Google slams Samsung for making unnecessary changes to Linux kernel code

We all know that Samsung makes an extra effort in strengthening the security of its smartphones with initiatives such as Knox. However, sometimes those extra efforts hurt more than they help. Now, Google has slammed the South Korean smartphone brand for making unnecessary changes to the Linux kernel code and exposing it to more security bugs.

According to Google Project Zero researcher Jann Horn, Samsung is creating more vulnerabilities by adding downstream custom drivers for direct hardware access to Android’s Linux kernel. These changes are implemented without being reviewed by upstream kernel developers. Horn found a similar mistake in the Android kernel of the Galaxy A50, and the unreviewed custom driver added security bugs related to memory corruption.

The bug affected the company’s PROCA (Process Authenticator) security subsystem. Samsung describes the bug as a moderate issue on its security website. It allows “possible arbitrary code execution” on some Galaxy smartphones running Android 9.0 and Android 10 operating systems. Google reported the bug to Samsung in November 2019, and the South Korean firm released a patch for the bug earlier this month.

The blogpost by Google Project Zero researcher is focussed on efforts in Android to reduce the security impact of brands adding unique code to the Linux kernel. Google is trying to lock down processes that have access to device drivers, but changes to the kernel made by brands like Samsung undermine those efforts.

It was suggested that smartphone makers utilize direct hardware access features that are already present in Linux rather than making changes to the kernel code. For example, PROCA is meant to stop an attacker who has already gained read and write access to the kernel, but Samsung could spend the engineering hours on preventing the attacker from getting that access in the first place.

He says that some of the custom features that Samsung and other OEMs add to the Linux kernel on their devices are “unnecessary” and they wouldn’t affect the devices even if they were removed.

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Samsung Galaxy Book S is now available for purchase in the US

Samsung’s first laptop with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor, the Galaxy Book S, is now available for purchase in the US from the Microsoft Store or Samsung’s website. It was announced over six months ago alongside the Galaxy Note 10 and the pre-orders for the thin-and-light laptop went live two weeks ago.

The $999 laptop has a 13.3-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display with Full HD resolution. Its quad-speaker setup is tuned by AKG Harman and features Dolby Atmos audio. This extremely thin laptop is equipped with the Snapdragon 8cx octa-core processor, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, and 256GB SSD. There’s a microSD card slot, too. The Galaxy Book S runs Windows 10 Home and features always-on connectivity, thanks to an LTE (Cat. 18) compatible SIM card slot.

Other connectivity features include dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and two USB 3.1 Type-C ports. There’s a full-sized backlit keyboard, touchpad with Windows Precision drivers, and a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello authentication. There’s a 720p HD webcam and built-in GPS. The Galaxy Book S weighs just 960g and is 11.8mm thin at its thickest point. Its 42Wh battery promises all-day battery life (up to 25 hours) with a single charge.

The Galaxy Book S is available in two colors: Earthy Gold and Mercury Gray. You can choose either Sprint or Verizon as your carrier while making the purchase. You get $100 worth of Samsung credit if you choose Sprint or a free carrying pouch for the laptop if you choose Verizon. Those who had pre-ordered the laptop should get it shipped starting today.

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The one reason I’m getting the Galaxy S20 Ultra over the Galaxy S20+

It’s that time of the year when people have to decide which of the two three models of the latest Galaxy S flagship they will be spending their money on. Usually, it’s the largest model that attracts most attention and the most customers, but this time around, Samsung is offering big upgrades with all three models.

You have displays with 120Hz refresh rate, big batteries, a primary rear camera with larger pixels in case of the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ and a rear camera with a whopping 108MP sensor and digital 100x zoom capability in case of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the option of 5G connectivity, and considerably faster charging than what Samsung offered until the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ came along.

And, frankly, I think I would have been perfectly fine getting a Galaxy S20+, but there is one reason why I’m going to opt for the Galaxy S20 Ultra instead. Spoiler alert: It’s not the battery, but all those megapixels on the main camera.

It’s all about the detail

I’ve always been a sucker for detail. For example, I prefer high texture detail on the games that I play on the computer over, say, 144Hz frame rate, which is something many gaming enthusiasts lust after these days. That’s why I recently decided to make the switch to a Quad HD monitor for my desktop PC, even though it meant my graphics card would barely be able to hit 60 frames per second at maximum graphics settings in the latest games, let alone go anywhere near 144Hz.

I like detail in my photos as well. When it comes to the cameras on Samsung’s flagship phones, I’ve been very happy with their performance in general over the last couple of years. But Samsung has been using 12MP cameras on its flagships for a few years, and the photos those 12MP cameras take quickly fall apart when you start to zoom in because of the limited megapixel count. Recent mid-range Galaxy phones with their 48MP cameras do a bit better in that regard, as the higher megapixel count enables them to create pixel-binned 12MP photos that are sharper than what the flagship Galaxy phone cameras can produce.

That’s why I’m excited that Samsung has put a 108MP camera on the Galaxy S20 Ultra instead of simply increasing the pixel size and calling it a day. The S20 Ultra’s camera combines nine pixels into one super pixel to create 12MP photos by default. Technicalities aside, that will mean the camera will perform better in low-light conditions and also have more detail when you zoom in compared to 12MP photos taken by, say, a Galaxy Note 10+.

And even if the difference isn’t a lot at 12 megapixels, the Galaxy S20 Ultra will offer you the option to take photos at 108MP resolution. At 108MP, the camera resolves so much detail that Samsung is literally cropping 108MP photos digitally to provide 100x zoom. While at 100x the photo may not be very sharp, it would certainly look fine at 30x, which is one of the many zoom levels available on the Galaxy S20 Ultra (and the maximum zoom level on the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+).

Naturally, we will have to test the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s cameras to see how they perform in all kinds of lighting conditions, but the 108 megapixels alone are going to be the reason I’ll be picking the Ultra model over the Galaxy S20+. I’m glad that we’re finally moving past 12MP cameras, and the S20+ would have been the perfect fit for me if only Samsung has equipped it with the 108MP camera as well. That didn’t happen, so it’s the Galaxy S20 Ultra that’s going to become my next smartphone.

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More color options for the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ emerge

It turns out that Samsung has more color options in store for the Galaxy S20 series. Renders and pictures showcasing the white, blue, and red Galaxy S20 and S20+ variants have been leaked by various sources today.

We’ve been expecting the Galaxy S20 lineup to be made available in blue and white since nearly half a year ago, and our patience is finally paying off. A Cloud White color option is already available for the Galaxy S20 and S20+ in some markets including South Korea, while renders and pictures of a blue variant have also emerged recently.

Unlike the blue and white color options, red is new to the Galaxy S20 series, even though reports from last week claimed that it may become a Galaxy S20+ KT exclusive in South Korea.

That’s not going to be the case, judging by the recent renders above, and according to Twitter leaker @Sudhanshu1414, the so-called ‘Aura Red’ color for both the Galaxy S20 and S20+ is coming to Europe. As for KT, the South Korean carrier is apparently releasing the Galaxy Buds+ in red to match the phone’s exterior.

As usual, not to say that every color unveiled and/or soon-to-be-revealed by Samsung will be released worldwide. More likely, the blue and red flavors will remain carrier or retailer exclusives, at least for a while, and even Cloud White doesn’t seem to be planned for launch everywhere.

At the moment, there are no new details for additional color options for the premium Galaxy S20 Ultra, which was unveiled at Unpacked in Cosmic Gray and Cosmic Black.

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Samsung’s grasp on form and function impressed me most at Unpacked

This year’s Unpacked event felt a little bit more special than it did in previous years, and that’s mostly because Samsung seemed to have a very clear picture of where it wants to push its smartphones next. Not only that, but the company appears to have achieved something great at this year’s Unpacked by mastering two design philosophies at once: form over function and function over form.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is a great example of a smartphone’s exterior design changing to accommodate certain functions. The prominent camera bump becomes a strong design element because of the underlying hardware that requires additional space. Not so much for the Galaxy S20 and S20+, both of which look a bit out of place because their camera bumps seem unnecessary, or purely a design choice.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra might not be the most stylish-looking phone. But there is something inherently beautiful about a device’s function seeping through the exterior design — or form — and Samsung’s latest flagship introduced at Unpacked does that extremely well.

Both the Galaxy S20 Ultra and Galaxy Z flip dominate their respective niches

In contrast, the Galaxy Z Flip is at the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It follows a form over function design philosophy, meaning that it is willing to sacrifice certain specs and capabilities to achieve its design goals. It doesn’t have a crazy camera setup or the latest specs, but it is a marvel of engineering and mobile design.

Of course, there are elements of both philosophies in both of these devices. For example, the Galaxy Z Flip follows the function over form school of thought when it comes to screen bezels, while the Galaxy S20 Ultra is not as industrial/rugged-looking as it could’ve been. It focuses on camera prowess and boasts periscope lenses, but it doesn’t have a ridiculous DSLR-like lens sticking out of the back panel. It’s a balancing act, and Samsung seems to have nailed it down to a tee, creating two very different devices that feel like they’re the best in their respective niches.

Which approach is more valid? Form over function, or function over form?

Both, actually, and that’s the big takeaway here. OEMs usually follow one of two paths, but both design philosophies are perfectly valid in this industry and others. Samsung has outdone itself this year precisely because it somehow mastered these philosophies at the same time without compromising one another.

Regardless of which model you might prefer more, both the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20 Ultra represent Samsung’s perfect balancing act between form and function. The Galaxy S20 Ultra leans towards function while the Galaxy Z Flip embraces form, but neither device pushes to the extremes. Instead, they seem to follow a concise vision throughout, and I hope that Samsung can achieve this with other smartphone models as well.

Samsung’s future suddenly looks more concise

Unpacked 2020 got me even more excited for the future. Samsung always offered customers tons of smartphone choices, but many of them sort of blend together. Some budget models make little sense, to begin with, and too many similar choices can become meaningless.

This year’s big event felt a little bit different; as if Samsung was finally over the experimental flagship and/or foldable phase and is now committed to creating beastly and beautiful smartphones that tick all of the right boxes in their particular niches. It’s as if the era of no-compromise has arrived in full force; although to be fair, the Galaxy S20 and S20+ do exist and they feel a bit more like half measures compared to the S20 Ultra. Nevertheless, the choice between form and function is there, and after Unpacked, it’s clearer than ever.

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First Galaxy Z Flip batch in South Korea reportedly sold out in 7.5 hours

The Galaxy Z Flip became available for pre-order in South Korea earlier this week, and unofficial sales figures suggest that Samsung managed to sell the initial batch of 900 units in the first 7 and a half hours of availability.

In a recent report, Wikileaks Korea claims that Mirror Purple was the more successful color option for the Galaxy Z Flip in South Korea, with stocks having been depleted two hours earlier compared to the Mirror Black color option. The third flavor – Mirror Gold – is not yet available for pre-order in Samsung’s home country, and it will be subjected to a more limited release in fewer regions. You can check out our Galaxy Z Flip hands-on photos for a closer look at the exquisite Mirror Gold finish.

900 sales for a brand new phone might not sound like much, but then again, 7.5 hours is not a long time either. The Galaxy Z Flip is not a mass-production device in the same way that the Galaxy S20 series is. It is expected to be sold in more countries than the Galaxy Fold was, but availability is still limited and will differ from one market to another. The device will ship to early adopters starting tomorrow – February 14.

Assuming that Samsung could maintain its momentum and stock, this would translate to about 85K Galaxy Z Flip units sold in the first 30 days of availability in South Korea alone. Of course, there’s no way of knowing if Samsung will continue to sell the device at the same pace, or how much more or less successful the Galaxy Z Flip will be in other markets. Either way, the device still has a bit of an exclusivity whiff about it and Samsung appears to want to avoid overstocking, therefore the clamshell foldable will seemingly be restocked in smaller batches.

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Daily Deal: 28% off this Wireless Car Charger Mount

It’s convenient to charge your phone while in your car. It’s even more convenient if your phone supports wireless charging and if you buy a wireless car charger mount. A wireless car charging mount kills two birds with one stone: It charges your phone while simultaneously acting as a dock for when you need to navigate to some place using Google Maps. Right now, you can get such a mount at a 28% discount. The mount we’re talking about can fit into a car’s air conditioning vent and provides 10W fast wireless charging output to compatible devices, including the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10.

Hit the Buy Now button below to get one while still available!

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Galaxy S20 and Z Flip prebookings could open on February 14 in India

Indian customers will reportedly be able to start pre-ordering the Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip from tomorrow, February 14. Samsung has reduced the prices for the Galaxy S10 series in India but is yet to say when their successors are going to make their debut in the country. However, the rumor mill claims that the Galaxy S20 lineup and Samsung’s new foldable phone will go on sale in the country from March 8, while the Galaxy Buds+ will go on sale on March 7.

The international release of the Galaxy S20 series is set for March 6, but Samsung will apparently be taking pre-orders till that date in India and putting them on retail shelves two days later. However, in recent years, Samsung has released its new flagships in India on the same day that they hit retail stores in markets like the US and South Korea. The Galaxy S10 was initially rumored to be set for a March 15 release in India but went on sale on March 8 like the rest of the world, and we could see that happen with the Galaxy S20 series as well.

If you’re interested in the Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, or Z Flip, you can sign up to be notified of their arrival on the Samsung India website. We will also be sure to let you know once more details about these phones’ Indian launch become available. Until then, you can check out our hands-on impressions of the Galaxy S20 and S20+, the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip.

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Galaxy S20/S20+ technically superior than S20 Ultra at 960 fps recording

Samsung introduced the Super Slow-mo feature, which records slow motion video at 960 frames per second, two years ago with the Galaxy S9. We’ve seen the feature on all of Samsung’s flagships since then and also some mid-range devices, and the Galaxy S20 series supports 960 fps Super Slow-mo as well. However, there seems to be a key difference between how 960 fps recording is handled on the Galaxy S20 and S20+ compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Galaxy S20 and S20+ support Full HD Super Slow-mo

Samsung’s specifications page for the Galaxy S20 series on its global website reveals that the Galaxy S20 trio can capture up to a second of video at 960 fps for approximately 32 seconds of super slow motion playback, up from 0.4 seconds on previous flagships. But while the Galaxy S20 and S20+ can record these videos in native 960 fps and Full HD resolution, the Galaxy S20 Ultra can only record HD Super Slow-mo videos at 480 fps, which are then digitally enhanced to 960 frames per second.

It’s worth noting that all previous flagships, including the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+, also extrapolate a 480 fps video to 960 fps digitally. Only 0.4 seconds of video is captured at native 960 fps on those devices. 0.8-second videos are captured at 480 fps and then upscaled to 960 fps. On the Galaxy S20 and S20+, however, Super Slow-mo videos will always be recorded natively at 960 fps. Only the Galaxy S20 Ultra will use digital enhancement to convert a 480 fps video to a 960 fps video.

That means the Galaxy S20 Ultra is not as capable as the Galaxy S20 and S20+ when it comes to Super Slow-mo recording. Will this mean the slow motion effect on videos taken on the Ultra model be visually inferior to super slow motion videos recorded on a Galaxy S20 or S20+? Probably not, because it’s also rather hard to see any visual difference between 0.4-second native 960 fps and 0.8-second digitally enhanced 960 fps videos on a Galaxy S10+ or Galaxy Note 10+.

However, the Galaxy S20 and S20+ will have the benefit of recording sharper super slow motion videos, as both phones support recording them at Full HD resolution while the Ultra model only goes up to HD resolution. We suppose it’s a good thing the S20 and S20+ will have the upper hand in at least one aspect of the camera experience, as the Galaxy S20 Ultra trumps its smaller cousins as far as the overall camera hardware is concerned.

Do you often record Super Slow-mo videos on your Galaxy smartphone?

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Korean carriers cancel Galaxy S20 launch events over coronavirus fears

The coronavirus outbreak is proving to be a major obstacle in the tech world. Just yesterday, the GSMA announced that it was canceling this year’s Mobile World Congress over coronavirus fears, following the decision of many companies, including Samsung, to reduce their presence at the trade show. Samsung even temporarily shut down its flagship Experience Store in China as a precaution against the outbreak.

Now, it seems Korean carriers are following suit and have cancelled plans to hold launch ceremonies for the Galaxy S20 series. The Korea Herald reports that SK Telecom and KT Corp, two of the three big South Korean network operators, have decided to focus on online marketing and on providing more benefits to pre-order customers in an attempt to sell as many Galaxy S20 smartphones as possible. LG Uplus, the third big Korean carrier, on the other hand, had already decided that it would no longer hold launch events for new smartphones from 2020.

Sales of the Galaxy S20, however, are not going to be affected, as Samsung is no longer manufacturing phones in China. Some of its semiconductor components, such as memory chips, do get made in the country, but the company is reportedly keeping those production facilities going despite the outbreak. The Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra will go on sale in Korea on March 6, the same day that they go on sale in the US and many other countries, while the Galaxy Z Flip will be available starting tomorrow.

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Samsung Galaxy A30 receives Android 10 update in India

It’s not just the Galaxy A50s that is getting updated to Android 10 and One UI 2.0 today. Samsung has also released the update for the Galaxy A30 in India. The A30 update comes a month ahead of when it was supposed to arrive according to Samsung’s roadmap, and this means we could see other A series phones and even the Galaxy Fold get Android 10 ahead of schedule as well.

The update is a 1.4GB download over the air and comes with software version A305FDDU4BTB3 and the February 2020 security patch. The update seems to be light on the more useful features that are supposed to arrive with Android 10 and One UI 2.0. A built-in screen recorder seems to be missing, though all the standard new functionality, such as a Dark mode that darkens the wallpaper as well, new navigation gestures, improved Digital Wellbeing, and enhanced facial recognition, are included.

Do let us know what features you’re seeing on your Galaxy A30 once you have updated it to Android 10. To grab the update over the air, open the phone’s Settings app, navigate to Software update, and tap Download and install. Alternatively, you can install Android 10 on your Galaxy A30 by flashing the latest firmware — which you can download from our firmware archive — on it using a Windows PC.

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Galaxy A50s Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update is out now

In a surprising turn of events, Samsung has released the Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update for the Galaxy A50s. We say surprising because the company’s roadmap had pointed at April as the Android 10 update time frame for most of its mid-range Galaxy A series phones that were launched in 2019. However, the Galaxy A50s is already making the jump to the latest version of Android, at least in Vietnam.

The update is rolling out with software version A507FNXXU3BTB2 and includes the February 2020 security patch. It’s unclear just how much of the Android 10 and One UI 2.0 feature set is included for the Galaxy A50s. It should have all of the core Android 10 features, such as Google’s new navigation gestures, improved privacy and location controls, and Digital Wellbeing, along with all of the user interface improvements that are part of the One UI 2.0. Hopefully, features like the built-in screen recorder have also made the cut.

The release of the Galaxy A50s Android 10 update in February is a good sign that Samsung could also bring the update to other A series phones, like the popular Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A70, sooner than expected. However, that’s just speculation. The Galaxy A50s is only receiving the update in one market at this time, and unless the rollout expands in the next couple of days, it would be best to keep your expectations in check.

Galaxy A50s owners in Vietnam should be able to download the update over the air by opening the phone’s Settings app, selecting Software update, and tapping Download and install. We also have the Android 10 firmware for the device in our firmware archive, which you can use to update your phone using a Windows PC.

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Samsung introduces price cut for the Galaxy S10 series in India

When Samsung announced the Galaxy S20 series at Unpacked 2020, the company also dropped the prices of the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ in the US. Now, Samsung is bringing those price cuts to other markets. All three Galaxy S10 flagships have received what looks like a permanent reduction in price, at least on Samsung India’s official store.

The Galaxy S10e is now priced at Rs 47,900, while the Galaxy S10 costs Rs 54,900. The latter was launched at Rs 66,900 a year back, making this a rather substantial drop in price. The Galaxy S10+ is receiving the same price cut as the Galaxy S10 – it now starts at Rs 61,900 for the 128GB model, down from its launch price of Rs 73,900. The 512GB and 1TB variants with a ceramic back are down to Rs 69,900 and Rs 88,900 respectively.

The Galaxy S10 price cut in India has brought the lineup considerably closer to the Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite, though sales of the two Lite phones shouldn’t be affected much as the gap is still big enough for a price sensitive market like India. There’s no word on how much the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra will cost in the country and when they will go on sale, though we can expect prices to easily cross the Rs 1,00,000 barrier.

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