Friday, January 31, 2020

Samsung Global Goals: New Updates to the App Provide More Options to Donate

Last summer, Samsung Electronics announced its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. Developed in 2015, the 17 Global Goals were set by the United Nations General Assembly and agreed upon by world leaders to help tackle some of the globe’s most pressing challenges.

 

In order to provide simple ways for Galaxy users to come together to support the Global Goals, Samsung and the UNDP launched an education and donation-based app, Samsung Global Goals. The app provides Galaxy users with the ability to learn more about the Global Goals and take part in small actions to help address the issues that matter most to them.

 

To provide the best user experience possible, along with more ways to get involved, Samsung is bringing a range of updates to the Samsung Global Goals app this January.

 

 

 

More Ways to Join in and Give Back

The Samsung Global Goals app offers a range of ways for users to support and give back to the Global Goals. By engaging with advertisements in the app, users are able to donate 100% of an ad’s revenue to the Global Goals. Samsung also recently announced that it will match all proceeds generated through the in-app advertisements to help maximize donations and make an impact, meaning that effectively 200% of ad revenue from the app will be donated to the UNDP by Samsung1.

 

 

The app also allows users to donate directly in support of the Global Goals to the UNDP. With the latest app updates, users will be able to use both Samsung Pay and Google Pay2 native payment mechanisms when donating. This will allow users to directly donate to the UNDP and the Goal of their choice by simply clicking and then confirming using biometric authentication – making it easier than ever to make a difference and donation to the #Global Goals campaign.

 

 

Samsung is also making it easier for users to opt into features that help generate more ad earnings, even when their phone is charging. Users can currently opt into the ‘Charge Screen ads’ feature in the Donate tab of the app, which will show ads on the device’s lock screen when it is plugged in to charge. As part of the update, the app will now prompt new users with a pop-up message providing information on this feature once their device has been plugged in to charge. This feature can be easily toggled off and on anytime in the Donate tab.

 

Additionally, users will be able to enjoy a wider range of lock screen options in the app’s Global Goals Lockscreen Wallpapers section, which can easily be managed in the app’s Settings page. The new wallpapers now support a wider selection of inspirational quotes, dynamic visuals, and graphic styles, making easier to stay engaged and inspired to contribute.

 

 

The update also brings several other UX upgrades to the Samsung Global Goals app. App notification messages have been streamlined for improved usability, each Goals’ Facts and Figures information is now more clearly linked to each Goal and users can more easily see which version of the app they are running. Galaxy users in Korea will also now be able to learn about the K-SDGs, or Korean Sustainable Development Goals, in the Samsung Global Goals app thanks to a collaboration with Korea’s Ministry of Environment.

 

The Samsung Global Goals app is available for download through the Galaxy Store and Google Play. To learn more about the Samsung Global Goals, visit here.

 

 

1 Samsung has pledged to match donations with ad proceeds generated through the Global Goals app; up to US$5 million annually.

2 Donations through Samsung Pay or Google Pay will be available in 5 markets following the current update, including the U.S., Singapore, Australia, the U.K., and Canada. This feature will be available in more regions in the future.



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, January 30, 2020

[Infographic] Samsung’s Galaxy Book S, in Numbers

Available for pre-order beginning on January 30 in the U.S., the Galaxy Book S was engineered from the inside out to empower the next generation of mobile professionals to do what they do best.

 

Always on, always connected and always capable, the Galaxy Book S combines premium specs with an ultra-portable design. This allows the device to deliver a truly seamless mobile computing experience – one that takes productivity to the next level by offering users the freedom to work the way they want.

 

An all-day battery helps users work more comfortably, without lugging around bulky chargers or constantly worrying about finding a place to plug in. Built-in LTE connectivity keeps you connected all the time, so there’s no need to scramble to find an open Wi-Fi network. And a lightweight, ultra-slim design makes it easy to slip the device into a bag and take it with you wherever you need to go.

 

All this innovation and we’ve only scratched the surface of what makes the Galaxy Book S a game-changing release. Check out the infographic below for a closer look at Samsung’s latest powerful PC.

 



* This article was originally published here

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Samsung Billboards and Teaser Film Hint at the Shape of Things to Come

In just a few weeks, Samsung will unveil its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2020 and the excitement is palpable. Amidst the anticipation, the company released a teaser film on January 28, hinting at what it has planned for the launch. Continuing the themes of the billboards Samsung installed around Place de la Concorde in Paris earlier this month, the film proclaims that the company will “change the shape of the future”, providing a glimpse of Samsung’s long-term vision for mobile technology.

 

On the day the teaser film was released, Samsung also brought its iconic billboards to major landmarks around the world – Callao Square in Madrid, Duomo di Milano in Milan, Hydroproject Building in Moscow, Times Square in New York, and Central Railway Station and Marriott Hotel in Warsaw. From January 30 onwards, Galaxy fans in London and Seoul will also have the opportunity to see the stunning displays in person at Piccadilly Circus and COEX respectively.

 

How will Samsung change the shape of mobile technology’s future? You’ll just have to wait until Galaxy Unpacked 2020 to find out. In the meantime, scroll down to see if you can glean any more clues from the film and photos below.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy billboards make their debut at Place de la Concorde in Paris

 

Samsung’s bold message appears on the exterior of Duomo di Milano in Milan

 

Galaxy billboards light up the iconic Times Square in New York

 

Callao Square in Madrid hosts Samsung’s latest OOH campaign



* This article was originally published here

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Samsung Electronics Unveils 2020 QLED 8K TV at CES

Samsung Electronics introduced today its next-generation QLED 8K line at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, offering a glimpse into the future of display technology. It combines cutting-edge innovations that make the viewing experience more immersive with connected features that make consumer lifestyles more integrated to deliver the ultimate home entertainment experience.

 

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup provides consumers with an unprecedented viewing experience and unparalleled smart home integration. It leverages the power of enhanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to improve audio, video and smart capabilities. Plus, it offers a range of smart features powered by Tizen, making it easier than ever for consumers to use voice commands and access new features like Tap View, Digital Butler and Samsung Health.

 

The ultimate expression of these different innovation is the new, flagship Q950TS QLED 8K TV, which is the first TV in the industry to feature surround sound audio, true-to-life 8K resolution and a stunning, ultra-thin form factor.

 

“8K resolution has the potential to transform our industry. Screens over 75” are the fastest growing segment in the market, and that segment is where 8K resolution matters the most,” said Joe Stinziano, Head of Consumer Electronics Business at Samsung Electronics America. “Our 2020 8K lineup demonstrates the power of this potential. Its unprecedented immersive capabilities and unparalleled smart features empower consumers to pursue their passions more simply and more comprehensively than ever before.”

 

 

Reinventing TV Design

The Q950 practically eliminates the bezel around the display to create a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 99 percent, the largest in the market. When watching from about ten or fifteen feet away, consumers experience a stunning Infinity Screen effect where the bezels seem to disappear. The result is an even more immersive viewing experience that eliminates the boundaries between the TV and its surroundings.

 

In addition, the Q950 is only 15 millimeters thin across the entire display. In combination with a completely flat black panel, the Q950 can lay flush against the wall or create a striking silhouette when placed on a media stand.

 

 

Redefining Picture Quality

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup reflects Samsung’s commitment to leading the industry in the implementation, adoption, and playback of 8K resolutions. Every model in the lineup will meet the requirements of the 8K Association’s Certified Test Specifications as well as the CTA 8K Ultra HD Display Definition.

 

At the same time, the QLED 8K lineup is among the first in the industry to support the playback of native 8K content. In 2020, consumers will be able to enjoy and stream AV1 codec videos filmed in 8K on QLED 8K TVs. All Samsung TVs in the 2020 8K line will ship with this capability built-in.

 

And, Samsung is working with partners like YouTube to create pathways for streaming native 8K content.

 

In addition to building out the 8K ecosystem across the industry, the QLED 8K lineup helps consumers to experience the power of 8K resolution even when they are watching lower resolution content. Based on powerful Samsung semiconductor technology, the Q950’s next-generation Quantum Processor 8K features improved AI upscaling capabilities that use machine learning to analyze and identify the characteristics of individual pixels. It then restores different elements of the image to create a pristine 8K picture, regardless of the content source.

 

The Q950 also leverages the power of AI to ensure that nothing distracts viewers from their content. While traditional TV sensors can only adjust screen brightness based on the ambient light within the room, Adaptive Picture accounts for the distribution of light within the particular scene, ensuring that the TV can maintain a clear picture in bright rooms while still maintaining contrast.

 

Another common issue for consumers streaming content is the speed of their internet connection. AI ScaleNet ensures a smooth streaming connection by optimizing the available network bandwidth. It compresses content as it leaves the content provider and then restores it after it reaches the TV to effectively cut in half the bandwidth needed for consumers to stream content. Samsung Electronics is continuing to work with Amazon on this feature, utilizing AI ScaleNet from standard definition to 4K in Prime Video.

 

 

Reinvigorating Sound Performance

Since audio as important as video when it comes to an immersive streaming experience, the Q950 delivers some of the best TV audio on the market. It features speakers on every side of the display, as well as sub-woofers in the back. When combined with Object Tracking Sound+, which uses AI-based software to match the movement of audio sound with the movement of objects on the screen, the Q950 can deliver crisp and clear 5.1 channel surround-sound.

 

The Q950 can also adjust the volume of dialogue in response to common sounds like a blender or vacuum cleaner. Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) helps the 40% of U.S. consumers who say that these sounds tend to distract them while they’re watching TV by detecting the these noises and automatically enhancing voice clarity.

 

Finally, the Q950 is uniquely capable of using its built-in speakers as an additional audio channel when connected to a 2020 Q Series soundbar like the Q800, a 2020 CES Best of Innovation honoree. Q-Symphony pairs the audio from both devices together to create a dynamic and multi-dimensional soundscape.

 

 

Reinventing the Viewing Experience

Consumers today have access to—and are consuming—more streaming content than ever before. That’s why the 2020 QLED 8K TV line offers unique features that help consumers to better enjoy their content and interact with their different devices.

 

In 2020, Bixby, the Samsung’s AI assistant, is getting even smarter. Consumers can use their TV to change the mood of a room. For example, if they tell Bixby to create a calm atmosphere, the TV will then display a relaxing backdrop on the screen. In addition, Samsung will offer multiple voice assistant options in order to provide consumers a choice by integrating Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant into Samsung’s 2020 QLED 8K line. Now users will enjoy easier access to the content they love, with expanded smart home and TV control capabilities.

 

The Q950 features a new and improved Universal Guide that uses AI-based algorithms to analyze the type of content that consumers watch, as well as the services and TV channels that they tend to use, to offer recommendations uniquely customized to their specific habits and tastes.

 

Through Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free smart TV video service, consumers can easily access new content, even if they have cut the cord. With just an internet connection, consumers can instantly access news, sports, entertainment, and more—with new options joining all the time. There are currently nearly 100 channels on Samsung TV Plus, including CBSN (CBS’s 24/7 live digital news channel), Yahoo Finance, Lively Place (from A&E Networks), Bon Appétit, VEVO, Outside TV+, and much more.

 

 

Reimagining Connected Living

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup accounts for the evolving ways in which consumers use screens today through innovative new features that integrate into modern lifestyles.

 

Because four out of every five people do not get enough regular exercise, Samsung has developed a fitness and wellness solution designed to fit around consumers’ hectic schedules. The Q950 can serve as the central hub for fitness and mindfulness within the home through the launch of Samsung Health on TV. Through Samsung Health on the Q950, consumers will be able to see their activities, track their progress, and pursue shared fitness goals with the entire family. Plus, they will have access to free and exclusive content from leading partners, including Calm, Fitplan, Jillian Michaels, Echelon, obé fitness, and barre3 and more.

 

In addition, more consumers are using their mobile devices while watching content on their TVs, even though it can be difficult to see everything happening on both devices. Multi-View ensures that these consumers won’t miss a thing on either screen by projecting the screen of the consumer’s mobile device onto the TV alongside a separate window for their TV content. With 14 different layouts, users can customize their viewing experience, from side-by-side viewing to picture-in-picture viewing along with several other options.

 

To create an even more streamlined experience for consumers, the Q950 also offers novel ways of mirroring your mobile device and controlling your home devices. Tap View empowers consumers to mirror their phone screens to the TV just by touching the two devices together. And with Digital Butler, consumer can control more devices than ever before by using infrared technology to detect and control non-IoT devices within the home.



* This article was originally published here

Monday, January 27, 2020

The HDR10+ Ecosystem Makes A Major Leap Forward with Expanded Support

HDR10+ Technologies, LLC, a joint venture of 20th Century Fox, Panasonic Corporation and Samsung Electronics reported today that the total number of adopters has increased to 94. New partners, such as VIZIO and GooglePlay have added support of HDR10+ on their products. The organization also announced new advances to the HDR10+ Logo and Certification program, including specification updates to accommodate DisplayPort and AV1.

 

HDR10+ is an enhanced version of HDR10 that leverages dynamic metadata to maximize the black level and peak brightness of every scene and frame on displays. The result is an image that more closely represents the original creative intent of directors. The HDR10+ Technologies Certification and Logo program makes it easy for consumers to find devices, content and services that deliver this high quality HDR viewing experience.

 

With VIZIO now adding support for HDR10+ technology to their UHD TV lineup, reach of HDR10+ expands notably. “VIZIO is committed to delivering the best entertainment experience to the consumer, regardless of the format,” said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. “Adding HDR10+ capability to the roster of HDR signals we already support means our customers will have the best viewing experience possible when they play HDR content on their VIZIO SmartCast TV.”

 

GooglePlay Movies & TV, a major UHD OTT distributor, will support HDR10+ for their UHD titles. Consumers will be able to enjoy a superior UHD experience with content from major Studios in 2020. The HDR10+ UHD Blu-ray slate continues to grow with titles available in HDR10+ such as, “X-Men:Dark Phoenix” from 20th Century Fox, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” from Universal, and “IT: Chapter Two” from Warner Bros.. HDR10+ content mastering is currently supported by major post production companies like Deluxe, Giant Interactive and Pixelogic.

 

In addition, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme and Xiaomi have also announced support of HDR10+ on their mobile devices. Consumers are able to enjoy their favorite shows and movies in HDR10+ as well as capture HDR10+ content with camera then share through YouTube. Viewers are also able to enjoy HDR10+ video across a range of compatible mobile devices and TVs.

 

Support of HDR10+ also includes AV Receivers to enhance the home theater viewing environment from brands such as Onkyo and Pioneer. “We welcome that the HDR10+ feature is expanded to support AV Receiver.” said Kenji Miyagi, President of Onkyo & Pioneer. “We plan to support HDR10+ on our future products, which we believe helps consumers enjoy a premium experience.”

 

The HDR10+ Logo and Certification program has expanded support for even more next generation technologies. Announced at IFA, 8K display certification is now available for HDR10+, which brings the technology to even greater display resolutions and includes high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1. In addition, the HDR10+ specification has added DisplayPort connectivity.

 

Finally, The Alliance for Open Media has published an Implementation Note for HDR10+ support with the AV1 encoding standard. Demonstrations of 8K AV1 HDR10+ content are available at Samsung booth 15006 at CES 2020.

 

Companies can learn more about the HDR10+ license and logo program, including whitepaper, final specifications and adopter agreements at http://www.hdr10plus.org.

 

 

About HDR10+ Technologies, LLC

HDR10+ Technologies, LLC is the company founded by Twentieth Century Fox HDR10+, LLC, Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and providing the license of its HDR10+ specifications to source provider, display manufacturer, SoC vendor, content company and tool vendor. To learn more about the HDR10+ Technologies, LLC, please visit: www.hdr10plus.org/

 

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray™, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.

 

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 582 subsidiaries and 87 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 8.003 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2019. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.



* This article was originally published here

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Samsung Electronics Declares “Age of Experience” at CES 2020

Samsung Electronics announced the “Age of Experience” at the opening keynote at CES. As the featured keynote speaker, Samsung Consumer Electronics President and CEO H.S. Kim heralded a decade of human-centric innovation that seamlessly combines hardware and software to create personalized experiences that make life more convenient, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.

 

The Age of Experience will transform how we care for ourselves and our family, how we can customize our homes to meet our individual needs, and how we can build safer, more sustainable intelligent cities. By showcasing its latest advances in intelligent robotics, AI, 5G and edge computing, Samsung offered a glimpse into the not-so-distant future in which these technologies will come together to offer richer, more adaptive experiences for consumers.

 

“In the Age of Experience, we need to re-think the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles,” said H.S. Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “What makes Samsung’s approach unique is the fact that we have a very clear philosophy built around human-centered innovation. We build and create to solve problems and enhance people’s lives.”

 

 

 

The Next Level of Personal Care

At the core of Samsung’s human-centered vision is personalized care, enhancing the health and well-being of consumers by satisfying their individual needs. During his opening remarks, H.S. Kim unveiled Samsung’s vision of robots as ‘life companions,’ and introduced Ballie, a small, rolling robot that understands you, supports you, and reacts to your needs to be actively helpful around the house.

 

Sebastian Seung, Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist at Samsung Electronics elaborated on Ballie, explaining that its On-Device AI capabilities enable it to be a fitness assistant and a mobile interface that seeks solutions for people’s changing needs. It does all this while maintaining stringent data protection and privacy standards.

 

“We believe AI is the future of personalized care,” stated Dr. Seung. “We see on-device AI as central to truly personalized experiences. On-device AI puts you in control of your information and protects your privacy, while still delivering the power of personalization.”

 

Samsung is also showcasing advanced and personalized health solutions. For example, the company has collaborated with Kaiser Permanente to develop a home-based, virtual cardiac rehabilitation solution that pairs a Samsung smartwatch with a smartphone via Bluetooth. Samsung’s HeartWise application sends reminders to the patient to exercise, collects activity data, and continuously displays the patient’s heart rate during workouts. This data is automatically uploaded via the smartphone to the patient’s chart so that clinicians, case managers and physical therapists can track the patient’s progress and engage with them accordingly.

 

The program enables users to partake in cardiac rehabilitation at home without taking time out of their everyday lives to travel to a hospital or medical clinic. The positive results of the home-based cardiac rehabilitation program were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst last year. Going forward, Samsung will continue to develop human-centric healthcare solutions that cater to the unique needs of the individuals who rely on them.

 

 

A Home Tailored to You

Samsung also offered a peek into the future home. Federico Casalegno, Chief Design Innovation Officer of Samsung Design Innovation Center, stated that the home will offer unique, immersive experiences with cutting-edge innovations like AI, sensors and data analysis: “As a living organism, the intelligent home will be a deeply personal space, tailoring experiences for each of us, according to our personal needs.”

 

Dr. Casalegno highlighted how spatial boundaries of the physical and digital worlds are dissolving, transforming living spaces into bespoke experience-spaces, like an art gallery, yoga studio or other forms of imaginable space. Such blurring of the two realms, according to Dr. Casalegno, is what will transform the home in the next decade.

 

He led the first-ever immersive demonstration involving Samsung’s GEMS (Gait Enhancing & Motivating System) technology. The demonstration showed how consumers can use AR glasses to work out with a virtual personal trainer, climb a mountain or walk underwater, from the comfort of their living room, while GEMS aggregated and analyzed results to give personalized action recommendations.

 

Samsung also showed how a room can be transformed with a screen like its MicroLED display, a convergence of software, AI, IoT and hardware. “A screen is not a product – it’s your window to the world, allowing you to instantly connect to your loved ones and friends as if they are in the same room,” said Dr. Casalegno, emphasizing that smart rooms can provide boundless experiences. “People can see and experience almost everything in the world and even the unknown world through the screen.”

 

Samsung also discussed the evolution of the modern culinary journey where appliances become cooking partners – a personal chef, nutritionist, and shopping assistant rolled into one. Intelligent and innovative technology can customize the entire food experience for consumers—from thoughtful recipe suggestions and meal planning tailored to personal preferences and what’s on-hand, to seamless grocery shopping, delivery and cooking. The company also highlighted a growing station for garden produce at home, and Bot Chef, a robotic food preparation assistant.

 

 

Safer and More Sustainable Urban Life in Smart Cities

Pointing to increasing global urbanization, Samsung outlined its smart cities vision, where intelligent systems enabled by smart devices, platforms and data,will make city life much safer and easier. Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, said, “We have the tools and the knowledge to create intelligent systems that make living in the city more engaging, safe, and efficient – so that our children, and their children after that can love living in their cities as much as so many of us do today.” She added, “Smart cities that utilize AI, IoT and 5G will transform how we interact with the surrounding environment in ways that maximize convenience and enjoyment”.

 

With IoT technology expanding its reach beyond the home to all types of buildings, Samsung’s core vision lies in saving energy, cutting down emissions and helping to achieve sustainability as populations grow.

 

Smart buildings will also make life more connected and convenient. For example, smart building residents will be able to call elevators, turn lights off, manage deliveries or check for parking spots with a simple swipe or voice command. Intelligent appliances installed in smart buildings will request repairs and address problems before residents even notice the issue.

 

In realizing the goal of creating a smart city with smart buildings, Samsung emphasized the importance of open collaboration. The company is working towards building partnerships with builders and property managers like Greystar Real Estate Partners, a leading U.S.-based global real estate developer, with which it will devise smart building solutions. “With smart buildings, the residents’ experience will get smarter, more efficient, more effective, so they utilize less energy,” said Bob Faith, Chairman and CEO of Greystar. “Samsung has the ability to bring all the technologies together and that convergence of the technologies in one place is really critical.”

 

Samsung also demonstrated how the combination of 5G, edge computing and AI will transform the urban transportation experience. Becher shared the company’s vision to lead the new era of vehicles, with 5G technology enabling Vehicle-to-Everything communication, which will seamlessly connect cars to the rest of the city.

 

Becher added that smart cities combined with 5G will be able to provide experiences unimaginable a few years ago to communities. She noted, “Faster and easier digital connection with each other will strengthen our sense of community and create entirely new forms of interaction.”

 

 

Building A Better Place for All

Concluding his 2020 CES keynote address, H.S. Kim stressed that the company is focused on using technology to create a better place for all. He highlighted three key areas of importance for the company going forward: security and privacy, technology for good, and citizenship.

 

Kim made clear that as an industry leader, the company’s commitment to data security and personal privacy will not waver, and that the protection of security and privacy will be a top priority as technology advances. He stated that the most important thing is putting people in control over their information, “Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you.”

 

He further emphasized that Samsung Knox, the company’s defense-grade security platform, will continue to expand to protect a growing array of Samsung’s devices—from mobile and TVs to home appliances and more. “We will further ensure transparent data management and transfer by advancing our data protection efforts with on-device AI, edge computing, and blockchain technology.”

 

Samsung also showcased how it is innovating for good, with technologies like Relúmĭno, which can help the visually-impaired see; IGNIS, a tool that helps firefighters make their jobs safer; and GEMS that helps the elderly and disabled to move.

 

Samsung also underscored a key pillar of its CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus program in 2020. Leveraging the success of the many educational programs from the last decade, Samsung Innovation Campus provides the next generation with training on the latest AI, IoT, and cloud technologies. Samsung said the campus has educated more than 20,000 students from 13 countries since its launch in 2019 and will double in size this year.

 

By providing education for future generations, Samsung is furthering its philosophy that technology’s purpose is to solve social problems and empower people to achieve more to make a better world.

 

For more information about the details disclosed at CES 2020, including photos and videos, please visit news.samsung.com. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center and will be open from January 7 10:00 a,m. till January 10 4:00 p.m, 2020.



* This article was originally published here

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Recapping the Biggest Announcements and Reveals From Samsung’s CES 2020 Keynote

CES 2020 may have only just begun, but Samsung Electronics has already made one thing abundantly clear: this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will be one for the ages. “The Age of Experience,” that is.

 

Samsung kicked off the first CES of a brand-new decade by announcing the beginning of a new era of technology. Over the course of a riveting keynote – led by HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics – the company introduced a wide range of innovations designed specifically for this new era. With these technologies, the speakers explained, Samsung hopes to enhance our daily lives, homes and cities with more seamless and meaningful experiences – and in doing so, help create a better world for us all.

 

Follow along as we walk you through the biggest moments from Samsung’s unforgettable event.

 

 

Welcome to the “Age of Experience”

 

Addressing the tech world and consumers around the globe from the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Kim kicked off the keynote by heralding the beginning of a new age.

 

The Age of Experience, Kim began, is one that will “delight … redefine … and bring us closer together.” He went on to describe how consumers are increasingly prioritizing experiences over products, and “looking to buy convenience, peace of mind and enjoyment.” The Age of Experience is a product of this shift – an age in which increasingly innovative products foster seamless experiences and memorable moments. “At the center is us,” said Kim. “People. The way we interact with our world is what drives this evolution.”

 

“This is Samsung’s mission,” Kim continued, “to create unforgettable moments that make your lives better and make a difference for humanity.”

 

 

Introducing New Robotic Life Companions

 

To illustrate how Samsung is working to deliver on that mission, Kim spotlighted innovations that demonstrate “the next level of personalized interaction.”

 

One of the most exciting products of Samsung’s human-centric approach to innovation, he explained, involves vision to create robots that act as personal life companions. “Intelligent robots that live by your side and react to your needs every day,” Kim explained. “Robots that know you, support you, and take care of you, so you can focus on what really matters.”

 

 

Say Hello to Ballie

 

Next, Kim invited a very special guest to the stage – the initial embodiment of Samsung’s ‘robotic companion’ vision, Ballie. After the introduction, Kim treated the crowd to a demonstration of what the clever little guy can do, which includes everything from helping users exercise and manage their smart devices, to recording and storing special moments.

 

 

 

Offering More Personalized Care with Samsung Health

 

Afterward, Kim yielded the stage to Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist of Samsung Research, Sebastian Seung, who introduced enhancements to Samsung Health that leverage AI to offer users more personalized care. After outlining the enhancements, which he described as “the next evolution of the wellness experience,” Seung took a moment to meditate and work on his yoga posture using the Samsung Health app on his Galaxy Watch.

 

Next, Seung discussed Samsung’s efforts to revolutionize digital healthcare by partnering with industry leaders like Kaiser Permanente. To offer the audience more details on the partnership, Seung welcomed the Chief Innovation Officer of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Dr. Tadashi Ted Funahashi, who introduced one of the most exciting products of the collaboration: HeartWise, a convenient, home-based cardiac rehab program created to help patients recovering from heart surgery.

 

 

Trek the Himalayas From Home: AR Fitness with GEMS

 

Turning the crowd’s attention to innovations that will transform living spaces in the Age of Experience – blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital realms, and reshaping the home into “a living organism” – Federico Casalegno, Senior Vice President and Chief Design Innovation Officer of the Samsung Design Innovation Center, and Designer Chandni Dheer treated the audience to the first demonstration of Samsung’s GEMS technology. Short for ‘Gait Enhancing & Motivating System,’ GEMS pairs with AR glasses and a Galaxy smartwatch to create completely customized fitness experiences – transforming your home into your own personal workout studio.

 

 

Step Into the Smart Home of the Future

 

Within the smart home, the kitchen’s transformation will be especially dramatic. “Your kitchen appliances will be your cooking partners like a personal chef, a nutritionist, and a shopping assistant, all in one,” Casalegno explained. The Family Hub refrigerator will be able to order ingredients online as it prepares “intelligent food playlists” for you, while Samsung’s new, self-contained growing station “puts garden-fresh produce on your table every night,” and Bot Chef provides an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.

 

 

Casalegno went on to describe how the living room of the new smart home is set to become “an actual community where we interact with people around the world.” Expansive, 5G-enabled displays in this next-level living room will become “windows to the world,” connecting loved ones as if they were in the same room. Users will be able to play games so realistically that it will feel like they’re “all together on the field,” while watching the game’s YouTube channel and video chatting with other players at the same time, all on a single, large display. 

 

“The potential to bring outside experiences into the home is literally endless,” Casalegno concluded, “and we are just beginning.” 

 

A Peek at the Safer, More Convenient City of the Future

 

Next, Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, laid out an inspiring vision for cities in the Age of Experience. In a smart city, she explained, smart buildings will “anticipate and adjust to your needs,” and will be designed with sustainability in mind, too, “doing much more while producing lower emissions.” Becher also outlined how Samsung is partnering with leading global real estate developers like Greystar to develop smart buildings, and highlighted an example in Seoul where residents can “call an elevator, turn out the lights, manage their package deliveries, or even find their parking spot with a simple swipe or voice command.” 

 

 

Afterward, Becher explained how the in-vehicle experience is transforming in terms of both convenience and safety. To illustrate this point, she described a driver getting stuck in traffic and their vehicle communicating with their other devices to adjust to the delay. She also discussed how these intelligent vehicles can sense “beyond the driver’s line of sight” to detect danger and minimize collisions, and how the city of the future will allow us to connect in “entirely new and valuable ways, as the digital world merges with physical space in extended reality experiences.”

 

 

Data Security: One Thing Samsung Will Never Compromise On

 

Before closing out the keynote, Kim took a moment to reaffirm Samsung’s commitment to a critically important issue both now and going forward: data security. “As an industry leader,” he began, “our commitment to data security will never waver.” Describing data security as fundamental in the Age of Experience, Kim reiterated Samsung’s pledge to safeguard users’ privacy by securely managing their data from the moment they provide it until its disposal.

 

Most importantly, he emphasized, the company is committed to “giving you control over your information. To that end, Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you, [and] we will stand by this promise no matter what.”

 

 

Creating a Better Place for All

 

Kim followed up that pledge by reaffirming another commitment that has guided Samsung’s innovation for years – a commitment to using technology to do good. “We have always believed that the benefits of technology must be available to all,” said Kim, describing innovations like Relúmĭno, which was created to help the visually impaired see more clearly, GEMS, which helps the elderly and disabled move more comfortably, and IGNIS firefighters save lives and stay safe while doing so, as products of this commitment.

 

Kim also underscored a key pillar of Samsung’s CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus. Building on the success of the many educational programs that the company has run over the last decade, the Samsung Innovation Campus offers young people training on the latest AI, IoT and cloud technologies.

 

Describing the campus as “core to our CSR vision,” Kim proudly revealed that the program has reached 20,000 students in 13 countries since its launch in 2019, and will double in size this year. By equipping future generations with the skills they’ll need to meet tomorrow’s demands, Samsung hopes to empower young people to achieve more and create a better world.

 



* This article was originally published here

Friday, January 24, 2020

Samsung Expands Leadership in Home Appliances with Smart, New Products Designed Around You

Samsung, the number-one selling brand of major appliances in America,1 is strengthening its broad, deep portfolio with the launch of innovative new products at the 2020 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. A new premium slide-in range line, first-ever side-by-side Family Hub™ refrigerator, and a new level of clothing care with AirDresser™ offer the intelligent control and pioneering design that today’s customers have come to expect from Samsung.

 

“Technology and innovation are in our DNA at Samsung. We listen carefully to the things that consumers tell us they want for their modern, connected homes,” said John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics America. “As we designed these new products, we considered every single detail—from color to user experience—in order to ensure we’re offering families innovations that make their daily lives more convenient, more efficient, and more meaningful.”

 

Samsung has become the #1 home appliance brand because it continues to innovate with premium appliances that complement the way we live today. Each of these new appliances can be customized to fit users’ spaces and match their lifestyles.

 

 

New Slide-in Ranges with Intelligent Controls  

In just a few short years, Samsung has become a leader in cooking innovation in the U.S.2 by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, introducing innovative new technologies, and offering design and performance solutions that make the time people spend in the kitchen more efficient.

 

Samsung is making further progress in time efficiency with a new lineup of slide-in ranges that make cooking more convenient. The new ranges offer a reimagined user experience that simplifies your cooking and brings out your full potential as a home chef. Certain models of the slide-in ranges can be controlled with popular voice assistants, which you can instruct to preheat the oven while you’re mixing ingredients for a meal.3 The ranges also learn your preferences and cooking habits—the more you use it, the better it understands your needs. So, if you frequently set your oven to a certain temperature to bake your family’s favorite cookies, it will suggest that temperature first when you preheat your oven.

 

The slide-in ranges’ simple, clean lines and elegant design lends a built-in look to your kitchen, and its easy installation means you don’t have to go through a full remodeling project. In order to ensure it blends harmoniously with the rest of your kitchen décor, you can choose from black stainless, stainless, or the new Tuscan stainless models. And, with a redesigned control panel and minimal buttons, the slide-in ranges’ simple, intuitive interface presents only the information you need while cooking. Its fingerprint-resistant exterior is easy to keep clean, and its ergonomically designed knob gives you better grip and control.

 

The slide-in ranges offer you a healthier way to cook, with air frying capabilities, and the precision cooking that home chefs need. With up to 23K BTU Dual Power burners—the highest in the category—you have the versatility to quickly boil water or precisely melt chocolate at the desired temperature.

 

The slide-in ranges bring you the peace of mind that you would expect at home. Because they’re connected, you can remotely monitor and adjust cooking times or temperatures from your smartphone, even when you’re in the family room instead of the kitchen. The ranges also give you the ability to search for recipes through the SmartThings app and send your selected recipe’s cooking mode directly to your oven to streamline meal prep.

 

The slide-in range lineup offers an option for every family’s needs. The lineup includes gas, electric, induction, and dual fuel models, including Samsung’s FlexDuo™ feature, which allows you to choose between having one oven or two.

 

 

A Family Hub for Everyone

Samsung is leading the U.S. market as the #1 brand in refrigeration,4 and the Family Hub, which reimagined the form and function of the refrigerator, is the primary reason why. With every new generation of Family Hub, Samsung has introduced new innovations—and new models—that bring families closer together, simplify their meal planning, and give them more control over their smart homes.

 

Now, there is truly a Family Hub for everyone with the new stylish side-by-side refrigerator. Its modern form and premium built-in look—as well as its elegant flat doors, minimal dispenser, and recessed handles—blend seamlessly with your existing kitchen appliances and cabinetry. Whether you choose a black stainless or stainless model, it will come with a fingerprint-resistant finish that’s easy to keep clean.

 

Each model has a redesigned interior, with large capacity designed to fit more groceries. And those groceries will stay fresher for longer, because, with All-Around cooling technology, multiple vents throughout the interior keep food evenly cooled and fresh. And you’ll be able to see everything clearly, with bright LED lights that beautifully illuminate the interior of your refrigerator. Its high-capacity icemaker saves shelf space for your frozen items because of its minimal in-door design.

 

Family Hub brings families closer together and streamlines communication. It helps you create your own culture of sharing through the Family Board—a digital bulletin board where everyone can easily stick notes, photos, or videos they want to share on display. With View Inside, you can view what’s inside your fridge anywhere, anytime. Family Hub also offers enhanced Smart View, providing a more seamless screen mirroring experience from Galaxy phones and TVs, making it a source of endless entertainment in the kitchen. And with the SmartThings app, Family Hub becomes the remote control for your smart home—letting you instantly connect, monitor, and control all of your smart appliances and Works with SmartThings smart items, including multiple cameras at a single glance.

 

 

A New Standard of Personal Care with AirDresser

Samsung is setting new standards for personal care at home with an easy, convenient, all-in-one solution that helps you care for some of your most valuable investments—your clothing—and transforms a mundane chore into something you no longer have to worry about.

 

AirDresser uses steam technology to smooth out wrinkles, remove odors, and sanitize your clothes, so that they look and feel fresh—and are ready to wear—in just under 48 minutes. AirDresser can even send you alerts when your clothes are ready via the SmartThings app, and you can even remotely monitor, control, and download additional clothing care options through the app.

 

And because it doesn’t require a water line, AirDresser can fit into the spot that is most convenient for you, whether that’s your closet, your bedroom, or any other part of your home.

 

In the first half of the year, Samsung’s new side-by-side refrigerator—available in multiple models, including Family Hub—will be available at major retailers nationwide and online in the U.S, and AirDresser will be available on www.samsung.com. The new slide-in ranges will be available in the second half of the year.

 

All of these innovations are on display at Samsung’s KBIS exhibit, located at Booth C6307 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, from January 21-23. For more information about Samsung’s Builder Solutions, please visit www.samsungbuilder.com.

 

 

1 TraQline, Number 1 market share of large U.S. home appliance from 2016 to current (Q3 2019)

2 TraQline, Number 2 market share of cooking appliances from 2016 to current (Q3 2019)

3 Voice assistants are compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings app; compatible with Android and iOS devices.

4 TraQline, Number 1 market share of refrigeration appliances from 2016 to current (Q4 2019)



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Xue (Steve) Liu from Samsung AI Center Montreal Named IEEE Fellow

Samsung Electronics today announced that Dr. Xue (Steve) Liu of the Samsung AI Center (SAIC) in Montreal has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization.

 

 

“Fellow” is the highest grade awarded by the IEEE, and is conferred by the institute’s Board of Directors when a person demonstrates an outstanding record of accomplishment in any of the IEEE’s fields of interest. The total number of fellows selected in any one year cannot exceed 0.1 percent of the organization’s total voting membership.

 

Dr. Liu is Vice President and Chief Scientist at Samsung’s Montreal AI Center. He develops novel AI solutions for real-world applications like the intelligent automation of 5G networks and has made tremendous contributions to performance and power management advancements in the areas of computing and networking systems.

 

In his work, Dr. Liu applies insights from a wide range of disciplines, including feedback control, optimization, and machine learning, to lead research in the fields of performance and power management of data centers and networked servers. This line of pioneering research, which helps complex systems adapt to highly dynamic workloads and diverse conditions, has influenced many subsequent research efforts in both academia and industry.

 

“I am both honored and humbled to be granted the grade of IEEE Fellow,” said Dr. Liu, “I am grateful to my colleagues and the community members who have recognized my contributions, and will continue to devote myself to the development of the AI technologies that will enable intelligent systems to better complement people’s everyday lives.”

 

Dr. Liu received a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and M.E. in Automatic Control from Tsinghua University in 1996 and 1999 respectively, then completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2006. He has been a professor of Computer Science at McGill University since 2007, and a William Dawson Scholar since 2014. Dr. Liu is a recipient of several awards, including the Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership – Professor from MITACS, the Outstanding Young Computer Science Researcher Award from the Canadian Association of Computer Science, and the Tomlinson Science Award from McGill University.

 

Other members of Samsung Electronics who have been named as IEEE Fellows in the past include: Vice Chairman, CEO and head of the Device Solutions Division Kinam Kim, Executive Vice President and Samsung Research New York AI Center head Daniel Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of the Advanced Communications Research Center Sunghyun Choi, Vice President Jianzhong (Charlie) Zhang of Samsung Research America (SRA), and Fellow Juho Lee of Samsung Research.



* This article was originally published here

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Connected Living, Stylish Designs: Highlights from KBIS 2020

At this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), visitors to the Samsung Electronics booth are getting hands on with the very latest of Samsung’s home appliance solutions.

 

 

Among other design and connectivity-led innovations, booth attendees are learning how they can harness the Smart Recipe app for best-practice cooking with the 30” Slide-in Range, stay on top of their groceries with Family Hub’s automatic cataloging with the View Inside app, and even answer a video call while in the kitchen on the Family Hub’s interactive touchscreen.

 

In the booth’s Connected Living zone, visitors are learning about how Samsung’s leading Internet of Things (IoT) technology has revolutionized the culinary experience by harnessing IoT to develop a multi-device connected smart home ecosystem. From the ability to search for recipes using SmartThings on Samsung’s range products to the diverse range of smart capabilities offered across Samsung’s wide Family Hub portfolio, this dedicated experience zone is showing KBIS visitors the difference a connected kitchen can make.

 

Across the other dedicated zones, visitors are also exploring the full line-up of Samsung household products designed with a wide range of lifestyles, tastes and living situations in mind. KBIS attendees are experiencing first-hand the power of the Samsung connected home, as well as the level of customization available on many leading Samsung appliance products.

 

If you are unable to make it to the Las Vegas Convention Center this year, take a look at the pictures below for an in-depth look at the latest Samsung home appliance devices built with connectivity and lifestyle design at their core.

 

 

Where Design Meets Connectivity: The Connected Living Zone

 

KBIS visitors are invited to explore the full range of features and capabilities of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator through its interactive touchscreen. When a user touches the screen, they are met with a range of versatile features, including meal planning options, Smart View, music streaming and even the ability to check connected device notifications

 

A visitor gets hands-on with the helpful View Inside app on the Family Hub’s interactive touchscreen. Not only can the touchscreen help you keep track of your groceries and home cooking plans, but it also serves as a smart home control hub, calendar and media platform

 

A special board showcases pictures uploaded by KBIS visitors celebrating the latest in the brand’s home appliance innovations

 

A dedicated exhibit introduces KBIS visitors to the full connectivity and convenience of Samsung’s home devices thanks to the power of IoT and Samsung’s SmartThings platform. From accessing doorbell notifications on refrigerators to checking wash cycles on smartphones, the SmartThings IoT Platform zone provides an insight into the future of the smart home

 

 

Innovative Appliances and Interior Trends: The Kitchen Package Zone

As well as being packed full of the latest kitchen innovations, Samsung’s KBIS booth features several example kitchen packages across a range of lifestyle aesthetics

 

 

A dishwasher and an oven fit seamlessly together in one of the exhibit kitchens, finished in this year’s Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue

 

 

 

Thanks to a wide range of customization options available across Samsung’s home appliance range, visitors are sure to find an option that meets their needs as well as their design aesthetic, such as a stylish wood and metal aesthetic (top). Not just practical but also stackable, Samsung’s Wine Cube (middle) and Beauty Cube (bottom) have been designed to fit into any space, as well as storing user’s wine and cosmetic products respectively at optimum temperatures

 

Samsung’s laundry machine range features devices in a range of shapes and dimensions to suit a variety of household sizes. With Samsung’s smaller devices, users can even stack their washer and dryer machines to maximize their space

 

At KBIS, Samsung is showcasing its full refrigerator line-up, including the new side-by-side refrigerator (above). The flat design of its side-by-side doors and simple handles provide a ‘built-in’ look to the refrigerator, which offers 22 cubic feet of interior food storage space and interior walls with reduced thickness thanks to Samsung’s SpaceMax Technology™. Samsung’s Digital Inverter Compressor Technology also ensures a consistent temperature throughout the refrigerator.

 

The Samsung 30” Slide-in Range is able to fit neatly with minimal fuss into any existing kitchen counter formation for maximum convenience thanks to its built-in-esque size and design, along with the simple UX of its operation panel

 

Understanding that users prioritize space in their kitchens, the Samsung 30” Slide-in Range features a new Air Fry mode for quality frying without the worries of high-fat content or oil mess that come with traditional frying – and without the need for a separate device

 

A KBIS visitor explores the different capabilities and smart features of the Samsung 30” Slide-in Range

 

 

Where Premium Functionality Meets Elegance: The Dacor Zone

 

 

Standing right next to the Samsung booth at KBIS is the Dacor booth, which features three kitchen concept zones under the theme of ‘Cook, Cool, Clean and Create.’ In these spaces, leading Samsung appliances have been united for visitors under a coastal theme

 

 

Putting Communication at the Core: The Builder Solutions Zone

 

Samsung’s booth at KBIS 2020 also includes an area informing visitors about Samsung’s US supply chain, extensive service network for builders and Samsung Care. Dedicated Samsung representatives are on hand at the Builder Solutions Zone for consultations and to answer attendee’s questions. “We are honored and excited to be one of the first builders to include a full array of Samsung appliances in every home we sell,” noted attendee Ryan Hays, VP of Purchasing, Touchstone Living Homes

 

Samsung is committed to bringing new kitchen experiences to users through partnership and innovation. Visitors to the company’s KBIS 2020 booth are encouraged to share their impressions of the dedicated zones using the hashtag #BUILDwithSAMSUNG



* This article was originally published here