Samsung is all set to unveil its Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ in less than 2\u00a0hours (11am EDT), and we\u2019ve seen plenty of leaked images to know quite a lot about the phones before the big unveil. One feature that has been discussed to no end concerns the lack of a microSD card slot on the upcoming Galaxy Note, a first for what was a staple signature trademark for the Korean manufacturer.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve spent the last several weeks leading up to today\u2019s launch talking with consumers all across the Web who are discouraged because of the lack of a microSD card in the Galaxy Note 5. Many consumers feel that the Galaxy Note 5 is a productivity device, and one can be more productive with a microSD card and expandable storage than without. For many, it seems counterproductive to have a productivity device without expandable storage.<\/p>\n
And yet, even with a microSD card slot, there are things that can\u2019t be added to the microSD card. Take apps, for example: some individuals aren\u2019t app-hungry and would rather save photos to their device storage. Unfortunately, you can\u2019t add many apps to the microSD card; only a few are permitted on expandable storage. MicroSD cards are only a success when it comes to saving screenshots, photos, movies, TV shows, and music. When it comes to saving apps and using apps, it presents a problem. And when you update an app, it becomes even more problematic.<\/p>\n
Samsung has long used microSD cards, but only at this Spring\u2019s I\/O 2015 event did Google (now a small, mobile company within the conglomerate known as Alphabet) decide to provide native expandable storage support within the Android M update. Now, Motorola has announced its Moto X Style, by the way, with a microSD card slot for the first time in light of the coming Android update that will arrive with the introduction of the Huawei Nexus and LG Nexus (2015).<\/p>\n
Samsung\u2019s decision to remove microSD card slots may have had something to do with Google\u2019s lack of support for the feature for the last few years, and it\u2019s terrible to see Google now add something that the company cared very little about until now. It seems to have become a new priority for Google only because Google wants to beat Samsung in the smartphone race and thought to add the feature to win over angry Samsung customers. And the sad fact is that Android belongs to Google \u2013 so the company can do whatever it wants with the OS. Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S and Note devices run Android, but Samsung has no control over what Android will or won\u2019t allow.<\/p>\n
Samsung\u2019s decision to remove the expandable storage in the Galaxy S6, S6 edge, and Galaxy Note 5 was done to advance its smartphones, making these devices faster, more secure, and more capable \u2013 but this decision came with inevitable consequences. It\u2019s very likely the case that Samsung knew the decision would upset a large number of customers but did it because Google never played nice with microSD cards and card slots within Android. The company can\u2019t \u201cforetell the future\u201d with regard to what Google will or won\u2019t do.<\/p>\n
So, we now have a situation where the most prestigious smartphone of the year, the Galaxy Note 5, won\u2019t have the coveted microSD card slot for many customers. Already, there are quite a few contemplating that they\u2019ll pick up an LG G4 or an LG smartphone to be announced later this year (just a rumor for now) simply because Samsung abandoned expandable storage.<\/p>\n
But at the end of the day, Samsung is like all other Android OEMs: its hands are tied behind its back when it comes to taking on Google. Samsung is an Android manufacturer, as is Sony, LG, and HTC. Despite Samsung\u2019s decision to maintain SD card slots, Google said \u201cno\u201d to allowing full expandable storage capabilities year after year. Is it Samsung\u2019s fault now that Google has decided to play nice with a feature Google\u2019s despised for years? Not at all.<\/p>\n
When the Galaxy Note 5 is announced today in New York City, it will be the finest smartphone Samsung\u2019s ever made, the best on the market yet, but it will also bear the marks of what happens when you\u2019re an Android OEM. Unfortunately, Samsung has to play nice with Google because Google holds the key to the metaphorical \u201ccastle.\u201d If the castle belongs to Google, and Samsung is merely a guest, how can the \u201cguest\u201d be held responsible for the actions of the owner?<\/p>\n
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Samsung is all set to unveil its Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ in less than 2\u00a0hours (11am EDT), and we\u2019ve seen plenty of leaked images to know quite a lot about the phones before the big unveil. One feature that has been discussed to no end concerns the lack of a microSD card …<\/p>","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":3433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[876],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n