Samsung’s new promo paints the Galaxy S7 as a veritable virtual reality machine

Now that Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge it can get down to the business of selling its new flagship smartphones. We can expect a huge marketing push by Samsung for this purpose and the angle it seems to be favoring this time around is virtual reality. That’s not surprising seeing as how the Gear VR was an integral part of the unveil experience and the fact that Samsung is committed to becoming a leading player in the VR arena.

The promo starts off by listing some of the major features offered by the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge, features like water resistance, microSD card support, fast wireless charging and an incredible low light camera. It mentions that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge are the only handsets on the market that offer all of these features while being a veritable virtual reality machine when hooked up to the Gear VR headset. To drive the point home Samsung is giving away a free Gear VR unit to all customers who pre-order its new flagship handsets which are due to be released on March 11th in 60 countries across the globe.

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Samsung ranks fourth in global wearable device shipments

Latest data from market research firm IDC shows that wearable device shipments increased significantly in the final quarter of 2015, registering a 126.9% increase from the same time last year. Some 27.4 million units of wearable devices were shipped in the last quarter of 2015 while year-on-year improvement clocked in at 171.6% or nearly 78.1 million units.

Fitbit saw the largest increase in wearable device shipments during this time, it shipped 8.1 million units during the previous quarter, up 58.2% from the same time last year. Apple came in second place with 4.1 million units shipped and Xiaomi closes out the top three with 2.7 million units in quarterly shipments. Samsung has to make do with fourth place now even though its shipments increased 65% in the final quarter of 2015 to 13 million units, however it’s market share declined from 6.7% to 4.9%.

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Samsung starts mass producing industry’s first 256GB flash storage for high-end devices

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has started mass producing the industry’s first 256GB embedded memory based on the Universal Flash Storage 2.0 standard, for next-generation high-end mobile devices. The company says that this newly introduced flash memory provides performance that exceeds that of a conventional SATA-based SSD for PCs.

Samsung’s new UFS memory provides ultra-fast speed and large data capacity in a compact size ship. The flash memory is based on Samsung’s V-NAND flash memory chips and features a high-performance controller. It’s capable of handling up to 45,000 and 40,000 input/output operations per second for random reading and writing respectively, it’s over two times faster than the previous generation of UFS memory. The 256GB UFS uses two lanes of data transfer for sequential reading to provide speeds of up to 850MB/s, nearly twice as fast as a typical SATA-based SSD in PCs. It supports up to 260MB/s in sequential writing.

This enables the 256GB UFS memory to support seamless 4K video playback and multitasking functionality on large-screen mobile devices, like watching a 4K movie on a split screen, while also searching for image files or downloading video clips. Mobile devices featuring the new 256GB UFS 2.0 memory from Samsung will arrive later this year.

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The Samsung Charm is a discreet fitness tracker for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

In addition to introducing us to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge on Sunday, Samsung also unveiled a host of new accessories it will be launching for the handsets later this year. Amongst them was a Lens Cover, an LED View Cover and a Charm wearable fitness tracker. However, it’s more than likely that you won’t have heard much about the latter as the firm opted to keep its details under heavy lock and key at the time.

We now know that the Charm has been designed to look like a bracelet as opposed to a smartwatch. To achieve this appearance, Samsung has used a small LED panel to alert users of notifications instead of a fully-fledged LCD display. The lack of a large display means that the Charm won’t be able to run third-party applications, but it will have the capacity to record basic fitness data, such as steps and distances. This data can then be synchronised to the S Health application via Bluetooth.

The Charm will come in two versions and three colorways when it hits the shelves — Rose Quartz, Black and Gold with either a rectangular or square LED panel. All models sport a 17mAh battery and Bluetooth LE. The South Korean manufacturer claims that the device can last up to 18-days on a single charge due to the low energy consumption of both the LED panel and wireless connection.

I have to say, I’m pretty eager to get my hands on the Charm. It’s a wearable activity tracker aimed at people who don’t want all of the flashy technology that Samsung’s Gear range of smartwatches has to offer. It sports a gorgeous design that is guaranteed to make the wearable fit into your day-to-day life without attracting too much attention, while recording detailed data that can help you improve your fitness levels.

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Wallpaper Wednesday: Nature

Welcome to the latest edition of Wallpaper Wednesday. This week we’re focusing our attention on five gorgeous nature-themed backgrounds. All images are available in a QHD resolution, which is a perfect fit for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 5 and other flagships, but they can, of course, be used on different smartphones, too.

If any of the following images float your boat and you want to download and set one as your wallpaper, simply tap on a photo to maximise it, then click and hold to save it. Once the picture is stored locally, open up Settings, locate and select Wallpaper, then just tap the newly-saved image to set it as your background.

Alternatively, you can download a ZIP file containing all of this week’s backdrops by hitting the Download button at the very bottom of this post.

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Misty Mountains

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Skyscraper

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Flames

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Snow

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Blue

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Download

Note: We’ve tried our best to identify the creators of all of the wallpapers featured in this week’s column. However, the images appear to lack copyright information, artist signatures or any real trace of origin. If you created a wallpaper we’ve posted and would like credit, or would rather we remove the image, kindly contact us.

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Zagg releases InvisibleShield screen guards for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Zagg has just unveiled three new screen protectors designed specifically for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge. The screen guards will be available in three categories – Standard, HD and Glass Contour. While the Standard and HD screen guards will be available right away, customers will have to wait slightly longer to get their hands on the Glass Contour screen protector.

The availability of a proper screen guard for the Galaxy S7 edge is refreshing news as the Galaxy S6 edge from last year didn’t have a screen guard for quite a while given that it was using a dual edge display. But we’re glad to report that Zagg will have the screen guards available for both the handsets at the same time.

The Standard Zagg InvisibleShield screen guard for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge will set you back by $15, while the HD version will cost $25 each. If you’re wondering what the HD screen guard is all about, well it’s just the regular screen protector but apparently comes with extra durability and clarity compared to the Standard option. The Glass Contour screen guard, which comes with a tempered glass layer, will cost $40 when made available.

If third party accessories are not your cup of tea, you might want to check out the list of official Samsung Galaxy S7 accessories.

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Yes, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge have optical image stabilization

The new camera on Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 devices is one of the biggest changes the company has introduced to its flagship lineup this year. It’s a 12 MP sensor that brings greatly improved low-light performance, with Dual Pixel technology (used only in dedicated cameras/DSLRs until now) for considerably better autofocus as well.

Samsung made a lot of these features at the Unpacked event, but it seems the major changes to the camera have gotten some folks wondering if the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge have optical image stabilization or not. We thought we would confirm it for our readers: Yes, the S7 and S7 edge do have optical image stabilization. Or, as Samsung calls it, Smart OIS. You can find a mention of Smart OIS on the company’s official press release for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, in case you still have doubts on its existence on the new phones.

The camera resolution might have gone down, but Samsung has only made improvements in other areas and not taken any major existing feature away (well, except for the ability to shoot in 16:9 aspect). We’ll be testing the new camera soon, but for now you can rest assured the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will keep things stable when you’re shooting your favorite moments.

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2-24-2016 Firmware Updates: Galaxy A3, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5, and more

Samsung has a plethora of phones and tablets in its lineup, and regularly releases firmware updates for various devices. These can include major updates, which bring a newer version of the OS to a particular device, or minor ones that improve performance and stability and fix bugs. Software updates for Samsung devices roll out in various regions every day, and you can find out which firmware updates were pushed out by the company over the last 24 hours through our firmware list.

As usual, you can download each of these firmware from our firmware section (simply enter your device’s model number to view all firmware for that device) in order to update to a new firmware manually, or as a means to return to your phone or tablet’s stock software.

Country (Product Code)	Model	Model Name	Version	PDA
Austria (A1) (MOB)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA7
Baltic (SEB)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Bosnia and Herzegovina (TEB)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH TELECOM) (BHT)	SM-J500FN	Galaxy J5	5.1.1	J500FNXXU1APB1
Brazil (ZTO)	SM-J110L	Galaxy J1 ace	4.4.4	J110LUBU0AOG8
Brazil (ZTO)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1APA5
Bulgaria (BGL)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Bulgaria (BGL)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
Bulgaria (BGL)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Bulgaria (BGL)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Bulgaria (BGL)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Bulgaria (MTL) (MTL)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Bulgaria (MTL) (MTL)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Bulgaria (MTL) (MTL)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Bulgaria (MTL) (MTL)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Cellular south (XAR)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1APA5
Chile (CHO)	SM-A310M	Galaxy A3 ?	5.1.1	A310MUBU1APB2
Colombia (COO)	SM-G800M	GALAXY S5 mini	5.1.1	G800MUBU1BPB1
Colombia (COO)	SM-A300M	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300MUBU1BPB1
Colombia (COO)	SM-G313MU	GALAXY ACE4 LTE	4.4.2	G313MUUBU0AOG1
Colombia (COO)	SM-G313MU	GALAXY ACE4 LTE	4.4.2	G313MUUBU0AOL2
Colombia (COO)	SM-G800M	GALAXY S5 mini	4.4.2	G800MUBU1AOG1
Colombia (COO)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1APA5
Colombia (Comcel) (COM)	SM-N920G	Galaxy Note 5	5.1.1	N920GUBU2AOJ4
Croatia (TELE2) (TWO)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Croatia (VIPNET) (VIP)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Croatia (VIPNET) (VIP)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Croatia (VIPNET) (VIP)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Croatia (VIPNET) (VIP)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Cyprus (CYV)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Cyprus (CYV)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Cyprus (CYV)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Cyprus (CYV)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Czech Republic (ETL)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
Czech Republic (ETL)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Czech Republic (ETL)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Czech Republic (O2C) (O2C)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Czech Republic (Vodafone) (VDC)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Czech Republic (Vodafone) (VDC)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Czech Republic (Vodafone) (VDC)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Czech Republic (Vodafone) (VDC)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Ecuador (ECO)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BOE2
Ecuador (ECO)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BOI3
France (XEF)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
France (XEF)	SM-T710	GALAXY Tab S2	5.0.2	T710XXU2AOL6
France (XEF)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
France (XEF)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXS3COK5
France (XEF)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPAD
France (XEF)	SM-T710	GALAXY Tab S2	5.0.2	T710XXU2APB2
France (Bouygues) (BOG)	SM-G361F	GALAXY CORE Prime LTE	5.1.1	G361FXXU1AOL1
France (Bouygues) (BOG)	SM-G361F	GALAXY CORE Prime LTE	5.1.1	G361FXXU1AOJ5
Germany (DBT)	SM-T533	GALAXY Tab4	5.1.1	T533XXU1BPB1
Germany (DBT)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Germany (DBT)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Germany (1&1) (XEG)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Germany (Vodafone) (VD2)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Germany (Vodafone) (VD2)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Germany (Vodafone) (VD2)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Greece (EUR)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Greece (Cosmote) (COS)	SM-G531F	GALAXY GRAND Prime	5.1.1	G531FXXU1APA1
Hungary (XEH)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Hungary (XEH)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
Hungary (XEH)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Hungary (VDH) (VDH)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Hungary (VDH) (VDH)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Hungary (VDH) (VDH)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Hungary (VDH) (VDH)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Iran (THR)	SM-E500H	GALAXY E5	5.1.1	E500HXXU1BPA1
Iran (THR)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1AOL8
Iran (THR)	SM-E500H	GALAXY E5	5.1.1	E500HXXU1BOJ2
Iraq (MID)	SM-J500H	Galaxy J5	5.1.1	J500HXXU1APB1
Iraq (MID)	SM-J500H	Galaxy J5	5.1.1	J500HXXU1AOI1
Ireland (Vodafone) (VDI)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Ireland (Vodafone) (VDI)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Ireland (Vodafone) (VDI)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Ireland (Vodafone) (VDI)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Italy (ITV)	SM-T715	GALAXY Tab S2	5.0.2	T715XXU2APB2
Italy (ITV)	SM-N7505	SM-N7505	5.1.1	N7505XXUDPB1
Italy (ITV)	SM-N7505	SM-N7505	4.4.2	N7505XXUCNG5
Italy (ITV)	SM-T715	GALAXY Tab S2	5.0.2	T715XXU2AOL6
Italy (TIM) (TIM)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Italy (Vodafone) (OMN)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Italy (Vodafone) (OMN)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Italy (Vodafone) (OMN)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Italy (Vodafone) (OMN)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Kazakhstan (SKZ)	SM-A710F	Galaxy A7	5.1.1	A710FXXU1APB2
Kenya (AFR)	SM-G360H	GALAXY CORE Prime	4.4.4	G360HDDU0AOK3
Korea (KT Corporation) (KTC)	SM-N920K	Galaxy Note5	6.0.1	N920KKKU2BPAG
Korea (LG Uplus) (LUC)	SM-G928L	Galaxy S6 edge+	6.0.1	G928LKLU2BPB1
Korea (LG Uplus) (LUC)	SM-N920L	Galaxy Note5	6.0.1	N920LKLU2BPB1
Korea (SK Telecom) (SKC)	SM-N920S	Galaxy Note5	6.0.1	N920SKSU2BPAF
Korea (SK Telecom) (SKC)	SM-G928S	Galaxy S6 edge+	6.0.1	G928SKSU2BPAG
Luxembourg (LUX)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Mexico (Telcel) (TCE)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1APA5
Mexico (Telcel) (TCE)	SM-T330	GALAXY Tab4	5.1.1	T330XXU1BPA3
Morocco (MWD) (MWD)	SM-E500H	GALAXY E5	5.1.1	E500HXXU1BPA1
Morocco (MWD) (MWD)	SM-E500H	GALAXY E5	5.1.1	E500HXXU1BOJ2
Netherlands (Vodafone) (VDF)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Netherlands (Vodafone) (VDF)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Netherlands (Vodafone) (VDF)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Nordic countries (NEE)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Pakistan (PAK) (PAK)	SM-J200H	Galaxy J2	5.1.1	J200HXXU0APB1
Panama (TPA)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BPA2
Panama (TPA)	SM-T715Y	GALAXY Tab S2	5.0.2	T715YDXU2APA2
Panama (TPA)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BOI3
Paraguay (Claro) (CTP)	SM-T239M	GALAXY Tab 4	4.4.4	T239MUBU0APA1
Peru (PEO)	SM-T670	GALAXY View	5.1.1	T670UEU1APA5
Poland (XEO)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Poland (XEO)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Portugal (Optimus) (OPT)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Portugal (TPH) (TPH)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Romania (Vodafone) (CNX)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Romania (Vodafone) (CNX)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Romania (Vodafone) (CNX)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Romania (Vodafone) (CNX)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Saudi Arabia (ACR)	SM-J500H	Galaxy J5	5.1.1	J500HXXU1AOI1
Saudi Arabia (ACR)	SM-J500H	Galaxy J5	5.1.1	J500HXXU1APB1
Saudi Arabia (KSA)	SM-E500H	GALAXY E5	5.1.1	E500HXXU1BPA1
Saudi Arabia (STC) (XFU)	SM-G360H	GALAXY CORE Prime	4.4.4	G360HDDU0AOK3
Slovakia (ORX)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
Slovakia (ORX)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Slovakia (ORX)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Slovenia (SIO)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Slovenia (SIO)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Slovenia (SIO)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
Slovenia (Mobitel) (MOT)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Slovenia (Mobitel) (MOT)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Slovenia (Si.mobil) (SIM)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Slovenia (Si.mobil) (SIM)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Slovenia (Si.mobil) (SIM)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Slovenia (Si.mobil) (SIM)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
South Africa (XFA)	SM-G360H	GALAXY CORE Prime	4.4.4	G360HDDU0AOK3
South Africa (XFA)	SM-J200H	Galaxy J2	5.1.1	J200HXXU0APB1
South East Europe (SEE)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
South East Europe (SEE)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0APA1
South East Europe (SEE)	SM-G318H	SM-G318H	4.4.4	G318HXCU0AOI2
Spain (PHE)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Spain (Vodafone) (ATL)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Spain (Vodafone) (ATL)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOKN
Spain (Vodafone) (ATL)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Spain (Vodafone) (ATL)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Switzerland (AUT)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
Switzerland (Swisscom) (SWC)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPB8
Switzerland (Swisscom) (SWC)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	6.0.1	G920FXXU3DPB8
Switzerland (Swisscom) (SWC)	SM-G920F	Galaxy S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU3QOJ4
Switzerland (Swisscom) (SWC)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU3QOKN
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-G313ML	GALAXY ACE4	4.4.2	G313MLUBU0AOJ1
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BOI3
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-A300M	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300MUBU1BPB1
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-A300H	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300HXXU1BPA1
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BPA2
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-A310M	Galaxy A3 ?	5.1.1	A310MUBU1APB2
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-A300M	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300MUBU1BPB1
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-A310M	Galaxy A3 ?	5.1.1	A310MUBU1APB2
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-T700	GALAXY TabS	5.0.2	T700XXU1BOL1
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BPA2
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-T116BU	GALAXY Tab3 Lite	4.4.4	T116BUUBU0AOJ1
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-A510M	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510MUBU1APA3
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-G313ML	GALAXY ACE4	4.4.2	G313MLUBU0AOC2
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-A300M	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300MUBU1BOK1
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-G900H	GALAXY S5	5	G900HXXU1BOI3
Trinidad and Tobago (EON)	SM-A300M	GALAXY A3	5.0.2	A300MUBU1BOK1
United Arab Emirates (XSG)	SM-J200H	Galaxy J2	5.1.1	J200HXXU0APB1
United Arab Emirates (XSG)	SM-P601	GALAXY Note 10.1	4.4.2	P601XXUCOI2
United Arab Emirates (XSG)	SM-P601	GALAXY Note 10.1	4.4.2	P601XXUCPA1
United Kingdom (BTU)	SM-G903F	Galaxy S5 neo	5.1.1	G903FXXU1APA2
United Kingdom / Ireland (XEU)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	6.0.1	G925FXXU3DPAD
United Kingdom / Ireland (XEU)	SM-G925F	Galaxy S6 edge	5.1.1	G925FXXS3COK5
Unknown (MYM)	SM-J320H	Galaxy J3	5.1.1	J320HXXU0APB8
Uzbekistan (CAC)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE
Uzbekistan (CAC)	SM-A510F	Galaxy A5 ?	5.1.1	A510FXXU1APAE

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The Galaxy S7 has a microSD card slot, but doesn’t support adoptable storage

In addition to water resistance and the slew of hardware changes that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge come with, one that stood out for us was the addition of a microSD card slot. However, a new revelation has found that both flagships are lacking ‘Adoptable Storage’, which is a feature that was included by Google with Android 6.0.

This basically lets you merge the internal storage with the microSD storage, while encrypting the card so that it functions just like a native storage module, allowing users to install apps as well as store regular media. The downside to this is that users cannot use the microSD card with other devices as it is encrypted to work only with the source device. This is precisely why Samsung has left it out as well.

Here’s what Samsung said when asked about the omission – “Samsung decided not to use the Android Marshmallow “adoptable storage” model. We believe that our users want a microSD card to transfer files between their phone and other devices (laptop, tablet, etc), especially the photos and videos they shoot with the camera.”

Unfortunately, Samsung has also decided to sell only the 32GB model in some major markets, so those who need a lot of internal storage for large games and apps might be a bit disappointed. It is important to note that fellow South Korean manufacturer LG has also left out this feature with its recent G5 flagship, so this could be an industry wide practice going forward. The Pure Edition Moto X however is an exception to this.

Do you think Samsung should have included this feature with the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge?

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Smart Manager is a settings option instead of an app with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

With the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge came a great deal of optimization to Samsung’s software, which went from being laggy and a stutterfest to something smooth, fast and rather beautiful. To let users manage things like RAM, internal storage and security from a central location, the S6 and S6 edge introduced the Smart Manager app. It has carried forward to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge as well, but this time Smart Manager is simply a part of the settings menu and isn’t present in the app drawer.

Smart Manager was always an integral part of the software – disabling it (through the Package Disabler Pro app, it can’t be disabled officially) would remove the battery menu from the settings completely, for example – and it has now been turned into a regular settings option. We thought we would point it out even though it’s not a move that will really affect most folks. Well, at least not as much as that option that can remove the app drawer and could be the default on future Samsung devices, with no way to turn things around without opting for third-party launchers.

Just to remind you, some carriers in the US removed Smart Manager altogether from their versions of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge last year. But the feature has become a part of TouchWiz and has been present in all Galaxy devices that came with Android 5.0 out of the box, and a homescreen widget can still be found on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

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Video reveals improved multitasking on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

Last year, when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge, one of the primary complaints that came from the users was with regards to the RAM management. The infamous Android 5.0 memory leak was blamed for this, but it really was just the software aggressively killing apps in the background in what might have been a “feature” and not an actual issue.

Now with the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge launching earlier this week, similar questions were asked by fans. Responding accordingly to those queries is YouTuber Erica, who has posted a video detailing the multitasking aspect of the smartphones. As you can see from the video below, the device can comfortably handle eight apps at a time without any of the aggressive app management settings.

But when a game is run (Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft in this case), the device seems to go into overdrive to ensure that it doesn’t burden the RAM too much. The Chrome Browser that was running in the background refreshed upon launching the game, suggesting that only 7-8 apps can be running in the background on the Galaxy S7 or the Galaxy S7 edge.

While many would call this an improvement over last year’s Galaxy flagships, something like this is not acceptable of a flagship offering in 2016. However, we’re still wary of this particular test as the device probably runs a test firmware and maybe Samsung will issue a patch over the coming days. But from what we see here, the Galaxy S7 is only a marginal improvement over its predecessor, despite packing 4GB of RAM, compared to 3GB on the Galaxy S6.

What do you make of these findings?

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User manuals for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge now appearing online

For those who still need to wait a few weeks before finally receiving their shiny new Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, user manuals can add some fuel to the anticipation. Luckily, they are appearing online in many languages.

For now, mainly the user manuals for the Galaxy S7 edge are available. You can find them in English (PDF), Spanish (PDF), French (PDF), German (PDF), and Chinese (PDF). If you’re looking to learn more about the edge-less Galaxy S7, the selection is more limited at the moment. There’s documentation in Spanish (PDF) and Chinese (PDF), and in US English courtesy of AT&T (PDF), T-Mobile (PDF) and Sprint (PDF).

Any missing editions are sure to pop up soon, so keep an eye on your local Samsung branch’s website for reading pleasure in your own preferred language.

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Galaxy Note 5 updating to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in South Korea

It started with Cambodia, and Android 6.0 has now reached the Galaxy Note 5 in Samsung’s home country. The Galaxy S6 edge+ also received Marshmallow in South Korea today, and it’s likely the two devices are being updated at the same time, which we have seen happen with all the minor software updates that have hit the devices since their launch.

Carrier LG Uplus is the first to roll out the update, and other carriers in the country should soon be joining the party. As for other regions, it would be great to see the rollout expand to many other markets within the week, though as always there’s no telling how long it will take for every device out there to be updated. You probably already know what you can expect from Marshmallow, and we have a few pictures of the latest version of Android running on the Galaxy Note 5 and also the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.

Firmware Details:

Model	SM-N920L
Model name	Galaxy Note5
Country	Korea (LG Uplus)
Version	Android 6.0.1
Changelist	110166628
Build date	Mon, 01 Feb 2016 17:54:05 +0000
Product code	LUC
PDA	N920LKLU2BPB1
CSC	N920LLUC2BPB1

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Galaxy S7 has a Live Photos-like feature, Samsung just didn’t talk about it

Before the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge were announced, there were rumors that the devices would come with a feature similar to Apple’s Live Photos feature, which in turn was inspired by HTC’s Zoe functionality. Samsung didn’t say anything about such a feature at the Unpacked event, but the new flagships do have an option to take “moving pictures”. It’s called Motion photo and it’s tucked away in the camera app’s settings.

For those that aren’t aware of what features like Motion Photo or Live Photos do, here’s a short explanation. When you capture an image with the phone’s camera, the camera app takes a few additional photos in the background. You won’t see these photos in the gallery, but if you press on that image that does show in the gallery, you will be treated to a short video of the images taken before the actual photo was captured. It’s more like a GIF than a proper video; Apple’s Live Photos feature captures extra images both before and after the photo you take, but Samsung’s version only does the former.

Overall, Motion photo is not something most will use so it isn’t surprising to see Samsung skipping a mention when it unveiled the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. What do you think? Do you think Motion photo is a nice feature to have, or do you think it’s something you will never/rarely use?

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Samsung Galaxy S7 Lens Cover price listed by a Dutch retailer

Dutch retailer CentralPoint has listed the Lens Cover accessory that was revealed alongside the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge this Sunday. The retailer claims that this camera enhancement accessory will be priced at €152.46 or about $170, suggesting that this won’t go easy on your wallets.

While Samsung had briefly revealed this particular accessory, pricing details were promised to be made public subsequently. This is the first word we’re getting on the pricing of the Lens Cover and frankly we’re not impressed. However, this is an early listing and we’ll wait for official confirmation from Samsung with regards to the pricing of this accessory.

Would you purchase the Galaxy S7/S7 edge Lens Cover at nearly $170?

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