The Galaxy Alpha looks good, but it isn’t the success Samsung was hoping for. Photo: Samsung

Samsung is already giving up on the Galaxy Alpha, its first Android-powered smartphone made of metal, according to reports from South Korea. Sources say production will cease as soon as the existing inventory of materials runs out, and Samsung is expected to put more focus into the Galaxy A5 instead.

The Galaxy S6 could have curves like this one both sides. Photo: Samsung

With the Galaxy Note Edge’s curved display being well received by both consumers and critics, you can expect Samsung to use the same technology in future handsets. In fact, according to some sources familiar with its plans, the upcoming Galaxy S6 will have a display that curves on both sides — as well as an all-aluminum chassis.

Lollipop looks sweet on the Galaxy Note 3. Screenshot: Cult of Android

If you’re a Galaxy Note 3 user, you’re going to be waiting a little while for Samsung’s Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update; the company is focusing its efforts on bringing the update to more recent devices first. However, if you really cannot wait, you can download and install a beta build right now.

Samsung’s newest Notes will skip Android 5.0. Photo: Samsung

After upgrading its flagship Galaxy S5 to Lollipop, Samsung is hard at work on bringing Google’s latest software update to the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy Note Edge. Android 5.0.1 builds for both devices have already leaked out into the wild, suggesting a public rollout could be right around the corner.

Samsung’s Apple Pay clone may not rely on NFC. Photo: Apple

Samsung is preparing to launch its own Apple Pay competitor in 2015, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans — and it could be teaming up with LoopPay to make it even more successful. Just like Apple’s offering, Samsung’s will allow the owners of its smartphone to pay for goods simply by waving their devices at a machine, but it may not rely on NFC.