Samsung Z1 Tizen Smartphone India Launch Today - All You Wanted To Know

The South Korean phone manufacturer is all set to declare war on Google's Android One with their latest Tizen OS powered smartphone 'Samsung Z1'. The much-delayed Tizen OS running device has been a topic of discussion among the tech circles for quite some time now. But today, Samsung has announced the release of its first Tizen smartphone in India with Samsung Z1. Last April, Samsung hinted that it had plans to launch two new handsets featuring its very own operating system, but about 3 months later it declared that the plan was put on hold in its attempt to garner enough support for its developer platform.

Before we move on to what the Samsung Z1 has to offer, let us take a look at what the Tizen OS is all about. The Tizen OS is based on the Linux kernel and the GNU C Library implementing the Linux API. It targets a very wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, in-vehicle infotainment devices, smart TVs, PCs, smart cameras, wearable computing, blu-ray players, printers and smart home appliances. We've covered information on the #-Link-Snipped-# based products right from the start. The OS was born primarily because Intel and the Linux Foundation decided it was going to abandon the MeeGo platform.

Coming to all the products running the Tizen OS we've seen so far, there's Samsung's NX300M smart camera released in October 2013, that became the first consumer product based on Tizen. Later the same month, we saw the first Tizen tablet from Systena that was shipped as part of a development kit exclusive to Japan. Last but not the least, we saw the arrival of Samsung's Galaxy Gear 2.0 To Run On Tizen.

After all that history in mind, let us take you to the Samsung Z1 Smartphone that was launched in India at an event called 'Samsung Z Media Day' held in New Delhi.

Samsung-z1-tizen-os-smartphone-india-launch-price-specs-more
The Samsung Z1 Smartphone

Features & Specifications:
Sporting a 4-inch screen and a resolution of 800 X 480 pixels on the PLS TFT display, the Samsung Z1 features speak of 768MB RAM and 4 GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB via a microSD card. Powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, the Z1 smartphone brings a 3.1-megapixel rear camera. As you can see from the images, the user interface on the Dual-SIM Tizen device doesn't look very different than its older Android devices. This is because, the Z1 comes with the same Touchwiz UI. On the connectivity front, the Samsung Z1 specs suggest the usual Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi, USB 2.0 and GPS. Weighing at about 112 g, the Samsung Z1 features a 1500 mAh battery that should give a few days of standby time.

To lure young Indian customers, Samsung is offering access to over 7000 TV shows and films through Box TV at an annual fee of Rs. 1,750. Other than that, the Samsung Z1 offers its consumers free access to content available on Club Samsung and music download & streaming via Hungama.com. The Z1 will be available to consumers from today in white, black, and red color options at a price of Rs. 5,700.

The Competition

We know that Samsung is fully aware of the competition in Indian market and might've some plans for reaching out to the masses, but with Z1 the chances of them emerging as winners look pretty slim. For instance, smartphones like Xiaomi Redmi 1S and Asus Zenfone 4, that are available in the same price range, offer way better hardware specifications. Moreover, Android OS has won millions of non-tech savvy hearts in every nook and corner of India and it's easy to use UI has been appreciated time and again. Although the UI remains the same with Tizen, convincing users to switch to a new operating system might be a tad too tough. Only when the trust of the consumer is gained, can Samsung hope to sail its Tizen ship in India by truly penetrating the enthusiastic market.

Update: It can run Android apps.
Samsung Z1 is capable of running Android apps, provided that OpenMobile's Application Compatibility Layer is installed from the Tizen app store. In case you were wondering about all the Google Play Store app that you love and want to buy the new Tizen phone & are aware of the nascent stage of their apps ecosystem, well, now you can do that by employing a simple installation procedure. Though the app should run smoothly, their effect on the phone's battery life might be something you won't appreciate.

What are your thoughts on the all new Samsung Z1 smartphone? Share with us in comments below.​

Replies

  • Rajni Jain
    Rajni Jain
    Ankita Katdare
    The Competition
    We know that Samsung is fully aware of the competition in Indian market and might've some plans for reaching out to the masses, but with Z1 the chances of them emerging as winners look pretty slim. ​
    very true and nicely reviewed article.
  • Kaustubh Katdare
    Kaustubh Katdare
    I really wonder what Samsung is thinking. Maybe sticking with Android for their top-line phones makes an interesting business for them; but for Tizen to get noticed - they ought to launch high-end hardware running with Tizen. The approach they took is evident - allow Android apps so that they don't have to go on building an ecosystem of their own by enticing developers. I like the fact that they're choosing to run their TVs on Tizen - so the game's still on!

You are reading an archived discussion.

Related Posts

Google has started its domain registration service for public use in US. Giving benefits like "Private registration at no cost", "Easy integration with top website builders", "Customizable sub-domains", "Fast, secure...
Fujitsu Laboratories has announced that it is developing a ring-type wearable device that will let users enter text by waving their fingertip in the air. Fujitsu says that the wearable...
asokfair submitted a new project: Sketch Drive Car (World's 1st Car) - Draw it !Drive it ! This project aims at controlling a car through a trajectory traced by the...
asokfair submitted a new project: IOT Based Device Control - Control Any Devices from Anywhere! This Projects aims to control the Devices through internet. Tiva ARM MCU is used in...
Is time travel possible? Through my life I have occasionally crossed a moment where a person has professed in having experienced time travel. Does anyone have a similar experience. Now...