“Consumers, especially millennials, are spending more time at home and demanding products that enhance their everyday lives with customized features,” said JaeSeung Lee, President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliances Division. “Great, reliable performance is now a basic expectation. The standard for a better, smarter home experience is now decided by how closely appliances can be ‘fit’ to various customer lifestyles.”

Introducing a More Tailored Take on Appliance Design

Customization is already a key feature of Samsung appliances. Guided by a design philosophy first introduced with a project known as Project PRISM, Samsung appliances cater to users’ unique needs, reflecting their lifestyles just as a prism refracts light into various colors.

That customizable, lifestyle-centric philosophy is epitomized by Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators. The company’s flagship refrigerator lineup was first introduced in Korea in 2019, and has since expanded into global markets. Offering multiple types of modules (1-Door, BMF, 4-Door), along with panels that can be customized with various colors and finishes, the Bespoke range challenges industry norms by empowering users to customize their fridge to their décor, rather than vice versa.

Bespoke turned out to be a game-changer, driving two-thirds of refrigerator sales in Korea, and proving that consumers – particularly millennials – are in the market for appliances that answer their unique lifestyle needs. The refrigerators went on to launch in select markets around the world, bringing a revolution in home appliances wherever they went.

Launching the ‘Bespoke Home’ Era

In Samsung’s vision for the future, the concept of customizing appliances to fit users’ lifestyles does not stop with refrigerators. Indeed, the company is constantly exploring ways to add customizable elements to a wide range of appliances – from staple appliances like refrigerators to relatively new categories of devices, including air purifiers and the clothing care device AirDresser.

The company’s vision does not stop at hardware design, either. Equipping appliances with AI capabilities and connectivity will be crucial for creating more holistic and personalized user experiences. Washing machines that automatically relay cycle information to dryers, refrigerators that know when milk will go bad, air purifiers that switch on automatically when air quality drops – these are a few examples of how Samsung is using its leadership in connectivity and intelligence to put the consumer at the center of every appliance experience.

While continuously upgrading software in devices like the beloved Family Hub refrigerator, Samsung is continuously enhancing its SmartThings ecosystem with services that allow consumers to input personal preferences and manage their appliances for a more closely tailored experience.

The idea of taking a more bespoke approach to home appliance design will take center stage at CES 2021. Not only will Samsung kick off Bespoke’s entry in the U.S. market with the unveiling of the all-new Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator, but the company will also reveal exciting new ways that its smart appliances work with users and each other to make life easier for all lifestyles.

“We see the future of Bespoke home appliances as not only being about design, but about performance, hygiene, and sustainability as well,” says Lee. Samsung is excited to present this new way of thinking about home appliances, beginning at this year’s CES. We look forward to another year of developing innovations that put consumers’ needs first.”

“At Samsung, our goal is to develop home appliances designed for the way we live now—appliances that blend modern design with innovative new technologies,” said Harry Choi, Senior Vice President, Digital Appliance Design Team & Lifestyle Labs, Samsung Electronics. “With these products, that’s exactly what we’re giving our consumers—the ability to choose from several home appliances that make their home lives more convenient, more connected, and more meaningful.”

Samsung’s expanded offerings reflect the new ways we’re living our lives at home: No longer just a place to rest and relax, the home is now a gym, an office, and a place for entertainment. Based on these changing trends, Samsung has been driving innovative new designs and reimagining what appliances do for us with products that are flexible, multifunctional, and set a new standard for personal style.

Modular, customizable designs that set new standards

• An innovative and beautifully designed refrigerator, the BESPOKE refrigerator establishes a completely new category of customized home appliances. Through the creative use of materials and colors, you can put your personal stamp of style on your kitchen. You can even customize the functions of the refrigerator with Flex Zone, a compartment that can be used as either a fridge or a freezer.

• Designed for small spaces, the Portable Slim Double Induction makes it easier to prepare meals anywhere in the kitchen—or even in another room in the home. It powerfully and precisely cooks with two induction burners, each with nine different power levels to suit any culinary need. The burners can function separately for sauté pans and pots or as one unified, larger surface when grilling or cooking with bigger cookware.

• Samsung’s new Cube Refrigerator series offers three new models of small refrigerators: Wine, Beer, and Beauty. These modular refrigerators come in a variety of stylish colors that blend seamlessly into any décor. Their unique, finished, stackable design means they can be placed anywhere in any room. And that includes the bedroom—with a special cooling technology, they are quiet enough to place comfortably in the space where you sleep.

• The Samsung Shoe Care System represents a first-of-its-kind innovation in home shoe care. It provides an easy and convenient all-in-one solution that helps you care for some of your most valuable fashion investments, giving you the ability to deodorize, dehumidify, and dry your shoes with one convenient device. It helps your shoes last longer, look better, and feel fresher.

The first ever Good Lock application, released in 2016 and compatible with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, introduced users to a frequently-updated array of customizable features for their Galaxy devices. Responding to consumer demand, Samsung has now released Good Lock 2018 to give Android 8.0 Oreo users the freedom to personalize their Galaxy device’s appearance and interface experience.

With so many options to choose from, check out the Newsroom’s guide to the features of Good Lock 2018 below.

Love Your Lock Screen

Lockstar is changing how you see your locked phone, allowing you to style your lock screen with a wide range of designs. You can select your preferred background and clock face, as well as which items appear visible on the screen, and these features can be arranged in a variety of configurations. The app also gives you the flexibility to choose the gesture which prompts the phone to unlock and to place shortcuts to apps you use regularly on the lock screen, so the phone will open straight to them after unlocking.

Customize Your Quick Panel

Use Quickstar to give your Quick Panel a makeover. With the Coloring tab, you can choose from a list of recommendations or create your own palette by adjusting the hues which mark On or Off for each setting, the color and transparency of the background, and the Blur and Dim effects. The Simple Indicator tab also gives you increased control over the icons displayed in your Status Bar and the Notification Multi-Window tab allows you to toggle the Notification Multi-Window on and off. With the Notification Multi-Window enabled, you can check the necessary information more conveniently on the pop-up window.

Change Tasks in Style

The Task Changer app allows you to scroll through recent apps by swiping left and right, rather than up and down, changing the way you move from task to task. There is a choice of Scroll effects and the opportunity to turn on Mini Mode, which shrinks the apps in the bottom of the screen to aid one-handed scrolling.

Once Task Changer is enabled, you can pull up the Recently Used Apps and choose to either use the app as a pop-up screen, or split view two apps by holding down the app you would like to use a little harder. Once task changer is enabled, you can also receive more information about the app, lock the app, or hide the app’s contents by tapping the icon image on the top.

Establish a Routine

Using Routines, you can combine processes and functions to create new features. Give each routine a name before selecting the conditions that will prompt the routine and the actions that you want it to perform. To ensure the perfect movie-watching environment, for example, you can set a routine that turns on Wi-Fi, rotates your screen to landscape and adjusts your sound and brightness levels, as soon as you open your chosen media app.

Choose Your Clock

Read the time in a whole new way with ClockFace, an app which allows you to choose from numerous clock designs for your always on display and lock screen. Choices include analog or digital clock faces and there is a spectrum of colors available, including tones which adapt with the color of the background and rainbow effects.

Become Part of the Family

Good Lock 2018 is one member of a family of apps designed to heighten customization on your Galaxy smartphone. For example, EdgeLighting + allows you to tailor Edge Lighting effects to your liking. With Edge Touch, you can establish Edge Zones which do not recognize screen touch to prevent accidental actions. Further adjustable options are offered with One Hand Operation +, designed to help you navigate your device one-handed, with thumb gestures alone. Finally, Sound Assistant gives you even greater control over Sound settings, including the ability to personalize your phone’s sound for different times and manage individual app volume.

EdgeLighting+ (left), Edge Touch (center) and One Hand Operation+ (right)

*Good Lock 2018 is currently available to download from Galaxy Apps in Korea, the United States, UK, Singapore, Australia, and Canada. It is compatible with the Galaxy S9 and S9+, Galaxy S8 and S8+, Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Galaxy Note8, Galaxy FE and other devices that are running Android 8.0 Oreo and above. Samsung intends to update the app regularly while paying close attention to consumer feedback.

Here, two of the minds behind the Gear Sport’s design, Product Planner Sungjin Kim and UX Designer Hayeong Jeong, discuss Samsung’s efforts to design a sports watch that’s in a league of its own.

Q. Who was the Gear Sport designed for?

Kim: Our chief priority when designing the Gear Sport was to introduce a smartwatch that featured new, easy-to-use functions that allowed users to go ‘beyond fitness’.

Conventional sports watches tend to be huge and heavy, and designed mainly for those who are interested in pushing their bodies to the limit to reach peak condition. We’ve tailored the Gear Sport to those who want to work out and stay in shape, but aren’t necessarily interested in becoming a pro athlete.

The result is a smartwatch that’s sleek, comfortable and great for everyday wear, and packed with features that empower users to get the most out of a workout whenever they wish. We set out to design a device that struck a fine balance between stylish design and powerful, fitness-focused function, and we’ve been delighted to hear that the result of our efforts has gotten great feedback from users.

Q. What are some of the ways that the Gear Sport streamlines exercise?

Kim: The Gear Sport features built-in GPS and an advanced, continuous heart-rate sensor, and is one of the first Samsung wearables (along with the Gear Fit2 Pro) to boast 5 ATM (50-meter) water resistance.

This level of water resistance means that the smartwatch is built to not only stand up to rain and the odd splash, but also dips in the pool. In fact, the Gear Sport’s support for swim-tracking app Speedo On makes it the ideal companion for any swim.

The device is packed with powerful fitness-tracking software, including a built-in “pace-setter” feature that makes it excellent for managing runs, as well as automatic activity detection. And by seamlessly syncing with Samsung Health, and allowing users to easily log their calorie intake directly into their smartwatch, the Gear Sport also offers tools to help users keep better track of their eating habits and ultimately achieve their weight goals.

The smartwatch is also great for home training. Its Samsung Health integration allows you to easily access an expanded collection of fun fitness classes from third-party content providers that may be streamed to your Samsung TV using your Samsung smartphone’s Smart View function, while its continuous heart-rate tracking allows you to monitor your performance on your screen in real-time during your workout.

Q. The Gear Sport also introduces a new, square form to the Samsung smartwatch lineup. What inspired this adjustment?

Kim: We chose to equip the Gear Sport with a case that combines the Gear line’s signature bezel with a slightly square body not only because it created a unique way to differentiate the device from our other offerings, but also because it allowed us to incorporate a large, 300 mAh battery.

The contours of the case make the Gear Sport quite comfortable to wear, and add a nice, elegant touch to the device’s overall aesthetic.

Q. How have you enhanced the Gear Sport’s familiar, circular UX?

Jeong: Our wearables’ signature UX makes accessing their functions simple and intuitive. When we set about designing the Gear Sport, we prioritized finding useful ways to enhance the circular UX, and make best use of the versatile bezel.

For example, sending a completed text with the interface used to require a tap of the screen. Now, a slight twist of the bezel will automatically pull up a prompt to send your text. We’ve also optimized the bezel to make tasks like changing a watch face more seamless and convenient. So if you rotate the Gear Sport’s bezel quickly after pulling up the watch face selection screen, now, you’ll be able to instantly view more options.

The Gear Sport’s UX enhancements make it easy for users to view more watch faces at a glance (top row), and allow more apps and information to be presented clearly on the device’s circular display (bottom row).

Other adjustments include the new app shortcut widget, which displays your most recently accessed apps, and the streamlined Quick Panel, which may now be accessed from any screen, rather than solely via the watch face. The optimizations we’ve made are the results of incorporating user feedback, and make it easy for users to access key functions and find the information they need at a glance.

We’re constantly looking for new, innovative ways to optimize UX – not only for the Gear Sport, but for each of our wearable devices.

Q. The Gear Sport’s highly customizable design adds another fun layer of versatility. Is this something that was prioritized from an early stage?

Jeong: Absolutely. Our aim with the Gear Sport was to present a sports watch with a truly versatile design.

The watch comes in two colors, black and blue, and features 13 preinstalled watch faces. The colors of those watch faces may be customized to create a wide array of unique designs, which may also be paired with 23 available straps, yielding a total of more than 3,600 distinct variations.

On top of that, there are tens of thousands more watch faces available to download in the Galaxy Apps store, and we also offer a Gear Watch Designer tool, which makes it easy for users to create and share high-quality watch faces of their own design.

Q. Were there any other fun features that you were able to incorporate into the Gear Sport’s design?

Kim: Because smartwatch users tend to be tech savvy, and IoT-interactions are becoming more ubiquitous in our lives, when designing the Gear Sport, we prioritized optimizing the device for inter-device connectivity.

This ultimately led us to develop cool functions that allow users to use the Gear Sport to streamline how they do things like manage PowerPoint presentations, navigate VR interfaces,* and pay for goods on the go.

*Using Samsung’s Gear VR headset

1. Customizable App Shortcuts on Lock Screen

When the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are locked, two apps can be placed in the lower corners for easy access. Choose the apps you use the most—whether the camera, phone, photo gallery, S Health or even third-party apps—and the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge can provide you with faster access.

How to Set Up: Setting > Lock screen and security > Info and app shortcuts  > App shortcuts

2. Multiple Lock Screen Images

For your Lock screen’s wallpaper, you can now select multiple images from your Gallery to change the look each time you check your lock screen. It allows you to choose up to 30 images.

In addition, if you long press the display while the lock screen is on, the time and other information on the display disappear leaving only the wallpaper image. That allows you to see your lock screen image without interference from any on-screen information.

How to Set Up: Settings > Wallpaper > Lock screen > Select From Gallery and choose the photos (up to 30)

3. More Ways to Manage Apps from Home Screen

With the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, you can now easily move apps around your home screens and search for apps more simply.

To move icons to different Home screens, long press an icon, and then drag it to the Move apps icon on the upper right. The Move apps is a temporary container for managing several applications at once. Then tap or drag it to move it to another page.

In addition, you can look for an app by name in the app tray by selecting “Search” at the top of the screen.

4. Show All Apps on Home Screen

Usually downloads all go to an app tray, but if you don’t like that way of organizing them, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge give you an alternative method. Choosing “Show all apps on home screen” gets rid of the app tray, and moves all the apps to the Home screens.

How to Set Up: Settings > Advanced features > Galaxy Labs

5. Identify Unsaved Callers 

When you receive a call from a number not in your address book, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge can check to see if that phone number is suspected of being a spammer or even a fraud-related number, and what the risk level is. Depending on that analysis, you can choose to block or report the number.

How to Set Up: Settings > Advanced features > Identify unsaved numbers

6. Display Scaling

Display scaling lets you optimize the DPI (Dots Per Inch) settings of your display. You can either choose to stay as Standard or change to Condensed. Condensing your display lets you view more content on the screen at one time with smaller icons, controls, and text.

How to Set Up: Settings > Display > Display scaling

7. Icon Backgrounds

For the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the look of the icons has been updated to be more unified and natural. For native apps, the icons all come in a “squircle” shape (a square with rounded edges), creating a pleasing and organized appearance. For third-party apps, users can turn on the Icon background, which creates a squircle container background for all those icons, too, unifying the look of all of a user’s apps. In addition, many icons now offer two different styles—a traditional flat look, and a more 3D look.

How to Set Up: Settings > Display > Icon backgrounds

8. Schedule Auto Restart

Often restarting a device is one of the best ways to keep it running efficiently, as it clears out the system and ensure new apps and updates are operating properly. Auto restart ensures that your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge gets a regular restarting, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to do it manually. The function also takes care to prevent restarting from happening at inconvenient times, so it only occurs when the screen is turned off and the device is not in use, but there is at least 30 percent of the battery power remaining.

How to Set Up: Settings > Backup and reset > Auto restart

In addition to these innovative features newly added to the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, a variety of other useful functions are also available on these flagship Galaxy devices.

9. Always On Display

Now you can check on notifications, missed calls, the time, date and more without ever unlocking your display. Always On Display puts that information right on your screen, freeing you from activating your display to check them, and without draining your battery.

How to Set Up: Settings > Display > Always On Display

10. Cross App

With Cross App, you can use apps from within certain other apps. For example, while chatting with a friend in the Messages app, you can access photos and videos and share them, or open a URL and check out a web page, all without exiting the messenger first.

Cross App is automatically integrated with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. When using the Messages app, just click on the paperclip icon on the left of the Enter message panel. That gives you the choice of Camera, Gallery or Other. Camera lets you take photos or record video and send it directly to the person you are chatting with. Gallery lets you select photos and videos saved on your device. Other offers a range of apps, including Audio, Voice recorder, Memo and more.

11. Game Launcher

The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are gamer-friendly devices, and both come with an app that makes gaming even better. Game Launcher lets you maximize your game-playing time through a variety of power-saving options. You can also turn off all notifications so nothing interrupts your gaming and lock the Recent and Back keys to prevent accidentally exiting a game. In addition, you can also take screen shots, record games and share them with friends.

How to Set Up: Settings > Advanced features > Game > Game Launcher

12. Smart Switch

Smart Switch, which makes it easy to transfer your old data to a new Galaxy device, has gotten an upgrade for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, with a new home layout, better app data recovery, and other improvements. A USB connector (On-The-Go Adapter) also comes with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, ensuring you can transmit data easily from the moment you unbox your device.  Allowing transfers from devices with different operating systems, Smart Switch is a convenient way to move all your files, including contacts, chat messages, photos, calendar, apps and music.

How to Set Up: Settings > Backup and reset > Open Smart Switch

13. Quick Dial

Quick Dial makes calling your contacts faster and easier. Once enabled, you just need to give the home key a long press (even if the display is off), and then speak the name of the person you want to call. Quick Dial takes care of the rest. Also, the feature’s machine learning allows your device to become more familiar with your voice over time, thus increasing the device’s functionality as you use it more often.

How to Set Up: Settings > Advanced features > Galaxy Labs > Quick Dial

14. Tasks edge

This is a function only on the Galaxy S7 edge model. Just as People edge puts your most important contacts right into the curved edge screen for easy access, and Apps edge does the same for your favorite apps, Tasks edge lets you assign a shortcut for your most common tasks. Setting an alarm, composing a text message or creating an event can be assigned to the edge of the display, for fast, easy access.

How to Set Up: Settings > Edge screen > Edge panels

* All functionality features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

For users who love getting hands-on when it comes to personalizing their smartphones’ look and interface experience, here is a walkthrough of some of Good Lock’s defining features.

Faster Access and Organize What You Need

Launch apps in an instant from the lockscreen with the App Tray feature and get up-to-date with app information quicker than ever. Just pull the App Tray handle up from the bottom of the screen to reveal an area where you can keep shortcuts to frequently accessed apps. Use the Edit and Add buttons to select or remove apps.

With the Lockscreen Widget, you can see the information of your choice quickly without unlocking the screen. When you drag down the widget area (below the clock on the screen), you can see a list of widgets and set, edit or add to the list.

In addition, you can organize Notifications from the lockscreen: save, categorize and get reminders.

If you see a notification you need, simply long press it to sort it into a category. Save notifications using Keep, allowing you to check app alerts later, or touch the alarm button to set yourself a reminder.

Routine: Interfaces that Adapt to Your Environment

Routine lets you customize your lockscreen layout, your App Tray, Lockscreen Widget, background colors and clock so your Galaxy device looks just the way you want, when you want. This allows you to fill your App Tray with productivity-enabling apps during work hours, but switch to a Routine with entertainment-orientated apps in the evening—and pick color schemes that match your moods.

Other Exciting Features

There are more benefits to using Good Lock. Recents lets you scan through a list of recently used apps, and enjoy faster transition between your applications using the app icon.

Meanwhile, if you feel like giving your lockscreen a facelift, Effects lets you adjust your wallpaper, add or adjust popping colors and highlight parts of the screen you want to make stand out.

Quick Settings also lets you make fast changes to your smartphone setting on the notification panel. If that is not enough, you can also tap on links that will take you to more advanced settings menus.

Samsung is currently providing bi-weekly updates to Good Lock in response to user feedback. Since its first launch, Samsung has already made several improvements including adding options for NFC, Power Saving Mode, Smart View and Privacy Mode to the Quick Settings menu, supporting for more Routine colors and providing list- or card-type Recents.

How to Get Good Lock

Good Lock is currently available as a download from Galaxy Apps in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Korea. It is compatible with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 Active and Galaxy Note5 (running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS).

*All functionality features, specifications and other application information provided in this document are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung Electronics announced a partnership with Italian designer Alessandro Mendini to offer exclusive accessories for its new Gear S2, a versatile circular design smart watch with intuitive, custom UX and advanced connected features. The collaboration between Samsung and Alessandro Mendini will provide a variety of options for Gear S2 customers to customize and personalize their smartwatch, adding more fun and style to their mobile experience.

“Because smartwatches are worn directly on the wrist, visible to everyone, they represent a more unique, personal experience than the everyday smartphone,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung. “Our partnership with Alessandro Mendini on these exquisite watch faces and bands for the Gear S2 is part of our continued commitment to deliver more custom options that help users express their personal styles while they stay connected.”

Alessandro Mendini played an important role in the development of modern Italian design, and is well known for his mixing of different cultures and sensibilities to push design boundaries and forego conventional notions of function. This design philosophy aligns closely with Samsung’s approach to create wearable devices that redefine the culture of mobile communication through a functional, yet incredibly chic and personal experience. As one of Samsung’s main watch face design partners, Mr. Time by Apposter worked closely with Alessandro Mendini to help seamlessly integrate his designs with Gear S2.

“I believe the watch is one of the most precise and valuable devices that mankind has ever made, and Samsung has successfully reinvented this device in a way that fits within in our technology-driven world,” said Alessandro Mendini. “It was a fun and highly collaborative experience working with the global leading mobile company to craft something that merges the style of a traditional watch with the digital world for a completely unique design experience – it will truly become the future of mobility.”

The Samsung Gear S2 tastefully maintains the aesthetic function of a watch with watch-faces keep users connected and on-time through an unmatched battery life that can last up to 2-3 days. With unique, colorful watch faces and super slim, fashionable band options, the Alessandro Mendini collection for the Samsung Gear S2 further allows each individual customer to achieve their own personalized look.

Alessandro Mendini’s the new collection of watch faces and bands for the Samsung Gear S2 will be available at the launch of the device.