Bixby Home Platform gets better but Galaxy Home will never grow bigger

Samsung’s making another push into the IoT market, and at SDC 21, the company revealed its latest plans to make SmartThings the go-to IoT platform thanks to additions such as the Matter protocol and SmartThings Build. The company also announced a few improvements to Bixby and the Bixby Home Platform, which Samsung describes as “an intelligent layer between Bixby’s natural language processing and SmartThings.”

But despite these recent announcements, Samsung appears to have given up on its original plans surrounding IoT, Bixby, and smart homes.

What was the initial vision? Well, it was never entirely clear, but Samsung spent a few years developing the Galaxy Home and Galaxy Home Mini smart speakers, which were supposed to become the centerpiece of Samsung’s growing IoT landscape at one point.

The Galaxy Home smart speakers are some of the rarest Samsung consumer devices known to man

In reality, Samsung never got to sell the Galaxy Home and Galaxy Home Mini, but the latter version was offered as a Galaxy S20 pre-order bonus to select customers in South Korea. It received a few firmware updates since, which probably makes it one of Samsung’s rarest consumer devices in existence, next to the original Galaxy Fold.

SDC 21 came and went earlier this week, and although we got some exciting news about the future of IoT and SmartThings, there was no mention of the Galaxy Home / Home Mini speakers or any similar hardware products.

Samsung’s vision to develop a Bixby-powered home hub for SmartThings seems to have been scrapped. Or at the very least, that vision looks very different, in my eyes, compared to a couple of years ago. There are no Samsung smart speakers or smart screens coming for Bixby and SmartThings — not that we know of — but at least the latter platform now supports the Matter protocol, which guarantees cross-compatibility with many more smart home and IoT devices that are planned for release in 2022.

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One UI 4.0 beta program for Galaxy S21 in South Korea has concluded

The third One UI 4.0 beta update was released for the Galaxy S21 series in South Korea a week ago, but Samsung is no longer accepting beta testers. That’s a good sign, too, because it hints that Samsung is now getting ready to release the first polished build to the public.

The Android 12-based One UI 4.0 beta program was open to anyone who uses a Galaxy S21 in one of the participant countries. The sign-up process required the Samsung Members app, and countless Galaxy S21 owners joined the beta program to get a sneak preview of Android 12 and help steer One UI 4.0 in the right direction.

After three One UI 4.0 beta builds and a recent hotfix, Samsung closed the beta program to new participants. A Samsung Community manager confirmed today that the company is no longer accepting beta firmware recruits for One UI 4.0 on the Galaxy S21, which indicates that the beta program is nearing its end.

The beta program could soon reopen for Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 owners, but as far as the Galaxy S21 series is concerned, it looks like it might receive the first stable build soon. How soon? We can never be too sure, but Samsung hinted at a launch before the end of the year — possibly ahead of December.

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Samsung starts rolling out November 2021 security update for Galaxy A32

The Galaxy A32 might be a little too slow for a 2021 smartphone, but Samsung’s far from slow when it comes to releasing regular security patches. The Galaxy A32 is now getting a new firmware update, and as you might suspect, it’s paired with a new security patch.

Specifically, the November 2021 security patch is now rolling out alongside the new update. So far, the November patch got released for the Galaxy S21 along with the One UI 4.0 beta firmware, and it was later brought over to the Galaxy S21 running the live version of Android 11 and One UI 3.1.

Samsung has yet to detail the November 2021 security patch, but it should address it in a couple of weeks, roughly speaking. Until then, the company will likely continue releasing the patch for more Galaxy devices.

Up to this point, it looks like the new firmware update is rolling out in Russia and Ukraine, but other markets should follow suit. The update carries firmware number A325FXXU2AUJ4, which indicates that the package could contain additional features and enhancements along with improved security.

Galaxy A32 users should be able to download the update — where available — by launching the Settings app and navigating to the Software update menu. You can also download the update from our firmware section and install it manually on your Samsung phone using a Windows PC.

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Samsung and IBM want to help you help frontline workers

Samsung and IBM have joined forces for a new initiative to help everyday heroes through tech innovation and clever use of modern technologies. The two companies have announced the Honoring Everyday Heroes Challenge, which is part of the broader Call for Code program.

The idea behind the challenge is to invite developers and problem solvers to address the everyday challenges faced by people who continue to put their health at risk during the COVID era — such as childcare workers, healthcare frontline workers, educators, and delivery personnel.

The best submissions are awarded cash prizes and Samsung devices

Developers who want to take on the Honoring Everyday Heroes Challenge can submit their solutions before November 20. Every submission needs to be able to run on a Samsung tablet, phone, or wearable device, and it has to use one or more IBM open hybrid cloud technologies.

The goal of the challenge is for problem solvers to get an opportunity to address some of the most pressing global issues. The winner will be announced on December 9 and be awarded a cash prize from IBM and Samsung tech. Perhaps more importantly, the winner will receive support from both IBM and Samsung, who’ll help them bring their solution to life.

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Scan QR-Samsung Pay integration makes mobile payments in India quicker

Samsung India is making it easier for Pay customers to make quick QR code mobile payments on the go. The company announced today the integration of Scan QR with Samsung Pay. The feature is going live through a software update on Galaxy devices that support the platform.

Samsung Pay has been able to scan Bharat QR codes for a few good years now. However, the latest update will allow customers to conveniently scan UPI-based QR codes just by tapping the Scan QR quick toggle in the notification shade. After the code is scanned, the user will have the option to pay using Samsung Pay or Samsung Pay Mini. They can then complete the payment by specifying the desired amount and UPI PIN.

Customers in India can also scan QR codes using the Camera app directly, after which they’ll be redirected to the Samsung Pay platform to complete the transfer.

Scan QR is coming to dozens of Galaxy smartphones

Scan QR is coming to almost every Samsung smartphone that supports the mobile payment platform. The list includes the Galaxy S10, S20, and S21 series, the Galaxy S20 FE, the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 20 lineups, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3, as well as a handful of models from the Galaxy F, A, and M family of devices.

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SamMobile Weekly Giveaway: Win Galaxy Buds 2 and get your groove on!

This iteration of the SamMobile Weekly Giveaway provides you with an opportunity to win one of the best Samsung earbuds on the market. Samsung launched the Galaxy Buds 2 not too long ago and if you’re lucky, you can win one!

We mentioned in our Galaxy Buds 2 review that the new earbuds offer great sound quality and incredible active noise cancellation performance. They’re also comfortable to wear for extended periods of time and boast great battery life.

Just follow the steps highlighted in the widget below to enter the giveaway. SamMobile readers across the globe are eligible to participate. The winner will be announced on November 3, 2021.

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[Result] SamMobile Weekly Giveaway: Get a pair each of the Galaxy SmartTag+!

Samsung’s new object tracker is on offer in the latest SamMobile Weekly Giveaway. The company unveiled this new product earlier this year alongside the Galaxy S21 series.

The Galaxy SmartTag+ is a very useful connected device that makes it easy to keep track of your valuables. It also has support for Ultra-Wide Band technology. This enables the tracker to provide users with more accurate location information and directions in augmented reality to easily locate lost valuables.

We’re giving away a pair of the Galaxy SmartTag+ each to two lucky winners. All SamMobile readers from across the globe are eligible to participate. Just follow the steps highlighted in the widget below. The winner will be announced on October 27, 2021.

Result: Congratulations to Nuno Miguel and Dimitris Eleftheriadis for winning a pair of the Galaxy SmartTag+ each! Your prize will be sent out soon. For everyone else, there’s always next week!

2x Galaxy SmartTag+ Double Pack international giveaway!

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Check out One UI 4 in action in these official videos from Samsung

During the Samsung Developer Conference 2021 event yesterday, the company announced many improvements to its software and services, including Bixby, One UI, Samsung Knox, SmartThings, and Tizen. It has also published detailed videos to showcase new and improved features that have been introduced with One UI 4.0.

The company published two detailed videos on YouTube to showcase all the design and user experience improvements that Android 12-based One UI 4.0 brings. It includes improved privacy and security, Material UI-inspired playful color themes, improved widgets and stock apps, and easier ways to connect and share files with friends and family.

With One UI 4, users can customize almost every part of their Galaxy smartphone and tablet’s UI and arrange widgets, icons, and more to match their style. They can even replicate the wallpaper on their smartphone and smartwatch. The company is even bringing One UI styling to its Windows 11-powered laptops.

Samsung has already released three One UI 4.0 beta updates to the Galaxy S21 series. Earlier today, the company announced that the One UI 4 beta program is coming soon to the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

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Samsung brings more art photography from YellowKorner to The Frame TV lineup

Samsung frequently keeps adding more art pieces to its Art Store for The Frame TV lineup. Yesterday, the company announced that it is adding more art photography to its art collection via a partnership with YellowKorner. Users can now choose from an extensive collection of photographs from world-class and emerging artists.

YellowKorner is a photography collective that is headquartered in France and was founded in 2006. It operates over 130 galleries across the world in 25 countries and works with some of the best artists of this generation. The art-house offers more than 3,000 limited-edition and certified prints, and they will be available on The Frame TV’s Art Store.

As a part of this partnership, The Frame TV will be displayed in a few YellowKorner art galleries in France. Visitors will can check out The Frame TV and get more information about it via a QR code. Samsung and YellowKorner will also hold art exhibitions in Paris “with the goal of democratizing art photography.”

The Frame TV uses a QLED panel with support for HDR10+ and 100% color volume. It runs Tizen OS and has access to various music and video streaming apps, including Samsung TV+. It also features Alexa, Bixby, and Google Assistant. It supports SmartThings and Samsung Health services as well. It is available in a wide range of sizes, starting from 32 (Full HD) inches and going up to 85 inches (4K).

Jongsuk Chu, Executive Vice President and Head of Europe Office at Samsung Electronics, said, “The partnership with YellowKorner signifies the increasing presence of The Frame’s Art Store as one of the leading art platforms around the world. We hope that this partnership will continue to provide our consumers an easy and accessible point of entry to experience their favorite artwork.”

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