الخميس، 31 مايو 2018

Samsung seems to have quietly launched the Galaxy J4 in India

We have known for a few months now that Samsung has a couple of new affordable devices up its sleeve and the Galaxy J4 happens to be one of them. Samsung was expected to launch it in India during a press event last week and while the event marked the official launch of the Galaxy J8, Galaxy J6, A6 and Galaxy A6+ in the country, Samsung didn’t say anything about the Galaxy J4.

It appears that the company won’t be making much of a fuss about the launch of this device. Samsung seems to have quietly launched the Galaxy J4 in India through its offline retail partners.

Galaxy J4 quietly launched in India

It’s not like Samsung hadn’t already made this device official. Samsung Pakistan’s website listed it officially last week and revealed all of the details about its specifications and features. Moreover, an online retailer in Ukraine started taking pre-orders for the device a few days ago.

Mahesh Telecom, a local smartphone retailer in India, tweeted today that the Galaxy J4 is now available for purchase in the country. The retailer also tweeted photos of the smartphone’s box which has all of the details about its specifications.

As we had exclusively reported, the Galaxy J4 features a 16:9 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with an Exynos 7570 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also features a 13-megapixel f/1.9 rear and 5-megapixel f/1.9 front camera with flash. There’s a 3,000mAh battery and the handset comes with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

The retailer has also confirmed the price for this device. Customers in India will be able to purchase the Galaxy J4 for Rs. 9,990 or $148. It’s not listed for sale at online retailers like Flipkart or Amazon just yet, though.


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Samsung’s Cinema LED screens will land in India soon

Samsung has been making Cinema LED screens for theatres for some time now. Last month, along with bringing the first Cinema LED screen to the US, Samsung also launched the Onyx brand to sell these theatre screens. Since the initial launch of these screens in July last year, Samsung has already installed these screens in a few theatres around the world. It appears select theatres in India will soon join the list.

A top company executive told IANS that the Onyx Cinema LED screens will launch in India later this year. Samsung has partnered with PVR Cinemas and INOX Group to install the Onyx Cinema LED screens in the country. At first, they will be installed at the PVR multiplexes in Delhi and Mumbai, but Samsung has aggressive plans to expand the availability. The Korean company is hoping to convert at least 20 percent of the total 10,000 cinema screens in India to Onyx Cinema Screens by 2020.

Offers better picture quality

“We first launched the screen in Korea, then we installed it in China, Europe, Thailand and the US. Once users watch content on ‘Onyx’ screen, it would be very difficult for them to switch to conventional projectors in theatres,” Puneet Sethi, VP, Consumer Electronics Enterprise Business, Samsung India, told IANS.

Samsung’s Onyx Cinema screens offer a host of advantages over the current theatre display solutions. They offer better picture quality with deeper blacks and more accurate colors. The screens are versatile as well and can display 2K, 4K, 3D, and HDR images. Samsung also clubs sound solutions from JBL, a brand owned by Samsung subsidiary Harman International, to offer an immersive experience to the viewer irrespective of where he/she is seated.

A report in Business Today mentions that installing an Onyx screen requires an investment of around $600,000 to $800,000 and takes up to 16 weeks from “receiving purchase order to installation.” These screens will reportedly last for 17 years with a screen life of 100,000 hours. The report, however, quotes no source for this information.

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Samsung adds 18 new AR Emoji stickers

Samsung introduced AR Emoji with the Galaxy S9 earlier this year. The feature enables users to create a digital likeness of their face that’s capable of mapping their voice and facial movements. Once the likeness is created, AR Emoji also makes a set of animated stickers that can be used in third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

AR Emoji was capable of making a set of 18 animated stickers from the user’s likeness at launch and Samsung has now announced that it’s expanding this ability by adding 18 new animated expressive stickers to AR Emoji.

New AR Emoji stickers

The AR Emoji feature not only allows users to map their face to their digital likeness, it also offers popular characters from the Disney universe for users to map their faces to. Mickey and Minnie Mouse were initially available and Samsung later added Donald Duck as well. Samsung added the cast of The Incredibles to its library of AR Emoji avatars just a few days ago.

Samsung has doubled the number of animated stickers that are generated automatically whenever an AR Emoji is created. To access the new set of stickers, just update the camera app on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+ from the My apps section of the Galaxy Apps store.

AR Emoji’s library of pre-set expressions is now up to 36 from 18 and Samsung says that it’s going add 18 more expressions in the coming months which will bring the total number of these animated stickers to 54.

These new AR Emoji stickers will be readily available once you download and install the update. They can then be shared directly from the keyboard and can also be copied and pasted from the Gallery app to messaging apps. The GIF posted below shows some of these 18 new AR Emoji stickers in action.

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Galaxy Note 9 release reportedly delayed due to design change

We’ve been hearing reports over the past few weeks that the Galaxy Note 9 release will take place earlier than its predecessor due to Samsung’s accelerated schedule. It was expected that the next flagship phablet may be out by late July or early August.

That may not be the case, though, if a new report out of South Korea is believed. A last minute design change ordered by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will reportedly result in the Galaxy Note 9 release being delayed by two weeks.

Galaxy Note 9 release

It was reported earlier this month that Samsung Display has started mass production of the 6.38-inch display panel for the Galaxy Note 9 in April. This meant that it had started mass production a full two months before it did for the Galaxy Note 8 in 2017.

That report lined up with the expectation that the Galaxy Note 9 release will take place ahead of schedule, not to mention the fact that Samsung already set a precedent this year by releasing the Galaxy S9 a month before the Galaxy S8.

A report out of South Korea now claims that Samsung is reducing the thickness of the display glass by 0.5mm at the last minute on the directions of its Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The display glass is the layer on top of the OLED panel which protects it and also serves as the users’ input source.

The change is believed to be a result of the vice chairman’s recent trip to a smartphone distribution center in China where he played around with Oppo and Vivo handsets that also use Samsung Display’s OLED panels. He found that those handsets felt much better to grip in the hand compared to the Galaxy Note series.

Samsung rarely adjusts the specifications of an upcoming flagship device this close to launch but it’s believed to have made this change for the Galaxy Note 9 on the directions of its vice chairman who wants the display glass on the new flagship to be a bit thinner.

It seems that the Galaxy Note 9’s display glass won’t be as thick as the Galaxy S9. Perhaps Samsung previously opted for the same thickness for the Galaxy Note 9 as well but when the vice chairman looked at some of the competitors’ devices, he felt that Samsung could opt for a thinner display glass to make the device feel more comfortable in the handset.

Given that the Galaxy Note 9 is expected to feature the largest-ever panel size of 6.38-inch, any improvement that makes the handset more comfortable to use will certainly be appreciated by fans.

The Galaxy Note 9 release is now said to be delayed by up to two weeks as the relevant part is modified and tested before mass production. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any of this so far, though.

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Galaxy S7 Oreo update rolling out in various European countries

We have received a number of tips from Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners saying that the Oreo update for the device is available in a number of European countries. The update was released for Nordic countries earlier this week following its debut in the UK and then South Korea, and it is now available in at least Germany, Belgium, and Spain. In Spain, the update seems to be rolling out to only Vodafone-branded models, but it shouldn’t take long before the unlocked versions are updated as well.

Galaxy S7 Oreo update rolling out in more countries

The firmware version for the update is G930FXXU2ERE8, so it is the fixed version of Oreo for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge that Samsung had released after discovering a serious bug in the original version. Hopefully, this also means Samsung will soon be releasing the update globally to Galaxy S7 and S7 edge owners. It’s been a fairly long wait, although that’s not totally surprising as the pace of updates is expected to be slower two years after a flagship has been released. So until the update actually starts rolling out in your country, it’s best not to get too excited.

If you own a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, you can see if Oreo is available for your device by tapping Download updates manually in the Settings » Software update menu. You will also be able to download the complete firmware from our database once the update releases in your country so you can use a PC for the upgrade instead of downloading the update on the phone.

Got the Galaxy S7 Oreo update already? Let us know which country you’re from and how your phone works after installing the update by leaving a comment.

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الأربعاء، 30 مايو 2018

Galaxy A9 Star Lite could be the Galaxy A6 for the Chinese market

Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy A9 Star in China as its latest premium mid-range offering, one with impressive camera specs on both the front and back and an unusual-for-Samsung rear camera design. We have seen plenty of leaks in recent weeks that have given us the lowdown on the Galaxy A9 Star, and now, a leaked poster for the device has made its way online. But what’s interesting here is not the Galaxy A9 Star, but another device in the bottom left corner of the poster, revealing that Samsung may be preparing to launch the Galaxy A6 as the Galaxy A9 Star Lite in China.

Galaxy A6 headed to China as the Galaxy A9 Star Lite

The image isn’t too clear, but the metal body on the device is a dead giveaway that the A9 Star Lite is just a rebadged Galaxy A6. It may have a few changes – most likely upgrades in RAM and storage for a better chance to do well in the competitive Chinese market – but it’s also possible it will retain the exact specifications of the Galaxy A6. That would put it below the Galaxy A9 Star by some margin, what with its regular 16-megapixel front and rear cameras and a smaller display with a lower screen resolution. There won’t be a dedicated Bixby button, either, which would make the virtual assistant much less useful on the Galaxy A6.

The poster also confirms the 24-megapixel front camera on the Galaxy A9 Star, while suggesting that an official reveal is right around the corner. The Galaxy A9 Star should also be launching in a few other South Asian markets, probably those where the Galaxy A6+ wasn’t released given its similarities with the Plus-sized A6.

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Gear S3 update adds ability to answer calls by rotating the bezel

Samsung is rolling out a minor update to the Gear S3 today, adding a nice little use case for the rotating bezel on the watch. The update adds a new accessibility feature that will allow Gear S3 users to accept incoming calls by rotating the bezel. It’s surprising the company never thought of this option before, but it has now, and we are sure Gear S3 owners will welcome the latest update with open arms.

The bezel is even more useful with the update

We haven’t received the update on any of our watches yet, so we’re not exactly sure where the option to answer calls using the bezel would be found. Probably in the Accessibility menu of the watch’s Settings app, under the Vision submenu, since Samsung is calling it a “visual accessibility” feature. It does make sense that the option would have to be manually enabled, as otherwise you might end up accepting a call you don’t want to answer if you manage to move the bezel by mistake (which would be fairly easy if your watch’s bezel ring has lost some of its friction, something that can happen after a few months of regular use).

The update is going out to both the frontier and classic versions of the Gear S3, with firmware versions R770XXU2CRE3 and R760XXU2CRE3 respectively. It’s a 13.65 MB update, and you should be able to download it from the Samsung Gear app on your connected phone or tablet, via the About Gear » Update Gear software menu under the app’s Settings tab. If the app says you’re on the latest version, try again after a little while as the update may take a while to reach all regions.

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[Poll] How happy are you with Samsung?

Samsung’s behavior can sometimes be polarizing for its fans. The company’s loyalists have stuck by it through thick and thin, unfazed by exploding devices and software update regimes that leave a lot to be desired. Others continue to stick by it but begrudgingly and they’re quick to voice their displeasure with Samsung should the opportunity present itself. Some had enough and decided to switch to another brand altogether.

Our readers form the biggest online community of Samsung loyalists and fans. We also have people among our ranks that take issue with the way Samsung does things, be it the company’s haphazard update schedule or its desire to no longer be the first in the world to introduce innovative new technologies.

Vote below in the poll and let us know how happy you are with Samsung and why. If you’re not happy with the company anymore, do let us know in the comments below why that is and what Samsung can do to make you a believer again.

How happy are you with Samsung?

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Galaxy J5 (2017) Oreo update may bump it straight to Android 8.1

Samsung has released Android Oreo for many of its smartphones, flagship and mid-range alike, but they have only been upgraded to version 8.0. It’s yet to upgrade any device to version 8.1 and it appears that Samsung might do that with the Galaxy J5 (2017). This particular mid-range device is yet to receive its Oreo update and there’s some evidence to suggest that when the update does arrive, it will bump up the device straight to Android 8.1 Oreo.

It’s already known that Samsung is going to update its 2017 Galaxy J series to Android Oreo over the summer. The handsets should start receiving the update over the next couple of months in the relevant markets across the globe.

Galaxy J5 (2017) Oreo update might bring version 8.1

There’s some evidence to suggest that when the update finally arrives for the Galaxy J5 (2017), it will upgrade the device straight to Android 8.1 Oreo. A benchmark listing has surfaced on GFXBench revealing that a Galaxy J5 (2017) running Android 8.1 Oreo has been tested. The firmware is identified as “Samsung Android Edition” which can be taken as yet another indication that Samsung wants to bump up this device straight to version 8.1.

History is on the handset’s side as well. Some of you might remember that when the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 (2016) were finally updated to Nougat last year, they got version 7.1.1 even though all of the other Samsung Galaxy smartphones got Android 7.0. Moreover, a GFXBench listing was also our first indication last year that these devices may be bumped up straight to version 7.1.1 of Nougat.

This is why it’s completely within the realm of possibility for the Galaxy J5 (2017) to receive a direct update to Android 8.1 in the coming months. The same will likely be true for the Galaxy J3 (2017) and the Galaxy J7 (2017) as well.

Even though more recent devices like the Galaxy A8 (2018) exist and while they will receive Oreo, certifications suggest that the Galaxy A8 (2018) will also be upgraded to version 8.0.

What’s unclear at this point in time is precisely when Oreo is going to be released for the Galaxy J (2017) handsets. We’ll be the first ones to let you know when Samsung starts rolling it out.

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Galaxy S10 in-display fingerprint sensor has been ‘confirmed’

We have been hearing about Samsung potentially adopting an in-display fingerprint sensor for its flagship smartphones since the past couple of years but the company has yet to do that. Recent reports suggest that Samsung is going to introduce its in-display fingerprint sensor with the Galaxy S10 next year. It’s going to be the company’s 10th anniversary Galaxy S flagship so it’s expected to pull out all the stops for the device.

According to a new report out of South Korea, the in-display fingerprint sensor for the Galaxy S10 is now more or less “confirmed.” The update adds that the ultrasonic display-based fingerprint sensor for the Galaxy S10 will be supplied by Qualcomm.

Qualcomm may supply the in-display fingerprint sensor

It was reported two months ago that Samsung is going to make a final decision on whether or not it will introduce this technology with the Galaxy S10 soon. The impression we get from recent reports is that the company has made a final decision on the matter.

The latest report claims that Samsung has “confirmed” to its industry partners that it has decided to adopt the in-display fingerprint sensor for the Galaxy S10. The display panel will be supplied by Samsung Display whereas Qualcomm is said to be supplying the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

This is the first we’re hearing of Qualcomm being a potential supplier of the sensor as previous reports have claimed that Samsung is developing the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor itself and that it’s going to use the same sensor in devices other than smartphones as well, such as smart home devices, home appliances and even automobiles.

The ultrasonic sensor will be more accurate compared to the optical in-display fingerprint sensor that Chinese manufacturers are using for their smartphones. It works by transmitting an ultrasonic pulse against the finger to map the pores and ridges that are unique to each fingerprint. This lets the sensor collect additional depth data for accurate 3D reproduction of the fingerprint to ensure higher accuracy.

The Galaxy S10 is obviously not going to be out before 2019. It’s believed that the company is going to unveil the device at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in January because it wants to unveil its foldable smartphone at MWC 2019 the following month.

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Samsung Galaxy A6+ initial impressions: An interesting proposition

The Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ are rather odd concoctions, created by Samsung by mixing elements of its mid-range and budget smartphones. The Galaxy A6 and A6+ are also different from each other in more than just battery capacity and screen size. Like the Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy A6+ also has better camera specs. It’s not just a dual camera that the A6+ gets over the A6; it also has a higher megapixel count for the front camera.

At 24 megapixels, it’s the highest-resolution front camera seen on a Samsung phone, but then the company has gone ahead and equipped the A6+ (and the A6) with a microUSB port. That’s just one example of the things the new A series phones have in common with their J series brethren. The other is that metallic unibody, which is exactly the same as seen on last year’s Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7. The chipsets powering these handsets are also not very powerful, with the Galaxy A6 using the Exynos 7870 SoC and the A6+ getting the Snapdragon 450, both of which make do with eight Cortex-A53 cores.

Of course, the fact that the A6 and A6+ are different from any other smartphone in Samsung’s galaxy of phones is what makes them so interesting. And, today, we’re going to be talking about our initial impressions of the Galaxy A6+, which I was able to use for a day or so before making the switch to the Galaxy J6 (read my J6 hands-on experience here).

Samsung Galaxy A6+ initial impressions

Samsung Galaxy A6+ initial impressions: An interesting proposition

The first thought I had on taking the Galaxy A6+ in my hand was that it’s rather big. It’s pretty much the same overall size as the Galaxy A8+, but it’s also a tad taller than the Galaxy S9+. That’s despite the A6+ having a 6-inch display, 0.2 inches smaller than the S9+’. It’s just another reminder that Samsung’s non-flagship phones with Infinity displays have much more bezel than the flagship devices.

It’s one of the reasons why we like the curved edges of the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices, as they at least allow the side bezels to practically disappear. Not so on the mid-range and budget devices. The phone is also slippery because of the metal on the back, though I’ll need a few more days with it to say if it’s a problem in day-to-day usage. As for the fingerprint sensor, it is fairly easy to reach thanks to the vertically aligned cameras, a benefit you may not have on the regular Galaxy A6.

Samsung Galaxy A6+ initial impressions: An interesting proposition

The Full HD+ (2220×1080 pixels) Super AMOLED Infinity display, meanwhile, is pretty good. The colors don’t look too vivid, but that’s probably because everyone here at SamMobile is used to having Samsung’s Super AMOLED displays on most of their phones, making it all look alike after a point. Like the Galaxy J6, the A6+ has the display customization options that we see on flagship Galaxies with Infinity displays, so you should be able to tune the viewing experience to your liking.

Now, about those cameras. While I can’t say how the dual camera on the back performs right now, I did take a couple of selfies and compare them with selfies taken on the Galaxy A8+. The 24-megapixel sensor seems to capture just a tad more detail than the 16 MP camera on the A8+, but the difference isn’t easy to notice unless you zoom in on pictures. Color reproduction seems to be better as well, and the A6+ also produces brighter selfies without notably increasing noise. I’m yet to take selfies in natural light, though, so you will need to wait for our review for a proper verdict on the cameras.

Samsung Galaxy A6+ initial impressions: An interesting proposition

One thing I didn’t like is that the A6+ comes with the camera interface from before the Galaxy S9. The Galaxy J6, for some reason, gets the newer UI. While the changes introduced in the camera app with the Galaxy S9 aren’t all for the better, it does result in software inconsistency that we thought Samsung had done away with. These devices launched around the same time, so there’s no reason one of them – the costlier one at that – should have to make do with older versions of some proprietary apps.

Our review is coming soon

There’s not much else I can say about the Galaxy A6+ at this point. On paper, it’s somewhat overpriced for what it offers. Missing features like fast charging and a USB Type-C port also make it clear Samsung’s aiming for the lower rung of the mid-range segment. It would be up to the high-resolution cameras, then, to make up for areas in which the A6+ is lacking. Whether that’s the case remains to be seen, so keep an eye out for our full review of the Galaxy A6+ in the coming weeks to see if it provides a real-life experience worthy of its price tag.

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Samsung wins lawsuit on updates against the Dutch Consumers’ Association

A summary lawsuit was filed by the Dutch Consumers’ Association back in 2016 demanding that Samsung provide regular software updates and ensure transparency in the update schedule. The issue was too complex or the legal process adopted then so no judgment was passed in the case. A more comprehensive lawsuit was filed by the association in November 2016 and the matter was taken up for hearing in the District Court of The Hague two months ago.

Samsung told us in a statement that it wasn’t worried about the lawsuit filed by the Dutch Consumers’ Association and that it was looking forward to the verdict of the proceedings on merits. Its confidence was well placed as Samsung has won the lawsuit on updates against the Dutch Consumers’ Association.

Samsung emerges victorious

The Dutch Consumers’ Association prayed to the court that Samsung be compelled to provide timely updates for a device four years after it’s launched or at least for two years from the date it’s purchased by a customer. The association had failed to demonstrate in earlier interlocutory proceedings that concrete security breaches existed in Android which had put Samsung users at risk because the company didn’t send out updates in a timely fashion. All of the association’s claims were previously rejected by the court.

The District Court of The Hague has ruled in Samsung’s favor today and said that it’s not possible to determine a reasonable deadline for releasing software updates. It acknowledged that software updates often go through multiple parties such as carriers and chip manufacturers which is what makes it difficult to determine a fixed time period.

Samsung also explained during the proceedings that it was not possible to put all smartphones through the update process regularly at the same time due to technical considerations and that it sets priorities on the basis of actual threat level instead.

Samsung is obviously happing with the ruling, saying that the verdict underlines that its approach to keeping its smartphones safe works. The Dutch Consumers’ Association isn’t happy about how this has turned out but hasn’t confirmed as yet if it plans on appealing the verdict.

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Galaxy A9 Star certification pictures show off its accessories, Bixby button

Samsung may finally be putting the Bixby button on devices that aren’t flagships. The recently launched Galaxy S Light Luxury has one, and while it’s a Lite version of the Galaxy S8, it still does mark the first time Samsung has put a Bixby button on a non-flagship phone. And, as pictures of the Galaxy A9 Star published by Taiwan’s wireless certification authority (NCC) confirm, the Bixby key will be seen on yet another not-so-high-end Galaxy device. The pictures also give us a nice look at the phone from all sides, in addition to the charger, USB cable, and earphones that will accompany it in the retail box.

Galaxy A9 Star closes in on launch

Samsung seems to have chosen budget earphones for the Galaxy A9 Star instead of the high-quality ones that it used to sell with pre-Galaxy S8 flagships and its mainstream mid-range Galaxy A series phones. Maybe the inclusion of Dolby Atmos is why Samsung thinks the cheaper earphones should suffice, though it could just be a move to keep costs low. The charger is thankfully Fast Charge-enabled, so you get quick charging for that sizable 3,700 mAh battery inside. Last but not the least, there’s a USB Type-C port on this phone, unlike the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+.

Of course, we are also getting to see that new iPhone-style dual camera placement at the back of the A9 Star once again. The phone’s display isn’t on in these pictures, but we have already seen the screen lit up in the hands-on video that leaked yesterday. Also, the A9 Star certified by the NCC has the model number SM-G885Y/DS. That suggests it could make its way to markets other than the ones where we exclusively revealed the device would launch. Not to mention a certification in Taiwan already hints at a wider launch than we currently know about.

In case you missed previous Galaxy A9 Star coverage, the device is expected to feature a Full HD+ 6.28-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display, 4GB for RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a 24-megapixel + 16-megapixel dual camera setup, a 16-megapixel front camera, and Android 8.0 Oreo. Release date and pricing details are unknown right now, but all the leaks suggest it will be unveiled sooner rather than later.

Take a look at all the Galaxy A9 Star pictures below, and tell us what you think of the device down in the comment section.

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Samsung shows off its latest flexible and rollable OLED displays

Samsung is showcasing its OLED technological dominance at the SID DisplayWeek by showing off its latest flexible and rollable OLED displays. A big part of the company’s booth at the trade event is dedicated to its automotive OLED technologies which feature a variety of flexible and rollable OLED displays. The products on display include flexible, transparent, rollable and a lightfield display.

A new range of flexible and rollable OLED displays

Perhaps the most impressive installation at Samsung’s booth was its 14-inch 960×540 rollable OLED panel that has a bending radius of 10R. The impression Samsung seems to be giving off here is that it’s mulling commercializing rollable OLED displays in the not too distant future.

The company also demonstrated its 4.94-inch 360×112 transparent AMOLED panel with a transparency of 44 percent and a 7-inch 1280×800 lightfield display with support for 18 view points through Samsung Display’s binocular disparity vergence motion parallax technology.

For potential automotive customers, Samsung is showcasing its “unbreakable” 6.22-inch 1440×2960 display with an all-plastic design that promises additional durability for an automotive environment.

Samsung also revealed an OLED display that doubles as a speaker for the first time. The technology is similar to LG’s crystal-sound OLEDs. Samsung calls the 6.22-inch 1440×2960 panel its “Sound on display” prototype which was configured as a telephony receiver. That wasn’t the only unorthodox product Samsung Display has at its booth. There’s also one with a force sensor that can work underwater and Samsung is calling it the “Aqua-force” OLED panel. The prototype was a 5.77-inch 1440×2960 panel that can work underwater.

We’ve already reported that Samsung showcased a new 1200 ppi AMOLED display for virtual reality yesterday. It lines up with recent reports that Samsung may be working on a standalone Gear VR headset.



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الثلاثاء، 29 مايو 2018

Samsung has a new 1200 PPI AMOLED display for virtual reality

While Samsung hasn’t said anything about a standalone Gear VR that would work with a built-in display instead of requiring a smartphone’s screen, the company has certainly been very active in making AMOLED displays for virtual reality. At the SID 2018 exhibition last week, Samsung unveiled its most pixel-dense VR display yet: a 2.43-inch panel with a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, which amounts to a pixel density of 1200 PPI.

Standalone Gear VR headset in the works?

Samsung had three different panels on display (pun unintended) at the show. The other two were 3.5-inch and 3.2-inch panels with 1440×1600 and 1824×1824 resolution, equating to pixel densities of 616 PPI and 806 PPI. Seeing those panels up there makes us wonder if Samsung is working on standalone virtual reality headsets across different price ranges. It’s just speculation on our part, and the company could simply be showing off its display technology as display makers are wont to do, but Gear VR (or Galaxy VR, as Gear-branded devices are expected to be dependent on a smartphone or tablet) headsets with different specs and prices would be a nice way to get things going for its standalone headset.

But, again, this could just be Samsung showcasing its advances in VR displays, though the 1200 PPI panel seems to have reached that density by reducing the display size while increasing the resolution. That makes it less impressive than the 4.3-inch VR OLED display that LG has introduced with a pixel density of 1443 PPI, which was also showcased at the same event.

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Galaxy S9 May update seems to have fixed the black crush (color banding) issue

Since launch, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have been plagued with minor issues that angered a lot of users. Most prominent among them are the call glitches and display color banding issues. While Samsung has issued multiple updates to fix the calling problems, the Galaxy S9’s color banding issue hasn’t been addressed so far.

Thankfully, with the May update, Samsung seems to have fixed the Galaxy S9’s color banding issues as well. Though Samsung hasn’t officially mentioned the fix in the update changelog, affected users have noticed the change after the update and posted the same on the company’s help forums. Samsung might have intentionally omitted to mention the fix in the changelog as doing so would amount to an official acknowledgment of the problem.

The update is not available in all the markets yet

For those unaware, the color banding issue, also known as the black crush, refers to a phenomenon where the screen has trouble displaying shades of dark accurately. It results in a grainy or a pixelated picture with blocks of black which is immediately apparent when watching dark images or videos. The problem is not entirely new as even some of the previous Galaxy flagship smartphones were affected by this as well.

The May update, which is either XXU1BRE5 or XXS1ARE6 depending on market, started rolling out to the Galaxy S9 and S9+ earlier this month. However, the update hasn’t been released in all markets yet. If we go by Samsung’s track record with monthly updates, it may even skip this update in some countries. If that’s the case, Galaxy S9 users in those countries can expect to get the black crush fix with the next update, whenever that rolls out.

If you have received the May update on your Galaxy S9 and S9+, do let us know if it has fixed the color banding issues for you.

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Galaxy A3 (2017) Oreo update might be causing random reboots and bootloops for some users

For all the time Samsung has taken to get the Android 8.0 Oreo update for its devices out the door, it’s rather unfortunate that it hasn’t been an entirely smooth ride. The Galaxy S8’s Oreo update was halted because of a random reboot issue encountered by some users, and the same problem was later discovered in the Oreo update for the Galaxy S7. While Samsung has since resumed the updates for both its 2016 and 2017 Galaxy S flagships, it turns out random reboots and bootloops might also be affecting Oreo on the Galaxy A3 (2017).

Public Wi-Fi networks to blame for the random reboots?

GalaxyClub has heard from a few users that their Galaxy A3 (2017) either got stuck in a bootloop right after the update or started restarting on its own. Pretty much what Galaxy S7 and S7 edge users faced after upgrading to Oreo, indicating a serious underlying problem in Samsung’s generic code for the latest version of Android.

That’s apparently just the bootloops, though. Some users on the Samsung Community forums say the reboots happen when connected to some Wi-Fi networks, such as those supplied by the eduroam international roaming service for students in European universities. At least one user says the phone works fine on his or her home Wi-Fi network, so public Wi-Fi networks like eduroam may to be to blame for the reboots.

But while one can avoid connecting to such Wi-Fi networks, those who have their phone stuck on a bootloop after installing Oreo aren’t so lucky. Samsung had suggested Galaxy S7 owners to take their device to a local support center to get it fixed without losing all data, but there’s no guarantee the data will remain intact.

Those who cannot hop down to a support center can attempt to fix the device through recovery, which also requires a data wipe. To make it worse, the company hasn’t acknowledged the issue yet, although one of the forum moderators has asked a user for more details so we should hear something soon.

Refrain from installing the update if you haven’t already

In the meantime, you should refrain from installing the update if you haven’t already, until there’s an official all-clear from Samsung. The fixed update would be different from the one currently going out, but since there is no confirmation yet on whether the rollout has stopped, it’s best to steer clear if you have a Galaxy A3 (2017).

Have you run into issues on Oreo on your A3 (2017)? Let us know in the comments!

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Galaxy S7 Oreo update rolling out in Nordic countries

The Galaxy S7 Oreo update has been taking its sweet time to make its way to Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners, who have been getting more and more impatient as the months have gone by. Samsung released the Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge a month ago in the UK, halted its rollout to fix a serious issue, then resumed soon after, but the company has been quite slow at expanding availability of the update to other regions. For those in Sweden and other Nordic countries, though, the wait is now coming to an end, a week after Samsung released Oreo for the Galaxy S7 in its home country.

Galaxy S7 Oreo update rolling out in Nordic countries

We have received tips from a couple of users who say the update is available in Sweden. Samsung usually releases major updates to countries in the Nordic region around the same time, and there’s no reason that won’t be the case this time around as well. Only the Galaxy S7 seems to be getting the update right now, but the Galaxy S7 edge is likely to join the party soon. It’s a 1.2 GB download that gets you the new Samsung Experience 9.0 UX (though not every feature from the Galaxy S8 and later flagships is included). The build number is G930FXXU2ERE8, the same as the update that released for the UK earlier. The security patch date, meanwhile, is April 1.

Have you received the Oreo update on your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge? Let us know by leaving a comment; do tell us your country as well, and if you haven’t already, you can check if the update is available by going into the Software update menu in the phone’s Settings app.

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Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A9 Star may be launched in these markets

It has now been confirmed that the Samsung phone with the iPhone-like rear camera placement is called the Galaxy A9 Star, and it will be launching in China at some point. The Galaxy A9 Star isn’t just different when it comes to the design, though. It has 24-megapixel and 16-megapixel sensors in the dual camera setup at the back, which is higher than anything Samsung has put out before. There’s even a 3,700 mAh battery that drives the Super AMOLED Infinity display on the phone, so this phone has a few features that make it a rather attractive proposition. And, from what we have learned from our sources, the Galaxy A9 Star won’t be limited to just the Chinese market, at least not forever.

Galaxy A9 Star headed to more Asian markets

We have been able to obtain a list of countries where the Galaxy A9 Star could launch, and it’s comprised of mostly countries from Southeast Asia. The non-Chinese version carries model number SM-G885F (the Chinese version is SM-G8850), and the fact that it’s listed on the Samsung Vietnam website pretty much confirms that a launch outside China is in the pipeline. Whether the name will remain unchanged across various markets remains to be seen. Samsung will probably stick to Galaxy A9 Star in markets where the Galaxy A9 or Galaxy A9 Pro were launched, though that’s just guesswork on our part.

Here’s the list of countries where Samsung is planning to launch the Galaxy A9 Star:

  • CAM – Cambodia
  • MM1 – Singapore
  • MYM – Thailand (MPT, Mectel)
  • SIN – Singapore (SingTel)
  • STH – Singapore (StarHub)
  • THL – Thailand
  • XID – Indonesia
  • XME – Malaysia
  • XSP – Singapore
  • XXV – Vietnam

It’s a rather short list that might not expand later on, although we will know more once the Galaxy A9 Star is officially launched in China and the rest of the countries listed above. Pricing remains the most important question. With the Galaxy S Light Luxury – the Galaxy S8 Lite – costing a bomb for what it offers, the Galaxy A9 Star may not be very sensibly priced, either.

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الاثنين، 28 مايو 2018

Best deals to buy the Galaxy Note 8 online

So you want to buy Galaxy Note 8 but can’t find the right deals to save some of your hard-earned money? Look no further as this post contains some of the best deals for customers who are looking to pick up Samsung’s flagship phablet. Some of you may want to buy Galaxy Note 8 right now particularly if you’ve not been impressed by what you have heard about the upcoming Galaxy Note 9 so far.

Buy Galaxy Note 8 in the US

Samsung

Samsung will obviously be the first place that you would expect to buy Galaxy Note 8. It sells all of the carrier variants as well as the unlocked Galaxy Note 8 through its website which costs $950. Customers can opt for the Samsung Upgrade with Samsung Financing program in which they pay $39.58 per month for $24 months and get eligible to upgrade to a new Galaxy device every year after 12 months.

All customers get free shipping and returns when they order from its website as well as a free month of Samsung Premium Care. Samsung also offers a trade-in program through which customers can save up to $300 on the Galaxy Note 8 if they trade-in a qualifying device.

If you buy Galaxy Note 8 from Samsung, you will be given the option to add the Gear VR with Controller and Gear 360 to your cart for $79.99 and $99.99 respectively, a significant discount over their regular $129.99 and $229.99 prices.

Amazon

If you’re looking to save a bit of money then consider Amazon where you can buy certified refurbished units of the unlocked Galaxy Note 8 for $650.

Amazon itself is selling the brand new US unlocked Galaxy Note 8 for $749.99 with full warranty. It’s pertinent to mention here that while some third-party sellers might have listed the device for less, they’re often selling the international variant which doesn’t have US warranty.

Best Buy

Best Buy has the lowest price for the unlocked Galaxy Note 8. Customers who chose to activate right away can purchase it for $699. It’s also offering a bunch of financing offers for those who have a My Best Buy Credit Card. Best Buy is also the only other location with the exception of Samsung’s website where the Galaxy Note 8 is available in the gorgeous Deepsea Blue color.

Verizon

Verizon will likely be the first choice of many in the United States to buy Galaxy Note 8 from considering the fact that it’s the country’s largest mobile carrier. Verizon is selling the Galaxy Note 8 for $40 per month to qualified customers with $0 down. The price will be charged over 24 months which means that the handset will ultimately cost $960 which is exactly what Verizon is charging as the full retail price. A one-time activation fee of $30 will be charged as well.

Big Red is offering a special deal to customers who trade-in select smartphones when they buy Galaxy Note 8 with monthly device payments. Customers trading in an iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S8+ can get 50% off and pay just $20 per month for their new Galaxy Note 8. Additional trade-in options include:

Get Galaxy Note 8 for $26 per month by trading in the iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 2, LG V30 and Galaxy S8

Get Galaxy Note 8 for $30 per month by trading in the iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, Pixel XL, Pixel, LG V20, LG G6, moto z force, moto z play, moto z force, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 5.

The Galaxy Note 8 is readily available for purchase from Verizon.

AT&T

Prices for the Galaxy Note 8 start at $31.67 per month over 30 months at AT&T which comes to a total of $950 which is also the full retail price for the device at the second largest carrier in the United States.

The carrier isn’t offering any special deals on the Galaxy Note 8 right now but we will be sure to update this post as and when it does.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile, the country’s third-largest carrier, is also best known for its wacky unboxings of Samsung handsets. It’s selling the device for $30 per month over 24 months for a total price of $720. You can also buy Galaxy Note 8 at full retail from T-Mobile for $720 as it’s offering a $230 discount currently.

Customers will be required to purchase a SIM card and service plan. It’s also offering free express two-day shipping with new activation for a limited time if you buy Galaxy Note 8 from T-Mobile right now.

Sprint

Sprint customers can buy Galaxy Note 8 for $40 per month over 18 months for a total price of $720. The carrier is also selling it at full retail for $960. Sprint isn’t offering any additional deals for the device but the handset is eligible for its Galaxy Forever program.

The program allows customers to return their handset and upgrade to the latest Samsung Galaxy device any time after they have made 12 lease payments. However, with the Sprint and T-Mobile merger on the horizon, it remains to be seen how long this program will last.

Buy Galaxy Note 8 in the United Kingdom

Samsung

Customers in the United Kingdom can purchase both the unlocked single and dual-SIM iterations of the Galaxy Note 8 from Samsung’s own website for £669 as the company has discounted the handset by £200. Customers can also get up to £250 for trading in their existing device. No further deals are being offered at this point in time.

EE

EE, one of the most widely used carriers in the country, is selling the Galaxy Note 8 for £68 over 24 months. The plan includes cellular and data service, however, the rates can go up if customers opt for plans with more data allowance.

O2

Available in both Midnight Black and Maple Gold colors, the Galaxy Note 8 can be purchased from O2 for £29.99 upfront and £69 per month over 24 months. The cost includes an Airtime Plan which provides customers with adequate data and cellular allowance for their monthly billing cycle.

Vodafone

Customers in the United Kingdom can also buy Galaxy Note 8 from Vodafone with plans starting at £29 upfront and £78 monthly for 24 months. No additional deals are available at this point in time.

Argos

If you’re in the market for an unlocked, or “SIM free” as they call it in the UK, model of the Galaxy Note 8 with official warranty, do take a look at Argos as well. It’s selling the device for £679 which offers a discount of £120 on the regular retail price.

Buy Galaxy Note 8 in Canada

Samsung

You can buy Galaxy Note 8 directly from Samsung online in Canada. The unlocked variant costs CAD 1,299 and customers can get up to CAD 150 if they trade-in an existing device.

Rogers

Prices for the Galaxy Note 8 at Rogers start at CAD 299 upfront with a variety of plans available that bundle the device and service payment for 24 months starting from CAD 110. Rogers does have a couple of offers that customers can take advantage of. If they buy and activate the Galaxy Note 8 online they can either get a 15 percent off coupon for select accessories or chose to have the $30 per line Connection Fee waived.

Bell

Bell also has the Galaxy Note 8 available for purchase. Customers can either pay CAD 1,349 at full retail or pay CAD 299.99 upfront on a two-year term. The latter option requires a minimum service purchase totaling CAD 105 per month.

Telus

Customers can purchase the Galaxy Note 8 from Telus for CAD 300 upfront and they will also have to buy voice and data plans that cost over CAD 100 at the very least. Telus is also selling the device for CAD 1,300 at full retail.

Buy Galaxy Note 8 in India

Samsung

Samsung’s premium smartphones tend to do very well in India so it wasn’t surprising to see that the Galaxy Note 8 was very well received in the market. Samsung is selling the Galaxy Note 8 online for Rs. 67,900 or $1077. Easy Monthly Installment plans start at $111 per month. Customers can also available cashback with Citibank Cards and Paytm Mall worth Rs. 8000 or $110.

Offline Retailers

While online retailers like Flipkart and Paytm Mall currently don’t have the handset in stock, customers in India can buy Galaxy Note 8 from Samsung’s extensive network of offline retailers across the country. Prices may vary slightly as retailers have some leeway with the margins.


These are some of the best deals to buy Galaxy Note 8 online in key markets. Users in other markets should check their local Samsung sites for instructions on where to purchase the Galaxy Note 8. Came across a better Galaxy Note 8 deal? Let us know in the comments below.

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Samsung launches Newsroom portal for Taiwan  

As a market leader in several product categories, Samsung Electronics has a towering presence in many regions around the world. Over the years, the company has gained millions of loyal customers and fans who like to keep themselves updated about the company and its products. With a large fan-following, naturally, the media is also interested in news about the South Korean tech giant.

To keep all the interested parties updated, Samsung Electronics has Newsroom portals for many key regional markets. Today, the company is adding one more region to the list by launching the Samsung Newsroom Taiwan portal. The new platform will be in Mandarin language and act as a hub for the local press and customers to follow the latest news from Samsung.

20th Newsroom launched by Samsung

Similar to the other Newsrooms, the Taiwan edition will have product announcements, stories, interviews, analysis, clarifications, etc. relevant to the region in the local language. While the focus is on localized content, the Taiwan Newsroom will also share important global updates about the company and its products.

Samsung Newsroom Taiwan is the 20th Newsroom launched by the company. Apart from the Global Newsroom, Samsung has regional editions in the US, the UK, Korea, Argentina, India, Italy, Belgium, etc. It plans to launch more local-language Newsrooms in the future to engage with the public in more regions.

You can access the Samsung Newsroom Taiwan here.

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جميع الحقوق محفوظة لمدونة الغريب 2013