Samsung Makes its Rounds

Samsung makes its Rounds

Breaking news, Samsung sat on a Galaxy Note 3. Just kidding, that’s the new Galaxy Round--essentially a Note 3 with a bit of a curve and no S-Pen. Nicknamed the Galaxy Taco and mocked by many, this device may be the first step on the staircase to the future. Although it seems pricey right now, (possibly up to $1,000!) we’ve yet to gather all the information about a United States model. The specs are about the same: 5.7” 1080 OLED curved display, 2.26GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, expandable storage, 13/2MP front and rear camera, LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, a slightly weaker 2,800mAh battery, and Android 4.3. Featuring TouchWiz, Multi-window, and all of the same tricks as the rest of the galaxy line, the only major innovation here is a curved display. While that may seem like a small deal—the Galaxy Nexus has a curved screen—it actually may matter more than you think. Unlike the GNex, which is curved glass over a flat display, the Galaxy Round has a curved display with a plastic cover. This design should (hopefully) cut down on broken displays and screens and will fit more comfortably in your hand, pocket, and to your face when talking on the Round. This is the first instance on a curved display we’ve seen on the market and brings us one step closer towards the Smartphones that will roll up into a compact form when not in use. Some other differences are the size and weight, which are smaller and less than the Note 3, but just barely. Two new features are the Roll Effect which lets you view important information like battery life,  notifications, and the time by tilting the device while sleeping, and Gravity Effect, which creates visual interaction with the screen when tilted (more on that as more information is released.) Maybe the curve is a gimmick, maybe it’s innovation, but as far as its potential for success goes, we’ll just have to let the market decide. Unfortunately, that market is the Korean market for now, with the device hopefully being released in the U.S. shortly. As for now, the next big thing isn’t here… yet. The bottom line is Samsung is trying something new. They’re experimenting with new designs and technology and seeing what the people want. LG will follow suit shortly and then we move into the next phase of smartphones: not a world of floppy phones and foldable devices, but one where the consumer gets a choice between a curved display and a flat one. Whether you like the new design or not, we can all look at this as opening a door to a new world of Smart Devices and eagerly await what’s in store.