الثلاثاء، 13 مارس 2018

PSA: Galaxy S9 and S9+ come with a free case in the box in some markets

Well, we have only been able to confirm that Samsung is offering a case in the box with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in one market, but it’s likely it’s the case (pun intended) in a few other markets as well. Samsung India seems to have kicked off this trend, no doubt to compete with some Chinese OEMs who have also been offering free cases with smartphones in the country for a long time. The Galaxy Note 8 was the first to come with a case in the box, followed by devices like the Galaxy A8+ (2018) and the Galaxy On7 Prime, and there’s a case in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ box as well.

Galaxy S9 and S9+ come with a free case in the box in some markets

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ haven’t started shipping in India and many other markets, but once you do get your device, don’t forget to check the document holder to see if there’s a case inside. Samsung has switched to folder-style document holders for its phones in recent months, and those who upgrade their devices often probably just remove the handy SIM ejector tool and throw the rest away, before diving in further in the box to remove the charger, USB cable, and headphones. But if you’ve purchased an S9 or S9+, be sure to take a peek. The case is a basic plastic one that isn’t very sturdy, but it can be enough for protecting the device in the early days before you decide what kind of case you want to buy.

We can also confirm that there’s no free case on offer for European customers, and we’re guessing it’s mostly for emerging markets where paying the entire cost of a premium smartphone upfront can already be a daunting task, let alone buying a case for the said device. Yes, it’s unfair that the practice isn’t being followed in every country, but like software updates, this seems to be another one of those things that Samsung Korea allows its regional arms to do on their own terms.

Don’t Miss: Samsung Galaxy S9 review

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Galaxy S9 camera teardown video shows how variable aperture works

The Galaxy S9 is the first smartphone on the market with a variable aperture camera. The 12-megapixel rear camera has the ability to switch from f/1.5 aperture (lowest ever on a smartphone) to f/2.4 automatically as well as with a single tap in manual mode. Some of you might be wondering how has Samsung made variable aperture work on a smartphone camera and now there’s a video that will explain just that.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything has posted a new video in which he tears down the Galaxy S9’s camera. The primary sensor is the same on the Galaxy S9+ as well, in case you didn’t already know that. The video explains how the variable aperture works from a hardware perspective.

Galaxy S9 camera teardown

It’s evident right off the bat that the optical image stabilization is present. The lens is capable of moving around ever so slightly to counter shaking that tends to ruin photos and videos.

The aperture variation happens on the exterior of the lens, a fact that becomes evident after the metal housing surrounding the camera is removed. The control mechanism is located to the left where there’s a little switch which does the needful. The aperture variation happens electronically and automatically in the camera.

The aperture switching and optical image stabilization are accomplished by using magnets and each magnet lines up with copper coils inside the camera housing. It’s a pretty interesting and complicated setup.

The idea behind variable aperture is to adjust how much light is available in a scene for better performance. With f/1.5, more light can be captured in low-light scenes without increasing the noise in the picture while in f/2.4 it’s used to ensure that daytime shots aren’t overexposed. We tested the Galaxy S9’s variable aperture thoroughly in our Galaxy S9 review so do check that out to find out more about this new feature.

Don’t forget to watch the video as well to see the inner workings of Samsung’s latest smartphone camera which will eventually make its way to other devices as well.

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Some T-Mobile customers will receive their Galaxy S9 today

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are officially here, therefore the hype has died down a bit. Nonetheless, customer excitement is still brewing as they have yet to receive their units. Multiple T-Mobile customers on Reddit, including myself, have confirmed the destined arrival of their Galaxy S9 today. Historically, T-Mobile has always been on top of shipping devices early; often being the first to send the units out. I recall receiving my Galaxy S6 edge 13 days early.

The Galaxy S9 arrival is upon us

Customers who were able to get their orders in early are the majority of those who will be receiving them today. I, personally, ordered mine on the 8th with overnight shipping via UPS and it is arriving today. My girlfriend ordered hers the same day but with 3-5 day UPS ground shipping, and it is also arriving today. Lastly, I ordered my mom’s on the 10th and it won’t be arriving until the 15th. The other carriers seem to be a day behind T-Mobile, with some AT&T customers expecting a delivery tomorrow. Samsung’s official release date for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ is March 16th.

The Galaxy S9 duo and their reimagined cameras make for an excellent reason to purchase either of these devices. The lowlight photography I was able to test myself makes the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 look a tad primitive. If you’re big on smartphone photography, this device is right up your alley. The DxOMark score of 99 over the Pixel 2’s 98 speaks for itself if you are into benchmarks. If the camera’s reimagination isn’t enough for you, here are a few more reasons to upgrade and/or buy the Galaxy S9 over the Galaxy S8. Also, don’t forget to check out our full Galaxy S9/S9+ review.

Let us know below if you happen to be one of the T-Mobile customers receiving your device, today. If not, let us know when your estimated date of arrival is and what carrier you have!

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[Poll] Galaxy S8 Oreo update: Have you received it on your phone yet?

If you think Samsung expects the launch of a new flagship to attract attention away from software updates for existing devices, you’re not alone. The company has been dragging its feet when it comes to the Galaxy S8 Oreo update. While the final version of Oreo was released in less than two weeks after the beta program ended, it was halted soon after because of a reboot issue. Samsung released a newer version of Oreo with the necessary fix a few days later, but the rollout of the update didn’t immediately pick up pace.

Galaxy S8 Oreo update still a dream for some

It’s reached a few regions since then, but not everyone has the update nearly eight months since Google first pushed out Android 8.0 Oreo to its phones. For many consumers, even security updates seem to have been delayed. Some devices are still running the November 2017 security patch, and the condition’s worse for carrier-locked phones, some of which haven’t been updated past the October security patch. It’s a sorry state of affairs; now that Google has begun testing Android P, it’s even sadder that Samsung hasn’t completed the rollout of Oreo for its mainstream flagship line, let alone send out the update to other devices.

Well, we could keep complaining, but that probably isn’t going to affect Samsung (and certainly not the carriers who further delay updates). We want to know, however: Have you received Oreo on your Galaxy S8 or S8+? If yes, is it the first version (build number ending in CRAP; you can check in Settings » About phone » Software information) or the fixed version that was released later (build number ending in CRB7)? Tell us by selecting the appropriate option in the poll below, and share your thoughts on the matter down in the comments.

Have you received the Oreo update on your Galaxy S8 or S8+?
Results

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Check out these Galaxy S9 renders with an iPhone X-like notch

Rumors about Samsung majorly downsizing the bezels on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ didn’t pan out, and all we got were slightly narrower bezels above and below the Infinity display on the company’s newest flagships compared to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. That’s not to say there aren’t notable design improvements on-board. The S9 and S9+ are more resistant to damage thanks to thicker glass and stronger metal, and the fingerprint sensor is where most people should have no problems reaching.

The Infinity display itself has improved to the point that it can display colors “visually indistinguishable from perfect,” but again, with the bezels remaining nearly the same as the S8 and S8+, there certainly wasn’t any need for Samsung to adopt the iPhone X notch.

Galaxy S9 concept with a notch is beautiful

But those who have wondered how the Galaxy S9 and S9+ might have looked with a notch and virtually no bezels, well, graphic designer Martin Hajek has conjured up some concept images showing such a Galaxy S9. These images are stunning, to say the least, and in addition to putting a notch up top, the concept also envisions bezels thinner than even the iPhone X, thanks to the curves on the side.

Such a design may not be practical, especially with Android’s reliance on on-screen navigation keys for device operation. iOS puts functions such as the back button right inside the UI, with developers getting free reign on where the button can be placed (which messes with uniformity, a long-standing complaint of even iPhone lovers), and the iPhone X works with gestures to make up for the all-screen design.

Don’t Miss: Galaxy S9+ vs Galaxy S8+ side-by-side pictures

And, of course, the notch may not be as necessary without something like the iPhone X’s Face ID technology, which allows Apple’s Animoji feature to stay a step ahead of Samsung’s AR Emoji. But again, the images are nice to look at, and you can check out a few of them below. For more of these, hit the source link. Don’t forget to take a look at our Galaxy S9 review.

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Camera-based Google Lens comes to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 8

Google Lens is a visual search tool that the internet search giant announced last year. It analyzes what the smartphone camera sees and then provides relevant content. The feature is called Google Lens and while it was initially kept exclusive to Google’s Pixel handsets, the company decided to bring Lens to all Android devices running Google Photos last week.

The company had also said at the Mobile World Congress 2018 last month that the camera-based Google Lens experience would be rolled out to select “compatible flagship devices.” While it didn’t mention any of Samsung’s devices, the company’s flagships have received it. The camera-based Google Lens experience is available on the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.

Camera-based Google Lens on Galaxy S9

The camera-based Google Lens experience provides functionality similar to Bixby’s AR features. First, launch Google Assistant on the device and then tap on the Google Lens logo in the bottom right corner. This will launch the camera UI and that’s when you point at an object and if Lens recognizes it, it will provide relevant information about the object.

Google Lens also comes in handy when you want to quickly add information from a business card to your contacts. It can create a contact from a business card and can also be used to identify landmarks around you.

However, it appears that this functionality hasn’t been made available to those who are running the stable version of the Google App on their devices. We’ve also tested this on our devices and confirmed that the camera-based Google Lens experience is only enabled on the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 when the beta version of the Google App is installed. Those who don’t have it can head over to the Play Store right now to sign up for the beta and download the app.

Since Google is already testing this feature in the beta version of the app, it may only be a matter of time before the stable version of the app gets this functionality as well.

The post Camera-based Google Lens comes to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 8 appeared first on SamMobile.



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Three reasons to buy the Galaxy S9 or S9+ over the Galaxy S8 or S8+

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are here, and Samsung’s 2018 flagships will be the devices all other flagships will be measured against. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ pack the latest and greatest tech, including a camera with physically adjustable aperture, but while the two phones will be hogging all the limelight in the coming weeks (and have been since they were unveiled), some consumers will be looking to pick up a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ for a lower price. There’s certainly sense in saving money and going for a year-old flagship that does most of the things as the device that succeeds it, but before you make the final decision, we want to point out three features that we think make the S9 and S9+ a better purchase.

Stereo speakers

Need we say more? Samsung fans have been demanding stereo speakers on the company’s flagships for ages, and the company finally relented. Or, well, it just bought Harman at the right time and decided to put the newly onboarded talent to good use. In any case, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ offer you stereo sound through the loudspeakers (though there’s only one true speaker; the earpiece doubles up as the second speaker). The speakers are tuned by AKG and are four times louder than the single speaker on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.

They also offer Dolby Atmos surround sound to put you right in the center of the action, and as we noted in our review, the overall experience is a great one. Not the best if compared to the competition, which has been doing stereo sound on flagship phones for longer, but a far cry from the pitiful non-wired audio of yesteryear Galaxy flagships.

Super slow-mo videos

Not everyone is interested in taking slow-motion videos, or even regular videos for that matter, but those who are (especially parents and animal lovers) will find the super slow-mo recording feature on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ extremely fun to use. At 960 frames per second, super slow-mo videos taken on the S9 and S9+ can stretch a 0.2 second moment into a six second clip.

These phones can even use artificial intelligence to detect motion in a frame and record super slow-mo moments without any user input. These videos can lack detail, as they are recorded in 720p (1280×720 pixels), but you can always switch to regular slow-motion videos when the occasion calls for it.

Check out a few of our super slow-mo samples to see what makes the feature so inviting.

Guaranteed software updates until 2020

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are still in their prime when it comes to software support, but a year later these phones will not be as important when it comes to updates, especially major ones that bring a newer version of the Android operating system. Security updates will continue, but the frequency will go down as Samsung will shift its support to more recent devices.

If software updates matter to you, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ become the more sensible choice. It’s possible many users will be waiting too long for the Android P update next year, but if Samsung can put the Project Treble support on its new flagships to good use, the update scenario for the S9 and S9+ may be better than it was (or is) for the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

As you must have noticed by now, the list above doesn’t include reasons to buy the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in general. These are features that can enhance the overall user experience and make the S9 and S9+ a better choice over the Galaxy S8 or S8+, despite the lower prices the latter two might be carrying in your country.

Of course, it’s not an exhaustive list, and if you think there are other reasons to opt for the S9 and S9+ over their predecessors, do let us know in the comments section. Also check out a few pictures of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S8 side by side, and read our full Galaxy S9 review to see what makes Samsung’s latest top-of-the-line handsets tick.

The post Three reasons to buy the Galaxy S9 or S9+ over the Galaxy S8 or S8+ appeared first on SamMobile.



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Galaxy S9 clear back mod puts the phone’s internals on full display

If you want to make your new Samsung flagship stand out, maybe take a look at this Galaxy S9 clear back mod which is going to put the phone’s internals on full display. What you’ll essentially be doing is feeling off the paint from the back cover thus exposing the inner components. Bear in mind, though, that this is going to void your warranty.

Galaxy S9 clear back mod

This Galaxy S9 clear back mod has been demonstrated by YouTuber JerryRigEverything who did the same for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 last year. His video will walk you through the steps that you need to take in order to make this happen.

The process involves heating up the device to loosen the adhesive that keeps the back glass in place followed by lots of poking and prodding to get the adhesive out of place so that the back glass can be lifted. Some of you will already have figured out by now that this process will damage the device’s waterproofing for good.

The next step involves removing black plastics that cover up the phone’s internals. Some non-essential bits and pieces are cut up and discarded. While the wireless charging pad could be removed on the Galaxy S8 to expose more of the internals, it can’t be removed on the Galaxy S9 since there’s a battery temperature sensor attached to it. If the pad is removed, the device won’t be able to charge even when plugged in and that would render it useless.

The penultimate step in this Galaxy S9 clear back mod then involves stripping the paint from the back glass and removing the laminate layer. However, with the laminate layer out of the way, the glass wouldn’t be held in place if the phone was dropped. It would fly everywhere. All that’s left to do next to finish this Galaxy S9 clear back mod is to use some double-sided tape to attach the back panel.

It’s easier said than done particularly if you have no experience tinkering with smartphone hardware. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be voiding the warranty and damaging its waterproofing. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to watch it all happen, so do check out his video below.

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