The launch of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 was eclipsed by the company's unveiling of its smartwatch, the Samsung Gear. The regional launch was no different, which is a shame because the watch is hideous and the Note is impressive.
Fans of the Note family will be familiar with the overall layout, but the Note 3 is wider at 5.7 inches, slimmer and lighter, weighing 168 grams. It now has a 13-megapixel rear camera, which takes great shots, but is not as impressive as some of the other camera phones in lowlight conditions.
The S Pen has been boosted to improve the note-taking experience, with many tasks just one click away. As the adage goes, the pen is mightier than the sword but in this day and age, the (S) pen is mightier and far more effective than a finger when it comes to note-taking, crossing out completed tasks and doodling.
Its ability to recognise handwritten notes (in Arabic too) is breathtaking. You can quickly scrawl a number, highlight it and the Note will dial that number and make the phone call.
Overall the Note 3 is a great device that enables and feeds into a creative, productive environment.
Now the Gear. This is a horrendous device: big, clunky and simply premature. It works alongside the Note 3 as an accompanying gadget to quickly answer calls, check emails at a glance and worryingly, take pictures. While Samsung's intentions were probably innocent when adding a camera to the watch, it probably won't be used in such a way. They are advertising the camera facility as a way to quickly take pictures of something you want to remember, be it a name on a business card or a colour you think will look great on your walls. Samsung is calling this "memography"; most people, however, will call it stalking, or a gross invasion of privacy.
It is worrying just how discreetly you can take pictures of people without their noticing. Samsung claims to comply with industry requirements by having a loud shutter sound. But imagine being in a mall or at a party – no one will hear it. It is illegal to take someone’s picture here without their permission, but that doesn’t usually stop people, and the Gear only makes it that much easier.
Samsung has its say:
Hayssam Yassine, the head of the telecoms group at Samsung Gulf Electronics, talks about his company’s latest gadgets.
How well do you expect the Note 3 to do here?
We’re very excited. When the Note category was created by Samsung, there was a lot of scepticism with the larger screen, but it has been a successful strategy, everybody is following it. We believe the Note 3 will improve our market share.
What improvements have you made?
If we talk about the hardware there have been major improvements. The outer design is stronger with soft texture and nice etching. It is lighter, slimmer with stronger battery and a 3GB Ram, which is the first in the industry. The S pen has also been improved with action notes and it recognises handwriting, including Arabic.
Which market segment are you targeting the Samsung Gear at?
Everybody is likely to buy a Gear. It has many uses: you can use it as a pedometer, control your music, take pictures, check emails. It is creating a new culture of communication, we call it the “smart freedom”. If your phone is in your bag, you don’t have to search for it, you can just answer calls with the Gear. The primary customers will be the trendsetters, people who like new technology.
Some have raised concerns about the camera. It enables people to take pictures quite sneakily, no?
We have followed the international requirements, so when you take a photo it makes a very big sound, you cannot reduce it. Plus there are other competitors’ watches with cameras.
What’s next?
Samsung is committed to bringing the latest technologies and provide the right products that best meet consumer needs. We hope to build on this and grow in the future. We are a very innovative company and right now our R&D teams are coming up with new technologies.
thamid@thenational.ae
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
