix of features:

1. The price was relatively lower than the mid-end range of more familiar brands (ie. Samsung, LG, HTC). It even allowed it to compete with Chinese brand smartphones.
2. It came with almost plain Android latest version, which was good. By 2013 Google had made lots of improvements over the OS’s UI and it actually looked better than most other makers’ custom UI. It also allowed the OS to be updated rather quickly when Google released the next Android version.
3. It was equipped with just the right components. Not the latest and greatest, but more than enough to impress anyone using it as their first Android phone: 4.5″ 720p (329 ppi) screen, quad core CPU, 1 GB of RAM, external MicroSD slot, and LTE to name a few.
4. There is only one model (with 8GB and 16GB internal storage for variation) in their mid-range product line. Other makers usually have half or even a dozen of different models competing against each other with new models coming every 2-3 months. That was just too confusing. Motorola did this right, just like Apple with the iPhone.
5. Good battery life. Some that is usually sacrificed when making low cost devices or just install it with any OS available on the table without properly tweak it.

The success of Moto G was then followed with a refresh in September 2014, preserving the same name. Some upgrades here and there, notably was the screen size had been increased to 5″ while preserving the resolution at 1280 x 720 px, which means lower ppi but still looked great.

“Wait, I thought this review is about Moto E not Moto G?” you say. Yes, we will get into it. I find it is important for you to understand the genes that made Moto E and know that it is not just a lame attempt by Motorola to grab the biggest market segment with a disappointing product.

Moto E

With Moto G had proven to be a hit, time for Motorola to aim the low end segment. Do not get it wrong, this is the emerging market. With the decline of Nokia and Blackberry, the market needs products that can fill the gap. Same as mid-level, the segment had been pre-populated with Chinese branded models.

Using the same formula for Moto G, the Moto E was introduced in May 2014, between first and and second generation of Moto G. The result: a sub $100 Android based smartphone for literally anyone. Seriously, the price is quite insane considering what you get from a reputable brand:

• 1.2 GHz Dual-core Cortex A7 CPU
• 1 GB RAM
• 4 GB internal storage
• MicroSD slot
• 1,980 mAh (non user-replaceable)
• 4.3″ screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 @ 960×540 px (256 ppi)
• 5 MP rear camera (no flash)
• GPS / GLONASS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 for connectivity

Those are more than enough to do every smart things from your phone, except to run resource intensive games, but let’s get real with the expectations. The two things you might (or not) miss are front camera and flash on the rear camera. To keep things short, if you require to take a photo or selfie from your phone day and night, this is not the right phone for you. For the rest, you can continue reading my review.

Moto E side view

First Impressions

I got my unit last week because I needed a secondary phone which would allow me to use a separate number from my personal one. For the note, I use iPhone 5s for my primary phone.

Moto E next to iPhone 5s

Holding the unit for the first time, it felt heavier than I had thought, but it wouldn’t break an arm. In matter of fact, I like it because it does not feel cheap. The construction is solid and the finish is more than what you pay. Screen is obviously not “retina” quality but honestly 256 ppi is still a good density. So in short: impressive. I have been playing with it more than I thought I would, which eventually lead me to write this post.

Inside the box there were earphones set with handsfree, Micro-USB charger and cable, but I left them intact since I already have Sanctuary4 from Bluelounge as my charging station.

Android 5.0 Lollipop

One of the biggest challenges in buying Android phone, especially mid to low end models, is not knowing whether it will get the software update it deserves. It sort of defeats the purpose of having a smartphone if you are going to get stuck with the current version of Android OS at the time of purchase. To most manufacturers their goal is achieved the second you buy their products.

Luckily thanks to Motorola almost plain Android approach, and the fact that Motorola Mobility was owned by Google for a short period, the Moto G and Moto E can avoid that sad ending. The latest Android version 5, codenamed Lollipop, is coming to Moto E very soon. Officially it is under Soak Test, which can be translated as beta phase.

Of course if you are like me and simply cannot wait for the official release, there are multiple blog and forum posts that can guide you to upgrade to 5.0.2 immediately. It is not for everyone though, so if you are not very comfortable in messing with command lines or simply do not want to brick your Moto E, then my advice is to be patient just a little bit. It is coming.

So what’s the outcome after upgrading to Lollipop? Well, it makes a good device into lovable.

Moto E displaying Home screen after upgrade to Lollipop

Interface

Four words: I love Material Design! Material Design is the latest design/visual language developed by Google and incorporated into Android 5 Lollipop. It is a HUGE improvement and for the first time ever, I feel Google has done a better job compared to iOS 8’s flat design philosophy. In the case of Moto E, the new design works great with the screen resolution. It does not magically increase the pixel density, but it is definitely more pleasing to the eyes and individual pixels become less noticeable.

Speed

Many reviewers claim a boost in term of speed/performance after upgrading to Lollipop. To be fair, maybe that is the case with higher end models. Considering Moto E does not use the latest quad or octa core CPU and only 1GB RAM, I am already happy this upgrade does not make the phone super laggy. Again a common case when older device gets the latest major OS update, it even happens with the iPhones. Scrolling the Home screen and tapping on app icons feels smooth.

Battery

Remember that I only use my Moto E as a secondary phone. I typically only spend 30-60 minutes a day doing real activities on it, but it can easily pass over 3 days with a single charge. Wi-Fi is always on and my model is the dual SIM version with both SIM cards active. If I disable wireless and only active one SIM, no doubt I can get an even longer life. I am quite confident for typical use like browsing, managing email, SMS, instant messaging and a number of calls, this thing can last throughout the day without sweating.

Screenshots

Conclusion

The Motorola Moto E is a fine piece of device for its price. $100 is average amount of money people used to spend to buy typical Nokia phone less than 5 years ago without caring about CPU, RAM, or camera capability as long as they can make calls and send out SMS. If you keep your thoughts simple, than you would realize how good deal it is. With the update to Lollipop, the experience will improve even further.

Who should buy Moto E:

1. Someone already using a smartphone and need a secondary one, like me
   1. Someone who wants to replace his or her really old phone and learning using a smartphone
   2. First time Android user
   3. Parents who want to give their kid his or her first phone
   4. Android fan who wants a cheaper device to tinker

These people might get disappointed with Moto E:

1. A selfie junkie
   1. Someone who requires to do video calls every now and then
   2. Someone who plans to put a hundred apps and all his media files into his phone
   3. A person who just lost his iPhone 6 or Galaxy S5 and looking for a replacement
   4. Customer who always in need to have the greatest gadget but not willing to pay premium for it

The post Geek Review: Motorola Moto E running Android Lollipop (5.0.2) appeared first on Michael Sunarlim.

Sure if you want to develop your own Android app, you will need to install the full SDK. But for more simple things listed above, those two apps are probably all you need.

There are numerous ways to grab ADB and Fastboot separately from the official SDK, however I have finally the most simple way, thanks to corbindavenport! He created Nexus Tools, an installer for the Android debug/development command-line tools ADB (Android Device Bridge) and Fastboot for Mac OS X and Linux.

Just how easy it is?

1. Open Terminal app
2. Copy and paste this line: bash <(curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.sh)
3. Press Enter/Return to execute
4. Enter your Mac password

Done. The command line downloads the install script where it will detect your operating system and version then install the right tools to your OS. No need to hear about bash, known path, etc.

Now you can have more time to actually do things on your device.

The post Most Convenient Way to Install ADB and Fastboot on Mac OSX appeared first on Michael Sunarlim.