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Samsung says it's building an Echo-like smart speaker
Samsung is spilling the beans on more than just its smartwatch plans in the wake of its Galaxy Note 8 event. In an interview with CNBC, mobile division chief DJ Koh has confirmed that his company is working on a smart speaker. He's shy on details, as is usually the case with teases like this, but he hints that Samsung might announce it "soon." That doesn't necessarily mean a debut at next week's IFA show, but it's not some distant prospect.
Catch up on Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 news in 10 minutes
The Galaxy Note 8 wasn't exactly a well-kept secret, but Samsung officially revealed the supersized handset earlier today. If you missed the announcement live, don't worry: We've got you covered. We chopped down today's event to a much shorter clip, so you can catch up quickly without spending an hour or more doing it. Meet the new Note 8, dual cameras, tweaked S Pen, latest software and more in the video above.
Samsung's new Gear VR is built for the big Galaxy Note 8
Thanks to its tie-in with Oculus, Samsung's Gear VR has had the most content and arguably the best image quality of any mobile virtual reality headset since it launched. It has improved ever since, and the model unveiled with the Galaxy S8 finally included a controller. At its Galaxy Note 8 event, Samsung has launched yet another Gear VR with Controller (its sixth) to go with its latest big smartphone. The changes are small, but there are a few. First off, here's what's not new: The Note 8 has QHD+ resolution like the Galaxy S8 and not 4K as many hoped, so obviously the Gear VR won't have better resolution either. The design, weight, colors and other factors have also stayed largely the same. Samsung didn't offer much detail on the new Gear VR, but here's what we do know. It has a brand-new controller, and it's larger to accommodate the bigger Note 8. Those onboard volume controls are gone as well. For now, that's all the company has revealed, which likely means the "new" headset is similar to its predecessor, but it can get cozy with the newly announced phablet. On the bright side, the new Gear VR will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow for $130 at Samsung.com, Amazon, Best Buy, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and US Cellular. It'll go on sale on Sept. 15th at those shops, along with T-Mobile and other resellers.
The Galaxy Note 8 vs. the competition: More than just a stylus
With phone screens getting bigger and bigger, the Galaxy Note doesn't quite stand out the way it used to. The Note 8's 6.3-inch screen is only a tad larger than the 6.2 inches boasted by the Galaxy S8+, and both devices share the same Snapdragon 835 processor. Still, the Note 8 has a few things to set itself apart, including a new dual camera setup like the one on the soon-to-replaced iPhone 7 Plus. Check out the table below to see what Samsung's latest large-screen handset is packing under the hood versus other notable flagships, and check back for our full review of the Galaxy Note 8 in a few weeks.
Samsung is giving Note 7 owners a hefty discount on the Note 8
If you were one of the millions of people who had to give up the recalled Galaxy Note 7, fret not, because Samsung has your back. Today, as part of its Unpacked 2017 event in NYC, the company revealed that those of you who owned the previous model will get a hefty discount on the new Note 8. The only thing you have to do is trade in your current device and, depending on the brand and condition of it, you can get up to $425 off the latest Note smartphone. If you're interested in the juicy mea culpa offer from Samsung, you'll be able to take advantage of it on Aug. 24th, the day pre-orders go live on its website.
Samsung's Note 8 has a 6.3-inch screen and an £869 price tag
Samsung totally botched the refresh of its big-screened Galaxy Note line last year, but thankfully, an exploding battery doesn't seem to be among the new Note 8's feature set. As you'd expect from a 2017 flagship phablet, the Note 8 has bags of power with its octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset and 6GB of RAM. The star of the show is obviously the sprawling, curved 6.3-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display and its Quad HD+ resolution -- oh, and the S Pen stylus to go with it. The dual-camera-wielding smartphone is available to pre-order in the UK starting today, either on contract or SIM-free for the cringe-inducing price of £869.
The Galaxy Note 8 vs. the Note 7: What's changed?
Last year the Galaxy Note 7 was actually one of our favorite phones until it started exploding, so we're happy to see Samsung's line of large-screen-with-stylus handsets make its return today with the Note 8. While it would have been easy enough to simply change out the battery and call it a new model, there are a few other changes worth noting. That includes the dual camera, which we've never seen in a Samsung phone before, and the Note now comes packed with AI assistant Bixby. While we certainly hope you turned in your Note 7 during the recall, check out our chart below to see what upgrades await if you pick up a Note 8 when it comes out, as well as if this new phone has the potential to become one of our faves of 2017.
Samsung will unveil its next Gear S smartwatch on Aug. 30th
The Galaxy Note 8 isn't going to be Samsung's only big mobile offering this fall. Mobile chief DJ Koh tells CNBC that the next Gear S smartwatch will make its debut at the IFA trade show, where Samsung will have an event on Aug. 30th. The executive isn't saying much about what this wristwear will entail, of course, but he might have dropped some clues when opining about the struggling wearables market. He believes that smartwatches could become more valuable if they monitor more aspects of your health: Don't be surprised if the Gear S4 (or whatever it's called) tracks more of your vital stats.
Samsung details safety measures for the Note 8 battery
Samsung is well aware that it's facing an uphill battle with the Note 8 -- specifically, with its battery following last year's fiery Note 7 debacle. As a way of rebuilding public trust, the company has been extremely stringent and rigorous in its safety tests. Watchdog group Underwriters Labs announced that it's been working with the Korean tech giant to ensure reliability for the Note 8's power supply.
'Live Message' on the Galaxy Note 8 lets you draw all over photos
While Samsung used to be known for loading up its smartphones with all manner of gimmicky software of questionable utility, the company has pulled back on its Android customizations in recent years. But with today's unveiling of the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung couldn't resist showing off a new trick to go along with the phone's impressive camera system. Live Messages lets you shoot a photo and draw on it, much like you can do in Snapchat and Instagram. Naturally, the S Pen and the large screen make this a little easier than it might be on other devices. But you're not limited to how you can share it: Live messages are converted to GIFs that you can send to anyone you want.
Samsung debuts a smarter, more capable S Pen
Tablets and pens have gone hand in hand since the days of cuneiform and the original Galaxy Note. However, as the Notes (as well as Tabs and Notebooks) themselves have advanced in capability over the past few years, their styli generally haven't kept pace. However at Wednesday's Galaxy Note 8 announcement, Samsung revealed that the venerable S Pen is about to receive a timely update as well, enabling it to act more like a real pen.
The Galaxy Note 8's dual camera rivals the iPhone 7 Plus
Samsung may be late to the dual-camera game, but it seems to have put that extra time to good use. The Note 8 is the first major Galaxy handset to sport two rear cameras, with a setup that includes twin 12-megapixel sensors, one with wide-angle lens and one with telephoto. This is arguably the most useful of all the Note 8's new features, which include a refined S Pen, updated software, improved display and a smaller footprint. From my brief time with the phone during a recent demo ahead of today's launch, it's clear that Samsung has a camera setup excellent enough to make iPhone owners consider switching.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 packs a giant display and a smarter pen
It's been a long, long year for Galaxy Note fans. The Note 7 launched with much fanfare last summer, only to die in spectacular fashion as systemic battery flaws (not to mention hasty decision-making) forced Samsung to recall the fire-prone handset twice and eventually kill it off. Unless you went out of your way to get the Fan Edition, you've had to go without a modern Note for a long time. At last, though, a replacement is here: Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Note 8, and it might finish the redemption process that started with the Galaxy S8.
Galaxy Note 8 hands-on: Enough to make you forget the Note 7
After the nightmare that was the Galaxy Note 7, few people would've been surprised if Samsung killed the Note line entirely. But it didn't. As an insane number of leaks have suggested, the company still believes the world needs a high-end phablet with an S Pen, and it took over a historic armory in New York to show off its latest attempt. Say hello to the Galaxy Note 8: a huge, beautifully made phone that just might be good enough to make people forget about its poorly designed predecessor.
Live from Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 event!
After an embarrassing fiasco involving exploding batteries, recalls, apologies and assurances, Samsung is ready to re-introduce the Note line to the world. Thanks to the plethora of leaks, we have a pretty good idea of what the new device will look like. At 11AM ET today, Samsung will be sharing all the details on the highly anticipated Note 8, and we'll be covering the event and all the news as it happens right here in our liveblog. Follow all the latest news from Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 event here!
Watch Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 livestream at 11AM ET
If you've been eagerly awaiting the return of the Galaxy Note after the drama surrounding last year's model, today is the day. At 11AM ET, Samsung will reveal the Note 8 and perhaps a few other things during the festivities. We'll be there to cover all the news as it happens, including our analysis and witty commentary via a liveblog. If you want to livestream the event, Samsung is hosting one of those right here. We've also embedded the stream down below for easy access. When the time comes, keep it locked here for all the action and reaction as the company seeks to rebound from its stumble(s) with the Note 7. Follow all the latest news from Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 event here!