Finally, a tech device that allows us to feel like James Bond (drinking Martinis every weekend at the bar hurts the wallet and liver way too much). For this, we’ve got to thank Samsung, who’ve just released the Galaxy Note 7, a phablet that incorporates iris-scanning technology, and the latest in line of their popular Note series.
So, how does unlocking a phone with your eyes work? First, users have to access the iris option in security settings, before selecting the scanner as the preferred unlock method. After that, it’s a matter of following simple instructions, and voila, staring at your phone screen will now unlock it too. Definitely an upgrade over unlocking it with your thumbprint. If for some reason your iris scanner isn’t working, there’s still the standard pin or pattern options to fall back on.
But the iris scanner isn’t the only neat addition that the Note 7 has over its predecessors. For the ultra-private, the Note 7 has what is called a Secure Folder. Basically, what this means is that users can now store files privately, as well as run the same app twice on a single device, with each app tied to different SIMs. Think Whatsapp, but two versions of it. It’s now going to be a lot easier to keep photos, videos and texts secret, especially since only Samsung ID-registered customers can access the folder.
Other cool improvements of the Note 7 include the smaller size of its stylus, which now measures a tiny 0.7mm compared to the Note 5’s 1.6mm. Another handy feature of the Note 7 is the option to select your resolution. For instance, phone users can now pick between HD, Full-HD or QHD for the 5.7-inch display, with lower resolutions a battery saver.
People who love to take photos will also be pleased to know that the Note 7’s camera is extremely powerful. It uses a 12-megapixel sensor with Dual Pixel technology, while there’s also phase detection autofocus (PDAF), optical image stabilisation (OIS), an f/1.7 aperture, a dual-LED flash, and auto-HDR.
It may be early days, but Samsung’s Note 7 looks like it might just leave other smartphones in the dust. Will brands like Apple, HTC or Xiaomi step up their game and come up with something equally as impressive, or will the Note 7 propel Samsung as the clear frontrunner in the smartphone industry? Only time can tell, but for now, the Note 7 looks like the real deal.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 comes in Onyx Black, Gold Platinum and Titanium Silver and is available in Singapore from 20 August onwards for $1,168. Visit Samsung’s official website at www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/
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