Android 7.0 Nougat beta test for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 starts November 9

Samsung offered a beta program for Marshmallow last year which allowed Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge owners to get a taste of Android 6.0 before the update was officially released. We reported a few days ago that Samsung has started Android 7.0 Nougat beta testing for the Galaxy S7 edge in the United Kingdom. It has since pulled the Galaxy Beta Program app and the servers don’t appear to be fully functional right now but according to a Samsung website the beta test will start November 9.

Called the Galaxy Beta Program, the Android 7.0 Nougat beta test enables users to test out the new major update and provide Samsung with feedback about its performance, stability and usability. To participate users first have to download the Galaxy Beta Program application from Galaxy Apps and then have to submit an application form through the Registration menu inside the app. Do keep in mind that registration alone won’t cut it, users have to be selected by Samsung in order to take part in the program.

The website adds that this beta program will be open to Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners in the United Kingdom and that the test period runs from November 9 to mid-December. It also points out that the Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Edition and Batman Injustice Edition are now supported in this beta program. If that really is the case, expect a formal announcement of the Android 7.0 Nougat beta test this week.

Thanks, Thyger!

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Samsung provides more details about what its digital assistant will be capable of

Following weeks of rumors that Samsung had acquired Viv Labs to use its artificial intelligence platform for developing a digital assistant for the Galaxy S8, Samsung confirmed last week that it’s indeed working on a new AI-powered digital assistant that will debut with its mobile devices. The company has now provided a few other details that give us an idea of what this assistant might be capable of.

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong has said that the company wants to focus on how to provide more convenience and pleasure to users through Viv Labs’ AI solution. He made these comments while meeting with the heads of Viv Labs last week. Lee also confirmed that Samsung is going to further improve its position the Internet of Things segment by bringing this digital assistant to devices such as home appliances.

“We are developing a key major interface which will bring about a totally new paradigm; an open AI platform,” said Samsung Electronics vice president Rhee In-jong, adding that while current Galaxy smartphones need separate apps for users to accomplish separate apps like ordering pizza or an Uber, the new AI platform will enable users to order and perform these tasks easily just by voice commands without having to jump through separate apps.

Viv Labs CEO Dag Kittlaus pointed out that this AI platform won’t just be limited to smartphones but it will also work with home appliances that users interact with quite frequently. The company’s focus is to make this work as a “connected technology” which extends to different types of devices. The platform can effectively double as a remote control for compatible appliances, “(For instance) you will be able to ask your refrigerator to show you your photos on your phone,” said Rhee.

So far, this new digital assistant which might be called Bixby doesn’t seem to be all that special given that other digital assistants from Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are already capable of doing all this and more. Perhaps what might set Samsung’s assistant apart is the fact that it would be expanded to appliances as well and it would allow for users to interact with those products in an entirely different manner.

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Gear S3 pre-orders can now be placed via Amazon in Europe

If you’re based in Europe and want to pick up Samsung’s latest smartwatch, you can now place a pre-order for it on Amazon. The online retailer is taking pre-orders for both the Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier. If you want LTE connectivity you will need to opt for the latter but the great thing is that both smartwatches cost exactly the same.

The Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier both carry a price tag of 399 euro. Samsung has used this exact same pricing strategy in other markets across the globe where it’s taking pre-orders for the Gear S3. Amazon doesn’t mention a release date on the product pages for these smartwatches so it’s unclear when shipments will begin. However, since mid-November is the target for most markets, it’s quite likely that customers in Europe will start receiving their units around the same time. Click here to pre-order the Gear S3 frontier and here for the Gear S3 classic from Amazon in Europe.

 

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Samsung confirms the Galaxy S8 will have a digital assistant

When Samsung announced the acquisition of Viv Labs, a startup founded by the creators of Siri, a few weeks ago we started hearing rumors that the company will use Viv Labs’ technology to build an artificial intelligence digital assistant for the Galaxy S8. We later came to know that it might be called Bixby. Prior to the company’s confirmation, we actually sent out a tweet confirming that version 1.0 of Bixby will indeed be present on the Galaxy S8 a.k.a Project Dream. Without going into the specifics, Samsung has confirmed that it’s next flagship smartphone is going to feature a digital assistant.

Samsung will start by integrating the startup’s artificial intelligence platform called Viv into its Galaxy smartphone before expanding it to products like wearable devices and home appliances. It’s going to use this platform to offer a host of functionality and different services to users but Samsung is yet to confirm what type of services will be offered through its digital assistant.

The company has said that users will be able to seamlessly access third-party services through the assistant. “Developers can attach and upload services to our agent,” said Samsung Executive Vice President Rhee Injong, adding that “Even if Samsung doesn’t do anything on its own, the more services that get attached the smarter this agent will get, learn more new services and provide them to end-users with ease.”

Samsung is now firmly in the digital assistant race where companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon have already achieved a great deal. It’s starting out quite slow which is why the company has said that it’s looking to make further acquisitions in order to bolster its position in the areas of artificial intelligence and other related software.

Samsung Bixby V1.0 (Project Dream = S8).

— SamMobile (@SamMobiles) November 3, 2016

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T-Mobile releases November security patch for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge

Add updating your phone to the list of things you’re supposed to do this weekend if you own a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge on T-Mobile in the United States. Magenta has started rolling out a new firmware update for both handsets. It’s a minor update that brings the November security patch though it’s pertinent to mention here that Samsung is yet to officially detail the November security patch on its security blog.

Software version G930TUVU4APK1 is being rolled out for the Galaxy S7 (SM-G930T) and G935TUVU4APK1 for the Galaxy S7 edge (SM-G935T). The changelog only mentions that this update will improve the security of the device. It does come with the November 1 security patch level but since it hasn’t been detailed yet it’s not known for sure right now which vulnerabilities have been patched with this update. Those who own these handsets on T-Mobile will have received an over-the-air update notification by now, the update can also be downloaded from our firmware section for the Galaxy S7 here and the Galaxy S7 edge here.

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Galaxy Note 7 60 percent charging cap update released in Canada as well

Samsung has still not been able to reach a conclusion as to why the replacement Galaxy Note 7 units that were supposed to be safe started catching fire as well. In order to limit the probability of that happening to units that are still out there, Samsung has gradually been rolling out a software update for the Galaxy Note 7 that puts a cap on the battery charge. The handset can’t be charged beyond 60 percent once this update is installed. It has already been released across Europe, South Korea, Australia as well as the United States. Samsung has now released this update in Canada.

Samsung has repeatedly been urging users to turn in their Note 7s and exchange them for another device. The battery charge cap update is just one of the ways it’s nudging users in the right direction. There are still quite a lot of people out there that are holding onto their Galaxy Note 7 even though it’s just not worth it anymore. Carriers in New Zealand have taken a drastic step to get those customers to turn in their devices, they’ll be blacklisting the Galaxy Note 7 on their networks in about two weeks which will render the device unable to work on any cellular network in the country. We’ve not seen carriers in other markets take a similar step but it can’t be ruled out entirely just yet.

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Gear S3 UK pre-orders resumed, first 3,000 customers get free earphones

Samsung started taking pre-orders for the Gear S3 in the United Kingdom late last month only to sell out of its pre-order stock in the first five days. The company has gradually been opening up pre-orders for the wearable device in more markets across the globe and it has now shipped additional stock for UK customers. Gear S3 pre-orders have been resumed in the United Kingdom.

The Gear S3 frontier and Gear S3 classic can both be pre-ordered right now for £349 ($425). The price is inclusive of shipping which the company says is expected to begin November 18. Samsung was previously offering the first 1,000 pre-order customers a free pair of Level Active Bluetooth earphones but it’s now expanding this gift to the first 3,000 customers who place a pre-order for its new wearable device. To qualify, the pre-order needs to be placed before 7 pm UK time on November 10. Pre-orders can be placed via Samsung’s UK website.

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