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Samsung’s mobile bug bounty program pays up to $200,000
Samsung is the latest in a long line of tech titans to announce its very own bug bounty program. As its title suggests, the newly-launched Mobile Security Rewards Program will pay users for reporting vulnerabilities in the company's latest firmware. If you spot a weakness, and back it up with solid research, you could pocket up to $200,000. That's in line with the sums offered by the likes of Google (for Android) and Apple. Like those companies (along with Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter), the rewards program sees Samsung reaching out to researchers to help squash bugs.
ICYMI: Smart surfboard, robot hand that can learn and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-234543{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-234543, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-234543{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-234543").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A University of Washington robot hand has an algorithm in it that knows what works and what doesn't when handling things, and can improve itself over time. Samsung Brasil made a smart surfboard for a professional surfer that shows water conditions and incoming texts, and researchers hacked movies to include the visual style of art masters. Mass transit fiends will want to know how the hyperloop test in Nevada went. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
How Samsung became the king of CES and where it's going next
Long before Transformers director Michael Bay choked onstage at Samsung's lavish CES 2014 press conference, the Korean company was just another electronics outfit begging for attention. But after decades at CES, Samsung is now the undisputed king of the show. Its blowout media events are the largest and most difficult to get into. Samsung Electronics CEO BK Yoon is kicking off the show next month by hosting the prestigious opening keynote. And it's one of the few tech giants left standing at CES, as Microsoft and others abandon it. Samsung's glorious rise mirrors its ascent in the mobile industry, and it's also yet another example of the company's oft-repeated formula for success: Time, money and perseverance lead to victory.
Analysis: Only one-third of Samsung smartphone sales are of iPhone class
Daniel Eran Dilger at AppleInsider took a look at the numbers reported at Samsung Mobile's investor meeting today and reports that numbers show that the company sold fewer high-end smartphones than Apple this year. News from the meeting wasn't too upbeat for Samsung Mobile. Dilger notes that the executives chose to focus attention on the company's future plans to accelerate acquisitions to move focus away from lagging sales of high-end smartphones. Since 2010, Samsung has made about 14 acquisitions. Apple has made about the same number of acquisitions in the past year, and Google has made about one acquisition a week since 2010. Dilger quoted a Bloomberg report noting that Samsung "has used sales of cheaper handsets in emerging markets to stoke earnings in mobiles as growth in high-end devices slows amid market saturation." Samsung's latest quarterly earnings report shows that "high-end model shipments stayed at similar level QoQ" -- indicating stalled growth -- while Apple's iPhone sales were up 26 percent over the quarter a year ago. That's not all of the bad news for Apple's primary competitor in the smartphone market: Dilger points out that all of those devices sold by Apple were high-end, while roughly one-third (126 million of total projected 2014 sales of 360 million devices) will actually be premium models like the Galaxy S and Note series. Dilger ends his piece with the observation that "Apple also relies very upon iPhone sales, but it also has profitable Mac, iPad and iTunes, software and service related businesses, which generate 10 times the profit of Samsung's struggling Chromebook netbook, Android tablet, and Windows PC sales." For more details and graphs illustrating the situation that Apple's archrival is in, be sure to take a look at the AppleInsider piece. Image: Samsung, via AppleInsider
Samsung's chief mobile product officer leaves the company
It isn't offering many details for the time being, but Samsung has confirmed to The New York Times that Kevin Packingham, one of its top mobile execs, has left the company. In a statement, Samsung would only say that "we thank Kevin for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors," offering no indication whether the move was a voluntary one or not. Packingham had served as the chief product officer for Samsung Mobile, and oversaw the launch of a number of devices in Samsung's Galaxy line during his tenure, most recently including the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. That tenure has proven to be a relatively short one, though; Packingham only left Sprint in 2010 to join Samsung.
Live from Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012!
Judging from the rows and rows of Samsung flag lining the outside the Messe Berlin, the company's planning another big show for this year's IFA. This time last year, the company took the wraps off of its industry-shaping Galaxy Note, and if all goes according to plan, there's seems a fairly significant chance that 2012 will see a sequel. And, knowing Samsung, that's not all we're in store for today. Hold on tight and join us after the break. August 29, 2012 1:00 PM EDT
Samsung's SGH-i667 'Mandel' Windows Phone surfaces, still shrouded in mystery
Sure, today's gadget news is saturated with Samsung's new Galaxy S III, but lest we forget that it's been a hot minute since its released a Windows Phone device. The last we saw were the Focus S and Flash, and that was right around when the Nokia Lumia 800 and Galaxy Nexus were still fresh in our minds. Well, this can only be classified as a potential leak, but two purported photos of another Samsung WP7.5 device, codenamed "Mandel," was recently posted at the WPXAP forums. While there's not much in the way of hard details, according to WPCentral, this is the white, LTE-enabled SGH-i667 that passed through the FCC during March with AT&T bands, but then apparently nixed before it could hit stores. Along with the photo, a screenshot from the Zune software shows it having only 8GB of capacity, which likely means it wasn't slated to be a premium offering. That's about all the info that's surfaced for now on the Mandel, but feel free to hit up the links below for more details and analysis. Here's hoping that Samsung will announce more love for Windows Phone soon.
Samsung Mobile Unpacked liveblog!
Ready to cut through that packing tape and see which smartphone Samsung has in store for 2012? The next Galaxy will make its debut on this very page, so click on through to our liveblog for the play-by-play at Earls Court in London. The fun gets started at 2PM ET on Thursday, May 3rd, listed in your local time zone just below. March 7, 2012 2:00 PM EST
Samsung unpacks the Galaxy tomorrow, we'll be liveblogging the London event right here!
Is that Galaxy S II feeling a bit stale? It's just about time for Samsung to name a successor to the massively popular smartphone, live at the company's Mobile Unpacked event at the Earls Court Olympic venue. We'll surely see a brand new mainstream handset make its debut, but what's not quite as clear is what other gadgets Samsung plans to show off in London. With defined divisions, the Korean device maker's "Mobile Unpacked" event title implies that Android phones will steal the show, so it's unlikely that we'll see an updated Tab or two. We have 24 hours and change to find out for sure, however, so bookmark this page to stay abreast of the news as it happens in our liveblog. The show kicks off at 2PM ET tomorrow (7PM local time in London) -- you'll find your local time translation just below. May 3, 2012 2:00 PM EDT
Samsung Galaxy S II getting ICS upgrade March 15th, says Israeli Facebook page
It may come slightly too late for Caesar, but a post has appeared on Samsung Mobile IL's Facebook page saying that the long-awaited Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update will reach GSII owners on March 15th. We're not fluent in Hebrew, and apparently neither is Google Translate, but it does suggest that the update will land on "tens of thousands of Galaxy SII devices" purchased in that country, either from "cellular companies in the country or directly from [Samsung]." Mazel tov and mabrouk. Let's just hope it signals the start of the global roll-out.Update: Amir, one of our readers from Tel Aviv has offered us a direct translation of the post: "We promised that we are working about that. You have waited patiently. And it's coming in March 15th: Android version 4, ICS, for tens of thousands of the Galaxy S2 owners that purchased it from the cellular company in Israel or directly from us. We are very excited in here towards the launch, hope that you too :)"[Thanks, Amir]
CyanogenMod founder joins Samsung Mobile, promises to make Android 'more awesome'
We already knew Samsung loved the guys at CyanogenMod, but we didn't think they'd start absorbing parts of its development team. According to Steve Kondik's Facebook page, the Android facade's head sculptor is setting up shop at Samsung Mobile. Sammy's new software engineer told his fans that although his 'side project,' CyanogenMod, is not affiliated with his employer in any way, he will be "working on making Android more awesome." Makes sense, we heard Samsung's phones were looking for a fresh coat of awesome. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung plans August 29th mobile launch... Galaxy S II finally landing in US?
Well, we have few other details beyond what you see in that invite above, but you better believe we'll be in New York City on August 29th. We're definitely expecting Samsung to announce a Galaxy S II launch in the US, especially given Samsung Mobile President Shin Jong-kyun's promise of a release "sometime in August" -- along with that intriguing II graphic in the invite up top. We also have on good authority that the S II will be launching on several carriers at once, which likely explains why Samsung is putting on the show, rather than deferring to a single partner. Check back on the 29th for the full scoop, and head on over to our full review to whet your appetite in the meantime. Update: We noticed that the invite image itself is named "Galaxy_S_II_Invite_v2.jpg," so we're gonna go out on a limb here and say that the S II will definitely be released.
Android-friendly Samsung CTO abandons ship for Citigroup
Android lost a major ally at Samsung Mobile this week, with the departure of Omar Khan. The CTO is leaving the hardware manufacturer for the industry analyst side of things, joining Citigroup's mobile solutions team. Khan has led the charge on a number of Android-based devices, including, recently, the S II and various other products in the Galaxy line -- he also made a memorable appearance on The Engadget Show, back in August of last year. Samsung's Nick Dicarlo and Gavin Kim will be stepping in to grab some of Khan's PR responsibilities at the company.
Sprint plays the green card, drops $10 data surcharge on Froyo-based Samsung Replenish
Sprint's been playing the all-encompassing Eco-Friendly card for some time now, and it looks as if last year's Restore (now available on Virgin Mobile USA for $79.99 off-contract) is gaining an ultra-green sibling. Samsung's newly unveiled Replenish feels a bit like an Android 2.2-powered, somewhat matured BlackJack, boasting a 2.8-inch QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera / camcorder, inbuilt WiFi / GPS, a microSD card slot, an optional solar door charging accessory and a trio of color options (black, blue and -- our personal favorite -- "raspberry pink"). Curious about eco-cred? It'll ship May 8th for $49.99 (on a two-year contract) with fully recyclable packaging and a casing that includes 34.6 percent post-consumer recycled plastic content. Oh, and there's a postage-paid envelope to recycle your old phone, too. Folks opting to throw Ma Earth a bone by picking one up must activate it on an Everything Data plan, but the carrier will be waiving the $10 monthly premium data add-on charge to -- get this -- "make it easier for customers to make eco-friendly buying decisions." Translation: you'll buy whatever's cheapest. Full release is after the break. %Gallery-121381%
Samsung's CTIA press conference posted online, skinny new Galaxy Tabs shown off (video)
We were there, talking you through the entire thing in our liveblog, but if you want a more personal taste of what Samsung's CTIA Wireless 2011 keynote was like, the company's thoughtfully put it up on YouTube for general consumption. It features the introduction of the audacious new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 models, both ever so slightly thinner than Apple's iPad 2, with the latter also claiming the title of being "the thinnest and lightest large-screen tablet in the industry." You can see it above, right alongside the Galaxy S II, which is in itself one of the skinniest smartphones you can hope to buy. Make your way past the break for the full presentation.
Live from Samsung's Android event!
We're here live at Samsung's mysterious Android event... actually, it's not that mysterious since we're dead certain we're about to see the well-leaked Continuum make its official debut. Regardless, we're here and we're bloggin', so settle in and let's see if Sammy and Verizon have any actual surprises for us, shall we?
Samsung to unveil new Android device November 8th
Two weeks. That's how long you'll have to wait before Samsung Mobile officially shows off its latest Android device. We say officially, because as these things go, there's a chance the gadget will make it into the limelight via unofficial channels. No indication what it might be, but if we had our say, the Continuum and its secondary OLED screen would make for a nice treat... hey, why are you even asking? Of course we'll be there covering it live!
Samsung terminates support for Symbian
It was almost a year ago that a senior Samsung VP was quoted expressing plans to drop Symbian. Samsung quickly backtracked on those comments with a vague commitment to its multi-OS strategy. Well, the other shoe just dropped via an email sent to registered Symbian developers advising that Samsung would close its Symbian forum and remove all Symbian content by year's end. Not that we can blame them -- while Symbian is just starting to show signs of recovery the OS has been floundering over the last few years. And Samsung, Nokia's biggest threat in its bid to democratize smartphone sales, is already plenty busy with Bada, Windows Phone 7, and Android. So while Samsung might still be a member of Symbian Foundation, it, like Sony Ericsson, is doing so in name only. [Thanks, Rohit]
Samsung: 'we are prioritizing our Android platform'
Samsung may be one of the big players that Microsoft is pinning its hopes on for Windows Phone 7, but you wouldn't know that from listening to the company at IFA. Speaking to Reuters at the show, Samsung's head of marketing for its mobile division, YH Lee, said flatly that "we are prioritizing our Android platform," adding that, "Android is very open and flexible, and there is a consumer demand for it." Lee further went on to note that the company will continue to focus on its own Bada platform (at least outside of North America), but seemingly downplayed Windows Phone 7 when asked about it, saying only that "there is still some professional, specialized demand there." Ouch. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Samsung also says it's "not seeing visible demand for Symbian."
The Engadget Show returns next Friday, August 27th with Samsung CSO Omar Khan, Rock Band 3, and much more!
Because August is just that awesome, the Engadget Show is back in a big way next Friday, August 27th at 8pm! You've read it right, we're talking about double Engadget Show! Thrill as Josh sits down with Samsung Chief Strategy Officer Omar Khan to chat up the company's recent Android sprint, chill as Engadget investigative correspondent Rick Karr scales a skyscraper to check up on an AT&T team tasked with improving New York's data infrastructure, groove as the Show welcomes Harmonix's Rock Band 3 team for an exclusive live demo, bask in the infinite wisdom of the round table with Josh, Paul, and a special guest, and rock out to mind numbing chiptunes music in an encore performance from Zen Albatross with visuals from invaderbacca! As usual, we'll be doing tons of giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget. The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's all the info you need: There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free The event is all ages Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 5:30PM on Friday, doors will open for seating at 7:30PM, and the show begins at 8PM You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break) The show length is around an hour If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.
