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The Galaxy S8 and S8+ pack big changes into gorgeous bodies
Samsung officially revealed the new Galaxy S8 and S8+ here in New York, and it seems safe to say that we got what we expected. The lack of a home button; the new AI assistant; the near bezel-less, curved screens; the rear-mounted fingerprint sensors -- all the leaks were true. What ultimately matters more than the lack of surprises are ambition and keen execution, and Samsung clearly embraced both when building the S8s. It's a good thing too: After the Galaxy Note 7's rise and fiery fall, Samsung needed to prove that it could craft some flawless smartphones. Well, I'm not sure about flawless, but the S8 and S8+ are both gorgeous and full-featured -- for now, the good certainly seems to outweigh the bad.
The new Gear 360 camera streams live video, works with iPhones
Make no mistake: Samsung has been really busy lately. Beyond the Galaxy S8 and S8+, the company also built a new Gear 360 camera that's both cuter and more feature-rich than before. The new Gear 360, for instance, shoots video in true 4K. By comparison, last year's model shot video at 3,840 x 1,920, which was so close to 4K we're not sure why Samsung didn't close the gap. And in an about-face from last year, this new model also supports iPhones right out of the box. Just make sure you have an iPhone 6s or newer (including the tiny SE) and that it's running iOS 10. Though I saw the camera ahead of today's launch event, however, I didn't get to see this particular feature in action, so consider me cautiously optimistic.
Watch Samsung's Galaxy S8 livestream right here at 11AM ET
It's that time of the year again: Samsung is holding an event to unveil its latest and (hopefully) greatest Galaxy S phone, and it wants you to tune in. Visit this post at 11AM and you can watch a livestream of Samsung's big Unpacked gathering as it happens. You likely already know that the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 will be the star of the show -- there have been enough leaks and pre-event announcements to give you a good idea of what to expect from the giant-screened handset. Samsung has a history of unveiling additional gadgets and software, however, so don't be shocked if there's more to the story than what you've seen so far. And if you want our own take on proceedings (or just can't stream), you can always check out our live blog to get the full scoop. Click here to catch all the latest news from Samsung's Galaxy S8 launch event!
Live from Samsung's Galaxy S8 event!
Samsung's forthcoming Galaxy S8 is one of the worst-kept tech secrets in recent memory -- but we're still interested in what Samsung is going to unveil today all the same. The company pretty much took the year off from Mobile World Congress, where it has traditionally shown off its flagship phone for years now. But now, after a whole host of leaks, Samsung is finally ready to take the wraps off its latest mobile phone -- and a lot is riding on this one. It needs to make consumers forget the Galaxy Note 7 debacle as well as keep up with the best that Apple and Google have to offer. It's a tall order, but based on what we've seen thus far, Samsung may be ready to unveil one of the most interesting smartphones we've seen in years. Stay tuned here for our liveblog of the day's announcements -- Samsung's Unpacked event kicks off at 11AM ET / 8AM PT, and we'll be covering all the news about the Galaxy S8 as well as any other surprises Samsung has in store for us.
The Galaxy S8 can stream music to two headphones at the same time
Samsung hasn't been able to catch a break recently. After suffering a brand-battering blow with the Note 7, it now looks like almost every feature of the S8 has been leaked ahead of today's launch event. Earlier today, a Galaxy S8 user guide prematurely surfaced on Samsung's download center, confirming many previously leaked specs and features. Before it was swiftly taken down, Phandroid managed to copy all the notable information from the guide, revealing the existence of a previously unreported feature -- Bluetooth dual audio.
Samsung unveils Bixby, its Siri competitor
It was only a matter of time until Samsung launched a full-fledged virtual assistant of its very own -- "S Voice" just never quite cut it. Today the company unveiled Bixby, a new assistant that'll debut with the Galaxy S8 on March 29th. Naturally, it's meant to help Samsung differentiate itself from Apple's Siri and Google's Assistant. Bixby seems different on a conceptual level: It's meant to serve as a new voice-based interface for controlling your apps, rather than just something that you can ask a few questions.
The Galaxy S8 may use your face for secure mobile payments
Facial recognition is a done thing. So are contactless payments. So why not put them together? Samsung might do just that according to Bloomberg sources. The incoming Galaxy S8 will reportedly feature facial recognition payment tech "within months of release" in a bid to stand out (and grab those feature headlines) in a world where lots of us are plenty happy with our current smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy S8 leak shows a huge display and not much else
We're less than a month away from getting our first official look at Samsung's upcoming flagship phone. Evleaks has something for those who can't wait till then, though: a clear computer render that shows a device that looks like the previous leaked images of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The phone in the photo has a wraparound display that takes up almost the whole front side and shows March 29th as the current date -- the same day Samsung is launching the S8 phones.
Samsung's next smartphone chip is ready for gigabit LTE
Mobile World Congress is nearly upon us, giving Samsung ample reason to show off the latest product from its chip foundries. The company has announced the Exynos 9 Series 8895, a flagship CPU that's made with a 10-nanometer manufacturing process. The smaller circuits, it's hoped, will offer 27 percent better performance while drawing 40 percent less battery.
Samsung's Galaxy S8+ reportedly has a 6.2-inch display
Phone leaker extraordinaire Evan "Evleaks" Blass is back with another doozy. The VentureBeat reporter has published a mostly full spec sheet for Samsung's Galaxy S8+, an all but inevitable upgrade to last year's Galaxy S7 Edge. We're in rumor territory here, so take the following tidbits with a generous grain of salt. (Blass has a stellar track record, however.) The headline-grabbing component is a 6.2-inch display, which would dwarf even the (now sadly retired) Galaxy Note 7. That enormous, "Quad HD+" Super AMOLED panel should be helped by the phone's chassis, however, which has been shown to have super-slim bezels in previous leaks.
Working Samsung Galaxy S8 reportedly surfaces in the wild
There have been supposed peeks at Samsung's Galaxy S8 before, but always with the screen off. How is that near bezel-free design going to work, exactly? We might have a better idea. Photos have emerged that appear to show a functioning S8, including a brief look at the home screen. Sure enough, the phone would have both the Edge sidebar and on-screen navigation keys that mimic the layout of Samsung's physical buttons -- like it or not, the "back" button would be on the right by default. We're not completely convinced this is the real deal (it's coming from a screen protector manufacturer), but there's evidence that it checks out.
Samsung's future Gear VR will come with a controller
Now that Google's Daydream View is giving Gear VR a run for its money, how is Samsung going to respond? By implementing one of Daydream's best features, of course. Both an FCC filing and an apparent scoop from Roland Quandt indicate that this year's Gear VR will include a one-handed controller -- no more reaching for a touchpad on the headset itself. That's a big deal for games and any other apps that involve more than rudimentary controls.
Samsung will unveil something at MWC on February 26th
Samsung just sent out its invites for the Mobile World Congress 2017, however, unlike previous years, the big news is what won't be there. As a knock-on effect of the whole Galaxy Note 7 mess, its introduction of the flagship Galaxy S8 is delayed from its usual February reveal to (likely) March. Still, Samsung has a show to put on and sent out this curious image to pique our interest.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 will likely debut on March 29th
It's almost time for Samsung's traditional February unveiling of a new Galaxy flagship, but, as we already learned, we might have to wait a little longer this year. We now have a clearer idea of when to expect the new handset, though. VentureBeat is reporting that the Korean electronics giant is preparing to show off the anticipated Galaxy S8 on March 29, and that the flagship will see its fingerprint sensor moved to the rear, among other updates.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 won't appear at Mobile World Congress
Clearly, Samsung is still reeling from its Note 7 disaster. In an interview with Reuters, Samsung mobile chief Koh Dong-jin has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 won't be unveiled next month at Mobile World Congress. That's a big departure from the company's usual release schedule, which revolves around a big "S" launch in the Spring and a new "Note" in the fall. The delay isn't a shock, however. Back in November, the Wall Street Journal reported that Samsung's leadership team was considering a later reveal date. It could come "as late as April," the newspaper said at the time.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 reportedly helps you talk to a doctor
Artificial intelligence might not be the Galaxy S8's only big software upgrade, it seems. SamMobile sources claim that S Health is about to get a revamp that helps you get in touch with doctors. Tie-ins with partners like Amwell and WebMD would not only let you search for drugs and symptoms, but schedule online doctor's appointments using video chats. You could pay for appointments in-app, take photos to illustrate your condition and find nearby pharmacies if medicine is in order.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 reportedly uses AI across all its apps
Samsung has been eager to drum up attention for the Galaxy S8's AI assistant, but just how is it going to work, exactly? We still don't have the clearest picture, but some details might be coming to light. A SamMobile source claims that the Viv-based, voice-guided helper (reportedly named Bixby) will have a presence in all the of the phone's included Samsung-made apps. You could use it in the Gallery app to show you photos of the beach, for example. This isn't a radical development when both Google Photos and iOS 10 can accomplish similar feats, but remember that Bixby is likely replacing S Voice, Samsung's aging in-house software -- the point is to offer software smart enough that you don't need to turn to another assistant.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 might have a true edge-to-edge display
With the Galaxy Note 7 debacle weighing heavy on its balance sheet, Samsung needs the Galaxy S8 to be a massive success. It isn't expected to be unveiled for another few months, but already details are starting to emerge about what the flagship Android smartphone will offer. According to Bloomberg sources, the Galaxy S8 will include a new "all-screen design" and will not have a physical home button, with Samsung choosing to embed it under the display instead.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 may ditch the headphone jack
With Apple, Motorola and others releasing phones without 3.5mm headphone jacks this year, there's been a looming question: will Samsung follow suit? Like it or not, SamMobile sources claim the answer is yes. Reportedly, the Galaxy S8 will rely solely on its USB-C port for sound -- if you want to use your own headphones, you'll likely either need to use an adapter (no guarantee that you'll get one in the box) or go wireless. But why make the move, outside of being trendy?
Samsung's Galaxy S8 will include an AI assistant
Samsung isn't wasting any time before it makes use of Viv's artificial intelligence know-how. In a an indirect confirmation of rumors, the tech giant has revealed that the upcoming Galaxy S8 will include an AI assistant as one of its star attractions. It's not offering clues as to what this virtual helper will do, but it will let developers "attach and upload services" to extend the AI's functionality beyond what you get out of the box. That's not much different than what Apple and Google are offering for their own assistants, but it may be what Samsung isn't talking about that's special -- Viv can create its own programs and understand complex intent in a way many AIs can't.
