Samsung accidentally confirms Galaxy Book S with ‘Intel Inside’

Samsung Canada accidentally confirmed the first “Intel Inside” variant of the Galaxy Book S. A premature listing that’s still live as of this writing reveals the new Galaxy Book S iteration – identified by model number NP767XCM-K01CA – utilizes an Intel i5 processor from the unannounced Lakefield generation. The misstep hardly reveals surprising information, however; Samsung’s ultra-thin laptop has been rumored to launch as the first Lakefield notebook for some time now.

More importantly, the said premature listing confirms Samsung is targeting global availability for this particular version of the Galaxy Book S. That’s been far from a given until today seeing how Samsung’s notebook release strategy is anything but consistent.

Galaxy Book S ARM vs. Intel differences

The promptly spotted Samsung Canada product page reveals the new Galaxy Book S retains the 13.3-inch Full HD display of the previous models, but pairs it with the Intel Core i5-L16G7 processor and 8GB of RAM, as well as a 42Wh battery. Battery life will be something to look out for here as the first-ever x86-based Galaxy Book S is expected to be less efficient than its ARM counterparts.

Samsung’s own landing page suggests up to 17 hours of standalone operation, a noticeable downgrade compared to the 25-hour rating attached to the original Galaxy Book S. Of course, your mileage will vary as real-world usage tends to be a bit more hardware-taxing than continous video playback is, which is what Samsung uses as its performance standard.

The Lakefield version of the notebook also lacks gigabit-grade LTE but otherwise appears similar to the original product family. Dual USB-C ports, Bluetooth 5.0, and microSD card support are still part of the package, much like a discreet fingerprint reader integrated into the power button of the new Galaxy Book S. Consumers will have a choice between 256GB and 512GB models, both of which will be available in Mercury Gray and Earthy Gold.

The post Samsung accidentally confirms Galaxy Book S with ‘Intel Inside’ appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3e47bSd
via IFTTT

Bloomberg TV+ lands on Samsung TV Plus as the first linear 4K channel

Samsung TV Plus seems to be getting better with each passing month, and the most recent addition to the company’s ad-based streaming service is Bloomberg TV+. Samsung and Bloomberg Media are launching the platform on Samsung TV Plus today.

Interestingly, Bloomberg TV+ is the first linear channel on Samsung TV Plus to be streamed in 4K UHD. It’s a 24-hour business and financial news network that delivers data-rich graphics created for 4K UHD.

This is a milestone for both Samsung and Bloomberg Media

Aside from Bloomberg TV+ being the first 4K UHD linear channel on Samsung TV Plus, the Korean company’s ad-based service is also the first platform of its kind to stream Bloomberg TV+ in 4K UHD. In other words, this collaboration represents an important milestone for both sides. Bloomberg TV+ was first launched in 2019, and Bloomberg Media collaborated with Wurl to distribute 4K UHD content on Samsung’s platform using HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec).

Bloomberg TV+ is now available on all Samsung Smart TVs released in 2017 and later. Samsung recently shared some interesting stats regarding its TV Plus platform and how it grew over the past few years to accommodate a total of 518 channels around the world. They include sports, entertainment, documentaries and more.

Now, Samsung Smart TV users can tune in to Bloomberg TV+ to watch popular linear programs including Bloomberg Surveillance and Bloomberg Wall Street Week, along with interviews from global leaders and business executives. And since Bloomberg TV+ is now delivered through the Samsung TV Plus platform, no additional downloads or subscriptions are required to enjoy this content.

The post Bloomberg TV+ lands on Samsung TV Plus as the first linear 4K channel appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3bOm89w
via IFTTT

Exclusive: New Samsung Galaxy Watch will be available in Titanium

We first reported four months ago that a successor to Samsung’s last Galaxy smartwatch with a physical rotating bezel may finally be in the works. It later became known that Samsung has a new smartwatch in the pipeline with model numbers SM-R840 and SM-R850, corresponding to the two different sizes that it will be offered in.

We have now found an interesting bit of information about the new Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. We have seen aluminum and stainless steel on Samsung’s smartwatches before. This time around, Samsung is going to offer it in Titanium as well.

This will be the first Titanium Galaxy Watch

Samsung switched things up in its smartwatch lineup last year with the Galaxy Watch Active and Galaxy Watch Active 2. Both are robust smartwatches, but they weren’t quite the successor to the Galaxy Watch that many were hoping for.

While it’s still unknown if the SM-R840/850 will be branded as a direct sequel to the Galaxy Watch or if it will merely be launched as the Galaxy Watch Active 3, what we do know is that it’s going to be available in a premium case material.

This will be the first instance of a titanium case on a Samsung smartwatch. Hardly surprising, given that the Apple Watch Series 5 launched late last year also came with titanium for the first time. Titanium isn’t a new material for watches, it has long been used on conventional wristwatches.

Smartwatch makers are only now turning towards it since it’s a very strong, lightweight and durable material, a perfect fit for their products. Samsung will most likely treat it with a special coating to prevent staining and yellowing since titanium is prone to that since its a porous material.

Not to mention the fact that it looks really good, particularly in comparison to something like aluminum and stainless steel. However, it will be a bit more expensive than the stainless steel finish that also gets offered for the new Galaxy Watch. Consider this: the base Apple Watch Series 5 in aluminum starts at $399 while the one in titanium starts at $799. That’s a $400 difference just because of the material.

The 2018 Galaxy Watch in stainless steel started at $329 for the 42mm and $349 for the 46mm model. The Galaxy Watch Active 2, Samsung’s most recent smartwatch, is available in both aluminum and stainless steel with prices starting at $279.99. There will most definitely be a price premium for titanium on the company’s upcoming smartwatch but exactly how much it’s going to be is anybody’s guess right now.

Not much is known about the new smartwatch at this time. What we do know is that it will have 8GB of internal storage across the entire lineup, a larger 330mAh battery as well as Wi-Fi and LTE variants.

Would you be happy to pay a bit more for a titanium Galaxy Watch? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Exclusive: New Samsung Galaxy Watch will be available in Titanium appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2zg4y0L
via IFTTT

Galaxy Note 8 starts getting May 2020 security patch with new update

Samsung’s May 2020 security patch rollout continues and the latest device to get it via a new update is the Galaxy Note 8 with model number SM-N950F. The latest update for the international Galaxy Note 8 is identified as version N950FXXSBDTE6.

The update including the May 2020 security patch is now available for the Galaxy Note 8 in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Nordic Countries, Slovakia, and Spain. It follows previous security patches including the March and April releases. Although the Galaxy Note 8 is no longer supported with major Android OS updates, it remains on Samsung’s list of devices eligible for monthly security patches, at least for the time being. The latest security patch fixes 9 Android OS critical vulnerabilities and 18 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures.

If you’re located in one of the markets mentioned above, you should be getting an update notification for the May 2020 security patch on your Galaxy Note 8. You can also attempt to trigger the update process manually by opening Settings, going to Software update, and  tapping Download and install. As always, you can circumvent all this and download the latest update with the May 2020 security patch from our firmware archive, then install it on your Galaxy Note 8 using a Windows PC.

Galaxy Note 8

• Model: SM-N950F
• Dimensions: Bar: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm
  
• Display: 6.3 inch / 160.02 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

The post Galaxy Note 8 starts getting May 2020 security patch with new update appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3e4490q
via IFTTT

Galaxy S21 could ditch Samsung displays for cheaper Chinese OLEDs

The next generation of Galaxy S smartphones could ditch Samsung’s own displays in favor of cheaper Chinese OLEDs – at least partially. Following almost a full month’s worth of preliminary negotiations with BOE, Samsung Electronics today sent an official request for quotation to the Beijing-based manufacturer, industry insiders claim. The timing of the move coincides with the current development status of Samsung’s 2021 flagships which may be marketed as the Galaxy S21 series. Namely, quote requisition applications in the smartphone industry are usually sent out about half a year prior to trial production runs.

Sources close to the company claim Samsung only intends to rely on BOE for a portion of the Galaxy S21 range. While it’s unclear whether the lineup will once again feature three distinct models, there’s seemingly no chance for next year’s Galaxy S20 Ultra follow-up to feature a BOE display. That’s because the Chinese OLED panels Samsung wants to order aren’t intended to support 120Hz refresh rates, a key selling point of the current flagship generation.

Base Galaxy S21 model may miss out on 120Hz refresh rate

Instead, the quotation request sent to BOE only concerns a 90Hz product specification, Korean insiders claim. Samsung has already been working on this compromise solution for some time now, much like its rivals in the smartphone space. A quotation request has been sent for 120Hz and 60Hz panels to Samsung Display as well.

The lower end of the Galaxy S21 range may hence miss out on a key display feature supported by the entirety of the previous handset generation. That potential discrepancy appears vaguely similar to how the base Galaxy Note 10 model delivered a resolution downgrade compared to its 2018 predecessor. Samsung Display will still supply 120Hz-ready OLEDs for the Galaxy S21, as per the same source.

All things considered, it appears Samsung’s global OLED dominance is finally plateauing as its display operations are now even losing out on business from sister companies. The Galaxy S21’s partial shift toward BOE is almost certainly meant to reduce manufacturing costs of the next-gen Android flagships, something Samsung now deems imperative given the current mobile market instabilities.

Some industry insiders also view this as a move from Samsung Electronics to try and get Samsung Display to lower panel prices. The threat of having some orders being replaced by BOE just might work and the company may not resort to sourcing the OLEDs from China. If this is indeed a bluff and Samsung Display decides to call it, then we may get the first Samsung flagship with a Chinese OLED screen next year.

The post Galaxy S21 could ditch Samsung displays for cheaper Chinese OLEDs appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3e9mM37
via IFTTT

Daily Deal: 49% off an ExpressVPN subscription

VPN providers are gaining popularity. This is partly due to the current situation where a lot of people have to stay home. By using a VPN you make sure that you’re browsing privately as you’re using a dedicated VPN IP address with encryption. You’ll also be able to use an ultra-fast server is one of their 94 supported countries, which enables you to visit websites and streaming services as if you’re located there. By doing that, you can get access to content otherwise not available to you. You can now get 49% off ExpressVPN’s yearly plan and they’ll throw in an additional three months for free as well!

Hit the Buy Now button below before this deal expires!

The post Daily Deal: 49% off an ExpressVPN subscription appeared first on SamMobile.

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

Samsung’s South Carolina plant reopens with $350 bonus for new workers

Many of Samsung’s manufacturing plants across the globe have had to suffer disruptions to the COVID19 pandemic. The company would quickly shut them down if cases were detected in order to prevent a massive outbreak. It has been able to do a good job of preventing large scale outbreaks at its factories.

Samsung’s Newberry County, South Carolina plant was shut down when two workers tested positive for the coronavirus. The plant was later reopened but then quickly shut down again as another employee tested positive for the virus. The company has now reopened it once again.

$350 hiring bonus offered to new employees

Samsung set up this factory in 2018, investing $380 million to manufacture washing machines for the US market. Around 800 people are employed at the Newberry facility. A spokeswoman for Samsung said that the shutdowns of the plant enabled officials to thoroughly clean the factory as per the guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control as well as other health agencies.

With the plant now reopening, Samsung is going to hold a “virtual” hiring event this Thursday for new workers. It’s offering a $350 hiring bonus to people who fill the positions but hasn’t revealed how many positions there are to be filled.

Georgia-based MAU Workforce Solutions is the company that’s conducting the hiring on behalf of Samsung. It’s a temporary employment agency. After 90 days, the new employees will be eligible to be hired directly by Samsung. Those who are interested in taking part in this hiring event can sign up at MAU.com/Samsung-event.

It will run on Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm local time. Material handlers, quality inspectors, machine operators, forklift operators and production associates are among the positions to be filled.

The post Samsung’s South Carolina plant reopens with $350 bonus for new workers appeared first on SamMobile.

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