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  • Renault Samsung XM3 Unveiled At The Seoul Motor Show

    Renault Samsung XM3 Unveiled At The Seoul Motor Show

    Renault and Samsung who operate in a joint venture in the South Korean market have unveiled a new C-segment coupe SUV at the 2019 Seoul Motor Show. The Renault Samsung XM3 Inspire concept was first showcased at the Arkana concept last year at the Moscow Auto Show and has been rebadged for the South Korean market. To be specific, the second party in the JV- Samsung Motor is different from Samsung electronics which manufacture electronic goods and smartphones. The company was commissioned in 1994 and started market operations in 1998.

    The key difference between both the show cars is limited to the grille which has been tweaked and sports the Renault-Samsung logo instead of Renault’s diamond logo and is finished in white paint shade. The Renault Samsung XM3 Inspire being a coupe concept sits high up the ground wearing the top hat of a sedan. It gets a tapering roofline and a panoramic glass roof along with massive wheel arches that cover the 19-inch alloy wheels. It is also equipped with LED headlights with C-Shaped daytime running lights.

    The XM3 Inspire concept is a part of Renault Samsung Motor’s future product line up. The production model of the Renault Samsung XM3 Inspire will be launched in the South Korean Market in 2020.

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  • Samsung Galaxy A90 tipped to sport huge display

    Samsung Galaxy A90 tipped to sport huge display

    The Samsung Galaxy A90 is expected to debut in early April, and with less than three weeks to go some extra information about the smartphone’s most important feature has just leaked. As confirmed earlier this week by Samsung’s own website, the Galaxy A90 will be the company’s first and only smartphone to feature a ‘notchless Infinity screen.’ Naturally, this means that there will be no controversial notch or display cutout, with the smartphone instead expected to sport slim bezels all around.

    This prediction was today backed up by a leaked Galaxy A90 screen protector which clearly shows razor-thin bezels and a slightly larger chin. To further solidify the rumors, tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer weighed in on the matter by reaffirming the lack of a notch and pointing towards bezels that are just 1.2mm thick and a chin that measures in at 3.6mm. On a related note, it’s worth pointing out that Hemmerstoffer also believes the Galaxy A90’s display will boast a huge 6.73-inch diagonal, thus putting it on par with the Galaxy S10 5G and subsequently making it one of Samsung’s biggest smartphones ever.

    Expect a pop-out camera mechanism that also rotates

    Despite the company’s efforts to develop in-screen camera technology, Samsung recently admitted that ‘perfect full-screen’ smartphones are still a few years away. Because of this, the South Korean giant has apparently opted for a more unorthodox solution on the Galaxy A90. To be precise, Samsung’s upcoming smartphone is said to include a pop-out camera mechanism which houses the selfie cameras. These sensors, however, can also be used as the rear sensors thanks to a rotating mechanism that the pop-out module includes. Details about the cameras remain quite scarce, but the general expectation is that the device will feature at least three. According to previous leaks, the primary one will sport a whopping 48-megapixel resolution. The resolution of the other sensors hasn’t yet been revealed, but one will probably sport a wide-angle lens, while the other could act as a dedicated depth sensor.

    As a result of this unique setup and the lack of rear cameras, the Galaxy A90 is also expected to sport a very minimal rear design. In fact, the only noticeable element will probably be the Samsung logo – the Galaxy A90 is expected to adopt an in-display fingerprint scanner.

    An impressive processor that could beat the Snapdragon 845

    The inside of Samsung’s upcoming device remains a bit of a mystery. One rumor claims the company is preparing a budget Snapdragon 855-powered flagship which could easily be the Galaxy A90 – the smartphone is expected to sit directly beneath the Galaxy S10e in Samsung’s lineup. However, tipster Ice Universe believes this isn’t the case. Rather than using Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip, the historically-reliable source believes Samsung’s Galaxy A90 will make use of the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 700-series chip currently referred to as the ‘Snapdragon 7150.’

    Little is known about this chip right now, but the expectation is that it’ll take advantage of the 8-nanometer manufacturing process. Moreover, in terms of performance, it should sit somewhere between last year’s Snapdragon 845 (10-nanometer) and the newer Snapdragon 855 (7-nanometer) found inside the Galaxy S10 series. No further details about the Galaxy A90’s internal setup were provided, but the smartphone will most likely debut with a minimum of 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. However, more impressive variants with extra storage and potentially more RAM do seem extremely likely. Completing the smartphone’s setup should be Android 9 Pie straight out of the box and a 3,700mAh battery. But considering the rumored display size, it’ll remain to be seen what kind of battery life results this produces. In any case, improved fast charging of up to 25W is now expected.

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  • Samsung Galaxy A20 goes official with solid features

    Samsung Galaxy A20 goes official with solid features

    Samsung is determined to completely overhaul its Galaxy A line, but the amount of device the South Korean company plans to launch in the remaining of the year is a bit overwhelming. We know of at least four Galaxy A phones that should be unveiled in the coming months, and three that have already been launched on the market – Galaxy A10, A30, and A50. Specs-wise, the Galaxy A20 sits between the A10 and A30 and so does in terms of price.

    What’s really amazing about this phone is that it retains some of the features that make its bigger brothers, the Galaxy A30 and A50, so appealing such as the massive, high-quality display and camera setup.

    It retains some of the “premium” features of its bigger A30 and A50 brothers

    The main selling points of the Galaxy A20 are no doubt the Super AMOLED display and the dual-camera on the back side. Of course, there are other important specs that make the Galaxy A20 an interesting budget choice for those who can’t afford a mid-range or flagship device, so let’s take an in-depth look at what the phone has to offer. First off, if you’re one of the many people who absolutely hate notch, the Galaxy A20 is not for you.

    Although it includes a minimally invasive waterdrop notch, it’s still there to bother your sense. However, if you don’t mind the compromise, the Galaxy A20 has a great 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which features 720 x 1560 pixels resolution. It’s the same display that Samsung included in the Galaxy A30 and A50, but you’ll be getting this one much cheaper.

    As for the other selling point of the Galaxy A20, it’s no longer unusual for mid-tier phones to include dual rear cameras, Samsung’s new handset is no exception. The dual camera consists of 13 + 5 megapixels sensors, but there’s also a secondary 8-megapixel camera in the front for selfies. Since this is a budget offering, Samsung included a less powerful chipset inside, the same packed inside the cheaper Galaxy A10. The Exynos 7884 is a new addition to Samsung’s line of chipsets and should be on par with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 processor in terms of performance.

    Android 9 Pie & Samsung One UI on a budget

    Even though it’s the most powerful smartphone out there, the Galaxy A20 ships with the latest Android 9 Pie operating system on board and Samsung’s One UI overlay. It’s too early to talk about Android Q since the new version of the OS hasn’t been released yet, but the Galaxy A20 has the required hardware for a software upgrade if Samsung decides to go for it. Samsung’s proprietary SoC (system-on-chip) is paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 512GB via microSD card. That’s the standard memory configuration for a mid-tier smartphone these days, but we’re surprised Samsung did not launch more than one models based on the amount of memory.

    We’re happy to see that Samsung understood how important is for customers to be able to use their phones for longer times without being forced to recharge them. The Galaxy A20 is powered by a massive 4,000 mAh battery, which should be enough for at least a few days of average use.

    Finally, we noticed a fingerprint sensor on the back side, a nice addition for a budget offering. We’re also told that Samsung Galaxy A20 comes with NFC (Near Field Communication) support, which means you’ll be able to use mobile payments services while on the go.

    Samsung Galaxy A20 price, release date, availability

    As far as the price and availability go, Samsung Galaxy A20 is only available for purchase in Russia for the moment, but we expect the smartphone to arrive in other European countries in the coming weeks.

    Price-wise, this is a cheap device for what it has to offer, as customers can buy one for around $215 outright. It’s also worth mentioning that phone prices in Russia tend to be slightly higher than the rest of Europe, and clearly higher than US prices, so a less than $200 price is definitely possible.

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  • The Galaxy S10 has helped Samsung triple its market share in China

    The Galaxy S10 has helped Samsung triple its market share in China

    Samsung has been the number one smartphone manufacturer for years. It dominates key markets such as North America and Europe, while also remaining a strong player across Asia. In China, though, the situation is pretty different. Despite the company’s best efforts, over the past few years Samsung has seen its market share drop to a measly 1%. But thanks to the recent release of the Galaxy S10 lineup, things seem to be improving.

    The Samsung Galaxy S10 has accelerated growth in China

    According to reliable industry insider Ice Universe, Samsung’s market share in China has almost quadrupled since the beginning of the year, going from just 1% in early January to an impressive 3.6% during the tenth week of 2019 (March 4th to March 10th). The primary source of this growth is the recently-announced Galaxy S10 lineup.

    The new flagship series, which launched globally on March 8th, has reportedly been outperforming last year’s Galaxy S9 lineup by massive margins in China. In fact, the number of Galaxy S10/S10+ units sold within the first two hours of pre-orders was allegedly equal to double the number of Galaxy S9/S9+ devices sold during the first day.This impressive performance has also extended to a number of key global markets. In both the US and the UK, the Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records for Samsung. The most popular model proved to be the Galaxy S10+, despite its higher price.

    10 million Galaxy S10 units could be shipped this month alone

    Although predictions do vary by analyst, the overall consensus appears to be that Samsung’s Galaxy S10 trio will achieve sales of between 40 and 45 million units by the end of 2019. Around 20 million of these should ship by the very end of June. If this is successfully achieved, the new lineup will have outperformed last year’s Galaxy S9 duo, which sold 19.2 million units during the same period. In regards to short-term performance, recent forecasts have suggested the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e are on track to ship a combined 10 million units by the end of this month alone.

    Things are looking positive for Samsung in China

    As a result of intense competition from local brands, Samsung revamped its mid-range strategy late last year. The South Korean giant started implementing a number of new designs and focused heavily on its mobile cameras. Additionally, it promised to make flagship features more accessible by introducing them to consumers via the new Galaxy A-series. So far this year, the company has introduced the public to the Galaxy A10, A20, A30, and A50. These represent some of the company’s best value-for-money offerings in years and help cater towards a range of consumers in the budget segment.

    Eventually, these four devices will be joined by the Galaxy A40, Galaxy A60, and Galaxy A70. As indicated by their respective names, these will target consumers with slightly larger budgets and should help cover any remaining price points that Samsung doesn’t yet have covered. Lastly, Samsung’s new Galaxy A series should be completed by the Galaxy A90. This device will act as the most expensive model but should still cost less than the Galaxy S10e. In fact, a rumor floating around leads us to believe that it may be some sort of budget flagship powered by the Snapdragon 855. The smartphone is also rumored to include a bezel-less display paired with a unique pop-out camera mechanism which will remove the need for separate front and rear cameras thanks to its ability to rotate.

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  • Issues with Samsung Galaxy S10 line results in shorter battery life

    Issues with Samsung Galaxy S10 line results in shorter battery life

    According to posts on Reddit and the Samsung U.S. community forum made by owners of the new Samsung Galaxy S10 line, the accidental touch protection feature on the phone is not working. This includes the “Block accidental touches” option that is supposed to keep the display off when the phone is in a dark place, like a user’s pocket. The latter uses the handset’s proximity sensor. As a result, not only is the phone butt-dialing random people, when the device is pulled out of a pants pocket, the dialer is often on the display with a bunch of numbers, letters and symbols typed in. Some are blaming the placement of the proximity sensor, which is found on the status bar just above the “%” symbol used to show how much battery life is on the phone.

    Galaxy S10 users say that their phone takes screenshots, opens apps and even turns on the flashlight while in a pocket or a purse. The latter is quite an achievement since it requires the screen to be dragged down twice and the flashlight icon to be tapped. For some users, they can feel the handset vibrating in their pocket and when the device is pulled out from there, it is running hot and the battery is draining faster than it should be. The failure of the accidental touch protection feature to work can lead to some embarrassing moments. For example, a Galaxy S10 owner didn’t realize that his phone had butt-dialed the police emergency number. When he returned home, the cops were there asking if he had an emergency.

    Butt-dialing calls, overheated phones and shorter battery life are some of the symptoms

    One Galaxy S10 user had an interesting theory. He said that the proximity sensor might be seeing light through his pants, keeping the screen on as a result. The sensor is designed to turn off the screen when something is in close proximity to the display. This turns off the screen when you are on a call and the device is placed to your ear, in order to save battery life and prevent accidental touches. The original Apple iPhone was the first smartphone to offer this feature. Testing his theory, this Galaxy S10 user covered up the proximity sensor with his hand with the device in his pocket, and the screen stayed. He believes that Samsung has not calibrated the accidental touch protection correctly. Another user figured that because he had the fingerprint unlock turned on, his phone was constantly scanning for a fingerprint when the display was pressed against his leg with the device in his pocket.

    While many Galaxy S10 owners listed a variety of problems they had trying to keep their phone asleep inside their pocket, one Galaxy S10e user says that he was able to prevent the phone from turning on and butt-dialing from his pocket by disabling the “Lift to Wake” setting. Another user noted that disabling “Always On Display” and “Double Tap to Wake” resulted in more battery life on his phone when he pulled it put of his pocket (50% vs 20%), which he cited as an indication that turning off those features managed to fix the issue.

    But not every Galaxy S10 user who disabled these settings found success. While Samsung forum moderators are certainly aware of this issue, there has been no reaction from Samsung itself. Perhaps Samsung is working on a software update that will fix the problem. For now, if disabling some of the aforementioned features does not help, you might want to consider topping off the battery before you head out just in case your

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  • Samsung Galaxy flagship store to open in Tokyo

    Samsung Galaxy flagship store to open in Tokyo

    Smartphone brand Samsung has opened a new Galaxy flagship in Tokyo.

    The six-level location is the largest Galaxy showcase store worldwide, and features a front facade decorated with more than 1000 smartphones, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the product line.

    The store will offer a range of phones and wearable devices, as well as offer repair services.

    The opening coincides with Japan’s 500-day countdown to the 2020 Olympic Games. Samsung is an Olympic Partner in wireless communications equipment. The firm is seeking a stronger market share in anticipation of impending 5G network rollout across the country.

  • Apple’s AirPods 2 will help the ‘hearables’ segment to grow

    Apple’s AirPods 2 will help the ‘hearables’ segment to grow

    According to Counterpoint Research, wireless ‘hearables’ are the next big thing. The segment, which contains Apple’s AirPods and the Samsung Galaxy Buds, saw global sales of around 46 million units last year. But with the help of AirPods 2, this could catapult to 129 million units as early as next year.

    Samsung, Google, Bose, and LG are all expected to grow

    As noted by Research Director Pete Richardson, “2019 will be the year that hearables evolve into an important market.” For the most part, new releases from major brands will boost sales across the globe. However, the evolving digital habits of consumers are also expected to propel demand.

    The likes of Samsung, Bose, Huawei, and LG all hold relatively small market shares at the moment. But as interest in the segment picks up throughout this year and next, each one is set to experience relatively strong growth which should translate into larger market shares.

    New Google Pixel Buds and other releases from the likes of Amazon are expected to play an important role too. After all, these should integrate the likes of Google Assistant and Alexa, both of which are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

    AirPods 2 will propel the ‘hearables’ segment to new levels

    As mentioned in the opening paragraph, for the foreseeable future Apple is expected to remain the biggest driving force of growth. Rumor has it that the brand is preparing a second-generation of its AirPods which should integrate a variety of new features and potentially some small design changes.

    From afar, AirPods 2 are expected to look identical to the originals. But upon closer inspection, a new frosted glass-like coating should be visible. This, according to rumors, will improve grip and reduce the slipperiness, which means the new AirPods shouldn’t fall out of your ears so easily.

    AirPods 2 should also introduce always-on Siri, which will allow users to activate the assistant with the words “Hey, Siri.” This feature was actually first teased way back in September by Apple but still hasn’t been confirmed officially.

    Joining the improved Siri will apparently be some kind of water resistance and potentially some health-related features. More specifically, an earlier report suggested Apple was researching the possibility of a built-in heart rate monitor. However, this extra is far from guaranteed. One feature that does seem extremely likely at this point is support for wireless charging through a new charging case. Allegedly, this feature, which will charge both the case and AirPods simultaneously, will take the battery level from 0% to 100% in just 15 minutes.

    Also expected from the new wireless accessory is Apple’s W2 Bluetooth connectivity chip. This can currently be found inside the Apple Watch Series 4 and halves the power consumption with respect to the W1 chip. As a result, battery life improvements are to be expected.

    Of course, Apple’s AirPods are primarily meant for music and Apple is set to bring some improvements to the overall sound quality.

    Most AirPods buyers aren’t bothered about sound quality

    Rather ironically, despite the fact AirPods are meant for music, consumers aren’t buying them because of their sound quality. Counterpoint Research recently conducted an online survey of over 200 people regarding their preferences. In the case of AirPods, 68% of correspondents cited “comfort & fit” as a key reason for buying them. This was followed by “ease of use” and “portability,” which were mentioned by 56% and 44% of people respectively.

    As it turns out, just 41% of the people surveyed cited “sound quality” as a reason for buying AirPods. For comparison, this factor was the key driver when it came to Bose products, with a whopping 72% listing it. “Noise cancellation” was also important with Bose headphones as it was cited by 68% of people.

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  • Free Spotify premium service for Samsung Galaxy S10 buyers

    Free Spotify premium service for Samsung Galaxy S10 buyers

    With the Samsung Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ all officially launching today, music streamer Spotify has announced that its Android app will be pre-installed on all three models in the U.S. Additionally, the Spotify app will come loaded out of the box on the Samsung Galaxy Fold, and certain Galaxy A units in the states as well. The latter are mid-range phones offered by Sammy.

    Besides pre-installing the Spotify app on these Samsung Galaxy handsets, state-side users will receive a free six-month subscription to Spotify’s premium U.S. service as long as they are not a current subscriber to the music streamer. While Spotify does offer a free ad-supported tier of service, it does not come with certain features available to premium members. Those features include unlimited skips, and the ability to download music that can be played offline. Premium members can also play any track in Spotify’s library, and songs are streamed in High Quality.

    Spotify normally offers a free 30-day free trial to its premium tier, after which pricing is $9.99 per month. Families with up to six members can pay $14.99 monthly, and students with a verified .edu email address are charged only $4.99 a month.

    Last August, Samsung and Spotify teamed up to take on Apple Music. Spotify became Samsung’s new “go-to music service provider” as it tries to keep its lead over Apple Music world-wide. Launched in October 2008, Spotify has yet to turn a profit and has embarked on a campaign to transition subscribers from its free tier of service to a subscription plan.

  • The Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records

    The Galaxy S10 series set new pre-order records

    The Samsung Galaxy S10 series apparently experienced a pretty sluggish start in South Korea. Globally, though, demand for the devices has proven to be quite high. So high, in fact, that the Galaxy S10 series has set new pre-order records for the US and the UK.

    In both markets, the Galaxy S10+ proved to be the most popular model of all with a sales share of 57%. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e, on the other hand, accounted for the remaining 43%. However, it’s unclear which of these two proved to be the most popular.

    As for colors, UK consumers largely favored the new Prism Black option – it accounted for a whopping 47% of pre-orders. The color preference of US consumers wasn’t specified but lack of stock suggests that Prism White was the general favorite.

    Unfortunately, no specific pre-order numbers were provided. But the records do suggest the Galaxy S10 series could be just what Samsung needs to maintain its number one position throughout the rest of the year. The news also bodes well for the recently-revised shipment estimates by Ming-Chi Kuo. For those of you that may be unaware, the popular analyst recently increased his Galaxy S10 sales predictions to between 40 and 45 million units as a result of popular demand.

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  • Samsung patent reveals its next foldable smartphone

    Samsung patent reveals its next foldable smartphone

    Two major smartphone vendors, Samsung and Huawei, revealed their first foldable phones – Samsung Galaxy Foldand Huawei Mate X. Although both are based on the same foldable concept, they’re using different technology, which led to some rivalries between the companies and their fans, of course.

    Specs aside, the major difference between these two smartphones is the way their displays fold. First off, we have the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which features a big display that folds to the inside of the device. Secondly, there’s the Huawei Mate X which folds outward, with the part of the display that becomes the back side of the folded phone turning off.

    Many say that Huawei’s solution is much better in terms of design, even though the Chinese company’s foldable smartphone is prone to scratches due to the design. Samsung and Huawei have been arguing about who’s got the best overall foldable smartphone design, but that might not last too long.

    Samsung is reportedly readying two other foldable smartphones, one of which will feature the same foldable design as the Mate X. One of Samsung’s patents spotted by LetsGoDigital reveals what the upcoming Samsung foldable smartphone might look like.

    It’s definitely a step up from the current model, the Galaxy Fold since it comes with a flexible segment in the middle that makes it possible to close it seamlessly when completely unfolded. The images also reveal some sort of slide that works like a lock to make sure that the phone remains flat when opened.

    This removes the need of having to implement a more sturdy hinge to keep the phone completely flat when you open it. If Samsung does plan to launch such a device, it will be the company’s first foldable smartphone to feature an outward-facing display, in the same vein as Huawei’s Mate X.

    picture by: letsgodigital.org

  • Samsung supplying 5G NR solutions for Sprint

    Samsung supplying 5G NR solutions for Sprint

    Samsung has announced at Mobile World Congress this week that it is supplying its 5G new radio solutions for US operator Sprint‘s 5G new radio solutions.

    Sprint is deploying Samsung’s 5G NR solution, which combines Samsung’s existing Massive MIMO technology with new software and a new channel card, in one of its first 5G cities, Chicago.

    The operator plans to launch its 5G network in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Kansas City in May as part of a nationwide launch, and plans to go live in five more cities in the first half of 2019.

    Sprint has been using Samsung’s Massive MIMO technology in its 2.5-GHz TD-LTE network since 2018. The modular nature of the upgrade will allow Sprint to offer both LTE and 5G services on the same radio using the split-mode capabilities of the MIMO solution.

    “Our collaboration on massive MIMO has delivered significant LTE capacity and speed enhancements,” Sprint SVP of network deployment and operations Scott Santi said.

    “With 5G, we look forward to giving Sprint customers even greater experiences from gaming and entertainment services, to IoT and business applications.”

    Samsung is showcasing its 2.5-GHz 64-transmit 64-receive Massive MIMO unit at its Mobile World Congress booth in Barcelona.

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  • ViSenze AI technology helps people shop on Samsung phones

    ViSenze AI technology helps people shop on Samsung phones

    Visual commerce AI firm ViSenze has partnered with Samsung to help users easily discover and purchase products using the Shopping by Bixby Vision app on the electronics firm’s mobile devices. The partnership employs ViSenze’s automated visual-commerce technology and visual-search capabilities customised to consumers’ personalised shopping demands.

    “Consumers are exposed to countless products in their everyday lives that inspire and empower them to explore new trends,” said ViSenze CEO Oliver Tan. “Samsung is one of the first major companies to capitalise on this, recognising how essential it is to ensure the path from discovery to purchase is effortless.

    “At ViSenze, we work globally with some of the largest brands and retailers. Coupling this knowledge with our market-leading visual commerce technology, we are able to provide our partners with the insights and capabilities they need to find success with visual search and the commerce it’s driving each day.”

    According to material released by the brand, “Visual commerce solutions enable mobile shoppers to seize inspirational moments instantaneously by enabling them to find the same or visually similar products directly on their devices from top retailers such as Rakuten, Urban Outfitters and Zalora.”

    “Thanks to ViSenze, customers in this region can now take mobile shopping to new heights via Shopping by Bixby Vision, which makes shopping easier than ever, via your camera,” said head of mobile services & partnerships for Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania Christopher Tarr.

    “From inspiration to instant gratification – it is that simple.”

  • Smartwatch market set for a shakeup: Juniper Research

    Smartwatch market set for a shakeup: Juniper Research

    Big brands are set to lose share in a major shakeup of the smartwatch market. According to Juniper Research, the largest brands in the category now will see their market share fall by 2023 as new niche players gain ground. Four leading brands including Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Fossil will see sales decline from an estimated 58 per cent of the market last year to 47 per cent by 2023. The decline is due to the growth of smaller players such as Garmin, Huami and Huawei.

    Smaller players will thrive thanks to strategies tailored for niche markets, their choice of cases or price points, while other brands are releasing premium smartwatches combining the best of fitness, outdoor activity and health features. While Apple will remain the largest single vendor in terms of shipments over the next four years, Huawei will enjoy the fastest growth, at a CAGR of 20 per cent.

    An intensified focus on healthcare integration will also contribute to an increase in smartwatch shipments over the next few years. Juniper forecasts that Apple and Withings will lead this section, followed by Fitbit and Garmin.

    China to become the biggest market

    The rise of smaller players is linked to the rapid expansion of the Chinese market offering lower-priced smartwatches. The Far East and China have now overtaken North America as the largest geographical market, with more than 24 million smartwatches shipped last year, compared to 19.5 million in North America.

    The gap between these two markets will widen by 2023, with the Far East and China trebling its shipments by then.

    Slower hybrid market

    The adoption of hybrid smartwatches will be slower than expected. Last year, hybrid smartwatches represented about 22 per cent of all smartwatch sales. The slower growth is linked to smaller players focusing on digital smartwatches offering more possibilities in terms of apps, connectivity and sensors than hybrid watches, which remain limited in their functionality.

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  • Samsung to invest more in education programs

    Samsung to invest more in education programs

    Samsung Electronics will expand investments to develop youth education programs, it said Monday. The company’s three division heads sent an in-house broadcast to employees that day to share a newly set mission: “Enabling people,” which means to help people discover and develop their innate potential. A particular target will be put on developing programs for teens. The theme that will lay out the direction for this corporate social responsibility campaign is “Education for future generations.”

    Samsung has conducted corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the past, but this is the first time the company has publicly announced its mission. It comes a month after Samsung de facto leader and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong pledged to fully commit in taking on social responsibility as Korea’s leading conglomerate in a meeting with President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House.

    The No. 1 local company by market cap, Samsung Electronics already has a vast lineup of ongoing CSR programs, including educational ones. The designation and public announcement of the new mission, however, signals that the company will be expanding investment in the sector.

    Although there are no concrete plans at the moment, a spokesman explained there will be an increase in programs for teens. Now that there is a fixed mission, the programs will also be organized in a more “structured” way instead of the company and affiliates independently devising programs on their own.

    “We should realize a new model for future education that is based on our know-how in technology and innovation,” said Samsung President Kim Hyun-suk, who leads the consumer electronics division.

    In Monday’s message, there was a repeated emphasis on Samsung’s increased role in society. President Koh Dong-jin, who heads the mobile device business, for example, stressed that no company can communicate with customers if they do not consider social values.

    The word social responsibility has become increasingly common at Samsung recently, including in statements for the launch of a research center for fine dust and an official apology to former workers in November who got sick working at chip factories. The drive is particularly evident since Vice Chairman Lee returned to the company’s helm after his release from prison last year, which some industry watchers say is a move to improve the conglomerate’s public image.

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  • Samsung US stores opens door

    Samsung US stores opens door

    South Korea’s Samsung will launch the first three of a planned network of North American stores this coming week, timed to coincide with the expected release of its next-generation Galaxy smartphone. The smartphone-focused Samsung US stores will open in the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City; the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles; and Galleria in Houston. The openings have been interpreted as a branding exercise more than a sales driver by some industry experts, given the predominance of Apple iPhones in America. Samsung currently has 24 per cent of the US market, as opposed to Apple’s 44 per cent, with both manufacturers selling most of their handsets through carrier-operated stores.

    “Our new Samsung Experience Stores are spaces to experience and see Samsung technology brought to life, to empower people to do what they never thought was possible before”, said president and CEO of Samsung Electronics America YH Eom.

    “We want to build a ‘playground’ for Samsung fans – a place to learn about and try out all of the amazing new products we have to offer.”

    The Samsung US stores will encourage visitors to linger in-store while experimenting with the brand’s 4D VR and immersive 4K gaming products.

    Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2019 presentation, scheduled for San Francisco on Wednesday, is widely rumoured to serve as a launchpad for a new foldable phone.

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