The Galaxy S5 is here at last, the crowning glory of Samsung's fast array of Galaxy devices.
In this special episode with ventures in tech, we explore how Samsung forged its galactic gadgets empire.
As the Galaxy S5 becomes official, Samsung is the biggest smartphone maker in the world.
In 2013, it was estimated to
shipped 320 million of the [unk], the most ever sold by any company in a single year.
The Galaxy brand has become a tech super power, but thinking back to Samsung's first Android phone, that didn't seem like a likely outcome.
The Samsung Galaxy had an AMOLED screen and a decent camera but it was a long way behind HTC's Hero or the iPhone 3GS.
In short, it was the kind of phone we expected from a company best known for Blu-ray players and laptops.
Samsung surprised us though,
following its first effort with the Galaxy S and then the stunning S2 in 2011.
These high-end models focused strongly on cutting edge hardware and shot Samsung to the front of the smartphone race.
The Galaxy S and S2 were so exciting.
But in retrospect, perhaps our attention should have been on Samsung's less fancy phones.
Alongside the S2 came full basic Android mobiles that were tough to tell apart.
More followed including new tablets and its 2011 were on Samsung
overwhelmed the markets with a deluge of devices.
It seems a little over the top but then it clicked.
Samsung had made sure that no matter where you are in the world or how much cash you have to spend those Galaxy gadgets for you.
It did raised questions though about how exactly Samsung comes up with new phones.
-5.3 is the size of the screen but what is the clock speed?
Two gigahertz.
And we'll call it Samsung Galaxy Legs S. Samsung got
creative.
Some experiments like the projector packing Galaxy Beam didn't take off.
Others did though such as the massive stylus-wielding Galaxy Note, which at one million sales in just two months.
This manic production of almost any gadgets imaginable is the core of the Galaxy philosophy by building so many different devices, Samsung spreads the risk.
Compare this strategy with that of Apple, which only makes a few things a year so you can't afford any missteps.
By the end of 2011, Samsung had
overtaken Apple as the world's largest smartphone maker.
Over the next few years, it added even more stars to its Galaxy including boundary-pushing high-end hardware vary into existing products new types of device entirely and of course more budget phones.
Today, there are so many Galaxy devices that animating them all has killed my video producer.
Yes, I need a new one because this old-- just send one quickly, all right?
Oh, see if you got one in blue because it will match
my eyes.
Samsung rise to power wasn't without casualties leaving the ones product HTC struggling for cash and also probably Nokia which before Samsung used to be the king of cheaper mobiles.
As the Galaxy S5 becomes official, Samsung couldn't be in a stronger position.
The S5 plays it safe in many respects with a similar design and a screen is only slightly bigger than that of the S4.
But there's a hint of Samsung's quirky typical flare with the heart rate monitor strapped to the back.
Some people will love the
S5 others are bound to call it underwhelming.
But what the Galaxy story teaches us is that it's the biggest picture that counts.
The S5 will steal the headlines but it's to share size of the Galaxy empire that give Samsung its strength making it tough for would be rivals to find a foot-hold.
Samsung needs to take care though if its flagship phones aren't popular, it could run out of cash to spend on its legions of other devices.
Is Galaxy here to stay or a Samsung's fortunes about to change?
And what do you think of the S5?
Let me know and check that next time for
another adventure in tech.
