Samsung has today confirmed that it will exit the European laptop market, in a move that mirrors other device makers such as Sony.
If you’re a European resident waiting to see what the next generation of Samsung Chromebooks or laptops would bring, then it’s pretty bad news, but if you live in other regions where Samsung operates then you should be just fine.
“We quickly adapt to market needs and demands. In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now,” a spokesperson for the company told TNW. “This is specific to the region – and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets. We will continue to thoroughly evaluate market conditions and will make further adjustments to maintain our competitiveness in emerging PC categories.”
Naturally, it’s safe to assume that laptops just don’t command the sales and margins they once did, as buyers spend their cash on other devices. While Samsung is still a huge player in the smartphone market, it seems laptops just aren’t a worthwhile investment right now.
➤ Samsung exits laptop market including Chromebooks [PCAdvisor]
55% off the limited edition Code Black Drone + HD Camera pre-order exclusive
After selling out extremely quickly on it’s first two runs, the HD Code Black Drone has been on preorder for months. Well now it’s back in the TNW Deals store and ready to ship! As a special promotion, we’re extending the Pre-Order price for two more days! Get it now , because the price goes up after Thursday!
Finished in stunning matte black, the Code Black Drone features beginner and expert flight modes so you can execute simple flight patterns and tricks right out of the box, and more complex maneuvers once you’ve got in some practice.
The Code Black Drone includes an easy-to-learn remote control to guide your drone from up to 100 feet away, and also features a built-in camera to record HD-quality footage of every thrilling second of your flights.
Here’s what you can expect when you order the Code Black Drone :
Out of the box ready-to-fly
Palm-sized drone
6-axis flight control system for an extremely stable flight
4-ways flip (left, right, forward, backward)
Beginner and expert flight modes
USB charging cable allows to charge it by computer
The Code Black Drone is so popular it flew off our shelves during our first two sales – but we now have limited units back in stock at TNW Deals, for just $89 for the HD camera version and $69 for the SD camera version (available in the continental US).
And now, we’re even offering the Code Black Drone HD Worldwide for just $10 shipping (total of $99). For the first time, this drone is available in Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Pre-order yours now!
➤ Get this deal now
This bluetooth gadget makes it easy to record your calls
Recording phone calls is something that’s incredibly handy if you’re a journalist, have a bad memory or simply want to be able to prove a conversation took place, but it’s pretty hard even with smartphones.
Bluewire , a new Bluetooth device being crowdfunded on Indiegogo, promises to make recording every phone call a whole lot easier. The device can function as a standalone headset or as an add on to the one you’ve already got. This is awesome, because it means it’ll work with car handsfree systems, along with your computer as well.
When using with an existing headset, the device sits between your phone and existing bluetooth headset and quietly records your calls in the best quality possible.
It records up to 1,000 hours of audio, which can be accessed via a mobile application. In addition to storing recordings, the app logs the time and date of the call, along with caller ID information for easier retrieval later.
For Android users, once you’ve finished a call, you’re even able to immediately transfer it to your device via NFC by tapping it to the phone.
Avi Gilor, the man behind the device, knows this area well. Gilor spent twenty years working undercover building devices for government agencies, including miniaturized video and audio monitoring devices.
Gilor is as close to being a gadget spy-guy from the movies as you can get with his background and funnily enough, he “grew up on the Bond movies.” Even his Skype username alludes to his background.
Bluewire is Gilor’s first consumer product, but he’s confident it’ll do well because the other options available to consumers are simply too difficult to use. There are a number of apps that promise voice recording, Gilor says, but most don’t work as advertised despite getting over 50 million downloads.
The team behind Bluewire is made up of eight engineers and the device works up to 33 feet away from your phone. Gilor told me over Skype that this isn’t about the money for him. Instead, he wants to make the best product users would want to see.
Recording audio is a sketchy legal area in some locations; some countries require you to notify the receiving party that you’re recording, while others only require one party to be aware of the recording.
Bluewire is laden with features; it’s got wireless charging (Gilor tells me it was pretty tricky to get this right), an accelerometer, the ability to find your phone or keys if the device is attached to them and more.
To get Bluewire off the ground, Gilor has launched it on Indiegogo with a goal to raise $40,000. The team needs the money to finalize the product and get the software stable before shipping to backers in July. Gilor says it’s a real product, but it needs that last push to get it across the line.
If you’ve been looking for a better way to record your phone calls, Bluewire could be perfect for you.
➤ Bluewire [Indiegogo]