Samsung Brings Game Developers and Tizen Together at GDC 2016
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By Samsung Newsroom
“Tizen is a homegrown platform that continues to evolve”
– Jeongsik Cheon, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics
Viewers around the world have come to expect more from their TVs. Today, people don’t just flip through channels but also use TVs to access streaming services, workout routines and social media. They even connect their home appliances to their TVs, expanding what used to be a viewing device into the centerpiece of a smart home ecosystem.
These new experiences require open collaboration with service providers and greater compatibility with a plethora of devices. So 10 years ago, Samsung’s Visual Display Business made the bold decision to forgo its tried-and-true closed operating system (OS) and create an open one. That open OS is Tizen.
▲ Since its launch in 2015, Tizen has become a dominant OS for smart TVs.
Hundreds of millions of TVs now feature Tizen, which is poised to bring more artificial intelligence (AI) features into the fold.
Five developers from Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business recently shared behind-the-scenes stories with Samsung Newsroom about how they revolutionized the TV experience. Kwangsub Byun, Jeongsik Cheon and Youngsoo Kang helped the transition to Tizen a decade ago. Sunyong Jung and Seoyoung Hwang currently fine-tune Tizen for Samsung’s TVs.
▲ (From left to right) Youngsoo Kang, Jeongsik Cheon, Kwangsub Byun, Sunyong Jung and Seoyoung Hwang
New Wine, New Wineskin
First deployed in 2011, Orsay was the stable, proven OS that Samsung used for its TVs. As a closed platform, Orsay followed the traditional TV model — focusing on effectively handling signals from each physical input with additional services largely depending on features planned, designed and programmed prior to shipment.
A closed operating system is completely owned and controlled by its primary developer testing, maintenance and quality management easier. But this very exclusivity makes it hard for external players to make contributions.
▲ The evolution of Samsung’s TV operating systems
In contrast, the source code in an open operating system is available to the public and can be more freely modified and distributed. This makes it easier to attract third-party developers as well as create and share development tools.
Tizen is an open platform, running on open-source software. This openness was the main reason Samsung decided to make the switch, explained Byun.
“The concept behind Tizen was to bring in various outside developers and expand the ecosystem,” he said. Rather than imagine and create each and every new TV experience, Samsung would commit to its philosophy of open collaboration.
▲ Youngsoo Kang explains the differences between Orsay and Tizen.
Another difference between the two operating systems is the mode of processing, Kang explained. Tizen is capable of carrying out multiple operations simultaneously, whereas Orsay only handled one task at a time.
Kang used a transportation analogy to explain the difference. Orsay is like a bus that many people share, even though each passenger has a different destination.
“Each person boards the bus with their luggage,” he said. “When one rider encounters a challenge, everyone on the bus is affected.”
Tizen, on the other hand, is more like a road that people travel on in their own vehicles.
“Everyone has their own ride,” Kang continued. “If one driver has a problem, it doesn’t affect the other drivers on the road. Each driver can solve their own problems.”
For a smart TV — which must be flexible enough to meet customers’ varied needs — he said Tizen’s multiprocessing capabilities make it a more efficient choice.
“I wondered why we had to take such a tough path when our TV business was doing well with Orsay. But looking back, Tizen was the right way.”
– Youngsoo Kang, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics
A Leap of Faith
Buy-in was one thing, but execution was another. A fundamental change such as an OS switch is no small endeavor. Tizen’s multiprocessing design presented several technical complications, and having to comply with open standards added to the challenge. The team was under significant pressure.
“We knew there would be no turning back,” said Byun. “And we were all in. We were going to apply Tizen to all our models, not just some of them.”
Compared to the development of Orsay, not only were processes such as coding, testing and quality checking totally altered, but the sheer number of people involved in the project increased as well. Many of them worked in different time zones.
Yet, there were also advantages to changing to an open-source platform. For one, the work proceeded faster with each step.
“When developing Orsay, developers had to generate lines of code one by one and wait for hours to run simulations,” he added. “Working overnight was a daily routine. We told each other that it was like working with a stone ax.”
With open-source modules and development tools to work with, building Tizen for Samsung TVs became a faster process.
▲ (From left) Orsay developers Youngsoo Kang, Jeongsik Cheon and Kwangsub Byun
To maximize the advantage of an open-source platform, the Tizen team focused on creating a streamlined environment for the developers, publishing the application programming interface (API) and using open standards.
The developers also made efforts to distribute software development kits (SDKs) while opening resources to make the architecture and licensing more accessible. As a result, Samsung Smart TV users now enjoy a wealth of external apps — such as Netflix, Spotify and Apple TV — in addition to Samsung’s own services.
“The transition to Tizen was like breaking out of our shells,” said Kang, one of the more senior developers. “Sometimes I wondered why we had to take such a tough path when our TV business was doing well with Orsay. But looking back, Tizen was the right way. Now, I’m ready for the next step.”
New Smart Experiences Through Tizen
With Tizen, Samsung expanded its sphere of expertise in TVs beyond hardware to software and greatly impacted the TV ecosystem. Tizen is considered the ideal operating system to advance the smart home concept, since it not only connects devices to each other but also gives users access to a broad range of interconnected services and content.
As of the end of 2023, Tizen powered 270 million Samsung Smart TVs — making it one of the most widely deployed operating systems in the TV industry. Given the positive feedback from the market, Jung couldn’t be more proud.
“Samsung TVs are structured very intuitively,” said Jung. “When you look at the menu, you immediately understand the whole interface. There are only a few buttons to press or movements to make to arrange the settings as you want. We’ve drastically reduced the number of steps required to make Tizen superior to other operating systems.”
▲ (From left) Tizen developers Sunyong Jung and Seoyoung Hwang
“Even though it’s an open-source platform, many advantages come from the fact that we developed it ourselves,” Jung continued. “We can freely try out new services and, when they’re ready, provide them right away. Samsung TV Plus is a great example of how we introduced a new streaming and video-on-demand service that’s streamlined with prior TV experiences that users are familiar with. We’re also receiving great feedback about the new Samsung Gaming Hub.”
Tizen has also made smart TV services an important revenue stream. Samsung TV Plus and Samsung Gaming Hub complement TV sales by generating profit after sales, Jung explained.
“We’re constantly making efforts to improve the platform and expand our lineup of licensed products to increase our market appeal,” he said.
“Tizen is a home-grown platform that continues to evolve,” agreed Cheon, who took part in the transition from Orsay to Tizen.
“I want to leave behind something meaningful to those who come after me.”
– Seoyoung Hwang, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics
Tizen as an AI Champion
▲ Seoyoung Hwang explains how Tizen will allow AI technology to shine.
AI is becoming the focus of increasing attention in the tech industry. Hwang points out that Tizen played a key role in equipping TVs with AI functions.
“Like upscaling, Samsung TVs have been using AI technology to improve picture and sound quality for many years,” she said. “The processing power and flexibility that Tizen provides is a big part of how that’s possible.”
Thanks to Tizen and some dramatic hardware upgrades, Samsung TVs now offer more AI features that holistically improve the user experience.
“2024 Samsung QLED 8K can recognize game genres and automatically set the best screen mode for a particular game,” she said. “The TV can also personalize content recommendations based on the user’s preferences.”
AI functions on the Tizen platform will soon become more advanced and further heighten the user experience, she added.
Since its launch, Tizen was a flexible operating system that supported various other form factors. For Samsung’s Visual Display Business, smart TVs and monitors, beam projectors and business-to-business signage products like The Wall add to the list of Tizen-powered devices. Jung says that newer devices, such as the AI companion Ballie, will also be equipped with Tizen.
“We can use the high-performance computing resources embedded in Ballie as an edge device to complement various in-home uses,” Hwang said. “This is an exemplary case of using AI technology through hyperconnectivity. To provide various AI services, we need platform technologies such as cloud, on-device and edge. I think the Tizen platform will play a pivotal role in this regard.”
Eyes Ahead to the Future of TV
Tizen was born from a bold decision Samsung made to provide the best experiences to its users. This paved the way for smart TVs. Now, Samsung continues to help foster the use of AI across various form factors.
▲ (From left to right) Youngsoo Kang, Sunyong Jung, Byun Kwangsub, Jeongsik Cheon and Seoyoung Hwang
When asked what Tizen meant to her, Hwang expressed respect for the developers at Samsung who took that initial leap of faith.
“Embedded in Tizen is the wisdom of my senior colleagues who paved the way,” she said. “I want to leave behind something meaningful to those who come after me as well.”
“I think of Tizen as a ladder to the future,” Jung added. “The possibilities are infinite.”
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By Samsung Newsroom
Gamers discovered new devices and highly awaited titles at Summer Game Fest — a global celebration of video games and their creators that started on June 7 at YouTube Theater in Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. Here, Samsung showcased its 2024 lineup of monitors including the newest OLED gaming monitor series.
▲ Summer Game Fest highlighted the latest in gaming technology and unveiled upcoming releases to gamers around the world.
Fans of all things gaming around the world tuned into the opening livestream, while 6,000 attendees gathered in person to see exciting announcements and demos from the biggest brands. During the opening livestream, attendees experienced new Samsung monitors — including the latest Odyssey OLED G8 — now available for preorder.
▲ Samsung proudly announced the Odyssey OLED G8 during the Summer Game Fest livestream. OLED Glare Free technology significantly reduces glare from light or reflections.
At the Samsung x YouTube Gaming Afterparty, well-known game creators and industry insiders had a chance to preview the best gaming devices on the market. With the new Odyssey OLED series, attendees were the first to play new titles, such as “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2” from Focus, before their release.
“You need a high refresh rate for games as fast as the new Warhammer one that we get to play here,” said a gamer at the Afterparty. “The Odyssey OLED G6’s 360Hz refresh rate makes the action super smooth, so you can easily aim and see enemy movement without any annoying blur.”
▲ Attendees were the first in the world to play “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2” on the Odyssey OLED G8.
This year’s Odyssey OLED series includes the 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8 in 4K UHD with a 240Hz refresh rate and the 27-inch OLED G6 in QHD with a 360Hz refresh rate. Both deliver outstanding OLED picture quality with a near-instant 0.03-millisecond gray-to-gray response time for ultra-smooth, responsive gameplay.
The Odyssey series’ latest features are especially geared toward creating an optimal gaming environment. The new OLED Glare Free technology minimizes light reflection and delivers vivid, clear colors so gamers can enjoy crisp, clean picture quality. In addition, both OLED models feature Samsung OLED Safeguard+ — a proprietary burn-in protection technology that combines a pulsating heat pipe with a dynamic cooling system to help prevent burn-in by reducing temperatures at the core.
▲ “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2” displayed on the 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8, demonstrating the monitor’s vivid colors and clarity even in a brightly lit room.
YouTuber SugarStar was one of the gaming personalities who experienced the new monitors. “Graphics look fantastic on these monitors. The colors seem so vibrant and true to life, even without putting the brightness all the way up like you do on other monitors. All of the games here look great,” she said. “I also use an Odyssey monitor at home, and I love that I don’t need a PC connected to play. It made it easy to keep playing (console) games with Samsung Gaming Hub before my PC was built.”
▲ SugarStar played “Kingdom Hearts” on the ViewFinity S7, a monitor that balances productivity and gaming performance.
The new Odyssey OLED gaming monitors showcased at Summer Game Fest include HDR10+ GAMING capabilities on select games like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Red Dead Redemption 2.” Players will automatically experience deeper color, contrast and brightness — without lengthy, manual calibration.
“If it ain’t like this, I don’t want it,” said YouTuber HipHopGamer, a popular gaming personality. “When you can move your mouse this fast, without blurring or stuttering, that’s what refresh rate is all about. It’s happening here on the Odyssey OLED G8, with one of the biggest games ever made, ‘Red Dead Redemption 2.’ There’s no stutter. There’s no blur.”1
Unlocking a premium visual experience, HDR10+ GAMING automatically adjusts the high-dynamic range (HDR) and the default HDR brightness of any game based on the specific capabilities of the monitor. By precisely calibrating color, contrast and brightness to each individual display, details are accurate even in dark shadows and bright highlights for more engaging gameplay.
Game developer Przemyslaw Czatrowski of CD Projekt Red, the company that brought the world “Cyberpunk 2077,” had only good things to say about HDR10+ Gaming. “Now, ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ with HDR looks just how I imagined it to be, ramping up the immersion,” he said.
▲ HipHopGamer played one of the biggest games of all time, “Red Dead Redemption 2,” with HDR10+ GAMING technology on the Odyssey OLED G8.
▲ “Cyberpunk 2077” impressed gamers with HDR10+ GAMING technology on the Odyssey OLED G9.
Guests also responded enthusiastically to the Smart Monitor M8 and ViewFinity S7 monitors which balance productivity with gaming and everyday use.
▲ 2024 ViewFinity S7 and Smart Monitor M8
Gaming continues to grow in new and exciting ways, and Summer Game Fest proved to be one of the industry’s standout events. This year, Samsung again proved its commitment to new and seasoned gamers through its future-defining monitors and innovative features.
Samsung’s participation in Summer Game Fest highlights its longstanding partnership with Hollywood Park, where Samsung technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the 300-acre mixed-use campus. During the event, attendees witnessed how a suite of Samsung digital signage at YouTube Theater creates the ultimate live experience. Game reveals and showcases were visible on two 26-by-14-foot Samsung LED Smart Signage displays installed on both sides of the 6,100-square-foot stage, fully immersing attendees in gameplay previews and building excitement for upcoming releases.
▲ Samsung LED Smart Signage at YouTube Theater in Hollywood Park
1 Performance may vary based on game and system settings.
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By Samsung Newsroom
Samsung Electronics today announced that it has become an official partner for Netflix’s upcoming immersive popup experience, “Squid Game: The Trials.” Powered by Samsung’s cutting-edge technology, the immersive pop culture experience brings one of the most engaging, interactive forms of gameplay with Samsung’s latest Smart TVs and Galaxy smartphones.
Fans of the Netflix mega-hit series “Squid Game” and “Squid Game: The Challenge” can now sign up for a one-of-a-kind experience that takes visitors through the iconic sets and lets them compete in games drawn from and inspired by the shows. The new “Squid Game: The Trials” is currently open to visitors to experience in Los Angeles and will run into the new year with plans to expand to various cities around the world.
“We are thrilled to partner with Netflix to offer industry-leading entertainment experiences,” said Cheolgi Kim, EVP & Head of Sales and Marketing of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through Neo QLED 8K’s stunning picture quality, fans and participants will be able to immerse themselves in the environment and create unforgettable memories.”
“Squid Game: The Trials” takes advantage of Samsung’s cutting-edge TVs and Galaxy mobile devices across the individual games to provide the ultimate immersive experience. Participants will navigate the experiential zones surrounded by Samsung’s flagship Neo QLED 8K, 4K and The Frame, which are placed to enhance the intensity and excitement of the games.
At the entrance, Samsung’s flagship Neo QLED 8K welcomes guests by showcasing the “Squid Game: The Challenge” trailer. Thanks to the Neural Quantum Processor 8K, the Neo QLED upscales content into breathtaking 8K resolution in real-time, allowing participants to immediately immerse themselves in the vivid and detailed world of the “Squid Game” universe.
Visitors also can enjoy Samsung’s latest mobile innovation through various experiences with the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung provides opportunities to experience the most up-to-date technology by incorporating their key features with the most memorable scenes from “Squid Game.”
“Samsung’s longstanding relationship with Netflix is based on a shared purpose, which is to fuel passions and help people discover new worlds,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “It is through our open and collaborative relationship that we are able to open portals into new and immersive experiences.”
While playing “Squid Game”’s most iconic Red Light, Green Light the Galaxy S23 Ultra will capture key moments of gameplay with Hyperlapse video and high-quality pictures.
With the precision it brings, the S Pen serves as a crucial component in the Digital Dalgona Challenge by helping players throw themselves into the mind-gripping and pressure-sensitive task of cutting delicate shapes out of the Korean candy. Visitors can enjoy the game on the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s immersive ultra-wide screen and challenge themselves with five levels of difficulty. Players can also check where they rank against competitors on the leaderboard. Furthermore, the S Pen can also be used to capture in-game photos for sharing after completion.
Photos from both games can be shared instantly via Quick Share1 or downloaded through email. There will also be a FlexCam Selfie Kiosk, where the Galaxy Z Flip5’s FlexCam enables visitors to take hands-free photos from different angles and download them to be framed.
Following the games, participants can retreat to the VIP room, where they can observe ongoing challenges on The Frame’s expansive 85-inch screen. The Lifestyle TV — with its latest Matte Display technology — offers a premium viewing experience that replicates the commanding ambiance of the Front Man’s quarters in the series.
Availability
Fans of the Netflix “Squid Game” universe can find more information and buy tickets to the Los Angeles “Squid Game: The Trials” at https://www.netflix.com/tudum/squid-game-the-trials or on Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are now available and running for a limited time through the new year.
1 Quick Share is available on Galaxy Smartphones, Galaxy Tabs, and Galaxy Books, on Android 10 and One UI2.1 and above. Available devices and features may subject to change. Requires BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and Wi-Fi Direct connection to enable Quick Share.
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