Samsung patents a new in-display fingerprint technology for smartwatches

Samsung may finally launch a phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor next year. The Galaxy S10 is expected to be the first Samsung flagship to get the feature. Samsung already has various patents on in-display fingerprint technology for smartphones. The company aims to expand this technology to smartwatches as well. Samsung filed for this patent with the USPTO in Q2 2018.

Samsung patents in-display fingerprint scanner for smartwatches

The new Samsung patent illustrates a Galaxy device with a fingerprint sensor disposed on the rear surface of the display. The sensor is capable of detecting a touch having a specified pressure which the company refers as “force touch”. Samsung notes that the sensor will detect the force touch only through a specified area, in this case, the lower portion of the display. The fingerprint recognition area will be located within this force touch area. The patent document hints that Samsung may use this technology in both smartphones and smartwatches.

Samsung has also specifically stated that the device using this technology may include a display panel, a touch sensor, and/or an electronic pen sensor. The electronic pen sensor will be capable of receiving a touch, a gesture, or a hovering input from an electronic pen. The display panel may include an LCD, an LED, an OLED, a MEMS, or an electronic paper display panel. The touch sensor, meanwhile, may include a capacitive, a pressure-sensitive, a resistive, an infrared, or an ultrasonic touch panel.

These patents are, of course, never a confirmation that the company is actually working on a device to use it. However, it’s interesting that Samsung is at least mulling with the idea of using it on a smartwatch. Imagine a Galaxy Watch with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner!

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Samsung essentially confirms 5G Galaxy S10 for Verizon

It has been known for a while now that Samsung is developing a 5G Galaxy S10. It will offer a separate variant with support for this next-generation network standard. An earlier report had suggested that this model may be available from Verizon in the United States.

Without confirming any specifics of the device itself, Samsung and Verizon today confirmed plans to launch a 5G smartphone in the first half of 2019. They don’t mention the Galaxy S10 but all signs certainly point to that device.

5G Galaxy S10 for Verizon has more or less been confirmed

Carriers in the United States will switch on their 5G networks next year. Their counterparts in South Korea have already done that. They have even conducted the first video call on a commercial 5G network using a Samsung smartphone.

Samsung and Verizon are attending Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui this week. They will unveil a proof of concept 5G device with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem at the summit. This modem will likely ship with the Snapdragon-powered variant of the 5G Galaxy S10. Samsung is reportedly working on its own 5G modem as well, the Exynos 5100. It would be present in the Exynos 9820-based variants of this device.

Verizon has already launched its commercial 5G service in the United States but for home broadband. The 5G network for mobile devices will go live in early 2019. Furthermore, Verizon says it will expand “rapidly” once it goes live. The carrier also adds that users of this Samsung 5G smartphone will be able to immediately benefit from the speed and capacity of the network.

It’s unlikely that a different device is being developed for the carrier. There’s a high possibility that the phone both companies have mentioned in this announcement is the 5G Galaxy S10. They’re obviously not naming it because the handset isn’t official as yet. Samsung will officially unveil the Galaxy S10 at MWC 2019 in February. It’s expected to start shipping units in March.

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New Galaxy Xcover 4 update comes with December 2018 security patch

Samsung is making a habit of releasing new Android security patches for its devices ahead of time. The Galaxy Xcover 4 is being updated with the December 2018 security patch in Luxembourg. The December patch hasn’t come as quickly as the November patch, which was released for multiple devices in late October, but the pace of Samsung’s security updates has certainly picked up considerably in recent months.

Galaxy Xcover 4 jumps to December security patch

The Galaxy Xcover 4 isn’t getting a new security patch ahead of any other Galaxy phone for the first time, either. As for the December patch, we can’t say what vulnerabilities it fixes, but Samsung and Google should release official details for the patch later this week. The update is based on Android 8.1 Oreo and comes with software version G390FXXU3BRK5. Whether it includes notable changes or improvements other than the new security fixes remains to be seen.

If you own a Galaxy Xcover 4, you can download it via the Software update menu in the phone’s Settings app. We also have the firmware for the new update available in our database for those interested in getting the update without waiting for the over-the-air release.

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Galaxy A8s with camera-in-display could launch on December 10

It seems Samsung has officially teased the Galaxy A8s and confirmed when the device will be announced. Leakster Ice universe has tweeted an image that shows the Galaxy A8s with its Infinity-O display along with the date December 10 at the bottom. The image seems to be an answer to one released by Huawei to tease its upcoming phone, the Nova 4, which is also expected to have a display that has a hole in the corner for the selfie camera.

In fact, one could say the A8s and Nova 4 look quite similar, with the bottom bezel being bigger than the top bezel on both devices. The Galaxy A8s’ Infinity-O display has already been confirmed by the device’s FCC listing, and it looks like Samsung’s first smartphone with a notch-like obstruction in the display is just a week away from being unveiled. The Galaxy A8s may also be the first Galaxy with the Snapdragon 710 SoC. Other specs are expected to be similar to the Galaxy A7 (2018), including a triple-camera setup at the back. The display hole should contain a 24-megapixel front camera, and there could be a 3,400 mAh battery under the hood.

Don’t expect Android Pie on the A8s, of course. That’s coming in late January for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9, while the Galaxy A8s is pegged for an early January release in China. The Galaxy S10, naturally, will be the first Samsung phone with Android Pie out of the box, and it may also have a second camera residing inside the Infinity-O display.

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Purported Galaxy S10+ dimensions surface with unofficial renders

A new report brings purported Galaxy S10+ dimensions with unofficial renders of this device. This is slated to be the best of the three main models of the Galaxy S10. Samsung is also believed to have a separate 5G model in the pipeline.

We’ve already told you that the Galaxy S10+ will feature model number SM-G975F. It’s expected to come with a 6.4-inch, possibly 19:9 aspect ratio and 1440×3040 pixel resolution display. It may have a dual front and triple rear camera setup.

Purported Galaxy S10+ dimensions accompanied by unofficial renders

That’s what we get to see in these unofficial renders as well. The renders have been created by OnLeaks who is known for whipping them up based on CAD files. The triple camera system at the back might be positioned horizontally instead of vertically like it is on the Galaxy S9+. The change in position has been rumored before as well.

The Galaxy S10+ dimensions are said to be 157.5 x 75.0 x 7.8mm compared to 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5mm of the Galaxy S9+. Some reports suggest that Samsung will ship its new Infinity-O display with all models of the Galaxy S10. The Infinity-O display has a hole in the active display area for the front camera. It’s a way of ditching the notch in this seemingly neverending race to stretch the display as much as possible.

Since the Galaxy S10+ is expected to have a dual front camera, it would obviously have a larger hole in the display. The other two variants may only have a single front camera so they will require a smaller hole. That might be similar to the one on the Galaxy A8s, Samsung’s first smartphone with Infinity-O due even before the Galaxy S10.

These unofficial renders also show that the Galaxy S10 will be retaining the 3.5mm headphone jack. If this is accurate, it will be a relief for Samsung fans who don’t want the company to follow the herd in this case.

What do you make of this representation of the display hole for the Galaxy S10+? Does it look better to you than a notch? Let us know in the comments below.

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Samsung is reportedly reviewing its PR agency amid concerns over growth

Samsung has been facing daunting challenges in the mobile industry in the last couple of years. The company’s dominance in the smartphone market has been threatened by the aggressive expansion of many Chinese brands. Though Samsung is still the largest smartphone vendor in the world, growth has mostly stagnated and its even facing a decline in many parts of the world.

The company has already undertaken many measures to counter the slump in sales, but the results so far are nothing to write home about. According to a report, it appears Samsung Electronics has now decided to review the performance of its PR partner for the company’s mobile business, Edelman. The Korean giant is also apparently inviting other agencies to pitch for the role.

New PR agency for Samsung Mobile?

Samsung Mobile shifted its business from Fleishman-Hillard to Edelman, which also handles the company’s corporate communications, nearly three years ago. The assignment was valued at $2 million at that time. As of now, it is not certain if this review exercise will result in a new PR agency for Samsung’s mobile business.

Many reasons are attributed to Samsung Mobile’s declining fortunes, but the primary culprit, according to many reports, seems to be the burgeoning Chinese brands. The company might be feeling that perhaps the PR agency hasn’t been proactive enough in promoting its products. It certainly weighs on the business since effective promotion is crucial for making products a success.

So Samsung is looking to hear pitches from other agencies as well. This will help it ascertain whether there are new ideas that need to be executed for the promotion of its products. If it likes what it hears, then it just might switch agencies. Companies do this all the time when they feel that they need to kick things up a notch in this department. Whether or not it will bear any fruits for Samsung remains to be seen.

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Galaxy S10+ display hole design could be slightly different

A new rumor suggests that the Galaxy S10+ display hole design may be a bit different compared to the other Galaxy S10 models. Samsung’s next flagship is expected to feature the company’s Infinity-O display. It revealed this new type of display at SDC 2018 last month. The Infinity-O display maximizes screen real estate by allowing for a hole in the active display area for the front camera.

It was reported last week that Samsung has started mass producing the Infinity-O display for its upcoming flagship. It’s unclear right now if all Galaxy S10 models will feature it or just one as some suggest.

Galaxy S10+ display hole design may be different due to the dual front camera

Samsung will likely release three main models of the Galaxy S10. There’s a new entry-level model with a dual rear and single front camera. The Galaxy S9’s successor may also have this setup. It’s the Galaxy S9+’s successor that’s believed to have a dual front and triple rear camera. The separate 5G Galaxy S10 variant being developed may also have a dual front camera.

Assuming that all models come with the Infinity-O display, then the Galaxy S10+ display hole design will certainly be a bit different. It would need to be if Samsung wants to stick a dual camera in there.

We might see this display technology in action before the Galaxy S10 arrives. The Galaxy A8s will likely be Samsung’s first smartphone with an Infinity-O display. Its recent FCC filing suggests as much. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy A8s in January while the Galaxy S10 may not arrive until March 2019.

There isn’t a lot of clarity about the Galaxy S10’s display and camera right now. The conflicting reports certainly aren’t happening so take this rumor with a grain of salt as well. If history is any indication, the Galaxy S10 will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2019 in February. It may then hit the market in the following month.

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First commercial 5G video call made using a Samsung smartphone

Major carriers in South Korea have launched their commercial 5G networks. A Samsung smartphone was used to make the first video call on the network. We have previously seen the company’s equipment being used to test 5G networks in controlled conditions. This call was placed on SK Telecom’s commercial 5G network.

SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have all launched their commercial 5G networks in South Korea. However, service is only available for enterprise customers right now. That’s because 5G smartphones won’t hit the market until March next year. That’s when the average user will be able to experience this next-generation network technology.

Samsung smartphone used for the first commercial 5G video call in South Korea

The commercial 5G network launched in South Korea covers 13 major cities so far. Seoul, Juju Island, Seongnam, Hwaseong and others are on the list. The carriers have vowed to expand the network further across the country before the smartphones arrive in 2019.

SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho marked the occasion by making the first 5G video call on the carrier’s commercial network. The call was made from SK Telecom’s network control center in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province to a staff manager in its Myeong-dong office in central Seoul. A prototype 5G smartphone from Samsung was used to make this video call. Samsung’s mobile boss DJ Koh said that “Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom worked closely together to speed up commercialization of 5G.”

It would be stretching the truth a fair bit to suggest that this was a prototype of the 5G Galaxy S10. The device actually looks more like a Galaxy S9+. That doesn’t really matter. Rather, this is an indication that Samsung’s technology for bringing 5G support to smartphones works.

Samsung’s first 5G smartphone is expected to arrive in March 2019. The company is reportedly going to release a separate model of the Galaxy S10 with 5G support. It would obviously be released only in markets where 5G networks have gone live. Customers in the United States would get it as well. Carriers there are expected to launch their 5G networks early next year.

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An official Samsung Twitter account caught tweeting from an iPhone again

You would expect this from influencers or celebrities who take money to promote products that they don’t actually use but not from an official Samsung Twitter account. However, one has been caught tweeting from an iPhone yet again. The official Twitter account for Samsung Nigeria sent out a tweet promoting the Galaxy Note 9’s display. It did that from an iPhone.

You’d expect the people running the account to be mindful of the optics. They should be aware of how bad it would look if a tweet promoting the Galaxy Note 9 was posted from its chief rival. Perhaps that irony was lost on the social media team.

An official Samsung Twitter account post came from an iPhone

The gaffe was spotted by noted tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee or MKBHD. It didn’t take long for someone at Samsung to notice. The tweet was taken down and even the entire account was deactivated for some time. The account has since been restored and that tweet is nowhere to be found.

This isn’t exactly the first time that something like this has happened. An official Samsung Twitter account for Saudi Arabia made a similar mistake last month. It also sent out a tweet promoting the Galaxy Note 9 from the Twitter for iPhone app.

The accounts are likely being run by digital marketing firms hired by the company. They would certainly have got an earful from Samsung over this mistake. These things tend to happen but it certainly doesn’t reflect nicely on the company. It would be in Samsung’s own interests to ensure that the people running its social media accounts don’t make such mistakes in the future.

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