Mobile Devices
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 5: is there room for improvement?
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 is legendary, that much is true. But it’s legendary not because Samsung did something it is good at, but rather because it introduced something that it was just starting to experiment with since the Samsung Galaxy Alpha: metal and an edge display on the Galaxy Note Edge. Many were impressed by what the Galaxy Note 4 could do and still can do, including the most beautiful smartphone display, a great fingerprint sensor, superb design, awesome camera and a revamped, functional, feature-filled stylus, complete with actually good TouchWiz features. The Galaxy Note 4 is a success, an even better success than any other Samsung flagship, right up until the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were launched a few weeks ago.
The Galaxy Note 4 is a great phablet, and although a bit too large for many, an incredibly versatile, powerful and durable smartphone. One of the main benefits of the Galaxy Note 4 is a very good battery life, which isn’t impressive when you first hear about it: 2 days, but it is if you consider the following. The Galaxy Note 4 display is a humongous, 5.7 inch QHD Super AMOLED panel, which requires a lot of mAh juice to function. Moreover, the extra features that cater to the Samsung S Pen embedded in TouchWiz can be a bit of a strain on the battery. But Samsung pulled this one off, and some can’t even imagine getting to a higher point than with the Galaxy Note 4.
Regardless of how much improvement can be fitted, the Galaxy Note 5 is coming and is all but confirmed at this moment. Samsung is prepping the new phablet for an Autumn launch, and our sources say that the Galaxy Note 5 release date is confirmed for September 15 internally. Take that release date with a grain of salt, although we do feel like the date is accurate enough reporting to previous release dates for Samsung Note devices. The Galaxy Note 5 will be demoed at IFA most likely, and there will be, once again, two of them. Our sources tell us that the Galaxy Note 5 will keep the dual-variant tradition alive, and will be launched in a simple display format and a dual-edge format like the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Although the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge were launched in unison, the Note Edge is a limited edition, expensive device and it was more of an attempt from Samsung to test the waters and see if people like the innovative new screen design. It turned out that people were ecstatic about it, which lead to Samsung launching two new flagships in 2015: the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge, with two edge displays. With that in mind, our sources tell us that there is no doubt that the Galaxy Note 5 will be met with the same kind of dual-launch: the Galaxy Note 5 and Note 5 Edge.
Galaxy Note 5 Edge concept betters Galaxy Note 4 design
With the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung introduced the new metal frame that it designed for the phablet, in the positive spirit of the now discontinued Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The Galaxy Note 5 will bring design to another level, according to insiders that are close to the manufacturing process. They tell us that the Galaxy Note 5 will be very similar in build to the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy S6, which means that the new phablet will sport a full metal unibody or alternative, a metal body and a glass panel on the rear. Since we’re thinking of a device that will most likely reach 6 inches in display measurements, the glass panel option seems like an ill-fitted idea, which is why we believe a full metal unibody Galaxy Note 5 is a much more probable release this year.
The Galaxy Note 4 comes with a massive 5.7 inch QHD display, which has since become much of the norm, especially when thinking about display resolution. The Super AMOLED panel comes in with a resolution of 2560*1440, which adds up to about 515 ppi pixel density. Rumor has it that Samsung is working on their own 4K smartphone displays and certain representatives of the company have come forth saying that their own 4K smartphone panels are ready to be implemented this year. That is why, we are definitely looking forward to a 4K display on the Note 5 that will make the Galaxy Note 4 Super AMOLED panel pale in comparison. 4K resolution displays have already been demonstrated by Sharp, and people seem happy to see this kind of evolution in display technology. Since Samsung most likely wants to give people what they want, when they want it, a 4K Galaxy Note 5 is almost certainly getting launched this year.
When thinking of size, it’s a tricky matter to properly predict. People seem to be liking large displays like the 5.7 inch one on the Galaxy Note 4, 5.5 inch one on the Apple iPhone 6 Plus and 6 inch one on the Motorola Nexus 6. But there have been enough complaints about the 6 inch Nexus 6 to make us wonder whether 6 inches are too much for a smartphone and that same thing might be going around in Samsung designers’ and developers’ heads. Our best bet about the Galaxy Note 5 display size would be that it stays the same 5.7 inches as the Note 4. Many Note 4 users are very happy with the footprint and screen to body ratio, so Samsung should not find it necessary to make changes to that. To the design and bezels on the side, yes, but not the size. Samsung should definitely try to improve the design and make the Galaxy Note 5 easy to use one-handed, because that was a problem with the Galaxy Note 4. Unless a stylus is your best friend.
Moving on to hardware specifications, this one’s mostly a given. The Galaxy Note 4 specs include an Exynos 5433 CPU for the European model and a Snapdragon 805 for the U.S. model. Since the South Korean company decided to focus on their own processors, starting with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, it’s a done deal. The Galaxy Note 5 has very little chances of getting a Qualcomm chipset, and maybe that’s a good thing. Samsung’s Exynos 7420 is in the new flagship and so far, it’s been performing awesomely, even better than the Snapdragon 810 and Snapdragon 808 that were used for the LG G Flex 2 and LG G4, respectively. The company will most likely keep this route and use an Exynos CPU in the Galaxy Note 5, as well. That being said, we are still content with how the combination of the Snapdragon 805 and Galaxy Note 4 is working, as there are no complaints about performance whatsoever on our part.
What if the Galaxy Note 4 had a holographic keyboard?
By the time the Galaxy Note 5 comes around, most likely in November 2015, Android M might already be ready for deployment. If that is the case, Samsung will most likely launch the Note 5 with the revamped sweet OS on top. If Android M is not ready, then the Galaxy Note 5, just like the Galaxy Note 4, will be launched with the current OS out of the box. When the Galaxy Note 4 was launched, Android 4.4.4 KitKat was the norm, and Lollipop will be the norm when the Note 5 will eventually be unveiled. Although we can’t state that for sure, we do have developers working with Samsung tipping us about how TouchWiz is progressing, and we’ve some hunches about that.
According to these tipsters, TouchWiz will be replaced soon enough. They say that the Galaxy S7 will see the launch of a brand new UI from Samsung, but they’re not particularly open to talk about what kind of software developments will be included in the UI that will be on the upcoming Galaxy Note 5. There might a surprise coming our way, and we’d hate to spoil it so early on. We’ve still a good few months to wait until Samsung actually starts talking about the Galaxy Note 5, and it’s always better to be pleasantly surprised than let-down. The Galaxy Note 4 successor has little chances to be a let-down, but you never know.
The camera on the Galaxy Note 4 is impressively good. It’s one of the best smartphone cameras on the market, topped only by the Galaxy S6. On the rear, it comes with a 16 MP sensor complete with optical image stabilization, autofocus and an LED flash. Below that rear unit, we can find the Galaxy Note 4 heart rate sensor, which is surprisingly accurate, although it does start randomly on occasion. With the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung is sure to innovate both camera and health features. We suspect that a 21 MP camera with laser autofocus, optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. There are rumors about a depth-sensor being included, but we doubt that is something Samsung would meddle with. The front camera of the Galaxy Note 4 is a 3.7 MP sensor, and that should be bumped up to at least 5 MP on the Galaxy Note 5.
Although the Galaxy Note 4 is an important stepping stone in the company’s smartphone line-up and development, the Galaxy S6 is an even bigger one. That is why the Galaxy Note 5 will most likely use the features that were introduced to Samsung phones with the Galaxy S6 this year. As such, the Galaxy Note 5 will most likely feature a non-removable battery, a lot of internal storage (there’s word about 256 GB), wireless charging, a bigger battery and a new S Pen stylus that will be correlated with some new features for note-taking.
In conclusion, even though the Galaxy Note 4 is an excellent release, there is still room for improvement, improvement that will be made with the Galaxy Note 5. Although the phone is not officially confirmed, a Samsung exec today has “kind of” confirmed its release date for September, which is in line with what our insiders have been telling us in the past few days. Whether or not our predictions and information is correct or not will be revealed when the company spills the beans about what it plans to achieve with the new Galaxy Note 5.
Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.
Tampon Run – Menstrual health
Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.
In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.
PCOS Vitality – PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.
The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.
Bound by Blood – Period poverty
Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.
Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.
Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising
PS5 and PS4 console game Death Stranding Director’s Cut is coming natively to the iPhone 15 Pro, demonstrating its power. The entirety of Kojima Productions’ seminal hiking sim, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage, will be available on your phone. Bonkers!
Tech giant: “Continuing Apple’s leadership in smartphone silicon, A17 Pro improves the entire chip, including Apple’s biggest GPU redesign. The new CPU is 10% faster with microarchitectural and design improvements, and the Neural Engine is 2x faster, powering iOS 17 features like autocorrect and Personal Voice.
According to the company, the pro-class GPU is 20% faster and unlocks new experiences with a 6-core design that boosts peak performance and energy efficiency. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 4x faster than software-based, gives iPhone 15 Pro smoother graphics and more immersive AR and gaming experiences. The iPhone 15 Pro brings console games to smartphones for the first time.
As with all cutting-edge Apple products, participation is expensive. The iPhone 15 Pro will cost £999/$999 at launch, and the Max model will cost £1,199/$1,199 for a 6.7″ screen. The most basic option only gives you 128GB, so you’ll need more if you want to play Death Stranding on the go.
However, the blurring of standalone consoles and mobile games is fascinating. The success of Genshin Impact, a full-fledged open world, has shown there’s a market for console-like mobile games. It will be interesting to see how Death Stranding performs on this latest iPhone generation.
The three phones have similar screens and processors, but they vary in a number of ways.
The Redmi Note series from Xiaomi has historically been the brand’s most well-liked smartphone line, providing excellent value in the entry-level market. The Redmi Note 12 series has now been unveiled by the firm in China.
The Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition, Redmi Note 12 Pro, and Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus are the three phones we truly have this time. A flat 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED screen, a Mediatek Dimensity 1080 5G processor, and a 16MP selfie camera are features shared by all three devices.
They both have a 3.5mm connector, NFC, IR blaster, and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, among other things. In contrast, there are a few significant variances.
Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition
The Note 12 Discovery Edition of the Redmi Note 12 has a 200MP HPX primary camera (f/1.65, OIS), making it possibly the most striking model. This camera can capture photographs with a resolution of 200MP, 50MP pixels (using four-in-one binning), or 12.5MP (using 16-in-one binning). Additionally, the phone offers a 2MP macro lens and an 8MP ultrawide camera.
The phone is notably different from its stablemates in that it supports 210W wired charging; according to Xiaomi, a full charge can be achieved in just nine minutes. Although you only get a 4,300mAh battery here, this high wattage comes at the expense of battery capacity.
Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus
Thought a 200MP smartphone with a larger battery would be cool? With the Pro Plus model, you get precisely that. The triple back camera system will have the same 200MP+8MP+2MP resolution as the Discovery Edition.
The Pro Plus variant, on the other hand, chooses a 5,000mAh battery and still blazing-fast 120W cable charging. Xiaomi claims that a full charge should be achieved in about 19 minutes.
Redmi Note 12 Pro
Have no interest in megapixels? The Redmi Note 12 Pro, which adds a 50MP IMX766 primary camera (f/1.88, OIS) in addition to the 8MP+2MP duo, fills this need. The Oppo Find X5 Pro and the Asus Zenfone 9 both feature flagship devices with 50MP sensors similar to this one. We therefore have high hopes that it will also produce acceptable image quality on the Note 12 Pro.
The Pro version additionally includes a 5,000mAh battery with 67W wired speeds. A 100% charge should be expected in a still quick 46 minutes.
Pricing and availability for the Redmi Note 12 series
The base 8GB/256GB variant of the Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition costs 2,399 yuan (about $332), while the base 6GB/128GB model of the Redmi Note 12 Pro costs 1,699 yuan (about $235). Do you want Pro Plus? The 8GB/256GB variant thus has a starting price of 2,099 yuan (about $290).
Although Xiaomi acknowledged that these phones are currently limited to China, it advised us to “keep tuned” for international announcements. To be fair, the Chinese Redmi Note 11 series was very different from the international variants that debuted a few months later.
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