Samsung: Will Note 8 Become Another Disappointment?
By Gina Emmanuel
The newly launched Samsung Note 8 despite its fantastic features may turn out to be another technological mishap.
Recall that the Galaxy Notes 7 became technological errors as the batteries were globally exploding for users between September and October 2016. And the company admitted then to have come across more than 35 such cases.
The recent launch of the Note 8 in Lagos was well attended by dealers and the media.A short demonstration of the phone revealed the edge the latest model has over other brands. However, shortly after the immersion of the Note 8 into a jar of water for about five minutes and removed by the Field Test Engineer,Mr Stephen Okwara, the screen became wavy with multiple thin lines of red, blue and purple colours, before it became blurry. Just as the new device gave signs of distress caused by water, the Samsung About two minutes thereafter, the device was switched off unnoticed by the audience.
However, Gtech believes that Note 8, which currently sells for N320,000 (about $889) should be taken back to the drawing room for better analysis.
Although, Samsung disclosed cleverly in its statement that when users drop the device accidentally in fresh water, as deep as 1.5 meters, for up to 30 minutes, it would get damaged.
Earlier,Director of Information, Communication and Technology for Samsung Electronics West Africa,Mr Emmanouil Revmatas had explained that 2016 was a challenging year for the Note.
“But failure is the mother of success. The infinity display is a game changer for Note users because where others see more screen, users see more space to do what they love and get things done”.
The company stated that the Note 8 is made with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.0 with a 6.3-inch QHD screen, the largest screen on a Galaxy Note phone, a dual camera, two 12-megapixel cameras on the back ,a dual pixel primary wide-angel sensor with f/1.7 aperture and OIS, and a secondary telephoto lens with f/1.4 aperture and OIS.
“The smartphone features the company’s signature Infinity Display, giving the screen more surface area for use with the S Pen.
Also, Director of Mobile for Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo, said,“The Galaxy Note 8 has the biggest screen but its narrow body makes it comfortable to hold in one hand. With the Super AMOLED technology, combined with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440, all the typical characteristics featured in previous Samsung phones such as vibrant colors, high contrast, and inky dark blacks are incredibly sharp”
For more advanced photo-taking, the Galaxy Note 8’s Live Focus feature allows for control of the depth of field by adjusting the blur and focus of the background in real time. The background blur can be adjusted even after the picture is taken.
In Dual Capture mode, both rear cameras take two pictures simultaneously, allowing users save both images; one close-up shot from the telephoto lens and one wide-angle shot that shows the entire background. The wide-angle lens has a Dual Pixel sensor with rapid Auto Focus, so you can capture sharper, clearer shots even in low-light environments.
“One of the things our consumers look out for when purchasing a device is the camera. Samsung has clearly set the standard for smartphone cameras and, with the Galaxy Note 8; we are delivering our most powerful smartphone camera yet. The Galaxy Note 8 is also equipped with an industry-leading 8MP Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera for sharp selfies and video chats,” said Revmatas.
He added that Note 8 is equipped with two 12MP rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens, allowing users capture crisp and sharp images.
With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s Adaptive Fast Charging technology, users can get their battery charge up from zero to 50 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. Its ultra power saving mode also lets users make the most of their battery power, helping them stay connected for longer periods.“ Consumers do not need to worry about the safety of their devices as Samsung continues to uphold its commitment to lead the industry in battery safety. The Galaxy Note8’s battery has undergone Samsung’s 8-Point Battery Safety Check—the most rigorous in the industry,” continued Revmatas.
In addition to its technological advancements, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options including iris and fingerprint scanning.
The S Pen, like the Galaxy Note 8 itself, is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance; users can easily jot down thoughts and ideas on a wet screen without interruption. The S Pen can also translate full sentences in foreign languages, depending on the country and region.
The Galaxy Note 8 is available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, and Maple Gold colours.