Samsung S7 rumors, speculation, and suggestions

[WelshBloke]

I like their articles on Apple Music, it's horrible, and they can't say anything bad about it.

You'd think so.

http://m.imore.com/my-apple-music-bliss

 

[Paladin]

Is it true that Verizon is blocking Samsung Pay on the 7 Edge, or is this just a bad rumor?

 

[Paladin]

Apparently Verizon decided to remove the Samsung Pay app from the S7/edge. Downloading the .apk and sideloading is working from what I gather so far.

 

[Chaptorial]

That's not a fast charge though, it'll probably take 4 hours to charge the phone with that charger, you need something like this http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Char...96&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=cheotech+fast+charer also get the adapter with it since it needs an 18watt qc2.0 one.

Definitely looking for one with fast charge capability. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[s44]

Pre-ordered an S7 Edge in black. This is going to upgrade my Galaxy S4 so I have a feeling I'm in for a treat. :thumbsup:

I think there are many, many of us who are going to do this.

I'm waiting to see if the BOGO thing happens though.

 

[poofyhairguy]

AT&T has a bogo.

http://www.androidauthority.com/att-buy-one-samsung-galaxy-s7-get-another-free-678721/

 

[Kelvrick]

AT&T has a bogo.

http://www.androidauthority.com/att-buy-one-samsung-galaxy-s7-get-another-free-678721/

Same on tmobile (rumored).

http://www.tmonews.com/2016/03/t-mo...axy-s7-and-s7-edge-buy-one-get-one-free-deal/

I wonder if we'll be able to do a new line and transfer of our old number.

 

[Commodus]

Bit surprised they'd already be going for BOGO deals. I know AT&T could absorb some of it, but you'd think it would wait until the early adopters bought their phones first! Hopefully it's just trying to make a customer grab instead of fears that the S7 won't sell.

A quick note on Rene: he's definitely an Apple cheerleader, but don't dismiss him out of hand. He does have some good explanations as to why Apple does what it does, even if you don't like them.

 

[Arachnotronic]

This "article" of his is gold.

http://m.imore.com/galaxy-s7-samsung-still-cant-achieve-apple-level-industrial-design

It's...true, though.

 

[WelshBloke]

A quick note on Rene: he's definitely an Apple cheerleader, but don't dismiss him out of hand. He does have some good explanations as to why Apple does what it does, even if you don't like them.

Being a fan is good. Being a fanboy is ok. Being the kind of vapid, "my vendor of choice can do no wrong" cheerleader isnt something to not dismiss out of hand.
He's the kind of person that trolls forums and spends too much time on the comments sections of BGR articles.
The only explanations he has are explanations about how his vendor of choice has made the right decision regardless of what that decision is. This is fine (well its tolerable) on a forum but it definitely doesn't deserve any respect when its put into an article.
Go check out Android Central (a sister site of iMore) and you'll see a much more balanced approach to writing about tech where the pros and cons are shown.

It's...true, though.

Whats true? That Rene prefers the layout of the holes on an iPhone than on an Android phone?

 

[Arachnotronic]

Whats true? That Rene prefers the layout of the holes on an iPhone than on an Android phone?

Apple does sweat the little details that Samsung doesn't seem to as far as industrial design. Too bad Apple is still using garbage LCDs compared to those sweet, sweet OLEDs (or even a higher quality LCD)

 

[WelshBloke]

Apple does sweat the little details that Samsung doesn't seem to as far as industrial design.

I'm not sure how much sweat it takes to make the holes line up on the bottom of a phone if you have humungious bezels top and bottom, that kind of gives you lots of space to work with.

 

[dawheat]

I'm not sure how much sweat it takes to make the holes line up on the bottom of a phone if you have humungious bezels top and bottom, that kind of gives you lots of space to work with.

Good point - this is the problem I have with Rene. When it benefits Apple, it's all about balance, ease of use, etc. When it doesn't, it's about the tiny details.

The actual value of holes lining up vs. having borderline enormous phones for their screen size is the wrong side of the equation in my book. The 6 Plus doesn't have to be the same size as the S7 Edge, but the difference is enormous and has everyday cost in usability and comfort. It's not just the height but the huge difference in width.

 

[Commodus]

I just wonder how realistic it is for Apple to shrink the overall footprint. Part of why it has that chin is that the Touch ID button is designed to reflect the size of a fingertip... and it's not as if Apple's going to use a Samsung-style rectangular button. And Apple probably isn't going to use a curved display to cut back on the bezel.

I do have to commend Samsung on cramming a big screen into a relatively small space (although I'd say LG did that first with the G3). Hopefully, it's comfortable to hold. I just wonder whether it's realistic for Apple or others to follow suit.

 

[core2slow]

I just wonder how realistic it is for Apple to shrink the overall footprint. Part of why it has that chin is that the Touch ID button is designed to reflect the size of a fingertip... and it's not as if Apple's going to use a Samsung-style rectangular button. And Apple probably isn't going to use a curved display to cut back on the bezel.

I do have to commend Samsung on cramming a big screen into a relatively small space (although I'd say LG did that first with the G3). Hopefully, it's comfortable to hold. I just wonder whether it's realistic for Apple or others to follow suit.

Once again, look at the Huawei Mate 8. I'm not defending Apple's practice (they'll cut corners until they feel the pressure to start 'innovating'), but I'll call bull on those that see no wrong in Apple's ways. Let's not nitpick hole alignment and let's address the two gigantic elephants in the room...why aren't you guys harping on the bezels? The two most obvious, glaring, apparent flaw in industrial design and the sheeps will simply utter that it's to accommodate the touch ID bullshit. If everyone in android land can implement ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and reduce the bezel footprint with a measly fraction of the R&D compare to Apple, are you to tell me that Apple hasn't figure that out? We've been saying it all along, it's not innovation until Apple start doing it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I just wonder whether it's realistic for Apple or others to follow suit.

Everyone but Apple already has more modern looking flagships with less bevel.

And for Apple it would be easy- the huge top bezel does NOTHING (doesn't even have a front facing speaker in it) so there is half the problem. For the bottom move the finger print reader to the power button (like Nextbit does) and boom that can be shrunk too. Add on a 1080p or better OLED and OIS on both models and suddenly Apple has a modern smartphone. The only reason Apple hasn't done that yet is because they don't have to, and they have to give people a reason to buy the iPhone 7 and 7s.

Everything seems hard for Apple until they do the obvious stuff and then its not hard anymore, its magic.

 

[mrochester]

Once again, look at the Huawei Mate 8. I'm not defending Apple's practice (they'll cut corners until they feel the pressure to start 'innovating'), but I'll call bull on those that see no wrong in Apple's ways. Let's not nitpick hole alignment and let's address the two gigantic elephants in the room...why aren't you guys harping on the bezels? The two most obvious, glaring, apparent flaw in industrial design and the sheeps will simply utter that it's to accommodate the touch ID bullshit. If everyone in android land can implement ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and reduce the bezel footprint with a measly fraction of the R&D compare to Apple, are you to tell me that Apple hasn't figure that out? We've been saying it all along, it's not innovation until Apple start doing it.

The Mate 8 has the finger printer sensor on the back, which in itself is a big design and usability compromise. Finger print sensors should be on the front, below the screen.

 

[core2slow]

The Mate 8 has the finger printer sensor on the back, which in itself is a big design and usability compromise. Finger print sensors should be on the front, below the screen.

Unfounded and unsubstantiated. Stupidest thing I've heard today...and it's only 7am.

 

[mrochester]

Unfounded and unsubstantiated. Stupidest thing I've heard today...and it's only 7am.

Sounds like you're behind the times in more ways than one then :sneaky:

 

[core2slow]

*shakes fist*

 

[mrochester]

*shakes fist*

On a serious note, after using a Nexus 6P, it's clear the back is a really stupid place to put a finger print sensor. It's a huge design flaw since you can't then unlock the phone when it's lying on a surface.

 

[Oyeve]

Tmobile finally charged my card after a week. Hopefully it will ship soon!

 

[Anubis]

On a serious note, after using a Nexus 6P, it's clear the back is a really stupid place to put a finger print sensor. It's a huge design flaw since you can't then unlock the phone when it's lying on a surface.

yes you can, you just need to use the pin code

OH NOESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs

the back is the better place for it IMO

also the back is also perfect for the volume buttons

I miss them from my G3

 

[mrochester]

yes you can, you just need to use the pin code

OH NOESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs

the back is the better place for it IMO

also the back is also perfect for the volume buttons

I miss them from my G3

Talk about making excuses for such an obvious design flaw!

 

[Commodus]

Everyone but Apple already has more modern looking flagships with less bevel.

And for Apple it would be easy- the huge top bezel does NOTHING (doesn't even have a front facing speaker in it) so there is half the problem. For the bottom move the finger print reader to the power button (like Nextbit does) and boom that can be shrunk too. Add on a 1080p or better OLED and OIS on both models and suddenly Apple has a modern smartphone. The only reason Apple hasn't done that yet is because they don't have to, and they have to give people a reason to buy the iPhone 7 and 7s.

Everything seems hard for Apple until they do the obvious stuff and then its not hard anymore, its magic.

Putting the fingerprint reader in the power button also reduces the surface area for scanning. Also, I'm not sure it's smart to link a reader to the power button when you need it for Apple Pay... do you want to accidentally sleep your phone while you're trying to pay at Walgreens? That and, let's face it, the circular home button is fairly iconic.

Those other flagships with less bezel also have on-screen navigation keys, or make calculated tradeoffs like placing the fingerprint reader on the back.

I do think Apple could stand to trim the size, but it may have to be more conservative than you're hoping. Shrink the top and bottom bezels as much as possible without significantly shrinking the home button (say, by cutting out blank space). Side bezels? Maybe, but iOS' swipe gestures are helped by having at least a little bit of bezel on the sides.

Where Apple really needs to step up its game is display quality. I don't think the 750p display on the iPhone 6/6s is bad (it's generally color-accurate and bright), but it was clearly chosen as a tradeoff for battery life and other concerns. OLED? Maybe, but I'm more interested in Apple going to a resolution around 1080p or quad HD if it can do so without taking a hit to battery life.