Samsung Smart Switch app updated with Android Oreo support

Here’s another indication that the Android 8.0 Oreo beta program for the Galaxy S8 could start sometime this week: Samsung has updated its Smart Switch app for its phones and tablets with support for Oreo. You know, so anyone moving from an older device to the Galaxy S8 and getting the chance to take part in the beta can transfer their data using the company’s official tool instead of having to start over from scratch.

Smart Switch gets Android Oreo support

Smart Switch isn’t the first Samsung app to get support for Oreo. Samsung Pay had that honor, and it is only a matter of time before all of Samsung’s official apps get updated to work on the latest version of Android. Unfortunately, this still doesn’t tell us an exact date for when the beta test will start. Again, it’s possible it will kick off sometime this week, and we’re waiting with bated breath to be able to start testing it on our Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

For those unaware, the Oreo beta program will be offered in North America, South Korea and the United Kingdom at first, followed by China, Spain, Germany, Poland, France and India in the second phase. As for the newest version of Smart Switch, you can grab it from the Play Store or download the APK from our database.

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 31, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy A5 (2018) and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we published today.

Business

Samsung dividends will double next year to increase shareholder value

Samsung posts record profits in Q3 2017

Samsung shakes up its leadership with three new CEOs

Firmware News

Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta license indicates impending launch

Gear Sport firmware update improves sensor accuracy, adds new features

New Gear IconX (2018) update brings Bluetooth improvements

General

Bixby will now receive its weather data from The Weather Company

Phones

Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (2018) processor gets Bluetooth 5.0 certification

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: October 31, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy A5 (2018) and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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New Gear IconX (2018) update brings Bluetooth improvements

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update for the Gear IconX (2018) today. It’s a minor update that brings Bluetooth improvements. The update is now available for download and Gear IconX (2018) owners can get it right away.

The Gear IconX (2018) activity tracking wireless earbuds were launched earlier this year. They’re quite similar to the original Gear IconX but with slight improvements that make the earbuds more ergonomic and lightweight.

Gear IconX (2018) Update

Measuring 18.9 x 21.8 x 22.8 mm, the new Gear IconX (2018) weighs just 8 grams per earbud. They feature 4GB of internal storage. The 82mAh battery promises music playback of up to 7 hours and a talk time of up to 4 hours. That’s a significant improvement over the original Gear IconX.

The new earbuds are also capable of launching Bixby when they’re paired with a supported device like the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8. They feature an accelerometer and a heart-rate monitor for activity tracking. The data is then synced with Samsung’s S Health platform.

Samsung is rolling out firmware version R140XXUAQJ2 for the Gear IconX (2018) today. The changelog mentions that this update has “improved stabilizing Bluetooth connection.”

Samsung has started selling the Gear IconX (2018) in a handful of markets. It’s available in black, gray and pink colors for 229.99 euro.

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Bixby will now receive its weather data from The Weather Company

The Weather Company has confirmed that it’s now providing weather data for Samsung’s digital personal assistant Bixby. One of the basic commands that you can give to Bixby is to have it pull up weather information. The Bixby weather experience is now going to be powered by The Weather Company.

This is an expansion of the existing global partnership that Samsung and The Weather Company announced earlier this year. That partnership made TWC the default weather data provider on select Samsung devices like the Galaxy S8. TWC provided weather data for Samsung’s weather widget as well.

Bixby Weather Data

Bixby will be able to pull up weather information from TWC that includes real-time current conditions, hourly forecasts for up to 36 hours and 10 day forecasts for 2.2 locations across the globe. Static maps to show satellite radar images are included as well.

Users who have a supported device will receive weather alerts and notifications that will help notify them of impending severe weather that could affect them.

A clickable icon presence has been launched in the Samsung Internet Browser which will enable users to get the latest weather information via the preloaded TWC icon. It will soon be available in all new and existing US devices running Samsung’s browser.

The enhanced integration of The Weather Channel with Bixby is now live in Bixby on Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the United States. The Weather Channel confirms that this integration will be rolled out globally soon.

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Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta license indicates impending launch

The Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ is in the pipeline. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta in the near future. The license agreement for the upcoming Galaxy Beta Program has now gone live which suggests that the launch isn’t that far off.

Samsung is yet to confirm when it’s going to launch the Galaxy S8 beta program, though. Previous reports have suggested that the beta might be launched in the United States on October 31.

Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo Beta

It was reported yesterday that the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta is going to be launched in North America, South Korea and the United Kingdom in the first phone. Samsung will later roll out the beta in China, Spain, Germany, Poland, France and India in the second phase.

Those who want to take part in the beta will have to sign up for it through the Samsung Members app. The beta registrations haven’t gone live as yet. However, links to the End User Licensing Agreement and the Galaxy Beta Program FAQ have now been spotted in the app.

The licensing agreement confirms that the upcoming Galaxy Beta Program is meant to distribute pre-release Android 8.0 Oreo firmware for “testing and evaluation purposes” only.

The FAQ reiterates a previous report that the beta will only be offered for T-Mobile, Sprint and unlocked variants of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the United States.

Hit the source links below to read both the FAQ and the EULA. It’s likely that we’ll soon see an official announcement about the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta from Samsung.

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Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (2018) processor gets Bluetooth 5.0 certification

Bluetooth 5.0 is coming to Samsung’s mid-range lineup. The Galaxy S8 was the first smartphone to feature Bluetooth 5.0 and Samsung is now expanding the new standard to its mid-range handsets. The Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (2018) processor has received Bluetooth 5.0 certification. This confirms that the premium mid-range handsets will have the new standard onboard when they arrive next year.

We’ve previously reported that the Samsung Exynos 7885 processor will be used for the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (2018). It’s the 10nm version of the Exynos 7880 that’s found in the existing models.

Galaxy A5 And Galaxy A7 (2018) Processor

The Exynos 7885 is said to have two ARM Cortex-A73 CPU cores (clocked at 2.1GHz) and four ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores. It may also feature an integrated LTE radio and Mali-G71 GPU. No information about the number of GPU cores has been revealed as yet.

The certification confirms that the Exynos 7885 is going to have support for Bluetooth 5.0. The new standard provides improved range and faster data transfer. On devices like the Galaxy Note 8, it even lets users play Bluetooth audio on two different headphones.

Samsung is expected to release the new Galaxy A (2018) series early next year. Recent rumors suggest that the handsets will feature an Infinity Display and dual front-facing cameras.

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Gear Sport firmware update improves sensor accuracy, adds new features

Samsung today released a new firmware update for the Gear Sport smartwatch. The company’s new smartwatch was released recently. Samsung unveiled the Gear Sport at IFA 2017 in Berlin a couple of months back.

The Gear Sport combines minimalist design with military-grade durability. It features a 1.2-inch circular Super AMOLED display, a 1.0GHz dual-core processor with 4GB of storage and 768MB of RAM. The device’s biggest selling points include 5 ATM water resistance, so it’s great for swimmers, and MIL-STD-810G durability.

Gear Sport Firmware Update

Firmware version R600XXU1AQJ5 is now being rolled out for the Gear Sport. The Gear Sport firmware update that Samsung has released today weighs in at 28.70MB. The changelog reveals that it improves sensor accuracy. The accuracy of sensors that detect heart rate and pace during exercise has particularly been improved.

The new features that this update adds include Samsung Health Weight management, Fitness programs, Health Summary widget and more. Security improvements for the device are included as well. This Gear Sport firmware update brings the usual slew of device stability improvements and bug fixes as well.

The Gear Sport is now available for purchase in markets like South Korea and the United States. Samsung is offering it in Blue and Black colors with a wide variety of changeable 20mm straps.

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Samsung dividends will double next year to increase shareholder value

Samsung launched its Shareholder Value Enhancement Program back in 2015 to increase shareholder value. The program saw the company doling out billions in dividends. The company has also spent billions on buying back shares and canceling them. Samsung today outlined its Shareholder Return Program for 2018-2010.

Shareholders will be pleased to find out that Samsung dividends will double next year. The company is going to increase annual dividends by 20 percent in 2017. It promises a 100 percent rise in dividends for 2018. It will allocate 9.6 trillion won or $8.5 billion for this purpose in 2018. Samsung will then maintain that level for 2019 and 2020 dividends.

Samsung Dividends

This is going to translate into approximately 29 trillion won or $25.9 billion of total dividend returns in the 2018-2020 period. Samsung has also confirmed that it’s not going to fund future merger and acquisition investments from its free cash flow. This is going to increase the amount of capital available to return to shareholders.

The portion of free cash flow for shareholder returns will be set at minimum 50 percent over the 2018-2020 period. Once the dividends have been paid out, Samsung may use any remaining portion of the 50 percent free cash flow for additional cash dividends or share buybacks as deemed appropriate.

Samsung’s efforts to boost shareholder value have been well received. The company’s stock price has more than doubled since 2016 and it’s now committed to delivering sustainable shareholder value.

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Samsung shakes up its leadership with three new CEOs

Samsung Electronics CEO Kwon Oh-hyun recently announced that he was going to step down from his position. He said that amid the “unprecedented crisis” that the company faced, it was time for a new leadership to take the reins.

The company today announced his replacement. Samsung Electronics previously had three co-CEOs, the other two being Boon Boo-keun (BK Yoon) and Shin Jong-kyun (JK Shin). Both of them are resigning as well. Samsung Electronics now has three new co-CEOs. All new appointments are effective immediately.

Samsung’s New CEOs

Samsung confirmed today that it’s going to maintain the current co-CEO management structure. Samsung Electronics Presidents Kinam Kim, Hyunsuk (HS) Kim and Dongjin (DJ) Koh will succeed Kwon, Yoon and Shin as heads of the Device Solutions, Consumer Electronics and IT & Mobile Communications divisions respectively.

BK Yoon and JK Shin took a step back from direct control in 2015 and they’re now resigning altogether. This paves the way for an entirely new leadership to take control of Samsung Electronics, the crown jewel of the Samsung empire.

Kim Ki-nam has served as the CEO of Samsung Display. He has also ran the memory division and is already responsible for the semiconductor business. Kim Hyun-suk has been described by Samsung as an expert in display technology, leading the company’s efforts to dominate the global TV market. DJ Koh was the head of mobile R&D before he took over as the boss of the mobile division from JK Shin in 2015.

“The next generation of leaders are well suited to accelerate the pace of innovation and address the demands of the connected world. They have proven track records with extensive experience and outstanding expertise in their fields,” Kwon said.

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Samsung posts record profits in Q3 2017

Samsung recently released its earnings guidance for the third quarter of this year. The guidance predicted that the company was on track for another record quarter. Samsung today released its Q3 2017 earnings results and it has indeed posted its highest ever quarterly profits.

Samsung brought in revenues of 62 trillion won or $55 billion and posted an operating profit of 14.5 trillion won or $12.91 billion. This is the highest ever operating profit that Samsung has posted, overtaking last quarter’s 14 trillion won or $12.1 billion operating profit.

Samsung’s Record Profits

As previously reported, the semiconductor business was the biggest contributor of revenue for the company. Samsung saw strong demand for memory chipsets for mobile devices and servers. The semiconductor division accounted for two-thirds of the operating profit, it registered an increase of 146.7 percent year-over-year.

Samsung pointed out that its display panel business posted an earnings decline even though sales of flexible OLED panels for premium smartphones expanded.

The mobile division saw strong shipments bet earnings declined quarter-over-quarter due to higher sales of mass-market devices. Since there’s a lower profit margin on those devices, the earnings from the mobile division declined in the quarter ending September 2017.

Samsung expects tight supply and demand conditions to continue for the semiconductor business. It expects earnings to grow from this business. Samsung is now on track for a record full-year profit.

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Samsung Internet v6.2 brings beta features like Night Mode for everyone

Samsung released the Samsung Internet Beta v6 three months ago. The beta version of its web browser introduced several new features including the Night Mode. Samsung today announced that it’s rolling out Samsung Internet v6.2 to the public. The beta features that were launched three months ago are now available for everyone.

It was also confirmed a couple of months ago that Samsung Internet v6.2 beta had compatibility for non-Galaxy smartphones. Anyone with an Android device running version 5.0 and up could download the browser from the Google Play Store. The stable version is also compatible with all Android devices running version 5.0 and up.

Samsung Internet

The Night Mode feature is great for those who browse the web in bed at night. It reduces the amount of bright light from the phone which is good for when users want to wind down before sleeping.

There’s also a new High Contrast mode which makes reading the web more accessible and comfortable. It will show text in white on a dark background so that there’s less light in the user’s eyes with more easily readable text.

The Content Blockers section of the Settings menu makes it easy to download, install, and manage adblocking services. The new Tracking Blocker keeps users’ browsing habits and information secure, it’s enabled by default in Secret Mode.

Samsung Internet v6.2 is now available for download from Galaxy Apps and the Google Play Store.

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 30, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy S8 and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Business

Samsung might announce reshuffle of top brass tomorrow

Firmware News

Firmware Update Magazine: October 30, 2017

Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program will go live in these countries

Laptops

Samsung Flow for Windows 10 now works without Trusted Platform Module

Phones

Galaxy S9 back will reportedly ‘change a lot’

Samsung still leads in India but it’s under immense pressure from Xiaomi

Watches

Samsung airs first Gear Sport TV ad in South Korea

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: October 30, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy S8 and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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SamMobile Firmware Update Magazine: October 30, 2017

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly Firmware Magazine. You can think of it as your go-to resource to find out which of your Samsung devices has received a new update or if it’s going to receive a new firmware update in the near future.

To keep things interesting, we present the Firmware Magazine in new designs every week. It will always include the important details about firmware updates such as the firmware versions, device model numbers, Android OS versions and the country where said update is out already.

SamMobile Firmware Update Magazine

Keep in mind, however, that these firmware details are based on the firmware that are available in our database, and in some cases, the latest updates might not show in the same week as the full firmware files take additional time to make it to our database.

The purpose of this magazine is to bring all of that important information about firmware updates to you, the reader, in a manner that’s easy to comprehend—so even if you’re new to the world of firmware, you’ll have no trouble making sense of it all.

The post SamMobile Firmware Update Magazine: October 30, 2017 appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung Flow for Windows 10 now works without Trusted Platform Module

Samsung Flow was launched three years ago to provide seamless content handoff between devices. It can be used to transfer content between devices like smartphones, smartwatches, TV, PCs and tablets. Samsung has gradually expanded it to more devices. Four months ago, Samsung made it compatible with all Windows 10 PCs.

Samsung Flow for Windows 10 enables users to accomplish a variety of tasks. For example, they can use their compatible Galaxy smartphone’s fingerprint sensor to unlock their PC. They can also sync texts, automatically connect the PC to the phone’s hotspot, transfer files and more.

Samsung Flow For Windows 10

Initially, the caveat was that Samsung Flow would only work with Windows 10 PCs that had a Trusted Platform Module or TPM.

A TPM is a secure crypto-processor that performs cryptographic operations on a PC. It has multiple physical security mechanisms that make it tamper resistant. Windows 10 PCs that didn’t have a TPM wouldn’t allow users to take advantage of Samsung Flow.

That’s no longer the case. An updated version of the Samsung Flow app is now available for download from the Microsoft Store. The changelog confirms that Samsung Flow can be used on PCs without TPM.

Those who want to use Samsung Flow must have their PC running Windows 10 version 15063.413 or later and Android 6.0.1 or higher on their device.

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Samsung airs first Gear Sport TV ad in South Korea

Samsung recently unveiled its new Gear Sport smartwatch and it’s now available for purchase in South Korea. The smartwatch was released in Samsung’s home country over the weekend. Now that it’s available for purchase, Samsung has got the hype machine up and running. It has aired its first TV ad for the Gear Sport in South Korea.

The Gear Sport offers military-grade durability and a host of new features. The list of features includes Spotify’s offline mode, swim tracking and real-time heart rate monitoring. The smartwatch has a 1.2-inch circular Super AMOLED display. The Gear Sport is powered by a 1.0GHz dual-core processor. It also features 4GB of internal storage and 768MB of RAM.

Gear Sport TV Ad

The first Gear Sport TV ad in South Korea highlights the smartwatch’s minimalistic design and its fitness-focused features.

Samsung already says that the Gear Sport is ideal for swimmers. The device is certified for 5 ATM water resistance so it can be submerged in up to 50 meters of water. The Speedo On training app is also going to appeal to swimmers.

Samsung is now selling the Gear Sport in Blue and Black colors with a variety of easily changeable 20mm straps. Customers in South Korea can purchase one for 299,200 won or $265.

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Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program will go live in these countries

Samsung started working on the Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ last month. We reported recently that there’s a possibility that Samsung might launch the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program soon. Another report claimed that the beta program will be launched in the United States on October 31.

A new report brings us the names of the countries where Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program. It doesn’t reveal precisely when the beta will go live there, only that those select countries will get it.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Beta Program

The report claims that Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program in the United Kingdom, North America and South Korea in the first phase. The second phase will see the beta being launched in China, Germany, Spain, France, Poland and India. It’s unclear how long the wait will be between the first and second phase.

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 owners in these markets will be able to join the beta through the Samsung Members app. The app is available from Galaxy Apps and the Google Play Store. They have to register for the Galaxy Beta Program from the Samsung Members app.

Once they have completed the registration process, they can download the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta from the Software update menu in Settings.

Samsung is yet to confirm anything about the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program. It hasn’t shared a roadmap for the update’s public release as well. According to recent reports, the Galaxy S8 Oreo update might be released early next year.

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Samsung still leads in India but it’s under immense pressure from Xiaomi

Samsung has long been the market leader in India but in recent years, the company has had to put up with intense competition from Chinese rivals. The latest data from Counterpoint Research shows that while Samsung maintained its lead in Q3 2017, Xiaomi came very close to topping Samsung’s smartphone market share in India.

Samsung and Xiaomi accounted for 45 percent of the Indian smartphone market in Q3 2017. This is the first time since 2012 that the top two brands have claimed almost half of the entire market.

Samsung In India

Counterpoint’s data shows that Samsung retained its 23 percent smartphone market share from Q3 2016 in Q3 2017 as well. The company continues to dominate as it still caters to Indian featurephone users. Samsung has pulled out of the featurephone segment in many other markets.

On the other hand, Xiaomi was one of the fastest growing smartphone brands in Q3 2017. The company made the mid-range segment the fastest growing smartphone segment in India as it contributed to almost half of the shipments.

Xiaomi accounted for 6 percent of the smartphone market share in the third quarter of last year. Its market share surged to 22 percent in Q3 2017, a mere one percent below Samsung’s.

That’s not all. Three of the top five best-selling smartphones in India were from Xiaomi. Samsung only managed to get one handset – the Galaxy J2 – on that list in the fourth position.

Samsung certainly needs to do more if it wants to hold on to its lead in India. If it doesn’t, Xiaomi certainly won’t need an invitation to overtake its South Korean rival.

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Samsung might announce reshuffle of top brass tomorrow

The latest reports out of South Korea suggest that Samsung could announce its reshuffle of the company’s top brass tomorrow. The company has recently been finalizing the replacement of Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun who announced that he was resigning from the job.

His decision to depart Samsung has people concerned about the leadership vacuum at the company. It doesn’t help that the conglomerate’s heir Lee Jae-yong is behind bars. If his appeal is denied, he won’t be out for several years.

Samsung Reshuffle

Kwon announced earlier this month that he was going to resign from the job. He said that amid the unprecedented crisis that Samsung faces, it’s time now for a fresh leadership to take the reins.

He has been the de facto leader at Samsung ever since Lee Jae-yong was imprisoned. Samsung also dismantled its Future Strategy Office which was a centralized control tower that managed various aspects of the conglomerate.

Samsung has reportedly been reviewing several internal options for Kwon’s replacement. Kim Ki-nam, president of the semiconductor business, is expected to have a good chance of getting the job as he’s credited with driving growth for the chip division.

Samsung is now expected to announce the delayed executive reshuffle tomorrow following a board meeting. The company normally announces the reshuffle in December every year but it didn’t do that last year due to various legal troubles.

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Galaxy S9 back will reportedly ‘change a lot’

Rumors and reports about the Galaxy S9 continue to filter is as anticipation for Samsung’s next flagship smartphone grows. The latest suggests that the Galaxy S9 back is going to “change a lot.” That means Samsung might make some design changes to the rear panel of the Galaxy S9.

Just what can the company change? Perhaps it might finally remove the pain point for a lot of customers by repositioning the fingerprint sensor. The handset is also expected to feature a dual camera system at the back.

Galaxy S9

A China-based source who has been right on several occasions in the past reports that the Galaxy S9 back is going to change a lot. No further details have been provided at this point in time.

The same source recently claimed that the much-rumored optical fingerprint recognition technology won’t be ready for the Galaxy S9. The new flagship won’t have a fingerprint sensor integrated into the display.

The changes that can reasonably be expected include a dual camera system at the back. Samsung might reposition the fingerprint sensor as well so that users don’t have to play finger olympics just to reach it.

Do keep in mind that nothing is set in stone as yet. We’re going to hear many conflicting reports about the Galaxy S9 before the handset is made official. Samsung will launch the Galaxy S9 early next year.

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AT&T releases major security update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

AT&T has released an update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the United States. The upgrade, which weighs in at 135MB, transports all of the security patches included in both September and October’s release, as well as some preventative measures to protect the handset from the BlueBorne exploit.

Related: Samsung details contents of October security patch

BlueBorne, for those unaware, is a vulnerability that allows remote hackers to gain complete control of a Bluetooth-enabled computer, smartphone and tablet, even when it’s not set in a discoverable mode—so needless to say if it wasn’t dealt with appropriately, the repercussions would have be catastrophic.

How do I check to see if the update is ready for my Galaxy S7?

To check to see if the release is ready for your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, open Settings, select Software Update, then tap Download Updates Manually. If you don’t, however, feel like taking the manual approach, you can always wait until you receive an alert instructing you to install the release.

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Samsung launches a try-before-you-buy Galaxy Studio in Malaysia

Samsung has launched one of its famed Galaxy Studio pop-up stores in Malaysia. Located along Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan Bukit Bintang, the retail space provides customers with an opportunity to experience the firm’s latest products, including the Galaxy Note 8, Gear Fit2 Pro and Gear VR with Controller.

There are plenty of interactive activities on offer to help you see how each product will fit into your day-to-day life. You can, for example, strap on a Gear Fit2 Pro, mount an exercise cycle, then peddle like you’ve never peddled before, watching your heart rate rise on the wearable in the process.

The Gear Sport, Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier are also on display

The firm also shipped over a couple of DeX Station configurations and a selection of its smartwatches: the Gear Sport, Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier. The pièce de résistance, however, is its Virtual Reality Coaster, which takes advantage of a swaying chair and a Gear VR to simulate a roller coaster.

Samsung will run its Galaxy Studio in Jalan Bukit Bintang until January 31, 2018.

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Samsung built a Bitcoin mining rig out of old Galaxy S5s—and it’s more efficient than a computer

Samsung’s found a use for your old Galaxy S5 (and no, it doesn’t matter if it’s smashed to smithereens): Pair it with thirty-nine other units, install a build of the firm’s specialist operating system, which isn’t available just yet, then insert them all into a strange building-like structure to create your very own Bitcoin Miner Cluster that’s capable of mining at a greater power efficiency than a standard desktop computer.

Chances are, you don’t have forty Galaxy S5 units laying around waiting to be used. Heck, we’re the biggest Samsung fan website on the planet and can’t string together ten. But the South Korean isn’t expecting you to recreate its Bitcoin Miner Cluster at home. It is, instead, showing you what you can do with old technology that some may consider old hat—and that’s what its new Upcycling project is all about.

“This innovative platform provides an environmentally responsible way for old Galaxy mobile devices to breathe new life, providing new possibilities and potential extended value for devices that might otherwise be forgotten in desk drawers or discarded,” said Robin Schultz, a spokesperson for Samsung.

Samsung also repurposed an old Galaxy Tab into an Ubuntu-powered laptop

To promote the cause, Samsung also repurposed an old Galaxy Tab into an Ubuntu-powered laptop, used a Galaxy S3 to monitor the climate and PH level of a fish tank, and programmed an old smartphone with facial recognition software to guard the entrance of a house. Those ideas are just scratching the surface, though. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other uses for its old products.

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SoundAssistant is one of Samsung’s best applications, but it isn’t for everyone

Earlier this week, Samsung updated its SoundAssistant application with support for the Galaxy Note 8—and I haven’t been able to put it down since. There’s something about having complete control over all of your handset’s audio preferences that’s oddly satisfying (I know, I know, I’m probably the only person who feels that way).

Related: SoundAssistant is now compatible with the Galaxy Note 8

There isn’t anything to say about SoundAssistant that hasn’t already been said. It’s a must-have tool that allows you to alter the increments at which volume is changed, control the volume of individual applications and configure scenarios that automatically mute/unmute your handset at predetermined times of the day.

You can see how SoundAssistant would be a useful addition to your day-to-day life, right?

My favorite feature, if I’m being completely honest, is having the option to change the volume of each application. When I’m commuting, for example, I engage in a friendly game of Texas Hold’em Poker on Facebook, so being able to listen to the cards shuffle and my music at the same time is..erm…refreshing.

But that’s not all you can do with SoundAssistant. There are a bunch of other hidden features, including Dual App Sound, a feature that allows you to play application sound and the same time as other applications. Be warned, though: if not managed correctly, it can be awfully overwhelming.

SoundAssistant has hundreds, if not thousands, of different applications—and it’s really something you need to try for yourself to see how it could benefit your life. One thing to note, however, is that it can put a persistent notification in your drawer, so if you’re sickened by the thought of them, best steer clear.

The post SoundAssistant is one of Samsung’s best applications, but it isn’t for everyone appeared first on SamMobile.

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Watchface Friday: Here are four of this week’s best watchfaces

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another edition of Watchface Friday! For those unaware, every Friday, we highlight a selection of our favorite watchfaces for the Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier. All of the offerings are available to download through the Galaxy Apps Store, so you can rest assured that you won’t have to search all over the Internet to find something we’ve listed.

Gear S3 classic

AL Colours 2 by A&L Freedom

Mr. Time: Backlight by Mr. Time

Gear S3 frontier

Airplex Blue W by Watch Face Industries

Color Digital by Sky Watch

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 27, 2017 — Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9 and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we published today.

Firmware News

Galaxy J5 (2017) now receiving BlueBorne security update in Europe

Phones

Samsung patents a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint reader

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: October 27, 2017 — Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9 and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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Galaxy J5 (2017) now receiving BlueBorne security update in Europe

Samsung has started distributing a new update—J530FXXU1AQI3—for the Galaxy J5 (2017) in Europe, following a rollout of a near-identical upgrade for the Galaxy J7 (2017) last week. The release bundles all 40 patches included in August’s security release, in addition to some measures to protect the handset from the BlueBorne exploit.

There aren’t any new features to play around with

There isn’t a whole lot to say about the update, because let’s be honest: there aren’t any new features to play around with. To check to see if the upgrade is available for your Galaxy J5 (2017) navigate into Settings, tap About Device, then select Download Updates Manually. We’d recommend installing it over a Wi-Fi connection, though.

Model	SM-J530F
Model name	Galaxy J5
Country	Select country Afghanistan  (AFG) Austria (3 Hutchison)  (DRE) Austria (A1)  (MOB) Baltic  (SEB) Belgium (Proximus)  (PRO) Bosnia and Herzegovina  (ERO) Bosnia and Herzegovina  (TEB) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH TELECOM)  (BHT) Bulgaria  (BGL) Croatia (Bonbon)  (DHR) Croatia (T-Mobile)  (CRO) Croatia (VIPNET)  (VIP) Cyprus  (CYV) Czech Republic  (ETL) Czech Republic (O2C)  (O2C) Czech Republic (T-Mobile)  (TMZ) Czech Republic (Vodafone)  (VDC) Egypt  (EGY) France  (XEF) France (Bouygues)  (BOG) France (Orange)  (FTM) Germany  (DBT) Germany (Congstar)  (DDE) Germany (T-Mobile)  (DTM) Germany (Vodafone)  (VD2) Greece  (EUR) Greece (Cosmote)  (COS) Greece (Vodafone)  (VGR) Hungary  (XEH) Hungary (T-mobile)  (TMH) Hungary (Telenor)  (PAN) Hungary (VDH)  (VDH) Iran  (THR) Iraq  (MID) Ireland  (TSI) Ireland (Meteor)  (MET) Ireland (Three)  (3IE) Ireland (Vodafone)  (VDI) Israel  (ILO) Israel (Cellcom)  (CEL) Israel (Orange/Partner)  (PTR) Israel (Pelephone)  (PCL) Italy  (ITV) Italy (H3G)  (HUI) Italy (TIM)  (TIM) Italy (Vodafone)  (OMN) Kenya  (AFR) Kenya (Zain)  (DKR) Libya  (BTC) Luxembourg  (LUX) Macedonia (T-Mobile)  (MBM) Morocco (MAT)  (MAT) Morocco (MWD)  (MWD) Netherlands  (PHN) Nigeria  (ECT) Nordic countries  (NEE) Open Austria  (ATO) Pakistan (PAK)  (PAK) Poland  (XEO) Poland (Heyah)  (DPL) Poland (PLUS)  (PLS) Poland (Play)  (PRT) Poland (T-mobile)  (TPL) Portugal  (MEO) Portugal (TPH)  (TPH) Portugal (Vodafone)  (TCL) Romania  (ROM) Romania (Vodafone)  (CNX) Saudi Arabia  (ACR) Saudi Arabia  (KSA) Serbia (Telenor)  (MSR) Serbia (VIP)  (TOP) Slovakia  (ORS) Slovakia  (ORX) Slovenia (Mobitel)  (MOT) Slovenia (Si.mobil)  (SIM) South Africa  (XFA) South Africa  (XFE) South Africa (Vodafone)  (XFV) South East Europe  (SEE) Spain  (PHE) Spain (Movistar)  (XEC) Spain (Orange)  (AMO) Spain (Vodafone)  (ATL) Switzerland  (AUT) Tunisia  (TUN) Turkey  (TUR) United Arab Emirates  (XSG) United Arab Emirates  (LYS) United Kingdom  (BTU) United Kingdom (EE)   (EVR) United Kingdom (O2)  (O2U) United Kingdom (Vodafone)  (VOD) United Kingdom / Ireland  (XEU) Unknown  (OPV)
Version	Android 7.0
Changelist	12274792
Build date	Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:10:02 +0000
Security Patch Level	2017-08-01
Product code	PHN
PDA	J530FXXU1AQI3
CSC	J530FPHN1AQI1

 

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Samsung patents a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint reader

Samsung has filed for a patent with KIPRIS, South Korea’s Intellectual Property Rights Information Service, for a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint reader, leading many to believe the technology will debut on the upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. It’s more likely, however, that it will be on board the Galaxy Note 9, if a recent tweet from the firm’s former Marketing Manager is anything to go by.

It’s hardly surprising that Samsung is wanting to make its plans for an optical fingerprint reader official by submitting documentation to KIPRIS. When last we saw, it had managed to perfect the technology, though was a glitch that resulted in the screen displaying uneven levels of brightness that needed to be worked out, so it was only a matter of time before it filed for protection for its creation.

Galaxy Note 9 to be a more refined version of the Galaxy Note 8

As for the Galaxy Note 9, recent rumors point towards it being a more refined version of the Galaxy Note 8. It should continue to sport an Infinity Display, while Samsung focuses on improving the handset’s most appealing factor: its S Pen. During an interview earlier this month, BJ Kang of Samsung’s Global Product Planning Group, revealed that the unit will also feature an improved camera.

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Themes Thursday: Here are this week’s hottest themes

It’s Thursday, which means that it’s time for another exciting  edition of our weekly Themes Thursday segment. This week, a number of new themes found their way onto the Store. Unfortunately, they’re not all worth of your attention as the majority are priced too high.

If I had to choose my favourite new theme in today’s column, it would be Saturn Blue. Although it’s priced at $1.99, the skin features a gorgeous set of icons, mused with a unique Material Design-inspired backdrop that’s guaranteed to give your smartphone a new lease of life.

Green Mermaid

Saturn Blue

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 26, 2017 — Galaxy A7 (2017), Galaxy S9 and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Bixby

Samsung envisions a greater role for Bixby in your home

Business

Samsung will support seven new C-Lab startups

Firmware News

Galaxy A3 (2016) October security patch rolling out now

Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program may go live in the US on October 31

General

Samsung kicks off its annual OpenSource Conference in South Korea

Samsung ranked as the most attractive brand in India

Phones

Galaxy A7 (2018) surfaces with an Exynos 7885 CPU, 6GB of RAM

Galaxy S9 fingerprint sensor may not be in the display after all

Samsung hypes up its smartphone displays at the Pixel 2 XL’s expense

Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay updated with support for Android 8.0 Oreo in India

Watches

Gear Fit2 Pro, Gear IconX and Gear S3 now compatible with the Galaxy J series

Gear Sport and Gear IconX 2018 go on sale in South Korea tomorrow

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: October 26, 2017 — Galaxy A7 (2017), Galaxy S9 and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung hypes up its smartphone displays at the Pixel 2 XL’s expense

If you follow tech news, you might have heard about the Pixel 2 XL’s display problems. Customers have reported issues with viewing angles and display burn-in. That’s hardly the experience you want from a flagship smartphone that costs a pretty penny. Even Google has acknowledged that there are issues and that it’s looking into them.

Samsung has felt that this is an opportune moment to hype up its smartphone displays. The company is a market leader in OLED display production and its panels are in a class of their own. It has posted a new video online which is basically a compilation of top smartphone reviewers singing praises of its display technology.

Samsung’s Smartphone Displays

Some of the top tech reviewers that you find on YouTube are featured in this short 30-second advertisement. The excerpts have been taken from their reviews of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8.

Both flagship smartphones tout the latest in Samsung display technology. The Infinity Display itself is miles ahead of the competition design-wise. It’s on a different level entirely as far as the actual display tech is concerned. The tech reviewers are all in agreement.

This is a subtle jab that Samsung has taken at Google. It goes to show that the company is taking Google’s newfound love for hardware very seriously.

The post Samsung hypes up its smartphone displays at the Pixel 2 XL’s expense appeared first on SamMobile.

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Galaxy A7 (2018) surfaces with an Exynos 7885 CPU, 6GB of RAM

Samsung has started development of the successor to the Galaxy A7 (2017), according to a listing spotted on Geekbench’s online database on Wednesday, which points towards the handset sporting a 6-inch Full HD+ display ((2160 x 1080 pixels), a 1.6GHz Exynos 7885 octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM.

There’s no word on whether the South Korean company will adopt a dual rear-facing camera design for the so-called Galaxy A7 (2018), though recent leaks, rumors and speculation all point towards it featuring a dual front-facing camera configuration—but unfortunately, we don’t have any specific details.

Related: Feast your eyes on the Galaxy A7 (2018) in these renders

The Galaxy A7 (2018) in focus was spotted running Android 7.1.1 Nougat; however, it’s safe to say that it will at least receive an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo when it hits the market, if it doesn’t ship with it preloaded. It should also come with Bixby and Samsung’s Experience user interface.

Don’t let Geekbench fool you

It’s becoming more and more common that people are wanting to fool Geekbench by altering system data, so it’s possible that the information we’re looking at has been falsified. That’s not to mean that we aren’t looking at the Galaxy A7 (2018), though. Just take the specifics with a pinch of salt.

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Samsung kicks off its annual OpenSource Conference in South Korea

Samsung has kicked off its annual OpenSource Conference at its Research and Development campus in Ueon-dong, Seoul. The exhibition, which is the largest open-source conference in South Korea, commenced on October 25 and will end on October 26. More than 1,000 developers are said to be in attendance.

A number of influential players, including Cho Sueng-hwan, Vice President of Samsung’s Software Center, took to the stage during the commencement ceremony to educate attendees on not only the importance, development and value of open-source technology, but also the benefits of sharing and collaboration.

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Samsung showcased their own platforms

The event was home to more than thirty technical hands-on sessions on open-source applications for artificial intelligence, big data, IoT and security on the opening day, reports Business Korea, with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Naver, SKT and Samsung all showcasing their own open-source platforms.

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Gear Fit2 Pro, Gear IconX and Gear S3 now compatible with the Galaxy J series

Good news for Galaxy J5 Prime, Galaxy J5 Pro, Galaxy J7 Neo and Galaxy J7 Prime owners: You can now use your handset with the Gear Fit 2, Gear Fit2 Pro, Gear IconX, Gear S2 and Gear S3, without having to resort to third-party tweaks to make them work.

Samsung has issued an update for the Gear Manager application on the Play Store in Brazil (it should make its way to other regions in the near future), which introduces support for the aforementioned wearables. Just install the upgrade, then you’ll be good to go.

It’s unlikely that any Galaxy J5 or Galaxy J7 customer will have a Gear Fit 2, Gear IconX, Gear S2 or Gear S3 sitting in a drawer waiting to be used, but seeing as they’re all mature units, you should be able to pick one up for a respectable price through an authorized retailer.

The Gear Fit2 Pro is a brand new fitness tracker

The Gear Fit2 Pro, on the other hand, is a brand new fitness tracker—so that’s the one to go for if you want to purchase a wearable to use with your smartphone. It’s pretty similar to its predecessor, though it benefits from the addition of a waterproof body and a traditional clasp.

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Samsung Pay updated with support for Android 8.0 Oreo in India

Samsung Pay was treated to a familiar update in India on Thursday, following its release in Sweden last month. The upgrade bundles support for Android 8.0 Oreo, even though it’s yet to make its way to any of Samsung’s smartphones, as well as a number of undisclosed bug fixes and stability improvements.

We aren’t sure why the firm’s released the upgrade in the region, but less than an hour ago a rumor materialized claiming that it’s planning to kick off an Oreo Beta Program in the United States on October 31, leading us to believe that it may also run a similar scheme in India at the same time.

That’s far from confirmed, though. Seeing as the firm didn’t run its Nougat Beta Program in India, it seems unlikely that it will this time, however, but Samsung has been known to break tradition when it’s put under pressure from customers—so we aren’t going to rule out the possibility.

What’s new in Android 8.0 Oreo?

Android 8.0 Oreo bundles a number of features that users of the open-source operating system have been requesting for a while now, including support for Program-in-Picture (PiP), notification channels, adaptive icons and circular emoji, in addition to the usual slew security patches.

The post Samsung Pay updated with support for Android 8.0 Oreo in India appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung will support seven new C-Lab startups

Samsung has announced that it will support seven startups created by its employees as part of its C-Lab program. We don’t know exactly how much money the firm has set aside for the startups, which range from everything from an AR/VR solution that can be used to remotely control smartphones to a portable air purifier, but it’ll certainly be enough to help them get started.

• BlueFeel—A personal portable air purifier that doesn’t block the user’s mouth, developed as a response to users who dislike the discomfort of dust masks.
• Defind—A smart shoe matching service that carries out a 3D scan of a customer’s foot to enable them to buy shoes that fit perfectly.
• Hyperity—A VR/AR solution to remotely control smartphones and desktops through virtual screens without a physical monitor.
• Linkface–A unique VR solution that can detect eye and facial muscle movement and let users directly control VR content.
• Pixelro—A smartphone-based solution to provide a vision correction solution to presbyopia, replacing regular eyeglasses.
• Soft Launch—A social media-based recommendation service for restaurants and stores aiming to combat fake reviews, and developed by employees from multiple Samsung affiliates.
• 1Drop—An ultra low-cost blood glucose measurement solution using LED and the camera of a smartphone.

Samsung’s supported 32 C-Lab startups over the past two years

“We have provided the support to establish 32 C-Lab alumni startups over the past two years and based on our valuable past experience, we are planning to build up a more profound and actionable program to nurture employees’ ideas and launch new startups,” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center (CIC) at Samsung Electronics.

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Galaxy S9 fingerprint sensor may not be in the display after all

There have been countless rumors about Samsung working on optical fingerprint recognition technology. It would enable the company to integrate a fingerprint sensor into the display itself. Samsung was rumored to introduce this technology with the Galaxy S8 but that didn’t happen. Recent reports suggested that the Galaxy S9 fingerprint sensor might be integrated into the display.

According to a new report out of China, the Galaxy S9 is not going to have an optical fingerprint sensor. That means it may either be placed at the back like it is now or Samsung might figure out something else entirely.

Galaxy S9 Fingerprint Sensor

Many Samsung fans weren’t thrilled when the company relocated the fingerprint sensor to the back. They want the company to do something about it. An optical fingerprint sensor seems like the perfect solution but apparently, the tech isn’t just ready yet.

A China-based source, who has been right on multiple accounts in the past, is “100% sure” that the Galaxy S9 fingerprint sensor won’t be integrated into the display. The source doesn’t say where the sensor is going to end up.

The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor will be back with the Galaxy S9, according to some analysts. A 3D sensor-powered facial recognition feature will eliminate the need for the fingerprint sensor altogether, others believe.

Samsung could go down a different route. A recent patent suggested that the Galaxy S9 could have a small recess at the bottom on the front where a fingerprint sensor will be placed.

There’s no clarity on this as yet therefore, we’re likely going to hear conflicting reports in the months to come. That’s just how it is for flagship devices that are highly anticipated.

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Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program may go live in the US on October 31

We reported last month that Samsung has started working on the Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. We also came across newer Oreo firmware versions for both devices recently which suggested that the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program might be launching soon.

It’s now being said that the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program is going to launch in the United States on Tuesday, October 31. Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners will be able to sign up for the program starting Tuesday.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Beta Program

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners will reportedly be able to sign up for the beta via the Samsung Members and Samsung+ apps. It’s said that there will be 7500 spots per device in the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program.

Those who want to join the program will need to be on T-Mobile or Sprint. That’s because flashing the U1 firmware isn’t going to let them join the beta if they’re not on the aforementioned carriers.

Signups are said to open on October 31 and Samsung will roll out the beta on the very same day. The beta firmware is going to bring all of the new features and improvements included in Android 8.0 Oreo. There’s also talk of a new UI/UX for the Galaxy S8.

Samsung is yet to confirm any details about the highly anticipated Galaxy S8 Oreo beta program. It’s unclear if the beta will be expanded to more countries. It’s also not known if there’s going to be a beta program for the Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung is expected to release Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 early next year.

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Wallpaper Wednesday: Earth (Part 2)

Welcome to the latest edition of Wallpaper Wednesday. This week we’re highlighting five more backgrounds that feature elements of Earth. All of the images are available in a suitable resolution for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and just about any other smartphone on the market.

If any of the following images float your boat and you want to download and set one as your wallpaper, simply tap on the 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 press the image to set it as your background.

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Beach Corrosion

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Sands of Time

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Sideline Scene

 

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Swerve

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Download

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 25, 2017 — Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Pay and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we published today.

APK

SoundAssistant is now compatible with the Galaxy Note 8

Firmware News

T-Mobile Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 Nougat update released

General

Samsung India begins R&D work on 5G technology

Samsung Pay

Samsung’s latest incentive to use Samsung Pay benefits children in need

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: October 25, 2017 — Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Pay and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung India begins R&D work on 5G technology

Samsung has been playing a major role in the development of 5G technology. The company recently conducted its first 5G fixed wireless access trial in the United Kingdom. It has also inked agreements to deliver the first multi-vendor 5G trials with Verizon and Cisco. Samsung has now revealed that research and development work on 5G technology has begun at its R&D center in India.

Dipesh Shah, the managing director of the Samsung R&D Institute in Bengaluru, has confirmed that the company has started work on 5G technology at the facility. The facility in Bengaluru is Samsung’s largest research and development center outside South Korea.

Samsung India And 5G

Samsung’s R&D center in Bengaluru performs two major roles. It develops features to address the needs of Indian consumers. Features like S-Bike were developed here. The center’s other role is to work on products and services with a global impact.

This may not be widely known but the final part of development for Bixby was done at the center in Bengaluru. It also adapted the virtual assistant for local Indian accents so that users from different parts of the country could take advantage of the digital assistant.

There’s still a long road ahead before the commercialization of 5G technology. Seems like Samsung wants to make sure that it’s a leader in this space. Samsung’s R&D center in India will now be working on 5G technology alongside the teams based in South Korea and elsewhere.

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SoundAssistant is now compatible with the Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has updated its SoundAssistant application with support for the Galaxy Note 8. The upgrade also bundles compatibility for a number of new features and interface improvements, which have been built for the latest version of the firm’s Experience—formerly known as TouchWiz—user interface (8.5).

Among the new additions is the facility to alter the volume of an individual application and change the increments that volume is increased/decreased. You’ll also notice the option to share equalizer settings, so if you find a nice balance you can send it to a friend to use on their handset.

We’d recommend installing the update from the Play Store

The update is available to download from both Galaxy Apps and the Play Store starting today. We’d recommend grabbing it from the latter though, as it’s often marginally quicker to install an upgrade from Google’s offering than it is from Samsung’s. But that’s just our two cents.

APK Download

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Samsung’s latest incentive to use Samsung Pay benefits children in need

Samsung will donate a school meal to a child in need every time you use its mobile payment platform—Samsung Pay—instead of an Oyster on Transport for London (TfL) and National Rail services, which covers the DLR, London Underground, London Overground and London River Bus.

There’s a caveat, though. To ensure a meal is donated, you’ll need to use a Mastercard-issued credit or debit card as your preferred payment for travel and seeing as most financial institutions are making the push towards Visa Credit, that may be easier said than done.

Samsung Pay launched in the UK in May

Samsung Pay has been available in the United Kingdom since May. It currently supports a number of the region’s leading banks, including First Direct, HSBC and M&S Bank; however, a couple of big names are still missing from the list (cough, cough, Barclays, Lloyds, cough).

The World Food Day promotion expires on Monday, November 6.

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T-Mobile Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 Nougat update released

We reported recently that the Galaxy J7 might soon receive the Nougat update. The handset was spotted at the Wi-Fi Alliance running a Nougat build. It was a big indication that the company was planning on rolling out the update soon.

T-Mobile has now started rolling out the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update for the Galaxy J7. It’s one of the few devices that Samsung has updated straight to version 7.1.1 from Marshmallow.

T-Mobile Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 Nougat Update

T-Mobile has started rolling out the Nougat update for the Galaxy J7 over-the-air. However, the company’s support document for this handset is all over the place. It assigns version number Android 6.0.1, Android 7.0 and Android 7.1.1 to one single firmware version, J700TUVU3BQI5.

This is obviously not possible. Clearly, there are clerical issues with the document. That doesn’t mean the T-Mobile Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 Nougat update isn’t rolling out. Those who own this handset on T-Mobile will soon receive an update notification if they haven’t already.

This firmware is also available for download from our firmware section where the Android version is accurately mentioned as Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Despite the fact that this update has been released in October, it comes with the August security patch.

Galaxy J7 owners on T-Mobile can either wait for the update to go live in their region or simply download the firmware from our website.

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SamMobile Daily Recap: October 24, 2017 — Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S6 and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Firmware News

Galaxy S6 edge update brings October security patch

Samsung to release the Android 8.0 Oreo update in Turkey in early 2018

Phones

Samsung Spain hands out 200 free Galaxy Note 8 units on a plane

TV

Samsung doesn’t think OLED displays are suitable for TVs

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Samsung to release the Android 8.0 Oreo update in Turkey in early 2018

Samsung’s Turkish subsidiary is aiming to start rolling out the much-anticipated Android 8.0 Oreo update in Turkey at the beginning of 2018, according to a post published on Guncelmiyiz, the firm’s local update portal.

While we don’t know exactly what smartphones—and tablets—will receive the upgrade in the region, it’s safe to assume that the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 will be among the first, closely followed by the Galaxy S7.

Related: These Galaxy devices will be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo

As this is Samsung we’re talking about, we wouldn’t recommend fixating on the early 2018 release date, but nevertheless, having confirmation it’s actively developing the firmware for use on its devices is certainly reassuring.

For those unaware, Android 8.0 Oreo bundles a number of long-awaited features, including support for Program-in-Picture (PiP), notification channels, adaptive icons and circular emoji, as well as a number of bug fixes.

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Samsung Spain hands out 200 free Galaxy Note 8 units on a plane

Samsung’s reputation took a hit because of the Galaxy Note 7. The handset’s faulty battery made it a fire risk so it was quickly banned from airplanes. The airlines actually started making announcements that the Galaxy Note 7 was not allowed in the cabin. The company bounced back with the Galaxy Note 8. The great response it has received for the new handset shows that the Note faithful are loyal to this lineup.

Samsung Spain decided to remind people of last year’s unfortunate events and highlight how the Galaxy Note 8 has truly been the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. It handed out free Galaxy Note 8 units to 200 unsuspecting passengers on a domestic flight in Spain.

Free Galaxy Note 8 Units

Passengers on a late night Iberia flight from Madrid to A Coruña, Galicia were probably not expecting to get a free gift that cost more than their ticket. This surprise move came after Iberia started promoting the Galaxy Note 8.

There were 200 passengers on that flight and all of them were given a free Galaxy Note 8 unit by the crew. The box carried the following text: “A year ago we asked you to turn it off, we welcome you today on board,” according to a translation.

It’s a tongue-in-cheek reminder from Samsung about the disaster that it suffered last year. Some might find it odd that the company is using that to promote its new product. Those passengers won’t mind though. Who doesn’t love a free flagship smartphone?

¡Hay selfies que rebosan sonrisas! Mucha emoción entregando los #Note8abordo a todos nuestros clientes del IB0513 de hoy ✈️ @SamsungEspana http://pic.twitter.com/KYmS0tZYp2

— Iberia (@Iberia) October 23, 2017

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Samsung doesn’t think OLED displays are suitable for TVs

If you’re waiting for Samsung to launch an OLED TV, you might have to keep waiting. The company has said that it doesn’t think that OLED displays are suitable for TVs. That’s not something that its rival LG agrees with as it continues to churn out great OLED TVs.

Samsung launched its QLED TVs earlier this year and positioned them as an alternative to OLED TVs. The two technologies are completely different. Samsung claims that the performance of QLED panels is better than OLED panels.

OLED Displays For TVs

Samsung says that OLED displays are good for devices that have shorter life expectancies such as smartphones. That’s because OLED panels have screen burn-in or image retention issues. It says that the case is different for TVs and monitor that are normally used for longer periods.

Comparing OLED panels with fruit juice that oxidizes with time, Samsung said that “The reason OLED TVs have image retentions is because they are made of organic materials.” That’s not a comparison you hear often.

Samsung’s QLED panels rely on quantum-dot technology. They’re semiconductor nanocrystals that, according to Samsung, improve contrast, power efficiency and display brightness. Samsung also says that this crucial difference means that QLED TVs don’t suffer from burn-in issues.

We’ve already discussed Samsung’s aversion to OLED TVs in great detail. This statement from the company makes it seem like it’s not changing its stance on OLED TVs anytime soon.

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Galaxy S6 edge update brings October security patch

Samsung is now rolling out a new Galaxy S6 edge update that brings the October security patch. The company detailed the latest security maintenance release a couple of weeks back. It has since been released for several devices. Samsung has already released the October security patch for devices like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.

Now, it’s the Galaxy S6 edge’s turn. The October security patch is now being rolled out for the Galaxy S6 edge (SM-G925F) in the United Kingdom.

Galaxy S6 edge Update

Samsung has rolled out this Galaxy S6 edge firmware in the United Kingdom. Firmware version G925FXXU5EQI8 is now being distributed over-the-air. Galaxy S6 edge owners should soon receive an update notification on their handset if they haven’t already.

This Galaxy S6 edge update has only been released in the United Kingdom so far. It’s only a matter of time before it’s rolled out in other markets as well. It shouldn’t take more than a few days for this to happen now.

There are fixes for 215 Android OS vulnerabilities in the October security patch. Also included are patches for six vulnerabilities in Samsung’s software.

The latest Galaxy S6 edge update is now rolling out over-the-air in the United Kingdom. The firmware file is also available for download from our firmware section.

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