Galaxy Apps gets rebranded to Galaxy Store with a new One UI design

Samsung had announced at SDC 2018 last year that it would be rolling out a major update for Galaxy Apps. The update involves a design overhaul as well as a rebranding. Galaxy Apps will henceforth be called the Galaxy Store. As many would agree, that’s a much better name for the app.

The company has rolled out a new update for the app which rebrands it and also brings the One UI redesign. The app adopts the One UI design language nicely and will feel right at home on a Samsung device running Android Pie.

Galaxy Apps will now be called Galaxy Store

Not much else has been changed except the name of this app. It’s still being used to distribute apps and games for Samsung’s devices. Even though the Galaxy Store branding would suggest that it could eventually offer more than just apps. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.

The user interface change is certainly noticeable as the One UI design language is hard to miss. The curvy UI elements and the large headers keep with the overall design aesthetic of Samsung’s Android Pie update. It does appear to be easier to navigate which many users would appreciate as the previous interface didn’t really make navigation easier. The bottom bar offers quick access to the main sections of the app.

The latest version of this app, v4.5.01.7, is now rolling out to Samsung devices running Android Pie. It’s a mandatory update so the old version won’t work when this arrives on your device. Galaxy Store is now available for download from our APK page. It will most likely come pre-installed on the Galaxy S10.

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Is this Samsung’s foldable smartphone?

The Galaxy S10 has been thoroughly leaked but the same can’t be said for the so-called Galaxy Fold. There haven’t been that many leaks for Samsung’s foldable smartphone and that might be changing today. A couple of images have surfaced online which claim to show off the foldable smartphone.

It’s not immediately clear if these are fan renders or official renders of the device. The device in these images is in line with the expectations for the Galaxy Fold’s design. It’s going to fold out in a book-like fashion.

Samsung’s foldable smartphone likely being unveiled today

The first image shows the Galaxy Fold being folded out to reveal the larger internal display. Samsung confirmed at SDC 2018 that it will have a 7.3-inch display on the inside. There’s going to be a 4.6-inch external display for use when the device isn’t folded out. The internal display will have a 1536×2152 pixel resolution.

The second image shows the device being folded open like a book. We can also see a couple of cameras up top with a rather sharp cut in the display border to accommodate the shooters. Samsung didn’t show this off during SDC so it can’t be said for sure right now whether or not this is what the inside of the Galaxy Fold will look like.

We will potentially get all of the official details later today. Samsung’s first Unpacked event of the year takes place in San Francisco today. It’s also expected to unveil the Galaxy Fold at this event. Samsung has been teasing the foldable smartphone’s launch at the Galaxy S10 event for a few weeks now.

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Here’s where (and when) to watch Samsung’s Galaxy S10 launch event

In a short while, Samsung will take to the stage to take the wraps off the flagship Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, and budget Galaxy S10e, at a dedicated launch event in San Francisco, California. Here’s how to watch the Galaxy S10 launch live online, along with the all-important kick-off time.

Let’s start with the time: Samsung’s Unpacked event will commence at 11 am PST on February 20. That’s 6:30 am AET, 2:00 pm ET and 7:00 pm GMT. The conference will be streamed on the firm’s website for fans all over the world to come together and watch the action unfold in real-time.

That doesn’t mean you need to head over to Samsung’s website to tune in, though — you’ll be able to see what it has up its sleeve right from this very page. You will, however, need to check back nearer the time for that as the on-site YouTube stream won’t be live until around an hour before it starts.

It will also be streamed on Facebook and Twitter, for those who like to comment on the news as soon as it breaks, without having to switch between multiple browser windows. But we’d recommend staying right here as we’ll be on the floor providing complete coverage of the event.

The post Here’s where (and when) to watch Samsung’s Galaxy S10 launch event appeared first on SamMobile.

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BREAKING: Stable Galaxy S8 Android Pie update released in Germany

Samsung is now rolling out the official Android Pie update to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The rollout has begun for users on Android Oreo in Germany it seems, but we can expect it to be available for those who are part of the Pie beta on their S8 and S8+ as well. Just how soon Samsung will bring the update for Oreo users to other regions remains to be seen. Many markets are expected to get Pie on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in March, so it’s likely to be a slower process compared to the Note 8’s update.

The Galaxy S8 Pie update is available over the air and is a 1.6GB download. The software version is getting bumped to G950FXXU4DSBA and G955FXXU4DSBA for the S8 and S8+ respectively. The Galaxy S8’s stable update comes with the February 2019 security patch, like the Note 8’s. Those who are on the Pie beta are already aware of the changes and new features that are part and parcel of Android Pie, and those who are going to be upgrading from Oreo can find out what’s in store in our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series.

To download the update over the air, open the Settings app on your phone, go into the Software update menu, and tap Download updates manually. We also have the Android Pie firmware for the two devices in our firmware database in case the OTA isn’t available for you. Do tell us if you’re seeing the update in a country other than Germany (or getting a smaller update that moves you to the final Pie release from the beta).

Thanks for the tip, Subas!

Galaxy S8

• Model: SM-G950F
• Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7 OIS

More specifications

Galaxy S8+

• Model: SM-G955F
• Dimensions: 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7 OIS

More specifications

The post BREAKING: Stable Galaxy S8 Android Pie update released in Germany appeared first on SamMobile.

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SamMobile Daily Recap, February 19, 2019: Yellow Galaxy S10e, Note 8 Pie, 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

Canary Yellow model of the Galaxy S10e is… bright

Galaxy S10 LED cover to have an ‘Emotional Lighting Effect’

Samsung’s wireless charging power bank receives FCC certification

Firmware News

Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie update released in more markets

Bixby

Bixby Routine: Samsung trademarks a new feature for its AI assistant

Tablets

Galaxy Tab S5e price may be lower for Europe than initially announced

Opinion

10 years of Samsung Galaxy S flagships: Looking back at the Galaxy S9!

The post SamMobile Daily Recap, February 19, 2019: Yellow Galaxy S10e, Note 8 Pie, and more appeared first on SamMobile.

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10 years of Samsung Galaxy S flagships: Looking back at the Galaxy S9!

Welcome to part nine of our 10 years of Samsung Galaxy S flagship series, in which we here at SamMobile talk about our experiences and memories of each of the nine Galaxy S flagships that have come before the Galaxy S10. Today, we look back at the Galaxy S9. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ were improvements over the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, and the biggest improvement they brought was the location of the fingerprint sensor, which was relocated below the rear camera. We also got stereo speakers on a Galaxy flagship for the first time, and Samsung also implemented Dolby Atmos support for enhanced surround sound.

But the Galaxy S9 lineup also introduced a divide between the specs of the regular and Plus variants that hadn’t existed before. The 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 had a smaller screen and battery as expected, but it also missed out on a dual rear camera and had only 4GB of RAM. However, the Galaxy S9 did get all the main upgrades for the rear camera, such as Super Slow-mo video recording and the ability to switch between different apertures. It also got AR Emoji, a take on Apple’s Animoji that didn’t really work well enough.

On the software front, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ became the first Samsung phones with Project Treble support, which is standard on all devices that launch with Android Oreo or higher. That certainly helped Samsung bring the Pie update to the S9 duo considerably fast, so much so that some markets received Android Pie around Christmas despite the company having set January as the time frame for the final Pie update.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ didn’t do that great in the market, unfortunately, despite being excellent phones overall (the S9+ in particular). We loved them here at SamMobile, and today we talk about our experience with the S9 and S9+. We’d like to hear your thoughts and opinion on these phones as well, so don’t forget to leave a comment!

Abhijeet Mishra

I loved the Galaxy S9+ purely for the fact that the fingerprint reader was finally easier to use, as I didn’t like iris recognition because it’s a slower unlock process compared to fingerprint recognition. The S9+’ camera was great as well, and I liked how Samsung had used that Dual Aperture technology conservatively to improve pictures only when really needed. And it was nice to finally have stereo speakers, good ones at that. Samsung took its sweet time to bring stereo speakers to its flagships, but thankfully the implementation was worth the wait.

Adnan Farooqui

The Galaxy S9 didn’t bring any major changes in the design department. It wasn’t expected to in the first place as Samsung would evidently save the exciting stuff for its 10th anniversary flagship. However, it did make some meaningful changes under the hood. The Galaxy S9 got a fancy variable aperture rear camera and stereo speakers.

I still wasn’t convinced even though the camera had me reaching for my wallet. Since these improvements would be coming to the Galaxy Note 9, I decided to wait it out and opt for that instead. That’s exactly what I did and couldn’t be happier with the Galaxy Note 9. Upgrading from the Galaxy S8+ to the Galaxy Note 9 made more sense to me personally than just getting the Galaxy S9+. That being said, I would have probably ended up getting the Galaxy S9+ if I was upgrading from the Galaxy S7 edge.

Martin Reinders

Like Abhijeet, I loved the fact that the fingerprint sensor got positioned below the camera on the Galaxy S9. It’s in the perfect place and I use it all the time. I also liked the smaller bezels. Not a big change over the S8, and the competition is already ahead in this department, but it didn’t bother me.

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Don’t forget: We want to hear about your fond memories and experience with the Galaxy S8 or S8+, so go ahead and get a discussion going in the comments!

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

The post 10 years of Samsung Galaxy S flagships: Looking back at the Galaxy S9! appeared first on SamMobile.

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Galaxy Tab S5e price may be lower for Europe than initially announced

Samsung may reduce the pricing for the Galaxy Tab S5e, its newest AMOLED-toting tablet, in Europe. Samsung initially announced the Galaxy Tab S5e will start at 419 euro for the Wi-Fi variant, and that equates to around $475, which is considerably higher than the $399 price tag in the US. However, Samsung Netherlands tells us the pricing may be reduced in the near future before the tablet goes on sale in European markets like the Netherlands.

The Galaxy Tab S5e is rather aggressively priced, with Samsung saving costs by downgrading specs such as the chipset that powers the tablet (a Snapdragon 670) and not offering support for an S Pen while keeping the Super AMOLED display and quad AKG-tuned speakers from the Galaxy Tab S4 intact (though the screen size is slightly smaller now). The Tab S5e’s biggest claim to fame is its ultra-thin 5.5mm body, which holds a 7,040 mAh battery. The Tab S5e also comes with Bixby 2.0, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and Android Pie with One UI, all of which haven’t been seen on any previous Galaxy tablet.

The Galaxy Tab S5e will go on sale in Germany, the US, and a few other markets sometime in March, and we should get more details on the European pricing as we approach the release date.

Galaxy Tab S5e

• Model: SM-T720
• Dimensions: 245.0 x 160.0 x 5.5mm
• Display: 10.5” (266.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy Tab S5e (LTE)

• Model: SM-T725
• Dimensions: 245.0 x 160.0 x 5.5mm
• Display: 10.5” (266.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS

More specifications

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Samsung’s wireless charging power bank receives FCC certification

FCC documents published yesterday have revealed that Samsung is working on a wireless power bank, confirming earlier rumors. As the name suggests, this is a power bank with wireless charging capabilities built-in as shown in the pictures below. The documents say it is a 10,000mAh power bank and may support fast wireless charging.

We currently don’t know when this device, which carries model number EB-U1200, will hit the market, but FCC certification is a clear indication that the launch is imminent. There is a very good chance that it will make an appearance alongside the new flagships at the Galaxy S10 launch event in San Francisco tomorrow.

No need to buy a power bank and a wireless charger separately

Though we don’t know the price of the device, it is safe to assume that it will be priced higher than the normal power banks from Samsung due to the built-in wireless charging capabilities. On the plus side, buying this two-in-one accessory eliminates the need to buy a power back and a wireless charger separately.

A quick Google search shows that the concept is not entirely new. Haier and others already have similar wireless power banks listed on Amazon. However, a major brand like Samsung adopting this idea has the potential to turn this into a new trend for power banks.

The post Samsung’s wireless charging power bank receives FCC certification appeared first on SamMobile.

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Bixby Routine: Samsung trademarks a new feature for its AI assistant

Samsung may soon add a new skill to Bixby‘s repertoire. The company has registered a trademark for the brand name “Bixby Routine” in Korea. The AI assistant already exists on our Galaxy smartphones in various forms, including Bixby Voice, Bixby Home and Bixby Vision.

Application comes just days ahead of Galaxy S10 launch

Samsung submitted the paperwork for the Bixby Routine brand name at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) last week. The application doesn’t reveal what this new feature does. But if we go by its name, Bixby Routine seems be a function that guides you through the day with your routines, similar to Routines in Good Lock 2018. However, it is possible for Samsung to introduce something completely different as well. Bixby Routine is intended for all relevant consumer electronics: from smartphone and watches to tablets and even PCs.

It is not yet clear as to when Samsung plans to launch Bixby Routine. However, the fact that the trademark application comes just a few days ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S10 makes for an interesting take. The Galaxy S10 lineup unveils tomorrow and it is only fitting for Samsung to introduce one or two new Bixby features alongside.

A day worth of wait and we will get to know what Samsung has up its sleeves this time around. The Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco kicks off at 11:00 AM PST (08:00 PM CET) on February 20. The event will be live streamed on Samsung’s official website.

The post Bixby Routine: Samsung trademarks a new feature for its AI assistant appeared first on SamMobile.

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