Verizon rolls out nifty software update for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5

Verizon has just started pushing out a relatively nifty software update for its carrier-branded models of the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. The upgrade brings compatibility for the Barcode Beaming Service, which improves accuracy when scanning loyalty cards in Samsung Pay. It also transports a couple of other useful features to the handsets, including OnCircle.

The full changelog can be seen below:

• Barcode Beaming Service
  • This service beams barcode information to your handset, improving or correcting the recognition response due to varying brightness levels and screen glare.
  • Use it on digital coupons, event tickets, library cards, loyalty cards, membership cards, and more.
  • Instantly scan your on-device barcodes with ease while using supported apps such as “Samsung Pay”.
• 3 new ways to use Contacts
  • Profile sharing: Share profiles and images.
  • Simple sharing: Share files of up to 1 GB.
  • Event sharing: Share events by inviting your contacts to join them. Your contacts will also be able to add their own images and videos.
• OnCircle
  • OnCircle is a new addition to People Edge, providing ways for creative communication , with more than just words. Express yourself with doodles, short video clips, emoticons and even touch effects.
• Amazon Widget
  • Get quick access to your favorite Amazon apps with just one swipe on the home screen.

As you’d expect, Verizon is distributing this release in stages. If you own Galaxy S6 edge+ or Galaxy Note 5 locked to Big Red and would like to see if the OTA is ready for your device, simply head into Settings, select About Device, tap on the heading entitled Software Update, then hit the Download Updates Manually button.

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Additional pictures of the Galaxy Folder 2 and its packaging leaked

The Galaxy Folder 2 is perhaps Samsung’s worst kept secret right now. Every other day there’s a leak which brings us pictures of the actual device itself. Since it has received all of the relevant certifications this only goes to show that the handset will be launched in the near future. The latest leak brings us more pictures of the device as well as its packaging. They are also accompanied by some specs of this handset which have already been leaked previously.

Samsung’s latest flip phone features a 3.8-inch 480×800 pixel resolution Super AMOLED display, it’s said to have a 1.4GHz Qualcomm processor under the hood coupled with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory. Aside from a 1,950mAh battery it’s also said to feature an 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera. It will be powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow straight out of the box. The Galaxy Folder 2 may only be released in China and that too with a price tag of around $290. Despite all these frequent leaks Samsung is yet to confirm when this handset is going to be officially announced and when it will be available for purchase.

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BlackBerry and Samsung have created a ‘spy-proof’ tablet for the German government

BlackBerry – a company that touts its exceptional mobile security credentials – announced at IFA 2016 that it has teamed up with Samsung on a “spy-proof” tablet for the German government. The tablet may look like any other Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 but it features a special security card as well as tough encryption and certification software developed by BlackBerry’s Secusmart to secure data that’s stored on the SecuTABLET and transferred from it. The SecuTABLET has been approved by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) at the “classified – for official use only” (VS-NfD) security level.

The Secusmart Security securely encrypts transfer of mobile data as well as all information on the tablet. It also features government-grade MAM technology which works in conjunction with Samsung’s Knox security suite so that users can access both business and personal apps on the same device while still meeting the strict security requirements of the agencies of the German government.

“Samsung Knox has allowed us to add an extra level of security to the use of Android on Samsung smartphones and to create a foundation on which to develop mobile security solutions. The SecuTABLET is an impressive example of this,” said Sascha Lekic, Director of B2B Sales, IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics.

Unfortunately, this highly secure iteration of the Galaxy Tab S2 is not and will not be sold to the general public.

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Download these four themes on your Galaxy smartphone this week

Samsung has released a bunch of themes this week, but only a few of them are worth looking at. Don’t worry, we’ve done that shortlisting process for you already. Out of 130 themes released in the Theme Store by Samsung, we’ve shortlisted four themes which you might be interested in. Since we were busy reporting about the Gear S3 smartwatches, we couldn’t publish our Themes Thursday story this week.

Since you suggested us last week, we’ve mentioned the theme which are paid and ones which are free. To our surprise, three out of these four themes can be downloaded free of cost. Except the [WoOS_Design] City theme, all other themes are free on the Theme Store. There’s an Olympic Rio 2016 theme if you are still in mood to celebrate sports. SummerBEAR and Tema Deportes Colombia themes look jolly in the blue avatar. Which new themes did you like this week?

[WoOS_Design] City | Paid

Olympic Rio 2016 | Free

SummerBEAR | Free

Tema Deportes Colombia | Free

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Carphone Warehouse is dishing out out £25 account credit to all customers who pre-ordered the Galaxy Note 7

UK-based independent electronics retailer Carphone Warehouse has started informing all customers who pre-ordered a Galaxy Note 7 through either its online portal or nationwide bricks-and-mortar stores that their account will be credited with £25 ($33) to compensate for the delay in shipments.

Unfortunately, it’s currently unclear when shipping will be resumed in the UK. After all, it was only a couple of hours ago that Samsung presented its findings from its investigation into the reports of exploding devices, revealing that the cause was a defective battery, but its still yet to calculate exactly how many handsets are pack the faulty battery.

For now, the company’s main priority is to ensure consumer safety. To do this, it will be recalling all Galaxy Note 7′s that have made their way into the hands of customers and replacing them. We can confirm, that sales of the handset will, however, be halted until the problem has been fixed.

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Samsung has started selling refurbished flagship smartphones in the US

We reported a couple of weeks ago that Samsung could soon start selling refurbished flagship Galaxy smartphones. It was said to be one of the ways the company will try to sustain the earnings momentum after its stellar performance in the second quarter of this year and it will also help Samsung maximize cost efficiency and retain operating margins above 10 percent. Samsung has quietly started selling refurbished smartphones in the United States. There’s an entire section on its US website dedicated to “Samsung Certified Pre-Owned Phones.”

The company mentions that these units have been completely refurbished by Samsung engineers and they also include new headphones and chargers in the box. Samsung is providing the same one-year warranty on these refurbished units as a new device. Refurbished models include the Galaxy Note 3, the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge as well as the Galaxy Note 4.

The list does not include refurbished Galaxy S7 or Galaxy Note 5 units as yet. The savings are significant, customers stand to save up to $265 on refurbished units. They will have to pay the entire cost upfront as these units can not be purchased on a carrier installment plan.

Samsung is not yet offering refurbished unlocked units. All of the handsets available for purchase on this list are linked to the country’s four major wireless carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The refurbished units can be purchased directly from Samsung’s website and they will ship in up to ten business days. It remains to be seen if and when Samsung will launch this refurbished flagship smartphone program in other markets.

Thanks, Alexander!

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Samsung will voluntarily replace your Galaxy Note 7

We reported yesterday that it was possible for Samsung to announce a recall of the Galaxy Note 7 following reports of the handset’s battery exploding. A few days ago Samsung confirmed that it was delaying shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 to perform additional quality tests on its new flagship. The company has formally announced a worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note 7 today and has said that it’s going to voluntarily replace units that have already been shipped.

Samsung says that it conducted a thorough investigation in response to the recent reports and found a battery cell issue. As of September 1 there have been 35 cases reportedly globally and Samsung is conducting a thorough inspection with its suppliers to identify possible affected batteries. To ensure customer safety Samsung has decided to stop sales of the Galaxy Note 7. The handset has been pulled off the shelves and will not be sold until Samsung fixes this problem.

Samsung is believed to have shipped close to a million units of the Galaxy Note 7 globally, this means that there are a lot of customers out there who have a Galaxy Note 7 that may or may not have a faulty battery. For customers who already have the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung says that it’s going to voluntarily replace their current device with a new Galaxy Note 7 over the coming weeks. The company says that it’s working with its partners to make sure that the replacement experience is “as convenient and efficient as possible.”

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