Samsung Electronics Announces Second Quarter 2019 Results

Samsung Electronics today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. The Company posted KRW 56.13 trillion in consolidated quarterly revenue and KRW 6.6 trillion in quarterly operating profit.

The weakness and price declines in the memory chip market persisted as effects of inventory adjustments by major datacenter customers in the previous quarters continued, despite a limited recovery in demand.

The Display Panel Business reported improvement due to a one-off gain in mobile displays and stronger sales of rigid OLED panels, which offset losses from large displays.

The Mobile Business posted stronger shipments on new mass market models but was overall weighed down by slower sales of flagship models and increased marketing expenses. The Network Business posted solid results on the commercialization of 5G service in South Korea.

The Consumer Electronics Division was boosted by strong sales of new appliance products and improved profitability of refrigerators and washing machines, although profits from TVs fell slightly YoY due to intensifying competition.

Looking ahead to the second half, Samsung expects persistent uncertainties in the memory business, although demand is seen growing further on strong seasonality and adoption of higher-density products. For system semiconductors, higher demand in mobile APs, image sensors and display driver ICs (DDIs) is also expected to be seen.

For displays, new smartphone product launches are set to help mobile display earnings but overall sluggish demand in the broad smartphone market may limit upside potential.

As competition in the smartphone market is seen increasing in the second half, Samsung plans to enhance its product lineup and expand sales of new mass market models. The Network Business will prioritize building the foundation for its global 5G business expansion.

The Consumer Electronics Division expects a seasonal boost in TV sales and will focus on premium models, while offering new appliances such as Bespoke refrigerators and AirDressers.

The Company is facing challenges from uncertainties not only in business areas but also from changes in the global macroeconomic environment. Samsung will, however, continue to invest in enhancing business capabilities and future technologies, including 5G, system semiconductors, artificial intelligence and automotive components, for longer-term growth.

In the second quarter, Samsung Electronics’ capital expenditure stood at KRW 6.2 trillion, including KRW 5.2 trillion spent on semiconductors and KRW 0.5 trillion on displays. Total capital expenditure in the first half was KRW 10.7 trillion, including KRW 8.8 trillion for semiconductors and KRW 0.8 trillion for displays.

The main portion of the Company’s 2019 capex is earmarked for building infrastructure to address demand beyond 2019, and a larger percentage of this year’s investment will be made in the second half.

Semiconductor Sees 2H Demand Recovery Amid External Uncertainties

The Semiconductor Business posted consolidated revenue of KRW 16.09 trillion and operating profit of KRW 3.4 trillion for the quarter.

Despite weak market conditions, the Memory Business saw demand for NAND and DRAM increase as mobile and storage applications continued to adopt higher-density products and as datacenter customers resumed purchasing. In the second half, demand is expected to grow although the Company sees volatility in the overall industry due to increased external uncertainties.

For NAND, demand for high-density, high value-added datacenter and mobile storage is likely to continue to grow and the market is expected to gradually stabilize from the third quarter. In SSD, deployment of high-density, high-performance products for datacenters will expand, while demand for mobile applications is expected to increase with the release of high-end smartphones with storage of more than 128GB. The Company will focus on strengthening competitiveness in the premium market and plans to mass produce 6th generation V-NAND this year.

For DRAM, overall demand is expected to increase due to seasonal effects amid external uncertainties. Server demand is expected to increase gradually as customers adjust their inventory levels and resume purchasing, while PC demand is also likely to expand. Memory demand from mobile applications is expected to show a steady increase due to the launch of new models from major customers and the trend toward high-density products. The Company plans to actively address customer demand through a flexible product mix and maintain technical leadership with the ramping up of 1Y-nm products.

For the System LSI Business, earnings were solid as demand increased for multiple cameras and high-resolution, large-pixel image sensors. The Company also increased the supply of 5G chipset solutions and continued to develop a next-generation one-chip 5G System-on-Chip for future technology leadership. In the second half, demand for mobile AP, image sensor, and DDI products is expected to grow on stronger smartphone seasonality. Looking ahead, Samsung plans to increase the supply of high value-added products including 64MP image sensors and EUV 7-nm APs and also diversify product offerings by developing 3D/fingerprint-on-display sensors and chips for automotive and IoT applications.

For the Foundry Business, results were robust on the back of strong demand from a major customer’s 8/10-nm mobile AP and image sensor products. In addition, new orders from customers increased in the 10/14-nm process and applications diversified to include mobile, HPC, automotive and network products. In the second half, earnings growth is expected to continue due to the ongoing expansion of orders for AP, image sensors and DDI as well as increased demand for HPCs, including crypto currency mining chips. The Company plans to start mass production of EUV 6-nm process and aims to strengthen its competitiveness through tape-out of the EUV 5-nm process and by completing 4-nm process development.

Display Sees Further Improvement in 2H

The Display Panel Business reported KRW 7.62 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.75 trillion in operating profit for the quarter, returning to a profit from the previous three-month period thanks to a one-time gain and a gradual recovery in customer demand.

Mobile display earnings increased, led by higher shipments of OLED panels featuring new technologies such as fingerprint-on-display and hole display. Large display sales also saw a slight improvement from the previous quarter on demand for premium panels and reduced costs.

Looking ahead to the second half, Samsung expects a further recovery in mobile displays from stronger sales and higher production, as major customers are planning to launch new products. Demand for OLED screens is seen to grow steadily as the smartphone industry increasingly adopts slimmer displays to accommodate 5G-enabling components.

Samsung will continue to incorporate more value-added features into its panels and improve production efficiency, while closely monitoring and responding to global macroeconomic uncertainties and their potential negative impact on the market.

For large displays, despite growing demand for premium TV panels, continued capacity expansion in the overall LCD industry is likely to weigh on market conditions. Samsung will continue efforts to improve profitability by focusing on premium TV panels and expanding in other applications such as monitors and Public Information Display.

Mobile to Enhance Flagship Lineup and New Galaxy A series

The IT & Mobile Communications Division posted KRW 25.86 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.56 trillion in operating profit for the quarter.

While the overall market saw demand for smartphones decline due to the negative macroeconomic environment and seasonal weakness, Samsung’s smartphone shipments increased QoQ led by strong sales of the new Galaxy A Series, including the Galaxy A50 and A70. However, sales of flagship models fell QoQ on weak sales momentum for the Galaxy S10 and stagnant demand for premium products.

Increased costs associated with growing competition in the mid- to low- end segment and inventory adjustments of older models resulted in a drop in profit for the Mobile Business. On the other hand, earnings for the Networks Business improved thanks to the expansion of commercial 5G service in South Korea and LTE networks in overseas markets.

In the second half, the overall mobile market demand is expected to remain weak due to growing uncertainties over the global economy and trade. Samsung will continue to strengthen its flagship lineup and increase sales of new mass market models. The Company will promptly respond to the changing business environment, and step up efforts to secure profitability by enhancing efficiency across development, manufacturing and marketing operations.

In the third quarter, Samsung will focus on successful launches of new innovative products – the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Fold. It will enhance the 5G smartphone lineup to take the lead in the new market and introduce more competitive A series models in the second half to extend the ongoing positive momentum in mass market smartphone sales.

The Network Business will continue to solidify its position in the global 5G market, leveraging its leadership in the 5G service commercialization in South Korea and the United States.

Consumer Electronics Boosted By Digital Appliances

The Consumer Electronics Division, comprised of the Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses, recorded KRW 11.07 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.71 trillion in operating profit for the second quarter of 2019.

Earnings for the Visual Display business edged down both QoQ and YoY due to intensifying price competition in the market. However, Samsung’s product-mix improved in the second quarter via early launches of new models and the expansion of premium product sales such as QLED and super-large screen TVs.

Despite negatives such as unfavorable foreign exchange rates in some emerging markets and increasingly protective global trade practices, conditions in the TV market are expected to stay largely unchanged in the second half of 2019. Samsung plans to maximize end-year sales through close cooperation with retail partners and cementing the 8K leadership by positioning QLED 8K TVs as mainstream TVs.

For the Digital Appliances business, profits grew significantly YoY thanks to improvements in the profitability of key appliances like refrigerators and washing machines. Strong summer demand of air conditioners including Samsung’s Wind-Free Air Conditioner also contributed to robust sales.

Through the rest of the year, Samsung will focus on marketing new lifestyle products for consumers, such as Bespoke refrigerators and AirDressers. The Company will also continue to strengthen the B2B business which includes built-in appliances and system air conditioners.

※ Consolidated Sales and Operating Profit by Segment based on K-IFRS (2017~2019 2Q)

Note 1: Sales for each business include intersegment sales
Note 2: CE (Consumer Electronics), IM (IT & Mobile Communications), DS (Device Solutions), DP (Display Panel)
Note 3: Information on annual earnings is stated according to the business divisions as of 2019
Note 4: From Q1 2017, earnings from the Health & Medical Equipment Business (HME) are excluded from the CE Division


* This article was originally published here

[Hands On] The Galaxy A80 is Empowering Live Content

Ever at the forefront of hardware innovation, Samsung Electronics is empowering users wanting to create, collaborate and consume on the go with the newest smartphone in the Galaxy A series. After spending some time with the Galaxy A80, we found that the phone’s rotating camera array, full-screen New Infinity Display and ‘smart battery’ broke new ground as far as versatile, high-quality content interactions.

Samsung Newsroom got hands on to put the newest in the Galaxy A series to the test.

A Camera that Flips Around

Equipped with Samsung’s first rotating camera array, the Galaxy A80’s triple camera set-up features a 48MP main camera, an Ultra Wide Camera and a 3D Depth Camera. The camera array combines to produce a number of effects, some familiar and some new.

But the best part about the Galaxy A80 is that the range of camera effects aren’t just limited to the camera on the back of the phone. The A80 employs a slide-out panel on top of the phone that automatically extends upward and flips the camera around to face the user when they switch to the front-facing camera mode, allowing the powerful camera array to be used for selfie-mode photos too. The sliding module fitting seamlessly into the back of the phone when lowered, making the motor-driven raising and lowering of the camera array very sleek.

Taking a selfie with Wide mode on the Galaxy A80

The ability to use the phone’s 48MP main camera for front-facing photos struck us as a game changer. For shots where we wanted to take a selfie while still capturing a significant portion of the background, Wide mode on the selfie camera was ideal. To take the effect a step further, the Galaxy A80 is also equipped with Ultra Wide mode*, which has a viewing angle as wide as that of the human eye, and is perfect for taking wide scenery and nature shots. We had a lot of success using Ultra Wide mode to take front-facing photos too, as it worked well for taking selfies with large groups of people and taking pictures in front of things like large landmarks. What’s more, all of these images were captured in stunning Wide Quad HD quality due to the fact that we were able to use the 48MP main camera to take them.

Live focus mode was another favorite of ours. The feature uses the depth sensor and machine learning to apply a cinematic blurring effect on the background while keeping the subject in the foreground crisp and focused. The ‘bokeh’ blurring effect is adjustable, and leads to some artistic, professional looking shots.

We loved the content creation possibilities afforded by the Galaxy A80 too. When taking videos while walking or running, Super steady mode was a big help in reducing camera shake and smoothing out videos. We were even able to create some movie-like videos with bokeh backgrounds using Live focus video mode. The Galaxy A80 allows you to switch in and out of selfie mode in the middle of a recording too, with the phone seamlessly blending the footage on either side of the camera rotation so that you can switch back and forth between the front and rear-facing cameras without interrupting your video**. The newest in the Galaxy A line can even capture videos in stunningly crisp 4K Ultra-high definition mode (3840 X 2160 pixels).

A True Full-Screen Display

The Galaxy A80 features Samsung’s first full-screen display – a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED New Infinity Display. Without a notch, waterdrop or cut-out, playing our favorite racing game was just how we’d always wanted it to be – big, bright and uninterrupted. While playing, we discovered that we were more likely to spot other players and in-game details on the bigger, unobstructed display, and that instances where we were hitting the wrong buttons by mistake were lessened because the controls were more spread out.



The Galaxy A80 features Samsung’s first full-screen display – a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED New Infinity Display. Without a notch, waterdrop or cut-out, playing our favorite racing game was just how we’d always wanted it to be – big, bright and uninterrupted. While playing, we discovered that we were more likely to spot other players and in-game details on the bigger, unobstructed display, and that instances where we were hitting the wrong buttons by mistake were lessened because the controls were more spread out.

Intelligent Power and Performance

All the great features mentioned above are rendered useless without reliable battery life on the go. The Galaxy A80’s 3,700mAh smart battery and intelligent performance functions to be up to the task.

With its intelligent battery, the Galaxy A80 analyzes usage and automatically closes background apps that are unnecessarily using up battery life. To take battery conservation a step further, users can turn on Adaptive Power Saving, which allows their device to modify settings according to users’ expected daily usage. After giving the phone some time to get used to our usage patterns, we found that this feature really helped in preserving battery life. Once the battery does eventually tick down, the Galaxy A80 is equipped with Super Fast Charging**** technology to get users charged back up quickly.



The device is also equipped with an ‘Intelligent Performance Enhancer’, which allows the phone’s AI to optimize CPU and RAM usage and ensure that the amount of power being drawn is always a match for the user’s unique usage patterns. We additionally appreciated how the Intelligent Performance Enhancer would preload our most-used apps to ensure that they were able to be quick-launched when needed.

Cool Extras

In addition to getting lost in the Galaxy A80’s edge-to-edge New Infinity Display, now users can experience immersive sound too. The device is equipped with Dolby Atmos audio that allows for a 360-degree audio experience when using headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.

The Galaxy A80’s ergonomic curved back (available in Angel Gold, Ghost White and Phantom Black) makes it comfortable to grip in one hand. Likewise, the position of the power button lower down on the side of the phone, and easy-to-activate ‘One-handed mode’ made the phone easy to use when we had a lot going on.

Optimal for creating and consuming media, with a battery that can be counted on, the Galaxy A80 is the ideal companion for the content-hungry user living in the now.


* Viewing angle is adjusted for selfies taken with the Ultra Wide Camera
** Super steady mode must be turned off before camera will switch between front and rear-facing modes mid-video
*** Available after downloading certain third-party apps
**** Super Fast Charging is only available with a compatible 25W charger and cable


* This article was originally published here

[Samsung At Your Service] ① Samsung Service Introduces Visual Support Feature for More Effective Diagnosis and Troubleshooting

After purchasing a product, which company channel do customers then turn to the most throughout the lifespan of that product? The answer is a company’s customer service. Customers will contact a customer service when they have questions about or issues with the products that they have purchased. More than just a ‘repair’ center, ‘customer service’ is an organization with a range of operations and systems in place to provide customer satisfaction. The service customers receive from a company can hugely affect their perception of the company, and so Samsung Electronics, understanding the importance of customer satisfaction, is running a series of articles showcasing the company’s unique take on CS activities.

Samsung Electronics is known for its industry-leading array of devices, from smartphones to smart home products, that harness the latest technologies for optimized consumer convenience. But while the benefits and conveniences of such advanced functionalities are clear, in the case of an issue arising, it can often be difficult for a user to accurately detail complex problem situations by verbal description alone, subsequently affecting the efficacity of a CS consultant’s advice.

To mitigate this problem for consumers, Samsung Electronics has this year for the first time introduced a Visual Support service as part of its Global Contact Center offering.

Just One Click for Comprehensive Visual Support

The Samsung Global Contact Center’s Visual Support service is a more personalized form of customer support wherein a consultant is able to provide advice based on actual visuals of the affected product provided by the user.

Easy and intuitive to use, once it has been requested by the customer or consultant, the consultant will then send a URL link via SMS message to the customer which launches straight into the Visual Support permissions process – there is no need for customers to download a separate application.

Many customers have already expressed their satisfaction with this innovative service; in a customer satisfaction survey conducted in countries where Visual Support is available, the average score was 93.4, up from the call-only service satisfaction score of 88.7.

Customer feedback so far has reflected the satisfaction score shift; an Australian customer who used the service to fix washing machine drainage noted, “I did not have to reach out to Samsung a second time via email to send the pictures needed, as the consultant just used a photo taken while on the call using Visual Support. It was very convenient.” Another customer in the Philippines explained why they had rated the service 5 stars, “It’s great that Samsung is coming up with new ways to assist their customers, especially for ones like me who are not particularly ‘tech-y’ and don’t really know anything about non-conventional washing machines.”

Once the customer has granted Visual Support secure permission, the consultant on the other end of the line is then able to analyze a product as seen directly through the customer’s camera. This enables the consultant to more accurately assess the situation, request more information from the customer and guide them forward with specific measures.

The quick four-step process for enabling Visual Support

Useful Functionalities for Effective Customer Care

Samsung’s Visual Support service includes several useful functions for efficient and effective consultation. Both the consultant and the customer can use a mouse or a finger to annotate their device’s screen, meaning that both parties can indicate to the other the specific area of the product they are referring to. Furthermore, prior to Visual Support, the process of conveying a product’s model name or serial number – often complex in themselves – had to be manually done by the customer, but with Visual Support this process is an easy and automatic one thanks to the scan function of the service.

Not only does Visual Support allow customers and consultants to simultaneously speak via telephone and stream images, but if the product’s lighting environment is not good, the consultant can also remotely turn on the customer’s phone flashlight in order to better assess the situation. The images captured by Visual Support during a consultation can also come in useful further down the product repair process.

Screens showcase what customer consultation looks like using Visual Support

Thanks to the improved troubleshooting of Visual Support, customers can easily and accurately receive a diagnosis from one of Samsung’s consultants without having to struggle with technical and complex product details themselves. The in-depth analysis granted by Visual Support also means that consultants can make qualified judgements on whether or not a product actually needs to be sent for repair, saving time and effort for the customer.

Convenient, Accurate and Efficient Customer Service

Not only have customers noted their satisfaction with the service, but also Samsung’s consultants and repair engineers. One consultant noted that upon consulting for a TV product with abnormal color issues, “the customer’s inquiry was much easier to understand when looking at the screen together compared to just having the issue explained over the phone. For counseling purposes, it makes much more sense to actually see a sound bar or monitor terminal.” Similarly, Samsung’s repair engineers have found themselves conducting home visits only when actually necessary and can enter repair situations with a much more detailed understanding of a product and any issues.

Samsung consultants use Visual Support to diagnose issues whilst on customer calls

With the introduction of the Visual Support service, consultants can now directly assess a product’s environment as well as its appearance, something that previously could not be verified in generalized phone counseling. As a result, the accuracy of diagnoses on home appliance products – which often experience non-defect-related issues – has significantly improved.

Visual Support is currently operating in 12 countries including Korea, the USA, the UK, India, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand. Following the favorable response from customers and consultants alike, Samsung plans to launch the service globally by the end of the year, as well as to grow the supported product lineup to include medical device products and others in the near future.


* This article was originally published here

[Interview] “AR Emoji Can Be a Visual AI Assistant” – Developers on the Galaxy S10 AR Emoji

The ‘emoji’ originated in 1997 as a simple pictogram used to express emotion. But after years of evolution, the technology has progressed to the point that the Galaxy S10 AR (augmented reality) Emoji can transform your face into an animated version of itself before your eyes. Once you have your avatar, your AR Emoji can mirror a wide range of emotions and body movements with advanced facial and body tracking. You can even impose your AR Emoji on top of a photo of yourself and watch it move just like you!

Samsung Newsroom met with the developers of the Galaxy S10 AR Emoji, Yong-Il Kim, HanJun Ryu, MinKyung Lee, Jinho Lim, and MinSheok Choi, to discuss how they are leading the future of AR Emoji, and what’s next for the technology.


Q. What is the current trajectory of AR Emoji development?



The AR Emoji feature is a way to express and represent yourself. As we switched over from the Galaxy S9 to the Galaxy S10, we changed our focus from the representative ‘Avatar’ to the ‘Stylized Avatar’, which portrays users’ individual traits so attractively that they can’t help but show it off! To achieve this, we have created avatars that users feel affectionate toward because they represent their individual traits, but which also maintain a universal aesthetic appeal.



People use AR Emoji to reproduce themselves in the online sphere. Therefore, the feature must be able to portray not only their physical appearance, but also their online personality. We are continually coming up with ways for users to more freely and uniquely personalize their AR Emojis.




Q. What makes AR Emoji special?



The AR Emoji feature’s biggest differentiator is that it starts off by making a complete, detailed figure that best reflects the user’s actual traits. AR Emoji has avatar shapes to suit everyone and features a huge number of ways for users to represent their unique characteristics.



The features available in AR Emoji on the Galaxy S10 line include ‘Mask’ mode, ‘Mini motion’ and ‘Live figure’, all of which can be used in a range of situations. Because the AR Emoji feature is a specialized camera function, it can be used within the default camera app. It has proven to be a popular feature among users.

With ‘Mini motion’, body movements are captured so that the AR Emoji moves just like the user.

Q. What was your process for developing AR Emoji?



During planning it is important to identify the users’ needs. To figure out what these were, we monitored our acquaintances, families and a range of online communities to make sure that we made an AR Emoji that everyone would be satisfied with.



In the design stage, we considered how we could best express users’ emotions through facial expressions and stickers. The most common human emotions were categorized, then we had to establish the various degrees of each emotion. For example, there are many different kinds of sadness. Some make you want to scream, some make you want burst into tears, and some only cause a downturn of the mouth. When we struggled to find specific references for certain emotions, our team stepped in as actors to record their emotions. During this process, having emotive team members was a big help! Our recording sessions were always full of laughter.

Also, as an AR Emoji is a full body avatar, we needed to include a wide range of fashionable clothing items, shoes and accessories to make sure users had enough options to choose from. Research was very important at this stage, and some of our team members scoured shopping malls to ensure that we chose the right clothing options.



The version of AR Emoji that’s available on the Galaxy S10 line has updated editing tools. In developing these, we had to make internal decisions about how we were going to structuralize and define every component of the 3D data. For instance, we had to make decisions like ‘let’s divide the bone structure of the arm into five parts, and cover two of them with the sleeve while the rest are just bare arm.’ This was a useful process though, because as we were defining the details, a number of other potential features occurred to us. For example, we added the shadows on the avatar’s backs during this stage.

For more customization and creativity, users can utilize their own AR Emoji to create stickers.

Q. Do you have any tips for how best to use the AR Emoji feature?



You can use your avatar to make stickers that can be sent via messenger. This feature allows you to send customized emoji stickers with any expression you like. You can also create memes or stickers that include text to give the image more context.

A mask mode that applies your avatar’s face over your own is another useful function. When you need to take a photo but you haven’t had time to get yourself camera-ready, you can cover your face with an emoji. AR Emojis can also be very helpful for the many online creators who like to dress up or disguise themselves while recording their videos.

‘Mini motion’ is a function that both adults and children can enjoy. If you enjoy dancing, it can be fun to have a virtual figure to dance along with, instead of dancing alone.

Users can have more fun with the ‘Mask mode’, which adds the AR Emoji’s face onto users’ faces.

Q. Can you tell us what’s currently being worked on with regards to AR Emoji?



We are thinking about how AR Emojis can be used in new ways, such as users being able to play as their avatars in games. We are also working on incorporating popular characters into AR Emoji, as well as allowing users to custom-add things like make-up and tattoos so they can better express themselves with their emojis.



The global trends are centered around incorporating more and more decorative tools. However, we have also tried to be focus on being inclusive, with features like artificial hands currently available, and artificial legs to become available soon. By continuing to add more customization tools to AR Emoji, we hope to help people better express themselves. But we also want to see AR Emojis become a place where users’ imaginations can be brought to life.



We’re looking for ways to allow users to represent not just their faces, but their bodies too. Another area of focus is finding a way to utilize AR Emojis on other Samsung apps. Users can currently set their phones to display contacts’ emojis when they call, but we are exploring other uses that include a mask mode for video calls too.



As developers, our priority is to improve usability. Currently, in ‘Live figure’ mode, users can tap the figure on the screen to trigger a range of gestures and dances. We want to make these motions more fluid, while also expanding the feature by incorporating further actions and promoting deeper interaction between users and their emojis.


Q. What does the future hold for AR Emoji?



I hope AR Emoji will offer users a chance to familiarize themselves with AR technology and become more comfortable using it. As virtual reality-based services are commercialized and become more common, we expect AR emojis to be the best method for people to represent themselves in the virtual sphere.



Ultimately, our goal is to make AR Emoji a personified visual assistant in the coming age of AI (Artificial Intelligence). For example, currently Bixby can give us updates on the weather, but I believe that information could be delivered more effectively by an AR Emoji holding an umbrella.

(Clockwise from the top left) Samsung developers Yong-Il Kim and HanJun Ryu from Unique Sales Point Strategy Group, MinKyung Lee from Media UX Group, Jinho Lim from Graphic R&D Group and Minsheok Choi from Visual S/W R&D Group

* This article was originally published here

Samsung Named Among Winners at DCASE 2019 Challenge

Samsung researchers from Poland and China emerged as one of the leading teams at a recent contest to identify sounds using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE) 2019 challenge, held by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) sets out to test teams’ ability to use state-of-the-art AI technology to classify acoustic scenes, as well as classify and localize acoustic events.

Samsung Research’s R&D Institute Poland Team

Samsung Research’s R&D Institute China-Beijing Team

For Task 1 – Subtask B, testing acoustic scene classification with mismatched recording devices, Samsung Research’s R&D Institute Poland won the first place. For Task 1 – Subtask C which tests open set acoustic scene classification, Samsung Research’s R&D Institute China-Beijing, in partnership with Beijing University of Post and Telecommunication (BUPT), won the first place while Samsung Research Institute Poland received the second place.

The goal of Subtask B and C of Task 1 (Acoustic Scene Classification) was to classify a test recording into one of the provided predefined classes that characterizes the environment in which it was recorded. In addition to this, Subtask C also asked participants to detect undefined acoustic scene from the 10 target classes. The recordings were taken in 12 large European cities and represented 10 categories: airport, indoor shopping mall, metro station, pedestrian street, public square, street with medium level of traffic, traveling by tram, traveling by bus, traveling by underground metro, and urban park.

In addition, Samsung Research’s R&D Institute Poland was recognized as the best team in Task 3 measuring sound event localization and detection. The goal of Task 3 was to jointly localize and recognize individual sound events and their durations. This technology has a wide variety of applications, including robots and AI speakers.

Sounds carry a large amount of information about our everyday environment and physical events that take place around us.¹ We’re now able to perceive the sound scene we’re in -such as a busy street, and even identify individual sounds such as a baby crying. This technology could help design intelligent monitoring systems that recognize activities in their environment by acoustic information.

The objective of Audio Intelligence at Samsung Research, the advanced research & development hub of the company’s SET (End-products) Business, is to improve the technology so that it can better pick out individual sounds even in environments with other background noise distractions.

¹ http://dcase.community/challenge2019/


* This article was originally published here

Galaxy Fold Ready for Launch Starting from September

At Samsung, we’ve always focused on pioneering the next generation of mobile innovation: new products and technologies that push the entire industry forward and help users do what they can’t. Earlier this year, we announced Galaxy Fold—Samsung’s first foldable device, and the beginning of an entirely new mobile category. Since then, we’ve made improvements to Galaxy Fold to ensure consumers have the best possible experience.

Samsung has taken the time to fully evaluate the product design, make necessary improvements and run rigorous tests to validate the changes we made. These design and construction improvements include:

• The top protective layer of the Infinity Flex Display has been extended beyond the bezel, making it apparent that it is an integral part of the display structure and not meant to be removed.

• Galaxy Fold features additional reinforcements to better protect the device from external particles while maintaining its signature foldable experience:
  • ⚬ The top and bottom of the hinge area have been strengthened with newly added protection caps.
  • ⚬ Additional metal layers underneath the Infinity Flex Display have been included to reinforce the protection of the display.
  • ⚬ The space between the hinge and body of Galaxy Fold has been reduced.

Along with these improvements, Samsung has also been continuously working to improve the overall Galaxy Fold user experience, including optimizing more apps and services for its unique foldable UX. Samsung is conducting final product tests to make Galaxy Fold available to consumers starting from September in select markets. Availability details will be shared as we get closer to the launch.

Galaxy Fold completely reimagines the smartphone, changing the way you interact, communicate and experience everyday life. Precisely refined, slender and encased in luxuriously finished materials, Galaxy Fold lets you totally immerse yourself to whatever you need, wherever you are in the palm of your hand. Access your essentials on the cover display while holding Galaxy Fold comfortably in one hand, and open it up to use multiple apps at once. Now, with Galaxy Fold, you can review charts while talking on a video call, and search information, all at once.

All of us at Samsung appreciate the support and patience we’ve received from Galaxy fans all over the world. Galaxy Fold is a device long in the making, and we’re proud to share it with the world and look forward to bringing it to consumers.










* This article was originally published here

Samsung Electronics Partners with e-sport Game Shows to Showcase High-Performing SSD Solutions

Samsung Electronics has become an official sponsor of the World Cyber Games (WCG), known widely in the industry as the ‘Olympics’ for e-sports.

This year, WCG returned to the international stage after a six-year hiatus, making it a highly anticipated event for e-sports fans all around the world. Qualification matches have been held online by region all over the world since March, and those who advanced were invited to the WCG 2019 Grand Final, hosted from July 18-21 in Xian, China.

On top of its official sponsorship of WCG 2019, Samsung operated a 595 square meter Samsung Exhibition at the event for visitors to explore.

The 2019 World Cyber Games captivates audiences in Xian, China

Samsung Electronics SSD will also be participating in the games show China Joy in August, as well as the Tokyo Game Show this September, two games shows that make up half of the top four global game industry events. At these two events, Samsung Electronics SSD will also set up exhibition booths for visitors to enjoy a series of events, video streams and pro-gamer competition matches.

Samsung is pursuing these partnerships with global gaming shows due to the suitability of their Solid State Drives (SSDs) for the gaming industry. Take a look at the video below, produced by Samsung to showcase the industry-leading performance and speed of its SSDs, to see main character Bike overcome competitors and other obstacles by collecting Samsung SSD products.

Compared to traditional HDDs, Samsung’s SATA SSDs boost performance by up to 4 times, extract files 3 times faster and copy photos 10 times faster. For instance, it takes only 31 seconds for SDDs to extract a 4.7GB movie, while this same process takes over 3 times as long – 96 seconds – using HDDs. Accordingly, users playing high-spec games are increasingly adopting SSDs. Samsung’s V-NAND flash-based SSD (860 PRO/EVO/QVO) provides players with a fully immersive game-playing environment thanks to the overall boost it gives to PC performance. The benefits to this SSD include high-speed game loading times, low latency and seamless in-game responsiveness, even when multitasking.

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus is an SSD designed for games that support 4K or Direct X12, which call on PCs to handle the download of large files along with increased disk input/output operations. The Samsung NVMe SSD 970 EVO Plus can significantly increase the speed of such demanding games; according to Samsung’s internal test results, game loading is reduced between 7 to 37% when using an NWMe SSD compared to SATA drives.

The Samsung Portable SSD T5 can be applied to a gaming console, offering not only a fast loading speed but also the increase of a console’s storage space up to 2TB. Samsung internal testing showed that when using the Portable SSD T5, users enjoyed a significantly faster game loading speed compared to when using an external HDD.

(From left to right) 860EVO, 970 EVO Plus, Potable SSD T5

* This article was originally published here

Smarter, Sportier, Snazzier: The Galaxy Watch Active’s Latest Updates

The Galaxy Watch Active allows fashion-forward users to pursue healthy, active lifestyles with ease and style, and thanks to the latest round of software updates, app services and UI that have recently come to the Galaxy Watch Active, users can now get even more out of their device as well as their own daily routines.

Driven by usability thanks to the improved Bixby functionality and sleeker, more intuitive UI, the updated Galaxy Watch Active has seamlessness at its core, meaning that users can pursue their wellness and lifestyle goals with ease. Furthermore, users can stylishly match their daily activities to their Galaxy Watch Active strap thanks to the new range of Strap Studio exclusive watch straps.

With this latest set of updates, Samsung, Strap Studio and other partners are bringing a lifestyle ecosystem straight to users’ wrists that is fully customizable and offers effortless usability.

Smarter Usability

The Galaxy Watch Active’s new software updates make for a more convenient, hands-free Galaxy Watch Active experience thanks to the meaningful improvements made to the Bixby function. Users can now harness Bixby’s comprehensive intelligence to start customized exercise routines, find out time differences between cities and easily control their SmartThings ecosystem – all using the conversational language they favor. Bixby’s task-oriented, personalized UX also learns from your routine and preferred questions, becoming more helpful over time. With these latest updates, you can do more with your Galaxy Watch Active without even having to take your phone out of your pocket.

For an even more seamless user experience, the Galaxy Watch Active’s App Tray UI has been updated to provide a more natural, intuitive format, meaning that users can easily and quickly search the interface and open up the functionality they need. To ensure comfort and convenience during use at nighttime, Goodnight Mode now offers its own dedicated view, and while switched on, users can simply check the time with a single press of a button and can sleep soundly without their downtime being interrupted by notification alerts. Furthermore, Goodnight Mode’s particular settings and alert conditions can be fully customized.

More Options for Health & Fitness

So that users are able to get even more out of Samsung Health and its exercise tracking features, the latest Galaxy Watch Active now recognizes Swimming and is able to automatically detect and record a user’s swimming activity, allowing users to easily and seamlessly keep track of more of their favorite workouts.

The latest range of Galaxy Watch Active updates also allows users to get more out of the watch’s Health functionality thanks to the new Heart Rate – Low Alert feature, which notifies users when their heart rate slips below a specific, user-set value for 10 minutes. The UX of Samsung Health’s Breathe Guide has been improved so that users can easily access breathing rate information and guidance pertinent to comfortable breathing.

Stylish Straps for Any Occasion

Not only does the Galaxy Watch Active enrich users’ lifestyles with its intuitive fitness tracking software, seamless connectivity and personalized UX, its minimalistic, stylish appearance suits any personality. With the new Strap Studio collection of straps exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Active, users can easily switch between the range of functional yet sleek wrist straps that have been developed specifically for particular activities and pursuits.

Strap Studio’s Active Rubber Collection, featuring a FKM rubber for optimal comfort, is the practical choice for those looking for sophistication as they pursue their fitness goals. The Active Textile Collection has built-in reflective attributes to help with visibility in low-light conditions, perfect for any outdoors pursuit. The Active Leather and Active Leather Dress collections allow users to seamlessly add a touch of class to their looks, thanks to the authentic Italian leather and classic color ranges available.




* This article was originally published here

[Video] Capture More with the Galaxy A80’s Rotating Camera

Built for the Era of Live, the Galaxy A80 enhances live interactions, connections and spontaneous self-expression through its compelling innovations, including its rotating camera.

The Galaxy A80 allows users to capture and share the world around them as they see it, when they see it, where they see it. With the Galaxy A80’s rotating camera, excellent quality photos and videos that capture your experiences as they happen are no longer confined to the rear camera. With just a tap, users can harness such rear camera features as 4K UHD Video recording and Super Steady for their selfie capturing.

Check out the video above to see how the Galaxy A80’s Triple Camera module rotates around to bring the vivid image capture and Live Focus capabilities of the 48MP Main Camera, the Ultra Wide Camera and more to users’ front-facing moments and experiences.


* This article was originally published here

How Samsung is Bringing Meaning to Children in a Crime-Ridden Brazilian District

On the outskirts of the southeastern Brazilian city of Campinas sits the crime-afflicted township of Itatinga, where many children grow up without access to proper education. Without the foundation of proper schooling, crime becomes an ever-present temptation and the children grow up with little hope for the future. In an effort to help, Samsung Electronics’ Campinas factory is offering the youth of Itatinga apprenticeships that teach them skills, earn them valuable work experience, and start them on the road to a better future.

Itatinga, the crime-afflicted area of Campinas where many youths don’t have access to proper education

The Samsung factory in Campinas has been offering the ‘My First Apprenticeship’ program in partnership with local NGO CEPROMM since 2012. Those accepted into apprenticeships work six hours a day, four days a week for 16 months, and are assigned tasks such as issuing employee ID cards, managing data and providing administrative assistance. At Samsung Electronics, the youths are afforded a chance to gain invaluable work experience and to start seeing themselves as valuable, contributing members of society. Itatinga local and former apprenticeship participant Isaias Novaes says of her situation that:

I was selling candy on the street one day when an old friend of mine came up to me in an expensive outfit and pointed out that I could make money much more easily if I were willing to break the law. If I had hung out with people like her, I would probably have been arrested, and I wouldn’t be here today. My Samsung apprenticeship taught me that I can be a respectful member of society.

Asked about the apprenticeships, Priscilla Tiemi Shibata Maximino from Samsung’s Campinas factory said:

We partnered with CEPROMM to create a program that supports the underprivileged youth in Campinas. Many in our program have never thought seriously about their future or had something to be passionate about. Working at Samsung Electronics, they realize that they can dream – that they can have a future. After completing their apprenticeships, some participants apply to colleges and some seek fulltime work at Samsung – whatever it is, they finally feel empowered to pursue what they’re passionate about.

On June 12, Samsung’s apprenticeship program was featured on a local TV show commemorating World Day Against Child Labor 2019. Those featured on the show included former Samsung Campinas apprentice and current Samsung employee Natasha Campos de Jesus and her mother, Alexsandra Campos de Jesus. Asked about her experience with the program, Natasha Campos de Jesus said:

It wasn’t actually an easy program. It was challenging, but I completed it and now I work for Samsung Electronics. I am really grateful to Samsung and CEPROMM for this opportunity, and my mother is even more excited than me!

Natasha and her mother both say that the apprenticeship and subsequent employment have ‘changed everything’ for them. Alexsandra Campos de Jesus commented that:

It’s the beginning of a completely different life for us. I didn’t expect that the apprenticeship program would change our lives so drastically. Now Natasha is working for a global company in Samsung Electronics, and she has a bright future. For her, it’s a wonderfully different life. I couldn’t be more thankful.

Since the program began in 2012, 243 young people have worked at Samsung’s Campinas factory as part of the ‘My First Apprenticeship’ program. 23 of those apprentices are now fully-fledged employees of the company.



The ultimate goal of Samsung’s apprenticeship program in Campinas is to instill a sense of pride in young people, and to show them that they are valued individuals who are capable of chasing their dreams. Before her apprenticeship in Campinas, Samsung employee Tatiana Helena dos Santos received supplementary education from CEPROMM to equip her for the role. Speaking about the help she received, dos Santos said:

I learned how to add and subtract numbers at CEPROMM. I started late, but I really enjoyed learning. My teacher was like a mother to me, and I studied hard. Since my apprenticeship ended, I’ve been working at Samsung Electronics. My two years working there have been like a dream come true. The people at work are incredibly supportive and respectful, and have become like my family. I am really thankful, and that makes me want to do my best all the time.

Global corporations have the ability to help underprivileged communities overcome the challenges they face, and Samsung’s Campinas factory has taken that responsibility upon itself. The apprenticeships seek to empower young people at a base level by encouraging them to think ‘I can do this’, and ‘I want to give it a try’. Elaborating on the nature of the ‘My First Apprenticeship’ program, Priscilla Maximino went on to say:

The apprentices work on simple tasks, but they get a lot out of it. They don’t just think about their potential futures with Samsung Electronics, they also begin to have realizations such as: ‘I can achieve things on my own’, ‘I’m a decent person’, and ‘I can function as a member of society if I give it a try…’

Since 2012, Samsung’s factory in Campinas has been working with CEPROMM to provide programs for underprivileged youths

With the efforts of Samsung’s Campinas factory attracting national attention and support, the company is now looking to expand its CSR projects in the region. In addition to ‘My First Apprenticeship’, Samsung also currently operates the ‘My First Flight’ program, which offers people the chance to fly to the Brazilian capital for the first time. Additionally, the company is planning to roll out its ‘My First Job Training’ program, which will be centered around the hairdressing industry, in August of 2019.

Going forward, Samsung and its Campinas factory will continue offering life-changing opportunities to residents of Brazil’s most underprivileged areas.


* This article was originally published here

How to Do More by Doing Less with Samsung’s Ecosystem

Most of us today use multiple mobile and smart devices in our everyday lives. While each device has its own strengths, Samsung integrates these capabilities into an intuitive ecosystem. By offering seamless connectivity across devices, the ecosystem helps users accomplish more with greater ease.

Here is how Samsung’s ecosystem can simplify your daily life.

Don’t Let the Music Stop

There are few things more irritating than needing to hit the pause button in the middle of a song. Samsung’s music continuity feature lets you enjoy your favorite tunes and podcasts without interruptions.¹ With just a simple tap, the function automatically switches your audio from your mobile device to a nearby speaker or TV.

Hands-Free Texting

Samsung’s ecosystem makes texting easier than ever before. Bixby lets you dictate messages, freeing your hands to complete other essential tasks.

Answer Calls Anywhere

There’s no need to miss a call just because you can’t find your phone. Samsung’s ecosystem offers Call & Message Continuity, which means you can answer calls with the Galaxy Tab S5e if your phone is out of reach.²

Send Messages from Your Wrist

Remember that time when you had to take everything out of your bag to find your phone and send a message? With the Galaxy Watch Active, you can leave your phone in the bag and send messages right from your wrist.




¹ Feature availability may vary by device and region.
² Wi-Fi or data connection required for Call & Message Continuity on Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Tab S5e. CMC functionality may vary by carrier. Data charges may apply when using on a carrier network.


* This article was originally published here

Galaxy S8 Assists in Emergency Rescue

Following a recent accident at sea in Cebu, a Samsung Galaxy smartphone proved helpful in securing the safety of 20 people.

On July 8, a boat carrying 16 foreign divers and four Filipino nationals on an island hopping excursion capsized in the waters off Bogo City in Cebu province. About 30 minutes after the boat tipped over, the stranded passengers were able to call for help. They were all returned to shore safely.

The passengers were able to call for help relatively promptly after a Samsung Galaxy S8 belonging to Canadian national Jim Emdee was found submerged in water under the boat. Emdee and the other passengers used the phone to call for help, and provided rescuers with their location using the device’s GPS function.

Following his harrowing experience, Emdee reached out to extend his thanks to the Samsung engineering team, saying, “I really hope my thanks can make it to the engineering team as honestly it really saved us all. Only my S8 was able to connect and it worked all the way until we made it to land. It stayed alive for much longer than I thought possible, and it really made the difference.”

James Jung, Head of Samsung Electronics Philippines said, “We are glad to hear that the passengers are all safe, and that a Samsung phone was helpful in the rescue effort. We will continue to work towards producing devices that can come to users’ aid when they find themselves in dire situations.”

Samsung advises users to keep the GPS locator on their Galaxy smartphones turned on while travelling, especially if travelling alone or in remote areas. Galaxy smartphones also allow users to send SOS messages to designated emergency contacts by enabling the ‘Send SOS messages’ feature (Settings → Advanced features → Send SOS message). With this feature turned on, users can tap the power button three times quickly to send out an SOS message to up to four emergency contacts.

^* The Galaxy S8 is certified as water resistant in fresh water up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes. Neither beach nor pool use is advised. Water and dust damage are not covered by the device’s warranty.


* This article was originally published here

Samsung Begins Mass Production of Industry’s First 12Gb LPDDR5 Mobile DRAM for Premium Smartphones

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing the industry’s first 12-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, which has been optimized for enabling 5G and AI features in future smartphones. The new mobile memory comes just five months after announcing mass production of the 12GB LPDDR4X, further reinforcing the company’s premium memory lineup. Samsung also plans to start mass producing 12-gigabyte (GB) LPDDR5 packages later this month, each combining eight of the 12Gb chips, in line with growing demand for higher smartphone performance and capacity from premium smartphone manufacturers.

“With mass production of the 12Gb LPDDR5 built on Samsung’s latest second-generation 10-nanometer (nm) class process, we are thrilled to be supporting the timely launch of 5G flagship smartphones for our customers worldwide,” said Jung-bae Lee, executive vice president of DRAM Product & Technology, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung remains committed to rapidly introducing next-generation mobile memory technologies that deliver greater performance and higher capacity, as we continue to aggressively drive growth of the premium memory market.”

Thanks to its industry-leading speed and power efficiency, Samsung’s new mobile DRAM can enable next-generation flagship smartphones to fully leverage 5G and AI capabilities like ultra-high-definition video recording and machine learning, while greatly extending the battery life.

At a data rate of 5,500 megabits per second (Mb/s), the 12Gb LPDDR5 is approximately 1.3 times faster than previous mobile memory (LPDDR4X, 4266Mb/s) that is found in today’s high-end smartphones. When made into a 12GB package, the LPDDR5 is able to transfer 44GB of data, or about 12 full-HD (3.7GB-sized) movies, in only a second. The new chip also uses up to 30 percent less power than its predecessor by integrating a new circuit design with enhanced clocking, training and low-power feature that ensures stable performance even when operating at a blazingly fast speed.

In order to manage production capacity with more flexibility, Samsung is considering transferring its 12Gb LPDDR5 production to its Pyeongtaek (Korea) campus starting next year, depending on demand from global customers. Following its introduction of the 12Gb LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, Samsung expects to also develop a 16Gb LPDDR5 next year, to solidify its competitive edge in the global memory market.


[Reference] Samsung Mobile DRAM Timeline: Production/Mass Prod.

Date	Capacity	Mobile DRAM
July 2019	12GB	10nm-class 12Gb LPDDR5, 5500Mb/s
June 2019	6GB	10nm-class 12Gb LPDDR5, 5500Mb/s
Feb. 2019	12GB	10nm-class 16Gb LPDDR4X, 4266Mb/s
April 2018	8GB (development)	10nm-class 8Gb LPDDR5, 6400Mb/s
Sept. 2016	8GB	10nm-class 16Gb LPDDR4X, 4266Mb/s
Aug. 2015	6GB	20nm 12Gb LPDDR4, 4266Mb/s
Dec. 2014	4GB	20nm 8Gb LPDDR4, 3200Mb/s
Sept. 2014	3GB	20nm 6Gb LPDDR3, 2133Mb/s
Nov. 2013	3GB	20nm-class 6Gb LPDDR3, 2133Mb/s
July 2013	3GB	20nm-class 4Gb LPDDR3, 2133Mb/s
April 2013	2GB	20nm-class 4Gb LPDDR3, 2133Mb/s
Aug. 2012	2GB	30nm-class 4Gb LPDDR3, 1600Mb/s
2011	1/2GB	30nm-class 4Gb LPDDR2, 1066Mb/s
2010	512MB	40nm-class 2Gb MDDR, 400Mb/s
2009	256MB	50nm-class 1Gb MDDR, 400Mb/s

* This article was originally published here