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Showing posts with the label Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ may come with Intelligent Scan tech to take on Apple's Face ID

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Samsung is gearing to launch the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ on February 25, a day ahead of MWC 2018, in Barcelona. A lot has been already leaked about the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ and even serial tipster Evan Blass has posted his take on the new flagship phones, leaving almost nothing to th Samsung is gearing to launch the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ on February 25, a day ahead of MWC 2018, in Barcelona. A lot has been already leaked about the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ and even serial tipster Evan Blass has posted his take on the new flagship phones, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. A new Android Police report however suggests that the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ may come with one more piece of technology that we're yet to see on a Samsung phone. The technology is called Intelligent Scan and it's said to be a biometric feature that makes use of facial and iris scanning to unlock the phone(s) even in dark and harsh light. Intelligent Scan will report

Samsung Galaxy On7 Prime Review

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Samsung is killing it in the high-end smartphone space, thanks to its Galaxy S8  ( Review ) series and Galaxy Note 8  ( Review ) smartphones. However, the company hasn’t had many stand-out offerings in the entry-level segment, with a few exceptions of course, such as the Galaxy J7 Prime  ( Review ) and the Galaxy On Max  ( Review ). The new year has only just begun and we’ve already seen a slew of new launches in the sub-Rs. 15,000 segment, and Samsung’s new Galaxy On7 Prime is one of them. The new offering shares most of its specifications with the Galaxy On Nxt and the older Galaxy J7 Prime, but focuses on software features such as  Samsung Pay Mini and Samsung Mall , the latter of which makes its debut with this phone. With prices starting at Rs. 12,990, the positioning of the Galaxy On7 Prime means that it overlaps with some of Samsung’s own offerings from the Galaxy J and Galaxy On series, so it will be interesting to see whether this new model stands out. VIDEO   Samsu

Strava data raises concerns over military secrets, Samsung Galaxy S9 leaks

‘Selfie focus’ camera mode may be standard feature for non-flagship Galaxies

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Before Live Focus, there was Selective focus . Selective focus is Samsung’s name for a camera mode that lets you take portrait photos – photos that blur everything around the subject in focus – with a single camera. It also allows users to change the area of focus after a picture has been taken. Selective focus debuted on the Galaxy S5 and has since been seen on every Samsung flagship, with flagships in the last couple of years featuring selective focus for both the front and rear camera. While the feature hasn’t made its way to the company’s mid-range and budget phones yet, Samsung  has  implemented a basic portrait mode for selfies on its non-flagship phones in the last month. Selfie focus is selective focus for the masses The first were the 2017 iterations of the Galaxy A series phones, which were updated with a feature called  Selfie focus   for the front camera ahead of the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+’ market release. No doubt a gesture to users of the 2017 models that whil

Case Maker Prematurely Outs Hi-Res Samsung Galaxy S9 Renders

DBrand launches skins for the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+

Along with the fans, companies that make smartphone accessories are also gearing up for the official announcement of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on February 25 in Barcelona . It is to be expected as the Galaxy flagship phones are only next to the iPhones when it comes to generating business opportunities for third-party accessories. Even before the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ are officially announced or available in the market, DBrand has announced today a variety of skins for the upcoming devices. DBrand did the same thing last year as well when they launched skins for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ on March 10, before the Galaxy S8 unveiling on March 29. For those who are not aware of DBrand, it’s a Canadian company which makes skins for a wide variety of electronic devices. It is one of the more popular options out there in the market. Adds more credibility to the leaked renders A well-known smartphone accessory brand launching its skins for the Galaxy S9 duo adds more cr

Samsung Galaxy S9+ could let you adjust the depth of 3D stickers: Report

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Samsung is all set to unveil its flagship Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones at an unpacked event on February 25, a day before MWC 2018 trade show officially begins. Ahead of the official unveiling, we have come across a number of leaks and rumors that have revealed a lot of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S9-duo. Leaks have already hinted that the Galaxy S9 will come with a variable aperture camera, whereas the dual camera setup will be reserved for the ‘Plus’ variant. Now, a new piece of information sheds some light on new camera features that we are likely to see on the smartphone. Senior XDA Member mweinbach who previously tipped about ‘intelligent scan’ feature has now revealed about the possibility of the Galaxy S9+ coming with depth-sending sticker feature. The hints of the feature were seen in the APK teardown of some apps of unreleased Android 8.0 Oreo beta for the Galaxy Note 8. The new feature will allow you to add stickers or images to your photos, and then adjust thei

Strike's New Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 Enterprise Tablet Holder

Strike Group is the first to release a new enterprise grade tablet holders for Samsung’s latest heavy-duty smart device: the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 BRISBANE, Jan. 29, 2018 – Strike Group, the Brisbane-based handsfree tech company, has released its new enterprise grade tablet holders for Samsung’s latest heavy-duty smart device: the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2. Strike Group is the first to release a Strike Alpha Car Cradle for Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2. Continuing its revolutionary take on the enterprise mobility market, Samsung has upgraded its pioneering 8-inch display, 1280x800-pixel resolution, rugged tablet from IP67 to IP68 – protecting the device against water and dust. The device is designed for all industries: sectors that engage in heavy-duty work such as construction or law enforcement will benefit from the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2. ‘After the success of our Galaxy Tab Active car cradles, we at Strike are delighted to develop new tablet mounts that benefit compa

Sony to partner with LG for OLED displays; foldable phones in the pipeline?

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Sony will be partnering with LG Display to extend is current TV OLED partnership into smartphones, according to a report by Business Korea . Apparently LG Display will supply flexible OLEDs to Sony for the smartphone segment, although no details on timing were given. “ We know that Sony is working with flexible OLEDs ,” said an official familiar with LG Display. “ Already Sony is asking around in order to secure OLED engineers. Sony is expected to implant its success factors in the TV business in its smartphone business and develop products such as foldable phones “. The rumours around Sony’s use of OLED in smartphones has been intensifying recently, particularly given news on job listings seeking OLED display smartphone experience. However, this is the first news we have heard of Sony dabbling with foldable phones. It will be interesting to see what Sony can come up with. We’ll keep you posted on any further developments. Via Business Korea . Thanks Diogo and Tizzo!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will have dual SIM versions in Europe

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A support page for the Samsung Galaxy S9 has gone up in Germany and it shares a few secrets. Mainly it confirms that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will have dual SIM versions in Europe. The page lists the model number SM-G960F/DS, in which the F stands for International version, whereas the DS for dual SIM. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will likely feature the hybrid slot found the Galaxy S8 and S8+ , and Note8 Duos models, which can either house two nano SIM cards or a single nano SIM and a microSD card for memory expansion. These Duos models were found in select markets in Europe so it's safe to say that Samsung will follow the same pattern with the Galaxy S9 duo. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress on February 25 and will likely start shipping in the middle of March. Source | Via

Samsung Galaxy On7 Prime launched in India for Rs. 12,990

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It’s been known for some time that the Galaxy On7 Prime would be launching in India, with Amazon having spilled the beans on the device ahead of Samsung, and the device has now been made official in the country at an event in New Delhi. The On7 Prime is the latest in Samsung’s On series of online-only phones, and as reported earlier, it comes with the Samsung Mall app . Samsung Galaxy On7 Prime launched in India Samsung Mall is more or less a custom version of Bixby Vision, with a visual search feature that allows users to take a picture of something they’re interested in and buy related items from major online retailers, right from Samsung Mall. Some products can also be virtually demoed using the augmented reality feature, and we’re guessing this will be used for Samsung’s own products, such as its phones and TVs. Samsung Mall will not be exclusive to the On7 Prime and will be made available to more devices in the future. As far as the specs are concerned, the On7 Prime is a bu

Samsung offering free AKG Bluetooth headphones with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8

Samsung and its retail partners have long incentivized the purchase of the company’s flagship smartphones with discounts and free accessories. With the holiday season behind us and a new flagship smartphone on the horizon, Samsung is once again offering a freebie to get people to buy the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 . The company is offering a pair of on-ear AKG Bluetooth headphones for free with every purchase of a Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8/S8+ and the S8 Active. As is the case with promotional offers, there’s a caveat. Free AKG headphones with Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 AKG is a premium audio brand owned by Harman International which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. The company already ships the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 with AKG-tuned in-ear headphones in the box. This limited time offer is only available for customers in the United States who make the purchase via Samsung’s online store or the Shop Samsung app. For some reason, the promotion excludes Spri

Galaxy A8 January 2018 security update released

Samsung is ramping up the rollout of the January 2018 security patch to compatible devices. The latest security maintenance release was rolled out for the Galaxy J3 (2017) and the Galaxy J1 mini just yesterday. It’s out now for the Galaxy A8. Not to be confused with the Galaxy A8 (2018) , the new mid-range smartphone that Samsung launched last month. This particular device is the Galaxy A8 (SM-A800) which was launched in 2015. Galaxy A8 January 2018 security update The Galaxy A8 was the largest device in Samsung’s premium mid-range Galaxy A lineup in 2015 with its 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage with support for external expansion up to 128GB via a microSD card. The handset was first launched in China before it was made available in a couple of other markets. In our review of the Galaxy A8 we found it to be a great mid-range smartphone with a rather high price tag. Samsung is now roll

Don’t hold your breath for the Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update

You may have seen reports recently suggesting that the Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update could be released next month. Those who are familiar with how Android platform updates work know better not to hold their breath because it’s highly unlikely that Samsung is even working on Oreo for the Galaxy S6 . Samsung launched its beta program for the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta update late last year and it’s expected to release the update for all users by the end of this month. The Galaxy Note 8 will likely get Oreo after that before it trickles down to other compatible devices. Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update The reports about the Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update are based on a conversation that a user had with Samsung Support. We’ve pointed out time and again that support reps are notoriously misinformed when it comes to firmware update matters. It’s not like this is the first time we’ve heard about this possibility. Another Samsung rep claimed just two months ago that the Gala

New firmware released for Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1 and XZ1 Compact with Jan 2018 patches (47.1.A.12.34)

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Sony Mobile has this morning updated its flagship devices, the Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1 and XZ1 Compact to build number 47.1.A.12.34 (from 47.1.A.8.49 ), adding January 2018 Android security patches in the process. If you have updated to this firmware, please share any screenshots you have, and let us know your impressions in the comments below.

Samsung has made a limited edition Galaxy Note 8 for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games

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Samsung has long been a Worldwide Olympic partner and it’s extending that partnership further for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games that will take place in PyeongChang, South Korea next month. It’s keeping up with its tradition of launching a limited edition model of its flagship smartphone for the Olympic Games with the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games Limited Edition Galaxy Note 8. PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games Limited Edition Galaxy Note 8 The company’s association with the Olympics started as a local sponsor of the Games in Seoul back in 1988. It extended its commitment as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category beginning with the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. It has been providing its proprietary wireless communications platform and mobile devices since then. Samsung will deliver more than 4,000 units of this limited edition device to the entire PyeongChang 2018 Olympic family, including the International Olympic Committee and the Pye

Flashtool updated to support Xperia XZ Premium and XZ1 devices (0.9.24.2)

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Long-term Sony Xperia users will be very familiar with Flashtool, it has been the da facto method of flashing firmware of Xperia devices to a different region. It has been around since the advent of Sony’s Android Xperia phones, but support was not added for any of the 2017 Xperia devices. However, Flashtool developer Androxyde has updated the application to version 0.9.24.2, which now includes support for the Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. Do note though that this new version of Flashtool has moved from Java 8 to Java 9, so you will need to run a 64-bit operating system. If you want to download the new version, click here .

Samsung launches Thrive for Galaxy Note 8 to let users take control of their personal time

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Samsung today launched the Thrive app for the Galaxy Note 8 to help users take control of their personal time in partnership with Thrive Global. The app is developed by Thrive Global, a company founded by Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post fame. The wellness-focused company developed this app to help users disconnect from their smartphone and reconnect with their life. The Thrive app was first introduced in October last year in beta. It’s rolling out today exclusively for the Galaxy Note 8 and will be released for other Galaxy models in the future. A fancier version of the Do Not Disturb button “Partnering to help create the THRIVE App is just one of the many ways Samsung is committed to developing technology that helps people make the most of every moment in their lives,” said Samsung Electronics America CMO Marc Mathieu. The Thrive app lets users put their handset in “Thrive Mode.” This mutes all notifications, calls and texts except from people that are in the VIP list.

Not a single Samsung handset made it on the best sellers list in China last year

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Samsung is having a tough time in the world’s largest smartphone market, China. Things are going from bad to worse for Samsung in the key market. Chinese OEMs are making Samsung an irrelevant player in the fiercely competitive market. More and more data is emerging every day about Samsung’s smartphone troubles in China. Complete domination by the Chinese firms According to new data from Counterpoint Research, not a single Samsung smartphone made it to the top 10 best sellers list for 2017 in China. Except for Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the list is completely dominated by smartphones from Chinese firms. In 2017, Samsung launched some of its finest phones in the form of the Galaxy S8 , Galaxy S8+ , and Galaxy Note 8 . None of the bezel-free Infinity Displays and curved screens were able to change Samsung’s fortunes in China. Samsung’s market share in China has seen a gradual decline from 20 percent back in 2015 to a paltry 2% in Q3 2017 . The market share is expected to ha

Samsung releases January security patch for the Galaxy J3 (2017) and Galaxy J1 mini

Samsung detailed the January 2018 security patch a couple of weeks ago and it’s now gradually rolling it out to compatible devices. As expected, the company’s mid-range and low-end devices are receiving it first , we’ve yet to see the patch being rolled out for a flagship handset. Samsung has rolled out the January 2018 security patch for the Galaxy J3 (2017) and the Galaxy J1 mini in a handful of markets today. January 2018 security patch The January 2018 security patch brings fixes for five critical vulnerabilities that were discovered in the Android operating system aside from fixes for several low, moderate and high-risk vulnerabilities. Samsung fixed 13 Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) in its own software and has included the patches in this security maintenance release. Samsung is now rolling out firmware version J330FXXU3ARA3 for the Galaxy J3 (2017) in Russia and Slovakia. It’s only a matter of time before the update makes its way to other markets. The firmware files a