Android News

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update for the Galaxy J7 (2016) in Europe. It’s a minor update which brings the latest April security patch for the handset. The security patch for the month of April brings fixes for 49 vulnerabilities in Android OS as well as 16 vulnerabilities in Samsung’s own software. Firmware version J710FXXS3AQD1 is now being rolled out for the Galaxy J7 (2016) in Europe, it has already gone live in the Netherlands and will soon go live in other markets across the continent as well. It was only a matter of time before Samsung released the April security patch for the Galaxy J7 (2016) in Europe given that last week it rolled out the patch for this device in India . Since this is a minor update, it doesn’t bring much in the way of new features. Users will have to wait for Android 7.0 Nougat to get their hands on some new features. Samsung hasn’t confirmed when the Galaxy J (2016) series will be updated to Nougat but it’s predictably going to happen at s

YouTube Kids is the first app from Google that has been built from the ground up with kids in mind. The app enables kids to easily find videos on topics that they want to explore while shielding them from the more mature content that’s available on the world’s largest video streaming website. Google launched this app over two years ago and since then it has become a favorite among families around the world with more than 30 billion views and over 8 million weekly active viewers. The app’s reach is now being expanded to more platforms and thus YouTube Kids is available on Samsung Smart TVs in 26 countries where the app has already been launched. All 2013-2017 Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-Ray Players that have access to the Samsung App Store are compatible with the YouTube Kids app. The list of countries where this app has been launched includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Malaysia and more.

Samsung will launch a refurbished variant of the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 in South Korea through three carriers at the end of June, reveals  ET News . It’s believed that 300,000 of the recalled three-to-four million units will go on sale in the region, and will sport a new  3,200mAh battery instead of the 3,500mAh cell found on board its predecessor. Don’t Miss:  [Exclusive] Galaxy Note 8 codename and model number, refurbished Note 7 in development for South Korea While the firm is still negotiating branding and pricing, the publication has reason to believe that the handset will be called the Galaxy Note 7 R (SM-N935) and will carry a price tag of around 700,000 won ($620), approximately 300,000 won ($266) less than the original Galaxy Note 7, which was priced at 989,890 won ($878) when it hit the shelves back in September, 2016.

Responding to a comment over on Twitter, Samsung revealed that the virtual home button on board the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ slowly fades in and out when the Always-On Display mode is activated to prevent burn-in, which was a common concern amongst tech-savvy owners. The folks over at  Galaxy Club  performed a simple test, and found that the button moves ever-so-slightly to prevent it from becoming permanently embedded on the handset’s Infinity Display. They also found that in line with the firm’s range of smartwatches, the clock moves around.

In recent years, distracted drivers – motorists who divert their attention from the road, usually to talk or text on the phone – have become one of the leading causes of road accidents. In response to this growing concern, Samsung Electronics Benelux B.V. has created a new app called In-Traffic Reply , which aims to help drivers reply to messages without taking their focus off the road. A recent PanelWizard* study found that approximately one third of Dutch drivers occasionally use hand-held smartphones while driving a car or riding a bike. Many of the respondents claim that their reason for doing so is related to the social pressure to respond to calls and messages quickly.   The In-Traffic Reply app reduces this pressure by sending automated responses to calls and messages while the owner of the phone is on the road. The app will automatically activate when it detects the user is riding a bike or driving a car through the smartphone’s sensors such as its GPS. Users can choose to

Five months ago we reported on a patent application from Samsung which detailed a Gear VR headset with extended tracking capabilities . It detailed how the headset would not only track its own position but also the movements of the user’s eyes as well as their facial expressions. Employees working in Samsung’s experimental C-Labs division have come up with something similar. At the VRLA Expo 2017 in Los Angeles, they demonstrated an experimental, hands-free virtual reality interface called FaceSense. FaceSense presents an entirely different approach to navigation in virtual reality. It tracks movement in the user’s face. It recognizes and translates the biometric signals in expression changes and translates them into input for navigation. This allows users to maneuver through VR worlds with movements that are intuitive coupled with simple voice commands. The prototype demonstrated at the exhibition was designed for Samsung’s Gear VR headset. The company says that this may one day

It was rumored a couple of months ago that Samsung might offer a violet color option with the Galaxy S8. We even saw leaked images of a purported Galaxy S8 in violet before the flagship was officially announced by Samsung. Violet wasn’t among the color options officially confirmed by Samsung on March 29 but it appears that there may be hope yet for those holding out for this color. Samsung Brazil has listed a Clear Protective Case for the Galaxy S8 on its website. The case is being offered in Black, Silver and Violet colors. It’s not a typo because the color dot is also violet or “Violeta” in the local language. However, clicking on the dot brings up the Orchid Grey model in the photos instead of a Galaxy S8 in violet. So either this is a placeholder or someone over at Samsung Brazil is just trolling people. You should keep your fingers crossed if you’d like to purchase the Galaxy S8 in violet, who knows, Samsung might launch it eventually.

We publish  a ton  of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a  daily recap . Here’s what happened today. Deals Daily Deal: Save 55% on a second-generation Gear VR Phones Galaxy S8 Device Quality Agent error fixed in urgent software update Galaxy S8 wireless charging issue being reported by some users PSA: Some Galaxy S8 firmware might not have ‘quick launch camera’ option Samsung said to be developing display wth four curved sides Samsung’s facial recognition tech not secure enough for mobile payments yet Wemogee is a new communication app from Samsung for people with language disorders 64GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy On Nxt to be launched in India tonight Tips & Tricks Follow these 5 tips to get the most out of your shiny new Galaxy S8 Galaxy S8 Tip: Fol

Samsung today released an “urgent” software update which fixes the Galaxy S8 Device Quality Agent error. You might have noticed this software component error if you’re based in the United States or Canada. Many users who downloaded the day-one software update on the Galaxy S8 in the US and Canada were met with the Device Quality Agent error after every 30 seconds to a minute. The error would inform them that “DQA keeps stopping.” This software component is meant to keep an eye on Wi-Fi quality throughout the device. The only temporary fix available to users involved force closing the Device Quality Agent app or disabling the Wi-Fi. Both solutions weren’t good for those who want to use their Galaxy S8 as their daily driver. No wonder Samsung has rushed this software update via the Galaxy Apps Store to fix the Galaxy S8 Device Quality Agent error. Samsung is also going to release another software update for the Galaxy S8 soon which is going to take care of the reddish tint on display

If you’ve just got your hands on a Galaxy S8 (or Galaxy S8+ , for that matter), we’d recommend following these five tips, which include changing the screen resolution, rearranging the placement of the on-screen buttons and sorting applications in alphabetical order, to get the very most out of it. Adjust the transparency of the Edge panel handle The Edge panel handle that follows you in and out of every application on the Galaxy S8 is a bit of an eye sore, but by opening up  Settings , hitting  Display , selecting  Edge Screen, tapping  Edge Panels , then pressing the three dots at the top and selecting  Handle Settings , you can disguise it. Change the screen resolution By default, the Galaxy S8′s screen resolution is FHD+ (2220 x 1080). However, by navigating into  Settings , followed by  Display , then tapping  Screen Resolution , it can be changed to WQHD+ (2960 x 1440). Although, we should note that toying with the resolution takes a significant toll on battery life.

Can’t launch the camera on your Galaxy S8 or S8+ by double-pressing the power button? You might not be alone. It seems that the quick launch camera option might not be present on some Galaxy S8 and S8+ units. We received review units of the two devices here in India last week, and realized that the feature is missing from both. We’re not sure if this was an issue out of the box or a result of the software update that we downloaded on the first day, but it’s certainly not available anywhere in the phones’ settings. The ability to launch the camera quickly with a double-press of the home button is one of the nicest features Samsung has introduced in its smartphones in the last couple of years, and with the S8 and S8+, the removal of the home button means users have to use the power button. It’s not a feature we would want missing, and here’s hoping Samsung will bring it back soon with a software update. Well, unless it’s deliberate, although we can’t think of a reason – legal or otherwi

The newly released Galaxy S8 and S8+ come with a newer user interface that the company now calls Samsung Experience 8.0. It offers plenty of customization options to users, including various layouts, icon grid settings, theme packs, icon packs, and more. The new app drawer can be accessed by swiping up or down on the home screen as the dedicated app drawer icon isn’t present in the pre-configured layout. However, if you want all your app icons on the home screen,  à la iPhone, you can do that as well. So, here’s how you can place all the app icons on the home screen and remove the dedicated app drawer on your Galaxy S8 and S8+: Step 1: Long press an empty space on your Galaxy S8 or S8+’s home screen and then click on Home Screen Settings. Step 2:  Now click on Home Screen Layout Step 3: Select the Home Screen Only option, and click Apply. Step 4: When a pop-up menu appears, click Apply. Voila! All your app and game icons will be placed on the home screen of your smartphon

If you own a Galaxy S6 , Galaxy S6 edge , Galaxy S7 , Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy Note 5 and have been meaning to make an entrance into the virtual reality market for a while, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can now bag yourself a second-generation model of the Gear VR for just $44.99 (55% off). So what’s different between this particular variant and its successor, the Gear VR (2016). To be honest, not a great deal. Aside from being a little bit more comfortable and sporting some minor cosmetic changes, it’s pretty much the same, making the second-generation Gear VR a pretty solid offering. Like the sound of the second-generation Gear VR and want to pick one up for the reduced price? Hit the  Buy Now  button below. You’ll probably want to hurry though, as at the time of publication Amazon only has seven up for grabs, and they’ll likely be gone within the hour.

Samsung’s new flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ , feature up to five user authentication methods : face recognition, fingerprint, iris, PIN, and pattern. However, only two of them – fingerprint and iris recognition – are being used by Samsung for authenticating Samsung Pay transactions, and there’s a good reason for it. Facial recognition is not secure enough as per experts, and Samsung admits the fact. The South Korean smartphone giant says that facial recognition is only meant to be used as a quick way to unlock the smartphone and it has a lower security level compared to fingerprint and iris recognition methods, so it’s not secure enough for mobile payments yet. This technology first debuted on the Galaxy Nexus (made by Samsung) four years ago, and it was found that it can easily be fooled using an image of a photograph of the user. “ We do not need to use facial recognition for mobile financial transactions because there are already high-level biometric technologies

The newly released Galaxy S8 and S8+ come with a newer interface which also includes a new, Google Pixel-like app drawer. Apart from allowing you open the app drawer by swiping up or down on the home screen, the new launcher also allows hiding apps. Of course, there’s an option to completely secure apps and files using the Secure Folder feature on both these smartphones (similar to the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge ), but if you want to hide apps or games for a short time, hiding apps is a good idea. So, here’s how you can hide apps or games in the Galaxy S8 or S8+’s app launcher: Step 1:  Open the app drawer by swiping up or down from the home screen. Select the options menu by touching the three dots icon situated on the top right corner of the screen. Step 2:  Select Settings. Step 3:  Select the Hide Apps option. Step 4:  You’ll now be shown the entire list of apps that are installed on your phone. Select all the apps or games that you want to hide, and hit Apply. V

After launching the mid-range Galaxy On Nxt in India exclusively through Flipkart six months ago , Samsung is now launching the 64GB variant of the device through the same retailer. The new variant will be available in Black and Gold, and will go on sale midnight today with a price tag of INR 16,900 (around $265). Customers ordering the Galaxy On Nxt 64GB ( SM-G610F ) using Axis Bank’s Buzz credit card would eligible for an additional 5% discount. This new variant of the Galaxy On Nxt features a 5.5-inch 1080p TFT display, a 13-megapixel primary camera with 1080p video recording, an 8-megapixel secondary camera, and a fingerprint sensor. It is equipped with an octa-core Exynos 7870 processor, 3GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a microSD card slot, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s an LTE compatible device with a dual-SIM card slot, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB port, and a 3,300 mAh battery.

It’s not uncommon for a new smartphone to face some teething problems. As Samsung puts the final touches on the update that’s going to address the Galaxy S8 display’s reddish tint issue , many Galaxy S8 owners are complaining about a new issue that has to do with the handset’s wireless charging function. Some Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners are complaining that they are unable to charge their device using Samsung’s Fast Charging pad. Some find that the company’s older charging pads are not working even though the devices are on the Qi standard and should work with these pads. A temporary fix that appears to be working for users involves using a non-Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger with the older pads which will enable them to charge the device at slower speeds. Others just get a notification on their device which says that wireless charging has been paused. An argument can be made that perhaps Samsung is preventing wireless Fast Charging from working on older pads as it wants to limit

Samsung Wemogee was launched earlier this month by Samsung Electronics Italia. It’s the first emoji-based chat application that has been designed to allow people with language disorders like aphasia to more effectively communicate with their friends and family. Samsung mentions that there are more than three million people across the globe living with aphasia. It’s a disorder that causes the loss of language capabilities. Recent studies show that emojis can help people with language disorders communicate more effectively so the company’s Italian division decided to come up with this app. Samsung Wemogee has been developed in collaboration with a team of speech therapists. It functions as a kind of translator between text and emojis. The app has a library of more than 140 phrases that are related to basic needs and emotional expressions. The phrases are then translated into logical sequences of emojis and are divided into six main categories that include everyday life, eating and dri

The Infinity Display on the Galaxy S8 is impressive to say the least. Its sleek curves set it miles apart from the competition. According to a new report out of South Korea, Samsung is now working on a new kind of display panel which will have curves on all four sides, meaning that even the top and bottom edges would be curved. The report mentions that this display panel would allow for a screen-to-body ratio more than 98 percent so the front of the device will essentially be a big slab of glass. The handset would have no top or bottom bezels and would look unlike any other smartphone on the market right now. However, the report does caution that there are some difficulties in the lamination process that have to be eliminated first before we can see these displays in consumer devices. The current lamination process won’t allow the display’s four corners to register the user’s touch thus making them essentially useless. This challenge has to be addressed first before we can have sma