الثلاثاء، 4 يوليو 2017

Samsung named Asia’s best brand for six years in a row

Samsung announced earlier today that it was judged as Asia’s best brand for 2017 among 1,000 brands. The company has been bagging this award since the past six years. The list of Asia’s top 1,000 brands for 2017 was released by research agencies Campaign Asia-Pacific and Nelson, and more than 6,000 customers from 13 countries took part in the survey.

Campaign Asia-Pacific and Nelson said that Samsung achieved this win as it coped with the Galaxy Note 7 problem very well. The company was quite prompt and transparent in recalling the Galaxy Note 7. The successful launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ also contributed in winning this award. Apple, the US-based tech giant was placed second in this list, while Sony and Nestle bagged third and fourth positions, respectively.

The South Korean smartphone giant’s Galaxy brand was recently judged as the most valuable brand in Korea for seven years in a row. The company is prepping to unveil the successor to the Galaxy Note 7, the Galaxy Note 8 sometime in August. The phone will bring a dual rear-facing camera setup for the first time in a Samsung smartphone.

Asia's Top 1000 Brands 2017

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You can now stream PC games on your Samsung smart TV using the Steam Link app

It was revealed nine months ago that Samsung was working with Steam to integrate the latter’s PC game streaming technology into its smart TVs. Now, a beta version of Valve’s Steam Link app is available through Samsung’s app store. It can be used to stream games from a PC on a local network. The app works on all 2016 and 2017 4K TVs from Samsung.

PCGamer’s Wes Fenlon tried some heavy gaming on a recent Samsung 4K smart TV using the Steam Link app, and found it to be pretty darn good for a beta version. Apparently, the app paired with a Steam Controller but was missing keystrokes, but the Xbox wireless controller worked pretty well. He tried simple games like Broforce (which didn’t work too well) as well as heavy games like Dark Souls 3 (which worked flawlessly).

If you wish to try out game streaming on your Samsung TV using Steam Link, you should hook up the TV as well as your gaming PC to your router using ethernet cables to avoid lag. After downloading the app from the app store on the TV, you have to sign in to your account, and it should be able to detect your PC on the local network. Since this is a beta version of the app, don’t expect it to work flawlessly.

Samsung TV Steam Link Game Streaming App



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Samsung’s new Galaxy J5 Pro is just an updated version of the Galaxy J5 (2017)

It has only been a month since Samsung launched the new Galaxy J (2017) series and the company has already launched a slightly updated model of one of the new handsets. It has announced the Galaxy J5 Pro in Thailand today. The handset is essentially a Galaxy J5 (2017) with minor changes.

The Galaxy J5 (2017) has a metal body and a 1.6GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It also features a 5.2-inch HD Super AMOLED display, a 13-megapixel front and rear camera, Nougat and a 3,000mAh battery.

The Galaxy J5 Pro has the same specifications save for the RAM and internal storage. Instead of the 2GB and 16GB configuration of the Galaxy J5 (2017), the Galaxy J5 Pro features 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Everything else remains the same. Customers get the same Exynos 7870 processor with Mali-T830 MP2 graphics processor, front-mounted fingerprint sensor and 3,000mAh battery.

Samsung is selling the handset in Thailand for 9,990 Baht which converts to just a hair under $300. The company hasn’t confirmed if it’s going to release the Galaxy J5 Pro elsewhere.

Even if it doesn’t, it’s not like this handset is a significant improvement over the Galaxy J5 (2017). Just buy that if you’re so inclined.



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Samsung’s ISOCELL Dual camera sensor can also measure depth

Samsung recently showcased four new sub-brands of ISOCELL camera sensors: ISOCELL Bright, ISOCELL Dual, ISOCELL Fast, and ISOCELL Slim. It is being speculated that the company will bring a dual-camera camera setup in the Galaxy Note 8. The company showcased a few features of the ISOCELL Dual camera sensor at MWC 2017 Shanghai. Now, a few new additional features have emerged from Samsung’s official documents.

A document that’s meant for showcasing Samsung’s upcoming technologies and plans to investors and shareholders mentions depth sensing, zooming, and enhanced low-light images. ISOCELL Dual sensors are said to be capable of these features, and we might see some of these features being used in the Galaxy Note 8. The phablet was earlier rumored to feature dual-13MP+12MP camera sensors with 3x zoom capabilities.

Samsung has been using both Sony and ISOCELL camera sensors in its high-end smartphones, but it remains to be seen if the South Korean smartphone giant will switch to exclusively using ISOCELL Dual sensors in the Galaxy Note 8. The smartphone is expected to be announced sometime in August and made available in September, earlier than the iPhone 7s and the iPhone 8.



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Galaxy Note 8 cases already available for pre-order, reveal design clues

It’s not uncommon for us to see cases and accessories for a new handset appear before the device itself has been unveiled. Online retailer Mobile Fun listed and started taking pre-orders for official Galaxy Note 7 accessories in July last year. Today, the retailer has made the official Galaxy Note 8 cases from Olixar available for pre-order.

It is widely believed that accessory manufacturers are often the first to get information about an upcoming handset’s design so that they can get their products ready in time for launch. Their product images are accompanied by somewhat accurate renders of the unreleased device which provide us with a good look at a device that’s not even official.

The Galaxy Note 8 renders included in Olixar’s product images suggest that the handset is going to have an Infinity Display that’s going to be slightly larger than the one found on the Galaxy S8. A big cutout at the back reveals the dual-camera system and the fingerprint sensor.

If this is accurate then it appears that the Galaxy Note 8 won’t come with an optical fingerprint sensor as well. It also merits mentioning here that the fingerprint sensor appears to have been distanced a bit from the camera by the heart rate sensor. This should address complaints of accidentally smudging the camera lens that’s inevitable on the Galaxy S8.

The colors of these cases suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 will be available in Black, Silver, Gold and Blue colors. The cases and additional accessories like the wireless charging case and 2-Piece Pop Cover are all available for pre-order from Mobile Fun.






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SamMobile Daily Recap: July 4, 2017 — Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and more!

Galaxy Note 8 glass protective cover surfaces online

An image has surfaced online allegedly showcasing the glass protective cover for the upcoming Galaxy Note 8. As expected, the handset looks like a lot like a Galaxy S8+ that’s been stretched diagonally — and we aren’t complaining.

Just like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, the Galaxy Note 8 sports a near bezel-less design. However, recent reports claim that it’s a little thicker to house the S Pen and the much-anticipated dual-camera module.

The Galaxy Note 8 measures in at approximately 162.4 x 74.5 x 8.4mm, with the thickness jumping up to 9.5mm when you factor in the camera bump, but its weight is currently unknown.

Unfortunately, Samsung decided against installing an optical fingerprint reader on the Galaxy Note 8, so it’s embedded a traditional scanner alongside the camera, LED flash and heart rate monitor on the rear of the device.

Leaks and rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 will sport a 6.3-inch edge-to-edge Infinity Display (18.5:9 aspect ratio), an Exynos 8895/Snapdragon 835 CPU, 6GB of RAM and at least a 3,300mAh battery.

That performance won’t come cheap, though. The Galaxy Note 8, which should be available in three colors — black, blue and gold — is expected to be Samsung’s most expensive smartphone to date, carrying an eye-watering price tag of $1,100.



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5 things I like about the Galaxy S8+

I’ve been the proud owner of a Galaxy S8+ ever since it hit the shelves back in April, and I’m pleased to report that there isn’t anything I really don’t like about the handset. There is, however, a lot I like about it — so I thought I’d put together a column outlining the top five things that have ultimately kept my SIM in the Galaxy S8+.

Build quality

For a smartphone that’s primarily constructed from glass, the Galaxy S8 is relatively durable. I’ve dropped my unit a couple of times and it’s managed to escape unscathed, though there are a couple of minor scratches on the back, which were likely caused by storing the device into the same pocket as my keys.

Camera

The Galaxy S8 sports the same 12-megapixel camera as its predecessor, the Galaxy S7. However, Samsung has made a number of minor changes to further improve the quality of the images it captures — and it’s done a fantastic job. Images taken in the regular point-and-shoot mode are crisp, though it has a tough time in poorly lit environments.

Camera comparison: Galaxy S8 vs the Galaxy S7

Infinity Display

Wow. That’s the only way I can describe the Galaxy S8’s Infinity Display. Sadly, it’s something you have to experience for yourself as no words will ever do it justice, but if you haven’t had a chance to play around with the device, imagine the clearest, most vivid curved screen and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what it’s like to hold the Galaxy S8.

On-screen navigation

I’m a big fan of on-screen navigation keys, which is why I was pleased when I found out that Samsung had axed its traditional configuration (capacitive Back and Recents buttons and a physical Home key) in favor of a virtual set. Having the option to change both the appearance and order of the buttons to suit your personal preference is also a nice touch.

Related content: Five Galaxy S8 features that have made my life easier

Samsung Experience

While this feature isn’t strictly limited to the Galaxy S8, it’s still something I really like. For the first time, Samsung’s custom user interface, which has been rebranded from TouchWiz to Samsung Experience, is actually incredibly smooth and responsive. Moreover, it suits the handset’s extra wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio perfectly.

What do you think?

If you own a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, we’d love to know exactly what you like and dislike about it — so be sure to leave a comment in the section below. Alternatively, you can reach us over on Facebook and Twitter, where we’re always looking to engage in a conversation.



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Launch of Bixby Voice in the US delayed due to lack of enough big data

Samsung was supposed to launch the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ with Bixby, one of its major features. However, when the phone was launched in Korea as well as in the US, Bixby’s voice capabilities weren’t activated, and it took the company months before the feature was launched in its home market South Korea. Samsung recently started accepting beta testers for Bixby Voice in the US.

It is now being reported by The Korea Herald that Samsung delayed the launch of English version of Bixby Voice due to the lack of enough big data accumulation. Big data is the key technology for deep learning, and it works best when there’s a lot of data accumulated from all over the web. “Developing Bixby in other languages is taking more time than we expected mainly because of the lack of the accumulation of big data,” a Samsung spokesperson told the publication.

Samsung was late in adopting big data, and other tech giants, including Amazon, Apple, and Google are far ahead of Samsung in this regard. Another reason for the delay of Bixby Voice in the US is the communication gap between Samsung engineers in Korea and in California. As per the information received from insiders, Samsung is expected to fully launch Bixby Voice in the US sometime this fall.

“Many engineers in the US are making full efforts to develop the English version. But, (due to geographical and language barriers) their frequent reports to and communication with the management located in Korea makes the progress much slower than developing the Korean version here,” said a source on the condition of anonymity. Consumers in the US who opted to beta test Bixby Voice weren’t too impressed due to problems in voice recognition.

London-based consultancy firm Ovum has predicted that Bixby will become the second largest AI-driven voice assistant service after Google Assistant by 2021. However, we’re not sure how that prediction will pan out since Amazon is way ahead in this game, and a lot of firms are tying into Alexa’s skills. As per the report, Google Assistant, Bixby, Siri, Alexa, and Cortana will have a market shares of 23.3%, 14.5%, 13.1%, 3.9%, and 2.3%, respectively.

Samsung acquired Viv Labs – makers of Apple’s Siri – last year for around $215, but the company didn’t include its AI skills into Bixby. It will add Viv Labs’ AI prowess to Bixby when it completes the full development. If you’re from Korea or the US, how has been your experience with Bixby Voice? Let us know in the comments below.



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Daily Deal: Bag yourself a 5,200mAh Fast Charge Battery Pack for 15% off

You can currently pick up a 5,200mAh Fast Charge Battery Pack for just $38.24 (15% off), though be warned: if you decide to take advantage of this promotion, you will need to carry around a a microUSB or USB Type-C cable as it doesn’t have one built in.

Like the sound of the 5,200mAh Fast Charge Battery Pack and want to snag yourself one for the reduced price? Simply hit the Buy Now button below. We advise you to hurry though, as Amazon only has a very limited amount of inventory available.



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June 2017 security patch starts rolling out to Galaxy S6 in Europe

Samsung has started rolling out the June 2017 security update to the Galaxy S6 in the Netherlands, and the update is expected to roll out to other European markets. The update is not available for the Galaxy S6 edge yet, but Samsung should release it soon since the non-edge variant has it already.

The new update with firmware version G920FXXU5EQFC brings bug fixes and performance optimization along with the June 2017 Android security patch to the Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F). The patch includes 96 security improvements from Google for Android devices, and Samsung has added 23 improvements to it.

Since Samsung started rolling out the Android 7.0 update for the Galaxy S6, it had delayed security patch release for the device. However, the company seems to have started working on monthly security patches for the Galaxy S6 duo. Only the unlocked version is receiving this update, but we don’t know when carrier-locked variants would receive it.

Has your Galaxy S6 received this update? Let us know in the comments section below.

Samsung Galaxy S6 June 2017 Security Patch Update



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Galaxy Note 8 design hinted in latest CAD image

Samsung’s next flagship smartphone is not due for a couple of months so the rumor mill is in full swing these days. We’re hearing new rumors and reports about the Galaxy Note 8 every other day and seeing new leaked images and renders that claim to offer us a glimpse of the new handset.

Take this new CAD image that has been posted online for example. It was tweeted by Slickwraps CEO Jonathan Endicott to inform the company’s fans that they’re working hard on creating skins for Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. For those who are unaware, Slickwraps is a company that makes custom skins for smartphones.

It has long been believed that accessory manufacturers get access to some schematics or design materials that enable them to get their products ready for upcoming devices ahead of time. So it’s not that surprising to see Endicott and Co. working off of a CAD image for the Galaxy Note 8.

Speaking of the Galaxy Note 8, the design that we see in this CAD image is quite similar to the other design renders we’ve seen so far for the new handset. It seems to confirm a dual camera system for the Galaxy Note 8 as well, one that has endlessly been rumored for this handset.

It goes without saying that there will be better leaks in the days to come. We can reasonably expect to get a good look at the Galaxy Note 8 before Samsung officially unveils the handset in the last week of August.



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Samsung starts mass production at its new chip plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea

Samsung today announced that it has started mass production at its new semiconductor fabrication line in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The first product being produced on this line is now shipping to customers. The new facility is primarily going to focus on mass production of Samsung’s fourth-generation V-NAND memory product.

The company broke ground on this facility in May, 2015. It has taken just over two years of construction to get this fabrication line up and running. Samsung points out that the fabrication line at the Pyeongtaek campus currently happens to be the largest single Fab in the industry.

Samsung recognizes the emerging industry trends such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data and automotive technologies. That’s why the company is planning to further improve its manufacturing capabilities by investing 37 trillion won or close to $30 billion in its global production facilities.

The company is also planning to construct a new semiconductor fabrication line in Xi’an, China. It’s conducting site reviews currently. Samsung already has a fabrication line in that part of the world which was constructed back in 2014. The Xi’an site is in full operation presently.

Samsung Display, the conglomerate’s display-making affiliate, is also reviewing plans to set up a new OLED manufacturing site in Asan, South Korea by next year.



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T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge receive June security patch

The third largest mobile carrier in the United States is rolling out a new firmware update for last year’s flagship smartphones. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners on T-Mobile should keep an eye out for an over-the-air update notification which should pop up on their handset soon if it hasn’t already.

T-Mobile has rolled out firmware version G930TUVS4BQE1 and G935TUVU4BQF6 for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge respectively. These are minor updates so don’t expect much in the way of new features. What they do bring is the all important June security patch.

The security patch for the month of June brings fixes for 96 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in the core Android operating system as well as fixes for 23 vulnerabilities that Samsung discovered in its own software.

The official changelog also mentions that this firmware update includes various system improvements. Users can expect the usual slew of performance and stability improvements that are part and parcel of most incremental updates.

T-Mobile subscribers with a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge will receive an over-the-air update notification soon if one hasn’t already landed on their device. The firmware versions mentioned above are also available for download from our firmware section.



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Samsung’s Bixby smart speaker is reportedly in development

Samsung introduced Bixby late last year. It’s the company’s new voice assistant that it launched with the Galaxy S8. Samsung says that Bixby allows users to do almost everything that they can do with a tap by just using voice commands on the handset. That being said, it rolled out Bixby before it was completed.

The company later rolled out the voice functionality for Bixby in South Korea where it can even be used to transfer money now. Bixby Voice is still unavailable in the United States because apparently, Samsung has been facing trouble getting it to work in the English language. Samsung has rolled out the functionality in beta to some users in the US, though.

We have seen reports in the past that Samsung is going to build a smart speaker of its own with Bixby which will rival the likes of the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The company even has patents covering such devices but it hasn’t said officially if such a device is in the pipeline.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Samsung has a new smart speaker in development which will be powered by Bixby. The project is reportedly codenamed Vega. The report doesn’t provide any information about the design, features and specifications of this device.

It does point out that Vega’s development is facing delays because of Bixby. It’s still not ready for public release and according to the scribe, Samsung is not seeing the full release of Bixby Voice before the second half of July.

It can’t be said for sure right now when Samsung might be able to bring this smart speaker to market. It’s all contingent upon the company’s progress with Bixby.



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Galaxy S8 Active, Tab A2 S, and Galaxy J7 Reloaded appear in Samsung’s official app changelog

We’ve long been reading about the Galaxy S8 Active (SM-G892A), a possibly rugged version of the Galaxy S8 for AT&T’s network. The phone was certified by the FCC two days ago, and its rear design was revealed in the documents. It also appeared in Wi-Fi certification documents. Now, the phone has been confirmed as it has appeared in the changelog of an app from Samsung.

The Galaxy S8 Active (codenamed Cruiser) has appeared in the recent changelog of Samsung Video Library in the Play Store. Two other new devices – Galaxy J7 Reloaded (SM-J710F) and Galaxy Tab A2 S – were also mentioned. This confirms that the Galaxy S8 Active will be released on AT&T’s network in the US. The phone was spotted earlier in Geekbench’s database running Android 7.0.

The Galaxy S8 Active is believed to feature a 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a 12-megapixel primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and 4K video recording, and an 8-megapixel secondary camera with autofocus. The device will also be IP68 and MIL-STD-810G compliant for dust, shock, and water resistance.

We don’t have any information about the design, release date, or specifications of the Galaxy J7 Reloaded and the Galaxy Tab A2 S. However, we’ll report back as and when we receive more information about these two devices.

Samsung Video Library Changelog

Thanks for the tip, Hashim!

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Samsung plans to invest $18.6 billion to extend its lead in display panels and memory chips

Samsung is the current world leader in storage and memory chips segment, and it has announced that it is planning to invest around KRW 21.4 trillion (approx. $18.6 billion) in South Korea to extend its lead in the memory chips and display panel market. Around KRW 14.4 trillion of this capital, which will be spent by 2021, will be dedicated to the company’s NAND chips manufacturing factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.

The South Korean electronics giant also mentioned that it will invest around KRW 6 trillion to set up a new semiconductor production line in Hwaseong city in South Korea. However, Samsung didn’t mention any time frame for this investment. The company also plans to add an extra production line to its NAND plant in Xi’an, China for ramping up the production capacity of storage chips. Although, the final investment amount or a time frame wasn’t announced.

Samsung Display will also invest KRW 1 trillion on a new OLED manufacturing plant in Korea. Thanks to the booming demand for memory and storage chips, Samsung and its competitors are expected to rake in record profits this year. Apparently, there’s a shortage of NAND chips due to increasing adoption of high-end storage solutions in devices like smartphones and servers. Industry experts say that the shortage for storage chips will continue in 2017 even though the brands have invested billions of dollars.

“I believe NAND market conditions will continue to favor suppliers until 2020. Any oversupply issues will be temporary and limited to seasonally weaker periods” said HMC Investment analyst Greg Roh. Samsung is said to be at least a year ahead of its rivals Toshiba and SK Hynix as the former invests $10 billion annually. The new investment is expected to create an additional 440,000 jobs in South Korea, which will help in boosting the economy.

Thanks to increasing demand of high-storage capacity smartphones, virtual reality applications, and cloud storage, demand for NAND chips is expected to grow. Chinese smartphone brands are the biggest buyers of display and semiconductor chips from Samsung. China is trying to be self-reliant in making these chips, but it will be years before Chinese brands can even compete with global giants like Samsung and Toshiba.



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