Samsung patent substitutes fingers for eyes, implements eye-tracking movements

We’ve uncovered the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 that Samsung may reveal later this year, and we noted a week ago that the company intends to bring iris-on-the-move (IoM) technology to the new device. Stanford Research Institute (SRI) referred to the tablet as “this new model,” leading us to believe that the tablet will be announced in the coming weeks and months.

For now, however, we’re back with more details on Samsung’s courtship with iris recognition technology. According to a patent submitted by Samsung in March 2013 and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week, Samsung intends to implement eye-tracking technology into future devices – not only smartphones and tablets, but even its Smart TVs and PCs. The patent refers to “an operation of a display device using eye movements,” specifically “blinking information” processed by a device’s motion sensors when an individual opens and closes his or her eyes quickly.

Eye movements would replaces finger touches on the display: one could close his or her eyes for a few seconds to close a window or page, a quick close-open eye movement would allow an on-screen cursor to click on a box, word, or link, and a long close would involve keeping one’s eyes closed for a certain length of time.

If you’ve ever had doubts that Samsung wants to bring iris recognition technology to the consumer market, it is hopeful that this patent will dissolve that doubt. While the second-generation Tab Pro 8.4 tablet may be headed to the worldwide market, it just may find iris recognition tech onboard when it lands.

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Galaxy Tab A announced for Germany

German customers who’ve been wanting a 9.7-inch tablet from Samsung are in luck.

The Galaxy Tab A, announced in Russia and the Netherlands (two weeks ago), is now headed to Germany.

The specs of the device haven’t changed. You’re still looking at a 9.7-inch display with a 1024 x 768p screen resolution (4:3 aspect ratio), a 1.2Ghz quad-core processor with 16GB of storage (and a microSD card slot that expands the storage with an additional 128GB) and 2GB of random access memory (RAM) for the LTE version (1.5GB RAM for the Wi-Fi only variant). The 2MP front camera will suffice for most front-facing experiences, but the 5MP camera will likely leave something to be desired. The Tab A will come pre-loaded with Android 5.0 Lollipop on-board, however, so that may sweeten the deal (pun intended).

As for the price, the Tab A will come in at €299 (299 euros, Wi-Fi only) and €349 (349 euros, Wi-Fi + 4G LTE). The Tab A will arrive in Germany in either the end of April or the start of May 2015. We have no word yet on whether German users can expect a variant of the Tab A to arrive with a stylus, but we’re confident that it will.

If you’re wondering about whether or not to pick up this tablet, check out our Galaxy Tab A coverage.

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Samsung introduces Gear VR framework (GearVRf) to encourage content development

Samsung is serious about developing content for Gear VR, the company’s latest adventure into the cutting-edge field of virtual reality. Samsung’s Gear VR was introduced alongside of the Galaxy Note 4 last September, and the Korean manufacturer pledged to have 30 apps ready for download and use with the device when it transitioned to mass production. Still, 30 apps is a far cry from a burgeoning app store for virtual reality – and Samsung’s Gear VR is, as a company investment, anything but a “one and done” effort.

To that end, Samsung announced its Gear VR framework (or GearVRf) earlier today, an open-source framework intended to simplify content development for its virtual reality headset. First, GearVRf does not require advanced programming language and relies on the familiar C++ and Java programs. In addition, developers can produce apps for Gear VR without 3D graphics knowledge if they already have existing content available.

With barriers in programming language and 3D graphics removed, developers can focus on apps and the creation of a fun experience that is designed to keep Gear VR users coming back again and again. Galaxy S6 and S6 edge users who pick up the Gear VR (post-Innovator Edition) will find it to have been worth the wait.

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Samsung to become chip supplier for A9 iPhone 6s chip

Apple has aimed to decrease its dependence on smartphone rival Samsung for its processing chips for some time now, and Apple’s A8 chip in the iPhone 6 went to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (or TSMC) in 2014. A new report says that Apple will turn to its rival once more for the A9 processor chip that will power Apple’s 2015 smartphone (dubbed the iPhone 6s).

With the A9 iPhone 6s chip, however, Samsung has won the fruit company back into its clutches. Sources familiar with the situation say that the Korean manufacturer will start to produce the A9 chip at its South Korean Giheung plant, with Samsung partner GlobalFoundries, Inc., to take the company’s additional processor chip orders.

In addition to its 14-nanometer FinFET technology that provides improved efficiency and reduced power consumption all on a smaller chip, Samsung’s LPDDR4 RAM (random access memory for multitasking capabilities) has also proven attractive to Apple, moving Cupertino to rely on Samsung for its RAM in the iPhone 6s as well. A persistent rumor has said that Apple could bring 2GB of RAM to the iPhone 6s, in the same way that the company brought 2GB of RAM to the iPad Air 2 experience last Fall.

Samsung’s new LPDDR4 RAM, found in the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, is said to be 40% more power efficient than LPDDR3 RAM while providing support for true 4K video recording and 20MP or higher cameras.

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