Samsung Sets up Note 7 Exchange Booths in ‘High Traffic’ Airports
Samsung has coordinated with aviation officials around the world to set up exchange booths in “high traffic” airport terminals for owners of recalled Galaxy Note 7 smartphones (via The Verge).
The booths first appeared in South Korean airports, with similar exchange sites set to open across Australia and the U.S. for travelers to hand in the potentially dangerous devices.
According to one reporter, a Samsung exchange desk manned by the company’s staff is already operational at San Francisco’s international airport.
It’s now a federal crime to board a flight with a Note 7 phone, following two global recalls by Samsung that failed to stem reports of the devices setting on fire, which caused property damage and injuries. Anyone caught with a Note 7 on a plane risks facing fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Samsung is said to have cut its third quarter operating profit by $2.3 billion and adjusted profit expectations from $6.9 billion to $4.6 billion, following its discontinuation of the ill-fated Note 7.
Samsung has a team of representatives at SFO to help customers with the Note7 phone. It’s banned from US flights. pic.twitter.com/2IiEcg6hsU
— Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) October 17, 2016
The company is set to overhaul its mobile strategy next year to ensure product quality, according to one report. A supply source told the Korea Herald that the company is likely to scrap its annual two-flagship models strategy in favor of focusing on a single device.
Speculation suggests that would be the Galaxy S8, expected to launch in late February 2017, although Samsung will probably shake up its marketing strategy before then, meaning the new phone could be rebranded.
Tags: Samsung, Galaxy Note 7
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Samsung starts building 10-nanometer processors
Chip companies are battling Moore’s Law tooth and nail, but Samsung says it’s the first to start building processors using a 10-nanometer process, ahead of Intel and others. To put that into scale, the transistors will be just 50 times the size of a silicon atom, which is around 0.2 nanometers across. Samsung didn’t say who it’s building the system-on-chip for, but Korea’s Electronic Times says it has an exclusive deal to build Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 830 processors using 10-nanometer tech.
The company is using its 10-nanometer FinFET process to build a multi-layer 3D transistor structure with an improved design. That’ll yield 27 percent better performance and 40 percent lower power consumption than its 14-nanometer chips, resulting in faster and more battery-friendly devices. With transistors approaching atomic sizes, Samsung needed to do “triple-patterning,” etching the chips three times with electron beams to increase the feature density.
Samsung’s 10-nanometer chip tech will likely power the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 and many of Samsung’s own upcoming phones.
Samsung said that first-gen system-on-chips will start to appear in devices early next year, while second-gen tech will come in the second half of 2017. If it does build the Snapdragon 830 as rumored, Samsung tech will find its way into devices by Google, HTC, Sony and others. They’ll also power US versions of Samsung’s own Galaxy S7 successor, and possibly a new Note product. Given the Note 7 disaster, it’s probably not hyperbolic to say those will be Samsung’s most important mobile products ever.
Source: Samsung
Samsung tested its Galaxy Note 7 batteries in-house
The batteries that power Samsung’s smartphones (including that Galaxy Note 7), are tested in a lab that’s owned by the company. While it tests to ensure its phone batteries are certified by US wireless industry group the CTIA, Samsung’s certified lab is housed inside its own testing facilities, unlike the likes of Apple and Lenovo, which get their tests done at third-party sites. (We’ve also reached out to more smartphone makers.) The CTIA audits these labs to ensure personnel are qualified, that testing complies with standards, as well as checking that there is no undue influence from manufacturers.
Batteries are tested both on their own and while inside a device. The process focuses on how the battery behaves while charging or during calls. According to the direct of the Korea Test Lab (the other CTIA-certified battery testing lab in South Korea), batteries are also put in high temperates to simulate summer heat — and check for the chances of overheating.
Samsung is still investigating what precisely went wrong with the Note 7. The device used batteries from multiple manufacturers, including Samsung’s own SDI arm.
When the company recalled 2.5 million Note 7s with SDI batteries inside, both Samsung and Korea’s Agency for Technology and Standards deemed that batteries from another supplier, ATL, didn’t suffer the same issue, and replacement Note 7s with ATL batteries were offered. However, phones still went up in smoke after the first wave of recalls.
Talking to the Wall Street Journal, the CTIA’s chief technology officer Tom Sawanobori said: “We’ve certified over 1,500 batteries. This is the first time we’ve had an issue.”
Source: WSJ
AT&T’s insurance plan will soon repair busted phone screens
If you have insurance on your phone and smash the ever-loving tar out of the screen, you normally have to file a claim, pay a deductible and wait for a replacement device. Bleh. AT&T and its insurance provider Asurion, however, are trying something a little different. As of November 15, people paying to insure their phones can shell out $89 to — schedule permitting — have a technician repair that display that very day.
Same-day repairs definitely aren’t guaranteed, but the plan could work well for people who can’t go without their phones or don’t have the time for the traditional trade-in process. You stand to save a little money, too: the usual deductible for a high-end smartphone fluctuates between $150 and $225 depending on what it is, so just under $90 doesn’t sound like a bad deal for potentially speedy service.
There are a couple caveats you should know about, though — for one, the new plan only applies to certain smartphones. If you have an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus or SE, you’re in luck. Ditto if you own Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S5 or Galaxy S6. You might notice some very popular omissions from that list, namely the most recent iPhone and Galaxy S devices, but that’s probably because the requisite parts are more pricey or tougher to come by. Beyond that, the screen replacement plan is only set to launch in 14 markets come November 15; you can check out the full list (plus markets launching down the road) below.
Via: AndroidPolice
Source: AT&T
Samsung gives the Galaxy S7 a taste of the Note 7’s software
Like it or not, the Galaxy Note 7 is gone for good. However, you’re getting a small treat if you switched from the Note 7 to another Samsung phone. Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge owners report that they’re receiving an update which brings many of the Note’s always-on display features to the slightly older devices, such as its customization. It’s not a wholesale port of the discontinued phone’s software (you’d need pen support for that), and some users are reporting broken features in the initial release. Notifications from Samsung’s own email app may not work, for instance.
Still, the timing is convenient and bodes well whether or not you came to the S7 from its larger, defunct counterpart. You won’t have to wait ages (or buy a new phone) to see some of what you were missing. Not that Samsung has much choice but to court S7 owners these days. While there’s no guarantee that the company will migrate everything it can from the Note 7’s software, it has more incentive to make the S7 series as compelling as possible — it’s likely the company’s only high-end option for the next several months.
Source: XDA-Developers, AnandTech Forums
Samsung’s leaked Chromebook is a pen-toting premium hybrid
Samsung’s Chromebook strategy has so far focused on the budget-conscious crowd, but it’s about to change in a big, big way. Chrome Unboxed tipsters have uncovered store listings (and briefly, a landing page) for a Chromebook Pro that would cater to people wanting a high-end Chrome OS experience. The 12.3-inch system would not only have a Chromebook Flip-style 360-degree touchscreen, but a pen — you could turn this Google-powered laptop into an impromptu drawing tablet. The page hints at a pre-installed ArtCanvas app for creative types, and the pen would no doubt come in handy for promised Android app support.
The stylus wouldn’t be the only selling point. The Pro would come wrapped in a “full metal” shell that helps it measure just 0.55 inches at its thickest point. It’d have a very sharp 2,400 x 1,600 display, too. And a six-core, 2GHz ARM processor should both help with battery life (up to 10 hours) and improve compatibility with Android apps.
If the store listings are accurate, you’d have to spend a hefty $499 to get the Chromebook Pro, which could arrive as soon as October 24th. That’s a lot to spend on a Chrome OS device, especially one that doesn’t have the processing power of similarly premium rivals like the HP Chromebook 13. However, it might be the machine to get if you’re buying a Chromebook with Android apps in mind.
Via: 9to5Google, Chrome Unboxed
Source: Adorama, Samsung landing page (cached)
Samsung introduces a gilded, more powerful Galaxy TabPro S
While your smartphone is headed back to meet its maker, Samsung is rolling out a flashier Gold Edition of its already svelte Galaxy TabPro S tablet. It’s been less than a year since the PC replacement debuted, and Samsung is already jumping on the gold finish trend and bumping up the specs with 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid state hard drive and a battery that should be good for 10.5 hours of video playback.
Aside from the RAM boost and that gold finish on the magnesium alloy body, there’s not much else new here. You’re still getting the same 12-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, a 2.2 Ghz Intel M3 processor, and five-megapixel front- and rear-facing cameras as the earlier model. The Gold Edition TabPro S still clocks in at an airy 1.53 pounds without the keyboard, and you still get one USB-A for peripherals and one USB-C port for charging. There is one other difference though: the whole package will set you back a cool $999.99 when it goes on sale at Best Buy and Samsung.com today. On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of the gold look — or can get by with half the RAM and half the storage — the earlier model is currently going for $799.99 on Samsung’s site.
Source: Samsung News
US bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on all flights
In the wake of Samsung’s global recall of the Galaxy Note 7, the US has now banned the device on all aircraft, even if they’re turned off. Previously, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only issued a warning to have passengers keep the phones powered down during flights. But now, Bloomberg reports, you can’t bring it on the plane at all. This follows recent news that Samsung has ended the production and sales of the Note 7 entirely due to smoke and fire incidents, which happened even to replacement handsets. It’s not entirely clear when the phone would be taken away from you — whether it’d be during the security screening or when you’re onboard the plane — but if you haven’t already returned it, you should at least do so before your next flight.
Update: The Department of Transportation has issued a statement regarding the ban, clarifying that the ban is effective this Saturday, October 15, 2016, at noon ET. As reported, the Galaxy Note 7 is not allowed on their person, in carry-on or in checked baggage, or even shipped as air cargo.
“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in the statement. “We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”
Update 2: Samsung has released a statement of its own:
“Samsung, together with carriers, is working to communicate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new order to ban all Galaxy Note7 devices in carry-on and checked baggage on flights. We have encouraged airlines to issue similar communications directly to their passengers. Any Galaxy Note7 owner should visit their carrier and retail store to participate in the U.S. Note7 Refund and Exchange Program now. We realize this is an inconvenience but your safety has to remain our top priority.”
Source: Bloomberg
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 Smartphone Banned From All U.S. Flights
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 was today banned from all airplanes and flights in the United States by the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. It is now labeled as a “forbidden hazardous material” under the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations.
Individuals who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States. This prohibition includes all Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices.
The Department of Transportation has issued an emergency order that will prevent the devices from being taken on a flight even when powered down as of Saturday, October 15 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Galaxy Note 7 smartphones are no longer allowed in checked or carry-on luggage and cannot be shipped as air cargo.
“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”
Customers who attempt to bring a Galaxy Note 7 on a flight could have their devices confiscated and could face fines. Those who attempt to evade the ban by putting their smartphone in their checked luggage could be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to fines.
The official flight ban comes just days after Samsung permanently discontinued production of the Galaxy Note 7 and asked its carrier partners around the world to cease selling the device following reports that “safe” replacement Galaxy Note 7 devices were also catching on fire.
Samsung has not yet discovered the defect affecting the new devices and has not been able to reproduce the issue in house, but it has been forced to scrap the Galaxy Note 7 due to consumer outcry and regulatory investigations.
Samsung has asked Galaxy Note 7 owners, both with original and replacement devices, to power them down immediately and return them for a full refund. All four of the major carriers in the United States are allowing customers to return their Galaxy Note 7 smartphones for other smartphones, such as the iPhone 7.
Ending production and sales of the Galaxy Note 7 is expected to cost Samsung upwards of $2.3 billion, on top of negative public perception.
Tag: Samsung
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The Engadget Podcast Ep 10: Survivor
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Chris Velazco join host Terrence O’Brien to debate Facebook’s trending new problem and the true purpose of Twitter. Then they’ll sift through the ashes of the Galaxy Note 7 for insight and discuss how something as simple as a hashtag can give survivors the courage to come forward.
The Flame Wars Leaderboard
Wins
Loses
Winning %
Christopher Trout
2
1
.666
Dana Wollman
7
4
.636
Devindra Hardawar
9
7
.563
Chris Velazco
3
3
.500
Cherlynn Low
6
7
.461
Nathan Ingraham
4
6
.400
Michael Gorman
1
2
.333
Relevant links:
- Amazon Echo Dot review (2016): Forget the Echo. Buy this instead.
- Jack Dorsey calls Twitter the ‘people’s news network’
- Facebook is still trending fake news stories
- Samsung ends production of the Galaxy Note 7 for good
- As the Note 7 dies will Google inherit the Android kingdom?
- Samsung’s Note 7 catches fire, but the damage isn’t done
- Samsung stops Galaxy Note 7 sales, owners should ‘power down’
- Samsung’s Note 7 crisis will cost at least $2.34 billion
- The Galaxy Note 7’s death creates an environmental mess
- Hashtags help survivors break their silence
- What you need to know about social media activism
You can check out every episode on The Engadget Podcast page in audio, video and text form for the hearing impaired.
Watch on YouTube
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