الجمعة، 30 نوفمبر 2018

Netherlands’ Air Force picks Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition for its employees

The update model and openness of the ecosystem make Android smartphones less appealing for deployment in many enterprises and government institutions. Samsung tried to address some of the challenges by launching Enterprise Editions of its high-end devices and creating enterprise-deployment and management tools like Samsung Knox.

The Galaxy S9 and A8 Enterprise Edition models, launched earlier this year, were part of this strategy. It appears the company’s efforts are bearing some fruits as Netherlands’ Air Force has decided to deploy Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition for 6,000 of its employees. Marking the beginning of the rollout, Samsung has handed over the first of the 6,000 devices to the Deputy Commander, Air Forces, General Major Mario Verbeek.

Free firmware and security updates for four years

“The Air Force Command (CLSK) is in the middle of the transition to the 5th Generation Air Force. The focus is on information-driven action. This ambition, combined with good employment practices and the most effective use of staff, has made CLSK decide to provide every employee working within the CLSK with a smartphone in the form of a Samsung Galaxy S9,” said General Major Mario Verbeek commenting on the rollout.

While the Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition is identical to the consumer model in terms of hardware, the former gets free firmware and security updates for four years. At the time of the launch, Samsung promised three years of monthly security updates and quarterly updates for the fourth year for the Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition. Though the company hasn’t confirmed, even the Enterprise Edition will most probably be limited to two major Android updates similar to the consumer models.

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Galaxy J6+, Galaxy J4+ and Galaxy J2 Pro get November 2018 security patch

This month may have come to an end but there are a lot of Samsung devices yet to receive the November 2018 security patch. Samsung continues to roll out the latest security maintenance release for these devices.

Handsets like the Galaxy A6+, Galaxy J6, Galaxy A8 (2018), Galaxy S8 and more have received it in recent weeks. Samsung is now rolling out the said security patch for the Galaxy J6+, Galaxy J4+ and the Galaxy J2 Pro.

November 2018 security patch rolling out for more devices

The Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+ are two entry-level handsets that Samsung launched a couple of months back. It said that they have been “created especially for young millennials.” They feature a reflective back with a glass finish, 6-inch HD+ Infinity Design displays and 3,300mAh battery. Both have the same Snapdragon 425 processor with varying RAM and storage configurations. The Galaxy J6+ is also Samsung’s first smartphone with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Firmware version J610FNXXU1ARK4 is now rolling out in Germany for the Galaxy J6+. It’s available for download from our firmware section. The Galaxy J4+ gets J415FNXXU1ARK5 in Ukraine. It’s also available from our database. Samsung will soon be releasing the update in other markets where these devices are available as well.

Samsung has also rolled out the latest security maintenance release for the Galaxy J2 Pro. Firmware version J250GDXU3ARK2 keeps it on Android 7.1.1 but applies the November 2018 security patch. It’s available for download from our firmware section as well.

The latest security patch has fixes for 11 critical Android OS vulnerabilities in addition to dozens of moderate and high-risk vulnerabilities. 9 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items have been addressed in this update as well.

The post Galaxy J6+, Galaxy J4+ and Galaxy J2 Pro get November 2018 security patch appeared first on SamMobile.



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FCC documentation confirms Infinity-O display for the Galaxy A8s

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy A8s in China in early 2019. The phone’s rumored Infinity-O display seems to be confirmed by an FCC listing for the device. Also visible is Samsung’s new 19.5:9 screen aspect ratio.

Galaxy A8s visits the FCC

Today, the FCC published its documentation on Samsung’s upcoming SM-G8870 or the Galaxy A8s as it is likely to be called. We do not get to see the actual device, but a screenshot still manages to confirm two rumored details. First, the screenshot in the documents appears to have a 19.5:9 ratio. This is similar to the details that recently surfaced of another upcoming Samsung device, the M20.

Furthermore, as the guys over at GalaxyClub point out, the top left corner of the screen is left empty. There are notifications visible in the status bar, but not in the corner. This is as we would expect of a device with a notch or a hole in that part of the display. After all, the Galaxy A8s is rumored to come with Samsung’s first Infinity-O display.

galaxy a8s fcc screenshot

The Galaxy A8s is likely to be a China-only device. However, we might see the same design in several of Samsung’s other new models. Not only are there the Galaxy M20 and M30, but we recently also provided the first details of the upcoming Galaxy A30 and A50. Though not all of these phones might have an Infinity-O display, they are very likely to get some form of notch-like Samsung’s Infinity-V and -U display types suggest.

The Galaxy A8s itself is rumored to feature a 6.39-inch TFT LCD display and could be Samsung’s first phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 soc. Memory-wise, the A8s should have 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. A triple camera can be found on the back, while the front camera-in-a-hole should have a 24-megapixel sensor. A 3400 mAh battery completes this package. The official Chinese launch is expected in January 2019.

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Galaxy Fold could be what Samsung calls its foldable smartphone

Will Samsung’s much-awaited foldable smartphone be called the Galaxy Fold? That’s what a new trademark registration suggests. Samsung has said that it will release this device next year but not revealed what it will be called. Previous reports claim that it may be called the Galaxy Flex. Some of you will agree, though, that Galaxy Fold is a more suitable name for a device that folds more than it flexes.

The trademark was filed just a couple of days ago. The company is looking to protect the “Samsung Galaxy Fold” moniker. The description mentions that it may be used for a variety of products including smartphones.

Samsung files trademark for the Galaxy Fold moniker

It’s not a confirmation, though, that this is what Samsung’s foldable smartphone is going to be called. Samsung could just be covering its bases here, protecting monikers that it may find some use for in the future. Nevertheless, it would make sense if the company decides to call this device the Galaxy Fold.

Samsung hasn’t revealed the foldable smartphone as yet. It only offered a glimpse of the foldable display at SDC 2018 earlier this month. We may not see it in the flesh until March if some reports are believed.

The company does have a lot riding on the foldable smartphone. Samsung has confirmed that it won’t be a niche device as it will be released globally next year. The company will reportedly be producing around one million units initially. It may ramp up production if there’s enough demand. It’s expected to cost a pretty penny, though, some estimates put the price tag around $2,500.

All of that is just speculation right now, though. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any details about the foldable phone as yet. We will have to wait until the coming year for all of the official information. That’s also when it will become clear whether or not this device is going to be called the Galaxy Fold.

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الخميس، 29 نوفمبر 2018

Galaxy S9 camera gets Flaw Detection, Scene Optimizer with Android Pie

Android Pie may increase the steps needed before one can record a video on a Galaxy S9, but it also brings some new camera features. These camera features, Scene Optimizer and Flaw Detection, debuted on the Galaxy Note 9 and have also been seen on some mid-range devices Samsung has launched in recent weeks (such as the new Galaxy A9).

New Galaxy S9 camera features with Android Pie

Let’s talk about Scene Optimizer first. According to Samsung, this feature automatically selects the “appropriate color and tone settings” for 20 different types of scenery to make the image more pleasing than it would be without Scene Optimizer. It didn’t work too well in practice on the Galaxy Note 9, though. There’s barely any difference in photos taken with and without Scene Optimizer enabled, and it seems to be the same on Android Pie on the Galaxy S9. The good thing is you can just ignore Scene Optimizer altogether, as it is a separate camera mode on Android Pie.

galaxy s9 camera features android pie

Flaw Detection, meanwhile, is hidden in the camera settings, and it brings tangible benefit. Flaw Detection is a very handy feature that tells you if someone may have moved or blinked in a picture after it has been taken or if the photo came out blurry, so you can quickly take another picture to make sure you got the perfect shot. It also detects camera smudges, which is useful for those who tend to touch the camera while using the fingerprint sensor too often. Flaw Detection works great on the Galaxy Note 9, and it shouldn’t be any different on the Galaxy S9.

galaxy s9 camera features android pie

Check out more One UI and Android Pie features that are coming to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Using the Pie beta? Try out Scene Optimizer and let us know if you find it makes a difference to your pictures.

Galaxy S9

  • Model: SM-G960F
  • Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
  • Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)
More specifications

Galaxy S9+

  • Model: SM-G965F
  • Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
  • Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)
More specifications

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Galaxy S9 Android Pie hotfix update fixes issues with second beta release

Samsung has just released a hotfix update for the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta. The first update to the initial One UI beta brought fixes for many bugs, but two major issues managed to slip through. Many users had complained about their mobile data connection not working on the second Pie beta, and this has been fixed with the hotfix update. Also fixed is a problem that prevented some apps from opening.

A small update that fixes big issues

The hotfix update is a 90 MB download and is available in Germany at the moment. It comes with software version G960FXXU2ZRKN and G960FXXU2ZRKN for the S9 and S9+ respectively. To download it, simply open the Settings app on the phone, go into the Software update menu, then tap Download and install. Don’t pay heed to the changelog mentioned in the update notification on the phone, however. The proper changelogs for each beta update can be found in the Samsung Members app (Samsung+ for those in the US).

If the new beta update fixes any glaring issues for you, do tell us in the comments.

galaxy s9 hotfix pie beta update

Galaxy S9

  • Model: SM-G960F
  • Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
  • Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)
More specifications

Galaxy S9+

  • Model: SM-G965F
  • Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
  • Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)
More specifications

Thanks, Sebastian!

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[Poll] What would you like to see more of on SamMobile?

We strive to offer you the very best content here on SamMobile. That effort requires us to be mindful of what our readers want. We often look for feedback from you so that we can better shape our content policies based on your expectations.

That’s the reason why we’re putting up this poll. Vote below and let us know what you’d like to see more of on your favorite website. Whether you want more news about Samsung firmware or want to find out how good (or not) its accessories are. Your feedback is very valuable to us in our quest to provide you with the best content. Thank you!

What would you like to see more of on SamMobile?
Results

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Samsung Electronics was the fourth largest R&D spender globally, says PwC

According to a report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Samsung Electronics was the 4th largest R&D spender globally during the one-year period beginning H2 last year. The report which looked into the R&D spending of 1000 major firms, placed Samsung’s R&D spending at $15.3 billion, netting it the 4th rank for the second year in a row. The Korean giant’s investments in R&D went up by 6.8% year-on-year and accounted for 6.8% of the company’s sales.

E-commerce giant, Amazon, topped the list with an R&D spending of $22.6 billion, while Alphabet Inc. with $16.2 billion and Volkswagen with $15.8 billion occupied the next two spots, respectively. Intel came in fifth with $13.1 billion, followed by Microsoft with $12.3 billion and Apple with $11.6 billion. The combined R&D spending of all the 1000 firms in the report stood at a staggering $782 billion – an increase of 11.4% year-on-year.

Consistently ranked as one of the top R&D spenders

Samsung has been consistently ranked as one of the R&D top spenders in recent years, with some reports even placing it at the top of the list. The differences in ranking across these reports could be probably due to the research methodology and the time period under consideration. While Samsung’s investment in R&D sounds impressive, it is worth noting that the company is far more diversified compared to other top spenders in the list.

In related news, Samsung Electronics secured sixth place in the list of most innovative companies in the world in a survey of 869 CEOs and executives by the same global accounting major PwC. Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet are ranked as the top three for the second consecutive year.

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South Korea indicts 11 people for leaking Samsung’s OLED secrets to China

Samsung isn’t just competing with Chinese companies in the smartphone market. Chinese component manufacturers are also eyeing the Korean giant’s lead in this market. Samsung has been able to retain its dominance largely due to its greater technological prowess and scalability. The protection of Samsung’s intellectual property is, therefore, key to its very survival.

Its lead in the market is no laughing matter. Samsung Display has a near monopoly in the small to mid-sized OLED segment as it supplies over 95 percent of all panels. It contributes a significant chunk of the conglomerate’s revenues. Even Chinese smartphone manufacturers have been using Samsung’s OLED panels in their flagship smartphones. That’s because the OLED technology of Chinese panel manufacturers still has a lot of catching up to do with Samsung’s technology.

Vendor’s employees were leaking Samsung’s OLED secrets to China

Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted 11 people for leaking Samsung’s OLED technology to China. They’re the employees of a vendor that apparently produced automated equipment used for manufacturing OLED panels. They have been indicted on charges of leaking Samsung Display’s 3D Lamination technology for curved OLED panels. Three of the 11 people indicted have been arrested and now await trial. The list includes the company’s CEO as well.

They had allegedly set up a shell company to which they sent the information received from working with Samsung about equipment and drawings of the display panels. The trade secrets were then sold to an undisclosed Chinese buyer for approximately $14 million. Secondary names, phones, and personal email addresses were used to avoid being caught even as they violated a non-disclosure agreement signed with Samsung.

Samsung will certainly not be letting this go. The technology that was leaked reportedly took Samsung Display six years and millions of dollars to develop. The company had a team of 38 engineers working on it. Samsung had the technology designated as a national core technology protected by South Korea’s industrial technology protection laws.

Samsung Display has said in a statement that it is “shocked at the results of the investigation by prosecutors, at a time when competitors are intensifying their technological rivalry.” It will be keeping a close eye on the trial.

The post South Korea indicts 11 people for leaking Samsung’s OLED secrets to China appeared first on SamMobile.



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الأربعاء، 28 نوفمبر 2018

Galaxy Watch LTE gets a firmware update in the US

Samsung is pushing a new firmware update to the LTE version of the Galaxy Watch in the US. It is a tiny update that may include improvements in the device stability and some minor bug fixes. The update is based on Tizen 4.0.0.1 and is available for the Galaxy Watch on both T-Mobile and Verizon networks. The latest update carries the build numbers R815USQU1BRJ6 and R805USQU1BRJ6 for the 42 mm and 46 mm Galaxy Watch respectively.

This is the third firmware update for the Galaxy Watch. The first two updates brought improvements in Samsung Health experience and reliability in battery charging and music play.

First firmware update for the Galaxy Watch on Verizon

Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch in the US in August and soon made the LTE version available on T-Mobile. But Verizon users had to wait until the end of October to get their hands on the watch. And now a month later, they are getting the first firmware update for it.

The changelog for the latest Galaxy Watch update is as generic as it could be and doesn’t reveal any specific details. The size of the update is 11.98 MB and it is available over the air. You can download the update via the Galaxy Wearable (Samsung Gear) app on your phone. Just go to the About Gear » Update Gear software section in the Settings tab of the app and select Download updates manually. Remember that it is an OTA update and may take some time before it reaches all Galaxy Watch units on Verizon and T-Mobile.

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Here’s a hack to change icons and themes on Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta

One UI brings plenty of sweet visual changes to Galaxy smartphones, but the icons for Samsung’s proprietary apps have received some flak for being worse than their Android Oreo counterparts. And on the Android Pie beta, Samsung isn’t letting users use third-party themes and icons, so beta testers are currently stuck with the stock icons and theme. However, there is a way to get around that limitation, even though it’s not a wholesome solution.

It turns out that going to the dedicated page for a Samsung Themes designer’s themes and icon packs lets you apply those themes and icons, something you won’t be able to do if you open the Samsung Themes store in the usual way. If you have purchased some themes or icon packs on Oreo, you can just go to the Wallpapers and themes section in the Galaxy S9 or S9+’ Settings app, scroll to the themes or icons sections, tap one of the purchased themes or icon packs under the My themes/My icons area at the top, then tap the author’s name under the theme or icon page name.

galaxy s9 pie icons themes hack.jpg

Never purchased a theme or icon pack before? We have added the links to a few designers’ pages below, and you can simply click on these on your S9 or S9+ to access them. Do remember that Android Pie only allows using free themes for a period of 14 days. There’s no limit on icon packs, though. You may also run into issues with some of these themes or icons as they may not be compatible with Android 9 yet.

Theme store designer page links: Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 | Link 4

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Samsung kicks off second phase with One UI beta UK release

The much-awaited second phase of Samsung’s Android Pie beta program has seemingly kicked off with the One UI beta UK release. Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ owners in the country can now register for the beta program through the Samsung Members app. Once registered, they can download the beta firmware.

When Samsung announced the beta program, it confirmed that additional markets would get it in the second phase. The markets include Poland, China, Spain, France, India and the United Kingdom. With the One UI Beta UK release today it seems that the second phase is now underway.

One UI beta UK release for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ owners in the United Kingdom can register for the Android Pie beta today through the Samsung Members app. Spots will likely be limited so do try to get it before they run out.

After the registration is done, users will receive firmware version G960FXXU2ZRKL and G965FXXU2ZRKL for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ respectively. It’s the same firmware that’s being rolled out as the second beta build today in countries that got the beta in the first phase. They include the US, Germany and South Korea.

The Android 9.0 Pie update brings a wide variety of new features for the device. Samsung’s new custom skin, One UI, is a major part of this update. You can find out more about all of the new features in our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series.

Samsung is yet to open up the beta program to the Galaxy Note 9. However, there is a strong chance that this might happen soon. It briefly opened beta registrations for the Galaxy Note 9 in the United States. This suggests that it may not be long before the phablet gets in on the One UI beta action as well.

Now that the One UI beta UK release is underway, it may not be long before the other markets in the second phase receive it as well.

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Samsung releases second Android Pie beta for the Galaxy S9

Samsung has just started rolling out the second Android Pie beta for the Galaxy S9. This is not the second phase, mind you. There’s no word as yet on when the beta will be expanding to additional markets. It’s a new beta build that’s rolling out now for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.

The latest beta build will certainly bring some improvements as Samsung continues to tweak the update. That’s the main reason for launching a beta program. Samsung takes in feedback from the testers and makes any fixes that may be required. This is to ensure a problem-free public launch when the time comes.

Samsung rolling out second Android Pie beta for the Galaxy S9

Samsung is now rolling out firmware version G960FXXU2ZRKL for the Galaxy S9. It’s the second Android Pie beta build for the device. It weighs just over 700MB and comes with the November 2018 security patch. The changelog mentions that this build improves front camera performance. The brightness of faces will be improved in backlit conditions. The rest is all generic as the changelog mentions improvements for the overall security and stability of the device.

We’ll be sure to put the second Android Pie beta through its paces to find out what else has changed since the first beta. Check out our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series to find out more about this update. Samsung will likely be releasing another couple of beta builds before it releases Android Pie for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 in January 2019.

The One UI (Android Pie) beta program was only limited to the Galaxy S9/S9+ initially. However, it appears that the program may soon be opened up to the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung briefly opened registrations for the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta program. This suggests that the device could soon be a part of this program as well. We’ll let you know when that happens.

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Galaxy J7 Pro touch problem seemingly caused by Android 8.1 update

It appears that the Galaxy J7 Pro touch problem many users have complained about has been caused by the Android 8.1 Oreo update. Samsung started rolling out the update for this device about a month ago. Users have taken to Samsung’s official forums to complain about the touchscreen being completely unresponsive after they install the update.

Reports have come in from users in several countries including India. The issue obviously has a major impact on users’ lives. Their phones are essentially paperweights with a dead touchscreen.

Android 8.1 update behind Galaxy J7 Pro touch problem

Those who are facing this issue say that the touchscreen became unresponsive the moment their Galaxy J7 Pro restarted after the update was installed. It’s unclear precisely what’s causing this issue. Not everyone who updated the Galaxy J7 Pro to Oreo faced this issue. The unit we have in the office is working just fine on Oreo.

Some suggest that the Galaxy J7 Pro touch issue affects repaired units with an aftermarket display. Others believe that the update only causes this issue on units with a particular subset of displays. This could mean that the issue is limited to panels from a specific supplier.

Samsung hasn’t really confirmed what’s the matter here. Moderators on its forums have offered a workaround to fix the issue but caution that if that doesn’t happen, users are left with repair as the only option. Some users have relied on methods which involve rooting to downgrade their device to Nougat. They report that the touchscreen works fine once the firmware is downgraded.

The company is reportedly working with technical support to fix the issue. Given that the Galaxy J7 Pro touch issue has resolved for those who downgraded, it may entirely be possible to fix it with a software update.

Have you experienced this issue on your Galaxy J7 Pro? Do let us know by dropping a comment.

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One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Samsung keyboard gets floating mode

The Samsung Keyboard app received many new features with Android 8.0 Oreo, such as high-contrast themes, a customizable toolbar, and new emojis, stickers, and GIFs. And the app is getting even more functionality with One UI/Android Pie. One of the new Samsung Keyboard features in Pie is a floating keyboard mode.

Samsung keyboard gets its shackles removed in Pie

As the name suggests, floating keyboard isn’t the same as the one-handed mode. This feature was available on Samsung phones a few years ago before the company started to double down on streamlining its software. It allows you to reduce the size of the keyboard and move it anywhere on the screen. The transparency and size of the floating keyboard can be adjusted as well. You can consider it an extension of the one-handed keyboard mode, although it’s also useful for two-handed usage by letting you move the keyboard upwards on the screen and making it less cumbersome for your thumbs to access the keyboard keys.

samsung floating keyboard one ui pie

Using the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+ with the Android Pie beta? To access floating mode, tap the down-pointing arrow icon on the keyboard, tap Modes, then tap the Floating keyboard option. This will relaunch the keyboard in floating mode. To adjust the size and transparency of the floating keyboard, just go into the mode selection menu again and tap the Size and transparency option. The same menu can also be used to go back to the standard keyboard or to switch to the one-handed keyboard.

samsung floating keyboard one ui pie

See what else is new with One UI and Android Pie for Galaxy smartphones. To find out if your device is eligible for the Android Pie update, go here.

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الثلاثاء، 27 نوفمبر 2018

Galaxy Note 9 One UI (Pie) beta program registration open in the US!

Here it comes, folks. Samsung has opened up the One UI (Android Pie) beta program to Galaxy Note 9 owners in the US. Before you get excited, let’s just say that the company is now allowing users of the unlocked model to register for the beta. The actual update is yet to start rolling out, although that should change soon enough.

Registrations now open for Galaxy Note 9 Pie beta

According to XDA Developers, the signup process is available for Sprint and Verizon users using an unlocked Galaxy Note 9. The registration process remains the same as the Galaxy S9’s. Just open the Samsung+ app and you should see a banner saying “One UI with Android 9.0 on Galaxy Note9.” Click on it, then tap the register option. Naturally, you will have to be logged in to your Samsung account for this. Slots will be limited as usual, so don’t delay if you want to test One UI and Android Pie ahead of its official release next year.

The Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta is likely to come to South Korea and Germany as well, as beta Android 9 firmware for both countries exist on Samsung’s servers. There’s no telling when it will happen, though. The same goes for the second phase of Samsung’s Galaxy S9 beta program, which kicked off in mid-November and is yet to receive any further updates after the initial release. The best one can

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No one knows the date for phase two of the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta program

Recently, we have been getting many comments and emails asking when the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta program will start in countries like the UK and India. And our answer is: No one knows. That’s the disappointing truth, and this is how it has worked with previous betas as well. Samsung has never offered a concrete date for any beta release or expansion. Most info that has come out has been through the company’s untrustworthy customer care representatives.

Samsung isn’t saying anything about its expansion plans

The second phase of the Pie beta program will be launched for China, Poland, Spain, and France, in addition to India and the UK. Samsung may also include the Galaxy Note 9 in the beta program with the second phase, although it would technically be phase one for the Galaxy Note 9. Again, no one knows when beta access will be expanded to the phase two countries. Samsung launched the second phase of the Android Oreo beta program a month after its initial release last year, and it may very well be similar for Pie.

All we can do is hope Samsung picks up the pace in the coming days. It has said the public release of Android Pie will come in January for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9, so there are only two months or so remaining if the end of January is Samsung’s target. Of course, it’s also worth mentioning that the January time frame is likely to be for the countries where the beta program was launched. Other countries may have to wait longer, possibly until March, although this is also speculation on our part.

Don’t forget to check out our ongoing coverage of features and changes Android Pie and Samsung’s One UI will bring. If you’re already using the beta, tell us your personal experience and thoughts by voting in this poll.

Galaxy S9

  • Model: SM-G960F
  • Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
  • Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)
More specifications

Galaxy S9+

  • Model: SM-G965F
  • Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
  • Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
  • CPU: Exynos 9810
  • Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)
More specifications

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Samsung is reportedly investing $40 million in Niantic for Galaxy-exclusive games

According to a report in The Inquirer, Samsung is reportedly investing £31 million (~$40 million) in Niantic, creator of Ingress and Pokémon Go, for Galaxy-exclusive games. The deal supposedly involves pre-loading Niantic’s games on Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and may be announced in the next few weeks according to a source quoted in the report.

The main attraction of the deal, the report says, is an exclusive Harry Potter game which will use Samsung’s S-Pen as a magic wand. Interestingly, Niantic has already announced Harry Potter: Wizards Unite AR (Augmented Reality) game for 2019. The $40 million investment seems small by the industry standards to acquire exclusive rights of a popular franchise like Harry Potter, so it’s possible the Galaxy-exclusive game will merely be a timed exclusive with additional features and optimizations rather than a different title altogether.

Follows Samsung’s recent collaboration with Epic Games for Fortnite

The deal is said to also cover Niantic’s location-based Ingress game but not Pokemon Go as it’s “super protective of that franchise.” Niantic was apparently reluctant to make the deal happen without a substantial investment from Samsung. After deliberations, the companies eventually arrived at the $40 million investment proposal. The deal seems to be driven by Samsung’s desire to differentiate its Galaxy smartphones from other Android brands, while for Niantic, it is about raising money for the planned IPO.

The deal, if and when announced, will not be a complete surprise, given Samsung’s recent collaboration with Epic Games for the exclusive launch of Fortnite on Android on Galaxy smartphones. Though the exclusivity lasted for only a few days, Samsung continues to bank on the appeal of Fortnite to market the Galaxy Note 9 through various Fortnite-themed marketing campaigns.

However, none of this seemed to have any perceptible difference on the performance of Samsung’s smartphone division so far if we go by the recent quarterly results. Fortnite is undoubtedly the biggest gaming title in recent years, and if it can’t drive sales for Samsung, it is doubtful other games can.

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Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy M smartphone surfaces on Geekbench

Samsung’s plan of shaking up its mid-range and budget smartphone lineups has started picking up the pace. A new Galaxy M series of smartphones are expected to replace the current crop of the Galaxy J, On and C series next year. Few weeks ago, we also exclusively reported about two Galaxy M phones that Samsung is working on. We later received exclusive information about a third (and lower-end) Galaxy M device with model number SM-M105F.

That device has surfaced on Geekbench today. This follows a benchmark for another of the M series phones (the SM-M205F), which was spotted on both Geekbench and AnTuTu last week.

Another Galaxy M smartphone shows up in benchmark

sm-m105f benchmark

The Geekbench listing for the SM-M105F (possibly named Galaxy M10) mentions an Exynos 7870 processor with 3GB of RAM. It is the same processor Samsung uses in most of its budget smartphones. The SM-M105F will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and that’s possibly because it will come out before the Galaxy S10, which is obviously going to be the first Galaxy device with Android 9 Pie out of the box.

While the Geekbench listing doesn’t reveal anything more about the SM-M105F, we expect it to be available with dual-SIM support. Storage options will include 16GB and 32GB. And since it is a budget phone, Samsung could also opt for an LCD display panel and save some production cost just to revive its struggling smartphone business.

Samsung is also working on a new Galaxy A series of budget smartphones. Devices with model numbers SM-A305F and SM-A505F are currently in development. You can read more about the upcoming Galaxy A and Galaxy M phones here.

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[Poll] How are you liking the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta?

It has been nearly two weeks since the Galaxy S9 One UI (Android Pie) beta program has been live in South Korea, Germany, and the US. Samsung doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to expand the beta program to more countries, which is slightly worrying given the company has said the final Pie update will be released in January for both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9. But that’s a worry for later–Samsung has never been known to be timely with major Android upgrades anyway.

We have been using Android Pie since the beta program kicked off, and we have to say it works quite well even on the first test build. One UI, despite looking like a substantial change compared to Samsung’s UI on Android Oreo, works in a mostly similar way, even though some of the interface changes might prove to be divisive. And performance and battery life have also been pretty good. Of course, there are some bugs here and there, but the overall experience makes us excited for the final version of Android 9 Pie.

So now we pose the question to you: How are you liking the Android Pie beta? Are you liking what you’re seeing, do you think there’s room for improvement, or are you wondering what the drama is all about? Whatever your opinion, tell us by voting in the poll below and expanding on your thoughts in the comments section!

How are you liking the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta?
Results

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First Galaxy S10 Exynos 9820 benchmark looks promising

The first Galaxy S10 Exynos 9820 benchmark appeared online today. The SM-G975F model of Samsung’s upcoming flagship has surfaced on AnTuTu. It’s internally referred to as “beyond2” and may be branded as the Galaxy S10+ when it’s released.

Samsung’s Exynos 9820 processor will power the Galaxy S10. Samsung officially announced it two weeks ago. It features a fourth-generation custom processor, an LTE Advanced Pro modem and a separate neural processing unit for artificial intelligence tasks.

First Galaxy S10 Exynos 9820 benchmark

The specs of the device used to run this benchmark include a 6.4-inch 2280×1080 pixel resolution display. The display resolution shouldn’t alarm you. The test units used to run benchmarks often don’t give the full picture about the rest of the specs.

The Exynos 9820 processor is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That’s within expectations. There’s also the Mali-G76 MP12 graphics processor which promises a 40 percent improvement in performance compared to the Galaxy S9’s Exynos 9810. Samsung did not reveal the processor frequency of the Exynos 9820 when it unveiled the chip. The highest frequency clocked in this benchmark was 2.7GHz. Whether or not this will be the final frequency remains to be seen.

This Galaxy S10 Exynos 9820 benchmark scored 325,076 points on AnTuTu. It’s slightly higher than Huawei’s Kirin 980 chip which scored 309,628 on the Mate 20 Pro. Exynos 9820 is based on Samsung’s 8nm LPP FinFET processor with two custom CPU cores. Therefore, Samsung has said that it delivers 20 percent single-core and 15 percent multi-core performance gain.

Furthermore, there will likely be some difference in the figures between the Exynos and Snapdragon variants of the Galaxy S10. Samsung will ship the device in select markets like China and the United States with the Snapdragon 8150 processor instead.

The first Galaxy S10 Exynos 9820 benchmark shows that it will deliver the performance gains that are expected of it. We’ll be seeing more of these benchmarks in the days to come as Samsung ramps up testing for its next flagship smartphone.

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One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Navigation button gestures

A nifty alternative for software navigation keys that Samsung introduced with the Galaxy A7 (2018) is becoming a standard feature with Android Pie. With Samsung adopting software navigation keys for all devices, there are going to be many complaints about those keys taking up useful screen estate. And that’s where navigation button gestures in Android 9 come in.

Replace navigation keys with gestures

On Android Nougat and Oreo, Galaxy phones come with an option to temporarily hide the navigation bar using an extra button next to the home, back, and recents navigation keys. This option is being replaced by Full screen gestures, which requires you to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go back, go to the home screen, or access the recent apps screen. Basically, you swipe up where these buttons would be placed if the navigation bar wasn’t hidden. To help you get used to the gestures, you can enable gesture hints to see where you would need to swipe up for each of the navigation key actions.

android pie full screen gestures

And these gestures are easy to get used to, if we may say so ourselves. Plus, even when the navigation bar is hidden, you can change the order of the back and recents keys. If you’re running the Android Pie beta on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+, you can find the Full screen gestures option in the Display » Navigation bar section of the Settings app.

Do try it out and let us know whether you will be using these gestures or if you prefer the standard navigation keys. Also see more of what you can expect from Android Pie and One UI on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

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الاثنين، 26 نوفمبر 2018

Three variants of a Galaxy S10 model certified in Russia

Samsung is working on at least four different models of its upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S10. There will be an entry-level Galaxy S10 with model number SM-G970x and two premium ones with model numbers SM-G973x and SM-G975x. Samsung is also developing a fourth Galaxy S10 variant which will be the star of the S10 lineup. The former three models have already received their certification from the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (CMIIT). Now the top-end variant of the trio appears to have been certified in Russia as well.

As is usually the case with these certifications, no hardware or software details have been revealed. However, the certification does confirm that a dual-SIM version of the Galaxy S10 model will also be available.

A Galaxy S10 model with dual-SIM certified in Russia

The recently certified Galaxy S10 variants in Russia include the model numbers SM-G975F and SM-G975X. It is the top-end Galaxy S10 that received certification in China a few months ago. However, alongside these, one more Galaxy S10 model number has also received the certification. This particular variant should come with dual SIM card support.

While nothing more about the phone itself has been revealed by the certification, earlier reports suggest that the SM-G975F will come with a 6.4-inch display. It could be a nearly bezel-less smartphone with 19:9 aspect ratio and 1440×3040 pixel resolution. It is also expected to sport five cameras – two up front and three cameras at the back, and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S10 at the MWC 2019 in February. And now with less than three months to go for the annual event, it’s very likely that we’ll see more of these certifications popping up from different regions and markets in the days to come.

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Samsung Galaxy A8s specs leaked, release expected in January

The Samsung Galaxy A8s specs have surfaced online in a new report. Samsung had mentioned this handset in passing during its Galaxy A9s and Galaxy A6s event in China about a month ago. It also teased that this would be the company’s first notch-free smartphone. Reports suggest that Samsung’s Infinity-O display might make its debut on the Galaxy A8s.

Subsequent reports had suggested that the Galaxy A8s display would have a hole in the panel for the front camera. Some purported front panels have since appeared online to back up this claim. Samsung hasn’t officially said when it’s going to introduce this device.

Samsung Galaxy A8s specs leaked

According to the report, the Galaxy A8s features a 6.39-inch Infinity-O FHD+ resolution LCD display. Samsung will reportedly be sourcing this panel from Chinese display maker BOE. This is the part that doesn’t make much sense. Samsung has no reason to source this panel from BOE since it’s very capable of making high quality display panels itself. It’s also believed to possess the technology required to drill a hole in the active display area for the camera.

Other Samsung Galaxy A8s specs are said to include a Snapdragon 710 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. It may have a triple camera system at the back. The 24-megapixel front camera reportedly sits in a 6.7mm diameter hole in the display.

While we’re on the subject of the Infinity-O display, Samsung has reportedly started manufacturing similar panels for the Galaxy S10 as well. It is as yet unknown if either one or all of the four expected Galaxy S10 models will house the front camera in a hole at the front.

The Galaxy A8s measures 59.11 x 74.88 and 7.38mm with its 3,400mAh battery. Samsung will reportedly begin selling it in January 2019 in a black-gray gradient color. No word as yet if this device will be limited to China or if Samsung will launch it in other markets as well.

As is the case with all leaks, take this with a bit of skepticism until there’s more to go on.

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Samsung may have finalized the Galaxy S10 camera specs

There has been a lot of interest about the Galaxy S10 camera specs lately. Samsung is expected to pull out all the stops for the upcoming 10th Anniversary flagship. It may launch as many as four different models of the Galaxy S10 all of which will have some differences in the camera department.

A report from South Korea claims that Samsung has locked down its suppliers for the circuit boards it will use for the Galaxy S10’s cameras. The inference being that this decision has been made after the Galaxy S10 camera specs were finalized.

Galaxy S10 camera specs possibly finalized by Samsung

Many of you will be well aware that Samsung was initially expected to launch three variants of the Galaxy S10. The entry-level model may feature a dual rear and single front camera. The two premium options, likely successors of the Galaxy S9/S9+, may feature a dual front and dual/triple rear camera, respectively.

Samsung is also reportedly working on another Galaxy S10 model which will be nothing short of an absolute beast. It may feature a 6.7-inch display and a grand total of six cameras – four at the back and two up front. This model will also come with support for 5G networks.

The report mentions that Samsung will only be producing around 2 million units of this model. 5G networks will only go live in a couple of countries next year. There’s no need for Samsung to produce a lot of units when widespread network support just isn’t there.

It’s clear that the cameras will be major differentiating factors for the entire lineup. We can expect Samsung to introduce some new software-based camera features as well. The Galaxy S10 isn’t due to arrive until early next year. Samsung is expected to launch it in February. The 5G variant may not be released until March or until such time that 5G networks go live in markets like South Korea.

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Samsung’s Android Pie camera UI brings a change you may not like

Android Pie for Samsung smartphones will bring with it, among other things, an updated camera interface. If you have installed the One UI beta, you will have already played around with the new interface. It’s not exactly drastically different from what we have on Android 8.1 Oreo, but Samsung has made a few key changes. And one change in particular might not be to everyone’s liking.

An extra step for recording video

On Android Pie, the camera app now has a dedicated mode for recording videos. This is similar to what you see on an iPhone, and it adds an extra step whenever you want to record a video. The red record button from Oreo is now replaced with the option to switch between the front and rear camera. One UI is all about making often-used features and functionality easier to access, so it does make sense for the button for switching between cameras to get more limelight in this selfie-crazed world.

galaxy s9 android pie camera video

But perhaps Samsung could have come up with another solution to this instead of making it less convenient to access video recording. Android Pie does bring a new setting that forces the camera to always start in the last used shooting mode. But while this would work well for something like the Live Focus or Pro mode, it’s not the best alternative to a dedicated video recording button that’s accessible as soon as you open the camera app. Since Android Pie is still in beta, one can hope Samsung will take this particular feedback into account. If it doesn’t, we will just have to get used to the new way of doing things.

What do you think? Are you okay with video recording being a separate shooting mode, or is it an unnecessary change Samsung needs to rollback?

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