Samsung Unpacked Dissected The S7/Edge & Gear 360 @EzMobiles

The tax year like the tech year comes round ever quicker then you would ever expect. CES 2016 has flown by, and this week Mobile World Congress bangs it’s anticipated Gong, sounds it’s trumpet and kicks off. Starting officially on the 22nd of February. Mobile World Congress, or MWC for those unfamiliar with the acronym and event. Every February on the ides of March and annually in Barcelona, MWC opens it’s gates to receive the press, with Spain becoming the greatest networking arena and technology showroom on Earth since the Spanish Renaissance.

Traditionally on the eve of MWC manufacturers and brand leaders show and tell, reveal and unveil their latest products, debunking rumors circulating for months and finally cementing with a finished product. This year Samsung overcast LG and hog the pre-eminent showroom limelight.

Samsung Unpacked

@EZMobiles reported on the press releases for HTC One M9 and Samsung’s Galaxy S6 edge at MWC 2015. This year in typical fashion, Samsung repeat their early traditional press conference, ready to go live with Samsung Unpacked, revealing the Samsung Galaxy S7, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and more in all the glory that can be grasped before MWC opens it’s doors tomorrow.

Behind The Samsung VR Curtain

After Dj Koh the President of Samsung’s mobile division introduces Samsung Unpacked it was clear we were dealing with a VR theme. Through the medium of VR came a new sweeping change, as attendees of the event were invited to immerse themselves into the Gear VR Headset viewing the grand reveal and introduction of the S7 and S7 edge, personally as if they were close enough to touch. Samsung are completely ready for VR and all future conferences are probably set in stone to be viewed via the Gear VR. Before we delve further into the virtual revolution happening before our very eye’s how has the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge improved?

Camera Pioneers

The Camera on the SGS6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge and edge + were already excellent camera’s winning multiple blind camera tests and were recognized by DXO whom awarded the S6/edge the highest award for mobile image quality. With the Samsung 360 remaining under the sleeve at this stage in the presentation, Samsung touted themselves as camera pioneers, reminding the world and audience that they created the first mobile phone with a camera way back in the 90’s.

Duel Pixel Technology

The new Camera has been cosmetically streamlined, sticking less out from the phone and internally innovated, becoming the first camera on a smartphone to feature Duel Pixel technology. This vastly improves autofocus as well as allowing more light through the lens. This works similar to human sight. Each eye records a flat image which translates into depth and space when combined. The new Duel Pixel technology utilizes and coverts every single pixel into a set of all powerful eyes.

What’s The Difference?

It’s important because every camera on a competitive smartphone is stuck in the Cyclops zone. Cover one of your eyes now and scientifically speaking you have less sense of visual depth. Aforementioned it’s also vital for autofocus, to show just how much so, comparison was drawn between the iPhone 6s and the Galaxy S7. The result, the iPhone 6s makes do with less then a feeble 5% of it’s pixels being used for autofocus. The S7 on the other hand utilizes 100% of its pixels for the same job. You’ll be working with a 1.7 aperture 12MP 22mm lens with the new 1/2.6 sensor shedding more light featuring significantly larger and more detailed pixels then ever before, capturing an ISO range of 800+ diced with the brand new manual shutter control for the first time. You’ll have manual control to create professional shots and of course film in HDR aka 4K, which would be interesting to try with the touted new cooling system. On a side-note Samsung have chosen to bring their own expandable accessory wide angle and fish-eye lens with a difference, the well built official Samsung lens comes with and screws into it’s own S7/edge smartphone case.

Added Features

Justin Denison, senior Vice President of product strategy, walks us through S7 design language and unexpectedly through his living room, touting the phones features and demonstrating on stage the new added effect of motion panorama. Capturing vivid large scale panoramic sweeps, effectively setting the new standard in panoramic photography and film on the Smartphone. Taking a leaf from Sony’s playbook the S7 and S7 edge are both IP68 water and dust resistant. Which is an excellent and much welcome feature inspiring spontaneous applause from all in attendance. Along with the space for 200GB MicroSD storage. The next Galaxy S7/edge has been streamlined and 3.5mm slimmer then the latter generation S6, with a familiar design yet more compact and efficient package.

Edge Panel

The edge side panel has also been improved to make the S7 edge easier to access and handle, requiring less hand gymnastics to do so, similar to Apple’s ‘Reachability’ but utilizing the edge panel with slightly more screen space and width when it’s pulled out from it’s virtual tray. The edge panel is also open to third party development already on Android and therefore extra highly customisable.

Always On Screen

The S7/edge is so smart and energy efficient that you can watch a whole season of Game Of Thrones in one sitting on a full charge. Now that’s impressive! The screen will always be on and will only switch to standby mode when hidden away in your pocket. This isn’t done just to show off how improved the 3500mah battery is, but to avoid social hiccups such as checking the time on your watch or phone when attending an important meeting. A quick glance to you’re S7/edge placed face up is all that will be needed.

Octa-Core Processing Power

Uncomfortable phone heating has been banished altogether from Samsung when operating at high performance processing speeds. Utilizing Samsung’s homemade in-house Exynos 8890 and the latest Snapdragon 820 processors, boosting and boasting 30.4% better CPU performance and 63.9% GPU improvement, included with a brand new cooling system you’d usually find tucked up inside an orbiting satellite. The cooling system contains a minute tube filled with liquid that vaporizes at high temperature and condenses at lower heat. Keeping everything cool and smooth permanently.

Colour Variation

The S7 and S7 edge are both available on pre-order today, with the added benefit of an official pre-order directly from Samsung and Vodafone coming FREE with the Samsung Galaxy Gear VR, also released just weeks ago this month. The flagship premium S7 and S7 edge come in a variety of attractive thermo crafted, melded glass and expensively textured metal colours, Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium and White Pearl. Both new devices having been announced will be available and released next month, on March 11th. I don’t know about you guys, but my choice and next upgrade on contract will either be the S7 edge, or the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. Why?

Virtual Reality Revolution

After the S7/edge intervention, demonstration and design walk-through from Justin Denison you might have thought that would have been it from Samsung. Next upon stage Vice President of Research Pranav Mistry revealed the rumors proved to be correct and true and the Samsung 360° VR Camera, was dubbed, named and revealed the ‘Gear 360’ and finally made it’s anticipated appearance. Samsung focused on the ‘New Dimension’ of technology they were bringing to the table. The Gear 360 is truly game changing and quite possibly life changing to it’s owners and more importantly the disabled and homebound.

Mark Zukerberg

The place exploded when Zukerberge appeared out of nowhere like a Genie in a bottle. The message to all with ears and eyes to see was this. We are ready for Virtual Reality. You know when Samsung can invite Zukerberge to the stage that they’ve picked the right friend and partner to bolster their VR product range and campaign. Zukerberge talks about being in the same room with your friends from a vast distance and using the 360 Gear to in effect design your VR Space and also share and immortalize important milestones such as a baby’s first step for the family. All this is here just around the corner caught in a vision which will soon materialize if it hasn’t to you already.

What Are Apple Doing About VR?

All this makes you wonder what are Apple doing about the VR Revolution? Are they sitting back? Are they actually doing something or is it all talk? So far all we know is that Apple have employed a VR team and are rumored to be testing their own ‘Secret VR’ device behind closed doors. Whereas Samsung, already working in partnership with FB and Oculus Rift (Acquired by FB in 2014 for mere £2bn) are hitting the ground and shaping it with every step and turn. Will the VR landscape terraform before they even get to look at it?

Final First Impressions?

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are just jaw dropping! Samsung has neatly gathered together their range under a VR banner and battle stance. Buying the S7 will automatically stitch you into Samsung’s VR ecosystem. With the attractive incentive of the free Gear VR for pre-orders with Samsung and Vodafone. It’s evident the company have listened to their customers and gave heed to their advice. Manufacturing the new flagship range iP68 certified, dustproof and water resistant with a much missed and needed 200GB MicroSD storage space built in and optional if you really need it. The battery and processing power has greatly improved and advances have been made, cosmetically and internally, the device and it’s functionality have been fine tuned for accessibility and are VR ready today. It’s not just about the 5.5 inch curved edged Smartphone anymore, it’s the promised VR world behind and revolving around the phone when coupled with the Gear 360, and Gear VR.

Where To Pre-order The Samsung Galaxy S7 & S7 edge?

All the major networks are offering pre-launch early delivery for the latest flagship Galaxies. Order either the S7 edge or S7 before the 6th of March with EE and you’ll receive your handset three days before the official launch on March 11th. Alternatively pre-order with Vodafone on a red value bundle before the 11th and you’ll get the essential Gear VR thrown in for free with a RRP of £79.99. Billshock and ShockProof network ID Mobile offer the same incentive included with their user friendly iD App for monitoring your credits. Mobiles.co.uk match the same pre-order offer. If you make it with o2 before the 27th of April they’ll box your phone together with a free Jebra Bluetooth headset worth £149.99 and already sell the Gear VR separately.

Alternative S7/edge Tariff Plans & Packages