Samsung may bring Biosignal ID to the Gear smartwatch family, patent suggests

Samsung has said time and time again that the company wants to create a perfect smartwatch, and the round Orbis smartwatch patent we’ve seen suggests the same. Lately, the Korean manufacturer has been aiming to bring security and functionality to its devices, with Knox 2.0 for its Galaxy smartphones. Just last week, we were the first to show you that Samsung’s got a second-generation Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 in the wings – despite the company’s intentions to reveal it, along with its new iris recognition technology, in a device that is intended for business (though we can expect a consumer device to arrive soon).

Expectations of a consumer device with iris recognition may not be far-fetched, according to a new patent discovered by Patently Apple. The Samsung patent, filed in 2014, refers to iris recognition as one of the ways users can authenticate their identity on a smartwatch that looks similar to the current Gear lineup but has some subtle differences. The user authentication methods used in the patent are referred to as “Biosignal ID,” and authentication can occur by way of gestures such as “opening a hand, clenching a fist, or rotating a wrist,” or body motions (such as iris glances and heartbeats/heart rate).

Biosignal ID may certainly be a new feature for Galaxy smartwatches, but we’re sure Samsung fans are also curious about the smartwatch in the patent. It doesn’t look like even the Gear S, seeing that the smartwatch lacks a home button and 2-inch curved display (unlike the Gear S). This may just be a diagram smartwatch for drawing purposes, but it just may give us a peak into the future.

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Samsung Z1 receives OTA Tizen update

Samsung’s Z1 has had a warm reception in India, with the device selling over 100,000 copies as of a few weeks ago. The device has budget-friendly specs for just $92USD, a price that seems to be the sweet spot for consumers. What makes the Z1 special, apart from its price, is that it runs Samsung’s own operating system (Tizen) rather than Android. Samsung is currently working to allow the sideloading of Android apps onto Tizen OS, however, as a way to make its software palatable to Android consumers.

Now, to show the company’s commitment to the Z1 smartphone, Samsung has released an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Z1. The update, with build number Z130HDDU0BOC7, brings Tizen to 2.3.0.1 with an upgrade size of 26.9MB. As can be seen from the update size, we’re not looking at a large addition to Tizen, so a number of bug fixes constitute the small update. One noteworthy addition, apart from stability improvements and bug fixes to the Tizen 2.3.0.1 update, however, is the ability to download Asphalt 8 game updates – something that was only possible over Wi-Fi at one point in time.

Z1 users, have you noticed any differences with functionality since the update? If so, feel free to write in and let us know.

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Bell’s Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to receive Android Lollipop in early April

Samsung has been rolling out Lollipop sweetness to a lot of its high-end smartphones, be it the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S4, or the Galaxy Note 3. However, Samsung’s latest phablet, the Galaxy Note 4, still hasn’t received Android Lollipop update on a number of carriers around the world, including Bell Mobility in Canada.

According to a Bell representative, the company plans to rollout Lollipop update for the Note 4 (SM-N910W8) sometime early next month. The update is most probably waiting for certification and quality assurance. Currently, there’s no word on when the update will hit edge variant of the phablet, the Galaxy Note Edge, but we think that it shouldn’t be too long.

@Oh_Miss_Vickies Hi Victoria, the Lollipop update for the Note 4 will be released by early April, stay tuned! ^NH

— Bell Support (@Bell_Support) March 25, 2015

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Galaxy S6 edge survives first drop test

Wondering if your Galaxy S6 edge with its new Gorilla Glass 4 wrap-around design will survive normal drops and falls? A new video has surfaced on YouTube that shows a woman testing out the durability of the Corning glass. The video is not a clear enough reproduction, but it does show a woman with a device that appears to be a Galaxy S6 edge. The woman slams the S6 edge on the floor, only to pick it up and intentionally slam the GS6 edge on its face. Sure enough, not a crack or “spider web” pattern was seen on the device.

Of course, it’s obvious that no display, despite its durability, is truly shatter-resistant, but it shows just how far we’ve come in glass designs. The Galaxy Note 4 contains Gorilla Glass 4 as well, but Samsung must be riding high on confidence to release a device that features Gorilla Glass 4 on both the display and back of it.

Does this video influence you to buy either device, or did you buy a Galaxy S5 and plan to hang onto it until the Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S7?

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Verizon reissues Lollipop update for Galaxy S5

The Galaxy S5 Lollipop update has been making its rounds since Samsung released the first update for Verizon customers since the first week of February (nearly two months ago), but you may be surprised to learn that Verizon first released the update before pulling it.

Some Verizon customers downloaded the update while others didn’t get the chance to. Verizon didn’t issue a statement at the time about the update, but it seems that the GS5 Lollipop update is now ready for primetime – again.

The new Lollipop update for the Galaxy S5 comes with build number G900VVRU1BOA4, replacing the old Lollipop update that had build number G900VVRU1BNLC. We got our hands on the old Lollipop update and our build number was G900VVRU1BOA8; with that said, don’t be surprised if your build number doesn’t match the last three letters/digits combination.

There are two things you need to know with the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. First, Verizon appears to have added back the Download Booster it removed from the device software when the GS5 first arrived on the network in April 2014. Next, keep in mind that reducing your volume on the device will activate a new “Interruptions” mode that will block phone calls and other notifications from as little as 15 minutes to “indefinitely.” Such is the price we pay for Google’s latest.

We’ve attempted to download the new Lollipop update, only to find that it hasn’t been released for Galaxy S5 devices that have already availed themselves of Verizon’s earlier Lollipop update. If you haven’t received your dose of Lollipop on Verizon’s network, you can do so now. Make sure your battery life is at its best, as a number of updates are known to drain anywhere from 20%-40% battery life while updating.

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T-Mobile releases Galaxy S6, S6 edge update

If you’re a T-Mobile customer, you don’t have your Galaxy S6 or S6 edge yet – but there’s already an update issued for Samsung’s two newest devices. T-Mobile has released an update for the S6 and the S6 edge that is designed to provide enhancements and bug fixes, although the nature of the enhancements and bug fixes is unknown.

What we do know, however, is that the T-Mobile GS6 and S6 edge update comes in at a hefty 177MB with the build number UVU1AOCG. No major changes have been noted, so the update itself is more incremental (despite its size) than anything else. Still, it’s likely the case that T-Mobile has issued an update to optimize its own Galaxy S6 and S6 edge devices for its blazing-fast 4G LTE network. Optimization is never a bad thing.

T-Mobile also has another bit of good news for its customers: those who’ve pre-ordered the GS6 or S6 edge will be happy to know that T-Mobile has already started shipping its pre-orders to customers who took the plunge and purchased their devices early. Verizon customers are still waiting until April 1st to place their pre-orders, while Sprint and AT&T have already joined T-Mo in the pre-order dance.

You now have a T-Mobile update to look forward to if you’re a part of the Magenta Pink carrier family. Before you pull your device out of the box and get enthralled, be sure to hit that update button.

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Galaxy S6 Experience gets you a little closer to the new Samsung

We said some days ago that Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Experience app was a johnny-come-lately to the party, but the Korean manufacturer has, in keeping with tradition, supplied the one new app that we’ve all been waiting for.

The new Galaxy S6 Experience app gives consumers a look into four categories: camera, charging, security, and display. The camera section compares Samsung’s f/1.9 aperture, 5MP front and 16MP back cameras on the S6 and S6 edge with other phones that feature f/2.2 aperture cameras. The security section shows the three security tools Samsung has placed in the S6 and S6 edge: a Smart Manager, Knox 2.0, and a new and improved fingerprint scanner.

In addition to these expected features in the S6 Experience app, Samsung also provides some insight into the S6 and S6 edge’s design as well as information regarding accessories for both models. There are 7 cases (that’s right, seven) available for customers who want to accessorize: a new Clear View cover, Clear Cover, S View Cover, Fabric S View Cover, Flip Wallet, Fabric Flip Wallet, and Protective Cover. Only the Protective Cover is available for the S6 edge currently.

The Galaxy S6 Experience app is available for download from the Google Play Store. While it’s a virtual tease of the Best Buy demo experience, it may just be the thing to get you out and about to see the real deal.

For those who think the new Galaxy S6 Experience app is not enough, check out the ten Galaxy S6 and S6 edge apps now available through XDA.

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