Here’s our experience of using the Gear S3 with an iPhone

Months after promising iOS compatibility for its latest smartwatches, Samsung has finally released the Gear S app for iPhones. You can now use your brand new Gear S3 or Gear S2 with your iPhone (find instructions on pairing the watch and iPhone here), but how well do they work with an iOS device? Is it worth the trouble? We gave it a shot (using the Gear S3 with an iPhone 7 Plus), and here is what we think.

After you pair your Gear S3 (or Gear S2) with your iPhone, you need to allow the Gear S app permissions to access the calendar, contacts, location, and photos. Samsung also asks a user to agree to the usual fare of terms and conditions. You also need to log in to your Samsung account to download watch faces, apps, and to access S Health data.

Since the Gear S3 features a built-in loudspeaker and microphone, it can be used to make and receive calls. It can act as a Bluetooth speakerphone when paired with a smartphone. However, you need to connect to a different entry of the Gear S3 (non-LE entry) from the Bluetooth settings menu of the iPhone.

Once you’re done setting up the watch, how does it all work? Here’s what we discovered:

1. Connection stability: We don’t know whether it’s an iOS-related issue or an issue in the Gear S app itself, but the smartwatch keeps on disconnecting from the iPhone frequently. You have to open the app to reconnect the smartwatch. Sometimes it disconnected even while installing and updating apps as well as watch faces. There’s a huge connection issue right now, and it needs to be resolved.
2. Notifications: Smartphone notifications are mirrored to the Gear S3 well, but they aren’t actionable, thanks to a limitation within iOS. This won’t change until Apple releases an API to third-party developers for actionable notifications.
3. Galaxy Apps store: So, how does one install apps and watch faces on the Gear S3 when it is paired with an iPhone? There are two ways. Either use the web-based Galaxy Apps store within the Gear S app (it uses a web container), or use the watch directly. We first tried to install some apps and watch faces that were suggested on the watch itself, but the apps and watch faces didn’t load at all. Another major hurdle we faced is the language of the web-based Galaxy Apps store. Samsung seems to prioritize local language, and the entire app store was being showcased in Hindi. There’s no option to change the language, and we can’t fathom why Samsung would make such a move.
4. Watch Faces: It’s just like downloading any other app on the watch.
5. Gallery: The ‘Send Images’ feature is quite easy to use and works really well. You can select the photos that you need to transfer from the iPhone to your Gear device, and they’ll be transferred swiftly.
6. Music Player: The feature is quite complicated. Ideally, you need to fire up your web browser and upload music tracks to the web using the IP address that’s displayed on the watch. The smartwatch and the phone need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Quite the hurdle, and a system that’s unlikely to change given the nature of iOS.
7. S Health: Since the watch doesn’t need to be connected to the iPhone all the time for transferring fitness related data, it works effortlessly. Basically, it’s just like using a Fitbit or Misfit fitness tracker with an iPhone.
8. Find My Gear: You can find your watch using the Gear S app. This worked as expected. No issues here.

The above was our experience of using the Gear S3 with an iOS device. The biggest problem is connection stability, which means notifications don’t always pass through to the watch. The notifications aren’t actionable, either, so you can’t reply to messages or emails. The next problem is the experience of installing an app or a watch face from the Galaxy Apps store.

Overall, we think that a Gear smartwatch should be used with an Android smartphone for the best possible experience. Accessing notifications is one of the most important aspects of a smartwatch, and if you’re not able to get the best experience in that regard, it’s not really worth it. Samsung will hopefully fix/improve other issues, but should you choose to buy a Gear smartwatch for use with your iPhone at this point in time, expect it to be a bumpy ride.

Are you using either of Samsung’s Gear smartwatches with an iPhone? If yes, how has your experience been? Let us know in the comments!

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Galaxy S8 case leaks, showing 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C port

The battle of the 3.5mm headphone jack has been ongoing, with proponents of both wireless, Bluetooth and headphone jack advocates in deep discussion about whether or not Samsung would continue the feature in the Galaxy S8 since a number of companies such as Motorola, Apple, and even HTC are discontinuing it in smartphones such as the Moto Z, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and the HTC Bolt.

We said several weeks ago that there was a strong possibility that the Galaxy S8 would lack the long-cherished 3.5mm headphone jack. Today’s leak, courtesy of Slashleaks, shows an interesting conclusion on the headphone jack/ no jack debate. The case leaked shows some design changes that will differ from the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, and now-deceased Galaxy Note 7. First, there will be three buttons on the left side of the phone (Volume Up, Volume Down, Power/Standby), which matches a case render from Ghostek showing three left-side buttons.

Next, there is the camera on the back in its usual cutout spot, with a slight slot above it that may refer to a flash/heart rate monitor slot. Of course, it is in a different position than that of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, but it’s there. This differs from the Ghostek render we saw earlier, however, so there are still some questions about the Galaxy S8 that need sorting out. The microSD card slot returns to the Galaxy S8 at the top, so Samsung is set on giving the microSD card a much-welcomed return.

The most interesting examination of this new Galaxy S8 case shows the bottom of the case (finally!) featuring the USB-C port on the far bottom right as opposed to the bottom middle (continuing the USB-C port found in the Note 7, and – to the celebration of many – the 3.5mm headphone jack is returning. The speaker is placed on the far left, a change from the right-side speaker found in Samsung’s 2016 Galaxy lineup.

What we can draw from this as opposed to the Ghostek render is that casemakers are always producing renders based on rumors and what they deem as credible information. Though I’m inclined to agree with Slashleaks and his case photos as regarding the Galaxy S8, some things will remain up in the air until more information surfaces.

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Wallpaper Wednesday: Fresh

Welcome to the latest edition of Wallpaper Wednesday. This week we’re focusing our attention on five fresh wallpapers. All images are available in a FHD resolution, which is a perfect fit for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5 and other flagships, but they can, of course, be used on different smartphones too.

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

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

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Blur

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Droplets

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Icicle

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Lake

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Snow Road

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Steps

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Download

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

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Galaxy S8 render by Ghostek shows new design changes

The Galaxy S8 will make a Spring 2017 arrival on the world market, no doubt, but interested buyers are ready to get an idea of what to expect so as to prepare themselves for the good and bad about the handset. The first leak of what could be the Galaxy S8 was supplied at the famous Chinese social site Weibo, showing no physical or on-screen navigation keys, along with “SAMSUNG” branding at the bottom with thin bezels. We were skeptical at the time (and still are), though a new Galaxy S8 render by casemaker Ghostek seems to confirm some of the suspicions of the Weibo photo.

The new render by Ghostek shows the Galaxy S8 placed inside Ghostek’s Atomic 3 Waterproof Case. There is no SAMSUNG branding at the top, as is the case with Samsung Galaxy smartphones of the past and present. The branding has been moved to the bottom bezel of the handset, where the physical home button once stood. We’ve heard again and again that Samsung will remove the physical home button in the next Galaxy, that the physical button will be eliminated for an “all-screen front.”

The Galaxy S8 in the Ghostek render maintains the dual-edge display with curves on both sides, which goes along with Samsung’s new design language that will eliminate flat screens (though industry analysts think this move is too soon for success). There is no fingerprint sensor on the back, either, which may indicate that Samsung doesn’t intend to push forward with the back-mounted fingerprint sensor that exists on handsets such as the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, LG V20, among others.

Next, the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power/Standby buttons are all placed on the left side, which is yet another drastic design change from the normal Samsung Galaxy smartphone button layout where the Volume Up and Down buttons are on the left side, the Power/Standby button on the right. On the back of the handset lies only a camera – no flash or heart rate monitor, a layout that has been present on Samsung “Galaxies” since the Galaxy S5 in 2014. Though we don’t get to see the top and bottom portions of the handset, Samsung’s push for wireless in-ear headphones doesn’t bode well for the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Ghostek render, if accurate, reminds us that some claims are verified and some are still in question. And regardless of what design changes lie ahead, Samsung is still hiding the best about the Galaxy S8 for April 18th.

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One chip may change your mind about the Gear S3

The Gear S2 can be had for as low as $130-$140 now (if you’re willing to buy a certified refurbished model from Amazon), which makes it a tempting offer for those who deem $350 too expensive for the wearable. And yet, those looking for a budget-friendly deal have decided that the Gear S3 is not for them due to its high price tag. “I’ll wait until the price drops,” some say, convinced that the Gear S2 is good enough to be their smartwatch of choice until some time near year’s end (when Samsung has unveiled the Gear S4).

And, to be honest, the Gear S2 is good enough as is. It’s got the same rotating bezel you’ll find on the Gear S3; a display that’s wide enough for some (though not as wide as the Gear S3); and if you’re interested in the most independent smartwatch model, you can pick up a Gear S2 3G/4G model that doesn’t mandate spending a whole lot of money for it. When you factor in that Samsung is supporting the Gear S2 Sport and Gear S2 Classic for at least another year, and has brought a ton of Gear S3 features over to its predecessors, what’s to lose with last year’s smartwatch?

Well, not much. That is, unless you long for the full capabilities of Samsung Pay.

Yes, it’s true that the Gear S2 has Samsung Pay (as is the case with the Gear S3), but the Gear S2′s mobile payments functionality is limited as compared to the Gear S3. I noticed this immediately once downloading the Gear S2 Value Pack for my Gear S2 3G model: when activating Samsung Pay on the Gear S2, Samsung says that Samsung Pay for the Gear S2 can only access NFC. There are no MST capabilities for the Gear S2 because the Gear S2 doesn’t have an MST chip installed.

The Gear S2 only has an NFC chip for Near Field Communication (NFC) terminals. The Gear S3, if you remember, is the first smartwatch that has an MST chip from Samsung. MST, or magnetic secure transmission, is the technology that allows users to pay with their Samsung or Android smartphone running KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, and Nougat (including the Google Pixel and Pixel XL) and make purchases at local stores at traditional card swipe machines.

While the Gear S2 does have Samsung Pay, though, it will only work at NFC terminals. Only the Gear S3 works at traditional card readers. In other words, though the Gear S2 has Samsung Pay, Samsung Pay doesn’t outperform Android Pay or Apple Pay on the smartwatch: having only NFC means that it does nothing more than Android Wear and WatchOS devices on the smartwatch. This isn’t to say that users shouldn’t be excited that Samsung Pay is on the Gear S2, because it’s a reason to celebrate. And yet, its limited functionality prevents you from matching the same experience you have on your Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, or other Samsung smartphone.

If the Gear S2 has NFC and the phone has NFC and MST, it’s easier to pull out your smartphone and pay (which some would say negates the purpose of having an independent 3G smartwatch in the first place).  Bluetooth-only Gear S2 owners may not see this as a problem, but 3G/4G cellular model owners will.

The Gear S2 is a worthy buy, even a year later, and those who prefer a Bluetooth-only experience will be happy with it. And yet, the Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic have MST while the Gear S2 Sport and Classic have NFC only: one series limits Samsung Pay while the other uses Samsung Pay to its fullest potential. That alone makes the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic smartwatches that, despite the price tag, are the better buy.

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Daily Deal: Buy an unlocked Galaxy J7 (2016) for 20% off

Are you in the market for a mid-range smartphone and wouldn’t mind saving some money in the process? Look no further than the daily deal we’ve picked out for you today. For a limited time, you can purchase the Galaxy J7 (2016) at a 20 percent discount.

It’s a pretty robust mid-range smartphone which features specs like a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also features a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera. This international unlocked model (SM-J710F) works with most GSM networks in the United States and across the globe. Customers in the US should keep in mind that it won’t work on CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint.

Head over to Amazon right now to buy the Galaxy J7 (2017) at a 20% discount for just $239.95.

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Samsung’s foldable smartphone may transform into a 7-inch tablet, release expected in Q3

We’ve continuously been hearing for a couple of years now that Samsung is working on foldable smartphones. The company has a plethora of patents to its name that detail some of the technology that might go into these foldable smartphones. Many expect these handsets to be out later this year. A report out of South Korea brings some new information about Samsung’s foldable smartphones and suggests when they might be released.

According to the report, Samsung is going to release more than 100,000 units of its foldable smartphone in the third quarter of this year. The report also mentions that the device will have panels that face outward upon folding and that it will be transformed into a 7-inch tablet when unfolded.

It’s said that Samsung initially completed the development of fold-in smartphones that tuck into the screen inside when folded and then began development of fold-out technologies around August last year. It recognized that users might find it inconvenient to unfold the smartphone every time they want to use it. “Since the company already secured fold-in phone technology, it was not a big challenge to shift into the fold-out phones,” an unnamed source quoted in the report said.

The report does caution that Samsung hasn’t made a final decision yet about whether it’s going to release the foldable smartphone this year because of marketability and profitability concerns. Samsung is said to make the final decision once it carries out the delayed annual personnel reshuffle in its IT and mobile divisions.

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Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong to be questioned as a suspect in political scandal

Authorities in South Korea have been investigating a political scandal that has already led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Some of the country’s largest business conglomerates, including Samsung, are believed to have given money to a close personal friend of a president in order to gain influence. Samsung executives have already been questioned by prosecutors and the company’s headquarters have been raided as well and the authorities are now looking into Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-yong as a suspect. He will be questioned as a suspect in a bribery case in the country’s explosive influence-peddling scandal.

Lee Jae-yong is the only son of the conglomerate’s ailing chairman and was recently appointed to the board in what was viewed as a major step towards his eventual succession as chairman of the conglomerate. Local media reports allege that Samsung gave corporate funds to Choi Soon-sil, a close personal friend of the president, to gain influence. Samsung is said to have signed a contract of more than $18 million with Choi’s company and made a donation of an additional $17 million to two nonprofit foundations whose funds were reportedly meant for Choi’s personal use.

According to reports, one of the favors that Samsung could have received was the government’s backing on the controversial merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015. The Lee family was the biggest beneficiary of this merger and it allowed them to further cement their grip on the empire. South Korea’s pension fund, the biggest shareholder in Samsung C&T, voted in favor of the merger even though its advisors recommended against it. The majority shareholder’s vote was crucial in getting the merger approved.

Two Samsung executives, including a man that’s known as Lee’s mentor, were questioned in connection with this case a few days back. Samsung Group has not yet commented on the matter. During a public hearing before legislators last month, Lee said that he wasn’t aware of the company’s decision to fund Choi’s companies and nonprofits. He also denied the allegation that Samsung tried to win favors through bribery.

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More than 96% Galaxy Note 7 units have been returned to Samsung

Samsung’s decision to turn the Galaxy Note 7 into a paperweight through a software update seems to have helped the company obtain more than 96 percent of all Note 7 units that were sold before it was recalled. We have been well aware that some Note 7 users had refused to return their unit despite a multitude of warnings and the fact that the device could burn up at any moment, but those users now seem to have done what’s necessary. It seems the return rate is limited to the US, or at least that is what can be gleaned from Samsung’s official announcement.

The recall figure has now reached a point that airlines in the US will no longer have to make a pre-boarding announcement about the device being a fire hazard. Whether the remaining four percent of users return their Note 7 is something that remains to be seen. Samsung will be releasing details on what caused the Galaxy Note 7 to burn up as it did sometime this month, and those still hanging on to their Note 7 will hopefully have shipped it back to Samsung (or their retailer or carrier) by that time, both in the US and in other markets.

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