Themes Thursday: Take a look at this week’s six new best themes

We’re back with another episode of Themes Thursday, and we’ve shortlisted six new themes for you this week. Most of the themes listed here have a brighter UI and well-designed icons. However, all of them are paid theme packs, and if Samsung still doesn’t allow downloading paid themes in your country, you won’t be able to see or download them.

Starting off with the two brilliant theme packs from designer Binod, the OreoUI theme has a darker-colored interface, while the PandimUI theme has a brighter interface, and both feature AoD wallpapers. The [WHL] Geometry theme is our favorite from this week, thanks to well-designed, simple iconography and a great-looking wallpaper.

Benqing and Benyue theme packs look great too. If you like colorful themes (or if you love Paris or France) for your Galaxy smartphone, check out the Bastille Day Celebrations (Animated) theme. Which theme did you like the most out of the ones that are listed below? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Binod] OreoUI | Paid

[Binod] PandimUI | Paid

[WHL] Geometry | Paid

Bastille Day Celebrations (Animated) | Paid

Benqing | Paid

Benyue | Paid

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SamMobile Daily Recap: July 13, 2017 — Galaxy Note 8, 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 went out today.

Business

Samsung Electronics stock hits new highs on record earnings forecast

Display

World’s first Cinema LED display unveiled by Samsung

Firmware News

Sprint’s latest Galaxy S8 firmware update boosts download speeds

General

Samsung starts selling the Ultra-High Quality MS750 Sound+ Soundbar

Opinion

Here’s one feature that keeps Samsung’s budget phones ahead of the competition

Phones

Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ US launch possible soon

Did Samsung just tease the Galaxy Note 8?

Galaxy Note 8 protective screen cover surfaces online again

Google Play Movies & TV now supports HDR playback on the Galaxy S8

Watches

Samsung’s upcoming fitness tracker passes through FCC

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Samsung’s upcoming fitness tracker passes through FCC

Samsung was pretty confident in the wearable devices segment. It was one of the first big-name electronics brands to jump onto the smartwatch and fitness tracker bandwagon. It released various Tizen-based smartwatches and fitness trackers over the past few years. Last year, it launched the Gear S3 and the Gear Fit 2. Now, the company seems to be working on a slightly improved variant of the Gear Fit 2.

Samsung’s new wearable (most probably a fitness tracker) devices with model number SM-R365 passed through FCC certification yesterday. It could be called Gear Fit 2 Pro when it launches. Going by its model number and its overall design, it is most probably a slightly improved version of the Gear Fit 2 (SM-R360). It features single-band Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2 LE. It also comes with an optical heart rate monitor, similar to all other Gear Fit devices.

Nothing much is known about the devices right now, but we will report back soon as soon as we get to know more about the fitness tracker.

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Did Samsung just tease the Galaxy Note 8?

There have already been countless rumors and leaks concerning the Galaxy Note 8’s design. From what we know so far, the Galaxy Note 8 is basically going to be a stretched out version of the Galaxy S8. That’s not a bad thing, considering the fact that Samsung has really pushed the envelope on design with its 2017 flagship.

Many renders and components have surfaced online over the past couple of months claiming to give us a glimpse at the new handset. None have been verified by an official source, however, so it’s unclear how close they are to the real deal.

Something interesting has happened today, though. The official Twitter account for Samsung Exynos has tweeted out a mockup that appears to be remarkably similar to what the Galaxy Note 8 is going to look like.

The subject of the tweet is Samsung’s Exynos 8895 processor. It’s Samsung’s flagship processor at this point in time and already powers the Galaxy S8. The Exynos 8895 will be present inside the Galaxy Note 8 as well.

It’s a mockup after all, seeing as how the device we see in this image doesn’t even have a power button, but it appears to be quite similar to what the Galaxy Note 8 might look like.

This begs the question, did Samsung just subtly tease the Galaxy Note 8 here? Let us know when you think in the comments section below.

Thanks, Henk!

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Here’s one feature that keeps Samsung’s budget phones ahead of the competition

In the budget smartphone space, Samsung lost the specs race a long time ago. The emergence of Chinese manufacturers offering low-cost phones with impressive specs in recent years has made Samsung’s budget phones far less attractive as far as the value-for-money factor is concerned. Samsung’s phones continue to sell well, but the company’s popularity and the promise of higher product quality are the major factors that help the company move budget devices from retail shelves, especially in markets like China and India where Chinese manufacturers have taken over the smartphone market by storm. But, even with all the high-end specs and features offered by the competition to consumers on a budget, there’s one feature that is keeping Samsung’s phones ahead of the pack: AMOLED displays.

Samsung brought AMOLED displays to its budget lineup with the original Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 and even managed to offer an AMOLED display on two Tizen handsets (the Z1 and Z3), which cost much less than the J series phones. The company has moved away from putting AMOLED displays on devices that sit below the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 in the Galaxy lineup, but the fact remains that there is barely any competing device in the same price range as the J series handsets that give consumers the same visual experience as Samsung’s AMOLED screens. Not all Galaxy J series devices have Full HD panels, meaning they aren’t always as sharp as the displays on competing phones, but in many cases, the vivid colors and deep blacks more than make up for the slightly lower resolution.

Some might argue that a phone’s display isn’t the only thing that makes it an attractive purchase, and they would be right. The display, however, is the first thing consumers see when they check out a smartphone. While some competing devices might have high-quality LCD displays, AMOLED displays manage to stand out, and the metal bodies on Samsung’s newest J series handsets only add to the overall appeal. That, for many prospective customers, is a major reason why Samsung’s budget phones – at least the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 – are the best pick among a sea of smartphones with better specs and value-for-money.

What do you think? Do you agree that Samsung’s AMOLED displays make a compelling case for the company’s budget phones like the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Daily Deal: Take 20% off a second-generation SmartThings Hub

You can currently pick up a second-generation SmartThings Hub, which allows users to connect a whole host of appliances in their house to the internet, from Amazon for $79.98 (20% off)

To take advantage of this promotion, hit the Buy Now button below. Unfortunately, Amazon only has a limited amount of inventory available and once it’s gone, it’s gone — so you should probably act fast.

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Exclusive: Samsung working on a news app with support for podcasts

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23. The device is expected to feature an Infinity Display that’s slightly larger than the one on the Galaxy S8+. The phablet might also feature a dual-camera setup. Apart from the phone, the company also seems to be working on a new app, which might be released with the Galaxy Note 8.

According to the information we’ve received from trusted sources, Samsung is working on a news app called News Today. It supports podcasts, so users can search and subscribe to various podcast providers and channels. The app will also support Bixby Voice commands, so users can simply ask Bixby to play a particular podcast while they’re getting ready to work or when they’re traveling.

Currently, Samsung’s competitors Apple and Google have their own apps dedicated to news and podcasts. Samsung ships some of its phones with Flipboard-powered news section (or UPDAY in some markets) that is a part of the app launcher. The new app might also be used in the company’s upcoming Bixby-powered wireless speaker, similar to how one can listen to podcasts using Google Home.

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Google Play Movies & TV now supports HDR playback on the Galaxy S8

Google Play Movies & TV now supports HDR playback on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, but the feature is currently only available in Canada and the United States. Although, the firm is planning to expand compatibility to more regions — including India and the United Kingdom — in the coming weeks.

According to Google, any film that’s available in a 4K resolution can also be viewed in HDR. Don’t get too excited, though. Recently, the firm’s taken a lax approach to refreshing its library, with the latest titles on the list including Batman v Superman, Mad Max: Fury Road and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

If you reside in either of the aforementioned countries and own a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, we’d recommend renting a copy of Batman v Superman from Play Movies and TV for a few bucks, so you can experience the crisp colors that the edge-to-edge Infinity Display has to offer.

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Samsung starts selling the Ultra-High Quality MS750 Sound+ Soundbar

Samsung unveiled the MS750 Sound+ Soundbar back in January this year. It’s the flagship soundbar from Samsung this year which vertically expands the sound stage and provides a deeper sense of immersion from a single unit.

The MS750 Sound+ boasts features like distortion cancelling, ultra-high quality audio, multi-speaker control and a wide-range tweeter. It’s available for purchase in the United States starting today.

Jim Kiczek, vice president of Digital Audio/Video Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, says that the MS750 Sound+ Soundbar provides a sweet spot no matter where the user sits. Samsung’s patented distortion technology makes all the difference in providing a truly immersive audio experience.

This 5-channel soundbar has 11 speaker units that have dedicated amplifiers. It also features three wide-range tweeters, six woofers and two vertical wide-range tweeters. The depth and coverage of the soundbar’s bass is enhanced by simultaneous multi-array performance and long-excursion technology.

UHD upscaling functionality is present onboard with Ultra High Quality 32-bit audio support. The Smart Sound Mode automatically identifies content as Movie, Voice, Music or Sports to effectively optimize any scene’s sound effects. Samsung’s Multiroom app can be used to stream music wirelessly in HD quality.

The MS750 can be mounted directly to a Samsung TV for an integrated look and can be powered by a single cord used for both the TV and the soundbar.

Samsung is now selling the MS750 Sound+ Soundbar for $499.99.

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Samsung Electronics stock hits new highs on record earnings forecast

Samsung Electronics stock has been performing spectacularly over the past year as the company’s turnaround story has proven to be one for the history books. Even when there was much uncertainty on the company’s leadership front investors were still pushing the stock to new highs.

Now that the company has forecasted record earnings, investors are more bullish on the stock than ever before. No wonder why the Samsung Electronics stock price has reached a new all-time high. The year-to-date return on Samsung Electronics stock currently stands at 40.29 percent. That’s impressive, to say the least.

The company’s stock hit an all-time high of 2,541,000 won or $2,232 during early morning trading today. The trend has been on the upside in recent days so it has not at all been surprising to see the stock break the 2.5 million won mark for the first time ever.

The positive trigger comes from Samsung’s earnings guidance for the second quarter of this year. It has predicted consolidated sales of 60 trillion won or $53 billion with an operating profit of 14 trillion won or $12.1 billion.

These figures are going to make Samsung the most profitable technology company in the world in Q2 2017. It will overtake Apple in operating profit for the first time ever.

It will be far ahead of the major tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix who posted $11.15 billion in operating profit combined in the previous quarter.

As I mentioned, this is proving to be one for the history books.

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Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ US launch possible soon

We reported last month that it was possible that Samsung could start selling the Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the United States. We had come across a render back then which suggested that this popular color option would be making its way to the United States.

Samsung’s new flagship smartphone is only being sold in Midnight Black, Arctic Silver and Orchid Gray colors at this point in time. Samsung has not yet confirmed officially if it’s going to expand the color options to include Coral Blue.

According to a new report, Best Buy is going to launch the Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the United States soon, perhaps as early as later today. The retailer will reportedly be offering this color option with both locked and unlocked versions of the flagship.

The carrier-locked options are said to include Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. The unlocked model has previously been available in the Midnight Black color only so a new color option will certainly be a welcome addition.

Best Buy hasn’t confirmed the release date as yet but apparently, it’s telling stores to start selling the devices upon arrival and that’s expected to happen later today.

We’ll update you once the retailer starts selling them. Really, though, shouldn’t Samsung make all color variants of its smartphones available at launch?

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World’s first Cinema LED display unveiled by Samsung

Samsung, a world leader in the display market, today unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first Cinema LED display. The company has installed the first ever commerical Cinema LED display at the Lotte Cinema World Tower in South Korea.

It has been designed has an HDR-compatible theater screen. Samsung says that the Cinema LED Screen creates a more vibrant viewing experience courtesy of its next-generation picture quality and enhanced audio which is the result of a collaboration between Harman Professional Solutions and Samsung Audio Lab.

“Through sharper and more realistic colors, complementary audio and an elevated presentation, our Cinema LED Screen makes viewers feel as if they are part of the picture,” said HS Kim, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.

The Cinema LED display from Samsung stretches almost 10.3 or 33.8ft wide and can adopt a variety of theater configurations. It brings High Dynamic Range support to the big screen at 4K resolution and peak brightness levels of 146fL which is almost 10 times greater than current projector technologies can muster.

To create an equally stunning audio experience, Samsung has paired the display with audio technologies from JBL by Harman. With the speakers bordering the screen, the proprietary audio processing technology and JBL’s Sculpted Surround system it’s capable of creating an unparalleled sound experience.

Samsung’s Cinema LED display may eventually make its way to theaters across the globe in the future.

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Galaxy Note 8 protective screen cover surfaces online again

Another day, another Galaxy Note 8 leak. More specifically, another leak of the handset’s protective screen cover, which essentially looks like a Galaxy S8+ that’s been stretched diagonally, complete with mind-bogglingly thin bezels.

Reportedly measuring in at 162.4 x 74.5 x 9.5mm, the Galaxy Note 8 is slightly larger and thicker than the Galaxy S8+, presumably to account for the larger Infinity Display, S Pen storage compartment and dual-camera module.

Eager to push the boundaries from all angles, Samsung is said to have bundled some impressive internals on the Galaxy Note 8, including an Exynos 8895/Snapdragon 835 processor, at least 6GB of RAM and a 3,300mAh battery.

Aside from the 6.3-inch edge-to-edge Infinity Display, the main reason you’re going to want to pick up the Galaxy Note 8 is for its camera. As we said earlier, it’s a dual-sensor setup, expected to comprise of two 13MP lenses (RGB and monochrome).

Read more: Galaxy Note 8’s dual-camera rumored to be better than others

The talk of the town no doubt is the price tag the Galaxy Note 8 is rumored to carry. According to Evan Blass, the handset will cost more than $1,000, which is a lot of money to spend on a smartphone, regardless of how impressive it is.

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Sprint’s latest Galaxy S8 firmware update boosts download speeds

Sprint, the fourth largest mobile carrier in the United States, has released a new firmware update for the Galaxy S8. The purpose of this update appears to be boosting download speeds on the handset. According to reports, download speeds on the Galaxy S8 have been boosted by at least 20 percent.

The improvement has been made possible with a bug fix. The Galaxy S8 apparently had a bug in the Snapdragon 835 processor’s radio code which caused the handset to jump off of the carrier’s Band 41 LTE network sooner than it should have. Since the handset was jumping off of the faster band, it was reverting to the slower bands 25 and 26.

“There was a miscalculation in the software that was reading the device, so it tuned away from Band 41 before it should,” said Ryan Sullivan, vice president of product engineering and development at Sprint.

Sullivan says that this update has been released for both Sprint-branded and unlocked Galaxy S8 handsets in the United States. Average LTE download speeds following the update have jumped by almost 20 percent, from 21.9Mbps to 26.4Mbps.

Customers who are using their unlocked and off-contract Galaxy S8 handsets on Sprint will notice the improvement as well. He mentions that 85 percent of Galaxy S8 owners on Sprint have already received this update.

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