Galaxy Note 10 November security update released in the US

November is just starting, but at least one carrier in North America has released the security patch for the month for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+. Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile is rolling out an update for the Galaxy Note 10+ that includes the November security patch. The Galaxy Note 10 doesn’t seem to be getting the same update yet, but that is likely to change in the next few hours. The build number accompanying the new update is N97*USQS2ASJ8.

The November security update for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ was released earlier this week for the Exynos-powered models in some markets, and it doesn’t bring any new features. The November security patch, meanwhile, is a mystery, as it won’t be detailed by Google or Samsung until sometime next week. For Galaxy devices, the November patch may include a fix for a critical Android OS vulnerability that is fixed in Google’s version of the October security patch but did not make it into the October patch released for Galaxy devices, at least if we go by the details for the patch published by Samsung on its security bulletin.

It may be the reason why Samsung has been quick to roll out the November patch for both the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy Note 10, even going as far as releasing the Galaxy S10’s November update in Switzerland just a day after it released an update with the October patch for the S10 series in the country. The Galaxy Tab S4 also received this month’s security patch a couple of days back, although it remains to be seen if Samsung will maintain the same pace in bringing the November update to other devices in its lineup.

Those on the Xfinity network on the Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10+ can check for the update from the Settings » Software update menu on their device. The firmware for the latest update can also be downloaded from our firmware archive (Note 10 | Note 10+). Got the update on a different carrier variant of either device? Let us know down in the comments section!

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970U
• Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
• Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy Note10+ (US)

• Model: SM-N975U
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8" (172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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Samsung TV Plus adds CBSN to its growing 70+ TV channel portfolio

The Samsung TV Plus service seems to be constantly expanding, which was bound to happen given how the platform is available on virtually any Samsung smart TV released since 2016. That’s not to say that the company isn’t actively trying to improve the service as more people gain access to it. On the contrary. Samsung has just announced that CBSN is joining the existing portfolio of 70+ TV channels currently available on the platform.

CBSN is a free 24/7 live streaming news channel launched by CBS News and CBS Interactive in 2014. ‘As viewership trends continue to shift, we feel it is important to offer consumers a live and linear TV experience that is completely free […]’ said Selek Brodsky, VP of Strategic Partnerships for Samsung Electronics.

CBSN launches on Samsung TV Plus

Samsung revealed at SDC 2019 that the linear and non-linear TV models have become nearly equally popular. But regardless of which method of content distribution we’re looking at, the general trend seems to be that people are abandoning traditional cable subscriptions in favor of Internet-based services such as Samsung TV Plus.

According to a paper by the Convergence Research Group, 34% of households in the United States are expected to abandon traditional cable subscriptions by the end of 2019. These households will transition entirely to Internet-based services for their entertainment.

Every Samsung smart TV that was released since 2016 comes with Samsung TV Plus pre-loaded. The free service offers consumers access to both linear and non-linear entertainment without the need for additional downloads or a credit card. It sounds like a great fit for the free 24/7 news streaming service provided by CBSN. Samsung TV Plus already offers instant access to a variety of channels ranging from news to sports and gaming.

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Mobile Design Competition concludes with these six unique product ideas

Samsung has announced the winners of the Mobile Design Competition at SDC 2019. The competition was first revealed in June and it’s the product of a collaboration between Samsung and design magazine Deezen.

Over the past few months, contestants have had a chance to submit designs to one of two categories labeled Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm Graphic Design and Next Mobile+ Product Design. The first category revolves around digital products, specifically wallpapers, while the second category explores mobile accessories. Here are the winners and grand finalists announced at SDC 2019.

Best of Next Mobile+ Product Design: Star Galaxy

The star of the Next Mobile+ Product Design category is, well, the so-called Star Galaxy, created by André Gouveia, Nuno Pires, and João Pereira. It’s a robotic stand featuring a 360-degree articulated arm that can hold and wirelessly-recharge a Galaxy smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch.

The stand wouldn’t have standalone Bixby capabilities. Instead, it would be equipped with a speaker and rely on the mobile device’s Bixby assistant. The tilting and rotating robotic arm would follow users with the help of face and voice recognition, meaning that the attached mobile device would always face towards the user. The Star Galaxy seems like a pretty cool idea for a product that could actually sell if it would be priced right. It’s technically a wireless charging stand that’s been souped-up to integrate Bixby without actually having any of Bixby’s brains on-board.

Next Mobile+ Product Design grand finalists: Fellas and BELT

Fellas is one of the two grand finalists in the product design category. It’s an interactive toy/clock powered by the Galaxy Watch. It can resemble a pig, bear, deer, or crocodile, and it uses the smartwatch’s display as an animated mouth for the characters.

Fellas would be able to tell stories and sing songs for children, all the while recharging the connected smartwatch.

Meanwhile, BELT by Alexander Rehn and Tobias Saller represents a new take on the idea of a silicon bumper. It takes the form of what seems to be an oversized silicon loop/bumper which can be resized and secured in place with a clip. The extra silicon material would form a second loop which doubles as a handle.

It’s a simple and effective design idea for a one-size-fits-all protective bumper, and that is precisely why it is interesting. Then again, it’s difficult to tell if it would work as a real product in today’s day and age because the design seems to leave a lot of room for user error. It would be up to the user to securely fit the BELT using the clip, and there’s a higher DIY element compared to other solutions on the market.

Best of Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm Graphic Design: Garden of Galaxy

The winner of the Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm Graphic Design category is Kalle Järvenpää and the Garden of Galaxy wallpaper. The wallpaper might look simplistic, if not pleasantly colorful, at first glance, but the idea behind the Garden of Galaxy is far more complex.

Each flower’s appearance would be based on a random combination of generated “genes,” as well as the user’s environment. The flowers would grow bigger with time and users would even have the option to share clips of their virtual gardens.

Wallpaper graphic design grand finalists: Approachability and Blossom

Approachability by Andre Cardoso is a wallpaper designed to change its colors whenever the user’s mobile device is located in the vicinity of other Galaxy devices wearing the same wallpaper. The wallpaper’s colors would blend until they’d form a similar hue across the different Galaxy devices.

Last but not least, Blossom by Guan Hong Yeoh is a wallpaper that claims to be a visual representation of energy in motion. It boasts colorful organic forms that change shape and color based on the time of day and ambient sound.

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As interesting as these designs may be, it’s worth reminding that there’s no guarantee they will ever become real products. Nevertheless, if any of these ideas born from the Mobile Design Competition would be fully realized, which ones do you think would be the most deserving of a commercial release? Share your thoughts below.

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Galaxy A70 headed to the US, could first launch on Verizon

While Samsung has plans for the Galaxy A series mapped out beyond 2020, the company hasn’t been very quick with bringing the 2019 Galaxy A smartphones to the US. That’s not surprising, as the mid-range Galaxy A lineup had stayed away from North American shores until last year. This year, Samsung brought a handful of 2019 A series phones to consumers in the US and Canada. Now, it looks like the Galaxy A70 could soon be sold stateside as well.

In development for Verizon at this time

Earlier this month, the FCC certified the US variant of the Galaxy A70, which sports model number SM-A705U. We can confirm that the device is in development for Verizon, but it’s highly likely that other carriers will also offer it to their customers at some point in the future. It may also land in Canada, although a release date or time frame is hard to pinpoint for either market.

The A70 will join the Galaxy A6, Galaxy A10e, Galaxy A20, and Galaxy A50 on the list of Galaxy A smartphones that are currently available in the United States. And that’s a good thing, if you read our Galaxy A70 review. The phone has plenty of attractive features, most impressive of which is a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 25W super fast charging like the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+.

The A70 will be slightly outdated when it debuts in the US

However, it’s unfortunate that Samsung isn’t directly launching the Galaxy A70s (pictured below) in the US. The A70s is the same phone as the A70, but it upgrades the 32MP rear camera on the latter to a 64MP camera. Megapixels aren’t everything, yes, but even without the camera upgrade, it makes little sense for Samsung to launch the Galaxy A70 in the US a couple of months after a slightly better variant is available in other (albeit limited) markets.

Then again, perhaps we should be grateful that Samsung is even bringing some of its Galaxy A series to the country instead of keeping it exclusive to the rest of the world as it has done in years past. Hopefully, starting next year, consumers in the US will start getting these devices at the same time as everyone else, especially considering how good Samsung’s mid-range offerings have become in recent times.

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OneDrive set to replace Samsung Cloud on Galaxy devices

In August this year, Samsung and Microsoft announced an expanded partnership that will see Galaxy devices come preloaded with many of Microsoft’s Android apps and services. At the time of the announcement, Samsung highlighted enhanced Outlook experience, OneDrive integration, and Link to Windows as outcomes of the collaboration.

Link to Windows already made its debut with the Galaxy Note 10 (made its way to a few other Galaxy devices as well), while the Outlook Android app gained S Pen support a few weeks later. Now, OneDrive integration is going live for the Galaxy Note 10/Note 10+ on Android 10 beta, allowing users to sync their photos and videos directly to Microsoft’s OneDrive from the Gallery app.

If you meet the device requirements, you can go to your Gallery settings and connect your Microsoft OneDrive account to use it as a backup solution. This will also transfer all your existing photos and videos in Samsung Cloud (barring what’s in the cloud Recycle Bin) to OneDrive. Microsoft will maintain your current Samsung Cloud storage quota for free for one year after which you need to pay if you’re using more space than what the free OneDrive plan offers. Microsoft is also offering 15GB bonus data for one year on top of the free 5GB that comes with the OneDrive free tier.

Do remember that once you opt for OneDrive, there appears to be no way to switch back to Samsung Cloud. If you paid for additional Samsung Cloud storage, then the company will refund the same. Also, data other than photos and videos will continue to be on Samsung Cloud even after you make the switch to Microsoft’s cloud solution in the Gallery app.

It’s not clear how long Samsung will continue to operate its cloud solution once the majority of its users shift to OneDrive. The future of Samsung Cloud is facing the same uncertainty as Samsung Flow and Samsung Email after the recent changes. While Microsoft’s offerings are better in some ways, they are not, at least as of now, as deeply integrated as Samsung’s own solutions.

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Galaxy Note 10 outsells the Galaxy Note 9, more foldables promised

It’s hardly surprising to hear that the Galaxy Note 10 series has outsold the Galaxy Note 9, given the reception it got. Samsung officially confirmed this today in its full earnings report for the third quarter of this year.

The mobile division’s earnings were up significantly compared to Q2 2019 due to robust shipments of the Galaxy Note 10. Revenues hit almost $25 billion with operating profit surging 32 percent from Q3 2018 to $2.5 billion. The Korean giant also flexed its technological prowess in the third quarter by releasing more 5G handsets and launching the Galaxy Fold.

More foldable smartphones promised for 2020

This was largely due to the Galaxy Note 10 in addition to a more diverse product range. Samsung released a lot more devices this year than it has over the past few years. It’s increased focus on the entry-level segment has also contributed to the higher profitability.

Samsung mentioned that in the third quarter of this year, the Galaxy Note 10 outsold the Galaxy Note 10. It also posted a double-digit growth in volume, which was to be expected as there are two separate models of the Galaxy Note 10. The completion of the A series lineup transition allowed for cost reduction which led to improved profitability. The company doesn’t break down sales figures for each device so there no information on which entry-level and mid-range phone has done the most business.

It now expects the market to cool down in the fourth quarter of this year. Mobile demand traditionally declines towards the end of this year as flagship models lose their luster and fans hold off on purchases as new high-end models are expected in a few months. However, Samsung does expect its affordable models and the Galaxy A series to maintain solid sales. It does believe that the division’s profitability will decrease as demand for the Galaxy Note 10 slows. Customers who really wanted to buy one have bought one already. Marketing costs will increase towards the end of this year, particularly during the holiday season.

Samsung predicts that demand for 5G smartphones is going to increase in 2020 as 5G networks launch in more countries across the globe. The mobile market will remain highly competitive overall. Samsung’s plan is to offer more 5G devices and foldable smartphones to improve its competitiveness. It has already provided a glimpse of what its next foldable smartphone might look like.

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Daily Deal: 67% off 2-pack Samsung EVO+ 256GB microSD card with adapter

Your smartphone comes with limited storage capacity. Many folks listen to music or watch a TV show while commuting; some also take plenty of photos and don’t want to depend on online services for storing them once they run out of space on their phone’s internal storage. Thankfully, microSD slots are still quite common on smartphones, and that makes storage expansion quite easy. microSD cards also come in handy in other devices, like a DSLR, and currently, there’s a great deal on a pack of two Samsung EVO+ 256GB microSD cards. You can get the pack at a 67% discount, which makes this as good a chance as any to stock up on these cards for all your devices.

Hit the Buy Now button to order now!

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Samsung’s profit falls 56% in Q3 2019 but mobile exceeds expectations

Samsung released its earnings guidance for Q3 2019 and predicted that its operating profit would be down 56 percent compared to the same period last year. The company today released its full earnings for the quarter.

While the profit decline might signal to some that Samsung hasn’t been doing enough to stop the bleeding, it actually shows that the company’s recovery strategy is working. The sharp decline is largely attributed to the slow performance of the memory chip market.

Samsung made $6.71 billion in operating profit this past quarter

Samsung made 62 trillion won $53 billion in revenue this past quarter, download 5 percent from a year ago. The company posted an operating profit of 7.78 trillion won or $6.71 billion, a 56 percent decline compared to Q3 2018. Samsung posted a record operating profit in Q3 2018, raking in over $16 billion on revenues of $58 billion.

The company began to manage expectations for the future after posting the record-breaking profit in Q3 2018. That surge was largely due to the stellar performance of the semiconductor division. The quarter saw a strong demand for both server and mobile memory products. It also highlighted the bumpy road ahead as demand for chips slowed and prices fell. We’ve seen that reflect in the company’s balance over the past few quarters.

Earnings from the semiconductor business were down significantly in Q3 2019. That’s because memory chip prices have continued to fall while demand hasn’t picked up. The division also took a hit from declining prices for mobile processors. So while it made over $12 billion in operating profit for Samsung in Q3 2018, it made less than $3 billion in profit in the quarter ending September 2019.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the company. Samsung has taken considerable steps over the past year to improve the earnings from its mobile division. The strategy appears to be working as the division exceeded expectations. Revenues of the mobile business came in at 29.25 trillion won or almost $25 billion, a 17 percent increase from last year. It also made 2.92 trillion won or $2.5 billion in profit, a commendable 32 percent increase from Q3 2018. Samsung attributes this to strong sales of the Galaxy Note 10 and the A series in addition to improved margins on its affordable models.

Samsung is optimistic about the rising demand for semiconductor products in 2020 but stops short of providing a detailed forecast due to uncertainties related to macroeconomic issues. The mobile division will likely see a decline in demand in the final quarter of this year due to seasonality, the Galaxy Note 10 will surely not be as hot in November as it was when it came out in August. Samsung also expects 5G and foldable smartphones to contribute more to its bottom line in the coming year.

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No Galaxy A90s is coming to market, even though its battery has been certified

The battery that should have been used on a Samsung device with model number SM-A907F has recently been certified in South Korea. The SM-A907F would be the Galaxy A90s, but we can confirm that the device isn’t actually coming to market. We had exclusively revealed the existence of the SM-A907F around six months ago, but Samsung ended up launching the Galaxy A90 5G instead, and development on the Galaxy A90s ceased soon after the device first popped up on our radar.

The Galaxy A90s is the Galaxy A90 5G

The Galaxy A90 5G is, technically, the Galaxy A90s, but thanks to the support for 5G connectivity, it sports model number SM-A908B. And it also makes sense that the device didn’t come to market as the A90s. There would have to be a Galaxy A90 before Samsung could make an ‘s’ variant, which isn’t the case. What should have been the Galaxy A90 was launched as the Galaxy A80, and the gist here is that Samsung seemingly had a hard time deciding the names for its top-of-the-line 2019 Galaxy A smartphones and that the Galaxy A90s does not exist anymore.

The phone that does exist is the Galaxy A91, featuring model number SM-A915F. We exclusively leaked the entire spec sheet for the A91 recently; it will be a flagship-grade phone like the Galaxy A90 5G, with a Snapdragon 855 under the hood and a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. It’s unclear when the Galaxy A91 will be released, but considering it’s under testing with Android 10, a launch after the Galaxy S11 is most likely.

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[Poll Results!] Will you participate in Galaxy S10 or Note 10 One UI 2.0 beta program?

There’s been plenty of confusion over the One UI 2.0 beta program for the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10. Samsung hasn’t been able to stick to schedule and has delayed the release of both the Galaxy S10 Android 10 beta and the Galaxy Note 10 beta. Of course, in the company’s defense, it never really said anything concrete about when the Galaxy Note 10 beta program would start. Sure, its customer care representatives did, but as we’ve seen on many occasions, Samsung’s customer care can be woefully uninformed about matters of software updates.

The Galaxy S10 beta program is already live in the US, Germany, and South Korea and will expand to other markets soon, and it won’t be long before the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ are brought into the fold as well. Many of you are no doubt getting impatient waiting for your chance to try out Android 10 and One UI 2.0, while some of you might just be watching from the sidelines and would prefer updating directly to the stable release, whenever that comes out. For others, the beta may not even be an option because it won’t be made available in their country. Which of those camps do you fall in? That’s what we want to know through our latest poll!

Go ahead and vote below, then feel free to expand on your answer in the comments section.

Results: As we had expected, plenty of people are interested in trying out Android 10 ahead of its stable release. Unfortunately, Samsung is missing out on plenty of people who are willing to be beta testers by not launching the beta in their country: 27 percent voters said they’d be interested in the beta if it was available in their country. 53 percent voters said they were waiting for the beta to be released in the country, while 13 percent said they prefer stable software, which is understandable given how the beta can have some serious issues. 7 percent said they already have the beta, although since this poll was published a week earlier, the percentage of people who are running the beta is no doubt much higher now.

Will you participate in Galaxy S10 or Note 10 One UI 2.0 beta?

• Yes, can't wait till it goes live in my country
• I would if it was coming to my country
• Nah, I prefer stable software
• Yep, already have the beta

Results

• Yes, can't wait till it goes live in my country 53%, 904 votes
  904 votes 53%

  904 votes - 53% of all votes
• I would if it was coming to my country 27%, 457 votes
  457 votes 27%

  457 votes - 27% of all votes
• Nah, I prefer stable software 13%, 225 votes
  225 votes 13%

  225 votes - 13% of all votes
• Yep, already have the beta 7%, 125 votes
  125 votes 7%

  125 votes - 7% of all votes

Total Votes: 1711

23 October 2019

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You or your IP had already vote.

• Yes, can't wait till it goes live in my country
• I would if it was coming to my country
• Nah, I prefer stable software
• Yep, already have the beta

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You or your IP had already vote.

Results

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 Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
• Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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Unknown Samsung phone pop ups, begging for answers: SM-G715F

An unknown Samsung phone has appeared on our radar-of-things-to-come, carrying model number SM-G715F. Straying from any of Samsung’s current numbering schemes, it remains unclear what kind of a device this might be.

What is the Samsung SM-G715F?

It is the time of year when we can slowly start forming an idea of what devices Samsung has in the works for next season. For the first half of 2020, we expect a number of Galaxy S11-type devices, a second Fold, and the next iteration of the popular A series. In recent weeks we also got wind of Samsung’s plans to launch a budget Note, and perhaps a kind of ‘S10 Lite’. Yesterday, we already remarked that there is so much overlap between some of those new devices, we are uncertain how Samsung plans to make sense of them all. And now, things just got even muddier.

The guys at GalaxyClub have confirmed the existence of a device with model number SM-G715F. Details about this phone remain very scarce at the moment, though two different versions appear to exist: the international SM-G715F and the European SM-G715FN. The device is being tested with Android 10, hinting at a release sometime after the launch of the Galaxy S11.

The model number SM-G715 does not fit in any of Samsung’s existing naming schemes, but does show similarity to the upcoming Galaxy A71, a.k.a. SM-A715. This tells us nothing, of course, and short of hoping for some kind of Galaxy S11 Mini, we can not provide any sensible answers to the question of what the SM-G715 is.

The SM-G710 was launched as the Galaxy Grand 2 many years ago, but we’re pretty certain Samsung won’t be digging that old lineup out of its grave. Until more specs or features leak, we are simply going to have to accept the fact that Samsung may be venturing into new territory in 2020, with more devices or device spin-offs that do not stick to the templates used in recent years.

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