Samsung smart TVs are getting iTunes and AirPlay 2 support

Here’s something you may not have expected. Samsung’s 2018 and 2019 smart TVs are getting iTunes and support for AirPlay 2. Samsung confirmed today that it will be offering iTunes Movies and TV Shows as well as AirPlay 2 support on 2019 models starting this spring. It will roll out support for 2018 smart TV models through a firmware update later.

This is a big deal. The app will be available exclusively for Samsung’s smart TVs in more than 100 countries. Moreover, AirPlay 2 support will go live on the aforementioned models in 190 countries.

iTunes and AirPlay 2 support coming to Samsung smart TVs

Why is this a big deal, you ask? This is the first time that Apple is opening up access to its iTunes video library to third-party devices, with Windows PC being the only exception. It’s all the more surprising that Apple has decided to do this with Samsung, two companies that many consider to be the most bitter of rivals.

The app will enable Samsung smart TV users to access their existing iTunes library. They will also be able to browse the store to buy or rent titles. AirPlay 2 will enable users to play videos, music, podcasts, and more from Apple devices like the iPhone on their Samsung TVs.

It does make sense why Apple would pick Samsung for this. The former doesn’t make TVs so Samsung isn’t a direct competitor in this market. As much as people believe that these companies are always at daggers drawn, Apple and Samsung have long maintained a working relationship. The latter continues to supply parts crucial to Apple’s cash cow, the iPhone.

Samsung has a commanding position in the premium TV market so it’s a good fit for Apple. Since it’s expected to launch an online video streaming service later this year, this shows that Apple may also release this app for other platforms in the coming months.

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Samsung Galaxy A8s may be headed to South Korea

The Galaxy A8s is Samsung’s first phone with a display cutout, with the front camera residing in this cutout so the display can have smaller bezels around it. The A8s features an Infinity-O display, which is also expected on the Galaxy S10, and Samsung announced the A8s in China last month following a short teaser at the A9 (2018) launch in the country. And based on certifications from the FCC and the Wi-Fi Alliance, it looks like the Galaxy A8s may also be launched in South Korea.

The evidence comes in the form of the model number. The certifications are for the SM-G887N; Samsung uses the letter N in model numbers for devices launched in Korea, while the Chinese models get a 0 at the end instead of a letter. Unfortunately, while the certifications suggest that a Korean model is in the works, it doesn’t tell us when the device will be launched or arrive on retail shelves. Samsung also has some new budget phones with Infinity-V displays set for release in January, so we can expect the A8s to go official for South Korea at around the same time.

The Galaxy A8s’ specs are unlikely to be changed for South Korea. It comes with a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O display, the Snapdragon 710 SoC, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a triple-camera setup at the back with 24-megapixel primary, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and 5-megapixel depth sensors, a 24-megapixel front camera, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3,400 mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo. It also sports a dedicated Bixby button for Bixby Voice functionality.

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My favorite Samsung One UI (Android Pie) feature: Lift to wake screen

I love One UI, Samsung’s new UX that debuts with the Android Pie update. It’s beautiful in my opinion, the cartoonish app icons notwithstanding, and it’s a joy to use. It also comes with plenty of new features, both major and minor ones, but if I had to select a favorite, it would be the Lift to wake feature. What makes it fantastic is that on the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy Note 9, Lift to wake makes the iris sensor quite convenient to use.

‘Lift to wake’ + iris sensor makes for convenient device unlocking

With Lift to wake enabled, one can just bring the phone up to their face and have it automatically scan the eyes and unlock the phone, without requiring any button presses. Of course, it works just as well with Intelligent Scan, which scans both the eyes and the face for authentication. I had stopped using the iris sensor once Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor below the camera on the Galaxy S9, but I’ve enabled it again on Android Pie all thanks to Lift to wake. 

Sadly, Lift to wake may be less useful with the Galaxy S10, which is expected to ditch the iris sensor because of the new Infinity-O design. Facial recognition will still be available, though, possibly in a more advanced form than the one Samsung currently employs on its devices. An in-display fingerprint sensor is pretty much confirmed as well, so perhaps we won’t miss iris scanning much on Samsung’s 2019 flagships.

What’s your favorite One UI (Android Pie) feature?

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Samsung’s foldable phone could use the new Sony IMX374 camera sensor

Samsung’s foldable phone, currently being rumored as the Galaxy Fold, may use Sony’s new IMX374 camera sensor. A report earlier this week said the Galaxy Fold will have a triple-camera setup at the back, and Samsung is likely to use the latest proprietary ISOCELL camera sensor in some markets and a Sony IMX sensor in others. A teardown of firmware files of a 5G dongle from Samsung has revealed that for the foldable device, the Korean giant will opt for the as yet unannounced IMX374 sensor.

Code in the camera drivers found in the firmware mention the Sony IMX374 alongside the word Winner, which is Samsung’s codename for the foldable phone. Since the IMX374 hasn’t been announced, there are no details available on the sensor’s specifications. Samsung is also yet to unveil a new ISOCELL sensor for 2019, but we can expect some information in the next couple of weeks as we get closer to the Galaxy S10’s launch. That’s if Samsung has a new sensor in the works, although as tradition would dictate, that probably is the case.

Sony IMX374 might or might not debut on the Galaxy S10 first

Whether that new sensor will be seen on the Galaxy S10 also remains to be seen. While the S10 is rumored to have up to four rear cameras, we haven’t heard a lot about new camera features. There’s a Bright Night mode that could take on the Night Sight feature found on the Google Pixel 3, but that would also work on Samsung’s current camera sensors as it’s more of a software trick. The same goes for Artistic Live Focus.

A release date for the Galaxy Fold is currently unknown as well. Samsung seems to have only just started worldwide firmware development for the device, and while rumors of a March release have been making the rounds, Samsung may choose to delay the commercial launch until it can be sure the Galaxy Fold can offer the best possible user experience.

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Support page for the Galaxy M10 goes live on Samsung India website

We’ve heard a lot about the upcoming Galaxy M series smartphones lately. At least three of the new M series devices, possibly called the Galaxy M10, M20 and M30, are expected to be launched later this month. And one of them, the Galaxy M10, has now got a support page on the official website of Samsung India.

Samsung will be consolidating the Galaxy On, J and C series of its budget offerings with the upcoming M series. The devices will come with big screens and batteries and will adopt the ongoing trend of notched displays.

Galaxy M10 launch imminent

While the support page for the Galaxy M10 does not reveal any specifics about the phone, the model number SM-M105F/DS confirms that it is the dual-SIM version of the device. And from earlier reports, we also know that it will be powered by the Exynos 7870 SoC, coupled with 3 GB of RAM and 16 or 32 GB of internal storage. The device will sport a 6.02-inch Infinity-V display and will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

The Galaxy M10 is expected to come with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. It will house a 3,400 mAh battery. The Galaxy M20 and M30, meanwhile, will pack a big 5,000 mAh battery. These two devices will also be packing much better specs under the hood, and may come with multiple rear and front camera setups.

The model number SM-M105F/DS recently passed through the FCC certification process. And now a support page means its launch is imminent. The device will reportedly be released in Blue and Dark Grey color variants. Whether it’ll be limited to markets in the Middle East and Asia remains to be seen.

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SamMobile Daily Recap, January 4, 2019: Galaxy S10 battery size, Note 9 Pie, and more

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Phones

Leaked Galaxy M30 specs also mention a 5,000mAh battery

The Galaxy S10 Lite battery capacity may leave you disappointed

Alleged Galaxy M20 live image shows Samsung’s Infinity-V display

Firmware news

BREAKING: Stable Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update rolling out now!

Samsung details the Galaxy’s UX journey to One UI in an infographic

Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie beta program could start next week

General:

Exclusive: Samsung working on new IconX earbuds

Tips & Tricks

Here’s how to open apps in Multi Window or pop-up view on Android Pie

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Exclusive: Samsung working on new IconX earbuds

Samsung is working on a newer version of the Gear IconX earbuds, in addition to successors to the Gear Sport and the Gear Fit 2. Our sources tell us that the 2019 IconX earbuds come with model number SM-R170 and will be available in black, white, and yellow. Interestingly, the earbuds will also have 8GB of internal storage. That’s higher than on any previous Gear-branded product, be it previous IconX models or one of the many Samsung smartwatches.

That’s all the information we have for now, so we can only speculate as to what the next IconX earbuds could offer. As with the Galaxy Watch, we can expect the new IconX to feature the Galaxy branding. Maybe Samsung will also bring AKG tuning into the mix, although that could considerably raise the price tag. But it may be a good move as far as uniformity across products is concerned, as Samsung will also be launching the Bixby-powered Galaxy Home with AKG speakers this year.

Last but not the least, we can also expect to see better battery life on the new IconX. It may not be a huge difference, though, especially when you consider the 2018 Gear IcoX (2018) already brought a significant improvement in endurance over the first iteration of the earbuds. Samsung might choose to increase the battery capacity of the charging case instead, but we can’t say anything for certain at the moment.

Would you be interested in AKG-tuned IconX earbuds from Samsung?

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