الغريب: 04/16/19

الثلاثاء، 16 أبريل 2019

[Poll] Were you hoping to see an S Pen on the Galaxy Fold?

Unfurled, the Galaxy Fold has a massive 7.3-inch AMOLED screen, which is the ideal surface for an S Pen. But Samsung decided against bundling one with the handset. In fact, there’s no hardware or software on board that would allow it to work, even if you snagged a replacement S Pen from the firm’s website for $29.99 — and that’s something that’s frustrating fans all over the world.

With that in mind, we’d love to know whether you were hoping to see an S Pen on the Galaxy Fold. I, for one, was. Being able to open the handset to scribble down some notes using the stylus would have taken productivity to a whole new level. Although, given Samsung is working on two new foldable smartphones, it’s something we could see introduced on a successor in the near future.

To have your say, cast a vote in the poll below, then feel free to elaborate on your response in the comments section if you’re feeling talkative — we’d really love it if you did as we love nothing more than jumping into an insightful conversation with our fantastic audience. After you’ve done that, be sure to check out our in-depth hands-on with the Galaxy Fold for our initial impressions.

Were you hoping to see an S Pen on the Galaxy Fold?

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Sprint Galaxy S10 April security update improves LTE performance

Sprint has released a software update to fix LTE reception issues plaguing the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+. Many Galaxy S10 owners in the US have been complaining about poorer signal reception, with Sprint’s variants affected considerably more than those on AT&T and T-Mobile’s network. Sprint had acknowledged the issue and released an update last month to fix it, but the problem hadn’t completely gone away. Now, the carrier has released a new update, once again promising improvements to LTE performance.

However, the issue still persists, according to some users on this Reddit thread, although there aren’t enough reports yet for a proper conclusion. The update does include the April 2019 security patch, though. The April match hasn’t been released for unlocked or carrier-branded Galaxy S10s anywhere else, so Sprint is the first to offer the newest security fixes to Samsung’s latest flagships. Some users also report that the recent fingerprint sensor update for the S10 and S10+ also showed up for them after installing the new update.

You should be able to download the update over the air on your S10e, S10, or S10+ by going into the Software update menu of the Settings app and tapping Download and install. Do tell us whether the network issues on your phone disappear after you’ve updated; if not, then you’ll just have to hope Sprint does the needful with the next update.

Galaxy S10e

Model: SM-G970U
Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10

Model: SM-G973U
Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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Samsung did it: It’s the first to globally release a foldable phone

It’s happening. In a little under two weeks from now, the world’s first foldable smartphone will go on sale. The Galaxy Fold is a groundbreaking device that marks a new chapter in smartphone form factor, one that combines a tablet and smartphone into one. Many of our readers feel this new form factor is unnecessary, but I’m pretty sure that a few years down the line, everyone will want to own one (of course, lower price tags will help once the foldable form factor becomes more mainstream).

Samsung’s the first with a foldable phone you can actually buy

So what makes the Galaxy Fold special? Well, in my eyes, innovation has to be the biggest reason. There was a time when Samsung loved rushing to market to be the first, but for the Galaxy Fold, the company took its time and decided to release a finished product. Sure, the device will be produced in limited quantities, but it will be available in more than just one or two countries right off the bat. Samsung even worked with Google on the software, and we can see that collaboration proved to be a benefit based on our initially impressions of the Fold.

As the owner of SamMobile, I started using Samsung smartphones a long time ago, and the Galaxy Fold makes me very excited. It’s not a regular device by any stretch of the imagination but a step into the future of mobile, a new way of interacting with a device that you always carry with you in your pockets no matter where you may be.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or not following mainstream coverage about the mobile industry, you have probably about Huawei’s foldable device, the Mate X. But, as I’ve said earlier, I believe Samsung’s implementation of a foldable phone is way smarter. The Mate X may look considerably more futuristic, but it’s hard to sell devices to consumers based on just that angle alone. The Galaxy Fold doesn’t look as futuristic as the Mate X, but its book-like form factor is more practical.

Galaxy Fold sets the bar incredibly high

The Galaxy Fold is even harder to produce because of the way it folds, yet Samsung is the one that has its foldable device ready to go while Huawei is yet to offer a concrete release date, proving it’s still leading the industry when it comes to display and hardware design. And we’re lucky enough to already have a Galaxy Fold here at SamMobile, which we will be thoroughly exploring in the days to come to tell you how it is in daily use or when you’re out and about on trips; we’ll also tell you how it fares a few months later.

And while there’s a chance I’ll find the Galaxy Fold doesn’t live up to my expectations, I love that Samsung has been able to beat the competition with the first commercial foldable phone. The Galaxy Fold is a device that sets the bar for what’s possible, and it makes me very proud as a Samsung fan.

What about you?

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DxOMark Galaxy S10 5G camera test reveals interesting changes

DxOMark has published its in-depth Galaxy S10 5G camera review today and given it an overall score of 112 points for the rear camera and 97 points for the front-facing cameras. When broken down into photo and video scores for the rear cameras, the S10 5G has scored 117 and 100 points respectively, slightly higher than the Galaxy S10+’ 114 and 97 points. But, as the site points out (no pun intended), the scores have improved not because of under-the-hood enhancements to image quality, but because of slightly different camera settings.

For example, the Galaxy S10 5G offers you the option to use either the telephoto lens or the ultra-wide lens for Live Focus portrait pictures. The regular Galaxy S10s use the ultra-wide camera for bokeh shots, and while that allows more leeway in framing bigger subjects and enables the Galaxy S10e to also take Live Focus pictures, it can cause some “unflattering perspective distortion of the portrait subject,” as DxOMark puts it.

And the option to select the telephoto or ultra-wide lens for portrait shots might make its way to the S10 and S10+ later this month through a software update, as DxOMark says even the Galaxy S10 5G firmware it tested is not yet available to consumers. That update may not include a dedicated Night mode, though. DxOMark doesn’t say their Galaxy S10 5G had this mode, so the wait for improved ultra-low-light shots may not end in the very near future.

4K video recording enabled out of the box

The other important change on the Galaxy S10 5G is that it records 4K videos out of the box (every other Galaxy device that supports 4K video recording comes with Full HD as the default video resolution). That and the the front-facing camera’s ability to shoot videos with more stable focus indoors and fewer artifacts in videos recorded while walking contribute to the 100-point video score. What doesn’t contribute to that store is the Live Focus video capability that the ToF (time-of-flight) sensor enables, as DxOMark doesn’t currently test bokeh videos.

DxOMark maintains that the Galaxy S10+ is still an amazing phone for photography, despite the Galaxy S10 5G’s noticeable improvements. It will be interesting to see whether the software changes seen on the 5G model’s camera will make their way to the non-5G S10’s. They probably will, as Samsung doesn’t stand to gain anything by limiting these minor yet useful improvements to the Galaxy S10 5G. Or so we hope.

Check out DxOMark’s complete Galaxy S10 5G camera review at their website.

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GPS accuracy issues on your Galaxy S10? Here’s a way to fix it

The Samsung Galaxy S10 is armed with a number of different utilities it can use to determine the handset’s geographical location. More often than not, however, it’ll turn to GPS — the most common method of tracking the whereabouts of a device in real-time. But for some strange reason, the feature isn’t set to operate in its most accurate form out of the box on some carrier-branded models.

To be clear: this isn’t a tool that all Galaxy S10 owners should turn on. If you just use Google Maps to see where a restaurant is before departing, for example, there will be no added benefit of using it. But if you use your handset for either driving or walking directions on a regular basis, you’ll notice a significant difference — even more so with the latter in a busy city centre with high-rise buildings.

How to improve GPS on the Galaxy S10

Step 1: Navigate into Settings.

Step 2: Select Biometrics and security.

Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom, then tap Location.

Step 4: Tap Improve accuracy.

Step 5: Slide the toggles next to Bluetooth scanning and Wi-Fi scanning to On.

Once that’s done, your Galaxy S10 will then crosscheck the information GPS is relaying with local Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to create an even more accurate picture of where the device is located, which is useful in populated areas where there are a number of tall structures that interfere with the GPS signal — like Canary Wharf, one of the busiest financial districts in London.

Galaxy S10e

Model: SM-G970F
Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10

Model: SM-G973F
Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10 Plus

Model: SM-G975F
Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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No, you can’t use the S Pen on the Samsung Galaxy Fold

This is a question that we’ve seen a lot of Samsung fans asking. Given the new form factor of the Galaxy Fold, they’re wondering whether it’s possible to use the S Pen on the Galaxy Fold. The idea may make sense to a lot of people.

You’ve got a big 7.3-inch internal display that’s just perfect for use with the S Pen. They feel that with this functionality, the Galaxy Fold will prove to be a true workhorse for professionals on the go. The truth is, the Galaxy Fold is still a true workhorse without the S Pen, but having S Pen support would certainly make it better. Alas, that is not the case.

The S Pen can’t be used on the Galaxy Fold

No, it’s not possible to use the S Pen on the Galaxy Fold. Samsung’s first foldable smartphone does not support its stylus. So you’re out of luck if you’ve been hoping to use the stylus with the device.

Some of our readers feel that they would have happily paid $2,000 for the Galaxy Fold if it did indeed have S Pen support. They argue that the additional functionality that it would have unlocked would justify the high price tag for the phone. Some feel that the true potential of the foldable display would be unlocked if the S Pen were to be supported.

Samsung obviously has to differentiate its different smartphone models. The S Pen is unquestionably the Galaxy Note lineup’s domain. Not even the mighty Galaxy S series encroaches upon it. So it may just be a question of maintaining the status quo as there’s no evidence to suggest that the Galaxy Fold’s arrival will mark the end of the Galaxy Note.

It may also be because Samsung might not have wanted to throw everything on the Galaxy Fold to see what sticks. Who knows, future generations may very well have S Pen support, but for now you can’t use the S Pen with the Galaxy Fold.

Would you have made the purchase if the Galaxy Fold did support the S Pen? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Also, read our Galaxy Fold hands-on if you’re on the fence about buying this phone.

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Galaxy Fold will have software updates available right out of the box

The Galaxy Fold is very close to making its way into the hands of the lucky folks who have been able to pre-order one before Samsung’s limited reservation spots for the device ran out. And once customers set up their Galaxy Fold, they’ll have a software update waiting for them. In fact, they might even have two updates available, as the current update (software version F900FXXU1ASD4) that we received on our Galaxy Fold doesn’t have the latest security patch.

Of course, we can expect to see quite a few software updates arriving for the Galaxy Fold in the coming months. Samsung has managed to polish the device’s software to an impressive level, with even early pre-production units running pretty well, but there’s always a chance some minor issues and niggles will crop up. And while Samsung can afford to delay fixing minor issues for regular devices, it will have to provide the best support possible to Galaxy Fold consumers considering how much it costs.

You can rest assured that we will be keeping a close eye on just how well Samsung supports the Fold over the coming months. Also, we will be publishing our Galaxy Fold review later this month, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our early impressions of Samsung’s foldable smartphone.

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Samsung develops EUV-based 5nm process nodes

Samsung has announced that its has completed development of a 5nm semiconductor process using its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology. Compared to its EUV-based 7nm process, the new 5nm process will make chips 25 percent smaller and 20 percent more power efficient.

Commercial production begins next year

Samsung started the mass production of its 7nm process earlier this year. The company has already provided commercial samples to its customers, who will now be able to reuse their 7nm intellectual property rights to 5nm. This enables a shortened 5nm product development time, along with reduced migration costs. Samsung hopes to begin the commercial production of the new process sometime in 2020. The South Korean tech giant also has a 6nm process in the works. It will go into mass production by the end on this year.

Samsung currently manufactures its EUV-based process technologies at the S3-line in Hwaseong, Korea. The company will be expanding the production to a new EUV line in Hwaseong next year. The new production plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Samsung has been lately focused on the non-memory chip and foundry business in a bid to resurrect its declining profits. The company recently began mass production of its 5G network chips and is now proving its industry leadership with the new 5nm process nodes.

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April security patch now arriving on the Galaxy A5 (2017), Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy J5 Prime

Samsung has begun rolling out new updates for the Galaxy A5 (2017), Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy J5 Prime, which bundle all of the patches included in this month’s security release, with the former receiving it in Canada, the middlemost in Russia and the latter in Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.

To be more specific, the upgrade introduces patches for five critical and dozens of high-risk vulnerabilities in the Android OS, and fifteen that are exclusive to Samsung’s firmware, known as Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures — a handful of which have been classified as high-risk.

It’s also worth noting that the release is based on Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy J5, and Android 9.0 Pie for the Galaxy A8 (2018), which Samsung started treating to the latest flavor of Android last month. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise; Pie won’t reach the first two.

Like usual, the update is being pushed out in stages. To see if it’s available for your handset, head into Settings, navigate to Software Update, then select Download Updates Manually. Alternatively, you can always download the firmware from our database, using the links below, for manual flashing.

Last week, Samsung started distributing a near-identical release for the Galaxy S9. Before that, it touched down on the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 9, as well as the Galaxy A30 and Galaxy J7 (2017). It’s still yet to arrive on the top-of-the-line Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, however.