Samsung has launched its new Z1 smartphone. The device is the first to be powered by the company’s own Tizen operating system and is being sold in India for the equivalent of $92. Samsung say that the handsets offer faster boot times and a longer battery life than many of their budget rivals.
The manufacturer had already cancelled Tizen launches in Japan and Russia. Experts are saying that the move could mark the beginnings of a departure from the Android operating system that its phones are usually powered by.
Commentators say that the South Korean manufacturer – who have been faced with falling sales recently – have been struggling to differentiate their phones from other Android-powered devices, with many consumers opting for cheaper devices run by the same operating system as a result. The company is hoping that the phone’s extended battery life and lighter phones mean that that consumers will start to choose them over their competitors once more.
Samsung says that the phone offers eight hours of talktime and seven hours of uninterrupted video playback. A phone also offers support for two different SIM cards. This is a popular feature as it enables phone owners to benefit from the best tariffs as they move in and out of different states.
The company says that all future smart TVs will be powered by Tizen, which uses HTML5. It’s believed that this choice in web language will make life easier for software writers. Its flagship watch, the Gear S, runs on Tizen. It’s thought that Samsung will introduce Tizen to other markets such as the US and Europe if its Indian venture is a success.
Can you see Tizen taking off as a leading operating system? Would you be glad to see the dominance of Android and iOS weakened? Let us know what you think below.