WTF! SAMSUNG also hire IBs!

[kongsimi]

Samsung has admitted it paid Taiwanese students to criticise HTC phones on review websites, in an apology statement released today.

A 'cash for comment' scandal has rocked Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung, after documents were leaked showing the company's marketing firm had paid Taiwanese students to write negative comments on social networking pages and review sites about rival HTC devices.

The leaks came from Taiwanese Samsung-related news website taiwansamsungleaks.com, which released documents that allegedy came directly from Samsung's hired marketing outlining the various posts it had made across the internet last year.

One such post contained a complaint from a user, supposedly a Taiwanese student, that his girlfriend's HTC One X phone crashed constantly, and that Samsung's Galaxy Note was "superior".

The document also contained reviews alleging that the Samsung Galaxy S3's had better graphics and battery life than the HTC One X.

Samsung denied in a statement that it had received a notice from Taiwan's Free Trade Commission but said the news was an "unfortunate incident" that had gone against its "fundamental principles".

"Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments," it said in a statement.

The full statement reads as follows:

Samsung Electronics remains committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers as outlined in the company's Online Communications Credo. We have encouraged all Samsung Electronics employees worldwide to remain faithful to our Credo. The recent incident was unfortunate, and occurred due to insufficient understanding of these fundamental principles.

Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments, and will ensure that all SET online marketing activities will be fully compliant with the company's Online Communications Credo.

We regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We will continue to reinforce education and training for our employees to prevent any future recurrence.

If found guilty of false advertising from Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission, the company could reportedly face fines of up to $811,000.

According to AFP, the company was fined around $10,000 earlier this year for allegedly "engaging in misleading advertising" about its Galaxy Y Duo range.

 

[kongsimi]

Taiwan probes Samsung 'dirty tricks' vs HTC'

(AFP) – 1 day ago

TAIPEI — Taiwanese authorities said Monday they had launched an investigation into allegations that South Korean tech giant Samsung hired students to post malicious comments about local rival HTC online.

"The case was set up last week after we received complaints," Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun told AFP.

He said the probe would look into allegations that Samsung engaged in false advertising and that if the allegations were upheld, Samsung and its local advertising agent could face a fine of up to Tw$25 million ($835,000).

Complaints emerged this month, with Internet users alleging that Samsung, through its local agent, had hired students to write online articles attacking HTC and recommending Samsung cellphones, the United Evening News said.

When asked about the allegations, an official at Samsung Taiwan said the company had not been informed of the investigation by the Fair Trade Commission.

But in a statement on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SamsungTaiwan, Samsung Taiwan said it regretted "any inconvenience and confusion from the Internet event".

"Samsung Taiwan has halted all Internet marketing such as posting articles on websites," it said.

Samsung was fined Tw$300,000 by the commission earlier this year for a misleading advertisement about the camera functions on Samsung's Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102, according to Taiwan's state Central News Agency.

According to research firm IDC, Samsung held a 30.3 percent share of the global smartphone market in 2012, while Apple had 19.1 percent and HTC 4.6 percent.

 

[JWNY]

BlackBerry will hold the last laugh

 

[laksaboy]

Don't worry. Microsoft has been doing that since long ago, and on a grander scale:

Microsoft and Nokia Caught AstroTurfing, Abusing/Attacking Genuine Posters
http://techrights.org/2011/12/26/microsoft-and-nokia-astroturf/


Microsoft tries a new Windows 8 damage control message
http://semiaccurate.com/2013/04/16/microsoft-tries-a-new-windows-8-damage-control-message/

 

[sukhoi-30]

I loves to read news and reviews of gadget stuffs , esp on smartphones and one thing caught my eyes. Almost all reviews whether online in eg youtube or in-print put Samsung as superior to not only HTC but all other brands of products. There is also a sort of systematic write up of the review where initial comparison is quite balanced at first but at the conclusion, Samsung will emerged as better.

The comments are also mostly one-sided. There will always be supposedly comments from Samsung users who will tout how good their products were and how bad other brands are when they are using that before . This happens also in shops as well. A friend ends up buying a samsung when he already have another brand in mind...citing excellent but pestering descriptions by a sales guy.

It is quite scary that extreme marketing is used which might be quite unhealthy for consumers...

 

[Clone]

The best IB would have you believed he's on your side.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

Now even got Samsung Internet Brigade?

Taiwan probes Samsung 'dirty tricks' vs HTC'
(AFP) – Apr 15, 2013

TAIPEI — Taiwanese authorities said Monday they had launched an investigation into allegations that South Korean tech giant Samsung hired students to post malicious comments about local rival HTC online.

"The case was set up last week after we received complaints," Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun told AFP.

He said the probe would look into allegations that Samsung engaged in false advertising and that if the allegations were upheld, Samsung and its local advertising agent could face a fine of up to Tw$25 million ($835,000).

Complaints emerged this month, with Internet users alleging that Samsung, through its local agent, had hired students to write online articles attacking HTC and recommending Samsung cellphones, the United Evening News said.

When asked about the allegations, an official at Samsung Taiwan said the company had not been informed of the investigation by the Fair Trade Commission.

But in a statement on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SamsungTaiwan, Samsung Taiwan said it regretted "any inconvenience and confusion from the Internet event".

"Samsung Taiwan has halted all Internet marketing such as posting articles on websites," it said.

Samsung was fined Tw$300,000 by the commission earlier this year for a misleading advertisement about the camera functions on Samsung's Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102, according to Taiwan's state Central News Agency.

According to research firm IDC, Samsung held a 30.3 percent share of the global smartphone market in 2012, while Apple had 19.1 percent and HTC 4.6 percent.


Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

[yellowarse]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

The Koreans have a win-at-all-costs mentality, with scant regard for integrity and honest competition. Witness the rash of biased umpiring decisions and outright cheating during the '86 Seoul Asian Games and '88 Olympics where the organizing committee bribed referees, umpires and linesmen to rule in favour of the home team. Witness too their claim in recent years to the heritage of Confucianism, Chinese medicine, Chinese script and even personages like Sun Yat-Sen and Confucius.

Anyway, the HTC One has trumped the best that Samsung can offer - their Galaxy S3 and Note 2.

 

[laksaboy]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

Sadly, the HTC One's sales will be dwarfed by the sales of Samsung Galaxy S4.

 

[yellowarse]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

<header class="entry-header" style="line-height: inherit; display: block; ">Review: HTC One Is the Current King of the Android Hill

By Doug AamothApril 19, 2013





</header><figure class="entry-thumb entry-thumb-l " style="font-size: 0.875em; line-height: inherit; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ">

<figcaption style="line-height: inherit; display: block; "><small class="entry-thumb-credit" style="line-height: 1.3; font-size: 0.75em; display: block; font-weight: 300; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; margin-top: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); min-height: 1em; ">DOUG AAMOTH / TIME.COM


Let’s get something out of the way right off the bat: the HTC One is a damn fine Android phone. It’s the finest I’ve ever used, and I’ve used a fair number of Android phones in this line of work.
</small></figcaption></figure>Being an Android phone is tough, though, due in large part to the sheer number of Android phones that are on the market and the speed at which they become available. Case in point: HTC’s own Droid DNA is and was a damn fine Android phone that came out less than six months ago; aside from the DNA having a slightly larger screen and being available on Verizon, the HTC One has basically taken the wind out of the Droid DNA’s sails.

That’s what HTC’s biggest challenge might be with the One: there’s always another Android phone looming right around the corner that may be able to knock the current champ off its pedestal. In the One’s case, that phone might be the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is due out in a couple of weeks. For now, however, the HTC One is absolutely the Android phone to beat, and arguably the smartphone to beat regardless of platform.

Of all the One’s features, five stick out as notable: its design, screen, speed, camera and battery. These are five major things that aren’t superfluous or gimmicky. These are important, useful features, and HTC nailed them.

The One is an exercise in thoughtful, beautiful design. It’s wrapped in aluminum, not plastic; it’s big but not too big; substantial but not heavy. A lot of care went into crafting this phone. The 4.7-in. (12 cm) screen packs a full HD (1920 by 1080) resolution and pushes out rich colors. It’s truly gorgeous, whether you’re reading text, looking at photos or watching video. And the 1.7-GHz quad-core processor coupled with 2 gigabytes of RAM ensures every swipe, tap and scroll is as smooth as the next.
<dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl><dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl><dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl>


When it comes to the camera, HTC opted out of the megapixel race, instead referring to the One’s camera as an “UltraPixel” camera, which is basically a fancy way of saying that it’s got a large-ish sensor that HTC claims can capture 300% more light than other smartphone cameras. Whatever the case, photos taken with the One look great. There’s nothing mind-blowing here, though. The camera takes great photos by smartphone standards, but we’re not talking about some grand leap in imaging technology.

Here are some sample photos — click for higher-resolution versions:
<dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl><dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl><dl class="gallery-item" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; width: 707px; "><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="line-height: inherit; "> </dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" style="line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Doug Aamoth / TIME.com</dd></dl>


And perhaps most important of all, the HTC One’s battery doesn’t disappoint, especially given the fact that this isn’t a gargantuan phone. This is the first Android handset I’ve used that hasn’t felt like I could actually watch the battery indicator dwindle in real time (I have not extensively used Motorola’s Droid Razr Maxx or Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, however — both feature far-better-than-average battery life). With light to moderate use, I’ve found that a full charge on Monday morning wouldn’t need to be dealt with until late Tuesday or later. Even with heavier use, you’ll almost certainly be able to make it through an entire day.

HTC has infused the One with some unique software features, none of which are make-or-break additions, but they’re nice nonetheless. The main screen of the phone consists of what HTC calls BlinkFeed. In the company’s own words, “simply pick the social networks, news and feeds you want to stay updated on and they’ll all stream live to your home screen. The pulse of your world is in the palm of your hand.” You basically get a tiled view — similar to Windows Phone’s Live Tiles — of tweets, Facebook updates and news items that update every so often. It’s a quick way to glance at things you’re interested in, but I wouldn’t call it a huge selling point, despite HTC’s best efforts to market it.

Far more useful is the built-in TV-remote feature, which turns the phone into a tricked-out universal remote. You tell the HTC One’s TV app which shows you like, and it’ll lay out your favorites as they’re on the air or let you set reminders for when they’ll be on. Tap the icon of the show you want to watch, and your TV, cable or satellite box will tune to the correct station. It’s much easier and way, way, way more fun than any onscreen guide I’ve used.

And then there’s the camera app’s Zoe feature, which manages to edge up against the gimmicky line while actually remaining useful. In Zoe mode, the camera captures a sequence of 20 images and three seconds of video, after which you can independently adjust individual sections of the overall photo to, for instance, make sure everyone in the photo is smiling or remove a wayward tourist in the background. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it generally does a good enough job to improve photos.

Oh, I almost forgot: the phone makes phone calls too — and they sound good. There’s a little mike on the backside of the handset that monitors the background noise around you, then filters it downward so the person on the other end can hear you better and raises the volume of their voice so you can hear them better.

The phone — like all phones — does have its shortcomings. There’s no way to expand the storage, which HTC attempts to address by shipping the base model with 32 gigabytes of memory instead of the more standard 16 gigabytes. There’s also no way to replace the battery. The power button on the top left of the phone is set at a bit of a downward angle that forces your finger to curl up and over the top edge of the phone in order to access it, which makes waking the phone up a tad cumbersome at times. And people with small hands may still find the 4.7-in.-screened handset too large to use comfortably.

If you’re even mildly curious about this phone, however, go to a store and play with it. If you’re already leaning toward getting it, go ahead. You won’t be disappointed. For everyone else, waiting a couple of weeks to see what the Galaxy S4 has to offer wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Whatever the case, the HTC One is a mighty impressive phone — the best Android phone out there right now, and an incredible smartphone to consider if you’ve been thinking of jumping ship from the Apple, Microsoft or BlackBerry platforms.

The HTC One is available today through AT&T and Sprint for $200 with a two-year contract, and through T-Mobile for $100 down plus $20 per month in equipment fees for two years. It’s also available at several major retailers.


Read more: http://techland.time.com/2013/04/19...rrent-king-of-the-android-hill/#ixzz2RI83gTBR

 

[johnny333]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

Samsung is unscrupulous. That's why Apple sued them & won 1 billion in damages for blatantly copying the design of the iPhone.

 

[Bigfuck]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

East Asia all the same: PRC, Jippun Kooria all the same onez.

 

[sukhoi-30]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

Was Samsung caught fighting dirty in war against Apple?
By Zach Epstein | BGR News –

SamsungSamsung recently admitted fault — to an extent — after being accused of false advertising when a group of paid bloggers flooded the web with posts that attacked HTC and its devices. Samsung issued a statement saying that the posts were the result of a misunderstanding, but that might not mean these aggressive tactics are being cast aside. CNNMoney’s Phillip Elmer-DeWitt on Saturday published an article discussing a “somewhat paranoid theory” that Samsung has quietly declared war on Apple after being called an iPhone copycat. The response to his article, as it turns out, suggests that the theory might not be so paranoid after all.
[More from BGR: iPhone sales projections are now so low it’s ridiculous]

Elmer-DeWitt’s initial post covered a theory being passed around among Apple investors that accuses Samsung of launching a multi-pronged attack against Apple using everything from anti-iPhone TV commercials to “paying students and other heavy users of social media to post anonymous messages talking up the virtues of Samsung’s products and spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt about Apple and other competitors.”

[More from BGR: The cost of iPhone quality control: $1.2B in faulty phones returned by Apple in 2013 alone]

Seems a bit paranoid, no? But then, Elmer-DeWitt’s article received more than 450 comments and, within the span of a few hours, more than a thousand votes were cast on the site’s commenting system up-voting anything positive about Samsung or negative about Apple (and about Elmer-DeWitt), and down-voting anything negative about Samsung.

A follow-up piece from the author on Sunday discussing the response to his first post was fairly damning:

The post drew more that the usual number of comments. Twenty six hours later, we’re up to 343 messages and counting. Some readers supported the thesis. Some ridiculed it. Some attacked Apple. Some attacked me.

That kind of thing comes with the territory, although not usually in such numbers or with such vehemence. But what happened at about 2 a.m. EST — Sunday afternoon in Seoul, South Korea — was new.

In the space of a few hours, more than a thousand votes were cast on the DISQUS feedback system, voting down any comment remotely anti-Samsung and voting up anything — no matter how inane, in-artful or wrong — that disparaged Apple, the thesis, or me.

This follow-up post had 373 comments as of the time of this writing, many of which sing Samsung various praises and accuse Elmer-DeWitt of spreading pro-Apple propaganda.

This article was originally published on BGR.com

..

 

[Rogue Trader]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

The Koreans have a win-at-all-costs mentality, with scant regard for integrity and honest competition. Witness the rash of biased umpiring decisions and outright cheating during the '86 Seoul Asian Games and '88 Olympics where the organizing committee bribed referees, umpires and linesmen to rule in favour of the home team. Witness too their claim in recent years to the heritage of Confucianism, Chinese medicine, Chinese script and even personages like Sun Yat-Sen and Confucius.

there are also allegations that they were looping Gangnam style on Youtube to achieve the one billion views.

 

[yellowarse]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

there are also allegations that they were looping Gangnam style on Youtube to achieve the one billion views.

There were also allegations they were using bots which were programmed to repetitively visit the clip at high rates to hit the one billion target.

Interestingly, ever since YouTube changed its ranking system, Gangnam Style completely dropped out of the Top 10 Most Viewed Videos.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Re: Samsung hired students to post nasty comments about rival HTC's new phone

There were also allegations they were using bots which were programmed to repetitively visit the clip at high rates to hit the one billion target.

Interestingly, ever since YouTube changed its ranking system, Gangnam Style completely dropped out of the Top 10 Most Viewed Videos.

I've said this and I'll say it again -- despite all their recent economic success, South Korean is a nation with severe inferiority complex issues. It comes from centuries of invasion and annexation by Japan, and then the americans .. and the humiliating separation from their northern cousins.

 

[ChewCheng]

Just like WMM who is trying overly hard?

The best IB would have you believed he's on your side.

 

[WongMengMeng]

Just like WMM who is trying overly hard?

I post on many other things, it's just that a PAP IB like you are blind and can't see the other posts. Learn to be less jealous of others. Or better still, join the Samsung IB, at least you will not be betraying your country. Gotcha!

CHEWCHENG is a JiakLiaoBee PAP IB jealous of anyone who is wealthier, speaks better English, argues better, etc than him. Don't be conned. He posts when he is high on Beer while on IB duty:

LOL! I'm at home having beer while watching DVD with my gf.

 

[ChewCheng]

You jealous that I have a girlfriend is it? Putting it in every post you make. Cannot get one because got small penis? LOL!

I post on many other things, it's just that a PAP IB like you are blind and can't see the other posts. Learn to be less jealous of others. Or better still, join the Samsung IB, at least you will not be betraying your country. Gotcha!

CHEWCHENG is a JiakLiaoBee PAP IB jealous of anyone who is wealthier, speaks better English, argues better, etc than him. Don't be conned. He posts when he is high on Beer while on IB duty:

 

[WongMengMeng]

You jealous that I have a girlfriend is it? Putting it in every post you make. Cannot get one because got small penis? LOL!

The focus is on the BEER and not the girl you FUCKTARD. My 7 inches is longer than your 4 inches, everyone can understand that. I pity you. Hahaha.

CHEWCHENG is a JiakLiaoBee PAP IB jealous of anyone who is wealthier, speaks better English, argues better, etc than him. Don't be conned. He posts when he is high on Beer while on IB duty:

LOL! I'm at home having beer while watching DVD with my gf.