The Road to 5G: Understanding What’s New with the Next-gen Network

In 2019, 5G came to the world. In 2020, it’s going mainstream, and bringing with it an entirely new mobile experience. With 5G speeds and connectivity, consumers can download feature-length movies in seconds, and stream 8K video in a flash. They can stream crystal-clear video calls and play graphics-rich mobile games without lag. And the best part—this is just the beginning. As 5G technologies continue to evolve, our connections will be stronger, our communications will be faster, and our lives will be more convenient.

 

To understand the full potential of 5G, it’s helpful to take a step back. Here’s a look at how we got here, what 5G looks like today, and what we can expect from 5G in the future.

 

 

Setting the Stage with Non-standalone 5G

When the first 5G networks turned on last year, they represented the beginning of a major transformation in mobile technology. These networks—called non-standalone 5G networks—provided a glimpse of the hyper fast 5G future just around the corner.

 

Non-standalone 5G networks use different radio frequency ranges at the same time. In particular, they use two different 5G frequencies with higher bandwidths for faster throughput, which means more data (like a movie or a TV show) can get to the device far quicker than via a 4G LTE network.

 

The first frequency range overlaps with 4G LTE and is referred to as sub-6GHz. The second, higher-frequency range is referred to as mmWave. While mmWave offers the potential of lightning-fast speeds, sub-6 GHz frequencies can travel farther and penetrate solid objects, such as buildings. As a result, mobile carriers have to balance what they hope to provide to users with the spectrums they have available.

 

 

Non-standalone 5G has been crucial in driving early 5G adoption—but it’s just the first step in the journey.

 

 

Opening the Doors for Broader Coverage with Dynamic Spectrum Sharing

Leveraging existing 4G infrastructure, dynamic spectrum sharing is the driver behind the rapid and expansive growth of 5G coverage. More importantly, it lays the groundwork for truly transformational 5G networks (see the next section) by ensuring that when the 5G core launches, there will already be broad coverage.

 

Traditionally, as networks transitioned from 2G to 3G to 4G, and more spectrum was added to the mobile ecosystem, carriers encountered a problem: they had to wait until enough users had upgraded before they could repurpose old bands for the next-generation technology. Here’s an example: Let’s say they had 40MHz of mid-band spectrum. Until recently, they would have to split it in half, giving 20MHz to 4G LTE and 20MHz to 5G even though, today, there are still many more 4G LTE users than there are 5G users.

 

Dynamic spectrum sharing solves this problem by using algorithms to allow carriers to share spectrum between 4G LTE and 5G devices—and to continually optimize the split as the more customers shift from 4G LTE to 5G.¹ For this reason, dynamic spectrum sharing makes for an easier transition to 5G.

 

 

 

Entering the Next Phase with Standalone 5G

Unlike its non-standalone counterpart, standalone 5G does not use existing 4G LTE infrastructure. Rather, it requires a new architecture to support blazing-fast speeds.

 

This architecture includes a new 5G Core that will act as the heart of the network, as well as a New Radio 5^th Generation Node B, the technology that allows mobile devices to talk to the network. Standalone 5G’s new architecture is even more efficient than its 4G predecessor and will improve data throughput performance up to the edge of the network by leveraging mmWave, as well as low and mid-band frequencies. What’s more, it will allow businesses to leverage the network to create incredible new products and experiences—like 4K livestreams and autonomous vehicles.

 

 

Standalone 5G also improves the bandwidth of the network. It can send data to and from as many as 1 million devices per square kilometer, compared to just 100,000 devices per square kilometer using 4G networks².

 

Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 series represents the next major step for the development of the company’s 5G technology. All three devices in the Galaxy S20 series are the first to feature Standalone (SA) 5G capabilities. From augmented reality to cloud gaming, the best 5G experiences require the best SA 5G technology—and that’s going to be available with the Galaxy S20.

 

As 5G networks evolve, Samsung’s 5G-ready lineup will evolve as well. In the year ahead, Samsung will introduce more 5G products including some that incorporate one-chip solutions, commercialization of the latest 5G releases, 5G global roaming support, and many other cutting-edge 5G features. New 5G technologies are setting the stage for incredible new experiences, and every step of the way, Samsung will be at the forefront, bringing those experiences to consumers around the world.

 

 

¹ Implementation of dynamic spectrum sharing will vary by region and carrier. Check with your mobile service provider for full details.

² Actual performance will vary by region and network conditions.

* This article was originally published here

In Pictures: The Galaxy Z Flip Takes Center Stage at Fashion Weeks Around the World

Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip, has been turning heads around the world at four important dates in the fashion calendar, debuting at New York Fashion Week on February 12 and continuing on to London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.

 

Not only does the Galaxy Z Flip offer users brand-new ways to interact with their smartphones thanks to its unique folding mechanism, its striking design is quickly establishing the Galaxy Z Flip as a must-have stylish accessory.

 

With its sleek silhouette and eye-catching color swatches, there is no better place for the Galaxy Z Flip to introduce itself as a statement-making smartphone than at four global Fashion Weeks.

 

 

New York Fashion Week

On February 12 in New York, Samsung and Thom Browne hosted an exclusive event for stylish Fashion Week attendees to showcase the Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition, a device designed in collaboration with the seminal fashion brand for those who want their smartphone to be as iconic as their style.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Photos by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Samsung Electronics

 

 

London Fashion Week

On February 14 in London, the Galaxy Z Flip made its runway debut during top designer Ashley Williams’ catwalk show. Known for bold, retro designs, Ashley Williams is an up-and-coming designer whose unique concept of self-expression provides the perfect foil to the stylish individuality of the Galaxy Z Flip.

 

Williams’ AW20 collection featured the Galaxy Z Flip alongside a custom-made Galaxy Z Flip microbag and hairclips to showcase how the smartphone is designed to complement any style. The Galaxy Z Flip was also spotted in the front row, as well as backstage, as models and influencers alike looked to document their Fashion Week adventures in style.

 

 

 

 

Milan Fashion Week

On February 20, the Galaxy Z Flip was the guest of honor at a pop-up store launch event at the Milan location of leading fashion retailer 10 Corso Como, where technology and fashion enthusiasts gathered to experience the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition first-hand.

 

 

 

Users can purchase the Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition at the pop-up store, which features a store design concept as seamless as the Galaxy Z Flip’s new form factor and UX design. Visitors to the pop-up have been learning how the smartphone can fit seamlessly into their lifestyles, whatever they may be.

 

 

 

 

Paris Fashion Week

The Galaxy Z Flip is also being featured at a pop-up store event during Paris Fashion Week at the iconic Galeries Lafayette department store on the Champs-Élysées. The pop-up store is set right among some of the world’s most fashionable brands and demonstrates how fashion and technology can meet to produce innovative solutions to suit any lifestyle.

 

* This article was originally published here

Here’s How You Can Watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020, Live

 

The anticipation has been building, but now the wait is almost over – Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020 is just a day away.

 

The event is set to take place on February 11 in San Francisco and will showcase the company’s latest innovative devices that are set to shape the next decade of mobile experiences.

 

If you’re unable to make it to San Francisco in person to learn more about the new additions to the Galaxy lineup, you can still watch the action unfold live by tuning in to any of the links below at 11 a.m. PST.

 

 

Tune in via Samsung’s Official Websites

Visit Samsung Global Newsroom, Samsung Mobile Press or Samsung.com when the event begins.

 

 

Tune in on Facebook

Visit Samsung Newsroom or Samsung Global’s Facebook page when the event begins.

 

 

Tune in on Twitter

Visit Galaxy Unpacked’s Twitter page when the event begins.

 

Be sure to keep track of all the latest news about the next generation of Galaxy devices on Samsung Newsroom’s Galaxy page.

* This article was originally published here

Samsung Showcases Industry-Leading Displays at ISE 2020

Samsung Electronics is pushing the industry another step forward with an expansion of QLED 8K SMART displays, new applications of The Wall and showcasing the new-and-improved Samsung Flip 2 digital flipchart.

 

“Samsung is making tomorrow’s technology a reality with complete display solutions that are more immersive, collaborative and interactive than ever before. ISE is one of the best opportunities for Samsung to showcase advanced commercial applications of our industry-leading displays,” said Hyesung Ha, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to unveil new features and expanded lineups of our digital signage with next-generation technology such as 8K, the new model of The Wall, collaborative displays and more that will provide businesses with opportunities they’ve never had before.”

 

 

QLED 8K SMART Signage Now Operational 24/7

This year at ISE, Samsung will unveil the latest 2020 QLED 8K SMART signage – the world’s first 8K display capable of 24/7 operation.

 

The latest QLED 8K signage (model QPT-8K) features exceptional picture quality. Samsung QLED TVs are known for captivating image presentation, HDR10+ technology and 100 percent color volume, plus perfect color accuracy and 2,000 nit peak brightness. The new signage is designed to be wall-mounted and is available in 65-, 75-, 82- and 98-inch versions perfect for a wide range of business needs.

 

Equipped with the AI Quantum Processor 8K, it has built-in 8K AI upscaling and deep-learning capabilities that can automatically upscale non-8K content to pristine and true-to-life 8K resolution. Some of the display’s latest features provide enhanced functionality for industries, such as healthcare, to take advantage of the true-to-life visual clarity and detail of 8K. With DICOM simulation mode*, healthcare professionals can view grayscale medical images, including X-rays and MRI, for non-diagnostic purposes; thanks to Samsung’s superior display technology, images are seen in exceptional detail and clarity.

 

The display also comes with Samsung’s powerful Tizen 5.5 operating system and supports connectivity with up to four different content sources all of which can be displayed simultaneously in 4K resolution, for a wide range of business use-cases where multi-screens are needed. The new QLED 8K signage is also compatible with Samsung’s latest comprehensive software solution for signage, MagicINFO 8, making each display capable of providing an all-in-one solution for businesses of any size.

 

The new displays will be available globally during the first half of 2020.

 

 

Expanding The Wall Lineup Up To 583” for Commercial Use

Samsung’s innovative use of microLED technology enables brand-new features in digital signage.  Back again this year is one of Samsung’s most talked-about breakthroughs in display technology: the award-winning modular microLED display known as The Wall.

 

Unveiled last year, The Wall Luxury presents an unmatched visual experience with an array of lifestyle features available up to a stunning 292-inch 8K version. Samsung’s The Wall lineup boasts limitless possibilities when it comes to size, resolution or ratio and all the displays are completely bezel-free.

 

Samsung is expanding its lineup for The Wall this year with The Wall for Business. The latest iteration applies industry-leading visual experience for a wide variety of commercial applications from control rooms to broadcast centers, lobbies, design centers and more. The Wall for Business features a wide range of configurable and customizable sizes and ratios from 219- and 292-inch 4K versions, up to 437- and 583-inch 8K versions, the largest ever unveiled. The Wall for Business will be available globally beginning at ISE 2020.

 

 

Samsung Flip 2: Teamwork Simplified

Samsung Flip 2 is an intuitive and easy-to-use digital flipchart with nearly endless utility across corporate, education, creative, retail and beyond. The updated display maintains all the most useful features of the original model, with an enhanced design and new functions to better facilitate collaboration, sharing and creative thinking.

 

To help foster better collaboration for users in different locations, Samsung has partnered with industry leader Cisco Webex, bringing together the innovative Webex Teams and Webex Roomkit Mini solution with Samsung Flip 2 display technology. The Webex on Flip offering, which will be demonstrated onsite at ISE 2020, provides users with a comprehensive suite of features in an integrated experience. Webex on Flip, with an intuitive user experience, allow users to effortlessly transition between flipcharts, meetings, presentations and two-way whiteboarding with just a few simple touches. Built especially for remote collaboration, Webex Teams allows users joining through the platform from any location to contribute and whiteboard on their respective displays simultaneously, facilitating real-time collaboration regardless of where teams are located.

 

Samsung will be located at Amtrium booth #4-S100 inside the RAI, Amsterdam from February 11-14, 2020. For more information about Samsung’s latest SMART signage on display at ISE 2020 please visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/ise2020.

 

*QPT-8K signage should not be used as a medical diagnostic device.

* This article was originally published here

Introducing the Samsung Audio Lab with VP Allan Devantier

Samsung Research America’s Audio Lab is dedicated to developing new audio technology and improving sound quality while leading changes in audio market paradigms. Located in Los Angeles, the R&D lab takes up 18,000 square feet and is equipped with multiple anechoic chambers, listening rooms and other state-of-the-art applied research facilities. Allan Devantier, Vice President and Head of Audio lab, spoke about how it started out, its major contributions to date, and what it is targeting going forward.

 

Allan Devantier, Audio Lab Head, Samsung Research America

 

Devantier started working for Samsung in October of 2013. By January of 2014, Samsung had acquired lab space and recruited four staff members, and by October of that year the staff had grown to number 10 engineers and research scientists and the Audio Lab had been made fully functional. From there, the lab was ready to begin working towards its mandate of ‘taking Samsung’s audio technology to the top of the industry.’

 

Devantier says that “The first product we worked on was the Radiant 360 loudspeaker – it was actually the first mass-market speaker to feature 360-degree sound. We were the industry leader, and now 360-degree speakers have grown very popular in the market.”

 

 

Evolutionary Change

Cut to the present, when Samsung’s LA Audio Lab is staffed by more than 20 people with over 300 collective years of experience in the audio field between them. Eleven members of the team hold Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in audio technology, while eight are both engineers and musicians who continue to play in bands. The lab also collaborates extensively with Samsung’s audio engineering teams in Korea.

 

“Our focus starts at the ear of the listener,” Devantier explains, “then expands out to the listening environment – the transducers (woofers and tweeters), amplifiers, and digital signal processors (DSPs).” And this emphasis has led to a steady stream of important contributions coming out of the lab. Whereas, in 2014, industry publications awarded Samsung’s Soundbar solutions a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five, by 2019 the average score for Samsung Soundbars had been lifted to four-and-a-half stars. What’s more, in 2019 the HW-Q90R premium Soundbar model received a perfect five-star rating from a number of industry publications. In addition to improvements in the pure audio sphere, the Samsung Audio Lab has contributed to remarkable advancements in TV sound quality as well.

 

The Samsung Audio Lab has proven its ability to discern changes in the audio market and act upon them swiftly, as is demonstrated by the nature of its recent innovations. The Q-Symphony solution announced at this year’s CES enables a TV equipped with a Soundbar to provide surround sound that closely reproduces the spatial feeling of original sound fields. Devantier explains that Q-Symphony “uses the top-firing speakers in the TV to improve envelopment and immersion.”

 

Another example of this cutting-edge innovation is Samsung’s OTS (Object Tracking Sound) technology. To improve upon Soundbar technology that allows sound to be delivered in fixed directions, the lab developed TVs that incorporate speakers not just on the bottom and sides of the screen, but in the top left and right sections as well. This allows OTS technology to make use of deep learning that can recognize what kind of content is being displayed on the screen and deliver multichannel sound accordingly. Thus, users can enjoy actual, physical surround sound that is not only immersive but is specifically tailored to whatever they are watching at the time.

 

What’s more, in 2020 Samsung’s Q-Symphony and OTS technologies are coming together to truly maximize the potential of both solutions. While OTS delivers multichannel surround sound through the TV speakers, Q-Symphony makes the TV-speaker-Soundbar combination possible, enabling the TV’s speakers to provide rich, lively surround sound while the Soundbar delivers powerful, absorbing bass.

 

 

Taking Audio into the Future

The inception of AI is set to reshape the audio industry, and Samsung is working to anticipate the changes it will bring about. Asked to outline what he sees as AI’s role in the audio industry, Devantier says, “I think we can use AI to help our loudspeakers play louder, with more perceived bass and less perceived distortion. AI will also help make old recordings sound better and allow our loudspeakers to adapt to different listening environments.”

 

Another way in which AI is empowering future solutions is by enabling features like Adaptive Video Acceleration (AVA). Samsung’s AVA feature makes it possible for the TV to recognize the audiovisual space environment and provide sound that is optimized not only for the content being displayed on the screen, but also for the viewing space that the consumer is in. In 2020, sensors embedded in QLED solutions will make optimized viewing possible, even in rooms with high levels of noise. For instance, if a user is watching something and a member of their family switches a blender on in the adjoining kitchen, the system will adjust to ensure that the dialogue remains audible to the viewer in real-time despite the unexpected peripheral noise.

 

As far as how his lab will contribute to delivering better audio going forward, Devantier reports that it will continue to meet the needs of customers who are looking for “high quality and portable sound” while improving and expanding its OTS technology. “Maybe one day we will develop a loudspeaker that sounds great, plays very loud and is nearly invisible or exceptionally small and portable,” Devantier concludes, “Until that time, we will continue to produce solutions that make incremental improvements to sound quality.

 

 

 

Samsung Audio Lab

* This article was originally published here

Take a Moment to Relax with Galaxy’s New, Nature-Inspired ‘Over the Horizon 2020’

 

In our increasingly plugged-in world, it can be easy to forget to take a moment every now and then to stop and smell the roses. Inspired by the simplicity of time spent outdoors and the calming sounds of nature, Samsung’s latest “Over the Horizon” remix is a fully acoustic version of the company’s signature sound designed to help bring you closer to the beauty of the world around us.

 

With each new generation of Galaxy devices comes a fresh new take on the “Over the Horizon” theme, and at the core of this year’s version is the power of nature itself. In order to capture the harmonious working of the natural world in all its glory, Samsung placed monochords in various natural locations in order to harness the power of nature for music.

 

Powered by the natural force of running water, the monochords operate thanks to a rotor- and pulley-based mechanism. As the mechanism rotates, it triggers the monochords to pluck their respective strings in the correct order. The resulting musical refrain has the unique characteristic of having been played solely by the force of nature.

 

On top of the monochord melody, Samsung also emphasized sounds like running water and chirping birds and kept the use of electronic elements to a minimum in order to help maximize the listener’s connection with the relaxing sounds of nature.

 

To complement the soothing, back-to-nature vibe of this remix, Samsung produced an accompanying video made up of relaxing footage of the natural world in all its glory. From calm woodland groves to awe-inspiring coastal vistas, the video showcases the true beauty of nature as well as the force of it in action as it powers the monochords. Check out the latest remix of “Over the Horizon” along with its tranquil music video above.

* This article was originally published here