SMSGear for the Gear S3 brings Android SMS to the wrist

Samsung tried to go the exclusive route with the Gear S having compatibility with only Samsung Galaxy smartphones, but it wasn’t successful. With the Gear S2, the company insisted that it would continue to limit functionality with Android smartphones, but would open up Gear compatibility to non-Samsung, Android-powered smartphones. Now with the unveiling of the Gear S3 and Gear S3 Classic, Samsung has maintained its commitment to cross-platform compatibility, even extending it to the iPhone in an effort to grow the “Galaxy.”

And yet, Gear S3 functionality with any non-Samsung, Android smartphone is still limited, living up to the same frustrations as its predecessors. The one problem among others is that there is no SMS on the wrist that would work between the Gear S3 and non-Samsung, Android-powered smartphones, but XDA Developer James St-Pierre is seeking to change that. His new app, called SMSGear for the Gear S3, allows non-Samsung Galaxy smartphone users to view SMS messages, send them, limit conversations, and set message limits on conversations on the wrist.

There is some limit to SMSGear, however: you can’t make a new conversation, nor can you delete SMS messages or conversations (these are Android limitations), so you’re stuck with the experience you can get. To get SMSGear on the Gear S3, you’ll need to install the app on your Android phone, then install it on your Gear S3.

Instructions can be found at the link below. Let us know if you try out SMSGear and how it’s working on your Gear S3.

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Kortex attachment for Gear VR lowers stress, brings free copy of Land’s End

Gear VR users can recall the nauseating feeling and mild dizziness they experienced when trying on the headset for the first time. Some users never grow out of experiencing these mild symptoms, and some find virtual reality to be extremely relaxing when they engage it. Some, however, find that VR keeps them awake, but a new headset attachment will not only lower stress but help you relax and get some needed R&R.

The VR headset attachment released by Fisher Wallace, called Kortex, attaches to your Gear VR strap and sits in the middle of the back of the user’s head, bringing endorphins (these produce a happy feeling), melatonin (for healthy sleep), and serotonin (for mood balance) to help you relax and unwind despite the graphics and light coming from your Gear VR headset.

The Kortex VR headset attachment can be used on its own for basic relaxation apart from gaming and brings a free copy of Land’s End for those who’ll undergo a headset at bedtime. Expect to pledge at least $299 for the Kortex at Indiegogo, and wait for it patiently: you won’t get it in your hands or on your head until July 2017.

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Galaxy Tab S3 manual leaks, showing Android Nougat, Grace UX, and Note-like ambition

The Galaxy Tab S3 has already leaked with the S Pen beside it, informing us that Samsung intends to bring some sort of S Pen integration to its upcoming tablet, but a new manual leaked today shows that the S Pen will be more than just a writing accessory: it, too, will see integration with the Tab S3 — indicating that the Tab S3 will be nothing short of a Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet replacement.

New screenshots leaked from the Galaxy Tab S3 manual showing the design, UX, and some features Samsung looks to bring to the upcoming tablet. First, there will be 2 speakers on the bottom and 2 up top — 4 speakers total, providing better sound than in days past. Samsung looks to bring USB Type-C to the Tab S3, the new standard after micro-USB that arrived with the now-deceased Galaxy Note 7 last Fall. Nougat will make its appearance here, not surprising considering that Google announced the update with its Pixel and Pixel XL a few months ago.

The home button that has been leaked with Samsung’s own press invite can be found here – so yes, despite the move Samsung is making with the Galaxy S8, the Tab S3 will retain the home button/fingerprint sensor setup that graced the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy Note 7, not to mention the Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, and last year’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

Secure Folder, Screen off memo, Air command, and the Grace UX found on the most perfect productivity phablet will also make their way here as well. Secure Folder, as you may remember, graced us first on the Galaxy Note 7 before the smartphone’s final recall. As for the S Pen, Samsung has given it an S Pen clip, presumably to allow users to clip it onto the side of the device for safe keeping. Of course, we’d like to see Samsung create a placement slot for it in future models.

Samsung is set to announce the Galaxy Tab S3 on February 26th.

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

Welcome back to another issue of Watchface Friday! Every Friday, we highlighting 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

English Text Face

Golfwith - Metallic 

Special Edition Rose Gold

VAKTA_Calm_EVE

Gear S3 frontier

Timeless by Pluto

Simply-DIGITAL

Tronica by Pluto

X-Throne SE

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SamMobile Daily Recap: February 16, 2017 — Galaxy S8 purported colors revealed, Samsung shares fall & more!

We publish a solid amount 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 follow every post published. But, we think we’ve come up with an ideal solution — a daily recap.

In the list below, you’ll find the stories that went live today. Granted, you’re not going to be interested in all of them. To help you find what’s important to you, we’ve split them into their respective categories — so if you want to see the latest Galaxy S8 news, locate the Phones subheading.

Business

BREAKING: Samsung heir apparent arrested on bribery charges

Samsung shares fall following arrest of its heir

Deals 

Daily Deal: Score yourself a Gear S3 frontier for 14% off

Firmware News

Galaxy S5 mini Marshmallow update rolling out now

Galaxy Note 5 for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon receives Wi-Fi certification running Nougat

Nougat starts rolling out to T-Mobile’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge for beta users

Samsung starts pushing out Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in Taiwan

Samsung to source Galaxy S8 batteries from Sony as well

Phones

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus purported color options and pricing revealed

Google may have thwarted Tizen development, investigation underway

Samsung teases Exynos 9 series chipset, could be the one powering the Galaxy S8

Samsung trademarks another feature of its Bixby virtual assistant

UAG lists cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8

Tablets

Alleged smaller model of the Galaxy TabPro S2 passes through the FCC

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Daily Deal: Score yourself a Gear S3 frontier for 14% off

Back in December, we published a review raving about the 4G-enabled variant of Samsung’s latest smartwatch, the Gear S3. In the comments section, a small selection of readers revealed that they’d just picked one up and were very happy with their purchase. However, if you were one of the many who read the review, but didn’t have the wherewithal to bag yourself one, you’ll probably be pleased to hear that Amazon is now offering the Gear S3 frontier for $299.99 (14% off).

Read more: Samsung Gear S3 Frontier review: Outclassing most smartwatches in the market

If you like the sound of the Gear S3 frontier and want to take advantage of this promotion, hit the Buy Now button below. We strongly advise you to hurry, though, as Amazon only has a limited amount of inventory available and once it’s gone, it’s gone. We should note, however, that the merchant isn’t offering international shipping, which sadly means that this particular promotion is only available for customers in the United States.

Buy Now

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Samsung teases Exynos 9 series chipset, could be the one powering the Galaxy S8

The rumor mill has it that the Galaxy S8 could be the exclusive device to be powered by the Snapdragon 835 for some time after Qualcomm’s chip becomes available to manufacturers, but we expect Samsung to use its Exynos chipset for most markets as it has done for the last two years. The Exynos 8895 has been expected to be the chip that will succeed the Exynos 8890 that powers the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 7, but it looks like Samsung will be releasing the SoC as the Exynos 9 series.

Samsung Exynos’ Twitter account is teasing its next chipset with the tagline “Discover cloud 9 with Exynos”, suggesting the upcoming chip could be part of the the Exynos 9 series. Like the Snapdragon 835, this chip should be manufactured using Samsung’s 10 nm process, although other specs are currently unknown. If we go by information available for the Exynos 8895, the Exynos 9 SoC could have the Mali-G71 GPU, which offers benefits in 4K and virtual reality content. When it comes to performance, the Exynos 9 chipset should match or surpass the Snapdragon 835 while generating less heat at the same frequencies.

Of course, nothing is confirmed at this point, and there hasn’t exactly been a lot of information available about Samsung’s next flagship SoC. Stepping the version number up to 9 does make sense given the chip will power an important device like the Galaxy S8, and it will be very interesting to see what Samsung has been working on to take on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835.

What do you make of Samsung’s teaser?

Be ready for #TheNextExynos http://pic.twitter.com/rpod9jVOd7

— Samsung Exynos (@SamsungExynos) February 17, 2017

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Nougat firmware for T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and S7 edge now available online

T-Mobile’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge started receiving the Nougat update earlier today on devices that were running the beta, and it seems everyone else will also be seeing the update on their handsets soon. The full Android 7.0 Nougat firmware for the S7 and S7 edge on T-Mobile are now available from our firmware database, and they should also be showing up on Samsung’s Smart Switch program for PCs.

The firmware version for both handsets is UVU4BQB1; as we mentioned in our previous post, the update brings the February 1 security patch in addition to all the features included in Nougat. If you aren’t willing to wait for the update to arrive on your handset, you can download the firmware from our database and upgrade manually. It remains to be seen when the other major carriers in the US will start rolling out Nougat, but they will hopefully catch up soon now that T-Mobile has got the ball rolling.

Firmware Details:

Model	SM-G930T
Model name	Galaxy S7
Country	USA (T-Mobile)
Version	Android 7
Changelist	10376601
Build date	Thu, 02 Feb 2017 10:45:04 +0000
Security Patch Level	2017-02-01
Product code	TMB
PDA	G930TUVU4BQB1
CSC	G930TTMB4BQB1

 

Model	SM-G935T
Model name
Country	USA (T-Mobile)
Version	Android 7
Changelist	10376601
Build date	Thu, 02 Feb 2017 10:46:21 +0000
Security Patch Level	2017-02-01
Product code	TMB
PDA	G935TUVU4BQB1
CSC	G935TTMB4BQB1

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Galaxy Note 5 for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon receives Wi-Fi certification running Nougat

Now that Samsung has started rolling out Android 7.0 to the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge, it’s time for older devices to get the update. The Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, and the Galaxy S6 edge+ are next in line to receive the Nougat update.

Variants of the Galaxy Note 5 for the US carriers AT&T (SM-N920A), Sprint (SM-N920P), and Verizon (SM-N920V) have received Wi-Fi certification running Android 7.0. This means that Samsung could release Nougat update to all these variants in a matter of weeks. However, additional testing may take time, and the rollout date might differ depending on the carrier.

Additionally, other variants of the Galaxy Note 5 – SM-N9200, SM-N9209 (China Telecom), SM-N920R4 (US Cellular), SM-N920R6 (Cellcom) and SM-N920R7 (C Spire) – have received a similar certification.

 

 

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Samsung trademarks another feature of its Bixby virtual assistant

It was first reported several months ago that Samsung is going to introduce a new artificial intelligence virtual personal assistant called Bixby with the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. Since then we’ve seen enough circumstantial evidence to support the theory that this assistant will be onboard the new flagship smartphone when it arrives in a couple of months.

Samsung has now filed for a trademark in Europe for “Bixby Reminder,” which suggests that this is going to be one of the many features that the assistant offers. It has previously trademarked features like Bixby Pay and Bixby Vision. While the trademark filing doesn’t reveal much about this feature the brand name itself is quite self-explanatory. It suggests that Bixby will be able to handle users’ calendar appointments via voice commands as well.

Previous reports have suggested that Bixby is going to be much more capable than the likes of Siri and Cortana but it remains to be seen just to what extent that’s going to be true, particularly when you consider a recent report which suggested that Bixby is actually going to be based on Samsung’s S Voice and not on the technology that the company got as part of its acquisition of Viv Labs, an AI company run by the creators of Siri.

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Alleged smaller model of the Galaxy TabPro S2 passes through the FCC

Earlier today, an unannounced Windows-powered tablet was spotted at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As is usually the case with these sightings, the accompanying documentation doesn’t reveal anything about the device, other than its model number — SM-W627.

Now, while we don’t any solid information to go on, the model number suggests that we’re looking at a scaled-down variant of the long-rumored Galaxy TabPro S2 (SM-W727), which is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Tab S3 at Mobile World Congress later this month.

Unfortunately, in addition to its identity, the device’s specifications also remain a mystery. If Samsung is sticking to its regular tablet sizing (and it has no reason not to) we presume the unit will sport a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD display, as opposed to 12-inch panel.

The good news is it doesn’t look like we’ll have to wait too much longer to find out more about the SM-W627 as it’s already been granted its Bluetooth certification credentials and passed through the FCC, which means the only stop it has left to make before it can hit the shelves is the Wi-Fi Alliance.

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Samsung shares fall following arrest of its heir

The news that Samsung vice chairman and heir apparent Lee Jae-yong had been arrested on charges of bribery broke early this morning. One could expect that investors wouldn’t like this latest development as his arrest leaves behind a serious leadership vacuum at the most powerful conglomerate in South Korea. They have responded to the news in a predictable manner. Samsung shares climbed 5.5 percent this year on top of the impressive 43 pecent rally in 2016. However, as trading opened earlier today, Samsung shares fell by nearly 1 percent in Seoul at one point during trading hours.

Fund manager at Korea Investment Management Jung Sang-jin points out that this latest development is going to have an impact on the stock at least in the short term but only because of the negative sentiment associated with the arrest of Lee Jae-yong. It’s not because of any fundamental shift in the health of Samsung’s business.

It’s unclear right now for how long Lee Jae-yong will be under custody. The procedural steps and appeals in the course of a trial and verdict can take as long as 18 months so there’s every possibility that he might be out of the office for a very, very long time.

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Samsung to source Galaxy S8 batteries from Sony as well

Samsung absolutely does not want a repeat of what it had to go through with the Galaxy Note 7. A detailed investigation into the Galaxy Note 7 debacle revealed that batteries supplied by both Samsung SDI and ATL had defects which caused the handset to literally go up in flames. While Samsung SDI will continue to supply batteries for the Galaxy S8, Samsung is reportedly diversifying its battery supply chain to reduce the chances of something like that happening again.

It was recently reported that Samsung had inked a supply agreement with Japan’s Murata Manufacturing in order to source batteries for the Galaxy S8. Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Samsung has selected Sony as the third battery supplier for the Galaxy S8.

Samsung is now said to be sourcing lithium-ion battery packs for the Galaxy S8 from the battery unit of Japan’s Sony Corp. Since supply chain agreements are usually not confirmed, it’s unlikely that either company will confirm this new relationship.

It goes without saying that just because there was a problem with the Galaxy Note 7 it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Galaxy S8 is going to suffer from it as well. However, this goes to show that Samsung is going the extra mile to be absolutely certain that it doesn’t have to deal with something like the Galaxy Note 7 recall ever again.

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Galaxy S5 mini Marshmallow update rolling out now

Galaxy S5 mini owners have had to wait for a very long time to get Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The last major update released for this handset was back in 2015 when it was bumped up to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. We first heard about a possible Marshmallow update for this handset about four months ago when it was reported that the Galaxy S5 mini duos (SM-G800H) had received Android 6.0.1 over-the-air in Russia. The Galaxy S5 mini (SM-G800F) is now indeed receiving said update in Europe.

Firmware version G800FXXU1CQA1 is now being rolled out for the Galaxy S5 mini in Europe for both the branded and unbranded versions of this handset. Not only does it bump up the device to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow but it also includes the January 2017 security patch. Once the update is installed, users will find that the handset has an improved user interface, enhanced notifications experience as well as a handful of new features.

This is the last major platform update for the Galaxy S5 mini since it won’t be making the jump to Android 7.0 Nougat which is currently the latest iteration of Android and has only been released by Samsung for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge so far. Galaxy S5 mini users in Europe will now start receiving the OTA update notification on their handsets. Those who are interested in manually flashing the firmware can download it from our firmware section.

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Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus purported color options and pricing revealed

We’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus over the past few weeks. Multiple renders have already leaked giving us a glimpse of what the upcoming flagship might look like. Samsung confirmed recently that it’s not going to unveil the handset at MWC 2017 but it will confirm the Galaxy S8 launch date at the event. While we won’t know until the launch event how much both variants are going to cost, purported color options and pricing for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus has leaked online today apparently from a Ukrainain retailer’s database.

Galaxy S8 (SM-G950) and Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955) are both listed in the retailer’s database in Black, Gold, and Orchid Gray colors. The prices are mentioned in Ukrainian Hryvnia but they roughly convert to $950 and $1050 for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus respectively. If this is really the case, it appears that rumors about Samsung raising the price of its next flagship smartphone have turned out to be true, it may carry at least a $100 premium over the Galaxy S7. The price will obviously vary slightly in different markets but at this rate, it’s still going to be slightly more expensive than its predecessor.

Reports suggest that Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S8 on March 29 at a special event in New York City. That is yet to be confirmed, though, we’ll find out in the final week of this month for sure.

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Samsung starts rolling out Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in Taiwan

Samsung has started distributing the long-awaited Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge — SM-G930F and SM-G935F, respectively — in Taiwan, reveals online blog Taiwan Fans Club. The upgrade, which weighs in at a a little under 1.3GB, transports all of the functionality you’d expect to find baked into Android 7.0, in addition to a plethora of much-needed bug fixes and stability improvements.

If you own a Galaxy S7 (G930FXXU1DQBI) or Galaxy S7 edge (G935FXXU1DQBI), reside in Taiwan and would like to see if the update is ready for your device, simply head into Settings » About Device » Download Updates Manually. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive push notification instructing you to install the firmware, but it may take a little longer to arrive.

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