Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) specifications and pictures leaked

As we draw close to the end of 2017, leaks and rumors about Samsung’s 2018 line up of devices are coming thick and fast. After the A8 (2018) and A8+ (2018) leaks prior to their announcement couple of days back, now it’s the Galaxy J2 (2018) which has been leaked before its official announcement.

German Site winfuture.de has posted official images and specifications of the Galaxy J2 (2018). Looking at the pictures and the specifications, the Galaxy J2 (2018) seems to be a minor upgrade to the current Galaxy J2 (2017)

A minor upgrade

According to the leak, the Galaxy J2 (2018) will launch under the model number SM-J250. The device will have a plastic build and weigh around 153 grams. It will have a 5-inch SuperAMOLED display with an unimpressive resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. Unlike the Galaxy A8 2018 series, the Galaxy J2 (2018) will stick to the old 16:9 display ratio, and will have the usual capacitive buttons on the front.

Under the hood, it will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core SoC with four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.4 GHz. It will also feature 1.5GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory along with a dedicated microSD card slot.

On the connectivity front, it will be a dual-sim phone with dedicated sim slots and Cat.4 LTE with speeds up to 150 Mbit/s. It will come with Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11n WLAN. Imaging needs will be handled by an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera with flash on both sides.

The phone will be powered by a removable 2600mAh battery with a microUSB port for charging. It will launch with the “outdated” Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Given the low-end specifications, it would have been better if Samsung opted for Android Oreo Go Edition but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

The device is expected to launch in the coming weeks and is targeted at the developing countries. The leak says the device will be launched in Russia for under 8,000 Rubles which translates to around $136.

With brands like Xiaomi posting triple-digit growth rates by offering exceptional value for money products in key markets, it remains to be seen if the Samsung Galaxy J series can continue to drive growth with low-end specifications and minor upgrades.

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Samsung launches world’s first LTE-R network for high speed train line in Korea

Samsung is up to it’s pioneering ways again, this time in the form LTE-R. Samsung has partnered with telecom firm KT to launch and enable the world’s first LTE-R network for the new Wonju-Gangneung high-speed train line in Korea which covers a span 120 kilometers and travels up to 250km/hour.

LTE-R is live in Korea

Back in 2015, Samsung was selected as the LTE-R supplier for five projects, and two years later, here we are. Earlier this year in April, we saw the deployment of the network for the Busan Metro line in Korea’s second largest city covering 40 stations.

This next-generation communications technology enables high-speed wireless voice and data communications from inside trains, between trains and from train to ground. It will also power mission-critical communications between train personnel and control centers with improved stability.

Samsung has also developed a rugged smartphone (SM-G888NO) for train personnel as part of this critical communications system. This model number had been previously mistaken for the Galaxy X foldable smartphone Samsung purportedly plans on launching.

All in all, Samsung has now completed two of the five projects it accepted responsibility for, and it’s already working on deploying the network for the line between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station in the center of the capital.

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Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) release date confirmed

It has only been a few days since Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018). We’ve already confirmed the price tags for these new premium mid-range handsets. Samsung has now revealed when the devices are going to be released.

Pricing and availability will vary by market. Samsung has only confirmed the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) release date for Vietnam at this point in time.

Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) release date

We’ve previously reported that the Galaxy A8 is going to cost €499 and the Galaxy A8+ (2018) is going to cost €599. These are the price tags for Europe. The handset is going to be similarly priced in other markets across the globe.

At the launch event for these handsets in Vietnam, Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) will cost 10,990,000VND ($483) and 13,490,000VND ($593) respectively.

The company has started taking pre-orders for the handset from customers in Vietnam. It confirmed at the event that the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) will be released in the country on January 6, 2018.

Samsung’s regional arms should start confirming the pricing and availability information for their respective markets in the near future. We can expect the handset to be out in several markets across the globe in January.

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Samsung releases a short film to showcase their Relúmĭno app

Samsung has released today a short film titled “Two Lights: Relúmĭno”. The film which features Korean actress Han Ji Min. and K-pop star and actor Park Hyungsik as the main characters, is produced by the Korean film director and screenwriter, Hur Jin-ho.

The film is aimed at showcasing Relúmĭno, Samsung’s visual aid application for people with visual impairments. Relúmĭno is an app developed by a team at Samsung’s in-house incubator program named C-Lab. The app uses Gear VR to assist visually-impaired people by enhancing their vision to overcome everyday challenges.

Helping near-blind and visually impaired people to see things better

Relúmĭno uses Vision Assistive Technology which processes images taken by the camera of a smartphone. It then improves viewing conditions by compensating through edge enhancement, text enhancement, contrast enhancement, distorted image correction and blind spot remapping.

It allows for partial vision restoration. Clinical tests performed earlier this year showed a significant improvement of visual acuity and faster reading speed.

The film tells the story of Sooyoung and Insoo, two young visually-impaired people who meet at a photography club. They grow closer to each other as they learn to take their own photos. Relúmĭno helps them in the end bringing closure to a moving story.

According to Samsung, the film “was inspired by the fact that about 86 percent of visually impaired people worldwide have low vision, and that they may experience unnecessary inconveniences as a result”.

Relúmĭno was showcased at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona this year. Our hands-on time with the app left us impressed with the idea and the implementation.

You can check the short film below.

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Samsung India’s mobile revenue up by 27%

As per a report in Economic Times, Samsung India’s mobile revenues have registered a growth of 27% for the financial year ending March 2017. During the year, Samsung India clocked a total revenue of INR 57,000 crore (~$8.9 billion) – an increase of 20% year-on-year.

Samsung India’s mobile revenues which account for 60% of the total revenue stood at around INR 34,000 crore (~$8.9 billion) – an increase of 27% year-on-year. The total revenue growth is marginally better than the 19% growth rate at INR 47,000 crore (~$8.9 billion) for the financial year ending March 2016.

Revenues up even as the competition increases

What makes the growth rate impressive is the fact that financial year ending March 2017 includes the turbulent period of Galaxy Note 7 which hurt Samsung financially.

The ET report mentions an estimated loss of revenue of up to INR 6,500 crore (~$1 billion) due to the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. The growth in revenues is attributed to local manufacturing, which helps Samsung save on taxes and duties, and expansion of retail presence, which helps Samsung fight the onslaught of online-only brands.

This news comes in the backdrop of Xiaomi’s explosive growth. In October, Counterpoint Research data showed that while Samsung maintained its lead in India in Q3 2017, Xiaomi was at a striking distance to take the top position from Samsung. Later in November, the Q3 2017 data from IDC showed that both Samsung and Xiaomi were tied at 23.5 percent market share each in the Indian smartphone market.

It is worth pointing out that the above revenue growth doesn’t include the last two quarters where Xiaomi has made huge gains in market share. Despite Xiaomi’s impressive growth, Samsung is confident of maintaining the revenue growth in the current financial year.

One factor which might go in Samsung’s favor is that the Indian smartphone market is still growing, and thus might offer enough opportunities for more than one company to grow. It is not necessary that the growth of Xiaomi must come at the expense of Samsung.

To put matters into perspective, during the same period, Xiaomi in India saw sales increase by 700% to INR 8,379.3 crore (~$1.3 billion). For the current financial year, Xiaomi expects to cross $2 billion in revenues which represents an increase of 53.8% in revenue. With Xiaomi making huge inroads into the Indian market, it remains to be seen if Samsung can retain the growth rate both in terms of sales and profits.

Any increase in revenue but loss of market share can also mean that Samsung is able to sell more of its expensive models compared to the mid-range or budget phones – a situation somewhat similar to Apple. It is worth mentioning here that Samsung’s flagship phones might be slightly more expensive in India now as the duty on imported phones has been increased recently by the Indian Government.

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Samsung launches an integrated research organization for future innovation

Samsung today announced that it has reorganized its Software R&D center and Digital Media & Communications R&D center into a new entity called Samsung Research. This new entity is going to function as an integrated research and development organization for Samsung’s IT and Mobile business as well as its Consumer Electronics business.

Samsung Research is a global entity and it’s going to operate 22 research and development centers across the globe with a staff of 20,000. It’s going to lead future innovation efforts for the company. It will also explore and create new business possibilities.

Chasing leadership in future innovation

Samsung says that it’s doing this to ensure that Samsung continues to lead the industry conversation in key areas of future innovation. Samsung Research will prioritize the maturation and advancement of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies.

Hyun-suk Kim, the president and head of Samsung Research, detailed the vision of this new entity at a recent event. He emphasized to the staff that they will play a vital role in ensuring that Samsung Research achieves its goal to “shape the future with innovation and intelligence.”

“Starting now, Samsung Research will drive the most advanced technological leadership and innovation based on AI technologies to realize the future that everyone dreams of, with the most talented people in the world,” he said.

The entity will instill a development culture where the staff encourages one another in creativity as well as participate in the development process.

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Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ receive December patch on T-Mobile

T-Mobile has started rolling out a new firmware update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on its network. The carrier has released the December security patch for both handsets. Samsung detailed the latest security patch a couple of weeks ago and the Galaxy A5 (2016) was the first handset to receive it.

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners on T-Mobile are now receiving the December security patch on their handsets. It won’t be long before it goes live for users in all regions.

December update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

T-Mobile is now rolling out firmware version G950USQS2BQL1 and G955USQS2BQL1 for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ respectively. The update files weigh in at 130MB.

Users shouldn’t expect much in the way of new features with this update. It’s a minor security maintenance release which just brings the latest patch for these handsets.

The December security patch fixes 11 critical vulnerabilities that were discovered in the Android operating system. It also patches 10 vulnerabilities found in Samsung’s own software.

Samsung has gradually been rolling out the latest security patch to supported devices. The patch has already been released for the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 series handsets in select markets across the globe.

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Samsung’s fourth-quarter operating profit estimates slashed yet again

Samsung has had a pretty good year despite the legal troubles of its leader. The company posted record profits in the second and third quarters of this year. It’s actually on track for a record full-year profit. However, market analysts are now predicting lower profits for Samsung in the fourth quarter of this year.

Two more analysts have slashed their estimates for Samsung’s fourth-quarter operating profit as concerns about the semiconductor industry’s growth mount.

Samsung’s fourth-quarter operating profit

Samsung’s share price dipped three weeks ago when Morgan Stanley cut its recommendation on Samsung. It justified the move by pointing out that NAND prices have started to reverse this quarter and that the memory chip demand will peak soon.

Samsung’s semiconductor business has been the true cash cow in the past two quarters. Falling revenues for this division will result in an impact on the overall operating profit of the conglomerate.

HI Investment & Securities Co. has cut its Q4 2017 operating profit estimate for Samsung by 4.8 percent to $14.5 billion. Analysts at Korea Investment Holdings Co. have slashed their estimates by 7.8 percent for the same figure.

Data compiled by Bloomberg shows that six investment firms have lowered their estimates for Samsung’s Q4 2017 operating profit in the past four weeks.

Samsung hasn’t responded to any of this as yet. The situation will be clear when it releases the official earnings guidance for this quarter in the coming weeks.

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