Samsung’s smart speaker will be launched in the first half of next year

It was rumored earlier this year that Samsung will enter the smart speaker market with a Bixby-powered product in the near future. The company confirmed four months ago that it’s working on such a product and that it would be launched “soon.” According to a new report, Samsung is aiming to launch its Bixby-powered smart speaker in the first half of next year.

Samsung’s smart speaker

Citing people briefed on the company’s plans, Bloomberg reports that Samsung will launch its smart speaker in the first half of 2018. The device will reportedly have a strong focus on audio quality and the management of connected home devices like smart lights and locks.

Bixby, Samsung’s AI-powered virtual private assistant, will be present on the device to rival similar products that run other assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. The smart speaker will reportedly also synchronize with other Samsung devices like TVs and smartphones.

One source mentioned that Samsung is still working on improving the speaker’s ability to conduct web searches based on voice commands. A prototype version that’s being tested is said to be the size of the latest Echo speaker from Amazon. The device may be offered in multiple colors but the prototype is sporting a matte black finish.

Samsung is thinking about launching the device in multiple markets by the first half of next year and is thinking about a price point of around $200. The pricing and release plans are said to be fluid which means that they might change.

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Galaxy S9 launch expected at MWC 2018

Samsung did not unveil the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year. It conducted a separate launch event for the flagship handsets in New York on March 29. Samsung was expected to conduct a separate event for the Galaxy S9 as well after MWC 2018 but this may not be the case. According to a new report out of South Korea, Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S9 at MWC 2018.

Galaxy S9 launch date

Mobile World Congress 2018 is going to take place from February 26 through March 1 in Barcelona. Samsung has used this stage in the past to unveil new handsets so it won’t be surprising if the Galaxy S9 is unveiled at MWC 2018.

The Galaxy S8 was released in mid-April after its launch. Samsung is reportedly going to launch the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ at MWC 2018 because it wants to have the handset out by mid-March. Releasing it one month sooner than its predecessor will enable the company to offer another flagship to customers who may be considering a move to the iPhone X.

Some reports even suggested that Samsung wanted to launch the handset before MWC 2018. However, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ continue to sell well against the iPhone X so there’s no need for the company to rush its new flagship out the door.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything about its Galaxy S9 launch plans as yet so take this information with a bit of salt for now. Do keep in mind that these leaks talk about the dates in the local timezome. So it’s quite possible that it might be the evening of February 26 in Barcelona when Samsung unveils the Galaxy S9.

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SamMobile Daily Recap: December 14, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy S9 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 we covered today.

Firmware News

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge December security patch update is rolling out

Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta 4 rolling out now

General

Samsung to work with IBM on quantum computing

Laptops

Samsung launches new Notebook 9 (2018) and the Notebook 9 Pen

Phones

Fresh Galaxy S9 renders hint at minor design tweaks

Samsung’s smartphone growth predicted to stall in 2018

The Galaxy S9 may not have notably reduced front bezels after all

Themes

Themes Thursday: Here are this week’s hottest themes

Wallpapers

Download the official Galaxy A8+ and Galaxy J2 2018 wallpapers here

The post SamMobile Daily Recap: December 14, 2017 — Android 8.0 Oreo, Galaxy S9 and more! appeared first on SamMobile.

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Themes Thursday: Here are this week’s hottest themes

It’s Thursday, which means that it’s time for another exciting  edition of our weekly Themes Thursday segment. This week, a number of new themes found their way onto the Galaxy Apps Store. Unfortunately, they aren’t all worth of your attention, because the majority are priced too high.

Check out three of the best new themes below:

Card Black

OxyOS

Pixeled

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Fresh Galaxy S9 renders hint at minor design tweaks

It appears that Samsung might not make major changes to the Galaxy S9’s design despite earlier reports. We reported earlier today that the Galaxy S9 may not have notably reduced front bezels as previously expected. Some fresh Galaxy S9 renders have surfaced online now which suggest something similar. The Galaxy S9 is going to look quite similar to its predecessor.

Fresh Galaxy S9 renders

The CAD-based renders have been leaked by @OnLeaks who has a solid track record. The renders show that the Galaxy S9 will look quite similar to the Galaxy S8. Since the aspect ratio is expected to remain the same as well, both devices will be nearly from the front.

The only major design change will be at the back where the fingerprint sensor will be repositioned underneath the camera lens. The current placement of the sensor has been a pain point for quite a lot of users so Samsung seems to be addressing the issue. The heart rate sensor might also be relocated to the right side of the primary camera module.

Other than that, the USB Type-C port, volume buttons, power and Bixby buttons, speaker and headphone jack will be in the same positions as before.

Since Samsung doesn’t seem to be doing much on the design front, one can only hope that it improves the internals, software and features significantly to justify the purchase of another almost $1,000 smartphone for customers.

With its smartphone shipments already predicted to stall next year, it will really have to make the Galaxy S9 worth their hard-earned money.

The post Fresh Galaxy S9 renders hint at minor design tweaks appeared first on SamMobile.

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Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta 4 rolling out now

We reported yesterday that Samsung might release the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta 4 in the very near future. That’s precisely what the company is doing today in the United Kingdom. It’s only a matter of time before the beta is released in other supported markets. Samsung is now rolling out software version ZQL8 to eligible Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ handsets in the United Kingdom. The fourth Android 8.0 Oreo beta update weighs in at 850MB.

Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta 4

The official changelog contains an extensive list of bugs that have been fixed in this update. It also mentions that the excessive battery consumption bug has been fixed as well. Sync errors with Samsung Cloud have been addressed and the device will no longer reboot sometimes during idle. It won’t vibrate randomly as well.

Some reports mention that the handset prompts users to wipe the data on their device after installing the update. If that’s something you want to avoid, better make a backup or avoid installing the latest beta altogether.

Samsung is still yet to confirm when the final release of Android 8.0 Oreo is going to take place for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. A Samsung rep recently said that it might be released either by the end of next month or in early February.

There’s still no clarity on whether there’s going to be a second phase of the beta which should see it being launched in markets like India.

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Download the official Galaxy A8+ and Galaxy J2 2018 wallpapers here

We have extensively covered Samsung’s upcoming A series handsets. It’s only a matter of time before Samsung announces them officially. We can now share with you the official wallpapers of the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+. Yes, that’s what the upcoming devices are going to be called. We’re also throwing in the official wallpapers of the Galaxy J2 2018 for good measure.

Download official Galaxy A8+ and Galaxy J2 2018 wallpapers

The Galaxy A8 was initially known by its model code SM-A530F. It was expected to be launched as the Galaxy A5 (2018). Samsung is taking a different approach this time around with the name for its mid-range lineup.

Likewise, the handset that was previously believed to be the Galaxy A7 (2018) will be launched as the Galaxy A8+. We recently reported that the flagship handset of this new series is going to be offered in three RAM and storage variants.

Both handsets will have the metal and glass build for a premium look and feel. They will also be at least IP68 water resistant and feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

The official wallpapers for the Galaxy A8 can be found here. The wallpapers for the Galaxy J2 2018 are also available for download from our wallpaper section.

Samsung #GalaxyA8 / #GalaxyA8+ http://pic.twitter.com/nJeRXt6eWp

— SamMobile (@SamMobiles) December 13, 2017

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Rumor: The Galaxy S9 may not have notably reduced front bezels after all

Well, here’s something to put a damper on our excitement for a Galaxy S9 with crazy small bezels. Ice Universe, the Twitter and Weibo leaker who has a mostly accurate track record with smartphone leaks, says that Samsung’s improved design for the Galaxy S9, which would have notably reduced the bezel above and below the screen compared to the Galaxy S8, has failed to “pass the test.” This design has apparently been “killed”, and the S9 is now expected to look mostly similar to its predecessor as far as the display and the bezel around it are concerned.

Galaxy S9 front fascia could be similar to the Galaxy S8’s

Now, there was never any solid proof that the Galaxy S9’s screen-to-body ratio would surpass anything else that’s on the market, which is why we passed it off as a rumor back then. It’s also been said the aspect ratio on the S9 and S9+ displays would remain the same as seen on the Galaxy S8 and S8+, so it’s not surprising to hear that Samsung may be sticking to a similar design this time around. The back of the phone, then, is where the major changes would happen, including a re-positioning of the fingerprint sensor and two cameras instead of one for at least the plus-sized model.

However, there’s a chance Ice Universe could be off the mark with his latest information, although at this point, we have to consider the fact that any new leaks and rumors may be based on the real deal as Samsung has no doubt finalized the design of the phone by now. The S9 may well turn out to be a more polished Galaxy S8, just like the S7 brought improvements to what Samsung had introduced with the Galaxy S6. We’re just going to have to wait and see to get a clearer picture of the Korean giant’s upcoming flagship(s).

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Samsung to work with IBM on quantum computing

IBM launched its IBM Q initiative not too long ago. It’s the first initiative of its kind in the industry to build commercially available universal quantum computers for business and science applications. Samsung is one of the first clients to tap into the IBM Q quantum computing systems to explore practical applications of the technology.

Samsung is now a part of the IBM Q Network which includes other Fortune 500 companies like JPMorgan Chase, Diamler AG, Barclays and Honda. The network will work directly with IBM to advance quantum computing.

Samsung and quantum computing

Quantum computers are different from conventional digital electronic computers that are based on transistors, they’re the ones that we use on a daily basis. Quantum computing is done using quantum-mechanical phenomena. Data is not encoded into binary digits or bits. Quantum computing requires quantum bits which can be in superpositions of states.

Samsung is going to explore the use of quantum computing to research a variety of use cases in which this technology may impact the future of the semiconductor and electronics industry. With Samsung’s increasing focus on further cementing its position as a dominant player in the semiconductor market, it makes perfect sense for the company to explore this advanced technology.

“By joining the IBM Q Network and having access to quantum systems and world-class expertise, we hope to take part in unveiling the unexplored potential of quantum computing and pave a road forward for future commercial applications,” said Seongjun Park, the VP of Samsung’s Advanced Institute of Technology.

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Samsung’s smartphone growth predicted to stall in 2018

Samsung had a record-breaking year but it wasn’t entirely because of its mobile business. The business continues to face tough challenges in key challenges. US research firm Strategy Analytics now predicts that these challenges might cause Samsung’s smartphone growth to stall in the coming year.

It predicts that Samsung’s smartphone sales are going to see the slowest growth in 2018 among the top five global smartphone vendors. Samsung’s overall market share is expected to dip below 20 percent.

Samsung’s growth woes

Strategy Analytics expects Samsung to ship over 319 million smartphones in 2017 which would give it a global market share of 20.5 percent. It expects shipments to fall to 315 million units next year, accounting for a 19.2 percent market share.

The prediction is based on stronger competition from Apple’s flagship smartphones while China-based vendors will continue to put pressure on Samsung in the low-end and mid-range segments.

If the prediction is true, it will be the first time that Samsung’s annual smartphone shipments register a decline since the Galaxy S series was first launched almost a decade ago. Last year’s debacle with the Galaxy Note 7 is an exception, though.

The other top vendors – Apple, Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi – are all expected to either retain or grow their market shares. Samsung’s mobile division will certainly have to push the envelope if it wants to prevent this from happening.

The company will be counting on the Galaxy S9 for sure. It will also need to up its game in the affordable segment of the market to better compete against its Chinese rivals.

The post Samsung’s smartphone growth predicted to stall in 2018 appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung launches new Notebook 9 (2018) and the Notebook 9 Pen

Samsung today announced the launch of three new versions of the Samsung Notebook 9 (2018). The company has also announced the new Samsung Notebook 9 Pen today. The notebooks aim to provide a computing experience that’s powerful, portable, connected and secure.

“The new Samsung Notebook 9 Pen and enhanced Samsung Notebook 9 (2018) and Samsung Notebook 9 Pen offer our customers premium, powerful and portable devices that provide the tools to securely work from anywhere, breaking the boundaries of previously accepted standards for what a notebook should be,” said YoungGyoo Choi, SVP of Samsung’s PC Business Team.

Samsung Notebook 9 (2018) and Notebook 9 Pen

The Samsung Notebook 9 is available in 13.3-inch and 15-inch sizes. It’s powered by Intel’s 8th Generation Core i7 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. The 15-inch model also features NVIDIA’s GeForce MX150 graphics card.

It features a 75Wh Hexacell battery which is the largest and most powerful battery that Samsung has ever placed inside a notebook. The battery supports fast charging. The Notebook 9 (2018) weighs up to 2.84 pounds and measures 15.4mm, making it one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks in its class.

The Notebook 9 Pen promises flexibility and portability with support for the S Pen. Its premium magnesium aluminum chassis keeps the notebook light at 2.2 pounds while the 360-degree hinge provides enhanced flexibility.

It supports the S Pen which can recognize 4,096 levels of pressure with a fine 0.7mm tip. The Air Command menu launches automatically when the S Pen is removed from the notebook. Both the Notebook 9 (2018) and Notebook 9 Pen feature Windows Hello support for built-in secure authentication using the fingerprint sensor.

The Notebook 9 Pen features a 13-inch display, Intel’s 8th Generation processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It has a 39Wh battery.

Samsung will release the Notebook 9 (2018) and Notebook 9 Pen in South Korea later this month. The notebooks will then be released in the United States in the first quarter of 2018. Samsung will showcase both products at CES 2018 next month.

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Galaxy S7 and S7 edge December security patch update is rolling out

The latest Android security fixes are now making their way to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in a few countries. In North America, it’s Verizon that’s rolling out an update to both the S7 and S7 edge, becoming the first carrier yet again to release the newest security patch for one of Samsung’s smartphones. Germany, meanwhile, is where the international unlocked model has been updated, with more regions no doubt on track for getting the same update in the coming days.

December security patch isn’t taking too long to reach Samsung phones

Is the December security patch rolling out for various Galaxy devices faster than the ones before it? It sure it, and as we’ve said before, it probably has to do with the fact that the December patch doesn’t include security flaws as significant as the ones that were fixed in the October and November patches. Samsung is probably in course correction mode as well, evident by the fact that flagships like the Galaxy Note 8 are getting back on track in terms of software updates.

To see if the new update is available on your S7 or S7 edge, head into the phone’s settings, tap Software update, then tap Download updates manually. We have the full firmware files for the latest build in our database, which you can use to update through a PC. And, well, if you aren’t in a hurry, just leave the phone be and wait for a notification for the update to show up on its own.

Have you received the December security patch update on your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge?

Firmware Details:

Model	SM-G930F
Model name	Galaxy S7
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Version	Android 7.0
Changelist	12365438
Build date	Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:50:47 +0000
Security Patch Level	2017-12-01
Product code	DBT
PDA	G930FXXS1DQL1
CSC	G930FDBT1DQJ1

 

Model	SM-G930V
Model name	Galaxy S7
Country	Select country USA (Verizon) (VZW)
Version	Android 7.0
Changelist	12200908
Build date	Wed, 29 Nov 2017 07:55:25 +0000
Security Patch Level	2017-12-01
Product code	VZW
PDA	G930VVRU4BQK4
CSC	G930VVZW4BQK4

 

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