Galaxy Unpacked 2017 app wants you to sign up for something unspecified

Samsung confirmed late last month that it’s going to conduct the official launch event for the Galaxy S8 on March 29. It has now released a Galaxy Unpacked 2017 app for both Android and iOS but hasn’t really detailed what the app is for.

When you launch the Galaxy Unpacked 2017 app for the first time after downloading it you are required to sign up. When you try to sign up it returns an error and says that registrations will begin on Wednesday, March 22nd. However, it doesn’t reveal what you’re registering for.

Perhaps Samsung is going to offer the live stream of its March 29 event through this app or it might simply be for the purposes of generating email leads that it can then reach out to with news about the new handset when it does arrive.

This is just speculation right now but we’ll know soon enough what it is that the Galaxy Unpacked 2017 app wants you to sign up for. You can head over to the Google Play Store right now and download it on your device.

Thanks, Justin!

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Samsung to invest $8.7 billion to build new production lines for DRAM chipsets

To maintain its number-one position in the memory semiconductor segment and to cope up with the soaring demand, Samsung has decided to invest around $8.7 billion. The South Korean semiconductor giant will use this capital to build new production lines for DRAM chipsets. The semiconductor market is said to change every month rapidly, and the choice of products to be manufactured at a plant is decided after its completion.

Samsung will start manufacturing 18nm or more advanced DRAM chips from its new line in Hwaseong in the next couple of years. The company is currently assembling a task force for the said expansion. It plans to exclusively produce NAND flash chips at its Xian plant in China, Pyeongtaek, and partially in Hwaseong of South Korea. Processing chipsets would be fabricated at its plants in Austin (the US), Giheung (South Korea), and Hwaseong (South Korea).

A Samsung official was quoted saying, “Considering the construction period of about two years, the speed of company’s research and development (R&D) and the yield rate of process conversion, it is not clear whether products from the new line at Hwaseong plant will be 18nm DRAMs, which are mass produced currently, or more advanced products.”

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Samsung may offer real-time VR broadcasting of 2018 Winter Olympics

Samsung is planning to offer real-time VR video broadcasting of the 2018 Winter Olympics to viewers through virtual reality headsets. This will make all the viewers feel as if they are right at the event. However, this will not be the first time that Samsung offers VR video coverage of an event. The company offered 360-degree videos from the Rio 2016 Olympics, offering exclusive video content to Gear VR users. The company will use 5G networks for the first time for such a coverage of a sports event.

“We plan to offer virtual technology so that, let’s say, viewers with a VR headset in Seoul can enjoy the sports game as if they are at the scene. We are in discussion with the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Broadcasting Services to utilize our VR technology during the Olympics,” said Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Marketing Director Cha Young-Tae at the meeting attended by the ICT vice minister. The meeting was also attended by other Korean tech firms including KT, LG, and SKT.

Samsung is also planning to set up promotional centres in Seoul where it will offer entertainment VR rides that were unveiled during MWC 2017 last month.

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Samsung’s next Tizen-powered smartphone has been spotted at the FCC

An unannounced Samsung-branded smartphone has been spotted on the FCC’s online database. Sadly, the documentation doesn’t reveal anything about the device, other than that it sports the model number SM-Z400F; leading us to believe we’re looking at the so-called Samsung Z4.

If you’ve been following SamMobile closely, you’ll know that the next major build of the open-source operating system — Tizen 3.0 — is rumored to debut on the recently-rumored Samsung Z4, and seeing as it’s now been granted approval by the FCC, it shouldn’t be too much longer until arrives.

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Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge receive Nougat on several Canadian carriers

Several Canadian carriers have now started rolling out the much-awaited Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge. One of the country’s largest carriers still hasn’t released Nougat, though. Rogers’s did update its OS upgrade schedule recently to reflect that it’s going to roll out this update on March 20.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners in Canada on SaskTel, Bell, Virgin Mobile, EastLink, Wind Mobile and Freedom Mobile are now receiving the Nougat update.

Firmware version G935W8VLU2BQB6 is now being rolled out for the Galaxy S7 edge (SM-G935W8) and G930W8VLU2BQB6 for the Galaxy S7 (SM-G930W8). All of the firmware files are available from our firmware section, just enter the respective model number to access the list.

Since this is a major update it’s a bit hefty at 1.3GB. Users will have to ensure that they have ample juice left in the battery and are connected to a good Wi-Fi network before they start the download and installation process.

The aforementioned carriers have started rolling out the update today so it may take a while for it to go live for all users in Canada.

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T-Mobile selling the Gear VR at 50 percent off

If you’re based in the United States and would like to pick up the Gear VR at a discount then you might want to check out T-Mobile’s latest offer. The carrier often discounts accessories significantly and it’s currently doing that for the Gear VR. Those who are interested in buying one can get the Gear VR at 50 percent off from T-Mobile.

The Gear VR normally retails for $99.99 but it’s currently available from T-Mobile for just $49.97. It appears to be the Gear VR headset that Samsung launched with the Galaxy Note 7 last year as it has a USB Type-C adapter.

Those who want to pick one up don’t have to worry about paying for shipment because T-Mobile offers free shipping on accessory orders of more than $20. Check out T-Mobile’s product page for the Gear VR to find out more about this deal. Hit the source link below to head over to the carrier’s online store.

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Galaxy Tab S3 US price revealed

Samsung is yet to confirm how much the Galaxy Tab S3 is going to cost when it’s released in the United States. Customers in Europe can already pre-order the new tablet for 670 euro and while we can expect the Galaxy Tab S3 to cost around the same in US dollars, the official price hasn’t been confirmed as yet.

However, Best Buy now has a listing for the Galaxy Tab S3 on its website. The retailer’s listing carries a price tag of $599.99 and that seems plausible enough. Pre-orders haven’t been opened as yet, Best Buy’s listing only says that the tablet is “coming soon.”

Samsung is offering customers in Europe a pre-order incentive. Those who pre-order a Galaxy Tab S3 will receive a free Bookcover Keyboard case. It remains to be seen if this pre-order incentive will be offered to customers in the United States as well.

The Galaxy Tab S3 is expected to start shipping across the globe in the coming weeks so Samsung should confirm the official pricing and availability details of the Galaxy Tab S3 for the United States in the very near future.

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