June 2017 security patch starts rolling out to Galaxy S6 in Europe

Samsung has started rolling out the June 2017 security update to the Galaxy S6 in the Netherlands, and the update is expected to roll out to other European markets. The update is not available for the Galaxy S6 edge yet, but Samsung should release it soon since the non-edge variant has it already.

The new update with firmware version G920FXXU5EQFC brings bug fixes and performance optimization along with the June 2017 Android security patch to the Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F). The patch includes 96 security improvements from Google for Android devices, and Samsung has added 23 improvements to it.

Since Samsung started rolling out the Android 7.0 update for the Galaxy S6, it had delayed security patch release for the device. However, the company seems to have started working on monthly security patches for the Galaxy S6 duo. Only the unlocked version is receiving this update, but we don’t know when carrier-locked variants would receive it.

Has your Galaxy S6 received this update? Let us know in the comments section below.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2tHLZO3
via IFTTT

Galaxy Note 8 design hinted in latest CAD image

Samsung’s next flagship smartphone is not due for a couple of months so the rumor mill is in full swing these days. We’re hearing new rumors and reports about the Galaxy Note 8 every other day and seeing new leaked images and renders that claim to offer us a glimpse of the new handset.

Take this new CAD image that has been posted online for example. It was tweeted by Slickwraps CEO Jonathan Endicott to inform the company’s fans that they’re working hard on creating skins for Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. For those who are unaware, Slickwraps is a company that makes custom skins for smartphones.

It has long been believed that accessory manufacturers get access to some schematics or design materials that enable them to get their products ready for upcoming devices ahead of time. So it’s not that surprising to see Endicott and Co. working off of a CAD image for the Galaxy Note 8.

Speaking of the Galaxy Note 8, the design that we see in this CAD image is quite similar to the other design renders we’ve seen so far for the new handset. It seems to confirm a dual camera system for the Galaxy Note 8 as well, one that has endlessly been rumored for this handset.

It goes without saying that there will be better leaks in the days to come. We can reasonably expect to get a good look at the Galaxy Note 8 before Samsung officially unveils the handset in the last week of August.

Working hard on the Note 8. http://pic.twitter.com/L74LqCWkez

— Jonathan Endicott (@headslickwrap) July 3, 2017

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2ulceYo
via IFTTT

Samsung starts mass production at its new chip plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea

Samsung today announced that it has started mass production at its new semiconductor fabrication line in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The first product being produced on this line is now shipping to customers. The new facility is primarily going to focus on mass production of Samsung’s fourth-generation V-NAND memory product.

The company broke ground on this facility in May, 2015. It has taken just over two years of construction to get this fabrication line up and running. Samsung points out that the fabrication line at the Pyeongtaek campus currently happens to be the largest single Fab in the industry.

Samsung recognizes the emerging industry trends such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data and automotive technologies. That’s why the company is planning to further improve its manufacturing capabilities by investing 37 trillion won or close to $30 billion in its global production facilities.

The company is also planning to construct a new semiconductor fabrication line in Xi’an, China. It’s conducting site reviews currently. Samsung already has a fabrication line in that part of the world which was constructed back in 2014. The Xi’an site is in full operation presently.

Samsung Display, the conglomerate’s display-making affiliate, is also reviewing plans to set up a new OLED manufacturing site in Asan, South Korea by next year.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2tcx2CK
via IFTTT

T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge receive June security patch

The third largest mobile carrier in the United States is rolling out a new firmware update for last year’s flagship smartphones. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners on T-Mobile should keep an eye out for an over-the-air update notification which should pop up on their handset soon if it hasn’t already.

T-Mobile has rolled out firmware version G930TUVS4BQE1 and G935TUVU4BQF6 for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge respectively. These are minor updates so don’t expect much in the way of new features. What they do bring is the all important June security patch.

The security patch for the month of June brings fixes for 96 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in the core Android operating system as well as fixes for 23 vulnerabilities that Samsung discovered in its own software.

The official changelog also mentions that this firmware update includes various system improvements. Users can expect the usual slew of performance and stability improvements that are part and parcel of most incremental updates.

T-Mobile subscribers with a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge will receive an over-the-air update notification soon if one hasn’t already landed on their device. The firmware versions mentioned above are also available for download from our firmware section.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2uFOYnw
via IFTTT

Samsung’s Bixby smart speaker is reportedly in development

Samsung introduced Bixby late last year. It’s the company’s new voice assistant that it launched with the Galaxy S8. Samsung says that Bixby allows users to do almost everything that they can do with a tap by just using voice commands on the handset. That being said, it rolled out Bixby before it was completed.

The company later rolled out the voice functionality for Bixby in South Korea where it can even be used to transfer money now. Bixby Voice is still unavailable in the United States because apparently, Samsung has been facing trouble getting it to work in the English language. Samsung has rolled out the functionality in beta to some users in the US, though.

We have seen reports in the past that Samsung is going to build a smart speaker of its own with Bixby which will rival the likes of the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The company even has patents covering such devices but it hasn’t said officially if such a device is in the pipeline.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Samsung has a new smart speaker in development which will be powered by Bixby. The project is reportedly codenamed Vega. The report doesn’t provide any information about the design, features and specifications of this device.

It does point out that Vega’s development is facing delays because of Bixby. It’s still not ready for public release and according to the scribe, Samsung is not seeing the full release of Bixby Voice before the second half of July.

It can’t be said for sure right now when Samsung might be able to bring this smart speaker to market. It’s all contingent upon the company’s progress with Bixby.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2tEn2Ds
via IFTTT

Galaxy S8 Active, Tab A2 S, and Galaxy J7 Reloaded appear in Samsung’s official app changelog

We’ve long been reading about the Galaxy S8 Active (SM-G892A), a possibly rugged version of the Galaxy S8 for AT&T’s network. The phone was certified by the FCC two days ago, and its rear design was revealed in the documents. It also appeared in Wi-Fi certification documents. Now, the phone has been confirmed as it has appeared in the changelog of an app from Samsung.

The Galaxy S8 Active (codenamed Cruiser) has appeared in the recent changelog of Samsung Video Library in the Play Store. Two other new devices – Galaxy J7 Reloaded (SM-J710F) and Galaxy Tab A2 S – were also mentioned. This confirms that the Galaxy S8 Active will be released on AT&T’s network in the US. The phone was spotted earlier in Geekbench’s database running Android 7.0.

The Galaxy S8 Active is believed to feature a 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a 12-megapixel primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and 4K video recording, and an 8-megapixel secondary camera with autofocus. The device will also be IP68 and MIL-STD-810G compliant for dust, shock, and water resistance.

We don’t have any information about the design, release date, or specifications of the Galaxy J7 Reloaded and the Galaxy Tab A2 S. However, we’ll report back as and when we receive more information about these two devices.

Thanks for the tip, Hashim!

SaveSave

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2uF3ax1
via IFTTT

Samsung plans to invest $18.6 billion to extend its lead in display panels and memory chips

Samsung is the current world leader in storage and memory chips segment, and it has announced that it is planning to invest around KRW 21.4 trillion (approx. $18.6 billion) in South Korea to extend its lead in the memory chips and display panel market. Around KRW 14.4 trillion of this capital, which will be spent by 2021, will be dedicated to the company’s NAND chips manufacturing factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.

The South Korean electronics giant also mentioned that it will invest around KRW 6 trillion to set up a new semiconductor production line in Hwaseong city in South Korea. However, Samsung didn’t mention any time frame for this investment. The company also plans to add an extra production line to its NAND plant in Xi’an, China for ramping up the production capacity of storage chips. Although, the final investment amount or a time frame wasn’t announced.

Samsung Display will also invest KRW 1 trillion on a new OLED manufacturing plant in Korea. Thanks to the booming demand for memory and storage chips, Samsung and its competitors are expected to rake in record profits this year. Apparently, there’s a shortage of NAND chips due to increasing adoption of high-end storage solutions in devices like smartphones and servers. Industry experts say that the shortage for storage chips will continue in 2017 even though the brands have invested billions of dollars.

“I believe NAND market conditions will continue to favor suppliers until 2020. Any oversupply issues will be temporary and limited to seasonally weaker periods” said HMC Investment analyst Greg Roh. Samsung is said to be at least a year ahead of its rivals Toshiba and SK Hynix as the former invests $10 billion annually. The new investment is expected to create an additional 440,000 jobs in South Korea, which will help in boosting the economy.

Thanks to increasing demand of high-storage capacity smartphones, virtual reality applications, and cloud storage, demand for NAND chips is expected to grow. Chinese smartphone brands are the biggest buyers of display and semiconductor chips from Samsung. China is trying to be self-reliant in making these chips, but it will be years before Chinese brands can even compete with global giants like Samsung and Toshiba.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/2tccjyU
via IFTTT