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We’ve seen a lot of rumors and reports about the Galaxy J5 (2017) and the Galaxy J7 (2017) over the past few weeks. Samsung is yet to officially launch the new Galaxy J (2017) series. The company has now confirmed the existence of these handsets on the Korean information page for Kids Mode. The information page lists the devices that Kids Mode is compatible with, devices like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 series, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy A series and more. It also lists the Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) even though these handsets haven’t been announced. The Galaxy J3 (2017) is on there as well but it’s probably the version that’s not going to be sold in markets other than the United States. The Galaxy J3 (2017) for the U.S. has model number SM-J327 while the one for EU and other markets will have model number SM-J330 and will feature different specifications. We can also see the Galaxy J7 Pop and J7 Max on the list. Even the Galaxy Note 7 is on there

Earlier today, a number of publications reported that Samsung has released “three new colors” of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in Taiwan — Ice Lake Blue, Smoked Purple Grey, and Quicksand Gold — but it turns out the hues aren’t actually new. Samsung has actually decided to rebrand the Coral Blue, Maple Gold and Orchid Gray color variants of the Galaxy S8  and Galaxy S8+ for the Taiwanese market. It’s unclear why it made the decision to do so, but it’s something it’s done in the past. As Abhijeet pointed out in his recent column , it’s best to keep your color grudges aside when deciding what color Galaxy S8 to pick up. A lot of negative stigmas are attached to the Maple Gold variant, and it’s probably the best of the bunch. What color Galaxy S8 did you opt for? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below. Source

Sprint is running a new contest called Twin 2 Win and it has 16 Galaxy S8 smartphones to give to the winners. Don’t worry, you don’t need a twin sibling in order to participate, the contest is actually about twinning with your pet. You need to share a photo of you and your pet, preferably in matching outfits, with Sprints and it will award those who submit the best pictures with a free Galaxy S8. Content entries can be submitted to Sprint through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The procedure for Facebook is that you head over to the carrier’s page, find the contest post and then leave a comment with your photo and the hashtags #Twin2Win and #Sweepstakes. Twitter users have to follow @Sprint and post a photo on their profile with the same hashtags. Following @Sprint on Instagram is required as well coupled with the hashtags mentioned above. This contest is going to end on May 29 and Sprint will then select two winners randomly every day who will receive the free Galaxy S8 . Winners w

Samsung Electronics has announced that it’s setting up a $445 million fund to help small suppliers. It’s the biggest South Korean company to announce this step after the country’s new President Moon Jae-in said that more needs to be done to protect small businesses in South Korea. President Moon Jae-in took office earlier this month after his predecessor was impeached following a corruption probe that has ensnared Samsung as well . The company is alleged to have paid bribes to win the government’s support. Samsung Electronics vice chairman and heir apparent Lee Jae-yong remains behind bars since he was indicted on multiple charges which include bribery and embezzlement. The company said in a statement that it decided to set up this fund after meeting with suppliers late last year. Samsung explains that the purpose of this fund is to enable small suppliers to borrow cash interest-free for a year so that they can pay their subcontractors promptly. Samsung is going to run this fund unt

Samsung had announced that it won’t discontinue the Galaxy Note lineup  even after the Galaxy Note 7 battery fiasco. The company plans to unveil the  Galaxy Note 8  sometime later this year, but leaks have started flowing in already. A dummy unit of the smartphone was leaked earlier this week, hinting towards an in-screen fingerprint reader. Now, a new video posted on Twitter shows the alleged front glass panel of the Galaxy Note 8. As you can see in the video, the glass panel of the Galaxy Note 8 looks quite similar to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ , albeit slightly larger in size. If this turns out to be true, Samsung’s next flagship phablet will end up looking a lot like the Galaxy S8 and S8+, thanks to its bezel-free Infinity Display. However, you should take this video with a pinch of salt as it can be fake. The Galaxy Note 8 is rumored to feature a 6.3-inch QHD display , a 12MP+13MP dual rear camera setup , and an in-screen fingerprint reader. Note8? pic.twitter.com/aZPsIevLbF — 萌萌

Samsung has released 358 new themes in its Theme Store this week, and we’ve selected twelve of them for you. You can see that a lot of theme developers have started including AOD modes into their new themes, and a bunch of them are Full Color AOD modes. There are three Material themes from Cameron Bunch in this week’s list, and if you’re someone who likes stock Android UI, do check out those themes. Three themes from the Mixed Grace series by Felipe Leite make it to the list as well, and I must admit, they appear very well designed. Other new theme packs that we liked for this week’s Themes Thursday include [Pixome] White Room (AOD), [Viva] Rainbow Candy, [ZEM] Pink Room, [Zen] Romantic London, Balloon Flight Adventure (AOD), and EiD – Run (AOD). Which new themes did you like? [Pixome] White Room (AOD) [Viva] Rainbow Candy [ZEM] Pink Room [Zen] Romantic London Balloon Flight Adventure (AOD) EiD – Run (AOD) Material Black (Android 7+) Material Dark (Android 7+) Mate

We publish a decent amount 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 with every post. But, we think we’ve come up with an ideal solution — a  daily recap . So, without further ado, here’s what went live today: Business Samsung drops plans to sell its home network business Camera Gear 360 (2017) price and release date confirmed for the United States Deals Daily Deal: Save 15% on a pair of Samsung’s Gear Icon X wireless earphones Display Samsung details world’s first 9.1-inch stretchable AMOLED display Firmware News Galaxy A8 (2016) Nougat update release possibly due soon Galaxy J5 (2016) receives April security patch in Europe General Samsung bets big on foundry business, reveals roadmap for 4nm process Samsung Newsroom Mexico is now live Samsung will release the DeX station in Canada tomorrow Phones Samsung explains ho

Berlin-based Chaos Computer Club recently demonstrated how the Galaxy S8′s iris scanner could be tricked . The method involved using a printed infrared image of the human eye attached to a contact lens. That was all they needed to trick the iris scanner into unlocking the device. Iris scanner functionality is still rare on smartphones so it’s a pretty big selling point for the Galaxy S8. However, it’s not ideal to know that a feature that’s meant to protect your phone can be tricked with relative ease. Samsung’s initial response to the matter was meant to assure customers that the iris scanning technology in the Galaxy S8 has been developed through rigorous testing to prevent attempts to compromise its security. It also said that if there was ever a potential vulnerability, it would respond as quickly as possible to fix it. A spokesperson for the company told The Korea Herald today that fooling the Galaxy S8′s iris sensor is “unrealistic,” adding that it’s hard to see that happenin

Amazon has cut the price of Samsung’s Gear Icon X  wireless earphones by 15%, meaning you can currently pick up a pair for just $169.99. What’s great about these earbuds is that they not only bundle rear-time voice feedback for workout progress, but also have 4GB of integrated storage, so you can leave your phone at home and still listen to music. If you like the sound of the Gear Icon X and want to take advantage of the deal, simply hit the Buy Now button below, and if you’re not entirely sold, be sure to check out our comprehensive review. You’ll probably need to hurry though, as Amazon has only assigned a small amount of inventory for this specific promotion, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

We had reported last month that Samsung is planning to launch 32GB storage variant of the Galaxy J7 Prime in India. Now, Samsung has announced that it has launched the 32GB storage variant of not only the Galaxy J7 Prime but also the Galaxy J5 Prime. Earlier, these smartphones were available in the country with just 16GB internal storage. The Galaxy J5 Prime with 32GB internal storage is priced at INR 14,900 (approx. $230) and the Galaxy J7 Prime with 32GB internal storage is priced at INR 16,900 (approx. $260) in India. Both smartphones are available in Black and Gold, and can be purchased through Samsung’s official online store. Both dual-SIM smartphones are compatible with LTE networks.

To coincide with the Galaxy S8′s release in China , Samsung has shared a post on its Newsroom highlighting the different ways it optimized the handset for consumers in the region, which include building a new Calendar application that allows users to simultaneously view the solar and lunar calendar, and introducing the option to purchase additional data in Smart Manager. The firm also launched two exclusive interactive services — the Samsung Assistant application and Yellow Page, a service accessible via a tab in the Messages and Phone application. Both of the tools were designed specifically to help consumers use their Galaxy S8 to do tasks that are traditionally done offline in China, like making a doctor’s appointment. Obviously, Samsung has made a slew of changes to the user interface as well. The Chinese variant of the Galaxy S8, for example, displays all of the applications on the home screen by default, though users have the option to use the standard arrangement, which featu

Samsung SDS , the South Korean chaebol’s IT Solutions arm, was in talks with Ireland-based Allegion to sell off its home network business. However, the company has now announced that it has decided not to go forward with its decision, hinting at failed negotiations. Currently, Samsung Group companies Samsung Electronics (22.58 percent) and Samsung C&T (17.08 percent) as well as Lee Jae-yong (9.20 percent) own a majority of shares in the company. Allegion had showed interest in acquiring Samsung’s home network business thinking about its brand name and sales channel in South Korea’s soaring home security market. The company’s smart door locks business makes up for less than 2 percent (US$143.10 million) of the revenue. Samsung SDS had been trying to sell off less profitable businesses under its umbrella such as logistics and home security amid the ongoing leadership shuffle at Samsung Group.

Samsung Display confirmed a few days back that it was going to unveil the world’s first stretchable OLED display at SID 2017 in Los Angeles. It has presented a paper entitled 9.1-inch stretchable AMOLED display based on LTPS technology at the symposium. The stretchable panel in the future display zone at Samsung Display’s booth saw a great deal of interest from exhibitors at SID 2017. The PI that is formed on this 9.1-inch stretchable AMOLED display is on shrinkable film substrate. The stretchable area is patterned. A multi-touch sensor is integrated simultaneously with the structure in which TFT and OLED are formed on the patterned PI. Samsung’s paper also revealed that stretchable AMOLEDs can be implemented in both convex and concave shapes, up to 12mm in concave shapes. The stretchable display will be usable for a variety of applications, including but not limited to clothing and even human skin as it’s not restricted by shape in any way. Samsung is already the market leader for

Samsung continuously seeks to make a difference in communities across the globe. On May 4, 2017, Samsung Electronics Indonesia teamed up with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to build critical facilities for communities in Rowosari Village, Indonesia.   Samsung has been working closely with HFHI since 2013 and looks forward to continuing its efforts with HFHI to provide assistance to communities across the world. From launching Samsung Solar Powered Internet School in South Africa and Zambia, to building and renovating houses for hundreds of families all around the world, Samsung accomplished a myriad of successful projects its strong partnership with HFHI.     Part of the SamsungCare program, the ‘Building Homes and Community for Hope’ campaign seeks to improve the quality of life through better access to education and local facilities. The campaign saw the construction of a Samsung Smart Library, a community function hall and maintenance and repairs of 31 local residen

Samsung is the world leader in semiconductor technology, and it is set to start the world’s largest semiconductor plan in July . The company was one of the first in the world to bring 14nm and 10nm processes for fabricating smartphone processing chipsets. Now, the company has announced a detailed foundry process technology roadmap, revealing information about 8nm, 7nm, 6nm, 5nm, and 4nm processes. Kinam Kim, President of Samsung Electronics’ Semiconductor Business, detailed the company’s foundry process foundry roadmap at the Samsung Foundry Forum 2017. The 8nm LPP (Low Power Plus) process is claimed to offer the most competitive solution before transitioning to EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) process, offering improved gate density and performance compared to the 10nm LPP process. The 7nm LPP fabrication process from Samsung will be the first to offer EUV lithography solution, and it has been developed in collaboration with Dutch photolithography systems company ASML. The South Korean

Samsung has started pushing out last month’s security maintenance release for the Galaxy J5 (2016) in Europe. The upgrade — J510FNXXU2AQD2 — addresses 49 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in the Android OS and packs 16 additional patches for the firm’s Galaxy-branded smartphones, which include a fix for a weakness that allowed prying eyes to access crash log files. As we’ve come to expect, the update is making the rounds in stages. To see if the OTA is ready for your Galaxy J5 (2016) , all you have to do is open up Settings , then select the Download Updates Manually  from the Software Update section. On the other hand, you can always wait until you receive a push notification instructing you to install the upgrade, but it could take a little longer to arrive.

Following a brief early access phase , Samsung has launched its mobile payment platform — Samsung Pay — in Hong Kong, with support for American Express, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Citibank, Dah Sing Bank, DBS and Standard Chartered. “Less than two years ago, Samsung Pay came to life in Korea with a simple mission: To empower customers with mobile payments that are simple, secure and available almost anywhere,” said Thomas Ko, VP of Samsung Pay. “Today, Samsung Pay is so much more. Our launches in different parts of the world demonstrate governments’ and consumers’ changing attitudes towards progressing to a cashless society.” According to PocketNow , customers in the region will only be able to take advantage of Samsung Pay if they own an NFC-enabled Galaxy device that was released in fall of 2015 or later, which means it isn’t available on the Galaxy S6 and  Galaxy S6 edge . Via Source

Over the past few months, we’ve seen Samsung launch dedicated information hubs for key markets. Samsung announced the launch of Samsung Newsroom Russia just three days ago. It features content in the Russian language targeted towards local media and consumers in Russia. It was the eighth such newsroom that Samsung has launched so far, and it’s adding another one to the list today. The company today launched Samsung Newsroom Mexico, it’s a Spanish-language information hub which will offer readers the latest news and information about the company in that particular language. It will be the official Spanish-language site for the company to share its latest news, recent innovations and services, corporate vision and the various activities that it carries out in different markets. The newsroom will feature a variety of quality content which will include feature articles, high-definition photos and videos, infographics and a dedicated space for live streaming of important Samsung events.

The DeX station is an accessory that Samsung unveiled alongside the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ back in March. It enables these smartphones to power a PC-like experience on an external display for enhanced productivity. The handsets come with productivity apps that have been optimized for DeX. The Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone to come with support for DeX. All this is made possible by the DeX station which features Bluetooth support, an HDMI port, Ethernet port, two USB ports and a USB Type-C port. It powers a desktop-like user interface with multiple windows, a full-size browser with tabs and Android apps. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ may have been released in most markets across the globe but Samsung has made the DeX station available in only a few markets. Samsung Canada has now confirmed that the DeX station for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will be released in the country tomorrow, May 26. It will be priced at $249. The DeX station is great for enhancing the functionality of the d