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LG is very proud that the G6 doesn't catch fire
What do you think the LG G6's tentpole feature will be? The extra-tall display? The slicker, not-so-modular design? Nope. If you ask LG right now, it's about... not blowing up. The company tells the Korea Herald that it will "significantly improve" the safety of the G6, no doubt in a bid to court jilted Galaxy Note 7 buyers worried about battery fires. It's testing the phone more rigorously, including extreme heat and harsh drop tests. Also, the design will both spread out hot-running parts and use a heat pipe to disperse all that extra warmth. Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, not quite.
Report: Samsung's Note 7 probe points blame at batteries
Samsung has concluded that the Galaxy Note 7's fires and explosions were caused by battery problems, not the phone's hardware or software, Reuters reports. The information comes from "a person familiar with the matter," rather than an official source, but Samsung will reportedly release the full results from its investigation on January 23rd. To assuage nervous buyers, Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin will likely also detail steps it's taking to prevent similar problems with the Galaxy S8 and other future devices.
A visual history of gadgets that have burst into flames
Samsung had a rough 2016. Last year, the company had to recall its Galaxy Note 7 after units were catching fire, followed by millions of washing machines that were exploding in people's homes. But Samsung isn't the only company that's struggled recently with faulty batteries. We've seen similar issues with hoverboards, a Tesla Model S and the latest electric skateboard from Boosted. Let's take a look at other products that have had trouble in the flammability department. And let's hope those non-exploding lithium Ion batteries get here soon.
Airlines no longer need to warn passengers about Galaxy Note 7
If you've flown recently, you've likely heard a series of warnings around Samsung's beleaguered Galaxy Note 7. At first, you could bring it on board, but only if it was turned off. Eventually, the FAA banned it outright -- it's now not allowed on any flight, even in cargo. Flight personnel have been instructed to repeat these warnings ad nauseam for the past few months. But now, they don't have to anymore.
Samsung will 'soon' reveal the cause of Galaxy Note 7 fires
Samsung might finally be ready to bring the Galaxy Note 7's fiery story to a close. The company opened its CES keynote with a promise that it would "soon" report on the root of the Note 7's battery fires. That's not exactly a clear timetable, but it indicates that Samsung is finally close to an answer -- important when the tech giant has been stumped for months. And when South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo cited sources claiming that Samsung would shed light on the issue in January, "soon" may be a matter of a few weeks.
Samsung's 2016 went up in smoke
Samsung's year started well, all things considered. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were bona fide hits. The company's financials looked great. Its position as the global leader in the smartphone market was assured. And then the Galaxy Note 7 happened. After months of success, Samsung's year started to unravel -- quickly.
The biggest losers of 2016
Last week we broke down the biggest winners of 2016. This week, we're taking a look at the biggest losers. Yahoo has clearly had one of the worst years in history for a company. And, unless something changes soon, this whole mess with the NSA and 1.5 billion hacked accounts could become the problem of Engadget's parent company Verizon. So, there's that. Of course there was Samsung's parade of exploding gadgets and Twitter... well, Twitter just couldn't seem to get its act together. It's now known as the platform of choice for trolls and white supremacists as much as it is for forcing you to distill complex thoughts into 140-character fragments. Of course, between the explosion of fake news and the continued hostility towards the science of climate change, the biggest loser of 2016, might just be the American public. Check out all of Engadget's year-in-review coverage right here.
Samsung reportedly plans to use LG batteries in future phones
Samsung is determined to avoid another Galaxy Note 7-style disaster, and that may lead it to make strange bedfellows. Chosunilbo sources claim that Samsung is in serious talks with LG Chem about using its Korean arch-rival's batteries in smartphones. There's a "strong chance" that you could see LG batteries in Samsung phones by the second half of 2017, one tipster says. You likely wouldn't have an LG power pack in your Galaxy S8 if this is true, but you might see one in the Note 7's successor.
Verizon will disable the Galaxy Note 7 on January 5th
If you were hoping that Verizon's decision against disabling the Galaxy Note 7 would give you a long while to use the ill-fated smartphone, you're in for some disappointment. The carrier has revealed that it's pushing the phone-crippling update on January 5th, 2017, or just over two weeks after it reaches devices on other US networks. As before, the later-than-usual cutoff is about making sure that you can contact family and emergency services over the holidays if you still haven't turned in your Note 7.
Samsung will disable remaining US Note 7s with software update (updated)
Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 recall in the US is still ongoing, but the company will release an update in a couple of weeks that will basically force customers to return any devices that may still be in use. The company announced today that a December 19th update to the handsets in the States will prevent them from charging at all and "will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices." In other words, if you still have a Note 7, it will soon be completely useless.
Samsung buys full-page apologies in US newspapers over Note 7 recall
Samsung took out full-page apology ads in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Washington Post in an effort to reduce the damage done after its botched recall of the Galaxy Note 7. "An important tenet of our mission is to offer best-in-class safety and quality. Recently, we fell short on this promise. For this we are truly sorry." It's not just its phones, however. The company has also had to issues a a recall for nearly three million washing machines, due to poorly fitted lids that could loosen and fly off during use -- it mentions this within the apology ad too. Samsung has already reported a 30 percent drop in profits last quarter due to the Note 7 recall. "Safety remains our top priority."
New Zealand carriers will block the Galaxy Note 7
If you think that Samsung's constant software reminders to return the Galaxy Note 7 aren't enough to make stubborn owners change their minds, you should book a trip to New Zealand. All of the country's wireless carriers will block the discontinued smartphone on their networks as of November 18th. Essentially, they're turning the Note 7 into a paperweight. You can use it on WiFi, but it won't be very useful as, well, a phone. New Zealand is expected to rely on the same IMEI (hardware identifier) blocking that telecoms use to render stolen phones useless, so you'd have to jump through hoops to have any hope of restoring cellular functionality.
Software update will annoy Galaxy Note 7 owners into a return
While Samsung continues its quest to retrieve every Galaxy Note 7, a software update that reduces how much the phone's battery can be charged is finally rolling out in the US. Even though it's still apparently unclear exactly what caused so many of the phones to overheat, smoke and/or start fires, the idea is that this will increase participation in the recall. Another "feature" of the update is a system of pop-up notifications about the recall anytime an owner reboots, charges or turns on the screen of the device
Samsung recalls 2.8 million top-loading washing machines
No company likes to issue a product recall, but Samsung is having to deal with its fair share as of late. After going some way to reduce the damage following the disastrous launch of the Galaxy Note 7, the company has today made the headlines again after issuing an urgent recall on 2.8 million top-loading washing machines.
The Galaxy S7 Edge gets doomed Note 7's Coral Blue outfit
Samsung's Galaxy S7 series is benefiting yet again from the death of its Galaxy Note cousin. After that always-on display update, this time around the S7 Edge gets a new color scheme: Coral Blue. This was the flagship color in most of Samsung's media releases and ads -- and it's pretty darn nice in person. The company is looking to make the most of all that leftover blue casing, we assume, after halting Note 7 production. It joins the existing color options of Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, White Pearl, Silver Titanium and Pink Gold; all of which sound like Pokémon games.
Samsung profits dip 30 percent due to exploding Note 7s
The world's largest smartphone maker's profits plunged 30 percent due an exploding flagship model. Samsung's operating profit for the third quarter was $4.6 billion, down from $6.4 million the quarter before, making it the lowest operating profit the company has made in two years. Samsung had already revised its financial estimates following the recall of millions of Galaxy Note 7s.
You can still buy the Note 7 in Hong Kong, but you shouldn't
Hong Kong's Sincere Podium is home to all manner of mobile devices -- be it second-hand phones, imported handsets (mainly from Japan and Korea), spare parts and even prototypes once in a while. This time, the mall appears to be the last place in the city -- if not the world -- to still be openly selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 despite the worldwide recall. Over the weekend, I came across a shop with a glass cabinet full of boxes for the 64GB Note 7, with a bright sticker on one of them saying "Samsung Note 7 dealer goods: special offer" in Chinese. I didn't think much of it and simply tweeted a couple of photos, only to be surprised by the posts' traction over the last two days.
Note 7 debacle forces Samsung to offer next-gen discounts in Korea
In an effort to retain Galaxy Note 7 customers in South Korea, Samsung is offering a big discount on the upcoming Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 models. The company will effectively offer 50 percent off the next-gen phone, provided that Note 7 customers upgrade to the current Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge models. Samsung recently killed its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone because of fire and explosion problems. It initially misdiagnosed the problem as being battery-related, and issued replacement phones that were still defective.
Samsung's hurried Galaxy Note 7 recall doomed the phone
You knew it was just a matter of time before some of the drama behind the death of the Galaxy Note 7 came to light, and what we're seeing isn't all that pretty. Wall Street Journal sources claim that Samsung's mobile chief DJ Koh thought there was enough evidence (protrusions in the batteries from one supplier) to go ahead with the speedy initial recall. He thought it was best to do "the right thing" and start a recall, insiders say, even though there was incomplete evidence. The company didn't want to leave people in the dark, worrying what was wrong. And while there was a debate about the seriousness of the issue (some even suspected the fires were fake), it's not as if Koh was a lone wolf. Company heir and vice chairman Lee Jae-yong was also in favor of the hasty recall, possibly due to his push for greater transparency at a company known for its secrecy.
Galaxy Note 7 recall becomes a presidential punchline
Samsung is having a tough time. The fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 is one the biggest blunders ever in tech and now President Obama is using it as a punchline.
