Netflix 4K service gets a price hike


Netflix has raised the subscription price of its fledgling 4K UHD broadcast service in the UK.


Netflix has been one of the few sources of premium 4K content, making UHD versions of House of Cards and Breaking Bad available to subscribers earlier in the year.


However, producing new 4K content comes at a cost, and that cost is now being handed down to new subscribers. If you're an American 4K TV-owner looking to sign up to Netflix, you'll have to pay a little more for the privilege from now on.


Such users will have to sign up for the full Netflix package, which costs $11.99 per month. This is the package that also grants users access to Netflix on four screens.


Netflix told Variety that the cost of producing and acquiring 4K content is higher than conventional HD, which is why the company has had to shift its 4K service higher up the package band.


As implied, existing subscribers aren't affected by this price rise, and can continue to access 4K content on their current plans - for now, at least.


Expect this initiative to make its way over to the UK before too long. We too have a premium four screen package, which costs £8.99, so look out for eventually becoming the home of 4K here in Blighty.



Read More: What is 4K TV and Ultra HD?



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Best Headphones 2014


Looking for the best headphones to buy in 2014? Whether you want something a bit better than the EarPods bundled with your iPhone, or need noise cancelling headphones to help you handle the commute, we have what you're after. We're going to run down the very best in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones money can buy.


Choosing a pair of headphones is not easy. There are hundreds of pairs out there, from ones that cost £10 to those costing over a grand. And there's no definitive way to tell how good they are: no megapixels to count, or resolution numbers to pore over. However, we've listened to dozens and dozens of pairs of find out which you should buy.


The question is, which headphones should you invest your hard earned cash on? We've gathered together the best headphones that we think any buyer should consider, whether you're out to spend £30 or £300. Before you pick a pair and hit the checkout, though, there are a few things to consider. If you know what type of headphone you're looking for then click the arrows on the picture to get started otherwise read on for an explanation of the basic types of headphone out there and which type might be best for you.


You can click below to go direct to the perfect pair or read on to get some advice on finding the headphones that will suit you best.


Best Headphones Under £150 | Audio Technica ATH-M50x

Best Headphones Under £50
|
AKG K451

Best Headphones Overall | Sennheiser Momentum

Best Headphones for Bass
| V-Moda Crossfade M-100

Best In-Ear Headphones Under £100 | Audio Technica CKX9is Sonic Fuel

Best On-Ear Headphones | V-Moda XS
Best Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones | Bose QuietComfort 20i

Best Wireless Headphones | Logitech UE 9000

Best Surround Sound Headphones | Sony MDR-HW700

Best Hi-fi headphones for home | Sennheiser HD 800


Headphone buying advice


Earbud earphones


The much maligned earbud is the type that usually comes bundled portable audio products. It's generally pretty rubbish at blocking out sound but this type of earphone can be good from a sound perspective. Several companies out there producing top-quality buds and if you can't stand the invasive rubber tip of an IEM, check out Yuin's range. It produces true audiophile earbuds that sell for upwards of £100. None of them have made it into our best headphones round-up yet, though.

In-ear/IEMs headphones


Possibly the most common upgrade from a pair of bundled buds is the IEM or in-ear headphone type. IEM stands for in-ear monitor, and it involves a pair of earphones that ends in an isolating tip of some sort - usually silicone, occasionally foam.

The approach of the IEM is a little different to the earbud, in that it isn't tuned for compensate for sound lost by an imperfect seal. Choose the wrong tip and you'll find that the bass response and overall sound quality of an IEM pair drops dramatically.


They're our top pick for anyone looking for a portable pair, though. They're discreet, often provide superb sound and block out the outside world effectively.


On-ear headphones (Supra-aural)


One big step up the size chart, we find on-ear or supra-aural headphones. These feature much larger drivers than the in-ear type and use pads that sit directly on your ears. These tend to (but not exclusively) use closed cups, as their relatively small size makes them a good second choice as a travel pair if you don't get on with IEMs.

One issue with on-ear headphones, though, is that they're often a bit picky about positioning. Not all sets will make a good seal with your ear in every position, which can result in reduced sound quality if they're not sitting right.


Comfort can be a problem too. If you can, we recommend giving on-ear headphones an audition, as much to check out the padding as the sound. If you have sensitive ears, insufficiently soft pads may cause discomfort.


Over-ear headphones, closed (Circumaural)


A real hybrid headphone, the closed over-ear type can often function as a great at-home pair and an on-the-go set. If you can pull off the look, that is. Over-ear headphones are often very large, and therefore are a bit conspicuous.

They tend to side-step most of the comfort issues of the on-ear kind as the padding rests on the less-sensitive area around your ears rather than directly on them. They usually offer decent noise isolation too.


These kinds of headphone are frequently used for broadcast and professional monitoring purposes too.


Over-ear headphones, open (Circumaural)


Arguably the best type for at-home use, open-backed headphones tend to offer the best sound quality of any type. This kind of design gives sound an airy, wide quality that's very hard to achieve with a closed set.

You do pay for this, though. Open headphones leak sound like no other and offer barely any isolation from the noise of your surroundings. Don't even think about using an open pair as a travel partner.


Over-ear headphones, semi-open (Circumaural)


Semi-open headphones try for the best of both worlds, with a porous outer layer finishing off the ear cups. The aim is to get some of the sonic benefits of the fully-open design while reducing sound leakage and offering some level of isolation. These headphones are relatively uncommon, although there are plenty of options out there if this sounds like your bag.

Wireless headphones


Unlike the other types above, wireless headphones do not suggest a particular design, rather the incorporation of some kind of wireless tech - usually Bluetooth.

Bear in mind, though, that they'll almost invariably offer worse sound quality than a rival non-wireless pair. Plus there's the added consideration of batteries. Few wireless headphones offer the option to plug in a cable once the power's run dry, making them useless without charge.


Many cheaper wireless headphones also use lossy wireless tech, which means some information is being lost in the transition from your player to your headphones. If you're out for portable Bluetooth headphones, look for the aptX codec. It's still not 100 percent lossless, but it offers much better performance than standard Bluetooth.


Noise-cancelling headphones


The other feature worth thinking about is noise cancellation. This is clever tech that actively gets rid of noise, rather than passively blocking it like a simple closed-back headphone.

It does this with the help of at least one microphone. The mic is used to monitor ambient noise, an inverse wave of which is then piped-out by the headphone, negating the hubbub.


Active noise cancelling works best on low- and mid-frequency noise, such as engines, air conditioners and other such drones. It's generally less effective at reducing high-frequency noise than simpler isolation. If you want the best noise cancelling in the business, look at Bose's range of headphones. They don't always offer the very best sound quality, but their cancellation is second to none.


Whichever kind of headphones or earphones you're after, we have the lot here. All the best from Sennheiser, Philips, Sony and all the best names in the biz.


We've drawn together the best headphones available now in one convenient location so whether you are looking for wireless headphones, noise-cancelling headphones or in-ear headphones we've chosen the best cans to suit your needs. Click on to see our comprehensive round-up of the best headphones of 2014.



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Asus Zenbook UX303LA Laptop Review


What is the Asus Zenbook UX303LA?


The Asus Zenbook UX303LA is the latest laptop to arrive at TrustedReviews with an Ultrabook sticker gleaming on its wrist-rest.

It’s a great-looking system that’s up there with the market’s sleekest ultraportable notebooks, but it doesn’t have the high price you’d expect. Instead, the UX303LA comes in at a reasonable £700.


ROUND-UP: 2014's Best Tablets


Asus Zenbook UX303LA 34


Asus Zenbook UX303LA: Design & Build Quality


Like many Ultrabooks, Asus has built this machine’s exterior from slick metal. Like most of its rivals, it’s also a slim device that tapers to a thin front edge – in this case, it narrows down to an impressive 3mm.

The metal is everywhere, from the underside to the bezel surround, and it’s inevitable that this machine will draw comparisons to other metallic machines, such as the Apple MacBook Air and HP’s Spectre 13, though of course it's a design Asus has carried since its first ultrabook the UX31E.


The metal is coloured with a shade that Asus calls “smoky brown”, and it looks good in a satisfyingly subtle way. The material on the inside has a familiar brushed texture, but the lid stands out with Asus' signature circular spun pattern. When the lid is lifted, it’s business as usual – aside from the small bit of text that indicates Bang & Olufsen audio.


Drill down to the details, and the UX303LA can’t quite compete with its more expensive competition. Its 1.45kg weight is reasonable for an Ultrabook, but the HP and Apple machines are a little lighter. Even Lenovo’s Yoga 2 Pro hybrid dips below 1.4kg.


Asus Zenbook UX303LA 23


It’s a similar situation when it comes to width. The UX303LA’s 18mm body extends to 20mm with its rubber feet, which is thicker than every competitor.


The wrist-rest depressed slightly when we pushed the expanses of metal on either side of the track-pad, and there was a little movement in the base. The screen is stronger, with no distortion on the panel itself. The Asus’ strength is on a par with the HP and Lenovo, but it can’t compete with the rock-solid MacBook.


Connectivity is reasonable. The outside serves up three USB 3 ports, HDMI and mini-DisplayPort outputs and an SD card slot. The inside provides dual-band 802.11ac Wi-FI and Bluetooth 4.0. There’s no room for Gigabit Ethernet, but Asus supplies a USB adapter in the box, and another to convert mini-DisplayPort to D-SUB.


Asus Zenbook UX303LA 24


Asus Zenbook UX303LA: Screen & Sound Quality


The UX303LA has a 13.3in non-touch screen with a 1,600 x 900 resolution and an anti-glare finish – so there’s no sign of irritating reflections.

The resolution is modest enough to ensure that the Asus doesn’t fall foul of the scaling issues that afflicted the Lenovo’s 3,200 x 1,800 panel, and it’s also a better option than the 1,440 x 900 screen offered by the Macbook Air. It can’t quite offer the sharpness of the HP, which had a 1080p panel.


Accuracy wise, the Asus gets off to a good start with a brightness level of 366 nits – that’s higher than the Lenovo, Apple and HP systems. The contrast ratio of 813:1 is good, too – only the HP was better. Those results, when combined with the anti-glare coating, meant that this machine coped with use outdoors or under bright lights, although the anti-glare material did make the screen grainy.


SEE ALSO: Best Affordable Headphones Under £100


Asus Zenbook UX303LA 4


Elsewhere, the UX303LA falls behind. The measured colour temperature is a cool 7,370K, which is further away from the 6,500K ideal than every rival. The Asus’ average Delta E of 9.25 is also poor.


The cool colour temperature and lack of colour accuracy mean poor real-world results. The bright reds and yellows in our test images lacked vibrancy, and skin tones felt pallid. This screen also handled just 57.2% of the sRGB colour gamut, with only blues displayed properly – another factor that makes this panel feel cool and lifeless.


The brightness meant that white shades remained distinguishable, but the mediocre black level – 0.45 nits – caused dark shades to merge.


The poor colour accuracy and gamut coverage, when combined with the middling resolution, mean the UX303LA isn't a good choice for those that regularly edit images or video, and won't be the best for watching videos either. Otherwise, the brightness and contrast make it a fine panel for day-to-day use: if you’re browsing the web, playing casual games or using Office apps, it’s ample.


The speakers surprised us. We expect slim, light laptops to have tinny, weak audio, but the Asus delivered punchy music. The mid-range was meaty, and the high-end proved snappy but not overwhelming. There’s a little bass there too, which helps round out a reasonable audio profile. We’d prefer a little more low-end punch and a tad more volume, but the UX303LA is fine for listening to music or watching movies in a small room.



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Google Play Store Tips and Tricks


How to explore Google's virtual shopfront


Like virtually all of its Android software, Google has vastly improved its Play Store over the years.

Nowadays it's a bright, sharp, and relatively speedy virtual shopfront for the million-odd apps available on the Android platform. No, it's not perfect, but for our money it's a lot better than the App Store.


But are you using the Google Play Store to its fullest? Google has supplied a number of nifty little features for it, but in typical Google style it doesn't always make those features abundantly clear to the user.


Here is just a small selection of tips and tricks for the Google Play Store.


Make use of the info icons


The latest version of the Google Play Store has a great new icon bar that gives you a lot of information at a glance, as well as some handy shortcuts.

To the left you have the number of downloads. If it's a million seller, you know there's got to be something in it, right? This is colour coded, so if the icon's red you know at a glance that it's hot.


Next to this icon you have the average user rating (out of five), as well as the number of users who have contributed to that rating. Tap on this icon, and you'll jump straight to the user reviews themselves.


Next we have the category the app belongs to, as represented by a little representative icon. Tap this, and you'll be taken to that category in the Google Play Store.


Finally there's the Similar icon which, when tapped, assembles - you guessed it - similar apps in a simple grid should you wish to check out the alternatives.


icons



Don't like an app? Get a refund


One thing you can do on the Google Play Store that you can't on the App Store is 'return' an app if you're not happy with it. That is, you can wipe it and get your money back if you opt to do so within a limited window.

Until recently, that window was a rather useless 15 minutes long. Just last month, though, Google extended that period to two hours.


So how do you get your refund? Simply go into the Google Play Store app within two hours of purchasing your app, select My apps from the menu, and navigate to the app you just purchased. You should see a Refund button alongside the usual Open one. Press it and follow the instructions.


Watch a preview of your app or game


Of course, you'll still want to make an informed decision about whether you want to buy an app or not. On many of the apps on the Google Play Store you can watch an intro video that shows how that app works.

It's most common - and arguably most useful - when it comes to games. Just click on the app you're interested in, and look for the play icon at the very top of the app listing.


Press that play icon and see whether what the developer has to show you is of any interest.


preview


Stop the update notifications


For the most part, Android handles notifications brilliantly, but the way the Google Play Store bombards you with notifications every time it updates your apps (which is pretty often) can get a little tiresome.

To deactivate these irritating notifications, go into the Play Store settings menu and deselect the Notifications option. There you go - no more bothersome messages telling you your fourth favourite game has added support for the Lithuanian language.


Stop apps being added to home screen


If you're like us, then your Android phone's homescreen is pretty stuffed with icons and widgets. You've probably spent time crafting the perfect, most concise set-up for your needs.

So the last thing you need is a new app messing things up by depositing an icon on your homescreen - especially if it's a passive app like a new keyboard.


You can stop this from happening by bringing up the Play Store menu, selecting settings, and hitting the Add icon to Home Screen option to deselect it.


Add apps to your wishlist


Really like the look of an app or game, but aren't quite prepared to shell out the asking price, or can't buy it there and then? Then add it to your wishlist.

To do so, simply navigate to the app you're interested in and hit the little banner icon at the top (the one with the plus sign in it) to add it to your wishlist.


You can then access your wishlist from the Google Play Store menu (swipe right from the main page).


wishlist


Install apps from desktop


As easy as it is exploring the Google Play Store from your mobile phone, it's even easier on your desktop - especially if you don't really know what you're looking for.

The good news is, if you find something you like whilst navigating in this way, you don't then have to find it on your phone or hook your phone up to your computer in order to install it.


When you first set up the Google Play Store on your Android phone and logged into your account on your computer, the two were linked. So, if you click Install on an app on the desktop, it will automatically start downloading on your active phone phone. Clever, eh?


Track your phone from your computer


The Google Play Store lets you track, remotely lock, ring, and even erase your Android phone should it be lost or stolen.

Just hit the gear icon at the top right of the page, then click Android Device Manager. Accept the terms, and you'll see your device(s) on a Google Maps display, as well as a prompt to ring, lock or erase it.


DM


Remove all trace of apps


Google keeps a track of all of the apps you've ever installed on your Android phone. You might not want some of these apps to be remembered - maybe it's a terrible game, maybe you installed a dodgy app by mistake, or maybe you're just fastidious about these things.

Whatever, just navigate to My apps, hit the All tab, and hit the X symbol corresponding to the app that you don't want. Confirm, and the app will be gone from your personal list forever. Well, unless you contrive to re-download it, of course.


Find the classiest, most buzzy apps


The Google Play store is vast, with a constantly shifting front page that updates with the latest offerings.

There's also no denying that there's a high proportion of crud on there. That's what you get with a more open approach to app submissions, folks.


One reliable way to shop for high quality apps, though, is to simply navigate to the Apps section and hit the Editors' Choice option. This is a carefully curated list of top notch new apps and games that you can download with confidence.


Read More: Google Now tips and tricks



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Apple Pay tipped for October 18 launch


Apple Pay was announced alongside the iPhone 6 last month, and now a leaked memo has suggested the mobile payment service with launch on October 18.


With the service expected to be formally dated for launch during the iPad Air 2 unveiling later this week, the Apple Pay release has been prematurely teased by retail giant Walgreens.


A leaked internal memo originating from the retailer has referenced the Apple Pay release in briefing its employees on what to expect


In preparation for the launch of Apple Pay on October 18, we would like you to cover the following material included in the tasks before activation,” the memo states.


“Walgreens will be one of the participating retailers and we want to make sure that all your team members are prepared.”


The retailer added that offering Apple Pay will “reinforce our position as a leader and innovator in the mobile world”.


Set to be exclusively available in the US at first, there is currently no word on when Apple Pay will make it to UK shores.


Detailing the service, the Walgreens memo read: “Customers that participate in Apple Pay will immediately be able to use the service that is easy, secure and ensures their privacy.”


Stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest on the Apple Pay release date.


Read More: iPhone 6 Plus review


Via: PhoneArena



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UK leads ‘right to be forgotten’ requests


Google has revealed that 10 per cent of all ‘right to be forgotten’ requests have come from UK residents.


With European laws recently been introduced, allowing the public to request search results to outdated and irrelevant personal content be removed from the leading search engine, Google has shown just how popular the option has become.


According to Google, it has removed 498,737 links from search results following the introduction of the ‘right to be forgotten’ laws.


This figure includes 63,616 links resulting from the 18,304 requests made by those in the UK.


Somewhat unsurprisingly, Facebook was the site most targeted by these removed links. Some 3,353 links to the social media site have been removed from Google’s search results in the EU. Second was YouTube with 2,392 deleted links.


Despite so many links being removed, right to be forgotten requests do not guarantee action. Google has removed just 35 per cent of unwanted links, refusing many requests.


The search giant has highlighted a number of cases of refused requests, including those of a clergyman investigated for sexual abuse and a doctor reported for a botched procedure.


“Three pages that contained personal information about the doctor but did not mention the procedure have been removed from search results for his name,” a Google spokesperson stated. They added: “The rest of the links to reports on the incident remain in search results.”


Read More: Nexus 6 release date


Via: BBC



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Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date, Rumours, News, Specs and Price


Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6


The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date could be with us sooner than expected as a raft of Samsung Galaxy S6 rumours start to circulate.Although tradition would suggest the Galaxy S6 will not be unveiled until February next year, latest reports have suggested a huge drop in profits have forced Samsung to push the Galaxy S6 release date forward. The phone could pair this early arrival with an all new look, too.

With the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note 4 having both been unveiled recently, it is now widely expected that next year's Galaxy S6 release will echo its siblings and adopt a metal design of its own.


Given the Samsung Galaxy S5 was as a strong, albeit slightly iterative update on the Galaxy S4, we expect the Samsung Galaxy S6 to be a more serious refresh which includes a higher resolution, QHD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 or 810 chipset and even, according to some, a flexible body.


With Galaxy S5 sales reportedly falling well short of the Korean manufacturer's expectations, it appears the company is set to put its full force behind the Galaxy S6, bestowing the handset with a bevy of high-end hardware and software features.


Watch our video on what to expect from the Galaxy S6


While some reports are farfetched and others more likely, what is almost certain is that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will launch in early 2015 as a direct rival to the iPhone 6, remaining consistent with previous launches.


Given that the LG G3 has been unveiled with a 2560 x 1440p QHD display, a feature also bestowed on the Note 4, it is a fair prediction that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will also make the jump to a QHD panel.


We will be updating this page with all the latest Samsung Galaxy S6 release date details, leaks, news and rumours as new information emerges. Bookmark it now to ensure you are kept in the loop on all things S6.


Samsung Galaxy S6 concept


Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date


As you would expect, Samsung has yet to offer any official details on the distant Samsung Galaxy S6 release date. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have an idea as to when the phone will launch.

Like Apple, Samsung has become a creature of habit, with the company’s annual product cycles bringing a level of expectation to certain points in the year. For example, September and the Berlin-based IFA conference means a new Note.


Since the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Korean manufacturer’s flagship phone line has been reserved for unveiling during – or within weeks of – the Barcelona-based Mobile Word Congress conference in February. As such there is no reason to believe this will be different for the S6.


With MWC 2015 to be held between March 2 and 5, we would anticipate that the Samsung Galaxy S6 release date could be confirmed during the manufacturer’s dedicated press conference on either Sunday 1 or Monday 2 March.


This tradition could be thrown off by falling profits, however. With Samsung predicting a 60 per cent fall in annual profits, analysts have suggested the S6 release could be pushed forward in order to stem the rot.


“Samsung’s profits in the mobile division will continue to deteriorate during this period of changing their line of smartphones,” Lee Min-hee, an analyst at IM Investment and Securities, told The New York Times.


Speaking with Bloomberg, Claire Kim, an analyst with Daishin Securities Co in Samsung's native Korea added: “We all know Samsung’s third-quarter earnings will be pretty ugly. The earlier release of its new phones could be reflected in its third-quarter earnings, it could give them a slight boost.”


We will of course update this post as soon as more concrete Samsung Galaxy S6 release date details are available.


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Samsung screen technology

Samsung Galaxy S6 News


Although the company has remained quiet on confirmed details, Samsung has already teased aspects of its future smartphones, a list expected to include the Samsung Galaxy S6.

Making the announcement during its annual Analyst Day in Korea last November, Samsung revealed that in late 2014 its first phones to run a 2560 x 1440 pixel WQHD displays will land. This timeline came to fruition with the Note 4.


Although not the company's first device to feature such a screen, the Samsung Galaxy S6 looks set to make the jump beyond the S5’s 1080p Full HD offering.


Despite being the company’s flagship phone, it appears that the Galaxy S6 will fall between Samsung’s technology cycles.


Although Samsung has confirmed it will bring 3,840 x 2,160 pixel UHD displays to its smartphone offerings during 2015, it is believed the Samsung Galaxy S6 will arrive too early to benefit from this next-gen panel. Instead, however, the S6 looks likely to mimic the rumoured LG G3 with a QHD display.


Offering a further insight into the Samsung Galaxy S6’s screen, Samsung’s promise to continue its push into AMOLED displays leaves little doubt in the technology within the phone’s panel. As such deep blacks and reasonable kindness to the battery can be expected.


Lower than expected S5 sales have reportedly forced Samsung to reassess its smartphone efforts, with the company said to be ready to put more emphasis on high-end design and premium materials.


"They made one mistake, one product that didn't hold up to expectations and they are paying the price," Counterpoint analyst Tom Kang said speaking on the slow S5 sales recently. "They will have to move forward and leave behind what has failed and focus on the next product."


It's not just analysts predicting a renewed smartphone effort from the Apple and HTC rival, Samsung itself has pledged to improve its handsets moving forward.


"We will strengthen our product competitiveness by reinforcing our premium brand reputation, powerful product line-up, and cutting-edge technology," an official Samsung spokesperson stated.


Now, claimed insiders have told Chinese media that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will be bestowed with a premium, metal design, much like the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The metal S6 body has been tipped by 'sources within Samsung’s supply chain’.


If moving to a new, metal form, Samsung will hope to avoid to construction issues which have troubled the release of the Galaxy Note 4.


Samsung Galaxy S5


Samsung Galaxy S6 Rumours


As with the S5 before it, there have already been suggestions that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will feature a curved, flexible display. With Samsung having already announced handsets with curved displayed - we're looking at the Samsung Galaxy Round and Samsung Galaxy Note Edge here - we can’t see the manufacturer risking its flagship brand with this novel technology. As such the flexible phone will be a separate handset in its own right and the S6 will be a more traditional offering.

With size being almost as important to Samsung as image quality, it has again been rumoured that the Galaxy S6 will feature a larger display than its predecessors. With the Samsung Galaxy S range having risen from 4-inches to 5.1-inches in just five generations, we can see the S6 topping off somewhere around the 5.2 or 5.3-inches. With the S5 still featuring quite a sizeable bezel, there is certainly room for Samsung to squeeze a larger display into a similar sized frame in 2015.


Another Samsung Galaxy S6 rumour that has already started to rumble – and will likely follow the phone to launch – is claims of Samsung finally ditching its fascination with plastic in favour of a more premium build quality. It has even been suggested that the S6 could utilise graphene in elements of its design as Samsung makes progress with the material.


Following a recent graphene development by Samsung, industry experts praised the potential implications.


"This is one of the most significant breakthroughs in graphene research in history," SAIT Lab leaders said. "We expect this discovery to accelerate the commercialisation of graphene, which could unlock the next era of consumer electronic technology."


Although there has been much talk about the first Tizen phones, Android will remain the OS of choice for the Samsung Galaxy S6, a feature seemingly confirmed by the manufacturer. Yoon Han-kil recently stated that Android "still needs to be out main business," despite the continued push of Tizen.


Depending on Google's plans, it's likely the Galaxy S6 will run either Android 4.5 or Android 5.0.


A selection of Samsung Galaxy S6 concept designs have also surfaced, though they're little more than fan 'visions' that offer little in terms of a reliable insight into the phone. One feature we'd like to see, however, is forward-facing stereo speakers similar to the HTC One M8.


Qualcomm


Samsung Galaxy S6 Specs


The Samsung Galaxy S6 specs sheet will feature a number of cross over features from the S5, with a wealth of new offerings thrown into the mix. Given the focus Samsung has heaped on the S5’s water resistant coating, fingerprint scanner incorporating home button and rear-mounted heart rate sensor, you can all but guarantee that both will make another appearance next year and hopefully in improved form as well.

In terms of power, however, things are all change, and the chipset likely to feature within the Samsung Galaxy S5 has already been unveiled. In early April, processing giant Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 CPUs. These chips are set to appear in their first handsets during "early 2015," a window that fits the expected Samsung Galaxy S6 release date.


With the Samsung Galaxy S5 running a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset following the S4’s own Snapdragon 600 internals, the Samsung Galaxy S6 looks set to run either the 808 or 810 units.


Knowing what processor the handset will run has seen a number of further Samsung Galaxy S6 specs teased.


According to Qualcomm, the processing units will allow for everything from UHD 4K displays to be supported to the introduction of Cat 6 LTE connections and the option to run up to 55-megapixel camera sensors.


At present the 64-bit, six-core Snapdragon 808 processor is looking the more likely to feature, with support for display resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 pixels fitting with claims of a WQHD S6 screen. The 808 will also introduce LPDDR3 memory, a range of battery management improvements and an Adreno 418 GPU that will boost graphical performances by a reported 20 per cent.


There is currently no word on the phone's camera, although we would be surprised if the S6 didn't improve on the S5's existing 16-megapixel snapper.


Samsung Galaxy S6 Price


The Samsung Galaxy S6 price is one area where there are currently few details available. Given the flagship nature of the ‘Galaxy S’ range, however, there is no point holding out for a wallet-friendly fee.

At launch the Samsung Galaxy S5 cost £579 on a SIM-free basis. As such, we can’t see the Samsung Galaxy S6 price starting off much lower than the £600 marker.


For all the latest Samsung Galaxy S6 rumours, including details on the phone’s specs and release date, bookmark this page now as it will continue to evolve as new information emerges.


Share your thoughts on what you would like to see included in the Samsung Galaxy S6 in the comments boxes below.



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