SamMobile Daily Recap, February 28, 2019: Bixby remapping, Galaxy A6 Pie beta, and more

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap. Here’s what we covered today. Phones Support page confirms approaching Samsung Galaxy A40 launch in Europe Samsung launches the Galaxy A10, A30, and...

Samsung to allow swapping Bixby in ‘Hi Bixby’ hotword with other words?

Now that we have the option to remap the dedicated Bixby key on our Galaxy phones, Samsung could be planning to give us the option to customize the ‘Hi Bixby’ wake-up command for Bixby Voice. Well, at least in China, where the company has apparently announced that Samsung will swap the Bixby in ‘Hi Bixby’ with a word of their choice. There are no more details available yet, but Twitter leakster Ice universe says you could say ‘Hi IceCat’ instead...

With Android Pie, Bixby Voice no longer needs a physical key

When the Galaxy Tab S4 went official, Samsung told us that the tablet would have support for Bixby Voice. That was well and good until we realized the Tab S4 had no physical Bixby key, which is required for Bixby Voice access on a Galaxy device. Samsung told us Bixby Voice would come with an update to the Tab S4 in 2019, and it turns out it’s the Android Pie update that the company was talking about. Long...

[Poll] A week later, what do you think about the Galaxy Fold?

It has been a week since Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold at its Unpacked event in San Francisco. The much-awaited device will go on sale on April 26 for $1,980 in select markets. So far, the company hasn’t allowed the press to play with the device, thereby leaving many questions unanswered. However, quite a bit of information about the Galaxy Fold has emerged online in the last few days, including a four-minute video from Samsung which...

Samsung launches the Galaxy A10, A30, and A50 in India

After launching the online-exclusive Galaxy M series, Samsung is now focusing on the offline market in India by launching new Galaxy A series smartphones. In line with all the previous reports, the company has announced the Galaxy A10, A30, and A50 in the country today. Of these three models, the Galaxy A30 and A50 already made their debut at the MWC in Barcelona last week. While the three devices...

Samsung brings Bixby key remapping to older flagships

We reported last week that Samsung had finally struck a compromise by allowing Galaxy S10 users to remap the Bixby key to launch a third-party app. Since this is a software feature, there was a possibility that Samsung would bring it to older devices. It’s not waiting for the Galaxy S10 to come out to do that. Samsung has rolled out an update for the Bixby app today which allows users to remap the...

Samsung releases Android Pie beta for Galaxy A6 (2018) in Korea

Now that Samsung has released the Android Pie update, either in beta or stable form, for its flagship devices, it is shifting its focus to bring the same to many of its newer midrange devices. Last week, the company kickstarted the Android Pie beta program for the Galaxy A7 (2018) users in India. It is now bringing the same update to the Galaxy A6 (2018) customers in Korea. Predictably, the Pie update...

Support page confirms approaching Samsung Galaxy A40 launch in Europe

Samsung has now announced the Galaxy A10, A30 and A50 in several countries, and shown of the latter two during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But more models in the A series are nearing release, with the Galaxy A40 possibly leading the next wave of A series devices. Galaxy A40 coming to Europe On Samsung’s German website, the first Galaxy A40 support page confirms our earlier reports about...

Galaxy A90 camera may have a sliding, rotating mechanism

Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy A series earlier this week. Only the A30 and A50 have been announced so far but there will be additional devices in the lineup which will come out down the line. The Galaxy A90 is one such device. We have been hearing rumors about it for a few months now. Samsung is expected to go in a completely different direction for the camera. It would be in line with the company’s strategy to pack its midrangers full of technology. Galaxy...

Samsung launches the Galaxy M30 in India

After the successful launch of the Galaxy M10 and M20 in India, Samsung is expanding its M series portfolio by launching the Galaxy M30 in the country. As the model number suggests, the M30 sits above the Galaxy M20 in Samsung’s new online-exclusive budget lineup. It boasts slightly better specs than the M20 and accordingly comes at a higher price as well. The Galaxy M30 comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+...

Samsung executive hypes Galaxy Fold’s UX and multitasking capabilities

After years of buildup, Samsung finally launched the much-awaited foldable smartphone, Galaxy Fold, at it its Unpacked event in San Francisco last week. Despite announcing the price and availability, the company, however, didn’t allow the press to play with the device to realize how it feels and works. As the curiosity about the device continues, the company has been posting bits and pieces of new information to keep the hype intact. A few days back,...

Samsung to launch the Galaxy S10 series in India on March 6

Samsung has announced the launch date for the Galaxy S10 series in India. The Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10+ will be launched on March 6 in the country. Samsung India has sent out media invites for a launch event in New Delhi at 12 noon. The Galaxy S10 series was unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 20 in San Francisco. The devices are already up for pre-order in a number...

Not all Galaxy S10 models will ship on March 8

Samsung has launched three different variants of a Galaxy S flagship for the first time. There are multiple configurations available for the handsets but not all of them will be available for purchase on March 8. That’s when pre-order customers start receiving their orders. The same holds true for customers who have pre-ordered their Galaxy S10. Samsung won’t be shipping out all of the units on March 8 in the United States. Those who opted for certain...

It’s Official: You can now remap the Bixby key on the Galaxy S10+

The first software update for the Samsung Galaxy S10+, which will be waiting for customers to install as soon as they take their handset out of the box on March 8, introduces the option to remap the Bixby button to launch an aftermarket application or execute a Quick Command. It also enables Instagram Mode. Let’s talk remapping, and Instagram Mode You can either choose to reconfigure the device to...

Galaxy S10+ now receiving its first software update

Samsung has started rolling out its first software update for the Galaxy S10+, bundling a number of miscellaneous bug fixes and stability improvements, as well as the option to remap the Bixby button to launch any stock or aftermarket application — like Facebook, Google Maps, Instagram and Netflix. The upgrade also includes the fixes for five critical and more than a dozen high-risk vulnerabilities...

Samsung and Huawei settle patent infringement lawsuit

Samsung hasn’t just been competing with Huawei in the market. Both companies have been involved in legal battles since 2016 when they sued each other on allegations of patent infringement. Lawsuits were filed in the United States and China with Samsung contesting them in both markets. The two companies have decided to settle their issue out of court, at least in the United States. A joint motion filed today confirms that Huawei and Samsung has entered...

Samsung’s doubling down on Bixby Voice at MWC 2019

Samsung has spared no expense to make sure Barcelona is aware that Bixby Voice can now understand Spanish, dotting several Hola Bixby Experience Stores around the capital, where MWC 2019 is currently underway — with the most notable situated opposite Apple’s flagship Passeig de Gràcia location, which has been closed for the last month for refurbishment. The so-called Hola Bixby Experience Stores are decked out with Samsung’s latest devices, ranging...

Galaxy S10 will come with a built-in cryptocurrency wallet

As rumored and reported previously, Samsung’s Galaxy S10 lineup will come with a built-in cryptocurrency wallet called Samsung Blockchain KeyStore. It’s a cold storage wallet that can be used to store Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cosmo Coin. The Korean company confirmed and elaborated about the wallet during the Samsung Mobile Business Summit at the ongoing MWC in Barcelona. Along with the wallet, the company’s...

Samsung says Galaxy Fold customers will get a ‘concierge-like service’

Samsung has been very light on the details about the Galaxy Fold so far. It only confirmed some of the specs at the launch event on February 20 apart from revealing when it will arrive and for how much. It has now provided additional information about how the device is going to be sold and the premium aftercare that customers will receive. The Galaxy Fold will go on sale on April 26. It’s going to cost $1,980 and this new information helps put that...

Swatch files complaint against Samsung for trademark infringements

According to Reuters, Swatch Group, the famous Swiss watchmaker which owns renowned brands like Longines, Omega, Swatch, Rado, and Tissot, has filed a complaint against Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electronics America in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York over trademark infringements. Swatch alleges that downloadable watch faces available for the Gear Sport, Gear S3 Classic and Frontier smartwatches “bear identical or...

Galaxy A10 render surfaces ahead of launch in India

Samsung will be launching the refreshed Galaxy A series on February 28 in India. The Galaxy A10, A30, and the A50 are expected to be launched initially in the country. Samsung has, in fact, already made the latter two official at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Monday. An image leak from a case maker has now revealed the render of the Galaxy A10. Nothing to surprise here The newly...

Galaxy S10 brings a change to the camera’s Live Focus mode that I like

With great power comes great responsibility, and with more cameras on a flagship phone come new and improved features. Samsung talked all about the Galaxy S10 cameras at the official unveiling, focusing on the new ultra-wide camera joining the Dual Aperture and telephoto lens from the Galaxy S9. The ultra-wide camera enables pictures with a 23-degree field of view, and it changes a key element of...

[Poll] Which Galaxy S10 did you pre-order and why?

It’s been almost a week since the Galaxy S10 was unveiled by Samsung in San Francisco. As the company is wont to to in recent years, it started taking pre-orders for its latest flagship the very next day across the world. Samsung has three different variants of its flagship on offer this year: the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+. The Galaxy S10e is rather different from the S10 and S10+ in...

T-Mobile begins testing Android Pie for the Galaxy Note 9

T-Mobile has been rather late in releasing the Android Pie (One UI) update for the Galaxy Note 9. The carrier has only begun testing the Android Pie update for the device now. It is expected to roll out the update in the coming weeks, once testing is complete. Sprint and AT&T have already rolled out the Android Pie update for the Galaxy Note 9. Verizon, meanwhile, remains mum on the matter. T-Mobile Galaxy...