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Samsung kicks off battle for holiday spending

By WTOP Staff

FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Samsung unveiled two smartphones and a virtual-reality headset Wednesday in a bid to draw consumer attention before its fierce rival, Apple, announces its holiday lineup next week.

Samsung, whose phones have gotten progressively larger each year, has decided that bigger isn’t better this time. Instead, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 retains the 5.7-inch screen of last year’s model, but adds a speedier processor, a better screen, better cameras and software to fit more people into selfies.

The announcement at the IFA trade show in Berlin comes as Samsung’s smartphone sales fell 4 percent in the second quarter, compared with a year ago, even though it launched the Galaxy S5 in April. According to IDC, Samsung’s share of the global smartphone market fell 7 percentage points to 25 percent.

“Samsung needs the Galaxy Note 4 to be a hit,” said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight. “It has to make up some of the ground it lost as a result of the relatively poor reception to the all-plastic Galaxy S5.”

Wood said the new metal-based design of the Note 4 could offer the kind of premium look and feel that Samsung needs to compete with Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 6.

Apple’s iPhone 6 is widely expected to have a 4.7-inch screen, up from the current 4 inches, to make it more competitive with larger smartphones made by Samsung and other companies. There has been speculation that Apple may also unveil an iPhone with a 5.5-inch screen, putting it in competition with the Note 4.

A computerized wristwatch might come from Apple, too, competing with Samsung’s own smartwatches.

Besides the Note 4, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note Edge with a side display for quick access to the camera controls, news and frequently used apps.

Ian Fogg, an analyst who follows the mobile industry at IHS in London, said the side display distinguishes Samsung’s phone from others, but Samsung will need to persuade app developers to take advantage of it.

Samsung’s earlier attempt to introduce finger levitation, allowing users to hover their fingers over a device and not touch the screen, didn’t take off. Developers didn’t build the technology into their apps.

But some of those who got their hands on the Edge at the IFA show were enthusiastic.

“Users often don’t know what they want until they see it, and I think this will be one of those features,” said Martin Gicheru, managing editor of Techweez, a technology news site based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Alongside its new phones, Samsung launched an eye-catching virtual-reality headset called Gear VR. It uses sensors to gauge the head’s position, giving people an immersive experience with concerts, aerial footage and games.

But video and other content will need to be developed. Some content partnerships were announced Wednesday, and Samsung says more will come by the time the device goes on sale. NextVR of Laguna Beach, California, plans to offer live sports and music events through the Samsung device. NextVR already works with other virtual-reality headset makers.

The Gear VR requires a Note 4 to work, limiting its appeal for anyone who doesn’t want to buy a new phone. But its modest price of $200 makes it an attractive add-on for those already planning to splash out on the latest Samsung phone. Prices for the phones weren’t announced, but the Note 4 will probably be in the range of $700 and the Edge will likely be even more.

All three products are due for release in October — in time for holiday shopping. Apple’s new phones are likely to come out sooner.

Even as Samsung unveiled its phones, tech analysts at Gartner predicted that iPhones will be the “must-have” gadget of the holidays.

“There’s no question that’s going to be the new device that will drive existing upgrades,” Gartner analyst Hugues J. De La Vergne said.

He said there has been pent-up demand for larger iPhones, and Apple looks to be delivering on that, negating a major advantage that Android phones have had.

Besides facing that challenge from Apple, Samsung also has been losing ground to upstart Chinese manufacturers after several years of headlong growth, according to IDC.

Speculation is also rife that Apple will launch a smartwatch in time for the holidays. In just a year, Samsung is on its fifth smartwatch with the announcement of its Galaxy Gear S last week. Unlike past watches, this one has 3G cellular connectivity and can do more without a companion smartphone nearby.

Wood, of CSS Insight, said Samsung’s rapid roll-out of new products underlined the ever-quickening pace of the mobile devices space.

“Samsung (has) to anticipate Apple’s every move while looking over its shoulder at the ever-present threat from Chinese manufacturers,” he said.

___

AP Technology Writer Anick Jesdanun reported from New York. Mae Anderson in New York and Jona Kallgren in Berlin contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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