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The key to successful marketing is building your brand and creating a loyal customer base that returns to your store to purchase again. You want consumers to recognize your brand, trust the quality, and anticipate new releases. Building your brand takes time and effort. From designing compelling consumer marketing assets to expanding your customer reach, in this blog series, I offer suggestions to help grow your customer base and ultimately reach your marketing goals. Selling Your Apps Success is generally measured by sales, and knowing how to price your apps can drastically help your revenue. Free vs Paid Offering free apps is a great way to create brand awareness on Galaxy Store. Consumers get to see your style and experience the quality of your apps without purchasing. However, if you intend to generate revenue, you should limit the availability of free apps. At any given time, I would suggest only having one or two apps available for free. These could be "legacy" apps that have been on the market for an extended amount of time. Or, a free app offered for a limited amount of time as part of a marketing campaign. What I would not do, though, is flood the market with freebies. Consumers will grow accustomed to receiving your apps for free and content knowing that they simply do not have to pay for your products. Try and Buy A great way to promote your app is to offer a free trial. Once the trial has expired, users are allowed to purchase and continue using the app. For Theme designers, apps are set by default to be offered on a trial basis. Once 15 minutes have elapsed, users are allowed to pay for the theme. If not, the theme will return to the default UI. For watch face designers, trials can be set within Galaxy Watch Studio. Developers are given the ability to set a trial period from 1 minute to 999 days. You can learn how to add the Try & Buy feature to your watch face designs by reading the blog, "Galaxy Watch Face: Try and Buy". Price There is no magic price to sell your app. Simple apps may be priced cheaper than more complex apps. Popular apps may cost more than lesser-known apps. Newer apps could command a higher price than older apps. However, all apps have value and it is up to you to determine what value your apps have. A few suggestions would be: Don't offer .99 apps. This amount conveys "Cheap", both in price and in quality. Price "new releases" higher, then reduce the price after a certain amount of time. Offer different price ranges to see which sell best. Marketing Info and Resources Additional Reads: Strategies for Success Look for new releases of my blog series, Strategies for Success, where I continue to deep-dive into the many areas that can influence your market growth. Additional topics to include: Brand Names Building Your Fan Base Consumer Trends Selling Your Apps (this post) Samsung Galaxy Store: Tips For Marketing Your Apps Check out my video, Samsung Galaxy Store: Tips For Marketing Your Apps to learn more about creating brands, designing marketing graphics, social media tips, badges, and banner promotions. Marketing Resources Looking for even more info about promoting your apps? Our Marketing Resources page contains helpful information on promoting your apps. You can view lists of relevant hashtags to use on social media, learn more about discounts and coupons, as well as download guidelines and kits to help you get started. Developer Forums Post questions, search for answers, or just see what are the latest topics for discussion. Visiting our developer forum is an excellent way to stay up-to-date on all things related to the Galaxy ecosystem. To see the latest marketing topics, be sure to view the Marketing thread. View the full blog at its source

To start the year with some positive energy, we return to our collaboration with The Art Institute. This time, Samsung Sr. Developer Evangelist Diego Lizarazo Rivera participated in the AiLive interview series. AiLive is a collection of live and pre-recorded shows focused on student enrichment from professional interviews, panel discussions, town-hall meetings, and more. In this video, Diego speaks with AiLive about his career as a developer, the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Store, and shared his experiences working with AI students through the Samsung partnership with The Art Institutes. The Art Institutes The Art Institutes is a system of 8 private schools with a focus on education, student outcomes, and community involvement. They focus on creative professional studies that prepare students for careers in design, media, and game design. Previous Collaborations Samsung Developers have had a close relationship with the Art Institutes, offering workshops, talks and focused design courses: Watch Face Designer Workshop: In selected locations, the Samsung team led workshops showing aspects of creating and publishing impactful designs for wearable devices. The energy in these workshops was amazing, and, in the span of a couple of hours, different student teams created beautiful and functional designs that could compete with any professional design found in the Samsung Galaxy Store. Game Art & Design Guest Speak: Last December, the Samsung Developers team participated in one of the latest classes, focusing on mobile gaming programming and development. A big topic was how to publish the student’s projects, obtain feedback from Galaxy Store’s players, and how to use that to make their projects grow to get more exposure and success. Watch Face Designer Course: This course explored the process of design with the utilization of wearable application tools. Students conceptualized and created design elements, as well as responsive interface techniques for wearable devices. Once created, students learned how to publish and market watch face designs globally on Galaxy Store. Watch face designer course in Miami Let’s connect We love to chat with mobile and wearable developers to help as you develop, publish, and market apps, themes and watch faces. Galaxy Store is a great place to publish your game and get discovered. If you have existing game titles or have a title under development, we would love to help you get discovered. View the full blog at its source

The web doesn’t have a marketing team. It doesn’t have a single developer program you can sign up to. And it doesn’t have a manual. That’s by design. Like the Internet, the web isn’t controlled by any single entity. But this decentralisation can also be a pain for web developers and designers. The web has lots of documentation, but it’s often an issue for developers to find documentation that is not written from a perspective of one web product — for example, a browser or a framework. The web needs a place where people can go to get the ground truth. Over the last decade, MDN has become that trusted source of information — a place where developers know they can get the documentation they need about how to build for the web. That’s because, even though it’s a project run by Mozilla, it documents the web across all browsers. Cross-browser compatibility is one of the key pain points of web development, and good documentation is one of the ways we can mitigate that pain. Ask any developer where they go first for documentation and they will likely cite MDN. That’s why, in 2017, I jumped at the chance of joining the Product Advisory Board of MDN. I saw it as an opportunity to give back, and also to be a part of a project to reinforce this cross-browser message. By the way, I started my career as a technical writer, so I have opinions on the importance of good technical writing when it comes to the developer experience. The product advisory board was an experiment from MDN to bring in an external advisory group — including members from Microsoft, Google and W3C. These organisations were all already investing time in building and maintaining MDN. The PAB gave them a way to advise on product direction and hear about future planning. Open Web Docs Fast forward to 2020. Mozilla restructured and MDN took a hit. As a response, the same organisations (and people) who had come together to support MDN via the Product Advisory Board came together again, with others, to launch something called Open Web Docs. Open Web Docs is a new open source project, set up to help support and maintain documentation on the web — via MDN. In practice, this means that Open Web Docs will be paying writers to help write documentation and build the tools that are required to produce high-quality web documentation (for example, to maintain browser compatibility data), in collaboration with Mozilla. Open Web Docs will help to ensure the stability of MDN and will focus the activities of the multiple stakeholders in good web documentation. I’m proud to have been a part of the planning for this effort. I’m also glad that Samsung Internet will be investing our time and energy, both through our continued participation in the MDN Product Advisory Board and via Open Web Docs, in helping to document the web platform. A beautiful library at Trinity College, Dublin. Photo by Alex Block on Unsplash View the full blog at its source

Design inspiration is all around us; however, tapping into it is another story. Fortunately, there are members of the Samsung Developers community who’ve cracked the code and defeated ‘designer’s block.’ We connected with several watch faces/themes designers and are excited to share their advice, creative processes, and sources of design inspiration in this blog series. This week, we’re featuring Pedro Machado from Health Face. A designer from Spain, Pedro focuses on creating sport watch faces designed for daily use. Read on to learn about how he got into designing watch faces and how he finds inspiration for his stylish and functional designs. When and why did you start designing watch faces? In 2017, I read a news story from Samsung promoting the design of watch faces and that explained some features of the Galaxy Watch Studio program (formerly Galaxy Watch Designer). Afterwards, I was curious to try designing my own personalized watch face, since a few months prior my parents gave me a Samsung smartwatch. I found watch face design interesting and started research on how I could start creating designs for others to enjoy on their devices. What does your design process look like? Do you have a strict protocol or is it more free flowing? I like to use my free time as a chance to get inspired and come up with ideas that I can later transform into a design. Once I have several ideas in mind, I put them on paper to see the possible combinations and shapes they can take on a watch. When the idea is clear or almost ready, I start preparing the design on my computer. Once I have all the elements created, I mount my design in GWS and test it on 4-5 devices to check that everything works correctly. How has your design approach evolved over time? In the beginning, I created varied designs of all styles, from formal and minimalist to fun with many patterns. However, after a year of experience and analyzing statistics, I concluded that sport designs that take advantage of watch characteristics are received well by users. That’s when I decided to create Health Face, focused on sports and daily life that many users can identify with and use to get the information they need. What was the inspiration for your most successful watch face and how did you make it a reality? I remember being inspired to create one of my most successful watch faces at the SDC19 conference in San José, California. There was a prototype car with some very striking speed markers that gave me the idea to design a watch face with similar markers – I also thought it would contrast well with smart devices. Health Face Nº58 How do you strike a balance between the vision you have for a watch face and its functionality? Is this the most challenging part of the design process? I agree that this part is the most challenging, since sometimes an idea is difficult to translate to the screen. Plus, there’s the added consideration of the user. If they have vision problems, they might need larger letters and numbers, and this can pose a challenge to your original idea. To achieve a good balance between the initial idea and the final product, it’s important from the beginning to think about all the possible errors or obstacles you may encounter with your design. That way, if any problem arises, they will likely be small and easy to solve. How do you navigate guidelines without compromising the integrity of your design? When you’re starting out, it’s impossible to know all the restrictions. You must be patient with yourself and learn from your experiences. Eventually you’ll learn how to navigate those guidelines and create great designs. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a designer who is stuck in a creative rut? My advice to a designer who can’t think of a new design is to not get overwhelmed by the lack of inspiration. I recommend disconnecting for an afternoon. Go outside, play a sport, relax and clear your mind to help free space for new ideas. The world around us is constantly sending signals and clues to make new designs, so take advantage of it! Thanks to Pedro for sharing helpful advice on the design process, staying creative and finding inspiration for Galaxy Watch Face designs. You can connect with Pedro and Health Face on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Designers, are you ready to take the next step and sell your work on Samsung devices? Submit your Galaxy Watch Faces or Themes portfolio before the submission window closes on February 23rd. Stay tuned for the final installment in our ‘Prime Time Design’ series featuring Ramon Campos from Friss in Motion and follow us on Twitter at @samsung_dev for our latest updates. View the full blog at its source

A television is a portal that can connect us to the world. As the amount of diverse content users have access to continues to grow, the range of entertainment they can access through their TVs is also expanding. Yet despite this innovation, for those who are hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision and the blind, accessing basic TV features like sound controls and screen settings can still prove challenging. Following the first installment in our series on accessibility in Samsung TVs, Samsung Newsroom looked at the company’s exclusive accessibility features for those who are hard of hearing and the deaf. Sign Language Zoom Sign language is a language for the deaf that involves conveying the meaning of spoken language using hand gestures and movements. However, as the same gesture can convey different meanings depending on mouth shape and facial expression, all of these factors must be taken into consideration in order to understand the exact meaning. Samsung TVs utilize the company’s proprietary AI algorithm to automatically recognize sign language and magnify the person performing it by 200%. Users can also manually choose an area onscreen to magnify and alter the magnification ratio to get a closer look at details such as the questions on a quiz program or the scoreboard at a sports event. Separate Closed Caption Broadcasters already provide closed captions for programs to help the deaf consume their content. However, on occasions when the TV program itself also displays captions, the two sets of words often overlap with one another, obscuring the subtitles for the deaf. In this situation, the Separate Closed Caption feature is a great help. This feature allows the closed captions for the deaf to be viewed in a separate area from the captions on the TV program. Users can additionally change the background and text colors for the closed captions in order to further raise visibility. Multi-output Audio When watching TV with friends or family, those who are hard of hearing may need the volume to be turned up louder than the other viewers. To ensure everyone can enjoy the content at the appropriate volume level for them, Samsung offers the Multi-output Audio feature on its TVs. With the Multi-output Audio feature, those who are hard of hearing can utilize a Bluetooth device to listen to the audio at their desired volume without affecting the viewing experiences of the other viewers. Bluetooth devices can be connected directly to the TV, then the user can set their own volume levels through the Bluetooth device. In pursuit of its ‘Screens for All’ vision, Samsung will continue to work and innovate to ensure that Samsung TVs provide an enjoyable viewing experience for all. View the full article

In Part 1 of this intro to Apache Cordova series, we were able to see how front-end developers could use standard web technologies to create cross-platform mobile applications, and the prerequisites to install Cordova in your dev environment. In this second part we are focused on creating your first application with Cordova, and how to publish your app in the Samsung Galaxy Store. Creating the App After installing Cordova, you should go to the file directory where you maintain your source code. There, you can create a Cordova project. This would be a simple Hello World project, but would give you an idea of the file structure of a Cordova project, and the different parts that you can modify to obtain the functionality you are looking for. In your terminal or command interface type: cd pathToYourProjects After that: cordova create CordovaProject com.example.hello CordovaApp CordovaProject is the directory name where the app is created. com.example.hello is the default reverse domain value (package name). You should use your own domain name if possible. CordovaApp is the title of your app. This creates the required directory structure for your Cordova app. By default, the Cordova create script generates a skeletal web-based application whose home page is the project's www/index.html file. Adding Platform Since Cordova works for multiple platforms, we have to add Android to the build settings. You need to open your project directory in the command prompt. In our example, it is the Cordova Project. You should only choose platforms that you need. To be able to use the specified platform, you need to have installed the specific platform SDK. All subsequent commands need to be run within the project's directory, or any subdirectories: cd CordovaProject Add the Android platform, since this is the target of app, and ensure they get saved to config.xml and package.json: cordova platform add android You can also remove a platform from your project by using: cordova platform rm android To make certain you have added all the platforms you are targeting you can type: cordova platform ls This should list all the added platforms for your current project. Checking the Install pre-requisites for building To build and run apps, you need to install SDKs for each platform you wish to target. Alternatively, if you are using browser for development you can use browser platform which does not require any platform SDKs. To check if you satisfy requirements for building the platform that you just added: cordova requirements This command should show you a result similar to this one: Requirements check results for android: Java JDK: installed . Android SDK: installed Android target: installed android-19,android-21,android-22,android-23,Google Inc.:Google APIs:19,Google Inc.:Google APIs (x86 System Image):19,Google Inc.:Google APIs:23 Gradle: installed Building the App This step builds the app for a specified platform so we can run it on mobile device or emulator. cordova build If you have added more than one platform to your project, you can limit the scope of each build to specific platforms. For our example we should add 'android': cordova build android Build for android platform in release mode and use the specified build configuration: cordova build android --release --buildConfig=..\myBuildConfig.json Testing the App Using Cordova’s emulator Now we can run our app. If you are using the default emulator you should use: cordova emulate android If you want to use the external emulator or real device you should use cordova run android Publishing your APK To check in detail how to take your binary files and publish them in the Samsung Galaxy Store, check this in-depth video: We love to chat with mobile game developers and help you as you develop, publish, and market your own games. Galaxy Store is a great place to publish your game and get discovered. If you are a mobile app developer and want to request a quick chat with us, just fill out this form. View the full blog at its source

A television is a portal that can connect us to the world. As the amount of diverse content users have access to continues to grow, the range of entertainment they can access through their TVs is also expanding. Yet despite this innovation, for those who are hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision and the blind, accessing basic TV features like sound controls and screen settings can still prove challenging. As Samsung unveiled at its First Look 2021 event, the company’s 2021 TV lineup will harness the latest advances to allow those who are hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision and the blind to enjoy their TV experiences in comfort. This will be achieved with the help of Samsung’s new CES 2021 Best of Innovation Award-winning accessibility features for TVs, including Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom, Multi-Output Audio and Voice Guide. Going forward, Samsung will keep developing new AI-based features to continue making Samsung TVs more and more accessible. Samsung Newsroom looked at the suite of accessibility features offered on Samsung TVs, as well as the company’s commitment to its new ‘Screens for All’ vision, which is helping ensure that everyone can enjoy their TVs. SeeColors App: A New World of Color for those with CVD The capability of Samsung TVs to reproduce lifelike color is constantly improving, however this is not as evident to those who suffer from color vision deficiency (CVD). Samsung’s SeeColors app1 makes color adjustments to aid those with CVD and help them enjoy a better viewing experience with optimized colors. By using the app on their TV, users can identify their CVD type and level and directly recalibrate their screen settings based on the results. The SeeColors app is available to download from Apps, the Smart TV app store. Color Inversion: For Comfortable Viewing without Glare It is also difficult for people with low vision to perceive colors clearly. In particular, black text on a white background can cause glare for people with low vision who are sensitive to light. The fact that their eyes tire easily also hinders comfortable TV viewing. In this case, the Color Inversion feature can prove helpful. Inverting menu colors so that the text is white and the background is black raises visual perception and alleviates eye fatigue. While inverting the colors of the TV menus to make navigating them easier, this feature leaves the colors of the actual content being displayed the same in order to best meet the needs of users with low vision. Features are also available to assist people with complete color blindness. These include GrayScale, which can convert color images into black-and-white. Meanwhile, the Focus Enlarge feature allows users to enlarge text and smaller details on interfaces such as Smart Hub. Audio (Video) Description: To Better Enjoy Exciting Scenes Spectacular action movies and exciting sports matches can really keep viewers on the edge of their seats. However, those who are blind are often limited to appreciating actors’ performances and athletes’ physical feats purely through their sense of hearing. In these circumstances, the information these users take in through sound effects and dialogue alone is bound to be limited. Audio (Video) Description is a feature that provides verbal descriptions of the situations and settings being displayed on the screen, in addition to the dialogue or commentary. It helps viewers who are blind enjoy their content more completely by providing explanations of factors that are hard to capture with audio alone, such as characters’ clothing and their body language. Learn TV Remote: For Ease of Use A remote control is a handy tool that puts the ability to control channels, volume and TV settings in the palm of your hand and makes viewing much more convenient. However, it is difficult for those who are blind to know what each button does. Thus, it generally takes a long time for them to learn the buttons and get used to using the remote control. Learn TV Remote is a feature that helps blind users get used to the location and function of each button through repeated practice. If you press a button on the remote control while the mode is on, the name and function of the button will be explained audibly. To return the remote control to regular functionality, press the ‘back’ button twice to turn off learning mode. Voice Guide: To Better Navigate Channels and Control Volume When viewers want to catch an episode of a TV show they like, they generally turn on their TV and navigate to the right channel by looking at the channel number or name. However, when they first turn the TV on, it is difficult for viewers who are blind to know what channel they are on, as well as what level the volume is set at. By telling you what channel your TV is on and what volume level it is set at, the Voice Guide feature eliminates the need to press buttons on the remote control multiple times to navigate to the channel and volume settings you want. The feature additionally enhances convenience by providing information on the program that is currently being aired as well as the upcoming TV schedule. Accessibility Shortcuts When you hold down the mute button on the remote control for your Samsung TV for more than two seconds, you will be taken to a menu where you can customize a variety of accessibility settings. In this menu, you will be able to select the most appropriate accessibility features for yourself or your family members. This menu is accompanied by a Voice Guide that allows any user to navigate it without difficulty. Continued Accessibility Efforts Based on User Feedback Based on its belief that an accurate understanding of visual deficiency conditions is necessary to developing appropriate accessibility features, Samsung has collected feedback from users in order to make TVs that are also convenient for people with low vision and those who are blind. To that end, Samsung has been working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK since 2013 to ensure that Samsung products are equipped with the proper features to offer accessibility to all consumers. Due to its continued efforts, the company received the RNIB’s ‘Tried and Tested Accreditation’ for its 2020 Smart TVs, which is the first time the accreditation has been awarded in the TV industry. In pursuit of its ‘Screens for All’ vision, Samsung will continue to work and innovate to ensure that Samsung TVs provide an enjoyable viewing experience for all. 1 This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or medical problem. Any information found, acquired or accessed through this app is made available for your convenience and should not be treated as medical advice. View the full article

Samsung Electronics has announced that it recently became an official partner of Green Pea, an eco-friendly shopping mall located in Italy. As an official partner, Samsung, which has been recognized for its continuous efforts to promote a sustainable future, has provided TVs and digital signage for use throughout the shopping mall. Samsung also installed an exhibition hall at Green Pea dedicated specifically to eco-packaging – a new kind of product packaging that facilitates the upcycling of the boxes that come with the company’s lifestyle TV models. Samsung is expanding its award-winning eco-packaging designs to include all of its 2021 Lifestyle TVs, as well as most of the 2021 Neo QLED line. Green Pea is a unique shopping mall that was built with a focus on sustainable concepts such as resource circulation and recycling. Its first location, which opened its doors in Turin last December, has garnered significant attention for its eco-friendly architecture, which features heavy use of solar panels and trees. With the goal of reducing environmental pollution and providing consumers with sustainable products and services, Green Pea’s stores not only sell eco-friendly products, but also utilize eco-friendly products and supplies for their infrastructure. Samsung has embarked on a sustainability journey that puts the environment at the forefront of all business operations. The company’s efforts have birthed several long-term sustainability programs that include everything from sustainable packaging design to solar cell-powered remote controls and the reduction of carbon footprints through the use of recycled materials. For more information on Samsung’s 2021 TV lines, please visit https://www.samsung.com. View the full article

Samsung’s First Look event, held virtually on January 6th, saw the company affirm its commitment to pursuing accessibility, sustainability and innovation in all its latest products and technologies to help redefine the role of the television in consumers’ homes. Samsung has embarked on a sustainability journey that puts the environment first in all business operations with several long-term sustainability programs that include sustainable packaging design, solar cell-powered remote controls and the reduction of carbon footprints through the use of recycled materials. Take a look at the infographic below to learn more about Samsung’s commitment to a sustainable future through its eco-friendly visual display products and processes. * Revision has been made from ‘AAA batteries’ to ‘AA batteries’ with regards to the Solar Cell Remote Control on March 4, 2021. View the full article

This year, Samsung has showcased a broad range of innovative products that are set to lead the market in 2021. Spotlighted at events that include the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), these products have included cutting-edge solutions in the fields of display, home appliances, mobile and semiconductor solutions. Read on to find out more about some of the company’s innovations for 2021 and hear more about the latest products from those who worked on them. Visual Display: From Display to Packaging to Remote Control, the 2021 Samsung TVs are Packed With Innovation (Clockwise from the back row) Joice Jeong, Jieun Kim, Yowon Jang, Mina Kim and Seongyeon Kwon of the Marketing Group of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics Q. Which products do you want consumers to pay particular attention to in 2021? We at the Visual Display Business have announced ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All’ vision and unveiled our 2021 portfolio of Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Lifestyle TVs. Along this line, we would like to draw attention to the 2021 Neo QLEDs recently announced at CES 2021. Samsung’s Neo QLEDs incorporate Quantum Mini LED, which are 1/40 the height of conventional LED. Thanks to Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology, the scale of luminance has been increased to 12-bit with 4096 steps, enabling a more precise viewing experience. Neo QLEDs also feature a Neo Quantum Processor with enhanced AI upscaling technology that can optimize picture quality to 4K and 8K picture output regardless of the input quality. Furthermore, thanks to its slim and delicate Infinity One Design, the Neo QLED can fit into any space by merit of its sleek design – providing viewers with an even more immersive viewing experience. Audio innovations such as SpaceFit Sound, which uses AI to analyze a TV’s physical environment, and Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Pro, which corresponds to the movement of objects onscreen, also further bolster the truly premium viewing experience offered by the Neo QLEDs. The 2021 Neo QLEDs also include numerous functions specially customized for the recent change in living patterns, wherein one’s home has become the center of one’s life. Those who enjoy workout at home can take advantage of Samsung Health’s new Smart Trainer feature that tracks and analyzes workouts and provides feedback, and those who enjoy high-quality gaming can harness Super Ultrawide Gameview to play on a screen with a ratio of up to 32:9, along with the Game Bar for customized and convenient game settings. We would also like to highlight the recently launched MICRO LED line. The new MICRO LED line produces stunning brightness and vibrant colors thanks to 24 million individually controlled LEDs. Its 4Vue (Quad View) feature is also worth noting – viewers can watch up to four different content sources from news or sports to Internet content simultaneously on one screen, and can even connect their game console for even more diversified entertainment. Q. Part of Samsung’s 2021 vision for Visual Display products is a commitment to sustainability and accessibility. Could you tell us more about the innovations that correlate with this? Firstly, in 2021, Samsung TVs will come with a solar-powered remote control that can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light or USB — a first-of-its-kind innovation for the brand. This will help prevent the unnecessary waste of a projected 99 million AA batteries over seven years. Secondly, we are expanding the use of our ‘Eco-Packaging’ Design to our all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and most of the 2021 Neo QLED line. Thirdly, we are set to increase the use of recycled materials in our products so that resources can be upcycled and constantly circulated throughout the product cycle. Samsung’s 2021 accessibility features – now available on all 2021 QLED and Neo QLED models – bring the latest advances in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help more people comfortably enjoy their TV experiences. The 2021 line adds new features such as Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom and Multi-Output Audio, giving those with the hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision and the blind the ability to optimize their viewing to their needs and preferences. We will continue to develop new AI based features to enhance the accessibility of Samsung TVs in the years to come. Home Appliance Category: In the ‘New Normal’, the JetBot 90 AI+ Works Harder and Smarter for Your Home Taesoo Kim of the Customer Experience Team of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics Q. Which products do you want consumers to pay particular attention to in 2021? As people spend more time at home, the home space itself is becoming increasingly important – and in turn, domestic hygiene has become a priority. Times like these require the most cutting-edge cleaning solutions, and we answered the call with the JetBot 90 AI+ – a robot vacuum that harnesses AI to intelligently clean every corner of a user’s home. The first-ever robot vacuum to be powered by Intel® AI, the JetBot 90 AI+ is capable of processing a lot of information fast. The vacuum comes with over 1 million images pre-learned so that it is able to autonomously avoid various obstacles like towels, socks and electric cables as soon as a user sets it to work. That means users don’t have to tidy their floors before running the JetBot 90 AI+! Q. What are some features of JetBot 90 AI+ that make it stand out in comparison to other robot cleaners? Previous robot cleaners recognized obstacles in 2D, whereas the JetBot 90 AI+ features 3D sensors. This extra dimension helps the robot cleaner accurately identify different obstructions and select the most efficient driving method. In addition to these 3D sensors, the JetBot 90 AI+ is fitted with LiDAR for precise location mapping. Another special feature of the JetBot 90 AI+ is its Clean Station. The Clean Station not only empties the dustbin automatically, but also traps 99.999% of fine dust1 and allergens for easy maintenance. Q. Which function of the JetBot 90 AI+ do you recommend the most? I strongly recommend the Live Cleaning Report function of the JetBot 90 AI+, which is particularly useful if you want to use the device while away from your home. Users can connect to their vacuum from anywhere via the SmartThings mobile app in order to see where the vacuum is cleaning in real time and monitor the spaces that haven’t been cleaned due to obstacles the robot vacuum has encountered. When you get back home, those obstacles have already been identified, so all you need do is remove them ahead of the JetBot 90 AI+’s next clean. Mobile Category: Tune Into the Future With the All-New Form Factor of Galaxy Buds Live Sejin Jeon of the Wearable PP Group of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics Q. Which products do you want consumers to pay particular attention to in 2021? I would like to recommend Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung’s innovative earbuds with a revolutionary form factor. From the earliest stages of planning, we factored user comfort and fit into our process, and the product we have now is the result of extensive trial and error. While minimizing the parts that protrude out of the ear during our design process, we struggled to find a design that simultaneously sat comfortably in the ear. After much modification, we were able to develop an ergonomic earbud design that is completely different from any of our previous earbud offerings. The exterior design exudes a luxurious aura thanks to its glossy and matte appearance, and even the earbud case has been designed with care to provide that perfect finishing touch. The unique open-type of Galaxy Buds Live is another point worth noting. Through the combination of sound technology by AKG, Harman’s premium audio brand, and Samsung’s innovative hardware technologies, we have been able to provide a fully immersive audio experience. The speaker and the bass woofer have also been enhanced to provide richer surround sound to users. Furthermore, Galaxy Buds Live’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is another brand-new function to the Buds portfolio. Not only does it help users focus more on their music, it also reduces background noise within the low-bandwidth range (less than 700Hz) up to 97% to avoid that ‘earplugged’ sensation when listening while in a car or on a bus. Galaxy Buds Live will still let conversation or audio announcements through to users so that the sound is kept balanced but the user is kept aware of their surroundings. Finally, the call quality of Galaxy Buds Live is another area I’d like to draw attention to. Galaxy Buds Live include a total of three microphones, one on the inside and two on the outside, and an acceleration sensor to filter out external noises. We also improved the audio signal in order to highlight the user’s voice so that they can enjoy the clearest call experiences possible. Q. We have heard that your team challenges itself with developing innovations that put the environment first. Do Galaxy Buds Live include any such sustainable innovations? We are in the process of manufacturing recyclable plastic (Post-Consumer Material, or PCM). We have also designed our products in a way that allows users to replace separate components of their earbuds in order to extend the lifespan. These efforts have in fact led to us being awarded the Best of Innovation Award in the area of ‘Eco-Design, Sustainability’ at this year’s CES event. Memory Category: Small Yet Powerful Secrets Inside our Mobile Devices Seunghee Han of the DRAM Memory Planning Group of the Memory Business at Samsung Electronics Q. Which products do you want consumers to pay particular attention to in 2021? I would like to highlight the Samsung uMCP, which received a CES 2021 Innovation Award and is a high-end mobile memory solution that combines 10nm-class 12GB LPDDR5 (Low-Power DDR5) and sixth-generation 256GB UFS23.1. The LPDDR5 is the fastest mobile memory solution currently available, supporting high-resolution displays such as 4K or 6K on mobile devices, as well as smooth multitasking. Furthermore, UFS3.1 technology enables much faster data processing and is more energy-efficient than before. Above all, the biggest advantage of this solution is its 11.5mmx13mm size, which combines both DRAM and NAND. Component size is very important in smartphone design, and the uMCP makes the best use of its size. Q. Could you highlight any specific areas that users will be able to notice this improved product experience in? When it comes to choosing a new mobile device, one of the most important criteria is a device’s multitasking performance. Our solution provides a more seamless experience with 4K or 8K multimedia, AR/VR experiences and more. The LPDDR5, adopted in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs, currently supports 6400MB/s and is offered in up to 16GB-sized packages. It is around two times faster than its predecessor, LPDDR4. In the case of UFS3.1, the sequential write performance – used mainly when downloading videos – comes in at 400MB/s, which is also almost two times as fast as its predecessor, UFS2.2. LED Category: Innovations Capable of Brightening a User’s Day Jinha Kim of the Lighting Marketing Group from the LED Business Team at Samsung Electronics Q. Which products do you want consumers to pay particular attention to in 2021? I’d recommend that users keep an eye on our new indoor lighting solution, a CES 2021 Innovation Award-winner, the LM283N+. It has been developed to help users stay more alert and to improve sleep quality by helping to adjust melatonin levels. The DAY iteration of this product is for daytime activities, and prevents users from falling asleep by controlling the creation of melatonin. On the other hand, the product NITE helps users enjoy deeper sleep through its control of melatonin release. Whether you need to be concentrating or are just looking to relax, the LM283N+ can come in useful as it is customizable depending on the use circumstances – such a capability is why the LM283N+ received a CES 2021 Innovation Award in the category of Health & Wellness. Q. What are some special features of the LM283N+? The development of LM283N+ began from a question: ‘What kind of lighting can contribute to better daily life?’ I believe that the LM283N+ not only lights up a space, but also opens the door for the new ways that lighting can exert influence over our daily lives. We introduced the LM302N in the market for the first time last year as a truly human-centered light. Based on the LM302N, the LM283N+ has been developed as a platform exclusively specialized for LED light bulbs, meaning that users can easily incorporate the model into their own daily patterns, as it can be applied to replaceable lighting fixtures such as desk lights. 1 Based on internal testing, using Max mode, in accordance with the IEC62885-2 Cl. 5.11 standard. Results may vary depending on the actual home conditions. 2 Universal Flash Storage * Revision has been made from ‘AAA batteries’ to ‘AA batteries’ with regards to the Solar Cell Remote Control on March 4, 2021. View the full article

On January 6th, Samsung Electronics virtually unveiled its 2021 TV product portfolio at the company’s annual First Look 2021 event. The latest additions to the Samsung Visual Display lineup range from products that provide new premium entertainment experiences to purpose-driven inclusivity features – and more. In case you missed the event, check out these five highlights from the First Look 2021 presentation. 1. A Sustainable and Accessible Future for All Samsung will seek to decrease its overall carbon footprint across the TV manufacturing, packaging design and product power efficiency areas. In 2021, Samsung TVs will come with a solar-powered remote control that can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light or USB—a first-of-its-kind innovation for the brand. This will help prevent waste from a projected 99 million AA batteries over seven years. The 2021 TV lines will also include the latest advances in technology and AI to give those with the hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision, and the blind the power to comfortably enjoy their TV experiences through new features that include Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom, Multi-Output Audio and Voice Guide. 2. Hailing a New Era of Breathtaking Picture Quality and Design In 2018, Samsung’s first MICRO LED display was introduced in the form of “The Wall”— a system of configurable modules that could be installed professionally. In December 2020, Samsung then announced the launch and pre-sale of the groundbreaking 110” Samsung MICRO LED in Korea. Unlike any other displays currently available on the market, Samsung MICRO LED produces astonishing color vibrancy and brightness with self-emissive LED display technology along with an all-new Micro AI processor that delivers stunning 4K HDR content. 3. Neo QLED Takes a Quantum Leap in LED Technology By incorporating Quantum Mini LEDs based on Quantum Matrix Technology into their visual display products, Samsung is taking QLED to the next level by enabling displays to have precise control of the individual LED pixels, which can prevent blooming and maximize display longevity. Samsung’s 2021 8K Neo QLED features a new Infinity One Design—a nearly bezel-less form factor that provides an even more immersive viewing experience – as well as an all-new cable management system with the Slim One Connect box that can be attached to the TV’s back. The 2021 8K Neo QLED also features several premium, room-filling audio functionalities that correspond to the movement of objects onscreen and uses AI to analyze a TV’s physical environment to deliver an immersive sound tailored specifically to a user’s space. 4. Enhancing the Award-Winning Lifestyle TV Portfolio In addition to bolstering their QLED lineup, Samsung is also enhancing its 2021 Lifestyle TV line with new design and form factors to reflect the changing interests and tastes of consumers. Since launching in 2017, The Frame has redefined the concept of the television, transforming displays into stunning works of art – with over one million units sold. In 2021, The Frame will become 46% thinner and offer five color options and two different customizable styles—Modern and Beveled—to match the aesthetic of each and every room The Frame is placed in. 5. New Smart TV Features for 2021 During the past year, we have all witnessed seen the pivotal role technology has played in helping us carry on with our lives and stay connected to each other. Samsung’s 8K and 4K 2021 Neo QLED models offer smart features that expand the role of the TV and adapt to the changing needs of consumers in the fields of fitness, entertainment and the home office. Samsung’s 2021 TVs will sport new productivity features, including Google Duo for large-screen video conference calls right from your living room; Super Ultrawide Gameview and Game Bar for gamers enjoying next-generation 4K gaming consoles; and Samsung Health’s Smart Trainer, a feature that tracks and analyzes your workouts via AI and provides feedback on form, rep improvement and estimated calories burnt. As the company heads into its 15th year as the leading global TV brand, Samsung announced its ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All’ vision, underscoring their commitment to closely aligning business operations with a series of long-term sustainability and accessibility endeavors. Stay tuned to learn more about the innovations for the future of the display Samsung has in store in 2021. * Revision has been made from ‘AAA batteries’ to ‘AA batteries’ with regards to the Solar Cell Remote Control on March 4, 2021. View the full article

Samsung Electronics announced today that it is combining innovative new gaming features with exciting industry partnerships to create a groundbreaking gaming experience with 2021 Neo QLED and QLEDs. The new 2021 Neo QLED and QLED line delivers some of the most beloved features from Samsung’s award-winning, premium gaming monitors for optimized performance. “Consumers want premium TVs that can enhance the gaming experience – whether they are playing on PC or on a console,” said Younghun Choi, Executive Vice President at Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “This is why it was critical for us to build upon and optimize key gaming features from both our award-winning monitors and TV displays in 2021. These enhancements will allow consumers to unlock the full power of next-gen gaming on our Neo QLED and QLED line.” Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED and QLEDs have been designed with gamers’ needs in mind every step of the way. Next-gen gaming consoles demand a display that enhances both performance and picture quality—and Samsung’s cutting-edge Neo QLED and QLEDs are engineered to deliver. Capable of enabling 4K gaming at 120Hz, Samsung QLEDs let you see virtually every detail with 4K for incredible clarity and contrast, at a silky-smooth 120 frames per second. With low ms response time, auto low latency mode, variable refresh rate, and other gaming features designed with the next generation consoles in mind, Samsung Neo QLED and QLEDs help unlock and maximize performance. The 2021 line-up features the new and intuitive Game Bar in Game Mode, allowing players to easily adjust the screen’s aspect ratio, check input lag, connect wireless headsets, and more. With Game Mode, QLED also optimizes gameplay with its Samsung AI processor. With 4K resolution, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and lag time less than 5.8ms, Neo QLED and QLEDs are the perfect companion for next generation consoles. Additionally, the Q90A 50” and all other QLED models 55” and larger are the first TVs to offer support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Technology1. The technology enables true HDR console and PC gaming experiences, delivering a combination of smooth tear- and stutter-free gaming at peak performance with stunning HDR visual fidelity and low latency. The 2021 Neo QLED and QLED line-up also brings the immersive ultra-wide gaming experience of Samsung gaming monitors to the TV. This gives gamers the option to play PC games at both a 21:9 wide aspect ratio and the ultra-immersive 32:9 ratio on Samsung TVs. The 2021 Neo QLED and QLED models, from Q70A and above, support both the 21:9 and 32:9 screen ratio—ensuring gamers won’t miss any PC gaming action in the periphery. 2021 Neo QLED and QLED complete the gaming experience with crisp, clear, and immersive audio. With Game Object Tracking Sound, QLED TVs use AI technology to project audio around the room corresponding with onscreen action—so you’ll know exactly where to turn when you hear another player’s footsteps. For more information on Samsung’s 2021 TV lineups, please visit www.samsung.com/. 1 AMD FreeSync technology requires AMD Radeon graphics and a display that supports FreeSync technology as certified by AMD. AMD FreeSync Premium technology adds requirements of mandatory low framerate compensation and at least 120 Hz refresh rate at minimum FHD. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology adds requirements for the display to meet AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compliance tests. See www.amd.com/freesync for complete details. Confirm capability with your system manufacturer before purchase. GD-127 View the full article

On January 6, Samsung Electronics held its online ‘First Look 2021’ event ahead of CES 2021, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition. During the event, Samsung declared its commitment to a more accessible and sustainable future and introduced its 2021 product range of Neo QLED, MICRO LED, and Lifestyle TVs. Those who missed the live event can check out the First Look 2021 video in full below to make sure they are kept abreast of all the exciting announcements Samsung has made.  View the full article

Samsung Electronics unveiled today its 2021 portfolio of Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Lifestyle TV displays during its first-ever virtual First Look event ahead of CES 2021. The new line underscores Samsung’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and innovation with new advancements that help redefine the role of television in consumer homes. “During the past year, we have witnessed the pivotal role technology played in helping us carry on with our lives and stay connected with each other,” said JH Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our commitment to an inclusive and sustainable future goes hand-in-hand with our relentless pursuit for innovation to meet consumers’ ever-changing needs – from reducing the carbon footprint of our products, to providing a suite of accessibility features, to offering an unparalleled viewing experience that fits each user’s lifestyle.” A Sustainable and Accessible Future for All Over the next few years, Samsung will embark on a journey of “Going Green” in aligning TV business operations through the following long-term sustainability programs: Reducing Carbon Footprint and Improving Energy Efficiency: Samsung will seek to systematically decrease its overall carbon footprint in TV manufacturing. The company will also seek to lower user power consumption and use more recycled materials across its entire TV line. Sustainable Packaging Design: Building on valuable consumer feedback, Samsung is expanding its award-winning ‘Eco-packaging’ design to all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and most of the 2021 Neo QLED line. This sustainable solution can upcycle up to 200,000 tons of corrugated boxes each year.1 By minimizing text and graphic imagery on the Eco-packaging, the oil-based ink from color printing that’s traditionally used on TV boxes is eliminated, helping to further reduce waste. Solar Cell Remote Control: In 2021, Samsung TVs will come with a solar-powered remote control that can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light or USB—a first-of-its-kind innovation for the brand. This will help prevent waste from a projected 99 million AA batteries over seven years.2 To construct the remote, Samsung innovated manufacturing process that upcycles plastics from recyclable bottles –including 24% recycled content.3 Samsung’s 2021 accessibility features – now available on all 2021 QLED and Neo QLED models – bring the latest advances in technology and Artificial Intelligence(AI) to help more people comfortably enjoy their TV experience. The 2021 line adds new features such as Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom and Multi-Output Audio, giving those with the hard of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision, and the blind the ability to optimize their viewing to their needs and preferences. By 2022, Samsung is committing to expand its Voice Guide feature—which provides audio guidance for people with the deaf and people with low vision. And Samsung will continue to develop new AI based features to enhance the accessibility of Samsung TVs in the years to come. Neo QLED Takes a Quantum Leap in TV Display Technology Samsung is introducing a whole new display technology, Neo QLED, to its flagship 8K (QN900A) and 4K (QN90A) models. Samsung is taking QLED to the next level enabled by new light source, Quantum Mini LED precisely controlled by Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor, a powerful picture processor optimized for Neo QLED. Samsung designed the Quantum Mini LED to be 1/40 the height of a conventional LED. Instead of using a lens to disperse light, and a package to fix the LED in place, the Quantum Mini LED has incredibly thin micro layers filled with many more LEDs. Quantum Matrix Technology enables ultra-fine and precise control of the densely packed LEDs, preventing blooming—and allowing viewers to enjoy content as its meant to be seen. Neo QLED increases the luminance scale to 12-bit with 4096 steps; this helps make dark areas darker and bright areas brighter, resulting in a more precise and immersive HDR experience. And Neo QLED benefits from Samsung’s proprietary, powerful Neo Quantum Processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities. By using up to 16 different neural network models, each trained in AI upscaling and deep learning technology, the Neo Quantum Processor can optimize picture quality to 4K and 8K picture output regardless of the input quality. Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED 8K features a new Infinity One Design—a nearly bezel-less screen providing an even more immersive viewing experience in a sleek design and form factor. And Neo QLED 8K’s attachable Slim One Connect box—an all-new cable management system that can be attached to the TV’s back—allows for an easier install and cleaner aesthetic. The 2021 Neo QLED 8K also packs in several premium, room-filling audio features; Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Pro’s dynamic sound corresponds to the movement of objects on screen, and SpaceFit Sound analyzes the installed TV’s physical environment and outputs immersive sound tailored specifically to your space. Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED 8K and 4K models offer smart features that expand the role of the TV and help consumers meet their changing needs when it comes to fitness, entertainment and the home office. Samsung Health seamlessly transforms the home into a personal gym, and the new Smart Trainer feature tracks and analyzes posture in real time, just like a personal trainer. During and post-workout, Smart Trainer provides feedback on form, helps you count your reps, and estimates calories burned. With video and interactive training via Bixby-enabled voice control, Samsung Health Smart Trainer elevates and personalizes the home workout experience. With two new exclusive features, Samsung is delivering the ultimate TV gaming experience. Super Ultrawide GameView gives gamers the option to play not only at the wide 21:9 aspect ratio, but even at the ultrawide 32:9 ratio. The wider field of view ensures gamers don’t miss a moment of the action. And Game Bar lets players quickly monitor and adjust critical aspects of play—whether that’s switching aspect ratios, checking input lag, or connecting a headset. Finally, FreeSync Premium Pro minimizes stuttering so players enjoy smooth picture quality throughout gameplay. With Google Duo, consumers can use their phone to initiate a high-quality, high-speed video call that up to 32 people can join—no matter which operating system they’re using. With Google Duo app, you can make video calls directly through an optional USB-connected And with smart camera solution, the camera can follow your movements. It will automatically zoom in and out so you’re just the right size, always in focus. PC on TV on Samsung devices allows consumers to connect a PC to the TV, enabling working and learning from home through the TV screen with a connected mouse, keyboard, and PC. Consumers can also directly access MS Office 365 through the TV’s web browser to create and edit documents. Simply install an Easy Connection app on your computer and log into your Samsung Account—and your TV will automatically connect to your PC, making working from the living room seamless. Opening a New Era of Breathtaking Picture Quality and Design With MICRO LED In 2021, the promise of Micro LED comes home. With the new MICRO LED line, Samsung has made Micro LED available in a traditional TV form factor for the first time—bringing consumers a breathtaking visual experience on an ultra-large next-generation screen. Available in 110’’, 99’’, and smaller sizes by the end of the year, the new MICRO LED line uses micrometer-sized LED lights to eliminate the backlight and color filters utilized in conventional displays. It is self-illuminating, producing stunningly lifelike colors and brightness through its 24 million individually controlled LEDs. And with a Monolith Design defined by over 99% screen-to-body ratio, all you will see is the breathtaking picture quality. Samsung has innovated its Smart TV features to take advantage of the new MICRO LED line’s massive screen. For example, consumers can use the 4Vue(Quad View) feature to comfortably watch up to four different content sources simultaneously on one screen. Viewers can connect multiple external devices to keep up with multiple playoff games at once, or stream a walkthrough while playing a video game—all in stunning quality and size. Finally, the new MICRO LED’s dynamic audio experience is just as immersive as its visuals. With Majestic Sound, it delivers breathtaking 5.1 channel sound with no external speaker—transforming any room into a luxurious home theater. Enhancing the Award-Winning Lifestyle TV Portfolio Samsung is also making enhancements to its 2021 Lifestyle TV line with new design and form factors to reflect the changing interests and tastes of consumers. Since launching in 2017, The Frame has redefined the television, transforming displays into stunning works of art, with over one million units sold. The 2021 version builds on The Frame’s innovative legacy, offering a more customizable experience in a slimmer form. The Frame is about half thinner4 compared to previous iterations, mirroring the depth of a traditional picture frame. New attachable bezel options come in five color options and two different customizable styles—Modern and Beveled—to match the aesthetic of whatever room The Frame is in. With a subscription to The Frame’s all-new Art Store, consumers will be able to enjoy 1,400+ carefully curated pieces. Samsung’s new AI-based auto-curation technology better analyzes individual consumer preferences to recommend artwork. With near-endless options for customization, Samsung’s lifestyle TV portfolio including The Frame, The Serif, The Sero, The Terrace and The Premiere immediately upgrade the décor of any home. For more information on Samsung’s 2021 TV lines, please visit https://www.samsung.com/. 1 Based on internal research. 2 Based on internal research. Results may vary upon usage circumstances. 3 Based on internal research. 4 46% slimmer than the previous models. * Revision has been made from ‘AAA batteries’ to ‘AA batteries’ with regards to the Solar Cell Remote Control on March 4, 2021. View the full article

The 8K Association (8KA), the cross-industry group dedicated to promoting the growth of the 8K ecosystem, has published an updated performance specification for the 8K Association Certified mark program. TV shoppers looking for televisions which offer four times the resolution of 4K TVs and meet the high-performance standards of the 8K Association Certified program will benefit from the newly adopted broader performance requirements applied to 8K TVs launching in the market starting this year. In addition to the existing requirements for resolution, luminance, color and connectivity standards that ensure powerful big-screen performance, the 8K Association Certified logo program now recognizes a broader set of video decoding standards that will promote the wider availability of 8K streaming content. In addition, the updated requirements ensure that 8K TVs enable access to advanced multi-dimensional surround sound formats for a truly immersive home theater experience. “During this difficult time when a communal movie theater experience is not possible for many, the availability of big-screen TVs with super-sharp 8K resolution offers an alternative cinematic option at home,” said Dan Schinasi, Director of Product Planning at Samsung Electronics America. “With the 8K Association’s support in promoting standards that include audio-video performance and interface standards, we expect that more homes will choose 8K TVs and more 8K content will be soon available in those homes in the year ahead, offering an exceptional home theater experience.” In addition to the 8KA’s updated performance standard for TVs, the organization expects to promote the growth of the 8K ecosystem with a focus on educating video content creators on the benefits of capturing, producing and distributing video in 8K resolution. Established just two years ago, the 8KA has grown to encompass a broad membership of leading companies that represent all the different parts of the ecosystem. From 8K content creators and technology suppliers that enable 8K content creation to semiconductor producers, panel manufacturers and the world’s biggest TV brands – 8KA member companies are at the forefront of delivering the most impressive visual images from lens to the living room. View the full article

A preview video for the ‘First Look 2021’ event, which will deliver a whole new visual experience to users, has been released. The event, which will be held online and begins at 11 a.m. EST on January 6, will be broadcast live on Samsung Newsroom and Samsung.com. Check out the video below and let the ‘First Look’ invitation cards take you on a journey to a whole new world of displays.  View the full article

Samsung Electronics today announced that the HDR10+ Adaptive feature will be supported in Samsung TVs, which improves the HDR10+ viewing experience in customers’ homes regardless of the lighting conditions. HDR10+ Adaptive supports Filmmaker Mode and adapts to brighter rooms so customers can enjoy a true cinematic experience with HDR10+ movies and television programs in any environment at home. HDR10+ Adaptive will launch globally with Samsung’s upcoming QLED TV products. While viewing HDR content is typically optimal in a darkened environment, customers’ viewing environments may vary greatly depending on a wide array of factors, including room lighting, time of day, and proximity to windows. The HDR10+ Adaptive feature supports dynamic scene-by-scene optimization, following guidelines from the HDR10+ LLC, and can now adjust to any room lighting condition, further enhancing the HDR experience. This feature utilizes the TV’s light sensor and ensures that the screen brings to life the creative intent without any loss of details or contrast. All Prime Video HDR content is automatically delivered in HDR10+. HDR10+ Adaptive on Samsung QLED TVs also supports Filmmaker Mode, a display setting that Samsung – as a member of the UHD Alliance – developed in partnership with filmmakers, studios and consumer electronics manufacturers. Samsung and Amazon Prime Video teamed up to enable Filmmaker Mode and HDR10+ Adaptive for Prime Video customers. “We are always looking for new features and innovations that can help improve the customer experience,” said BA Winston, Global Head of Video Playback and Delivery at Amazon Prime Video. “With HDR10+ and Filmmaker mode, Prime Video content is optimized regardless of the viewing environment and customers can enjoy movies and TV shows the way the filmmakers intended.” More contents are becoming available in HDR10+ with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and Samsung extending its technology partnership to include even more HDR10+ catalogues and new titles for distribution on OTT services around the world. “As consumers spend more time at home, Samsung has been looking for ways to enrich consumers’ entertainment experience in the comfort of their homes,” said Younghun Choi, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are delighted to offer smart picture quality solutions that will enhance consumers’ at-home HDR viewing experience, bringing original-quality cinematic experience to our consumers around the world.” “Samsung has demonstrated exceptional commitment in developing HDR10+ technology and bringing the industry together in support,” said Michael Aaronson, Senior Vice President, Digital Distribution, UPHE. “We are pleased to further expand our partnership with Samsung as we work to bring more titles into this advanced in-home viewing ecosystem to movie audiences worldwide.” UHD titles available on Prime Video also include HDR10+ so all Prime Video customers can enjoy the improved HDR experience with most Samsung QLED TVs regardless of room lighting conditions. For more information on Samsung TV, please visit www.samsung.com. View the full article

While most of us have had to shift our viewing patterns during this unprecedented year, this does not mean that we have to miss out on enjoying our favorite sporting events in a vivid and immersive environment. With QLED’s expansive viewing angle, precision resolution, remarkable detail and innovative, lifelike sound, immerse yourself in your favorite sporting events and feel like you’re right back there among the sights and sounds of the stadium. View the full article

Samsung Electronics is bringing its innovative technologies to screen experiences in a way you’ve never seen before. At The First Look 2021, Samsung will introduce its latest products, technologies and visions for the future of the display. Join us at Samsung Newsroom and Samsung.com on January 6 for a livestream of the event, which begins at 11 a.m. EST. See for yourself where a new vision for screens is set to begin. View the full article

Samsung Electronics announced that Samsung TV Plus,1 Samsung’s free Smart TV video service, which delivers instant access to news, sports, entertainment and more, has now expanded to 12 countries and 742 channels worldwide, bringing access to over 60 million Samsung Smart TVs. Since launching in 2015, Samsung TV Plus has become one of the most popular OTT streaming services. Integrated into Samsung’s Smart TV platform, TV Plus is 100% free, no subscriptions or credit cards needed. The service comes pre-installed on Samsung Smart TVs dating back to 2016 and has recently launched the service on select Samsung Galaxy devices2 in the U.S., making it even easier to watch live and on-demand TV anytime, anywhere. TV Plus now partners with around 300 of the world’s leading broadcast networks, content platforms and digital creators to provide Samsung Smart TV owners a premium at-home viewing experience. With the new expansion, Samsung continues to add top tier channels and content familiar with TV viewers. “Throughout the pandemic, we have seen how consumers spend time at home and how much they value access to great media content,” said Seline Sangsook Han, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We have seen TVs become the center of entertainment – from being a source of news to a streaming on-demand partner. With our latest expansion into new markets and content line-up, we hope that TV Plus continues to be a premium at-home destination for Samsung Smart TV users all over the world.” Recent platform expansions have brought the total market presence to 12, with new additions that include Australia and Brazil; existing markets include the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Korea. In 2021, Samsung will continue to expand TV Plus to other markets, with plans to launch in Mexico, India, Sweden and more European countries. Samsung Galaxy device users can also expect added functionality and additional devices to become available in the coming months. Earlier this month, the Consumer Technology Association awarded Samsung 44 new product and service innovations, with TV Plus honored as a CES 2021 Innovation Award Honoree for Streaming. For more information on Samsung TV Plus, please visit www.samsungtvplus.com. 1 Samsung TV Plus is currently available in select regions including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Korea, Australia, and Brazil. Service availability may vary by region and product. 2 Galaxy users in the U.S. who own a smartphone from the Galaxy S9, S10, S20, Note 9, Note 10, Note 20, Fold, Z Flip, Xcover, A51, and A71 devices are able to enjoy free TV. View the full article

We are pleased to announce the release of Tizen Studio version 4.1. This release includes new features to further improve the performance of the Tizen Studio IDE and its tools. Key features: • Tizen 5.5 platform emulators have been updated. • IoT Setup Manager has been updated. Deprecated: • Tizen RT IDE. For more information about the new features and bug fixes, see Release Notes. To download Tizen Studio, visit https://developer.tizen.org/development/tizen-studio/download. View the full article

While the festive season is likely to look slightly different than normal this year, one thing that promises to stay the same this year-end is the sheer variety of sports content available for fans all around the world. In order to make sure you never miss a single moment of the action of all the upcoming matches this season, Samsung QLED 8K is the perfect companion for avid sports fans thanks to its ultra-large screen, immersive display and revolutionary sound quality. Enjoyment Without Boundaries The roar of the crowd, the coordinated choreography of your favorite athletes and the sheer adrenaline of a win – nothing quite beats a sports game. But with Samsung QLED 8K, you can get closer to the action than ever before thanks to the ultra-wide TV’s revolutionary screen and sound technologies. Samsung QLED 8K provides users with the best viewing experience currently available in the market thanks to its 100% Color Volume capable of creating around 1 billion different colors, along with AI Quantum Processor 8K technology, which enhances even low-resolution streams into 8K quality content. Not only is the Samsung QLED 8K’s picture quality capable of transporting you right into the stadium or venue where your favorite game is being held, your QLED 8K further provides new levels of immersion and realism thanks to its ultra-large screen, Infinity Screen edges and ultra-slim design that ensure the screen blends right into the background and doesn’t distract from the action. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be a true sports match without the engaging running commentary of the referees or those satisfying impact noises – which is why QLED 8K’s dynamic sound makes it the optimum screen to enjoy your favorite match on. Samsung’s QLED 8Ks come with Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) feature that intelligently follows an object’s movement around the screen and projects it into the space around it with the TV’s built-in speakers for lifelike, three-dimensional audio experiences. Round-The-Clock Adrenaline With TV Plus and Smart TV In terms of finding all your favorite games, be they live or on-demand, the QLED 8K range has you sorted. Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free Smart TV video service automatically installed on Samsung Smart TVs in select regions, offers users access to over 100 channels including 13 leading on-demand sports programming channels. With no downloads, additional devices or credit card needed to use Samsung TV Plus, users can simply relax and tune into beIN SPORTS XTRA, fubo Sports Network and more without any inconvenience. Furthermore, Samsung Smart TV users can easily navigate the major Over the Top (OTT) content service applications with just a few clicks thanks to the Universal Guide feature, which harnesses the power of AI to provide personalized recommendations tailored to your viewing preferences. Avid fans should be sure to harness their Smart TV to enjoy Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video, a range of primetime and college sports including NFL, MLB, MLS and NASCAR on FOX Sports and world championship boxing on DAZN.1 And if you’re up at a late hour in order to catch an international match, you can rely on the Samsung QLED 8K’s Adaptive Picture feature to automatically adjust the TV’s settings to the light conditions around you in order to maintain the optimum screen quality, whatever the time of day. 1 Content services may vary by country. View the full article

Samsung Electronics announced the launch and pre-sale of the groundbreaking 110” Samsung MICRO LED beginning today in Korea. Unlike any other displays currently available on the market, Samsung MICRO LED delivers astonishing color vibrancy and brightness with self-emissive LED display technology. In 2018, Samsung’s first MICRO LED display was introduced in the form of “The Wall”— a system of configurable modules that could be installed professionally. With the new 110” MICRO LED, Samsung is delivering the MICRO LED experience in a traditional TV form for the first time. Unlike its modular counterpart, installation and calibration is streamlined since the new 110” MICRO LED model is prefabricated — offering stunning video, audio, and smart capabilities out of the box. In the past year, consumer interest and demand for large screen TVs has continued to grow rapidly. With the launch of the 110’’ MICRO LED, Samsung offers a breathtaking visual experience on an ultra-large next-generation TV display. “As consumers rely on their televisions for more functions than ever, we are incredibly excited to bring the 110” MICRO LED to the commercial market,” said Jonghee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung MICRO LED is going to redefine what premium at-home experiences mean for consumers around the world.” Innovative Engineering Delivers Next-Level Picture Quality Ultra-large screen enthusiasts want excellent picture quality with vibrant colors and stunning resolution. With Samsung’s latest engineering innovations, the 110’’ MICRO LED uses micrometer-sized LED lights to eliminate the backlight and color filters utilized in conventional displays. Instead, it is self-illuminating—producing light and color from its own pixel structures. It expresses 100% of the DCI and Adobe RGB color gamut, and accurately delivers wide color gamut images taken with high-end DSLR cameras. This results in stunning, lifelike colors and accurate brightness from the display’s 4K resolution and 8 million pixels. The 110’’ MICRO LED also has a processor powerful enough to live up to its display capabilities. Its all-new Micro AI Processor delivers stunning 4K HDR content — resulting in bright, vivid, realistic picture quality that is optimized to each scene. What’s more, the 110” MICRO LED makes that stunning picture quality last for the long term. MICRO LEDs are made of inorganic materials which are long-lasting and durable — allowing a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours, or over a decade. Previously, mass-producing a MICRO LED screen as small as 110’’ for simple home installation wasn’t possible. But Samsung innovated to make it a reality by developing cutting-edge surface mount technology — along with a new production process derived from its semiconductor business — making MICRO LED technology easier to manufacture, deliver, and install. These same innovations will allow Samsung to produce even smaller MICRO LED models in the future, so even more consumers can enjoy the breathtaking MICRO LED experience. Immersive Design and Premium Audio When you turn on the 110’’ MICRO LED, you are treated to a spectacularly immersive experience thanks to its 99.99% screen-to-body ratio. The black matrix and bezel have been completely removed from the display — leaving only the screen, delivering consumers the most immersive content experience. Samsung has innovated and optimized its Smart TV features to take advantage of the 110” MICRO LED’s massive screen. For example, consumers can use the Multi View feature to comfortably watch up to four sources of content simultaneously on up to 55’’ sized split screens. When using this feature, the viewers can connect multiple external devices and enjoy watching news, movies, and other apps simultaneously on one screen — so they can keep up with multiple sports at once, or stream a walkthrough while playing a video game, all in stunning quality and size. Plus, the 110’’ MICRO LED’s dynamic audio experience is just as immersive as its visuals. It includes an embedded Majestic Sound System that delivers breathtaking 5.1 channel sound with no external speaker—transforming any room into a luxurious home theater. And its Object Tracking Sound Pro feature identifies objects moving on screen, and projects the sound to follow the action — so when you are watching an action movie and an airplane flies overhead, it will feel like its engines are roaring above you. The 110’’ MICRO LED will be available globally in the first quarter of next year following today’s unveiling in Korea. For more information about the 110’’ MICRO LED, please visit: www.samsung.com. View the full article

Start Date Dec 09, 2020 Location YouTube The excitement has begun! Planning is underway for this year’s Best of Galaxy Store Awards, a ceremony that honors developers and designers who publish content in Galaxy Store. This is Samsung Developers' third year of recognizing excellence in design, innovation, and quality. We’re adding exciting new features to our awards ceremony and expanded our awards to include Bixby capsules. Join us as we reveal and celebrate this year's winners! When: December 9th, 5pm PST Where: Hosted virtually on YouTube View the full blog at its source

Galaxy AR Emoji SDK for Unity makes it possible to control the user’s AR Emoji avatar in a Unity application developed for Galaxy devices. You can add any custom animation movements to the user’s AR Emoji avatar in your Unity applications using the SDK (for example, a game application for Galaxy devices in which a user can select their own AR Emoji avatar as a player instead of the default game player). In this tutorial, you will learn how to add any custom animation to the AR Emoji avatar in a game or any other application using the Galaxy AR Emoji SDK for Unity. Prerequisites First, get your Samsung partnership approval from the Partnership Request Process to use the Galaxy AR Emoji SDK for Unity if you are not already a partner. The SDK team will approve the partnership through an immediate review as soon as they receive your partnership request. After getting your partnership approved, go through the basic tutorial by signing in to your account on the Galaxy AR Emoji Developer site. In order to animate the AR Emoji model, you need to load the model into your application (described in the “Importing the AR Emoji Model” section in the basic tutorial mentioned above). As our project name is “Animation Tutorial,” we recommend keeping the same name for your project. Besides, you can also add a feature to your app using an Android intent so that a user can create a new avatar by opening the AR Emoji camera directly from your app for a better user experience. Now, you are ready to proceed with this tutorial to animate the loaded model on Galaxy devices. Animate the AR emoji To animate the avatar, you need the following two components, Animation clip: the animation data containing information about animation movement. Animator controller: allows you to arrange a set of animation clips and associated animation transitions for a character or object. Get familiar with how these two components work together to incorporate animation into the AR Emoji model. For this tutorial, you should understand these components in order to follow the successive sections to complete the project. Create animation clips Our project facilitates four different types of animation for the loaded model, so we need four animation clips. The AR Emoji supports only the ANIM format clips (see how to create animation clips for the AR Emoji using the “AnimationGenTool.unitypackage” package of the SDK). For this project, we use the animation clips included in the SDK (see Assets → Resources → Animations → Mecanim). But you can use any custom clips created by using tools such as 3Ds Max, AutoCAD Maya, or tools downloaded from other sources, like Mixamo. Figure 1: The animation clips included in the SDK. One more thing you need to make sure is that every animation clip has the Loop Time option selected so that the AR Emoji doesn’t stop animating after a single animation movement. To do this, select the animation clip and check the Loop Time in the Inspector. Do not forget to do the same for all the animation clips. Figure 2: Enabling the Loop Time for Hip Hop Dancing animation clip. Our animation clips are now ready. In the next section, we will configure our animator controller for utilizing these clips. Configure the animator controller Although you can create your animator controller, the default “AnimController” is available under Assets → Resources. Figure 3: The default animator controller for the loaded AR Emoji. You need to connect the controller to the loaded model. Follow the steps below: Open the “GettingAREmojiSample” scene, select the “GLTFComponent” in the hierarchy, and then make sure to check the Use Legacy Animator in the Inspector. Add the animation clips and set appropriate transition conditions between them. Double-Click on “AnimController” to open the Animator tab, which shows the state machine of the controller. Figure 4: The state machine of the animator controller. Drag all the animation clips to the state machine and place them in a convenient position. Note that “Idle” is the default animation state for our model. Figure 5: Drag the animation clips into the state machine. It's time to make the transitions between the states and set appropriate conditions. To do so, you need to create one Boolean parameter for each state. Click the + button and then Bool in the Parameters tab as shown in the diagram below, and name them according to their states (for example, walk, jump, yelling, and dance). Figure 6: Create a Boolean parameter for each state (animation clip). Right-click on the “Idle” state, select Make Transition, and click on any other state (for example, “Hip Hop Dancing”). As a result, a transition arrow from “Idle” to the selected state is generated. Select the arrow as shown below and then perform the following tasks in the Inspector: Figure 7: Select the transition arrow. Uncheck the Has Exit Time option for the transition. Figure 8: Disable the Has Exit Time option. Add a condition for the transition by clicking on the + button. Figure 9: Add a condition for the transition. Select the appropriate parameter (for example, “dance” for the “Hip Hop Dancing” state). Figure 10: Select the parameter for the condition. Set the value according to the transition condition (in this example, true, which indicates the model will go from the “Idle” to “Hip Hop Dancing” state). Figure 11: Select the condition value for the transition. We have completed the transition condition for the “Idle“ to “Hip Hop Dancing” state. For the reverse transition, “Hip Hop Dancing“ to “Idle,” everything is the same as above, except the parameter value. The value should be false as the avatar will go back from the “Hip Hop Dancing” state to the “Idle” state. This completes the full transition condition for the “Hip Hop Dancing” state. Complete the transition conditions in the same way for the rest of the states (Jump, Walk, and Yelling). The final state machine should look like the following image: Figure 12: The complete state machine for our project. Modify the application UI So far, we have created our animation clips and the animator controller. Now, we need to modify the application UI for the users to interact with the application. As a result, they can animate their avatars by simply tapping a button. We need to add four buttons to the canvas of the “GettingAREmojiSample” scene, which enables the different animations for our model. Follow the steps below: Open the “GettingAREmojiSample” scene, add a button to the panel of the canvas (see the screenshot below), rename it as you wish (for example, “jump_button”), and set the width to 200 and the height to 60 in the Inspector. Figure 13: Create a button in UI and configure the property in the Inspector. Duplicate the button three times to make a total of four buttons, rename and position them conveniently (as shown below), and change the button texts to indicate the appropriate animation actions. Figure 14: Add four buttons in the UI and name them according to their actions. The UI is now ready along with the animator controller. Modify the script The final task is to modify the script so that tapping on a button changes the value of the corresponding Boolean parameter within the controller. At this stage, if we can somehow change the value of the Boolean parameter at run-time, the model will be animated accordingly. To change the value by interacting with the buttons, we need to edit the “ButtonBehaviour.cs” script which is attached to the canvas of the “GettingAREmojiSample” scene. Perform the following steps: Open the “ButtonBehaviour.cs” script from the Assets → Scripts in any editor (such as Visual Studio). Declare the variables for the four buttons at the beginning of the ButtonBehaviour class, as shown below: public Button jumpBtn; public Button yellBtn; public Button walkBtn; public Button danceBtn; Add references to these variables from the UI buttons. Go back to Unity and select the canvas in the Hierarchy. In the Inspector, the references are empty for the button variables. Drag each of the buttons from the panel in the Hierarchy to their corresponding empty fields in the Inspector. Figure 15: Add button references to button variables. Add listeners to the button variables at the end of the Start() method, as shown below: walkBtn.onClick.AddListener(OnClickWalk); yellBtn.onClick.AddListener(OnClickYell); jumpBtn.onClick.AddListener(OnClickJump); danceBtn.onClick.AddListener(OnClickDance); Declare four methods/functions for each listener, immediately below the Start() method: private void OnClickDance(){ } private void OnClickJump(){ } private void OnClickYell(){ } private void OnClickWalk(){ } When a user taps on a button in our application, the corresponding method is invoked at run-time. Therefore, we have to write some code inside each function to change the value of the corresponding Boolean parameter. To access the Boolean parameters within the animator controller, we need to declare an animator variable in the script. Write a line of code to declare the variable at the beginning of the class and add the Update() method inside the class. public Animator anim; void Update(){ if (anim == null){ GameObject o = GameObject.Find("rig_GRP"); if (o != null){ anim = o.GetComponent<Animator>(); } } } Finally, when a specific button is tapped by a user, the corresponding Boolean value should be set as true and others as false in the invoked function. See below for an example for one method and complete the others in the same way. private void OnClickDance(){ anim.SetBool("walk", false); anim.SetBool("yelling", false); anim.SetBool("jump", false); anim.SetBool("dance", true); } Now, save the project and click the Build and Run. It installs and launches the application in your Galaxy device which should be connected to your PC through a USB cable. After loading the AR Emoji, you can animate it by tapping any of the animation buttons. See the screenshots below from our demo project. Figure 16: The avatar is being animated. Conclusion Hopefully, you have enjoyed this tutorial and learned about AR Emoji using the AR Emoji SDK for Unity. You can use this knowledge to develop more entertaining applications that incorporate the AR Emoji avatars with other custom animation clips. You can also develop Android games using your own AR Emoji with this animation technique. View the full blog at its source