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Samsung heir Jay Y.Lee gets a presidential pardon
The South Korean president pardoned Lee so that he could help the country overcome the economic crisis.
Samsung's 'Repair Mode' keeps your data hidden from technicians
But it's only available for the Galaxy S21 phones in Korea for now.
Samsung is investing $356 billion in chips, biotech and AI
It expects to hire 80,000 more employees by 2026.
Samsung's Pokémon-themed Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a delight
Samsung has unveiled the Pokémon Edition of its Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone.
Korean authorities tell Google it can't remove apps that link to external payments
Google will be violating Korean law if it pushes through with its plan to remove apps linking out to external payment methods, Korean authorities warn.
Apple will allow third-party payments for apps in South Korea
Apple will soon allow developers to use alternative payment systems for their apps in South Korea to comply with the country's new law.
Google slapped with a $177 million fine by South Korea's antitrust authorities
The Korea Fair Trade Commission has imposed a $177 million fine on Google, accusing the tech giant of hampering the development of Android rivals.
Samsung's Adidas-branded Galaxy Buds Pro come in a snapback-shaped case
Samsung is doing some co-branding with Adidas as a way to create some buzz around its wireless earbud products, while buffing up its eco-friendly bonafides.
Facebook fined $6.1 million in South Korea for sharing user data without consent
The Korea Communications Commission kickstarted the investigation in 2018 before ultimately handing it off to the PIPC a few months ago. According to Yonhap News, the PIPC determined that the social network shared the personal information of 3.3 million South Korean users (out of a total of 18 million) to other companies without consent from May 2012 to June 2018. The watchdog said Facebook shared people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, work experience, hometowns and relationship statuses with other companies when they logged in.
Nreal Light mixed reality glasses launch in Korea with the Galaxy Note 20
Starting today, folks in Korea can pre-order the Nreal Light as part of a mobile phone plan on the LG Uplus network, so long as you pick the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 or the LG Velvet as your handset.
Samsung Galaxy Fold launches in Europe on September 18th
After its first attempt at a launch fizzled out in the spring, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is ready to try again at making a first impression. As promised, it's ready for launch now and is available starting September 6th in South Korea. At IFA 2019 in Germany, Samsung also revealed that the device will hit France, Germany, the UK and Singapore on September 18th. In Korea, only the Galaxy Fold 5G 512GB model is available, with carriers like SK Telecom and LG U+ opening pre-sales today before devices are delivered Friday. For reasons yet unknown, the Fold will be 5G-ready only "in select markets," while others will only have an LTE-compatible version to snap open and closed. The price is 2,398,000 won, or about $2,000 US, and there's a Fold Advantage+ program that promises to cover 70 percent of display repair costs, once a year. In March there were rumors of a program to offer screen replacements if a visible seam forms across the display, and it appears that the Advantage+ program is what Samsung has decided to go with. An announcement for the US reveals we can expect the device "in the coming weeks" in two colors -- Cosmos Black and Space Silver -- but doesn't mention anything about 5G or screen replacements. What it does give additional info on, however, is the addition of a new Galaxy Fold Premier Service it's launching along with the phone. In a move that might help justify its nearly-$2,000 retail price, the Premiere Service adds 24/7 direct access to Samsung experts for "tailored guidance and support over the phone." They can even help you set it up for the first time with a one-on-one session designed to highlight its special capabilities.
Samsung's smaller Galaxy Note 10 5G model won't come to the US
Samsung is making 5G versions of both the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but only the latter version is coming to the US, according to a graphic spotted by The Verge. Meanwhile, a smaller 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 10 5G will definitely be built, but it will launch exclusively in Korea.
The world’s largest telescope is one step closer to completion
The world's largest telescope is one step closer to completion. This month, the team working on the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) completed the second of seven primary mirror segments, a process that began in January 2012.
‘BTS World’ makes you the band’s manager on June 26th
If you could go back to 2012 and relive your life from that point onward, what would you do? Would you prevent yourself from making crucial, immature mistakes? Would you invest your money or wisely? Or would you instead become the new manager of the world's biggest boy band? For those of you who eagerly chose that last option, K-Pop sensation BTS might have the right mobile game for you.
TikTok's next idea: To find new K-pop and J-pop stars
TikTok wants to find the next BTS. The video sharing app, owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance, is launching a talent contest aimed at discovering K-pop and J-pop acts. The auditions will take place within TikTok Spotlight: a new channel where users from Japan and Korea can upload their music videos to be judged by an all-star panel comprised of record labels, local musicians and hit-makers.
Samsung reaches final settlement with cancer-stricken employees
After 11 years of controversy, Samsung has apologized for creating an unsafe work environment that resulted in a number of former employees contracting leukemia and other cancers, according to the Associated Press. The company has vowed to compensate ill workers by 2028, per Reuters. The announcement comes weeks after Samsung reached a final settlement with Banolim, a group representing ex-Samsung workers and their families.
New 'Overwatch' map spotlights D.Va and the MEKA Squad
No one in gaming does CGI cinematics quite like Blizzard. The latest Overwatch short focuses on D.Va and the weight of her feeling like she's the only person who can fight against Omnic. Without giving too much away, the results are heartwarming and a little bit explosive. More than that, there are some overt themes about it being okay to ask for help (like when you're moving the payload) present as well. There might even be a few teases about what's next for the Korean esports star if you look close enough.
Twitch will stream Korean dramas throughout August
Twitch has tried out streaming non-gamer content, like NBA G League basketball, in efforts to broaden its audience. Today the company announced what its next experiment, which is as far from sports as it gets: Every Wednesday in August, the platform will marathon Korean dramas starting at 10pm PT on its Twitch Presents channel.
Let's hope Trump didn't give Kim Jong Un the wrong ‘direct number’
President Trump's historic meeting with Kim Jong-Un may not have resulted in the complete de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but it did lead to a fascinating exchange in which the President claims to have given Kim a "very direct number" if the North Korean leader "has any difficulty." Wired raises an interesting point about the situation, though: given President Trump's attempts to keep his own smartphones away from security-minded staffers, is it possible he inadvertently created a potential security nightmare by giving Kim his personal phone number?
Samsung targets 100 percent renewable energy use by 2020
Samsung has announced plans to power its US, Europe and China operations entirely by renewable energy sources within two years. It's already making good on its sustainability commitment in Korea, where the company is installing 42,000 square meters of solar panels in its Digital City, and is working on generating geothermal power at Pyeongtaek campus and Hwaseong campus by 2020.
