August security update brings support for the Vulkan API to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Samsung has been pushing out the August security patch for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in Europe and North America for a little over two weeks now. However, it has today been brought to our attention that the upgrade also bundles compatibility for the Vulkan API. It’s currently unclear why the firm failed to specify this addition in the changelog, but we’re not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many games on the market that take advantage of the Vulkan API, and the handful that do are extremely buggy at the best of times, but as the saying goes: “Anything worth having is worth waiting for”. We’re just hoping that Samsung manages to distribute its power efficient Vulkan-based TouchWiz launcher before the end of the year otherwise the handsets are going to have a difficult time conserving battery life when displaying the enhanced graphics.

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Galaxy Note 7 recall will reportedly be announced soon

If reports out of Korea are to be believed, Samsung’s mobile business might be about to take a big hit. The company has already confirmed that it has delayed Galaxy Note 7 shipments to perform additional quality tests on the device following reports of the Galaxy Note 7′s battery exploding while being charged. It’s now being said that Samsung is going to announce an unprecedented recall of the Galaxy Note 7 in less than a week.

Yonhap News Agency quotes a Samsung official who spoke on the condition of anonymity that the cause of these explosions has been traced to the battery of the Galaxy Note 7. “The most important thing is the safety of our customers and we don’t want to disappoint our loyal customers,” the official is quoted as saying. The report mentions that Samsung is going to announce the result of its additional tests as well as provide details on comprehensive countermeasures either this weekend or early next week.

However, it doesn’t appear to be a widespread issue. The official says that “Products installed with the problematic battery account for less than 0.1 percent of the entire volume sold. The problem can be simply resolved by changing the battery, but we’ll come up with convincing measures for our consumers,”

The report raises the possibility that Samsung might recall all Galaxy Note 7 units sold in South Korea and abroad. With sales expected to be north of 500,000 units the company is going to have a lot of angry customers on its hands. It does not mention what countermeasures the company might propose to customers who already own a Galaxy Note 7.

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Tizen SDK becomes Tizen Studio, gives one-click installation for multiple platforms

Tizen is on the move, with Samsung’s success with the Z3 (3 million sold in 2015) fueling the rise of the Korean giant’s homegrown OS. Samsung is making changes to Tizen that are bound to make the platform better for consumers with a new update rollout this month, but consumers and users are only one part of the equation: the other pertains to developers, who are necessary to ensure the long-term survival and success of Tizen as a burgeoning platform.

With this in mind, Samsung has revamped the old Tizen SDK setup that mandated developers install multiple SDKs for multiple mobile devices and renamed it Tizen Studio. This first version of Tizen Studio, 1.0, allows developers a one-click installation for multiple platforms (smartphones, smartwatches, and TVs, for example) that cuts down on the download and management headaches developers once experienced. Samsung has not only revamped this with regard to platform installations, but the company has also made Tizen more “lightweight” and usable — improving the look of the UX and UI.

Certification processes have been reduced, with Tizen Studio 1.0 removing the “additional certification step” that was once necessary for developers to test and develop applications. The UX and graphics for testing tools, along with the search engine have been improved, and Samsung has even added 50 new sample applications. Apps for the new Tizen-powered Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic smartwatches can also be developed with Tizen Studio 1.0.

These changes are needed and long overdue, no doubt, but it just goes to show that Samsung is really determined to remove barriers that have made Tizen something of a “ghost town” for developers who’d be interested otherwise. The Korean giant wants to speed up app development, and Tizen Studio 1.0 (like Samsung’s release of its Smart TV SDK Preview Guide) is a large leap in the right direction.

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Get best-selling Android mobile protection for 66 percent off from SamMobile Shop

It’s imperative to have reliable mobile device security in this day and age. Google works hard to ensure that Android remains safe while manufacturers take some steps on their own to ensure protection for their customers. There are various solutions for customers who want to add an additional layer of security. You can be one of those users and that too at a significantly reduced price. For a limited time, you can get best-selling Android mobile security protection from the SamMobile Shop for 66 percent off.

A two-year subscription to ESET Mobile Security for Android normally costs $29.95 but for a limited time it’s available for $9.95 from SamMobile shop. This powerful antivirus and antispam software continuously scans the device for malware and other threats to catch them as they emerge across files, folders, apps and memory cards. Personalized settings allow users to filter unwanted SMS or phone calls. It even enables them to track, locate and lock a stolen or missing device. Head over to the SamMobile Shop now and get a two-year subscription to ESET Mobile Security for Android at a 66 percent discount.

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You won’t believe how many millions Samsung spends on R&D every day

Samsung delved into the numbers game for a bit during its IFA 2016 press conference. The idea was to tell people that the company is fully committed to research and development, perhaps the subtle undertone here was to dispel the incorrect notion of Samsung just being a company that copies others and doesn’t do anything itself. If you calculate the daily average of the entire amount that it spends on research and development every year, Samsung says it comes out to an impressive €30 Million every single day.

Since IFA is focused on the European market Samsung also provided some figures which showcase its strong position in this lucrative market. It revealed that more than 100 million people in Europe use its products and that 7 out of 10 households in Europe have at least one Samsung smartphone. It also mentioned that 1 out of 3 families watched the Euro 2016 championship and the Rio 2016 Olympics on a Samsung TV. These numbers give Samsung hope that its future is bright in Europe which is why it’s launching new products and expanding partnerships to bring great new experiences to customers in this lucrative market.

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Galaxy Folder 2 official images leaked

Another day, another Galaxy Folder 2 leak. Samsung came out with the Galaxy Folder flip phone last year and this upcoming handset is the successor. From all that has been leaked up till now it’s clear that this clamshell smartphone is going to be a China-only affair. We recently saw leaked live pictures of the handset and today the official press images of the Galaxy Folder 2 have been leaked online.

The Galaxy Folder 2 is expected to feature a 3.8-inch display, a 1.4GHz Qualcomm processor under the hood with 2GB RAM and 8GB storage. An 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera are expected to be onboard as well alongside the 2,000mAh battery and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The Galaxy Folder 2 has already received TENAA certification which is required before a handset can be sold in China so it appears that the official launch may not be far off.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything about this smartphone as yet so it can’t be said for sure right now when it’s going to be released and precisely how much it’s going to cost.

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These are the model numbers for the Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier

Samsung formally unveiled the Gear S3 classic and the Gear S3 frontier smartwatches yesterday. Our initial impression of the product is that it’s a story of refinement through and through. Samsung has taken something great – the Gear S2 – and made it even better. If you have been double minded about owning a smartwatch you should definitely give the Gear S3 a chance.

If you like to get a bit technical about your devices then you will certainly be interested in knowing the model numbers of Samsung’s latest smartwatch. The Gear S3 classic which is Bluetooth-only carries model number SM-R770. The Bluetooth-only Gear S3 frontier has model number SM-R760 while the 3G/LTE Gear S3 frontier bear model number SM-R765. Keep in mind that Samsung is only offering 3G/LTE connectivity with the Gear S3 frontier. Samsung’s suggested price for the Gear S3 is 399 euro while it’s yet to confirm pricing and availability for other markets.

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Samsung is bringing its Family Hub refrigerator with 21-inch touchscreen to Europe

Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016, Samsung unveiled a new refrigerator called Family Hub. It’s unlike any other refrigerator because it has a massive 21.5-inch touchscreen display. Family Hub was released four months ago in the United States with a hefty price tag starting at $5,600. At IFA 2016, Samsung has confirmed that it’s now going to release the Family Hub refrigerator in Europe.

The 21.5-inch Full HD touchscreen of the Family Hub provides more functionality than you can ever hope to get from a refrigerator. It doubles as an interactive whiteboard where the family can share notes, calendars, photos and doodles. Content can be uploaded to the touchscreen directly or remotely via smartphone or tablet. The online shopping app can also be used to order groceries for delivery. Samsung is going to partner with online grocery shopping portals in Europe including premium Italian food provider Eataly, Supermercato24 and coop@home. With the Club des Chefs App customers in Europe will have a chance to cook with the masters. The app will provide cooking tips through text and videos on the touchscreen from some of the best culinary experts in the world.

Samsung has not yet confirmed how much it’s going to charge for the Family Hub refrigerator in Europe but you can be sure that it’s not going to be cheap.

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Samsung TV Plus service will be expanded to the United States and Europe

Samsung introduced its Smart Hub content platform at IFA 2016 today in Berlin. It also announced the formation of a new premium HDR content partnership that will enable its customers to realize the full potential of its Quantum dot SHUD TVs. Samsung also confirmed its plans of expanding the Samsung TV Plus service.

Samsung TV Plus was launched about ten months ago, the company describes it as the world’s first virtual TV channel service. It lets users watch videos by flipping channels like they would on a regular TV service. It launched TV Plus in South Korea initially where it quickly became a hit. Three months ago, Samsung announced that TV Plus was being launched in Thailand and Vietnam as well. Given the service’s increasing popularity Samsung has decided to expand it to the United States and Europe as well but it’s yet to confirm what that’s going to happen.

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Samsung teams up with MakerBot to equip schools in five European markets with 3D printers

During its IFA 2016 press conference, Samsung announced a new partnership with MakerBot. It has announced that it’s going to team up with MakerBot to equip schools, colleges and museums in five European markets with 3D printers. In case you were unaware, MakerBot is one of the global leaders in 3D printing.

The companies will be providing schools, colleges and museums in these markets with 3D printers and will also provide training to teachers and students so that they can effectively use this technology. There are more than 100,000 MakerBot printers across the globe making up the world’s largest 3D printing community, a 3D printer is without a doubt one of the most powerful tools inside the classroom. Samsung also announced today that as part of the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs it’s on track to deliver on its promise of supporting 400,000 young people by the end of 2016, it will be achieving this goal three years earlier than expected.

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Samsung will now provide 10-year burn-in warranty for its Quantum dot SUHD TVs

Samsung’s IFA 2016 press conference is underway in Berlin and the company has already made a couple of interesting announcements on stage. Samsung has announced today that it’s going to provide a 10-year free burn-in warranty for its SUHD TVs with Quantum dot display. It’s making this move to show its confidence in the reliability of its Quantum dot technology.

The company revealed its new Quantum dot TV, the 88-inch KS9800. It now offers the largest range of SUHD TVs in Europe with 19 available sizes ranging from 43-inch to 88-inch. It has also announced the world’s first Quantum dot gaming monitors at IFA 2016. Samsung is the only company that is currently offering cadmium-free Quantum dot TVs. To show customers its confidence in this technology, Samsung has announced that it will provide a free 10-year burn-in guarantee for these TVs which means that customers will effectively be protected against the effects of burn-in for an entire decade.

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Watch the live stream of Samsung’s IFA 2016 press conference right here

After launching the Gear S3 last night, Samsung is ready for its IFA 2016 press conference. You can watch the live stream of Samsung’s IFA 2016 press conference right here.

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Samsung Gear S3 uses 14nm Exynos 7270 processor

Samsung’s latest smartwatch, the Gear S3, was announced yesterday. It comes with various improvements over the last year’s Gear S2, and the processing chipset is one of them. Samsung didn’t talk about the processor model used in the Gear S3 during the launch yesterday, but we come to know that it uses an Exynos 7270 processor.

The Exynos 7270 has a 1GHz dual-core CPU, which is made using Samsung’s latest 14nm FinFET fabrication process. We don’t know yet whether the SoC uses Cortex-A53 cores or the newer Cortex-A35 cores. As opposed to last year, all the variants of the smartwatch use this new chipset.

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Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime with 5.5-inch 1080p display and fingerprint sensor officially unveiled in Vietnam

Last week, we reported that Samsung is working on a souped up version of the Galaxy J7. Now, Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy J7 Prime for the Vietnamese market. The new smartphone features higher screen resolution, increased RAM and storage, a fingerprint scanner, and a better front-facing camera compared to the Galaxy J7 (2016).

The Galaxy J7 Prime features a 5.5-inch 1080p display with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 protection, a 13-megapixel primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and 1080p video recording, and an 8-megapixel secondary camera with f/1.9 aperture. It uses a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot. Moreover, it also comes with a fingerprint sensor embedded into its home button. The Galaxy J7 Prime keeps the Galaxy J7 (2016)’s 3,300mAh battery.

The all metal device has a thin waistline at 8.1mm, and comes with LTE Cat. 4, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, and a microUSB 2.0 connectivity. Samsung has priced the Galaxy J7 Prime at VND 6,290,000 (around $280) in the country, and pre-orders start from today.

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