SAMSUNG PARTS WAYS WITH DESIGN CHIEF FOLLOWING GALAXY S5 CRITICISM

KOREAN PHONE MAKER Samsung has parted ways with the head of its mobile design unit, likely due to widespread criticism of the Galaxy S5.

Reuters reports that Samsung’s head of design Chang Dong-hoon offered to resign last week – likely under pressure, by the sound of things – and will be replaced by Lee Min-hyouk, VP for mobile design at the company. Dong-hoon will continue to oversee the company-wide design strategy, while his replacement will be focused on the design of Samsung’s Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series smartphones.

Samsung has confirmed the shuffle, but has not offered any further details as to why the change took place.

However, it’s thought Dong-hoon’s departure comes after the firm’s latest flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S5, received widespread criticism related to its plasticky design. While we noted it as an improvement on the design of the Galaxy S4, the handset has still been panned for feeling underwhelming in the hand, while the Wall Street Journal said the Galaxy S5 looked like a “band aid”.

The design of the Galaxy S5 fingerprint sensor has been widely panned too, and while we found it more accurate than the Touch ID sensor found on Apple’s iPhone 5S, some have found it fiddly and awkward to use.

Dong-hoon’s replacement also suggests that sales of the Galaxy S5 might be stalling. Saying that, early reports have claimed that early sales of the smartphone have “doubled” those of last years Galaxy S4.

However, as noted by Business Week, Samsung last week posted its lowest mobile phone sales in five quarters, with the firm’s share of the global smartphone market falling for the first time in four years.

source:http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2343624/samsung-parts-ways-with-design-chief-following-galaxy-s5-criticism