Latest news with #A26
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Goan bands hit the right note on Mangaluru stage
Mangaluru: There's a new rhythm setting the pace for celebrations in Mangaluru, and it hails directly from Goa. The coastal city's event circuit, from charity galas to ticketed parties and family functions, is increasingly showing a strong preference for Goan bands. The city's stages have seen almost all the top bands of Goa performing live over the years. A few notable names include A26, Black IN White Band, True Blue, Double R, Mark Revlon, Raagas2Riches, Uzo Band and others. Organisers and attendees of these events laud their energetic performances, passion for music and singing, and diverse repertoire, which often resonate deeply with the region's shared Konkani Catholic heritage. This trend sees many Goan groups performing regularly in Mangaluru. However, a stark contrast exists as very few Mangalurean bands secure similar gigs in Goa. Mark Fernandes of Stonebridge Entertainment, one of the event organisers who set the trend of inviting Goan bands in 2019, attributes their success to the quality of song selection, command over playlists, and quality of voice, which is as good as the original. "They don't just play one music genre, but all. Secondly, they also have a good command over Bollywood cover numbers, singing live, which not all bands can do. In total, Goan bands can capture the audience of Mangaluru and perform according to their taste," said Fernandes, adding that close to 20-25 bands from Goa are eagerly waiting to perform in Mangaluru. "They (Goan bands) perform in Mangaluru as it gives them a new platform to get recognised for their talents in the state," he said. Mark also added that earlier, bands originating from Mangaluru did not have many bookings outside the district, but of late, a few bands are able to touch the stages of Goa too. It is a positive sign, and some also perform in clubs in Bengaluru. Besides performing in ticketed events or charity galas, the Goan bands are also able to make inroads into private functions of individuals, be it roce, weddings, or other small events such as birthdays and anniversaries. Those who attend these events summarise that these bands are high in energy and dance-oriented. "Bands are well known for their high-energy performances and make everyone, be it young or old, shake a leg or two," says Laxmi Shenoy, an event organiser as well as a partygoer.
Khaleej Times
02-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
Samsung unveils budget-friendly Galaxy A36, A26, and A56 smartphones with AI upgrades
Samsung has officially introduced its latest midrange smartphones, the Galaxy A36 and A26, offering larger displays, improved processors, and new AI capabilities. Priced at $400 and $300, respectively, these devices will hit the market in late March. Additionally, the company has announced the Galaxy A56, a $500 model set to launch later this year with a larger display, camera enhancements, and advanced AI features. The announcement of these three Galaxy A series phones follows the debut of Apple's $599 iPhone 16E, positioning Samsung as a brand that continues to provide high-value, affordable smartphones. The new Galaxy A phones ship with Android 15 and One UI 7, ensuring a smooth user experience. Samsung has committed to six years of OS and security updates, alongside advanced security features like Knox Vault and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. Here's a closer look at Samsung's latest midrange offerings: Samsung Galaxy A36: Premium Features at an Affordable Price ($400) The Galaxy A36 5G is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, featuring an 8.2mm thickness and weighing 196 grams. It maintains a 5,000 mAh battery but now supports 45W super-fast charging, reaching nearly 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The phone sports a 6.7-inch display, up from 6.6 inches, with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,900-nit peak brightness. Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back enhances durability. The device features an FHD+ resolution (2,220x1,080 pixels) for sharp visuals. Camera upgrades include a 50MP main camera with HDR video recording, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro camera. The front camera has been adjusted from 13MP to 12MP but now supports 10-bit HDR video for improved dynamic range. Samsung's AI-powered camera features promise enhanced low-light performance and noise reduction. AI capabilities on the A36 include Google's Circle to Search, AI-driven photo editing tools like Object Eraser and Edit Suggestion, and personalized filter creation. The phone runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A larger cooling system helps optimize performance for gaming and streaming. The Galaxy A36 will be available on March 26 in black and lavender, with an exclusive lime color at Best Buy. Samsung Galaxy A26: Budget-Friendly Yet Feature-Rich ($300) The Galaxy A26 improves upon its predecessor with a slimmer 7.7mm profile and a 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It features Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, enhancing durability while keeping a plastic frame. Camera-wise, the A26 retains a 50MP wide camera, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, a 2MP macro camera, and a 13MP front-facing camera. AI tools like Photo Edit Suggestion and Object Eraser make their way to this model, along with Circle to Search. Powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, the A26 includes 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and expandable memory up to 2TB. Its 5,000 mAh battery ensures long-lasting usage. The Galaxy A26 will be available on March 28, exclusively in black. Samsung Galaxy A56: A Powerhouse with Advanced AI and Photography Features ($500) The Galaxy A56 features a 6.7-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging. Running on the Exynos 1580 chipset, it includes a larger vapor chamber for enhanced cooling, making it ideal for gaming and streaming. The A56's camera setup consists of a 50MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro camera. The selfie camera has a 12MP sensor with 10-bit HDR support and Low Noise Mode for improved low-light photography. A unique 'Best Face' feature lets users refine group shots by selecting the best expressions for up to five people. Other AI-powered tools include enhanced Object Eraser and custom Filter capabilities. Samsung has yet to reveal the available color options for the A56, which will launch later this year. With the launch of the Galaxy A36, A26, and A56, Samsung continues to set the standard for feature-packed, affordable smartphones. These devices offer powerful AI-driven enhancements, durable designs, and long-term software support, making them strong competitors in the midrange market.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
Forget the $599 iPhone 16E: Samsung's New Galaxy A Phones Are Truly Affordable
Samsung has debuted its latest midrange phones, the Galaxy A36 and A26, which have larger displays, more powerful processors and, inevitably, new AI features. The phones cost $400 and $300, respectively, and go on sale in late March. The company also unveiled the Galaxy A56 phone, priced at $500, which will be available later this year. The A56 has a bigger display than last year's Galaxy A55, new AI capabilities and camera improvements, Samsung says. Arriving on the heels of the $599 iPhone 16E, Apple's idea of an affordable phone that's far from cheap, all three new Samsung Galaxy A phones seem to prove a phone-maker can still make a device that's truly affordable and flexes new features like Android 15 and One UI 7. All the phones are built to last, with six years of OS and security updates, Samsung's Knox Vault for device security and privacy, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Samsung's announcement comes just ahead of Mobile World Congress" target="_blank in Barcelona. Here's everything to know about the Galaxy A36, A26 and A56. At 8.2mm thick and 196 grams, the Galaxy A36 5G is thinner and lighter than last year's A35 5G, which was 7.4mm thick and weighed 209 grams. Like last year, the phone packs a 5,000 mAh battery, but now features 45-watt super fast charging, which Samsung says can charge the phone nearly 70% in 30 minutes. (CNET will test this once we check out the devices ourselves, so stay tuned.) Thinner bezels bump the display to 6.7 inches, compared to the A35's 6.6 inches. The A36 features a 120Hz refresh rate, and an increased peak brightness of 1,900 nits, ideally making it easier to see the screen even if you're in a brightly lit environment. Both the front and back feature Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which Samsung says improves durability. The company says they're all "FHD+" resolution, which usually means 2,220x1,080 pixels. Cameras get an upgrade, too, with support for HDR video recording on the 50-megapixel main camera. Like last year's phone, the A36 also features an 8-megapixel ultrawide and 5-megapixel macro camera. The front camera goes from 13 to 12 megapixels, but supports 10-bit HDR video recording. It's worth noting that more megapixels doesn't automatically mean a better camera. HDR support can help images and videos have a wider dynamic range (the difference between the brightest parts of an image and the darkest parts) and look more detailed and colorful. For nighttime shots, Samsung says larger pixels serve up sharper, more vibrant images with minimal noise, even in extremely low light -- larger pixels can gather more light and have less image noise. Stay tuned to CNET's tests to see how the camera performs. You'll find AI features on the A36 like Google's Circle to Search, which can now also translate on-screen text and identify music. Samsung debuted these new capabilities on its flagship Galaxy S25 lineup in January. AI-powered photo editing tools include an enhanced Object Eraser that now lets you select multiple objects to be removed, and a Filter feature that lets you create a custom filter based on any photo. For example, if you have a shot of a sunset and you like the tone of the image, you can apply that filter to other photos, too. Edit Suggestion will use AI to analyze an image and serve up recommendations to improve it, like removing shadows or reflections. The A36 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, versus the Exynos 1380 featured on the Galaxy A35. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Samsung says there's also a larger cooling system to better dissipate heat and optimize for gameplay and streaming. The Galaxy A36 will be available on March 26 in black and lavender. An exclusive lime version is also available through Best Buy. Read more: Best Android Phone for 2025 The (even cheaper) Galaxy S26 is also thinner than its predecessor, measuring at 7.7mm compared to the Galaxy A25's 8.3mm. It also gets a bigger FHD+ display, thanks to reduced bezels, matching the A36's 6.5 inches. It shares a 120Hz refresh rate. While last year's A25 featured a glass front and plastic back, the A26 steps things up with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, just like the A36. The frame remains plastic. Like last year's model, the A26 features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and 2-megapixel macro camera, as well as a 13-megapixel selfie camera. Despite the lower price, you'll still get AI features like Photo Edit Suggestion and Object Eraser, as well as Circle to Search. The A26 runs the Exynos 1380 chipset, and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has expandable memory up to 2TB, and packs a 5,000 mAh battery. The A26 will become available March 28, and is only available in black. Read more: These Are the Best Camera Phones for 2025 To complete the trio, the Galaxy A56 has a 6.7-inch display and a 5,000 mAh battery, which, like the A36, supports 45-watt charging. The A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset and also has a larger vapor chamber to help you play games and watch videos for longer. The A56 has a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The selfie camera has a 12-megapixel sensor compared to the Galaxy A55's 32-megapixel front-facing camera, which took either 12- or 8-megapixel images after pixel binning. The selfie camera also gets 10-bit HDR support, and a Low Noise Mode helps to take sharper low-light photos, Samsung says. A feature only available on the A56 is called Best Face, which can help you nail a group photo by choosing the best expressions on up to five people and then combining them into one image. This is similar -- in name and in execution -- to Google's Best Take feature on the Pixel series. The A56 also gets an enhanced Object Eraser and Filter capabilities. Samsung hasn't yet shared color options for the A56, and has only said it'll be available later this year.
