الغريب: 05/24/19

الجمعة، 24 مايو 2019

Here’s how Galaxy S10 camera’s Night mode and Pro mode differ

Many asked Samsung for a dedicated camera mode for nighttime photography on the Galaxy S10, and the company obliged. The first version of Night mode on the Galaxy S10 camera didn’t impress us much, and it was great to see Samsung release a software update with an improved version of Night mode, along with a few other camera features (like being able to take Night mode pictures with the ultra-wide camera).

However, while many of us wanted a dedicated Night mode, some of our readers were quick to point out that one can simply use Pro mode for better pictures and a Night mode isn’t needed. But, in our opinion, it is needed: It’s like a Pro mode for the average Joe (or Jane), with the phone itself making the necessary changes to camera parameters like shutter speed/exposure time and ISO value to take brighter and cleaner pictures in low-light situations.

But thanks to the comments we’ve seen here on SamMobile, we decided to do a little test: We took a photo in Night mode, then took the same photo in Pro mode with the shutter speed, ISO and aperture set to the same values Night mode had selected for that particular scene. And as we expected, Night mode is more than just a Pro mode wrapped into a one-click solution for low-light photography.

Night mode gives you brighter results with the same settings

We took two photos for this test and the Night mode version came out brighter for both compared to the version we got in Pro mode with the same camera parameters, and we’re guessing multi-frame processing is what helps the former. What multi-frame processing does is take multiple images of the same scene and then combine data from all those images for a final picture with high clarity and low noise. Samsung introduced multi-frame processing with the Galaxy S8, and it’s what the automatic Photo mode uses to quickly give you the best picture possible.

And Night mode seems to do the same, only with longer exposure times for the multiple images it takes before combining them into the final picture that you see, which is why it takes a few seconds for the phone to save the picture. Pro mode, on the other hand, doesn’t, as it’s supposed to capture images based on the defined parameters, and multi-frame processing would defeat that purpose. And that’s why Night mode pictures come out brighter with slightly more detail than Pro mode photos with the same settings, making it quite useful.

Here are the two photos we first captured in Night mode and then in Pro mode with the same exposure time/shutter speed and ISO value reported in the Night mode photo’s details. Swiping right will show you the Night mode photo and swiping left will show you the Pro mode photo. For those interested, the first photo has exposure time/shutter speed of 1.4 seconds and ISO value of 640 and the second one has the same exposure time but an ISO value of 500. The aperture is set at F1.5 for both.

← SLIDE →

Night mode and Pro mode can coexist peacefully

Two camera samples may not seem like much, but they should give you an idea of how Night and Pro mode differ; they also reaffirm our belief that a dedicated Night mode is a very useful feature. And companies like Google and Huawei think so as well, and the latter’s phones are perhaps the main reason why Samsung brought a Night mode to the Galaxy S10 lineup.

Samsung’s Pro mode gives you a lot of room to play with if you are an advanced user, but for those of us who don’t want to tinker with camera settings and yet get brighter pictures in low-light situations, the Night mode is great to have. Here’s hoping Samsung brings it to older flagships, like the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, in the future, considering they use the same camera hardware as the Galaxy S10 trio.

What do you think of the Galaxy S10 camera’s Night mode?

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

The post Here’s how Galaxy S10 camera’s Night mode and Pro mode differ appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2JXizUe
via IFTTT

Infographic: The evolution of Samsung’s smartphone cameras

With features like dual aperture, super-slow-motion and up to four rear cameras, Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S10, is nothing less than a photography powerhouse. Samsung has, in fact, long been at the forefront of mobile imaging. But how did it reach there? Well, it all began almost two decades back, when it introduced its first camera phone in the year 2000. To visualize the journey through to the Galaxy S10, the company has released an infographic offering a view of the past 19 years and the progress it has made with its smartphone cameras.

The evolution of Samsung’s smartphone cameras

The graphic starts with Samsung’s first camera phone, the SCH-V200. Launched in 2000, the device came equipped with a 0.35 MP camera and allowed you to store up to 20 photos, though you couldn’t view them on the phone itself. A couple of years later, Samsung launched the first phone that could take selfies. The SCH-X590 (that’s how phones were named back then) was a flip phone with a camera embedded right into the hinge. It was a rotatable camera, allowing users to take pictures from the front and back. Samsung has just introduced a (similar) rotating camera technology with the Galaxy A80.

From there, Samsung move on to different flip-style phones introducing a number of firsts. The SCH–V420 phone from 2003 featured a whole new hinge which allowed the screen to rotate to a landscape orientation. You could literally capture photos and videos from different angles without even moving. Two years later, Samsung decided to up the ante by launching the world’s first 7MP camera phone. The SCH-V770, in fact, was revolutionary in many ways. It had wide-angle and telephoto lenses, and featured 3x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom and auto focus.

And finally in 2010, after a decade of revolutionary innovations in mobile imaging, Samsung introduced the first Galaxy S smartphone. Equipped with a 5MP main camera, which supported a wide array of photo modes such as Panorama, Stop Motion, and Cartoon Shot, the Galaxy S laid the foundation for a whole new innovation for smartphone cameras. Its touchscreen display also changed the way people interact with their phones.

Samsung has since introduced several new features to smartphone cameras. The Galaxy S3 in 2012 brought the Burst Shot mode, which could take up to 20 continuous shots with an 8MP camera. Then came the Galaxy S4 Zoom featuring a 16 MP camera and a powerful 10x optical zoom in 2013. The following year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S5 with the fastest autofocus (0.3 seconds) on its devices at the time and real-time HDR.

The Galaxy S7 in 2016 introduced the Dual Pixel autofocus system and a wider aperture, taking brighter images even in low light. The Galaxy Note 8 became Samsung’s first smartphone with dual rear cameras, a trend these days. It also came with features like optical image stabilisation for both cameras and Live Focus for bokeh photography.

After a couple of years without any significant improvements in camera technology, Samsung launched the Galaxy S10 series earlier this year. The latest Samsung flagship is arguably the best camera phone right now, and Samsung continues to improve on it with new software update.

Samsung smartphone camera evolution

The post Infographic: The evolution of Samsung’s smartphone cameras appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2QlbxcT
via IFTTT

Samsung’s research shows realistic fake videos are not too far

In a paper titled Few-Shot Adversarial Learning of Realistic Neural Talking Head Models, researchers at the Samsung AI Center in Moscow and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have revealed how realistic fake videos can be created with just a few source images. While the capability to create convincing deepfakes is not entirely new, the paper demonstrates its easier and quicker than previously imagined.

Currently, to generate a realistic deepfake, you need a large dataset of pictures to train the model. However, the algorithm developed by Samsung researchers can create convincing animated portraits from a small dataset, ranging from just 1 to 32 images. They are able to do this by training their model on “landmark” facial features which include eyes, mouth shapes, the length and shape of a nose bridge.

To demonstrate their work, the researchers created living portraits of Mona Lisa, Albert Einstein, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Marilyn Monroe, and others by using only source image for each. The results already look remarkable and can be improved further with more source images.

The paper says the technology has “practical applications for telepresence, including (video conferencing) and multi-player games, as well as special effects industry.” While that sounds true and exciting, realistic fake videos also have the potential to destroy individuals and communities. Even if the companies investing in this space may not have any nefarious goals, there is no guarantee their technology will be used only for the intended purposes.

The post Samsung’s research shows realistic fake videos are not too far appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2M524In
via IFTTT

All Best Buy Galaxy Fold pre-orders have been canceled

The Galaxy Fold was supposed to be released on April 26 but that didn’t happen. There were obvious issues with the device that needed fixing. Samsung took back all of the units that it had handed out to reviewers and said that updates will follow.

Not much has been revealed about the Galaxy Fold’s release since then. There’s still no concrete release date. It has allowed pre-order customers to cancel their orders at no charge and if Samsung isn’t able to ship the device by May 31, it will cancel all pre-orders automatically. Best Buy has taken a similar step but a week earlier.

Best Buy Galaxy Fold pre-orders have been canceled

There was hope that Samsung would confirm the Galaxy Fold’s release this month. Its mobile chief DJ Koh had said that a new release date would be announced very soon. He said that two weeks ago and we’re still no closer to finding out when Samsung’s foldable smartphone will hit the market.

There’s news for Best Buy Galaxy Fold pre-order customers. The retailer says that Samsung hasn’t provided a new release date yet. Since it wants to “put our customers first,” Best Buy has decided to cancel all current pre-orders for the device. Best Buy says that it will continue to work with Samsung to deliver the Galaxy Fold to customers when it does arrive. So customers will be able to buy it from the retailer once Samsung actually delivers the units to them.

According to reports, Samsung has made a couple of improvements to the Galaxy Fold. The protective layer on top of the display will now be tucked into the body. This is to prevent users from peeling it off and damaging the display. The gap between the hinge and display will be narrowed to prevent foreign substances from getting inside.

One can only hope that Samsung confirms all of this officially soon. Its handling of this entire debacle has left a lot to be desired.

The post All Best Buy Galaxy Fold pre-orders have been canceled appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2YPUJ0X
via IFTTT

Latest US Galaxy Note 8 update brings May 2019 security patch

The Galaxy Note 8 has already received the May 2019 security patch in other markets. The latest US Galaxy Note 8 update finally brings this patch Stateside. It’s no secret that updates tend to arrive a little late in the country. The latest security maintenance release is now available for this device from two carriers.

Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile and Verizon have both released this firmware update for the Galaxy Note 8. It goes without saying that other carriers will soon follow suit as well.

May 2019 security patch included in latest US Galaxy Note 8 update

The carriers have released firmware version N950USQU5DSD9 for the Galaxy Note 8. It’s rolling out over-the-air so users can expect to get it in the near future. The firmware is also available for download from our database.

The changelog doesn’t list any other changes. There don’t seem to be any minor general improvements in this update as well. Its sole purpose is to apply the latest security patch. Samsung officially detailed the latest security maintenance release two weeks ago.

It includes fixes for dozens of high, moderate and low risk vulnerabilities that were discovered in the Android operating system. Fixes were also applied for 21 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items. These are the vulnerabilities that were found in Samsung’s own software.

Users can manually check if the update is available for their device as well. Just open the Settings app, tap on Software update, and then select Download and install. It’s only a matter of time now before other US carriers release this update for the Galaxy Note 8 as well.

The post Latest US Galaxy Note 8 update brings May 2019 security patch appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2Qn3VqE
via IFTTT

Galaxy S10 update with improved camera Night mode now widely available

The latest Galaxy S10 update, which improves the Night mode and adds a couple of new functions to the camera, is now more widely available. The update, which also bundles the May 2019 security patch, was released earlier this week in Switzerland.

New Galaxy S10 update improves Night mode performance

Samsung added a dedicated Night mode to the camera app of the Galaxy S10 trio last month. It was a much needed addition since several competing smartphones were getting better and better at nighttime photography. However, early results weren’t so impressive, or at least not up to the mark users were expecting. Samsung was surely taking a note of it and has now released another update significantly improving the Night mode’s performance.

The new update also adds an option to use Night mode with the ultra-wide camera. This is another useful addition as the ultra-wide camera has a narrower aperture (F2.2) and hence cannot capture as much light as the primary shooter (F1.5). Lastly, you can now take Live Focus photos using either the ultra-wide lens or the telephoto lens on the Galaxy S10 and S10+. Earlier, the Galaxy S10 trio used the ultra-wide lens for background blur.

Wider rollout now in progress

The latest update is rolling out for all three Galaxy S10 variants. So if you own a Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+, go ahead and check if the update is available for you. You can do that by tapping Download and install in the Software update menu of the Settings app. Alternatively, you can also download the compatible firmware from our database and flash it on your phone.