Galaxy Note 9 camera improvements arrive in new update

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update which brings improvements for the Galaxy Note 9 camera. The handset has one of the best cameras you can find on a flagship smartphone today but there’s always room for improvement on the software front. Those who found the camera software a bit lacking in terms of further enhancing the imaging experience will be happy with this update.

The company has started rolling out this update in Germany. It’s obviously going to take a while before this firmware update for the Galaxy Note 9 becomes available in other markets across the globe.

Galaxy Note 9 camera improvements

The company has focused on software features to enhance the Galaxy Note 9’s imaging chops from the get-go. The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s first smartphone with Scene Optimizer. This artificial intelligence-based feature can study the subject and scene before matching them to 20 presents automatically. The presets include landscapes, food, portrait, animals and more. Flaw Detection is another feature that informs users with a pop-up notification if they take a blurry photo or if someone in the photo blinked.

Samsung is rolling out firmware version N960FXXU2ARI9 for the Galaxy Note 9. The update weighs in at around 302MB. The changelog mentions that the camera picture quality has been improved with this update. It also improves the brightness of faces in backlit conditions. Day/Night HDR control accuracy, low light brightness and SNR or Signal Noise Ratio has been improved too.

This firmware update for the Galaxy Note 9 is now rolling out over-the-air. It brings substantial improvements for the camera which device owners will certainly appreciate. It’s good to see that Samsung is working diligently to ensure that its camera remains competitive. That too in a market which has no shortage of handsets with powerful camera hardware and software.

The post Galaxy Note 9 camera improvements arrive in new update appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2xK9OGe
via IFTTT

Galaxy Watch Golf Edition launched with Smart Caddie app

Samsung today announced the launch of the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition. This variant of its new smartwatch comes with the Smart Caddie app. If you have ever played golf you know just how important a caddy is on the course. They know the geographical features well and are a good resource on courses that you’re not familiar with.

There are plenty of watches available on the market that are geared towards golfers. Samsung is joining the list with the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition. The only difference between this variant and the regular Galaxy Watch are the software features otherwise it’s the same smartwatch.

Galaxy Watch Golf Edition

This isn’t the first time that Samsung is launching a variant of its smartwatch for golfers. The company also launched the Gear S3 Golf Edition last year. It also had the Smart Caddie app which has information about 60,000 golf courses across the globe.

The app is present on the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition as well. Developed in collaboration with Golfzon Deca, it offers other features such as Shot Tracking and record keeping. It’s even possible to get information on the height of the green from the app.

Since the Galaxy Watch has a bigger battery than its predecessor, its battery life is good enough for three rounds of golf, or 54 holes. The Galaxy Watch Golf Edition is now available in South Korea. The 46mm and 42mm models are priced at 409,700 won (US$367) and 389,900 won ($351) respectively. No word as yet on when it will be available outside South Korea.

The post Galaxy Watch Golf Edition launched with Smart Caddie app appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Oh9YOI
via IFTTT

We’ll be live on YouTube tomorrow – tune in to see the triple camera Galaxy A7!

We cover a lot of interesting news about Samsung products every week so there’s always plenty to discuss with our readers. We have started conducting live streams on YouTube for this purpose so that our readers can join in and engage with us live. We’ll be going live on our official YouTube channel tomorrow, Friday, at 12:00 Amsterdam time (3:30 pm Delhi, 11 am London).

There’s a lot that we will be talking about, such as Samsung’s renewed commitment to its mid-range lineup and the serious steps it’s taking to challenge its Chinese rivals. The new Galaxy A7 is the first product based on this strategy and we’ll have it with us in the live stream so do tune in to hear our thoughts about Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear cameras.

Head over to our YouTube channel and subscribe. We’ll send you a little reminder when we go live tomorrow.

The post We’ll be live on YouTube tomorrow – tune in to see the triple camera Galaxy A7! appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2DC2npQ
via IFTTT

Cloud Silver is officially the latest Galaxy Note 9 color option

A render surfaced a couple of weeks ago suggesting that Samsung might offer the Galaxy Note 9 in a new color option. The render revealed that it would be a shade of silver and that’s exactly what the company has announced today. Samsung’s latest color option for its flagship is called Cloud Silver.

Initial reports had suggested that this color option may only be launched in the United States. We dug around and found that once it’s out in the United States, this new color option will also be launched in dozens of other markets as well.

Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9

Cloud Silver has been officially confirmed as the latest color option for the Galaxy Note 9. It will be available in the United States before anywhere else. It has a silver S Pen to match the device. Samsung had originally launched its new flagship with the Lavender Purple and Ocean Blue color options in the United States.

Midnight Black, a popular color for this device, wasn’t available in the US at launch. That’s changing now too. Samsung has confirmed that in addition to Cloud Silver, it’s also making the Galaxy Note 9 available in Midnight Black for customers in the US.

The Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9 will be available starting October 5 exclusively from Best Buy stores, it’s website and Samsung.com. The 128GB Midnight Black Galaxy Note 9 will be available through all retail channels starting October 12. Its 512GB model will be available from October 26.

Samsung hasn’t said when the Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9 will be made available in other markets. It may take a few weeks to arrive elsewhere.

The post Cloud Silver is officially the latest Galaxy Note 9 color option appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Om7oXW
via IFTTT

Scene Optimizer on the Galaxy A7 is a dedicated (separate) camera mode

With the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung introduced a new camera feature called Scene Optimizer. Scene Optimizer’s task is simple: Try and detect the kind of scene and subject that the user is trying to take a photo of and then optimize the photo’s colors to make it pop. On the Note 9, you can either turn Scene Optimizer on or off and then take photos in Auto mode. On the Galaxy A7, that’s not the case. The Galaxy A7’s camera app has Scene Optimizer as a dedicated shooting mode.

Galaxy A7 Scene Optimizer a separate camera mode

It’s not entirely surprising that Samsung has separated the feature into a mode of its own on a mid-range phone, especially one that takes 24MP photos with the primary rear camera. The Galaxy A7 probably doesn’t have enough power to take photos and then modify its colors quickly enough in real-time mode. On the flip side, it’s now easier to switch between regular automatic mode and Scene Optimizer, as you don’t have to go into the camera settings to turn the latter on or off. In fact, maybe that’s the sole reason for this change compared to the Galaxy Note 9 and not the lower processing power under the hood.

Of course, it also helps in seeing the kind of difference Scene Optimizer makes to the photo. It’s not a huge difference, but we’ll have to take a few photos in both modes to give a proper verdict. That verdict will come as part of our Galaxy A7 review in the coming weeks and will also tell you how those triple rear cameras work. In the meantime, check out how a picture differs when taken with and without Scene Optimizer on the A7 below (swipe right for regular picture, left for optimized picture).

← SLIDE →

The post Scene Optimizer on the Galaxy A7 is a dedicated (separate) camera mode appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2R10p4V
via IFTTT

Samsung will manufacture crypto mining chips for Squire

The hype around cryptocurrencies may have come down a bit, but there is still enough interest in the idea and technology behind it for many companies to get involved and make money. As the world’s largest semiconductor company, Samsung also saw an opportunity and entered the cryptocurrency market earlier this year by making ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chips for mining hardware firms.

It appears Samsung Semiconductor has found a new customer in Canada. Squire, a Canadian Bitcoin mining firm has announced that it has signed a deal with Samsung for manufacturing ASIC chips. ASIC mining chips are designed to make crypto mining faster and more power-efficient, making them ideal for mining rigs. Squire develops specialized mining equipment and is a competitor to Bitmain, a leading player in the mining hardware space.

Samsung’s push into cryptocurrency market

“On August 1, 2018, we announced that Squire had engaged an undisclosed arm’s length design fabrication firm to perform the back-end design, testing and initial mass production run of our next generation ASIC chip for mining Bitcoin.  We are delighted that we are now able to disclose Gaonchips as our design house and Samsung Electronics as our foundry partner,” Squire said in a press release. No other details about the agreement are made public, and Samsung is yet to make a formal announcement of the deal.

Samsung hasn’t been very aggressive in catering to the crypto industry, probably due to the volatility and uncertainty associated with it. It is also possible the company doesn’t see this market as a substantial and sustainable source of revenue to be more involved, at least at this point in time. Its slow push into this space puts it in competition with the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, who has been active in the crypto mining industry far longer.

The post Samsung will manufacture crypto mining chips for Squire appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2NKn2wD
via IFTTT

SDC 2018 keynote speakers announced by Samsung

Samsung today announced the SDC 2018 keynote speakers. The company confirmed its dates for the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 three months ago. It will showcase the advancements it has made in software at its annual developer conference. It will be extra special this year as some hardware-related announcements will be on the agenda as well.

The Samsung Developer Conference 2018 is going to take place on November 7-8 in San Francisco. It was held from October 18-19 last year. Thousands of developers, technologists and innovators will attend Samsung Developer Conference 2018.

SDC 2018 keynote speakers

Samsung hosted its first proper developer conference in the United States five years ago. It had previously hosted some for its Bada and Tizen operating systems. The Samsung Developer Conference covered a wide range of software and solutions than earlier events and became an annual occurrence.

The company today confirmed the SDC 2018 keynote speakers. The initial roster includes DJ Koh who is the president and CEO of Samsung’s mobile division. He will open SDC 2018 and discuss Samsung’s vision for the future of technology.

Samsung is due to provide more details about its foldable smartphone at SDC 2018 therefore Koh’s keynote will be particularly noteworthy. Samsung also teased its Bixby-powered Galaxy Home smart speaker at the Galaxy Note 9 event on August 9. It will provide more information about this product at SDC 2018.

The company’s fans can thus expect hardware announcements at SDC 2018 as well in addition to the advancements in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things that Samsung will largely focus on.

Samsung introduced an updated Bixby experience with the Galaxy Note 9 and it will talk about future improvements for the assistant at the event. Dag Kittlaus, CEO of Viv Labs, will be speaking at the keynote for this very purpose. He will be joined by the company’s CTO Adam Cheyer. They will talk about Samsung’s strategy to make Bixby more personal, natural and ubiquitous.

Other Samsung executives who will be taking the stage during the keynote include the company’s EVP and Head of Software and AI Eui-Suk Chung and VP and Head of Service Security Technologies Group Jaeyeon Jung.

The post SDC 2018 keynote speakers announced by Samsung appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2OeY8Vj
via IFTTT