Out and About with Linux on Galaxy

At last, developers themselves are able to experience a truly mobile development environment.

Linux on Galaxy, an app demonstrated during SDC 2017 in San Francisco, is designed to free developers from their desks by providing a Linux OS environment for their Galaxy smartphone: anywhere, anytime, on-the-move. Smartphones with Linux on Galaxy are capable of having multiple operating systems running at the same time, so developers have the ability to work with their Linux-based distributions of choice on their mobile device, without restrictions. As well as using the Android OS, they can open the app to run any software they require in a Linux OS environment, giving developers the flexibility to choose.

What’s more, Linux on Galaxy is DeX-enabled, meaning that developers can seamlessly move from smartphone to desktop whenever they want to work on a larger screen with a keyboard and mouse.** Currently in its trial stage, Linux on Galaxy is already causing a buzz amongst developers.

Even More Entertainment

Samsung DeX complements the conventional mobile experience. In the world of entertainment, Samsung DeX now offers support for even more mobile games and video streaming services, so users can watch the action come to life on a larger screen.

Samsung’s partnerships with major video game developers such as Super Evil Megacorp’s Vainglory, Game Insight’s Survival Arena, Eric Froemling’s BombSquad and Netmarble’s Lineage 2 Revolution present popular mobile games on the immersive desktop setting through the Samsung Game Launcher app, with a keyboard and mouse for easier gameplay. This allows players to move from mobile to desktop, and back again, without disrupting their gaming experience. In addition, new titles – including Lineage 2 Revolution and Nexon’s AxE – are beginning to support Vulkan API in increasing numbers. The upcoming “mobile title” Square Enix FINAL FANTASY XV POCKET EDITION has been optimized for both Vulkan and DeX, pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming.

With Twitch, users of the video streaming service are provided with a better multitasking experience and can resize the window and play video while running other apps via Samsung DeX.

Powering Productivity

The service doesn’t just enhance mobile entertainment– it also heightens user productivity. Samsung DeX transforms the docked Samsung smartphone into a desktop-like workstation, increasing output for professionals on-the-go.

Users can enjoy an improved email experience—with email clients such as Samsung Email, Samsung Focus, Nine Email and MS Outlook—via an optimized interface with a desktop-like, three-column layout, flexible split view and multi composer.

Likewise, Samsung DeX enables a better collaboration with video conferencing from even more services such as Zoom, BlueJeans and GoToMeeting. Video conferencing has been made simpler with a seamless docking-undocking experience, support for screen and document sharing, and multitasking capabilities that allow the user to stay in the call while taking notes or sending email.

With the Galaxy Note8, the new All Apps user interface offers users a full view of up to 36 of their mobile apps at once, which is an increase from previous view of 25 apps. The enhanced UI makes app access and search more convenient, allowing users to identify and utilize apps faster.

As Samsung continues to expand its partner ecosystem with third-party developers and strives to broaden the use of Linux on its smartphone, the service’s ecosystem will continue to grow organically, offering a wider range of Samsung DeX-optimized apps, features and experiences for Galaxy users across business and entertainment.

* Samsung DeX is compatible with the Galaxy Note8 as well as the Galaxy S8 and S8+

**To find out when Linux on Galaxy will become available please sign up at: http://seap.samsung.com/linux-on-galaxy

An Entirely New Viewing Experience

The 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display takes mobile entertainment to the next level by offering a noticeably more immersive viewing experience with a screen-to-body ratio of more than 83 percent and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.

With the new ratio, content shot in 21:9 will fill the Galaxy Note8’s display, increasing the viewing area by 14 percent compared to the Galaxy Note5. This, along with the phone’s MOBILE HDR PREMIUM certification granted by the UHD Alliance, enables users can to see vibrant colors and contrasts in the way content producers intended while watching the latest binge-worthy shows. Likewise, gaming experiences are also heightened thanks to the phone’s expanded viewing area and powerful performance capabilities.

Multitask Like Never Before

In addition to offering a more cinematic viewing experience, the Infinity Display optimizes multitasking so users can work smarter, not harder.

Users have long been able to do more with Multi Window, which allows them complete multiple tasks on one screen for enhanced efficiency. But now with the Galaxy Note8’s new App Pair feature, users can create a custom pair of apps on the Edge panel and launch them at the same time with a single tap. This means that they can simultaneously launch their Music and Maps apps as they embark on a road trip, or pull up YouTube and their Messages app so they can chat with their friends about the hottest new music video.

Likewise, the Snap Window feature augments productivity by allowing users to pin a specific area from a recent app to the top of the screen, and continue using the area below it. The feature is especially useful for keeping an eye on continuously updated content, such as stock prices and news headlines.

By elegantly balancing competing demands – HDR capabilities and the ideal viewing ratio for watching today’s content, and the need for expanded screen space and enhanced productivity features – the Galaxy Note8 is the ultimate multitasking phone for all of one’s work and play needs.

Samsung Electronics today announced the commercial launch of the new Galaxy Note7 in select markets including the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE and Korea.

The Galaxy Note7 strikes a balance between work and play, enabling people to achieve more than what they thought possible on a smartphone.

Featuring a symmetrical dual-edge design and refined user experience, the Galaxy Note7 provides a comfortable grip and easier one-handed operation, despite its large 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display. Additionally, the Galaxy Note7 demonstrates Samsung’s category-defining leadership with innovative features including an enhanced, water-resistant S Pen; advanced security that couples Samsung Knox with a new iris scanning feature; and immersive entertainment capabilities with ready-to-stream HDR video.

Take a look at how the Galaxy Note7 enables users to think big and do more in the hands-on videos below.

*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.

With the bright, interactive screens on today’s mobile devices, children love playing with them—maybe too much. “It can be a great challenge taking back a smartphone from a kid; they cry their eyes out,” noted Hyungbo Sim, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics and father to a young boy.

But Sim’s smartphone has Kids Mode installed, which means that once his son has reached his daily limit for using the device, the cute Crocro character from the app appear to doze off, locking the device. “He brings my smartphone back to me voluntarily after Crocro falls asleep, saying he’s done. It’s amazing.”

Kids Mode is Samsung’s service which lets parents control the content their children have access to when they use a mobile device and for how long they can use it each day. But more than that, Kids Mode is also fun and natural for children to use, specially designed for them at all levels, from the physical interface to the graphics to the content. To get a better sense of how Kids Mode was created, the Samsung Newsroom talked with some of its designers and developers—including designer Sim.

Making a Safe Space for Children to Play

Kids Mode had its origins in the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids, a tablet Samsung designed expressly for children. “It was in late 2013 that Galaxy Tab 3 Kids was launched globally,” recalled Jongin Lee, Senior Manager of Service R&D Team. “Later on, we saw that kids were increasingly sharing their parents’ smartphones, so we asked ‘Why not install Kids Mode on smartphones in the first place, so parents could hand their device to their kids and let them play with it safely?’”

“The focus of the original version was to assure parents they could let their children use their smartphones without worrying,” said Sim. “But then we thought it would be better if we could make it interesting for kids.”

Stimulating Imaginations Through Fun

The developers and designers focused on creating a world that was fun and natural for children, so they would enjoy using it. Instead of focusing on text, like for regular platforms for grown-ups, Kids Mode focused on a more organic storytelling that children could explore on their own.

“An app’s graphic elements are about entertaining kids,” said Jookyung Woo, UX designer. “There needed to be storytelling, so that a child can imagine what happens next. Kids Mode doesn’t have any text. The graphic user interface should stimulate their imagination, based on the story.”

“Kids Mode does not limit how children use the smartphone, but allows them to explore and play in a safe environment, just like in the real world,” said Woo. “Kids learn by touching. To develop a UX for children, it was very important that the interface naturally encourages children to touch and try the buttons and move on to the next step.”

Part of that storytelling approach also meant having cute characters to interact with. At first there was just a simple crocodile, but now Kids Mode uses four colorful characters to help guide children through its fun world: Crocro the crocodile, Cooki the sloth, Bobby the beaver and Lisa the bird.

“They’ve been upgraded to 3D and they look cuter now, too, with more facial expressions so children relate more easily,” said Woo. “In the past, kids’ characters would be good and bad. But in Kids Mode, there are no bad-guy characters, just different ones. Every character has a different personality: the sloth is lazy but he also likes things, the bird sings and dances, the beaver likes to paint and the crocodile enjoys decorating.”

“Kids Mode is the only Samsung app that features characters,” added Wonje Mok of the Service R&D Team.

More than just fun, though, these characters also are designed to teach children. Children can help Bobby brush his teeth, or help Crocro get dressed. “Children should want to dance, wash and play the way their favorite characters do,” said Sim. “It should be fun to help them develop.”

The native apps designed for Kids Mode also use these characters—for instance, Bobby hosts the Kids Drawing app, while Lisa appears on Kids Music and Kids Magic Voice.

“Parents liked Kids Mode, but how to make it usable from the perspective of children emerged as another challenge,” said Sim. “So a music app was added, and then Kids Drawing, which lets children draw on an empty canvas, color in coloring books and draw in sand. The concept was to stimulate children’s creativity and intelligence development. Different contents for different countries were added as well.”

Facing the Challenges

Throughout development, the developers and designers never stopped refining and improving Kids Mode. “The process was not easy,” said NamSuk Koo, Developer on the Mobile R&D team. “We were not creating an app for adults, so even after we finished the app, we were not sure if children would really like it.”

In addition to optimizing the app for children and making it fun, they also had to deal with many technical challenges. “Kids Mode is mostly an animated app” said Koo. “It was quite challenging to synchronize the motion. On top of that, we had to deal with battery usage and then memory and then heat, because of the size of the app. Sometimes we had to start all over.”

“At an early stage, the problem was with battery consumption,” said Keunchang Hur, Developer on the Mobile R&D Team. “Since there were no apps from Samsung or other developers to compare, we approached Kids Mode from an adult’s point of view on issues like power consumption or text. It was difficult to get other ‘grown-up’ members to understand those points.”

“It took so long to convince everyone,” said Woo. “Some people even wondered why there should be a cloud in the background. That’s natural given that we tried to understand everything from an adult’s point of view. The graphics were quite strange as well. People didn’t understand why a crocodile should appear at all. That’s why I created a backstory for the characters.”

Constantly Refining for a Child’s Point of View

Getting the interface just right for the inquisitive, grasping hands of children also required plenty of fine-tuning. “I found that children like unpredictable things,” said Gyusik Kim, Manager of Service R&D Team.

“That made me realize that I have to think from a kid’s point of view. I can anticipate to some extent what adults like, but there is no such thing as logic for how children think.”

“Some children would touch the display so hard, the distinction between a long touch and a regular touch was not clear,” Sim said. “So simple touching became the main interface, not dragging or double-touching or long touches.”

For Woo, who earned her nursing teacher’s license while on maternity leave, she brought a strong interest in child development to the project. “Kids Mode was the first project I had right after I got the license,” she said.

Other developers tried thinking more like a child. “Rather than trying to study and analyze, I tried to become a child again,” said Jaechan Ahn, Developer on the Mobile R&D team. “I even started watching kids TV channels.”

“I’m lucky that I like Disney characters,” said Jeun Park, from the Service R&D Team. “Am I some sort of ‘kidult’? Maybe that’s why I like kids.”

“I’m trying to be childish all the time,” said Lee with a laugh.

Most children find long car trips horribly dull, but keeping them occupied by buying interactive pop-up book apps can be expensive. But what other choice do parents have to keep their child entertained during a protracted drive? Or at a nice restaurant, during a long dinner, what can a parent do if their 4-year-old suddenly starts crying? For many parents, the easiest solution is giving the child a mobile device, like a smartphone or a tablet. Children love their bright, flashy images and intuitive, responsive interfaces, and are happy to spend hours watching videos and playing games. But how to protect children from inappropriate online content and limit them from using the device too much without spending too much on an expensive, complicated monitoring service?

Samsung’s Kids Mode provides a solution to these problems, creating a free and easy-to-use interface on smartphones and tablets that is simple to control and monitor, while providing plenty of fun and educational apps for children. Indeed, already Kids Mode has gained 1.9 million monthly active users and supports 2,500 child-friendly apps and video content, with more appearing all the time.

Samsung Introduces an Easier Option

With Kids Mode, parents can select and control apps and monitor how their children use mobile devices, making those devices as open or as closed as they wish. Kids Mode controls the apps that a child can use, the videos, music and other content they can access, and how long they can use a device.

But just as importantly as helping parents out, Kids Mode is also fun to use. Its simplified user interface features large and colorful buttons designed for children, with controls that are uncomplicated but that give a wide range of options for children to explore. In addition, there are a variety of exclusive native apps that come preinstalled and that can be downloaded. Plus, Kids Mode and many of its related apps are free, so it’s a solution that every family can afford.

Getting Started

To begin using Kids Mode, parents need to download the app from Galaxy Apps. After installing, they set up a PIN code and a profile for their child, then the app is ready to go.

Parents can then go to the Parental Control area (the button in the lower-left) to customize Kids Mode as they see fit. They can limit the amount of time each day their child can use the device, setting different amounts for weekdays and weekends. Parents also get to control the list of contacts, apps and media their child has access to, ensuring the content is always appropriate for their family.

Kids Mode comes with the Kids Store preinstalled, as well as the Play Zone, a 3D block house with seven themes users can choose. The Play Zone comes with several mini-games that feature the app’s four cartoon characters: Crocro, Cooki, Bobby and Lisa (see box below).

Adding the Exclusive Native Apps

Once the device is configured, parents will need to download apps to get the most out of it. Kids Mode offers a variety of exclusive, native apps, featuring those familiar cartoon characters and the same easy-to-use interface. Among those apps are Kids Camera, Kids Drawing, Kids Music, Kids Magic Voice, Kids Video and Kids Call, offering lots of fun options for playing and developing creativity.

For example, the Kids Camera lets children take a picture of someone, then add funny stickers to the photograph, like googly eyes, mustaches and silly hats. Kids Drawing lets children unleash their artistic side, with a drawing application, coloring book, sandbox and a scratchboard.

Kids Music offers a playful, interactive space for children to play digital instruments along to tunes that a parent has uploaded to the device. And Kids Media lets children watch only the content their parents make available.

All these apps are available both in the Galaxy Apps store and Kids Store. They are free to download, appearing on the Kids Mode home screen. The first time they are downloaded, they appear as a cute gift ready to be unwrapped; tapping the gift opens it up to reveal the regular app icon.

Thousands More Apps and Media to Choose From

Aside from those native apps, Kids Mode is optimized for thousands of partner apps and media content around the world, which can be downloaded from the Kids Store. Samsung has focused on the quality of its apps through partnerships with the most popular content providers from around the world—including Lego and PBS Kids.

The Kids Store groups apps by three different age groups or by category, to make selecting the appropriate apps easier for parents. Just a few taps on the Kids Store download the content, once again appearing on the phone’s home screen as a cute gift. Some apps are educational, some functional and others are just fun, but there are plenty of options in the Kids Store for everyone.

Samsung introduced the tablet designed especially for children in 2013, and since then the company has continued to enhance both usability and content on smart devices for kids. Kids Mode was a major step forward in ensuring mobile devices were optimized for young people.

Now, in 2016, Samsung is showing its continued commitment to children through a newly launched Kids Mode website, which offers more content and services than ever to parents around the world.

* Features and functions of Kid Mode can be vary by device. This article was written using a Galaxy Note5.

As a movable media device, the Galaxy View is a new and unique mobile product in the market. At 18.4 inches, the Galaxy View is very convenient for enjoying content at arm’s length wherever someone wants, from any room in the house, with a big, immersive screen.

So it is not surprising the Galaxy View is also getting its own range of apps, to better take advantage of its full range of functions and features. Two apps that have recently debuted use Galaxy smartphones to make the Galaxy View even more fun and convenient, both for watching media content and gaming. Together with a third app, Family Square, the Galaxy View is quickly gaining a special ecosystem of programs that express its full functionality and versatility.

Remote Control

Rather than always stretching and reaching for the Galaxy View every time they want to change the volume or what they are watching, now people can use the Galaxy View Remote. The Galaxy View Remote connects any smartphone running on Android (versions 4.4 and up) to the Galaxy View via Bluetooth, turning the phone into a remote control. Users can turn the screen on and off, adjust the volume, select content and more, easily and directly their phone.

Once the Remote app is installed, it changes the phone’s screen into a familiar-looking remote control device, with volume up and down buttons, and four-way directional buttons, as well as a full keyboard when needed. With the Remote app, enjoying movies, TV shows and other content on the Galaxy View is easier than ever.

S Console Gamepad

Another major feature of the Galaxy View is its ability to be a platform for video games. The large screen and stereo speakers make it immersive and engaging. However, many games require complicated gamepads, with a great number of buttons and direction controllers, in order to be used properly.

The S Console Gamepad app can turn a Samsung smartphone into a gamepad, allowing users to enjoy console games in the mobile environment. S Console works for the Galaxy Note4, Note Edge and Note5 phones, as well as the Galaxy S6 series, connecting the smartphone to the Galaxy View by Bluetooth.

Optimized for more than 100 games, S Console supports six different types of gamepads, allowing users to pick the one that is best for each game. In addition to the Basic style default controller, some of the preset S Console options include Racing style for driving games, RPG style for first-person games and Console style for a maximum number of buttons and options. While most of those options are dark colored consoles, users can also choose white options, Casual style and Arcade style. Or, if someone prefers, there is an edit feature so they can create their own individualized gamepad.

Family Square

Another unique app for the Galaxy View, one that comes pre-installed, is Family Square. Family Square is like a dashboard for sharing photos and messages between family members on the Galaxy View—like a digital version of how families leave notes and drawings for each other on the refrigerator or counter.

But Family Square also has the ability to be paired to smartphones and mobile devices (any that use Android 4.4 and up), for added usefulness. Each member of the household registers their device for the Galaxy View, and then photos and other content can be sent directly from their devices for sharing on the View.

Those three apps, Family Square, Galaxy View Remote and S Console are making the Galaxy View even more useful for all members of the family, offering new ways to enjoy content around the home or while on the move.

As the world wraps up 2015, one renowned toy expert remains exceptionally occupied. Santa Claus is working around the clock to ensure a joyful and Merry Christmas. One his favorite new products – the Galaxy View – has made his preparations not only more convenient but downright enjoyable!

A New Addition to the Ho, Ho, Home Office

Boasting a large, 18.4-inch screen and captivating display, the Galaxy View was designed for entertainment. While Santa does enjoy binge-watching his favorite television series from time to time, he specifically likes the gadget for its productivity features and uses it to complete important tasks, such as checking the latest toy trends or shopping for bulk supplies of coal.

“The device’s ultra-large touch screen makes multitasking a cinch, which comes in handy when I need to update the naughty and nice list while checking my email,” Santa notes. “Things sure are easier now that I get Christmas lists sent directly to my inbox. I haven’t had to make a single trip to the post office so far this year.”

The Galaxy View, which is equipped with a stand, also comes in handy when Santa conducts meetings at his home office. “The head elves must be constantly educated on the latest in toy manufacturing, and the large screen, sharp graphics and crisp, clear audio of the device ensure that the presentations are engaging and delivered effectively.”

And for those moments when he needs to keep a closer eye on his workshop, the device’s front-facing camera allows for video chatting in real time so he can ensure that the toy production line and gift wrapping department are running smoothly.

Entertainment for Every Room of the House

When Santa needs a break from his hectic workload, he lets off steam by releasing his inner gamer. A long-time fan of console games, Santa especially loves S Console, a feature developed to bring mobile games to the big screen of the Galaxy View. Though the service, users can connect their smartphones to play mobile games in a more traditional way, without the need for a console.
His favorite game genre? Vehicle simulation. The flight simulators in particular, he claims, help him prepare for his annual trip around the world.

The attached handle and light weight, at only 2.65 kg, makes it easy to transfer the Galaxy View from the home office to the living room to the kitchen, where the Santa family uses the Galaxy View for browsing holiday recipes and watching instructional videos when cooking together.

A Device for the Whole Family

As things have become quite chaotic over the past couple weeks, Family Square—a specialized app inspired by the notes that busy family members leave for one another on refrigerators and countertops—allows the happy couple to communicate more easily.

“The missus loves Family Square because it lets her send me reminders to give Rudolph a bath or to not eat too many cookies in one sitting. I’ve started getting those reminders on a daily basis,” he jokes.

The Santa residence also uses Family Square to share photos and doodles on the device, which can be interconnected with one another’s smartphones. In this way, it brings them all a little closer, which is the one thing the man of the house is hoping to do more of when his holiday obligations for the year have been fulfilled.

In fact, Santa and his family have already planned a holiday movie marathon for the evening of Santa’s return from his big trip around the world—an evening where the long battery life of the Galaxy View will most certainly come in handy.

You might find yourself perched precariously, sitting in a chair on the edge of a building in a post-apocalyptic cityscape as a murder of crows flocks around you. Later, you’re sitting on a rattling railroad, directly in the path of a speeding train.

This is the world of Gear VR, where it’s all about the wow factor, and bringing imagination to life.

First announced in September 2014, the Samsung Gear VR innovators editions, now available for the Galaxy Note 4 and S6 and S6 edge, have a gradually expanding list of apps and content that users can enjoy. But the Suwon, Korea-based team that works with content producers says they have only scratched the surface when it comes to the possibilities that the Gear VR presents.

“The first reaction when someone puts on the Gear VR is ‘Wow, I’ve never seen this before, it’s so real,’” says Weston Chirwa, a manager with the New Business Development Group at Samsung Electronics. “That’s the reaction we are going for with all the contents for the Gear VR.” Whether it’s under the sea amidst marine life, or sitting front row at Cirque du Soleil, or walking through  Korea’s historical heritage, Gear VR’s Oculus Store has a good selection of offerings that packs a heavy visual impact for the first-time user of the head-mounted display.

Chirwa, along with manager Helen Hyunjung Nam and assistant manager Dongmin Shin, spend a lot of time working together with producers, evaluating VR content and offering feedback on how to optimize content for the Gear VR. The goal is to create video and games that are immersive, visually stimulating, entertaining and comfortable for the user.

In partnership with Lionsgate, “Insurgent – Shatter Reality”, as described above, is a fully-immersive, 360-degree narrative experience set in the world of feature film The Divergent Series: Insurgent. In Shatter Reality, which puts the user through a series of mental “simulations,” the user can make eye contact with characters and experience two distinct, intensely gripping and realistic “fearscapes,” transporting them from the frightening heights of a crumbling Chicago skyscraper to the intimidating challenge of a massive, fast-approaching locomotive. In addition to their work with Lionsgate, Nam says Samsung has formed partnerships with other film studios including DreamWorks, FOX and Marvel, who are interested in making VR content. “Some want to provide existing movie contents through a VR application while others wants to create new content in VR,” she says.

After the Gear VR hit the market, interest from content producers skyrocketed. “There is great interest from content providers because it gives them another medium to avail their contents to viewers. We are seeing a good response with content providers. Most people want to be on board with Gear VR,” said Chirwa. “Gear VR brings out the creativity in content providers. It gives them the space to be creative. The viewer is able to see a 360-degree world, so developers can create contents that really wow the imagination. The potential is huge.”

When Chirwa, Nam and Shin are evaluating VR games and videos, two of their biggest considerations are level of immersion and the content’s likelihood to cause dizziness or motion sickness. “If the camera is moving fast, some people get dizzy. So we recommend producers to use small and slow movements. We also find that if objects are too far away in the 360 environment, it doesn’t feel like you are there in that environment. To feel like really being there, the camera needs to be very near the object.” Turning around and seeing a ghost or being suddenly confronted by barking dogs is especially startling in the Gear VR world, but these are creative devices that can make for an even more immersive experience.

“Another thing we are looking for is the quality of the stitching,” says Shin. “For 360-degree video, producers need to use several cameras and then the footage is all stitched together.” Shin adds that similar considerations are made for games. “Game developers really like to use first-person (instead of third-person). But we tell them that for an optimal experience, they need to reduce the speed of movements.”
Shin says one of the best games currently available for Gear VR is HeroBound. The game was created by Oculus CTO John Carmack, the man behind such popular games as Quake and Doom. “The game is well optimized for the Gear VR, he built it based on the capabilities of the hardware. I played it for the first time and I was impressed. It’s like playing a game on your desktop but it’s on the Gear VR.” Shin adds that he believes it is only a matter of time until big video game developers are creating Gear VR editions of their most popular games.

As fascinating as the Gear VR may be thus far, the possibilities for future applications are vast and varied. Some companies are already using virtual reality to market products. For example, major carmarkers like Audi and Lamborghini collaborated with Samsung to offer virtual reality test drives using the Gear VR. “It is going to move fast,” says Nam. “Before long, there will be 360-video cameras for consumers so if there’s a family birthday party, you can stream it to your relatives. We are only at a starting point, but we’ll have these sorts of environments later.”

Chirwa believes that Gear VR will take over the inflight entertainment experience, providing passengers with the chance for more privacy and isolation from the annoyances of other passengers. He adds that Gear VR will undoubtedly be a part of the Internet of Things revolution, with the capability of interacting with every other device in the house. The Gear VR has a see-through camera function which brings in the potential of augmented reality. There is potential to overlay information using the Gear VR, so you can look over at your refrigerator and see what is inside. “You are using the Gear VR but you’re interacting with the outside environment and you can overlay everything,” Chirwa says.

Thus far, the focus of most Gear VR content has been entertainment. But educational applications are possible as well. “We feel like the potential is there and future is very bright,” says Chirwa. “We are happy to be the first pioneers to be producing a product that is viable and above the competition in terms of what’s already on the market. The Samsung Gear VR has a 96-degree field of view. It is the best virtual reality product out there.”

We are visual creatures. We experience our surroundings through our eyes and make decisions based on what we see. This especially rings true in the business world, which is why Samsung Electronics has meticulously crafted a wide range of integration-ready signage solutions to support organizations of every size. Although Samsung continues to expand its services in this area, it has already left an indelible mark on five industries. Read on to see how.

Retail

Competition from non-traditional retail sources, such as online and mobile shopping outlets, and the new social media influenced shopping habits of millennials and the middleclass, have forced retailers to differentiate themselves by creating a more enhanced in-store experience. In an era of digital hyper-saturation, retailers must meet customer needs by simplifying the store experience, diversifying marketing and facilitating two- way communication.

Such was the case with Sport Chek, Canada’s largest retailer of sports equipment and apparel. Noting that 80% of the retailer`s customers were under the age of 40, the company attempted to appeal to this digital-savvy demographic by installing numerous interactive screens throughout their flagship store in Toronto.

The vibrant images and content arrangement features of Samsung’s displays made customers want to spend more time in the store, and cemented a positive perception of the brand. As such, Sport Chek was able to create a retail environment unlike any other in North America, resulting in unprecedented sales.

Corporate

Corporations gain market share by readily adapting to ever-changing business conditions, particularly in the realm of IT infrastructure. Utilizing up-to-date communication and operation systems ensures effective internal collaboration and timely delivery of relevant information, as well as improves overall corporate performance.

To meet these evolving needs, corporate managers must provide a flexible communication system that supports dynamic collaboration, give employees easy access to real-time information and retain clients by presenting a visually impactful and compelling brand message.

Seeking to influence in-house creativity and enhance operations to take their company mission to the next level, Geico S.p.A., the automotive industry’s leading international producer of automated paint plants, worked together with Numero 10, a Samsung partner, to build and manage high-definition Samsung video walls. To increase collaboration between employees and clients, they also installed Samsung’s 65” interactive multimedia e-Boards in their executive offices, main meeting halls and training facilities.

Not only did Geico grab the attention of current customers and potential clients, but also cultivated internal communications and promoted a fruitful exchange of inventive ideas with the videoconferencing capabilities of the e-Boards.

Entertainment

With internet connectivity allowing for more convenient media consumption, more consumers are transitioning away from large public venues, moving instead to personalized in-home entertainment systems. In response, the entertainment industry has to reinvent its methods to get consumers out of their living rooms and into entertainment venues.

In order to meet consumer demands, entertainment facilities must capture customers’ attention with vibrant imagery, create convenient and intuitive promotional information, and establish a platform which enables customers to interact with the venue in a more personal way.

Slate NY, a popular New York City sports bar and events venue, attempted to accomplish this by installing a cutting edge video wall to create an impactful audio-visual experience for guests. Samsung’s 55” UD Series Direct-lit LED displays provided Slate NY with an elegant solution, offering a virtually seamless viewing experience when installed as a video wall.

Following the installation, the venue saw a 25% increase in foot traffic for popular sporting events, as well as a spike in event bookings. Slate NY intends to further leverage the video wall through the integration of custom graphics that will transform the venue’s atmosphere to fit club nights and other special events.

Hospitality

“Digital natives,” tech-savvy consumers who value mobility, flexibility and on-demand media access, are a growing demographic targeted by the hospitality industry. So much so that they are expected to be the main user of hospitality displays by 2017. As such, hotels and resorts worldwide have had to evolve to enhance guests’ experiences with more digital amenities while maintaining a modern interior design.

Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel serves affluent business and leisure guests and builds loyalty through impeccable service, elegant décor, and modern in-room technology. The hotel sought to efficiently transform its guest rooms with nearly 700 elegant Samsung hospitality displays which delivered full-HD video content with user-friendly, intuitive controls. Additionally, the displays comprised seamless integration with guests’ mobile devices, allowing them to feel more at home.

These interactive, information dense displays upgraded the luxury hotel to the foremost level of in-room entertainment and have been so successful that Samsung has been chosen as the technology standard across Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Limited’s hotels worldwide.

Transportation

As individuals are driving less and the general public’s attitudes toward public modes of transportation are becoming more positive, the transportation industry is seeing an increase in the number of travelers across all segments. To continue along this steadily positive growth trend, transportation centers such as airports and train terminals will need to invest in innovative digital infrastructure to maximize capacity while minimizing operating costs.

To modernize how travelers access information, the industry has turned to digital signage solutions, which can be tailored to fit the individual needs of a wide range of transportation segments.

Samsung’s SMART Signage utilizes database integration to display real time departure/arrival information to cater to passenger needs and enhances the travel experience with interactive, passenger-oriented content and self-service capabilities. Additionally, Samsung’s displays promote brand awareness with a contemporary, visually compelling passenger terminal, sure to appeal to the growing demographics utilizing public transportation.

As industry trends evolve to meet the demands of the public, so will the way we consume them. It is certain that Samsung`s display solutions will advance with such trends, continuing to improve and enhance the way the world does business.