Samsung calls on court to not issue arrest warrant for vice chairman Lee Jae-yong

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has served as the defacto head of the Samsung Group conglomerate ever since his father Chairman Lee Kun-hee suffered a heart attack in 2014. He will eventually replace his father as chairman and the process of his succession has already been put in motion. However, a corruption and bribery scandal could throw a spanner in the works.

South Korea’s special prosecutors are looking into allegations of President Park Geun-hye’s close friend Choi Soon-sil taking money in order to grant favors and influence. The president has already been impeached and prosecutors are now questioning some of the biggest business leaders in the company who were allegedly involved in the purchase of influence. Lee Jae-yong has already appeared before a parliamentary hearing and was recently questioned for 22 hours. The prosecutors have now sought an arrest warrant for the Samsung heir and tomorrow a court will decide whether the warrant will be issued.

Samsung Group and other members of the business community have called on the court to not approve the arrest warrant against Lee Jae-yong. Samsung has denied all allegations and argues that it was strong-armed in having to give more than $36 million to two foundations run by Choi Soon-sil. The company also says that it can’t accept bribery charges. It argues that Lee can face a trial without being detained as he’s already barred from leaving the country during the course of this investigation and that the possibility of destruction of evidence is low because prosecutors have taken enough evidence with them in the three raids they’ve conducted so far on Samsung’s offices.

The Seoul Central District Court is going to hold a hearing tomorrow and decide whether or not the warrants will be issued.

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AT&T rolls out December security patch for the Galaxy S6 Active

Following a slew of other Samsung handsets, the Galaxy S6 Active on AT&T is receiving the December security patch through a minor update. The update will bring the security patch level to December 1; that isn’t exactly the latest, but these security updates have barely been coming out on time for devices anyway.

The 14.1 MB update – which contains only security fixes – should be showing up on your Galaxy S6 Active shortly. If it doesn’t, you can download it from the Settings » About device menu by hitting the Download updates manually button.

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Nougat kernel sources released for Exynos-powered Galaxy S7 edge

Samsung released kernel sources for the Exynos-powered Galaxy S7 edge nearly 10 months ago, but with the recent Nougat update rollout for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the demand for Nougat mandates a new kernel release for the new operating system update. The same Exynos-powered Galaxy S7 edge, bearing model number SM-G935F,  now has new firmware containing Google’s new update with Samsung’s own tweaks included.

As always, these new kernel source releases are designed to help developers take advantage of the new software additions and allow them to create ROMs that the more tech-hungry among us can download onto their handsets. If you want to take advantage of these new kernel sources, feel free to download them through the Open Source Release Center (OSRC) by hitting up the link below.

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Purported dimensions of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus surface online

Earlier today, a report surfaced online allegedly highlighting the precise dimensions of the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. As expected, Samsung has been able to reduce the size of the bezels to squeeze big displays in compact devices. Based on GSMArena‘s calculations, the Galaxy S8 will feature a larger panel than the Galaxy S7 edge, while being roughly the same size as the Galaxy S7.

With regards to specific measurements, the Galaxy S8 is 140.14 x 72.20 x 7.30mm; slightly shorter and thinner than the current Galaxy S7, but also a little bit wider. However, there’s a good reason for the increase in width — the Galaxy S8 is rumored to sport a 5.7-inch curved screen, as opposed to the 5.1-inch flat display that can be found on its predecessor.

The Galaxy S8 Plus, on the other hand, measures in at 152.38 x 78.51 x 7.94mm. Those who paid close attention to the detailed specifications of the Galaxy S7 edge when it launched last year will realize that its successor is actually believed to be taller and wider. Once again, that’s a result of the colossal 6.2-inch curved panel the handset is expected to pack.

To compensate for the increased width, Samsung has done its best to eliminate the bezels either side of the display, and reduce the ones found at the top and bottom of the devices — and based on the sketches, it looks like it’s done a good job. The firm has also purportedly ditched its beloved home button and capacitive navigation key arrangement in favor of on-screen buttons to save space.

One thing doesn’t add up, though. The schematics appear to show the lack of a USB Type-C port (the units are sketched with microUSB 2.0), which doesn’t match up to what we’ve seen in leaked case renders and heard from our inside sources. For this reason, we think it’s best to take these dimensions with a hefty pinch of salt.

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Exclusive: Doctor appointment feature coming to S Health, possibly with the Galaxy S8

Samsung has been continuously improving its S Health service to compete with the likes of Apple Health and Google Fit. Apart from adding social features to the app for fitness gamification, the company also added integration with Fitbit, Jawbone, Strava, and more. Now, the company is prepping for the launch of a big new update to the S Health app.

According to the information we’ve received, Samsung is working with partners such as WebMD and Amwell to add deep integration of their services into the S Health app. The app will not only allow users to quickly search symptoms, diseases, and drugs through WebMD integration but also schedule online visits to a doctor. S Health users can get video appointments with certified doctors 24/7 and get a list of nearby pharmacy stores.

The updated S Health app can store information regarding every appointment including symptoms, photos (for better identification of a condition), and medical prescriptions. Users can pay a doctor’s fee through the app using a credit card and rate the doctor. There would also be an option to mention whether a user has a medical insurance. In the case of medical emergencies, users can also call 911 from within the app.

We expect Samsung to launch these new S Health features in the US alongside the Galaxy S8.

 

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Daily Deal: Bag yourself a JBL Flip 3 for 16% off

The JBL Flip 3 is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers on the market, and now you can pick one up for just $84.40, which is $15.15 (16%) off its recommended retail price. The best thing about this deal isn’t the price, though. It’s actually the fact it’s not limited to the United States — so you can take advantage of it regardless of the country you’re in.

So what sets the JBL Flip 3 aside from the competition? Well, it’s constructed from a durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing that allows it to outlast all of your adventures, including a splash of water from the pool. It also sports a 3,000mAh rechargeable battery, which lasts for around 10 hours of playtime.

If you like the sound of the JBL Flip 3 and want to take advantage of this great promotion, hit the Buy Now button below. However, we strongly advise you to hurry as Amazon only has a limited amount of inventory available for this specific deal, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Buy Now

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Samsung will retire its SmartThings app for Windows Phone starting April 2017

Samsung-owned SmartThings has announced on its official blog that it is retiring its Windows Phone app on April 1, 2017. This comes as a big blow to users who were using Windows Phone devices to control SmartThings compatible IoT products.

The company mentioned in its official blogpost that it would retire the app as it can no longer “provide the desired level of updates and support” for the platform. This is a quite reversal from the company’s commitment less than a year ago to provide monthly updates to its Windows Phone app.

Version 1.7.0 now offers support for Windows 10 features. Barring unforeseen issues, this version will continue to function (with Windows Phone 10 Anniversary update). On April 1, 2017 version 1.7.0 will be removed from the Windows app store, and it will no longer be possible to download it and install it onto a new device. We will continue to offer technical support through June 2017 for existing users.

A lot of brands and services are dropping support for Windows Phone devices as the mobile operating system’s market share has been dropping drastically. Even Samsung stopped manufacturing Windows Phone-powered smartphones as there is almost no consumer demand.

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Could the Samsung Galaxy S8 have a screen with 17:9 aspect ratio?

Samsung Display showcased its latest Super AMOLED panel in a series of newly published videos on YouTube, also shedding some light on the possible design of the Galaxy S8. We dug a little deeper to find out more details regarding the screen of Samsung’s next flagship smartphone, and here’s what we found.

We tried calculating the aspect ratio of the screen showcased in the videos. The screen appears to have an aspect ratio of 17:9, which means that it would be relatively taller than the 16:9 display used in the Galaxy S7. We think that Samsung could use the extra screen real estate for on-screen navigation buttons since it is expected to be moving away from physical keys starting with the Galaxy S8.

What do you think?

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Galaxy S8 launch could take place on April 15

There have been conflicting reports about the Galaxy S8 launch event recently. We previously heard that Samsung will conduct a separate launch event for the Galaxy S8 in April but recently some reports emerged that suggested the company would unveil the handset at MWC 2017 next month but start shipping it in April. A new report out of Korea expects the next flagship to be launched on April 15.

Industry sources cited in the report claim that Samsung is going to launch “new smartphone products” on April 15 that feature a significantly improved front camera. Samsung is expected to stick with its strategy of significantly improving the front camera on its devices to cater to the selfie generation. Two of the three models in Samsung’s new Galaxy A (2017) series feature a 16-megapixel front camera. While the report says that the Galaxy S8 is going to feature an 8-megapixel front camera it does suggest that autofocus is going to be onboard.

Samsung usually sources front camera modules from external suppliers like Power Logics, MCNEX and others. The front camera module market is likely to get a boost due to Samsung’s increasing focus on improving front camera performance given that it’s the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume.

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You can now pre-order the Sprint variant of the Galaxy J3 Emerge

Albeit a little later than expected, the Sprint variant of the Galaxy J3 Emerge is now available to pre-order from Samsung’s online store for $234.99. The same model, however, is listed on the carrier’s portal for $168, and customers have the option to split the cost between 24 months. Unfortunately, neither the manufacturer or operator specified a release date for the device, but independent retailer Best Buy has revealed that it’s also accepting reservations and expects to receive stock on Monday, January 23.

As you’re probably aware, the Galaxy J3 Emerge will also make its way to Boost and Virgin Mobile later this year. While both carriers are still yet to announce their pricing for the handset, it’s likely that they’ll stick to the same figure as Sprint as there’s no difference in hardware specifications between the variants that all three operators are set to receive. That said, it remains a mystery why Samsung has added $66.99 to the price tag of the unit listed on its online store.

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Samsung Drive VR content will be used to train novice drivers in Austria

Distracted driving is bad, very bad. A study conducted by the Austrian automobile association reveals that in 2015, 76 percent of distracted drivers could not stop in time to avoid obstacles or accidents. To better teach novice drivers against the dangers of distracted driving and possible road scenarios, Samsung Austria has created a new app called Drive VR which will be used to teach novice drivers all of that in a safe and virtual environment.

The Samsung Drive app for the Gear VR will teach novices how quickly an accident can take place when they’re distracted behind the wheel and what consequences it can have. The VR experience will also walk them through some dangerous road situations. Viewers will feel as if they’re sitting behind the wheel while they get to experience this in a safe environment.

It has also been confirmed that the Samsung Gear VR and Samsung Drive app will be used in the Austrian automobile association’s driving technology centers starting this summer. Novice drivers will be taught through additional VR training videos on other road safety subjects as well. More than 15,000 people are expected to take driving courses powered by VR content annually.

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Samsung’s Harman acquisition may go through by Q1 amid uncertainty

Samsung announced its intention to acquire Harman International for $8 billion in November last year. This is the biggest acquisition that the company has ever gone for and is reportedly a pet project of vice chairman Lee Jae-yong who wants to grow the company’s market share in the automotive parts business. There has been some speculation about the future of this deal but the latest reports out of Korea suggest that amid all this uncertainty, the company is convinced that it will be able to close the Harman acquisition in the first quarter of this year.

Samsung has agreed to acquire Harman International for $112 per share which represents a premium of almost 30 percent over the company’s market capitalization based on the share price at that time. Some minority shareholders filed a class action lawsuit against Harman International’s CEO Dinesh Paliwal and the company’s board last week as they believe that the company was sold at too low a price. They won’t be voting for the acquisition at the shareholders meeting.

Reports suggest that Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal has met with the company’s top investors and they appear to be happy with the premium that Samsung has offered. The majority shareholders are likely to vote in favor of the acquisition so it appears unlikely that the minority will be able to hold up the deal. The shareholders meeting is expected to take place within the first quarter.

Samsung is having to deal with uncertainty on another front as well. The company is embroiled in a big corruption and bribery scandal in South Korea which has already led to the impeachment of the country’s president and may even lead to the arrest of Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong. The company and its investors are anxiously waiting for Wednesday when a court will decide whether or not the Samsung leader should be arrested in connection with this scandal.

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Samsung’s offering new Galaxy S7 edge owners in the UK a complimentary Gear Fit 2

To coincide with the promotion it’s holding in the United States, Samsung has announced that it’s awarding all new Galaxy S7 edge owners in the United Kingdom a complimentary Gear Fit 2. The promotion kicked off towards the latter part of last week and will run through Tuesday, February 28.

It’s worth noting, however, that not all third-party retailers in the region are participating in the scheme — so if you’re planning on picking up a Galaxy S7 edge from an independent store, it would probably be best to ask a member of staff if you’ll be eligible to receive the free Gear Fit 2 before you hand over the cash.

Once you’ve managed to track down a retailer enrolled in the scheme, you simply need to purchase the handset, then head over to Samsung’s website and hit the ‘Claim Now’ button. Now all that’s left to do is fill in the form and wait for a confirmation email. As soon as that arrives, your Gear Fit 2 will be dispatched and will be at your door within 1-4 working days.

 

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Samsung is revolutionizing in-store retail operations with Fujitsu

Samsung has teamed up with Fujitsu to revolutionize in-store retail operations. At the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City, Fujitsu launched a new software solution that creates a secure two-way collaborative digital communication platform between the company’s U-Scan Self-Checkout (SCO) or Fresco Point-of-Sale (POS) touchscreen systems and Samsung’s smartwatches. This new system promotes enhanced staff responsiveness and overall store efficiency in convenience, grocery and retail environments.

This patent pending system enables retail staff to perform their core duties while having hands-free access to important alerts and messages in order to make sure that the in-store operations are running smoothly. The system can push alerts manually and automatically from SCO and POS units to Samsung Gear smartwatches for scenarios in which a price check is needed, when sensitive items need to be retrieved from a locked case and when age verification is required for a customer purchasing alcohol or tobacco products.

The alerts are sent to Samsung Gear smartwatches with a haptic, hard to ignore notification that also includes action-oriented details that are prioritized so that staff members know which pressing issues they have to address first. Actions that need physical input from the manager in current retail environments will be handled directly on the smartwatch once this system is adopted by retailers.

Intercom systems will also be replaced by this system as it will rely on Fujitsu’s wearable alerts system to discreetly notify staff members when sensitive tasks like replenishing a cash register need to be handled. All two-way communication between SCO and POS units as well as Samsung Gear smartwatches are secured by Samsung Knox.

It’s unclear at this point in time when this system will go live in retail stores across the globe.

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Samsung quietly announces the Galaxy C7 Pro in China

Samsung has quietly taken the wraps off the long-rumored Galaxy C7 Pro in China. The handset, which will be available in three colors — Arctic Blue, Maple Leaf Gold and Rose Pink — carries a price tag of 2,799 Yuan ($405) and is expected to be available to pre-order in the region later today, though that’s unconfirmed at present.

With regards to specifications, the Galaxy C7 Pro sports a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 626 octa-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB of expandable internal storage, a 16MP front/rear-facing camera and a 3,300mAh battery. It’ll also ship running Marshmallow, but is expected to receive the Nougat update.

You may recall that in addition to exclusively revealing that Samsung was working on the Galaxy C7 Pro a little more than four months ago, we also announced that it was working on a more compact, mid-range variant, dubbed the Galaxy C5 Pro. Unfortunately, it’s unclear when the smaller device will hit the shelves, but we’re guessing it will be sooner rather than later.

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SideSync app receives update for macOS, brings improved security

The SideSync app from Samsung, which allows users to share data and screen of their Galaxy devices with PC and Mac, has received an update to version 4.7.0.17011_7. The update, which is meant for macOS, brings improved security and ability to block notifications individually.

After the new update, whenever a device requests a connection, users should confirm a six-digit passkey before the connection is established. Moreover, users can block individual app notifications from appearing on their desktops, and this is an important feature for people who don’t want all their notifications to be mirrored.

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Samsung opens first-ever Experience Store in Malaysia

Samsung has been setting up its Samsung Experience Store retail locations across the globe as one-stop shop solutions to serve customers who are looking to purchase its products, particularly its mobile devices. The strategy has been working very nicely for the company and it’s pressing ahead with it in new markets as well. Samsung Malaysia has opened the company’s first-ever Samsung Experience Store in Malaysia located in Genting Highlands.

Samsung’s first Experience Store in Malaysia has been opened at the Sky Avenue Mall in Genting Highlands. The store is going to offer a wide variety of Samsung’s mobile products as well as its wearable devices. Samsung Malaysia Electronics, IT & Mobile Business Unit vice-president Lee Jui Siang said that the opening of the first Experience Store in Malaysia is a step forward in the planned expansion of Samsung’s retail outlets in the country.

Malaysia’s first Samsung Experience Store is located at Lot T2B-57, Level T2B, Sky Avenue, Genting Highlands Resorts. The store will be open daily from 10am to 10pm local time.

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Apple vs Samsung patent case reopened by US appeals court

Samsung scored a major legal victory last year when the United States Supreme Court ruled that the company can’t be forced to fork over all of the profits from a device found to be infringing on design patents when it may only be infringing on some and not all components. The case was sent back to the lower court for further proceedings.

Apple and Samsung have been fighting this battle for more than five years now. Samsung was accused of copying the original iPhone’s design, particularly elements like home screen layouts and bezels. Apple was originally awarded $1 billion in damages but this amount was significantly reduced to $399 million in retrials.

As a result of the Supreme Court order, the Federal Circuit has reopened the Apple vs Samsung patent dispute. The appeals court has reinstated Samsung’s appeal in a one-paragraph order that also vacates a 2015 Federal Circuit decision that ordered Samsung to pay Apple $399 million in damages as its devices were found to infringe on parts of patents that protect the iPhone’s design. The Federal Circuit is now going to decide how much Samsung really owes in damages.

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