WebProNews

Tag: Samsung

  • Intel In Talks With TSMC and Samsung to Outsource Chip Production

    Intel In Talks With TSMC and Samsung to Outsource Chip Production

    Intel is in talks with TSMC and Samsung to produce some of the company’s chips.

    Intel has fallen on hard times of late. Once the undisputed leader of the semiconductor industry, the company has struggled to keep up with demand, has been plagued with security issues, lost one of its most high-profile customers, seen an exodus of its top chip engineers and experienced difficulties moving to 7nm processors.

    Intel’s troubles have led the company to consider outsourcing production of its chips to outside companies, something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. In October, CEO Bob Swan said the company was looking at outsourcing and would make a decision in the next couple of months.

    According to Bloomberg Intel is now in talks with both TSMC and Samsung to outsource its production to them. The talks with Samsung, whose abilities still lag behind TSMC, are described as preliminary.

    It’s unclear how much business TSMC could take on. TSMC is the company Apple outsources production of its custom silicon, now used in iPhones, iPads and Macs. As a result, reports indicate that Apple has already booked some 80% of TSMC’s 5nm production, raising questions about how much of Intel’s business TSMC could absorb.

    While Intel is still holding out hope it will be able to turn things around and keep production in-house, it’s an amazing fall for one of the titans of the semiconductor business.

  • Apple Testing Two Different Foldable iPhone Designs

    Apple Testing Two Different Foldable iPhone Designs

    Apple has tasked its top supplier, Foxconn, with producing two different prototype designs for a foldable iPhone.

    Foldable phones are considered the next evolution of modern smartphones. Foldable designs allow for phones that can more easily be carried in a pocket, yet expand to offer the screen real estate of a small tablet. While Microsoft, Motorola and Samsung have released foldable phones, Apple has yet to embrace the trend. Many believe Apple has been working to perfect the design and avoid the problems other companies have faced.

    Apple’s plans may be closer to fruition, if the rumors are to be believed. According to TechRadar, citing Taiwanese website United Daily News, two prototype designs have passed the necessary durability tests to be considered for production.

    One design is evidently the traditional clamshell style, such as those sold by Motorola and Samsung. The other design is reminiscent of the Microsoft Surface Duo’s dual-screen design. It’s unknown whether Apple will eventually release both designs, or consolidate around a single one.

    Obviously, Apple testing foldable designs doesn’t provide a lot of concrete information, but it’s further evidence that Apple will likely enter the market once they are convinced they can do so with their usual panache.

  • Apple Reportedly Using Samsung Foldable Screens

    Apple Reportedly Using Samsung Foldable Screens

    According to reports, Apple has ordered a “large number” of foldable screens from Samsung.

    Foldable phones are widely considered to be the next big thing in mobile devices, opening up any number of possibilities and potentially blurring the lines between phone and tablet. There have been a number of high-profile entries in the field, including some equally high-profile flops.

    One of the most recent foldable devices is the Microsoft Surface Duo. Unlike other phones that feature a foldable screen, the Duo has two screens joined by a hinge. While not as cutting edge, it avoids the problems that have plagued other devices.

    Many have been eagerly waiting for Apple to release a foldable iPhone, as the company has a reputation for perfecting ideas other companies have struggled with. Microsoft famously was the first company to introduce and mass market a tablet device, before Apple perfected it with the iPad.

    If reports are to be believed, it appears Apple may be close to doing the same thing with foldable devices, as it has ordered a “large number” of foldable display samples, according to MacRumors.

  • Samsung and SK Hynix Suspending Chip Shipments to Huawei

    Samsung and SK Hynix Suspending Chip Shipments to Huawei

    Things are looking worse for Huawei as South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix are reportedly suspending shipments to the embattled company.

    US officials have been tightening the noose around Huawei, a company they claim is a threat to national security. All Chinese companies are required to cooperate with Chinese authorities, but Huawei is largely considered to have much closer ties with Chinese military and intelligence officials than other companies.

    As a result, the US has been working to isolate Huawei, pressuring allies to ban the company’s equipment and imposing sanctions that prohibit suppliers from doing business with it. This even applies to overseas companies that base some of their products on US tech. TSMC has already committed to cutting off Huawei, prompting the Chinese firm to warn that production of its custom smartphone chips were in jeopardy.

    Now, according to UPI, Samsung and SK Hynix are following suit. This move will only increase pressure on a company already reeling from bans and sanctions.

  • Samsung Ready to Replace Huawei in UK

    Samsung Ready to Replace Huawei in UK

    As the UK revisits its decision to include Huawei in its 5G network, Samsung has signaled it is ready and able to fill any gap created by banning Huawei.

    Despite pressure from US officials, the UK ultimately chose to include Huawei in its 5G network, albeit in a limited role. Almost immediately, Prime Minister Johnson nearly faced a rebellion within his own party over the decision. Pressure from the US increased, with US officials signaling they might have to withdraw military and intelligence assets from the UK over the decision.

    Meanwhile, the US has also been working to limit Huawei’s ability to function, even going so far as to cut them off from TSMC, one of their primary semiconductor manufacturers. All of these factors caused UK officials to reconsider their decision, with a ruling expected soon.

    One ongoing challenge, however, is whether the UK can deploy a 5G network in a reasonable amount of time without Huawei. Should the UK choose to go that route, it appears at least one major company believes they can step in where Huawei was originally slated to be.

    According to Reuters, when asked if Samsung could successfully replace Huawei in building a 5G network in the UK, executive vice president Woojune Kim said: “Yes we can, definitely.”

  • TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    TSMC Will Build $12 Billion Semiconductor Factory in US

    Following reports the Trump administration was in talks with chip makers to build US factories, TSMC has announced plans to do just that.

    TSMC is the primary provider of chips for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, as well as a variety of other smartphone makers. The news is a big win for the Trump administration, as well as the tech industry in general.

    As the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted manufacturing and supply chains, the tech industry has been grappling with the fallout of not being able to keep up with demand. The situation has shone a light on the downsides of relying solely on overseas factories for mission-critical components.

    The Trump administration opened discussions with both Intel and TSMC, in an effort to persuade both companies to open factories in the US. Sources said the administration was also talking with Samsung to see what could be done to help the company expand its existing semiconductor facilities in the US.

    TSMC plans on beginning construction in 2021 in Arizona, with production scheduled to begin in 2024.

  • The Rise of American Semiconductor Business: Government and Corporations Look to Manufacture Chips Stateside

    The Rise of American Semiconductor Business: Government and Corporations Look to Manufacture Chips Stateside

    After years of exporting semiconductor manufacturing overseas, the Trump administration, Intel and TSMC are in talks to open chip factories in the US.

    For years companies have relied on Asian semiconductor factories for the most critical components powering computers, phones, tablets and more. In addition to the cheaper cost associated with oversees manufacturing, there has also been the benefit of scale. With entire industries located in concentrated areas of Asia, companies are able to tap into a vast pool of talent, expertise and supplies.

    Recent events, however, have shown the inherent dangers of relying solely on foreign manufacturing. As the coronavirus pandemic first hit China, factories that American businesses relied on were shuttered, causing problems for a wide range of companies. For example, the supply chain issues resulted in Apple facing product shortages, delayed launch dates for new products and even impacted the company’s ability to provide support and give replacement devices to customers.

    The impact has not been lost on the government, or chip makers. According to The Wall Street Journal, (WSJ) officials have been talking with Intel and TSMC about building factories in the US.

    “We think it’s a good opportunity,” said Greg Slater, Intel’s vice president of policy and technical affairs. “The timing is better and the demand for this is greater than it has been in the past, even from the commercial side.”

    Likewise, TSMC is reportedly talking to US officials as well as Apple, one of its biggest customers, about building a factory in the US. The WSJ’s sources say officials are also interested in helping Samsung expand its existing chipmaking facilities in the US.

    If the talks result in concrete action, it should go a long way toward insulating the American tech industry and help protect it from future global disasters.

  • Samsung Joining Tech Giants In Offering Debit Card

    Samsung Joining Tech Giants In Offering Debit Card

    Samsung is the latest tech giant to announce plans to offer its own branded debit card.

    The banking and financial markets are quickly shaping up to be the next frontier for tech giants. Moving into the space helps keep the companies’ customers invested in a specific ecosystem, one that goes beyond basic electronics. Apple unveiled its Apple Pay card, T-Mobile launched T-Mobile Money bank accounts and Google recently announced its intentions to launch its own debit card. Samsung is now joining the club, expanding its Samsung Pay to include a debit card.

    “In 2020, Samsung Pay will be expanding our service from being a rewarding way to shop and pay, to also being a rewarding way to manage money,” reads the press release. “Over the past year we have been busy developing a mobile-first money management platform. Our vision is to help consumers better manage their money so that they can achieve their dreams and goals. Now more than ever, mobile financial services and money management tools will play an even bigger role in our daily lives while also opening up new possibilities.

    “As a first step to this broader vision, this summer Samsung in partnership with SoFi will introduce a new Samsung Pay experience with an innovative debit card backed by a cash management account. We are excited to share more details in the coming weeks.”

    Samsung’s customers will no doubt enjoy the expansion of Samsung Pay, while the company will benefit by keeping people in its ecosystem.

    Samsung Joining Tech Giants In Offering Debit Card

  • Verizon Hits 4.2Gbps 5G Speeds

    Verizon Hits 4.2Gbps 5G Speeds

    Verizon achieved an industry first, hitting 4.2Gbps speeds on its live 5G network.

    Ericsson was recently in the news for achieving 4.3Gbps 5G speeds, setting a new record. One big difference, however, is that Ericsson’s results were achieved in a lab, whereas Verizon’s 4.2Gbps was achieved on a live network. Verizon conducted the test in partnership with Samsung, Motorola and Qualcomm.

    “We’re continuing to expand our 5G Ultra Wideband network, built to enable unique and transformational experiences for our customers,” said Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Technology Planning at Verizon. “We are only beginning to scratch the surface of what 5G can do, demonstrated by this latest milestone.

    “We continue to innovate and introduce advanced technologies on our 5G network that will help us reach never-before seen mobile capabilities and create new and exciting use cases across the consumer and enterprise landscape. Using 5G carrier aggregation, we are able to achieve unprecedented mobile speeds and bring the massive bandwidth available with mmWave spectrum to life.”

    The fastest type of 5G, mmWave, has held the promise of gigabit speeds. It’s good to see Verizon delivering on that promise.

  • Galaxy Z Flip May Be Another Flop For Samsung

    Galaxy Z Flip May Be Another Flop For Samsung

    Samsung has not had the greatest success with its foldable phone efforts. Its original Galaxy Fold was plagued with problems and now its Galaxy Z Flip is failing durability tests.

    JerryRigEverything’s Zack Nelson was the first to find problems. Zack torture tests new devices. In fact, it’s almost criminal what Zack does to phones and tablets and watching his channel is not for the faint-of-heart gadget lover. Unfortunately for Samsung, however, it didn’t take much for the Galaxy Z Flip to fail.

    In the video, Zack uses a razor blade, lighter and a picks to test the screen. Not only does the screen show virtually no scratch resistance, it actually scratches when Zack uses his fingernail. Zack calls Samsung to task for calling the screen glass, when it clearly behaves as plastic.

    In an emailed statement to The Verge, Samsung said the screen is in fact made of glass, but includes a non-removable plastic layer on top of it:

    ”Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex Display with Samsung’s Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) to deliver a sleek, premium look and offer an immersive viewing experience,” a spokesperson said by email. “Samsung’s first-of-its-kind UTG technology is different from other Galaxy flagship devices. While the display does bend, it should be handled with care. Also, Galaxy Z Flip has a protective layer on top of the UTG similar to Galaxy Fold.”

    Unfortunately, the problems don’t stop with the plastic layer. As BGR points out, users are already experience cracked screens when unfolding the new phone. One Twitter user had barely taken the phone out of the box, removed the removable shipping film from the screen, unfolded it and the phone cracked.

    As phone launches go, it’s not as bad as the Galaxy Fold—but it’s not much better either.

  • Google Accuses Samsung of Making Android Less Secure

    Google Accuses Samsung of Making Android Less Secure

    Samsung may be one of the most popular Android device makers, but that hasn’t stopped Google from taking it to task for making Android more vulnerable.

    Jann Horn, Google Project Zero researcher, outlined how Samsung’s efforts to customize the Android kernel—or core of the operating system (OS)— for specific devices was not only unnecessary, but introduced security vulnerabilities. Horn was researching the kernel of the Galaxy A50 specifically, and had not yet tested his findings on other Samsung device kernels.

    “On Android, it is normal for vendors to add device-specific code to the kernel,” writes Horn. “This code is a frequent source of security vulnerabilities. Android has been reducing the security impact of such code by locking down which processes have access to device drivers, which are often vendor-specific. Modern Android phones access hardware devices through dedicated helper processes, which form the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL).”

    In the case of the A50, Horn wrote an exploit for a memory corruption issue in Samsung’s kernel that was aided by yet another kernel vulnerability. That second kernel issue had long since been fixed in the Android common kernel, but Samsung had yet to address it in their customized version.

    The entire blog post is a long, extremely detailed breakdown of the technical issues at play. Google has been working hard to address security issues with Android, but those improvements are only as good as the vendors that implement them. Horn makes a compelling case that vendors who customize the Android kernel are putting their users at serious risk for questionable benefits.

    “In my opinion, some of the custom features that Samsung added are unnecessary, and can be removed without any loss of value,” adds Horn.

    “I believe that device-specific kernel modifications would be better off either being upstreamed or moved into userspace drivers, where they can be implemented in safer programming languages and/or sandboxed, and at the same time won’t complicate updates to newer kernel releases.”

    One thing is clear: Android vendors need to take security as seriously as Google does.

  • U.S. Charges Huawei With Racketeering and IP Theft

    U.S. Charges Huawei With Racketeering and IP Theft

    In the ongoing battle between the U.S. and Huawei, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed new charges against the Chinese firm.

    The DOJ has filed charges of racketeering and intellectual property (IP) theft, as well as accused the telecom company of having business in North Korea and aiding Iran in its efforts to surveil protesters. According to the indictments, Huawei is accused of successfully stealing IP from six U.S. firms, using several local subsidiaries.

    In a statement responding to the charges, Huawei accuses the U.S. government of “using the strength of an entire nation to come after a private company.” The company says this is a case of “political persecution, plain and simple.”

    Huawei then engages in a lengthy breakdown of the IP theft charges, saying that IP disputes are common to the industry. It then compares its own track record with Apple and Samsung, both of whom were involved in over 500 disputes, compared with Huawei’s 209.

    The company also says it has “been granted 87,805 patents, including 11,152 patents in the US. Since 2015, Huawei has received over US$1.4 billion in licensing revenue. We have simultaneously paid more than US$6 billion in royalties for the legitimate use of other companies’ patents. Nearly 80% of that amount was paid to US companies.”

    Noticeably, the statement does not address the accusations regarding the company’s involvement with North Korea or Iran. Either way, this battle is far from over.

  • MWC Barcelona Canceled Amid Coronavirus Fears

    MWC Barcelona Canceled Amid Coronavirus Fears

    The annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona has been cancelled amid growing concerns about the coronavirus.

    MWC is one of the premier trade shows for the telecoms industry, organized by GSMA and focusing on the mobile industry. As the date for this year’s conference drew close, however, fears of the coronavirus began to dominate discussion, leading several of the most important supporters of MWC to announce their withdrawal from this year’s show. According to Reuters, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, BT and Nokia were some of the latest companies to pull out.

    For many companies, the cancelation will have far-reaching consequences. Many vendors, especially smaller ones, without the name-brand clout of Samsung, rely on MWC to make a splash with their newest phones or devices. With the trade show canceled, those companies will have to find other ways to debut their products.

    The GSMA statement announcing the decision said the group is working toward the 2021 and future conferences, and extended sympathies to those impacted by the virus in China and around the world.

    This is just the latest example of the far-reaching impact of the coronavirus, as the death toll and infection rate continues to climb.

  • Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Flip Foldable Phone

    Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Flip Foldable Phone

    Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone, the company’s first with a glass screen.

    Samsung’s previous attempt, the Galaxy Fold, was plagued with issues leading Samsung to redesign a number of elements to improve the phone’s reliability. Now the company has announced the Fold’s successor, the Galaxy Z Flip.

    Closed Galaxy Z Flips - Image Source: Samsung
    Closed Galaxy Z Flips – Image Source: Samsung

    According Samsung’s statement, the new phone “features a 6.7-inch display that folds into a stylish and compact form factor that fits in the palm of your hand1. Designed with an innovative Hideaway Hinge and custom-built UX, Galaxy Z Flip provides elegant new ways to capture, share and experience content. From its stylish design to its flexible camera experience, Galaxy Z Flip opens up a new decade of foldable mobile innovation.”

    In a company first, the “Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex Display with Samsung’s proprietary bendable Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), making it slimmer with a sleek, premium look and feel that has never been seen with a foldable device before. The centered in-display camera cutout at the top also means there’s no notch and no distractions, with Samsung’s first-ever 21.9:9 ratio, so you can enjoy even more of your favorite content such as cinema-ratio 21:9 shows and movies.”

    Two Galaxy Z Flips - Image Source: Samsung
    Two Galaxy Z Flips – Image Source: Samsung

    The new form factor does a good job of splitting content and controls between the two halves of the screen. The phone runs Android 10, has dual 12 MP rear cameras, a 10MP selfie camera, a 3,300 mAh (typical) dual battery, wireless charging, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

    Samsung’s second attempt at a foldable phone is an innovative design that is sure to win over customers.

  • Apple TV App and Apple TV+ Now Available on 2019 LG TVs

    Apple TV App and Apple TV+ Now Available on 2019 LG TVs

    LG has announced in a press release that the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ are now available on compatible 2019 smart TVs.

    At CES, LG announced its 2020 models would include Apple’s TV offerings, and that the company would also bring them to compatible 2019 and 2018 models. With today’s announcement, owners of 2019 models can enjoy Apple’s programming without needing an Apple TV device.

    According to the press release, the app is “easily accessed from the LG Home Launcher, the Apple TV app gives LG TV owners the ability to subscribe to and watch Apple TV+, Apple’s new video subscription service that features popular Apple Originals such as ‘The Morning Show,’ ‘See,’ ‘Servant’ and ‘Little America.’

    “With the Apple TV app, LG TV owners can also subscribe to Apple TV channels — direct subscriptions to premium video services available both online and offline, ad-free and on demand — and access their iTunes video library and buy or rent over 100,000 movies and TV shows. A quick click of the LG Magic Remote is all it takes to get started.”

    LG’s announcement is a welcome addition to the Apple TV ecosystem. Until now, Samsung was the only major TV manufacturer to natively support Apple’s apps. LG sees Apple support as a way to add value and provide the best possible experience to their customers.

    “LG continues to offer the best home entertainment experience through technological innovations that support the delivery of high quality viewing and user convenience,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “By bringing the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ to even more TV models, we are once again demonstrating our determination to meet consumers’ needs and add value to our products.”

  • Apple Widened Its Tablet Lead in 2019

    Apple Widened Its Tablet Lead in 2019

    IDC’s year-end report on the tablet market shows good news for Apple and, to a lesser extent, Amazon—and bad news for pretty much everyone else.

    According to IDC’s research, Apple widened its market share lead over the course of 2019, going from 29.6% in 2018 to 34.6% in 2019. In particular, the 10.2-inch iPad was a big hit, accounting for 65% of the company’s tablet sales.

    Amazon also had a decent year. Although the company posted a 29% decrease in 4Q19 shipments, compared with Q418, Amazon saw an overall increase of 9.9% market share for the year in total, compared with 2018.

    In contrast, Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo and others all saw declines in the their market share. Even the segment in general saw an overall decline of 1.5%, making Apple and Amazon’s positive results all the more impressive.

  • Samsung Working on Quick Share: AirDrop For Android

    Samsung Working on Quick Share: AirDrop For Android

    XDA Developers is reporting that Samsung is working on Quick Share, an Android alternative to Apple’s AirDrop feature.

    AirDrop is a peer-to-peer service on Apple devices that allow them to share files without the need to email, upload to the cloud or even be connected to the same WiFi network. Instead, AirDrop uses Bluetooth and WiFi to create a peer-to-peer WiFi connection between two devices. This allows for extremely convenient and fast file transfers.

    Unfortunately, up until now, most Android users have not had a similar feature. That appears to be on the verge of changing, according to XDA Developers, at least for Samsung Galaxy customers.

    “This will basically work like most of these other nearby sharing services. If you are near another user with a supported device, they will show up and you can share the picture, video, or file. You will have two options for sharing: contacts only or with everyone. ‘Contacts-only’ will only allow you to share files with other Samsung Social users who you have in your contacts. ‘Everyone’ will let you send or receive files from anyone with a supported device in your area.

    “Unlike other services like AirDrop, Quick Share will have a cloud aspect to it. Quick Share will let you temporarily upload files to Samsung Cloud. These files will then be streamed to Samsung Smart Things devices and downloaded locally. These files can be up to 1GB with a total of 2GBs being sent per day.”

    As XDA Developers points out, Google is also working on its own version of the feature. It remains to be seen if the different services will be able to communicate with one another or if this will lead to further fragmentation in the Android ecosystem.

  • Samsung Acquires TeleWorld Solutions To Help Build Out 5G Networks

    Samsung Acquires TeleWorld Solutions To Help Build Out 5G Networks

    Samsung has announced an agreement to “acquire TeleWorld Solutions (TWS), a network services provider headquartered in Chantilly, VA.”

    TWS compliments Samsung’s current endeavors, especially as it battles with Huawei for 5G network business. While it is currently in second place, Huawei’s ongoing problems shaking allegations it serves as a conduit for the Chinese government to spy on other countries, provides Samsung with an opportunity to make further inroads. The company sees TWS playing a significant role in those efforts.

    “The acquisition of TWS will enable us to meet mobile carriers’ growing needs for improving their 4G and 5G networks, and eventually create new opportunities to enhance our service capabilities to our customers,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Samsung EVP. “Samsung will continue to drive innovation in communications technology, while providing optimization services for network deployments that accelerate U.S. 5G network expansion.”

    Shervin Gerami, CEO of TWS, echoed those thoughts: “Everyone at TeleWorld Solutions is excited to be part of the Samsung family. The advent of 5G and the amount of new spectrum coming into the U.S. market requires scale and innovation for the next generation of wireless technologies. Joining forces with Samsung will accelerate innovation to help our customers fulfill their needs for network strategy, deployment, and automation.”

  • CES 2020: Samsung Unveils Neon: A Virtual, ‘Artificial Human’ Avatar

    CES 2020: Samsung Unveils Neon: A Virtual, ‘Artificial Human’ Avatar

    Leading up to CES 2020, Samsung teased Neon, an artificial human. Details were sparse, and Samsung said little other than to confirm Neon was an all new endeavor and had nothing to do with their existing AI engine, Bixby.

    At CES 2020, Samsung finally showed what Neon is: a virtual, “artificial human” avatar, according to TechRepublic. Unlike an AI assistant, Neon is not designed to be a source of information, or have the answers to every question put to it. It’s designed to be a personal companion, one that learns and evolves just as a human being would.

    Pranav Mistry, CEO of Neon and head of Samsung’s STAR Labs set out to see if technology and AI could become more human-like. The end result is an AI that “can have conversations and behave like humans, and they will form memories and develop new skills. However, each one is unique, with its own personality that can develop over time.”

    In many ways, the technology sounds similar to S1m0ne, the movie starring Al Pacino about a movie producer who creates a virtual actress. Beyond the science fiction novelty, however, Neon has the potential to be used in a wide range of practical applications, such as interpersonal training or companionship.

    In the meantime, Neon is still several years away from public availability. Until then, we’ll just have to keep talking to Siri and Alexa.

  • CES 2020: Samsung Unveils Rolling Robot ‘Ballie’

    CES 2020: Samsung Unveils Rolling Robot ‘Ballie’

    It’s not quite BB-8, but Samsung may have unveiled the next best thing in a rolling robot named “Ballie.”

    According to Engadget, Ballie is designed to be an assistant, essentially running a smart home. The robot “has a ‘mobile interface’ that looks for ways to improve your life as your needs change using its built-in AI.”

    In a YouTube video the company posted, Ballie acts as a household manager, opening shades, triggering a woman’s alarm clock, assisting her with her workout, turning the TV on for the dog once she leaves, sending her a video feed of the dog happily watching TV, playing with the dog and even summoning the robot vacuum when the dog makes a mess.

    One gets the impression from watching the video that if you imagined a butler, managing almost every aspect of running a home, as a little yellow ball…you would have Ballie. While Samsung has not announced when Ballie will be available or how much it will cost, the company will likely have a major hit on its hands.

    https://youtu.be/Xwi_U-g3wA0

  • CES 2020: Samsung Introduces SelfieType Virtual Keyboard

    CES 2020: Samsung Introduces SelfieType Virtual Keyboard

    Anyone who finds smartphone screen keyboards way too small should be interested in Samsung’s SelfieType, a virtual keyboard it is showcasing at CES 2020.

    According to the company’s website, Samsung’s SelfieType uses a combination of artificial intelligence and the front-facing camera to provide a unique typing experience.

    “A proprietary SelfieType AI engine analyzes finger movements coming from the front camera, and converts them into QWERTY keyboard inputs. SelfieType requires no additional hardware and it is highly adaptable to various mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.”

    For the average consumer, this type of technology is one of the most interesting—and practical—announcements coming out of CES 2020. As smartphones and tablets have become more powerful, they have replaced traditional PCs for many individuals. Unfortunately, using an onscreen keyboard is not an ideal experience, especially for longer sessions. SelfieType opens up another option, and gives smaller smartphone devices a larger typing area without sacrificing weight or form factor.