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Samsung brings Galaxy Watch Active features to older smartwatches
You don't have to spring for the Galaxy Watch Active to put Samsung's latest software features on your wrist. The company is rolling out an update that brings the Active's One UI interface, health features and other optimizations to the regular Galaxy Watch, Gear S3 and Gear Sport. You should now have a livelier, easier to parse interface that matches One UI on more recent Galaxy phones. There's more control as well, with settings that can toggle waking on touch, the Goodnight mode and the frequency of Daily Briefings. Some of the Active's watch faces are also available to download if you've been pining for them since the newer wearable's February premiere.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active review: Basic doesn't mean bad
Smartwatches may no longer have to be expensive to be good. Case in point: the Galaxy Watch Active. Pitched as a lower cost version of last year's Galaxy Watch, Samsung has boiled that flagship smartwatch down to its essentials. It ditched the rotating bezel, pared down the design and slapped on the word "Active" to appeal to sportier users. This smartwatch packs all that Samsung's flagship wearable has to offer, but at a fraction of the price, which means you'll have to deal with some minor tradeoffs.
We’re live at Samsung’s Galaxy S10 event!
Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, but wouldn't you know it — Samsung wanted all the attention it could get. Because of that, we're coming to you this morning from beautiful, foggy San Francisco, where the company plans to finally reveal its 2019 flagship phones: the S10, the S10+ and, uh, whatever that cheaper model is actually called.
Tune in to our Galaxy S10 liveblog tomorrow at 2PM ET!
It's hard to believe sometimes, but Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones have been around for nearly a decade -- no wonder the company's trying something a little different for the launch of its new Galaxy S10s. Rather than compete for attention with everyone else at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung is taking over the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco to celebrate ten generations of flagship phones. (Oh, and lots of other things too, we're sure.) How could we not liveblog that?
Samsung's rumored Galaxy Sport watch might ditch the rotating bezel
Samsung isn't done refreshing its smartwatches just because the Galaxy Watch is on shelves, although its next update might be contentious. A 91mobiles source claims to have an image of the Galaxy Sport (just a tentative name), and its most telling change is what isn't there -- namely, the rotating bezel you've seen on Samsung wristwear for years. It's not clear how you'd control the watch beyond the touchscreen and the usual buttons, although this doesn't rule out a tweaked on-screen interface or capacitive touch on the case.
Samsung updates older Gear watches with handy fitness tools
As focused as Samsung might be on the Galaxy Watch, it still has plenty of affection for its older smartwatches. It's rolling out an update for the Gear S3 and Gear Sport that adds a flurry of welcome features, particularly if you're fitness-minded. Samsung Health updates now support numerous indoor workouts, and you can string together workouts if you're switching between routines at the gym. The Health Widget, meanwhile, now delivers sleep stage info.
Two days with the Galaxy Watch: Bezels, Bixby and stress tests
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Watch officially went on sale today, but here's the thing: we've fully reviewed the former and only just received the latter. (Well, 48 hours ago, to be precise.) As a result, we're still working on our full Galaxy Watch review, which should drop sometime next week. But, the first two days with the Galaxy Watch have already revealed a lot about how well Samsung's updated wearable experience works.
You'll have to pay $50 more for Samsung's LTE Galaxy Watch
Samsung just outlined how much it will cost you to get an LTE version of the Galaxy Watch and leave your phone at home. The company's product pages show that you'll be paying a $50 premium for the T-Mobile-oriented cellular version arriving at launch, starting at $380 for the 42mm model and climbing to $400 for the chunky 46mm edition. For context, the LTE-equipped Apple Watch Series starts at $400 for a 38mm model and $430 for 42mm wristwear.
Samsung leaked the upcoming Galaxy Watch on its own website
Samsung has dropped multiple hints that the Galaxy Watch is on the way. If there was any doubt that the likely Gear S3 successor is on the way, however, the company just removed it: CNET and Twitter user @sugabeticme have discovered a product listing for the Galaxy Watch (since pulled) on Samsung's own site. The link took visitors to a dead page, but it showed both an image of the watch and revealed that there would be 42mm and rose gold case options.
Samsung trademark hints at a future Galaxy Watch
Samsung's upcoming smartwatch, currently referred to as the Gear S4, might be getting a total makeover. A logo registration for a Galaxy Watch has been spotted floating around in South Korea, which has led many to believe the new device will be Android-powered. Or more specifically, Wear OS-powered.
Samsung adds Bixby voice control to its Family Hub smart fridge
Samsung is fulfilling its promise of spreading Bixby beyond mobile devices -- it just unveiled a Family Hub 3.0 refrigerator whose star attraction is (you guessed it) Bixby voice control. The company hasn't said exactly what its in-house voice assistant allows, but it will personalize responses to individual voices: you can ask what's new and get your personal calendar and news updates.
Samsung teams up with TUMI to recycle the Gear S3
If you insist on toting your gear around in TUMI-branded bags, then Samsung might have the watch that's right for you. The two companies have teamed up to launch a version of the Gear S3 Frontier that bears the TUMI logo on its virtual face. As well as the new custom face, the biggest change is that the device comes with a strap made out of the luggage maker's trademark grey Italian canvas.
Keep tabs on your kid's location while you binge watch Netflix
It seems like everyone wants to get into your living room. From the Apple TV to Google Home to Amazon's range of devices, your house is the site of the next battle for connected device supremacy. Instead of a voice command gadget with a screen like the Alexa Show, though, Samsung is looking to use its line of smart televisions to keep you connected with friends and family. The company is bringing location-sharing app Glympse to the Tizen operating system on the Samsung Smart TV.
Samsung promises Tizen phones aren't dead with the budget Z4
Samsung has plenty of reasons to give up on Tizen phones -- they're a security nightmare and there are basically no apps. However, it's not punting yet on its home-grown OS, as it has just launched its fourth Tizen smartphone, the Z4. The device is aimed clearly at emerging markets, with low-end specs: a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a lightly-curved 4.5-inch "2.5 D" WVGA screen and 5-megapixel camera. Rather, Samsung is pitching it to "first time smartphone users" who want a simple device and LTE connectivity.
Samsung's in-house OS is a security nightmare
Samsung's Tizen platform might give the company the technological independence it wouldn't have if it stuck to outside software like Android, but it's apparently a security disaster. Researcher Amihai Neiderman tells Motherboard he has discovered 40 unpatched vulnerabilities in Samsung's operating system, exposing many of its smartphones, smartwatches and TVs to remote attacks. Reportedly, it's the "worst code" the expert has "ever seen" -- it was designed by a team that had no real understanding of security concepts, and makes mistakes that virtually anyone else would avoid.
Samsung's smartwatch lineup now works with your iPhone
Did you sigh wistfully at Samsung's Gear S3, knowing you couldn't use it because you have an iPhone? Relax. Samsung has launched new Gear S and Gear Fit apps that bring iOS compatibility to all of its current wrist-worn devices, including the Gear S3 (both Classic and Frontier), the Gear S2 and the Gear Fit 2. You won't see all the integration you would on an Android phone (let alone a Samsung phone), but you can receive notifications, manage apps and track your S Health data. Hardware features should work, too, so you can expect GPS and environmental sensors to play a part.
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier review: Lots of features, not enough apps
It seems like everyone is talking about how the smartwatch market is collapsing, but that hasn't stopped Samsung from taking another stab at high-end wearables. Who could blame them, really? Last year's Tizen-powered Gear S2 was full of good ideas, from that rotating bezel to its compatibility with non-Samsung Android phones. Not trying to build on that foundation would have been a shame. Enter the Gear S3 Frontier. It's a bigger, better, more refined take on Samsung's smartwatch formula, and the company threw in every feature it could think of. That rationale is Samsung through and through, and it makes the Gear S3 worthy of your consideration, even if now might not be the best time to buy a smartwatch.
Samsung Pay on the Gear S3 works with any Android smartphone
Samsung's constantly trying its hand at exclusive apps and services it hopes will add value to its products, even though this strategy has been responsible for more than a few flops. Samsung Pay is one of these exclusive services, but the company has decided to change tack slightly with its newly launched Gear S3 smartwatches. Samsung confirmed on Twitter that its new wearables support mobile payments regardless of the brand of Android smartphone they're paired with. Good news for anyone that's steering clear of the company's handsets following the Note 7 debacle, then.
Samsung: Please, somebody, make mobile apps for Tizen
Samsung is eager to get developers to build applications for its Tizen smartphones. In an effort to drive up interest, the company has created the Tizen Mobile App Incentive Program, which will offer $9 million in cash prizes from February through October of 2017. According to Samsung, devs with apps that end up in the top 100 chart can earn $10,000 per app -- definitely not a bad way to lure people in. Those who want to participate in the program can register starting in "early" January.
Samsung's Gear S3 watches are more elegant (and rugged) than ever
Samsung's Gear S2 was far from perfect, but it was still a big step forward for the company's smartwatch ambitions. At last: a Tizen-powered wearable with a decent selection of apps and a control scheme focused on a rotating bezel that bordered on brilliant. Samsung couldn't let that progress go untouched, so it just pulled back the curtain on two new neat-looking wearables: the Gear S3 Classic and the Gear S3 Frontier.
