Will the Galaxy S6 right the ship for Samsung?

[Hadron]

As I've said elsewhere, Google are not fans of SD cards but I doubt they care about removable batteries: that has no impact on the OS, nor on the likelihood of people using cloud storage, so doesn't really impact them at all. I think that's just an industry trend - it let's you pack a larger battery into a thinner device, and provides an incentive to upgrade at some point - and the Nexus devices are just following that.

As for protruding camera, if the people complaining about this would like a device thick enough for that camera not to protrude then fair enough (you could fit a bigger battery that way). If they think the device should be the same thickness but the camera not protrude then they either actually want an inferior camera or they just don't understand optics. But the idea that a protruding camera is an attempt to copy Apple stylistically is simply not worth commenting on.

 

[Cobravision]

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply Google doesn't want a swappable battery, it wasn't written clearly. Like you said, the sealed battery allows for a thinner phone, and I'm all for that.

There are a lot of theories why Google hates SD cards -- publicly, Google doesn't like them because of the consumer confusion they cause -- files are all over the place and users by and large can't distinguish between bad SD cards and bad phones, blaming Android for SD card problems. Some popular ulterior motives include ditching licensing fees to Microsoft for fat32 and exfat file systems (which are required by the SD card consortium), the move to encrypting storage, and pushing users to Google streaming services in lieu of storing media.

 

[jackdubl]

Really? I've never had a Samsung OEM battery last more than 2 years. After the first year, the performance drops dramatically. I also carry a spare battery, just in case. While, I enjoy having the micro SD card, I plug my phone into my computer on a regular basis, sometimes just to refresh the charge. It is no big deal to empty my SD card at the same time, or refresh it with new items. For me, the real deal breaker is the non-removable battery.

That's me to a T. I can move things around to deal with lack of storage, but until they invent instant charge to 100% tech, the nonremovable battery is a major lifestyle change.

P. S. Maybe the NSA wants it this way so that they can always remotely turn on your phone mics/cameras/sensors.

 

[rushmore]

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply Google doesn't want a swappable battery, it wasn't written clearly. Like you said, the sealed battery allows for a thinner phone, and I'm all for that.

There are a lot of theories why Google hates SD cards -- publicly, Google doesn't like them because of the consumer confusion they cause -- files are all over the place and users by and large can't distinguish between bad SD cards and bad phones, blaming Android for SD card problems. Some popular ulterior motives include ditching licensing fees to Microsoft for fat32 and exfat file systems (which are required by the SD card consortium), the move to encrypting storage, and pushing users to Google streaming services in lieu of storing media.

Google has been very vocal in wanting the herds all to use the cloud. The thing called data caps and dead coverage areas are huge obstacles to their data mining, content controlling vision. That and wifi is still not as prolific as needed for such a fate.

 

[KialReece]

Speaker grill? Okay. Heck, the placement of all the elements on the entire bottom edge are very similar.
Protruding camera? You mean like the S5 had? By that logic, the iPhone 6 is copying the S5.
Non removable back cover and battery like the iPhone... but also like the Nexus 5 onward. This is the way Google wants it.
The iPhone goes 16, 64, and 128. The fact that the S6 has 32gb base is much, much more consumer friendly than Apple. 16gb just sucks.

Okay so maybe my points about some of the features that are similar from the iPhone 6 to the S6 have already been seen on the S5 as you say about the camera ill agree I may have been hasty but putting the headphone jack at the bottom really annoys me for the exception of the A series (A3 and A5 namely) it's always been at the top either left or right. Do you not think that it resembles the 6 a little too much in a lot of respects though ? The non removable back I understand was done so they could make way for the gorilla glass, but they had it good at aluminum bezel and plastic back with removable back and expandable storage. Iunderstand cloud storage is where the future is but when you all of a sudden take away certain features and placements of things it's rather annoying and tedious to have to re adjust, it's obvious samsung have changed the S6 has been changed to keep the competition with the HTC M line and the iPhone and offer the Note series as spec abundant for the tech buffs but what about the people that like that but in a smaller package who are loyal samsung consumers what do they do? Is this the end of removable backs as we have known ? Agreed Samsung's 32GB base storage option is a good move as opposed to 16gb on the iPhone 6, but that glass is a finger print magnet on the S6 and really detracts the design of it, which is gonna possibly make people want to get a case and ruin the aesthetics of the phone for some because they couldn't just go full uni body with the design which they might aswell of gone for. In the end though opinions are opinions.

 

[Cobravision]

I'm gonna guess the last phone with a removable back from a major OEM will be the LG G4. If the S6 is a huge success, it will be a sign that microSD and swappable batteries aren't that important to consumers by and large and thus not worth the engineering and design compromises.

 

[Mcgee10]

And until you have taken that trip down battery will not take a charge and they won't replace the phone or the battery free trip. If the phone's battery drops after the warranty your screwed. I have been down that road.
I like the aluminum case but no replaceable battery or no sd card you keep it. I'll stick to my S5

 

[Pottertons]

Access to battery and SD card slot are HUGE drawbacks for me personally. So much so that, even though just about everything about the S6 seems on par, if not better than the LG G4, I'd actually consider the latter for that one aspect.

Battery:
While this may not be that much of a big deal, I do like the fact that I can either pass the device down to my kids if need be or at least sell it with some form of value remaining, once my term is up.
I've done the former with an older Android device and it was pretty much useless because we had to constantly keep it hooked up to the charger cable.

SD card slot:
At first, this was simply a case of having accessibility and options. However, after today, I most definitely want and expandable SD slot.
My S4 crashed and it won't even turn on at all. So now everything that is in memory is non accessible via the phone. At least i can simply remove the card and access the files elsewhere.
Yes, I have some cloud storage but In order to be able to truly replace the expandable SD card option, i'd have to set my uploads to auto for EVERYTHING? (docs, Photos, music, video) Which as far as I can imagine, would be....

1) Heavy on CPU usage, especially if the phone is actually in use while the upload is in progress.
2) The added demand of the cpu seems as if it would also drain the battery faster
3) To have something like this running on auto mode, would mean i'd have to allow the option of uploading while in LTE/4G mode as well as Wifi. Which in turn would DESTROY my monthly usage cap, somewhat unnecessarily.
4) The need for monthly subscription may come into play if my main headquarters for storage is now cloud based.

3 BIG drawbacks with a potential 4th, all simply, because there is no expandable memory.

 

[mikedt]

SD card slot:
At first, this was simply a case of having accessibility and options. However, after today, I most definitely want and expandable SD slot.
My S4 crashed and it won't even turn on at all. So now everything that is in memory is non accessible via the phone. At least i can simply remove the card and access the files elsewhere.
Yes, I have some cloud storage but In order to be able to truly replace the expandable SD card option, i'd have to set my uploads to auto for EVERYTHING? (docs, Photos, music, video) Which as far as I can imagine, would be....

I periodically backup everything on the phone to a large capacity USB thumb-drive via USB OTG, photos, videos, documents, contacts, everything. Which you can do with an S6, no computer needed.
I'm thinking even if stuff is on a MicroSD, lose the phone, that's the MicroSD gone as well. And cloud storage is not always available, especially if one doesn't have unlimited 3G/4G data, and might disappear as well if the particular service is discontinued, e.g. Apple MobileMe.

 

[Pottertons]

I periodically backup everything on the phone to a large capacity USB thumb-drive via USB OTG, photos, videos, documents, contacts, everything. Which you can do with an S6, no computer needed.
I'm thinking even if stuff is on a MicroSD, lose the phone, that's the MicroSD gone as well. And cloud storage is not always available, especially if one doesn't have unlimited 3G/4G data, and might disappear as well if the particular service is discontinued, e.g. Apple MobileMe.

I actually have an OTG cable, but having to remember to bring that with me Everywhere is never going to happen. Also, I'm not quite sure how OTG is any different to connecting your phone to a PC followed by a simple drag'n'drop?; and I'd imagine that one would be more likely to lose a thumb-drive before their actual device.

Overall, when you really look at it, that little tiny SD card covers a hell of a lot of ground when you consider that, in order to replace one, you need a good 5 other aspects going in your favour, which potentially can cost more money and more wear and tear on your phone.

I guess with the sudden issue that i had, i'll always be in favour of the card. because unless everyone plans on backing Everything up Instantly at all times. It will remain irreplaceable.

 

[mikedt]

I actually have an OTG cable, but having to remember to bring that with me Everywhere is never going to happen. Also, I'm not quite sure how OTG is any different to connecting your phone to a PC followed by a simple drag'n'drop?; and I'd imagine that one would be more likely to lose a thumb-drive before their actual device.

Overall, when you really look at it, that little tiny SD card covers a hell of a lot of ground when you consider that, in order to replace one, you need a good 5 other aspects going in your favour, which potentially can cost more money and more wear and tear on your phone.

I guess with the sudden issue that i had, i'll always be in favour of the card. because unless everyone plans on backing Everything up Instantly at all times. It will remain irreplaceable.

I did say "periodically backup", meaning like every two or three days, when I'm at home or sometimes in a hotel somewhere. Which is usually photos or videos I've taken recently, everything else is already backed up, like contacts, documents, etc. Plug USB into phone, copy new pics and videos, job done. Problem with just SD alone, phone goes missing, maybe it's stolen, leave it somewhere, that's it, SD is gone as well. Instant backup to cloud or whatever is not really an option for me, unless WiFi is available.

FWIW I'm often carrying an OTG cable around with me along with a USB thumb-drive, makes my job easier, because sometimes I may want to quickly edit PPTs using phone before lessons.

 

[Pottertons]

Oh, don't get me wrong here, I fully get what you're saying in terms of the 'periodic' method. No finger pointing here. I do the exact same thing only I do it over wifi with ES File Explorer whenever i'm home. Which I find to be even more convenient than using OTG because it's one move rather than two.
Anyway, my apologies because i don't want to make it seem like a 'mine's better than yours' rant. lol Because we seem to be on the same page.

The common denominator here is that, with cloud storage available, the elimination of SD cards in phones is justified.

Well, take your situation for instance....you periodically back up when you get the chance or remember to do so every two to three days. Imagine your 'unibody' phone crashed just before you were about to do that.....

It's just strange that so many people are ok with something like this happening. If or when it does, those people will possibly be crying out for an SD card.

While the majority of the stuff I wanted to keep a hold of was on my SD card, some was on my phones internal memory. Which sucks!!! My fault for not setting up the default path.