“Since launching five years ago, our C-Lab program has gained exciting momentum across Samsung, helping foster an innovation culture, and providing avenue for our creative, talented employees to pursue innovative new projects. We will continuously introduce innovative projects through our C-Lab program” said Jaiil Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics.

The three new C-Lab projects include:

• S-Ray (Sound-Ray) is a portable directional speaker which users can carry anywhere. While existing directional speakers are primarily stationary due to their size and price, S-Ray is a directional speaker that is made much smaller, lighter and portable with its unique system module while maintaining the advantages of conventional directional speakers and/or earphones. S-Ray helps people avoid having to put on earphones for a long time which can cause ear pain, and avoids the distractions to others Bluetooth speakers can cause. At CES 2018, S-Ray will showcase a variety of product options such as Neckband, Handy and smartphone cover.

• GoBreath is a recovery solution for people who have experienced lung damage and suffer from postoperative pulmonary complications after general anesthesia. Patients commonly need to exercise deep breathing for faster recovery, with one of the conventional methods through use of an inspirometer. However, deep breathing becomes challenging for patients who have undergone surgery due to lung pain. A doctor at Samsung Medical Center came up with the concept of GoBreath, which helped his patients recover faster, and consists of a portable device and mobile app that can teach patients basic techniques such as inspiration, coughing or deep breathing. Patients can refer to exercise guidelines and check how well their lungs have recovered through the app. GoBreath even offers a web and cloud service for doctors to help them monitor their patients’ recovery progress as well as provide reminders to practice.

• Relúmĭno glasses are smart visual aid eyeglasses to help people with vision challenges see images clearer when they are reading a book or viewing an object. The Relúmĭno app was first showcased at Mobile World Congress 2017, and Relúmĭno glasses were subsequently developed to enable people with visual impairments to utilize the technology more comfortably and discreetly. The glasses work in conjunction with a smartphone, utilizing its processors and batteries, which makes Relúmĭno glasses light and comfortable to wear. The smartphone processes images from videos projected through the camera of the glasses, and the processed images are floated into the display of the Relúmĭno glasses to help the wearer see things better.

In addition to these projects, seven start-ups which have been spun off from Samsung C-Lab, including LINKFLOW, Kitten Planet, lululab, KIDSOFT, Mangoslab, Innomdle lab, and analogue plus, will participate at CES 2018 to showcase their newly released commercial products and explore global business opportunities.

As notable example, the wearable camera FITT360 by LINKFLOW was awarded the CES 2018 Innovation Award in the Digital Imaging category. Initially, the start-up focused on personal travelers in the B2C market, but recently has been focusing on a B2B model for the security industry with a model which features extended battery capacity.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of ideas from all areas of the business. Introduced in 2015, the C-Lab spin-off policy helps Samsung employees who have successfully completed C-Lab projects to launch their own start-ups. Samsung supports the spin-off companies through seed money investment and business consulting to accelerate their growth, while guaranteeing their independent management.

For more information, please visit the booth #51765~#51774 in Sands, Hall G (Eureka Park Marketplace) from January 9 – 12, 2018.

Appendix

1. LINKFLOW (www.linkflow.co.kr)

‘LINKFLOW’ has developed a neckband-form wearable 360 camera that records full HD video from the first-person viewpoint. The video can be broadcast in real time using automatic stitching technology. Originally, its main target customers were personal travelers and sports athletes, but it has found a new business opportunity in the security market after its spin-off. The commercial B2B model will be shipped to security companies around the world.

2. Kitten Planet (www.brushmon.com)

‘Kitten Planet’ has launched an ultrasound toothbrush called ‘Brush Monster’ for kids to educate them on how to brush effectively using an augmented reality (AR) guide. Children can enjoy toothbrushing through fun features like collecting Monster images and sharing selfie photos.

3. lululab (www.lulu-lab.com)

‘lululab’ has developed the artificial intelligence (AI) skincare assistant, Lumini. The AI algorithm captures and analyzes face images to predict skin troubles intelligently and suggests best products to customers based on accumulated measurement data. The solution can be implemented in various device forms, e.g. portable device, KIOSK, and signage.

4. KIDSOFT (www.kidsoft.kr)

‘KIDSOFT’ has developed the ‘Carrie Watch’ that helps kids to develop good habits and improve their cognitive ability. Children can plan activities with their parents using the watch, and receive rewards for accomplishing the task correctly. In addition, parents can also measure their children’s ability to pay attention through the device. The company completed a joint research project with Seoul National University Hospital to develop a model of children’s behavior development using the watch.

5. Mangoslab (www.mangoslab.com)

‘Mangoslab’ has successfully launched its smart sticky notes printer called ‘nemonic’. Users can print free memos and useful built-in templates via their smartphone. The data can be stored and managed in a cloud server and up to 20 people can share the device at the same time using Bluetooth connectivity.

6. Innomdle Lab (www.mysgnl.com)

‘Innomdle Lab’ has developed an innovative watch strap ‘sgnl’ that generates vibrations when a voice signal is received through Bluetooth. The vibrations transmit through your hand to your fingertip. When you place your fingertip to your ear, the vibrations change back to voices. The device enables people to make and take phone calls without worrying about privacy issues in a silent environment. The company successfully raised over USD two million in crowdfunding and will ship products to backers soon.

7. analogue plus (www.analogue-plus.com)

‘analogue plus’ has developed a smart communication device ‘Ahead’ for helmet users. Both hands and ears can remain free while using the gadget attached on a helmet. Motorcycle and bike riders, skiers, and workers in dangerous environments can safely answer phone calls and enjoy music using ‘Ahead.’

Changes for a more Consistent Brand Experience

Previous Samsung Wearable packages were great at portraying unique characteristics and strengths of different product categories, but had difficulty conveying the overarching impression of the brand. We analyzed countless competitor products and interviewed package and retail experts to create an all-encompassing brand experience through the package. Through this process, we set our design goal to create a packaging system that exudes the exhaustive aura of a brand and enhances the details of the overall experience that covers the journey from opening the package to holding the product in your hand.

Concept that Ties Categories Together

Precious

“Packaging is a nice way to speak to the user.” -Danny Miller, Creative Director of High Tide

Even if you are purchasing a product for yourself, a nicely packaged product that feels like a gift offers a whole new level of precious sentiment. The Samsung Mobile Wearable package acts as its own salesman when displayed on a showcase. The ‘Precious’ concept reflects this idea and provides a modern interpretation of the ‘premium gift’ keyword. From the moment users open the upper box, they are greeted with a ‘Welcome Door’ that creates anticipation for what’s to come. Furthermore, the inbox items, such as the manual and cables, are neatly assembled to express delicate care toward users.

360° Consideration

“To attract human attention your packaging needs to achieve a fine balance between vibrancy, uniqueness and simplicity.” – Kate Nightingale, Consumer Psychologist and Founder of Style Psychology

The package is designed under the umbrella of the ‘360° Consideration’ concept, which organically connects different aspects of a package that each contain unique information. The design is systemically considerate of users and maintains a fine balance of text and images among all six sides of the box, thereby preventing an overload of information coming from a single element of the package. The compartments of the package flow seamlessly while also being exclusive, which enables the product to become a natural eye-catcher and an impressionable storyteller that tells a tale which goes beyond basic spec details.

Message that is Formed through Depth in Detail

A package can create a powerful message when all its elements, from materials to color, font, photography, graphics, constitution, and more, form a harmonious and meticulously detailed ensemble. The Samsung Wearable package design augments its consistency with depth in detail to more effectively communicate the product’s language to its users.

Attractive and Powerful Images

The product images used for the package were all taken in an honest viewpoint that has the product facing the front. The crisp and clean background that is spread behind the product and the soft light that permeates into the product radiate a confident and modern impression. For products like the Gear Fit2 Pro, which is important to properly show the band color, the images are rotated so that users can properly see the color of the band from the front of the package.

Systematic Transmission of Information

Key information such as product and brand names are always placed in the same location of the package for all categories to maintain consistency. Additional information such as the USP, icons, and product descriptions were positioned in order of importance in areas that are easily seen by the user so that all information can be systemically and properly disclosed to the user.

Color that Represents the Brand

The number of colors used in the package is limited to four colors, excluding the colors in the product image. The proportion of how each color is used is carefully determined by its purpose. The Premium Black color that appears universally among Samsung brand products blankets the entire package. The Samsung Accent Blue, used as the Signature Accent, is applied minimally throughout the package just enough to indicate the mood of the brand. White and light-grey are used for typography to immaculately organize product information.

Patterns that Capture the Sentiments of a Product

Patterns differ from product to product, so each pattern is designed to serve as a metaphor of the product’s specific qualities to evoke sentimental resonance. The Gear 360 features a photograph that boasts 360 degree photography, the Gear VR provides a multidimensional view, and the Gear Fit2 Pro shows an image that displays heart rate to exemplify the product.

Intuitive Icon Graphics

The Samsung Wearable package has been produced in two forms and two sizes, which upholds coherence of the brand when displayed. Even when the volume of the package must be larger to accommodate additional accessories, the z-axis of the package is enlarged instead of the x-axis or the y-axis so that the product is always displayed in a constant size when viewed from the front.

Everyone knows the feeling of keeping a package that they were particularly fond of. At times, the package of a product can induce a sensation that is as potent as, if not even stronger, than the sensation that comes from the product itself. The purpose of a package transcended beyond its previous role of simply wrapping up or protecting the product, and has gained its own meaning. The Samsung Wearable package design has come to redefine the identity and role of the package.

This is no different for the students of Samsung Hope School in Xinji County, Hebei Province, China, who dream of visiting faraway destinations like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, or going on exciting adventures, such as riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.

With a little help from Samsung Electronics, these children’s dreams are becoming a reality.

After interviewing students to determine their dream destinations, Samsung visited the sites that the children said they hoped to someday visit and recorded them with the Gear 360 camera. The students were then able to virtually experience the landmarks in 360 degrees via Gear VR headsets, and thus get closer to the places and people they’ve always dreamed of.

Perhaps the most touching ‘dream come true’ was when a young boy was able to watch a video message from his mother who works some 700 kilometers away from the small town to earn money for the family. The boy, who hasn’t seen his mother for over a year, was even more overwhelmed to see her sitting across from him when his headset was removed.

Watch the heartwarming event unfold and learn more about one of the ways Samsung is working to improve access to education in remote and often underserved regions.

Here, product concept developers Elin Park and Jeongmin Seo from the Gear 360’s Product Strategy Team, as well as product designers Woojung Moon, Minki Ham and Namkyu Kim from the Next Generation Design Team, discuss how they optimized the device’s usability from the planning stage, how that consideration is reflected in the final design, and how to put the camera’s innovations to use to create dynamic content.

Q. What types of consumers did Samsung have in mind when designing the new Gear 360?

Elin Park: Last year’s Gear 360 targeted tech-savvy early adopters who were curious to try out a new way to create unique content. When we expanded the functionality of this year’s model, we made the device more useful to the main creators and consumers of digital content: millennials.

This is a generation of consumers who are tech fluent and constantly plugged in, recording and sharing their daily lives in real time through social media. They also prioritize bang for their buck, which is why the device’s increased functionality ultimately comes with a decrease in price.

Q. Could you expand on how taking a millennial-focused approach shaped the new model’s development?

Jeongmin Seo: In order to make the device more appealing to millennials, our plan was to adhere to the basic identity of the previous model while improving its portability, usability and price. These efforts led to the addition of key functions that young consumers will appreciate, including the camera’s livestreaming* and video and photo editing features.

By introducing the ability to broadcast live in 360 degrees, the Gear 360 offers millennials new levels of digital engagement. This function allows those who view your content to experience the scene as if they were right there beside you, and creates an immersive means to share special moments or snapshots of daily life with family and friends. Not only can you enjoy various special effects like adding stickers or filters to photos, you can also get creative with 5 unique viewing modes available in the Gear 360 app, which allow content creators customize their videos and photos without the use of a special lens.

360 degree view, Round view, Dual view

Q. The original Gear 360’s spherical form was quite unique. What led to this year’s redesign?

Woojung Moon: Last year, we focused on creating a design that reflected the device’s main function: capturing a full, 360-degree view of a scene in all its detail. This year, our goal was to create a model that was user friendly and ready for anything, and would make it easy to capture and share high-quality pictures and videos.

Minki Ham: The original model’s spherical shape proved quite popular with users, which is why when crafting the new Gear 360, we focused on a design that maintained that round identity while making the device easy to use in everyday life. The new ergonomic handle is a product of this utility-focused design process.

Because the camera was built for fun, we went with a form that looks quite playful. Aesthetically, the device resembles a friendly cartoon character, and we actually created a limited-edition figurine that brings that character to life.

Q. What were some of the other adjustments that were made to streamline daily use?

Namkyu Kim: The new Gear 360 features a blend of inviting design and intuitive controls that make it a joy to use.

Because we wanted to ensure that the new model would be easy to interact with and carry, we chose to make it smaller and outfitted it with a handle and ring strap that provide a comfortable and secure grip.

By incorporating the ring strap, we’ve also provided users with a handy stand to use to prop up the device and record hands free. We also adjusted the camera’s shutter button to make it easier to access.

Q. How are the new Gear 360’s design and functions reflective of trends we’re seeing in the VR market?

Jeongmin Seo: When it comes to capturing content, the popular trend has shifted from photos to videos, from videos to VR, and ultimately to the platforms that provide the most realistic images.

In order to be successful, products like this must evolve with their platform. Right now, we’re seeing more and more popular media platforms – including YouTube and Facebook – incorporating support for 360-degree content, resulting in more consumers viewing and sharing immersive videos and images. This has resulted in a demand for VR technologies that allow users to create and fully experience dynamic 360-degree content.

Samsung created the Gear 360 to take 360-degree content to new heights. We streamlined the new model’s UX (user experience) and editing functions to make content easier to create. To illustrate VR’s ability to foster realistic viewing experiences, we’ve partnered with BuzzFeed and NowThis to create 360-degree content that allows viewers to immerse themselves in engaging stories anytime, anywhere.

Together with the Gear 360’s livestreaming capability and streamlined design, these collaborations will inspire more users to create and share their own 360-degree videos and experiences.

Q. In your opinion, what are some examples of content that’s best captured in 360 degrees?

Elin Park: Many consumers will purchase a camera for use during special occasions, such as a family vacation. However, our daily lives are, in fact, full of unique moments and memories that are perfect for capturing in 360 degrees.

Whether you’re recording your latest vlog or your child’s soccer game, a scenic vista or a family wedding, the Gear 360 allows you to capture a complete view of special moments, big or small, in a way that smartphones simply cannot.

*Live Broadcast resolution is 1920 x 960 and requires Nougat OS and compatibility varies by device, OS and region.

To inspire a new culture of creating and consuming immersive content, BuzzFeed and NowThis will offer viewers easily snackable content: from simple how-to’s to the front lines of live 360-degree moments and breaking news worldwide. BuzzFeed will push virality to new heights by taking viewers on journeys through new cultures with BuzzFeed News around the world, as well as everyday experiences that are true to BuzzFeed’s style. NowThis will immerse viewers in 360-degree cityscapes and provide exclusive access to new places and ancient traditions from the comfort of their own home.

“Our 360-degree and virtual reality technologies enable more interactive storytelling to help consumers gain a deeper understanding of the world,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics. “These partnerships are a testament to our dedication to reimagining the way moments are captured and shared, and making these immersive experiences accessible to more consumers.”

Samsung builds on its continued efforts to shape a new era of journalism and content consumption by giving viewers access to news and content from all angles. Through partnerships and collaborations, Samsung hopes to inspire Millennials and Generation Z to contribute, create and share their own 360-degree videos and experiences.

“We’re excited to partner with Samsung to give our audience engaging, social 360-degree video content,” said Matthew Henick, Head of Development, BuzzFeed. “Samsung’s 360-degree technology will enable BuzzFeed to use our ‘test and learn’ strategy to unlock new kinds of shareable content, while learning more about how audiences are consuming and using it.”

“We’ve seen a ton of success with our millennial audience delivering the content they want, on the platforms they want, and in the formats they want,” said Christian Tom, Publisher, NowThis.

“Integrating Samsung’s 360-degree technology allows us to take our storytelling capabilities a step further and give our audience a deeper look into places and experiences they might not otherwise see, through the NowThis lens.”

Samsung recently announced its latest Samsung Gear 360, a 4K-resolution-capable 360-degree camera with enhanced features for easier user operation and high-quality content. For more product information, please visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com

Catch a glimpse of some of the immersive experiences that Samsung’s Gear 360 partners will have in store below.

Playful Design

Like a cute figurine, the iconic yet inviting design of the Gear 360 is an object you can’t help but look at, touch, hold in your hand… it’s also intuitively easy to use as it is inviting!

Continuous Grip

For Everyone

Flat-bar, round, twist… many types of grips were prototyped and tested before we decided on a continuous grip that combines the body with the handle of the camera. A form that we think maintains a steady grip but also doesn’t limit the 360° camera frame. The spherical body sits upon a shaft that tapers out at the bottom for stability but also creating more room for the hardware. The rounded finishes as well as the material is great for holding the Gear 360 in your hand. Really, a new yet wholly natural play on the words ‘point and shoot’.

Family Look

For Consistency

The encompassing look of the Gear 360 is undeniably a spherical shape. Maintaining this identity as well as adding a grip was the task we had to complete. With the continuous grip, we made a drastic change in the design and look of the camera yet kept the screw thread at the bottom of the grip for tripod heads and other universal camera accessories. Easier to use with more options!

Iconic Design

Built Just for You

Millennials and female users alike will really warm up to the design of the new Gear 360. The spherical camera body is almost like a cartoon character figurine you display on your desk. Not only that the soft material of the device makes it that much more fun to interact with. The strap ring supports the camera when it stands as well as preventing scratches on the lens is made of the same material.

Useful Function

A 360° camera built for Millennials, Everything you need to record your moments of life.

SNS Live Streaming

At Last, Your Own 360° Show

Live streaming function has been added to the new Gear 360. Whether it’s Facebook or YouTube *, it’s possible to stream your very own 360° internet show. Go on, it’s that easy!

4K High Resolution Content

Every Moment in High-Def

Real 4K 360° video recording with surround Landscape HDR — larger pixels for unbelievably sharp images. Easy to use high definition quality!

Fun & Easy Editing

Edit Like You Film – with Ease

For more conventional channels, it’s easy to edit your 360° video content. Also, a vast array of filters and effects as well as various stickers adds new flavor to your uploads. Easy to edit 360° video!

Share Your World In A Whole New Way

Our changing world brings forth new technology. We here at Samsung Electronics have looked at Millennials and their unique lifestyles and designed a product we feel is for them and ultimately built by them. No longer limiting our memories to small narrow frames, the Gear 360 encompasses the multitude of channels that this digital generation embraces into a continuous whole where not even the sky is close to the limit.

* Some functions may differ according to device model, OS or region

Let’s take a closer look at these new additions to Samsung’s expanding VR ecosystem, designed to make immersive 360-degree content more accessible and enjoyable.

Gear 360: 4K-Capable and Made for Sharing 

The Gear 360 lets users record 360-degree videos that place viewers at the heart of the action, capturing a complete picture of the recorded experience as well as all the emotion, excitement and beauty that made it memorable. Such vivid detail is possible thanks to the Gear 360’s best-in-class cameras, which feature dual 8.4-megapixel fisheye lenses that support 15-megapixel images and, for the first time, immersive 360-degree 4K videos. The bright F2.2 lenses provide crisp detail even in low-light conditions, allowing users to create high-resolution content regardless of the time of day.

To help creators put their best content forward, the new Gear 360 comes equipped with a variety of shooting modes and editing tools, and makes it possible to effortlessly convert 360-degree videos into standard formats for easy-to-share content.

The camera also supports high-quality, 360-degree live broadcasting*. When synced with a compatible smartphone or computer** via Wi-Fi or a USB cable, the device enables users to easily upload content to stay connected no matter where they are. They can also seamlessly livestream their content on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Samsung VR.

The Gear 360’s updates also extend to its design, which retains the familiar black and white, astronaut helmet-inspired aesthetic but in a compact and lightweight form for enhanced portability. Furthermore, the integrated tripod provides a comfy, one-handed grip, and is compatible with a selection of third-party accessories and mounts.

The Gear 360 will be available in select markets in late April.

Gear VR with Controller:
A Hands-On Approach to VR Immersion

Featuring a refined design and a new, multifunctional Controller, Samsung’s latest Gear VR**, powered by Oculus, introduces more comfort and fun to the virtual reality experience, taking users’ immersion to entirely new levels.

Built to combine the functions of a gamepad and remote control, the standalone, motion-sensitive Controller adds comfort to the Gear VR experience by placing the device’s controls in the user’s hands rather than on the headset itself.

With a curved design, the Controller offers a natural grip for enhanced one-handed control. Its clickable touchpad and trigger allow users to easily navigate VR apps and virtual worlds with simple motions. Meanwhile, the intuitive layout of home, volume and back keys ensures easy access to the functions, so users can manage them while fully focusing on their activity.

In addition, the Controller offers better motion interaction with minimized arm and head movement for comfortable and prolonged use. And for those especially active moments, the wrist strap provides a secure grip. When finished with a VR session, the Controller may be conveniently holstered on the headset’s strap.

The Gear VR headset’s ergonomic design makes for a secure and highly wearable fit while its expansive field of view (101 FOV) helps to minimize users’ motion sickness so they can enjoy immersive visuals for longer periods of time.

Furthermore, Gear VR users will never get bored as there are hundreds of diverse apps to choose from in addition to a newly added social VR party service that allows them to connect with friends to chat, watch videos and livestream games on social media.

Offered for the first time in an Orchid Gray finish, the Gear VR will be available for purchase in select markets in late April.

* The Nougat OS is required for live broadcasting functionality.

** The latest edition of the Gear 360 is compatible with Samsung flagship devices including the Galaxy S8 and S8+; Galaxy S7 and S7 edge; Galaxy Note5; Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+; Galaxy A5 (2017); and Galaxy A7 (2017). Gear 360 offers greater compatibility with devices running iOS 10.0 or later including the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE, as well as Windows/Mac computers.

*** The new Gear VR with Controller is compatible with the Galaxy S8 and S8+; Galaxy S7 and S7 edge; Galaxy Note5; and Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+. In addition, the Controller can be purchased separately and connected via Bluetooth to compatible Samsung smartphones to work with previous versions of the Gear VR.

Addressing the audience at the opening event, DJ Koh, President of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business, noted that Unpacked was not just the launch of a new device, but a milestone marking the beginning of a new way to experience the world.

As a continuation of the Galaxy series, the Galaxy S8 promises an entirely new mobile experience with features such as a bezel-less Infinity Display and Bixby, an intelligent interface, that offer a new level of functionality and convenience.

To best showcase these features, Samsung installed an eye-catching screen that stretched up and over the stage. The ceiling-like display, along with a slew of immersive effects, consistently transformed the stage throughout the event, making for a memorable, highly sensorial experience.

The event’s Experience Zone provided an opportunity for attendees to get acquainted with the features of the Galaxy S8, as well as DeX – a new service that lets users power a PC-like environment from their mobile – and new versions of Gear VR and Gear 360.

See the highlights of the event below.

Media representatives gather outside Lincoln Center in New York for the first of three Galaxy Unpacked 2017 events.

The press awaits the commencement of Galaxy Unpacked 2017.

While launching the Galaxy S8 in New York, Samsung simultaneously unveiled the new smartphone at a satellite event in London.

In his keynote speech, DJ Koh, President of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business, explains how the Galaxy S8 is “a gateway to a rich mobile life that will take you beyond the boundaries of today’s experiences and unlock the full potential of your imagination.”

DJ Koh unveils the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

A spectacular ceiling screen and immersive show effects transform the event stage.

“It marks a new era in smartphone design… the perfect balance of form and function, art and science, design and technology,” Justin Denison, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at Samsung Electronics America, said of the Galaxy S8’s Infinity Display.

Sriram Thodla, Senior Director of Intelligence & IoT at Samsung Electronics America, explains that with a suite of new services, including the new Bixby interface and Samsung Connect, the Galaxy S8 is “a universal remote for your life.”

Justin Denison announces that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be released on April 21.

Suzanne De Silva, Principal Product Manager at Samsung Electronics America, demonstrates how the Galaxy S8 “empowers you to do incredible things” through the introduction of new versions of the Gear 360 and Gear VR.

Suzanne De Silva and Tom Jauncey, Co-Founder at Beautiful Destinations, showcase the 360-degree live streaming capabilities of the new Gear 360.

Event attendees capture a unique moment at Galaxy Unpacked 2017 with the Gear 360.

Jonathan Wong, Director of Product Marketing at Mobile B2B, Samsung Electronics America, gives the audience a live demonstration of DeX, Samsung’s new productivity tool that lets users power a desktop experience from their phone.

In the Experience Zone, event attendees get hands-on with the Galaxy S8, the newest addition to Samsung’s Galaxy line-up, as well as its new services and accessories.

“I can see so much more of what’s on the screen,” said one attendee who tried out the Galaxy S8. “But at the same time, the phone fits comfortably in my hand.”

Galaxy Unpacked attendees get hands on with the new Gear 360. With a more portable design, enhanced grip and live-broadcasting support, the 360-degree camera makes sharing life’s special moments easier than ever.

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung Mobile, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. Creators of the project set a task for themselves to use the inspiring story of Alexander Zhuravlev, a photographer who lost almost all of his sight, to show people what they can achieve, assist with realizing their creative potential and getting the most out of their lives, as well as give a vivid and grounded proof that many obstacles that seem overwhelming are merely a challenge one should counter.

Alexander Zhuravlev lost almost all of his sight when he was 11 years old. Despite all the difficulties, he was able “to see beyond the horizon” of his capabilities and become a photographer, bringing to life his childhood dream. For that, he needed just a smartphone, using which he was able to make impressive landscape photos based just on his senses and hearing. Alexander used the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone in his photo shooting activities.

During the presentation of the Beyond the Horizon project guests of the event were able to see the world through Alexander’s eyes using a special app for Samsung’s Gear VR. For every spot where Alexander made photos – on Sugomak and Kyshtym lakes, on the surrounding peaks and in abandoned mines – panoramas were shot using Samsung’s Gear 360 camera. Afterwards the panoramas were specifically processed to reflect how Alexander saw these places when he was there.

“We at Samsung do not create just technologies, our innovative solutions actually help change people’s lives, make them easier and better,” said Seif El Hakim, Samsung Mobile Marketing Director in Russia. “Alexander’s talented works call for us to look at the world surrounding us more closely, appreciate its beauty and immensity and look beyond our own ‘horizon.’ This project is an example of a synergy of ordinary life and hi-tech technologies. It inspires us! It was a great pleasure to support it.”

“The most difficult thing in this world is to see your own possibilities. You already have all of them. They surround you everywhere. Those who at least see the horizon can step beyond it,” commented Alexander Zhuravlev.

The presentation program also included a demonstration of a short documentary about Alexander and his travels in Russia directed by Ivan Sosnin (Red Apple 2017 grand prix winner for his Piter by Bushe Bakery movie).

“This project has become the biggest and the most important one in my career. It got possible due to support from Samsung and Cheil agency. It is not just a movie, but a performance, and not about a disability, but rather about every one of us. Those who watch the movie and live through it will certainly learn something important for them. A large team of ambitious and result-oriented people worked on this project and I can proudly say that these efforts were made for a good reason,” noted Ivan Sosnin, director of the Beyond the Horizon documentary.

A number of other activities are also taking place within the project. Alexander’s pictures are demonstrated on the screen of the world’s largest smartphone placed on the Hydroproject building in Moscow. Using Shazam, everybody can visit the promo page to get all the information about the project. On the page there is also a special platform where Alexander Zhuravlev’s photos can be purchased. The project has been carried out in cooperation with the Zuzza.ru portal.

Alexander Zhuravlev’s exhibition will be open from March 24 to April 9 at the Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography.

About the Beyond the Horizon project

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. This social project is aimed at drawing attention to the inclusion process of people with disabilities and realizing the creative potential of every person so that they can get the most out of their lives.

Samsung Electronics today announced a partnership with Lonely Planet to enable travelers to discover new destinations whilst on the go using the Samsung Gear S3.

Through the partnership, Samsung and Lonely Planet will create a set of unique travel solutions that take advantage of the innovative features available on the Samsung Gear S3, and combine them with Lonely Planet’s world famous travel tips and guides. In addition, Lonely Planet will leverage the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Gear 360 to create immersive content for its renowned flagship marketing campaign, “Best in Travel.”

“We’re excited to offer Gear S3 users with travel tips and location-based advice from Lonely Planet’s on-the-ground experts,” said Hee-Sun Kim, Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “By partnering with Lonely Planet, we hope to enrich our customers’ lives by inspiring them to explore the world with ease.”

Guides by Lonely Planet Guides for Samsung Gear S3

The Lonely Planet smartwatch app for Samsung Gear S3 will be a companion app for Guides, Lonely Planet’s mobile app for travelers. The smartwatch app will offer travelers access to Lonely Planet’s award-winning content spanning over 50 cities around the world. It will not only list the top places that are relevant to the user’s location, but it will also enable users to bookmark or route directions to destinations of interest.

The Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch is the optimal device for travelers as it is IP68 water and dust resistance and has military-level durability to suit any type of environment or situation. With a built-in GPS, Alti/barometer and Speedometer apps, the Samsung Gear S3 allows users to track everything from altitude and atmospheric pressure to sudden changes in weather, distance travelled and even speed.

Lonely Planet’s team have designed four exclusive travel-themed watch faces for the Samsung Gear S3, and include added features such as destination details, weather information and a world clock. These themes are available for download now in Samsung Galaxy Apps.

Availability for the Samsung Gear S3 Guides by Lonely Planet will start in December.

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2017

Lonely Planet sent its dedicated video team to Canada, which was selected as the Best in Travel 2017 destination, to record a series of 360-degree videos, using the Gear 360 for the brand’s flagship marketing campaign.

The 360-degree videos showcased experiences for travelers in select destinations including Urban Exploring in Vancouver and Driving the Icefield Parkway. The Samsung Gear 360 is equipped with dual fisheye lenses with 15-megapixel image sensors, offering the ability to capture high-resolution (3840×1920) 360-degree videos, as well as 30-megapixel still images.

“We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Samsung to collaborate in diverse activities, including on our biggest marketing campaign of the year, Best in Travel. Samsung is the ideal partner for us to deliver this fully integrated partnership, one that our Client Solutions business is striving to offer our clients,” said Tim Daugherty, VP of Client Solutions, Lonely Planet. “It is vital that we partner with brands that align with Lonely Planet’s campaigns and our consumers, as well as our clients. This type of partnership enables Lonely Planet’s activity to simultaneously benefit both the client and the consumer. Coupling Samsung’s world-class video and photography technology with our highly visual campaign of 40 destinations around the world, is the ideal opportunity for Best in Travel to become a really immersive experience for the traveler, inspiring them to get out and explore the world in 2017.”

About Lonely Planet

Travel media company and the world’s leading guidebook publisher, Lonely Planet, supplies inspiring and trustworthy information for those planning a trip, on the road or browsing as an armchair traveler.  Over the past four decades, Lonely Planet has cultivated a dedicated traveler community. More than 130 million Lonely Planet books – to almost every destination on the planet – have now been printed in 14 different languages. The brand offers compelling travel content across various channels, including an award-winning website, guidebooks, illustrated reference books, children’s titles, 12 international magazines, mobile apps, video and more. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com, and join us on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet and #lp) and Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet).

* For optimal viewing, use the YouTube application to watch 360˚ videos on your mobile device.

Samsung Electronics has been recognized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) in its prestigious International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) competition. Samsung has won a total of five accolades including one Gold, two Silver and two Bronze awards. Twenty-one other Samsung products encompassing various categories ranging from home appliances to printers were also selected as finalists.

The IDEA competition is one of the most influential in North America and puts design innovation at its core. Each year, Samsung Electronics is recognized for its forward-thinking, innovative design products and initiatives through IDEA.

This year, Samsung received a Gold award for its Serif TV, a device best known for its ability to blend into one’s living space thanks to its simple design, and understated colors and materials. Easy to display on a shelf or a table, Serif adjusts itself to a user’s lifestyle. And, with detachable legs, it can just as easily be placed on the floor in the center of a room.

The Galaxy S6 edge smartphone and the Gear 360 camera were also recognized, both receiving Silver awards. The world’s first dual-edge screen smartphone pushes the envelope in design as well as technological innovation, while the compact and easy-to-use Gear 360 captures 360-degree images of one’s surroundings for a truly immersive photographic experience.

The Gear S2 and portable SSD T3 external drive were presented with Bronze awards. The mixture of analog and digital on the Gear S2 has much to owe to its UX design, which makes it feel more like a wristwatch than a smart device. The SSD T3 external drive, meanwhile, boasts a stylish two-tone color combination and slim-line design about the size of a business card.

Besides the award-winning products, 21 additional products were selected as finalists, illustrating Samsung’s commitment to innovation and design.

These products include: the Family Hub Refrigerator with a full HD touchscreen that covers much of the right exterior door; the 360 CST Air Conditioner that delivers cool air evenly to all parts of the home; the 2016 Smart TV, which has an out-of-box experience (OOBE) UX that greets users in their own language; and the MX3 A3 printer that enables quick and easy control with its 7-inch LCD touch screen.

Heo first climbed Everest in 1987, and has since reached the summit several times, including a rare solo climb in 2007. He is also one of the few to have completed the Adventurers Grand Slam, the title given to those who have reached the North Pole, South Pole, and the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits refers to the highest peak on all seven continents, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Denali (Mt. McKinley) in North America, and Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

“Being a fight against the nature, climbing and adventure is always dangerous. And that’s why our priority in these challenges is to get back home alive,” said Heo. “Wherever you go to Everest, you get to enjoy some spectacular scenery. And with the Gear 360, you get a real feeling of what a crevasse looks like and how high the mountains are.”

The 360-degree video here records Heo and his team’s journey in climbing the tallest mountain in the world. You can see for yourself what Heo means in this stunning 360-degree video taken on the slopes of Everest.

A view of Mt. Everest at the break of dawn.

Young-Ho Heo and his team climbing up the icy mountains, being careful not to slip.

Young-Ho Heo and his team posing for a photo at basecamp.

A view of the top of Mt. Everest.

A view of Mt. Everest from the other side of the mountain.

This exchange is just one of many thanks to the Samsung Smart School program which is successfully invigorating and improving education for the most disadvantaged of students by helping to bridge the IT accessibility gap in classrooms.

A Team Effort to Provide Opportunity for the Next Generation

Since 2012, Samsung Electronics has set up over 2,461 Smart School initiatives that offer students and teachers an engaging and collaborative environment in which to nurture the talent of tomorrow. In Portugal, the Samsung Smart School program has quickly launched to 13 smart classrooms including eight in schools or institutes and five in pediatric hospitals. Vidigueira Elementary School, which participated in the video conferencing class, was one of seven Smart Schools introduced in 2014.

The school is located in Alentejo, one of the most underprivileged regions in Portugal. For Vidigueira students, the opportunity to connect with fellow students a world away was a meaningful, eye-opening experience. Before the first video conference, one student, Rodrigo even confessed, “I am very nervous, because we have never spoken to anyone from a different country before.”

Students at the Vidigueira Elementary School anticipating saying hello to fellow Korean classmates a world away

At the Daeyanam Elementary School, located in the remote southern port city of Gunsan, where digital education tools are limited, the students shared the same nervous excitement, practicing English in preparation for their initial introductions.

In Alentejo, Portugal, the program, run in close partnership with the Gulbenkian Foundation and the University of Évora, has seen tremendous success rates in a region normally plagued by high dropouts. In fact, across the Alentejo region’s seven smart classrooms, the program has achieved a 100 percent success rate with all students advancing to the next grade. At Daeyanam Elementary in Korea, which faces constant challenges involving small school enrollment sizes, introduction of the program last year helped increase the number of students from six to 26.

Great Fun and Learning through Technology

After a few checks, and technology tools, including video conferencing and tablets, turned on at the Vidigueira and Daeyanam elementary schools, the class kicked off with the students greeting each other enthusiastically. The Gear 360 virtual reality camera was also used to capture the day’s fun.

The session was a time to learn new words like ‘hello’ (annyeong-haseyo, Korean) / (Olá, Portuguese) and ‘thank you’ (gamsahamnida, Korean) / (obrigado, Portuguese), as well as other Portuguese and Korean traditions. The students also spent time discussing how they are going to spend their summer vacations in their respective countries.

Students at the Vidigueira School listening to an introduction by a Korean student as captured by the Gear 360 virtual reality camera

Korean student, Eunchan Jeong, who led the Taekwondo session, said, “I really enjoyed making friends in Portugal and hope to have more opportunities like that in the future.”

Korean students at the Daeyanam Elementary School wearing taekwondo uniforms while waving hello to students in Portugal

Teachers at both schools, who led preparation for the video conference class, also spoke highly of the session and praised the effectiveness of the Smart School program, overall. Fátima Ralha, the project coordinator at Vidigueira, said, “As the project has evolved, the tablets have proven to be a fundamental resource for the students, helping translate to the 100% success rate.”

Daeyanam teacher, Eunkyung Jeong, said the introduction of Samsung Smart School has made the learning experience more interesting and creative for students and teachers alike, “encouraging the students to be more proactive and enabling teachers to provide feedback instantly.”

As the session came to a close, students and teachers on both sides of the video conference expressed how much they had enjoyed the experience, and their excitement for more high-tech opportunities to come.

Throughout human history, advances in technology have led to advances in storytelling. Drawings on caves led to paintings, which led to photography, which led to moving images on the silver screen. With each new form, stories became richer and more engaging, but they never became immersive—at least until now.

To date, visual storytelling has been bound—by walls, and frames, and bezels of screens. But today, for the first time, narrative is breaking free of the box, and storytellers can practice their craft on an infinite canvas. In this way, virtual reality is not an evolution; it is a revolution. It’s 360 degrees of storytelling, and the next great medium.

For our part, Samsung has designed, developed, and deployed the technology at the center of this new medium. From cameras to headsets, to platforms for sharing and viewing content, Samsung’s devices and services have brought VR experiences to life.

Of course, technology alone cannot power a medium. Content—irresistible and immersive stories—will always be the driving force. Pioneering filmmakers are already leading the way, but their work represents only the beginning of the new era of visual storytelling. For VR to flourish, we need an ecosystem in which content is easily created, accessed, and shared.

That is why we are launching Samsung Creators—a program committed to supercharging the next generation of VR content creators through a series of partnerships, events, competitions and more.

Creators—and their stories—have the unique power of making VR of interest to a wider audience; and inspiring the hobbyists, the backyard filmmakers, or even the people who are just a little bit curious to put on a headset or take Gear 360 for a spin, so they can live amazing stories, or create their own.

Through Samsung Creators, we’ll be empowering some of the biggest names in film, tech, culture, and sports, equipping them with the very best VR technology, and letting their imaginations run wild. These Creators will take their own, one-of-a-kind experiences, and open them up to the audiences everywhere.

We are also supporting up-and-coming VR directors and cinematographers who want to not just tell stories, but transport people to the center of new worlds. We’re hosting workshops to give filmmakers the opportunity to learn about Samsung’s VR technology, and competitions to highlight their best work. We’re building a VR infrastructure, so any filmmaker can share their vision with the world.

The future of VR depends on this democratization. VR needs content and it needs creators. Not a few, but a lot—a critical mass. In short, VR needs you.

So, join us on this journey. Get your hands on a Gear 360. Create something awesome. Check out the Samsung Creators website. Enter a competition to for a chance to become an awarded VR storyteller. Go to an educational seminar. Create the stories, experiences, and worlds that we’ve yet to see—worlds that are limited not by boxes, screens, or frames, but only by the reach of our vision.

Source: Samsung Newsroom US

Today Samsung Electronics America launched Samsung Creators, a new initiative that empowers storytellers, partnering with them to generate content across a variety of audiences and channels to show everyday creators what’s possible with Samsung VR technology.

“We want to bring the power of VR technology directly to the people,” said Samsung Electronics America’s Chief Marketing Officer Marc Mathieu. “To help creators learn and perfect the art of VR storytelling, we’ve built an entire VR ecosystem that pushes beyond the frame and empowers them to develop unforgettable, immersive stories, and inspires us all to do the same.”

At VidCon—and, beyond—Samsung Creators will provide seminars and classes, putting VR capabilities in the hands of filmmakers and influencers, further accelerating this new medium. Leading into VidCon, Samsung Creators is working with Casey Neistat to spotlight emerging creators from YouTube and push the creative boundaries of 360 video storytelling. This special curation of content will premiere at VidCon.

In July, Samsung Creators will launch a competition, challenging aspiring, indie filmmakers and creators to develop VR / 360 content, using Samsung’s VR products.  Ten winners will be chosen, one from each of the following ten categories:  Music, Auto, Science and tech, Gaming, Travel, Fashion, Culinary, Cause-related, 4D and Sports.

For more information about Samsung Creators, please visit www.samsungcreators.com

Samsung VR and Samsung Gear 360 Updates

In addition, today Samsung launched Samsung VR– formerly known as Samsung Milk VR – which now supports user generated content. Creators can load their own 360-degree videos to the Samsung VR platform for sharing and for the first time view them in Samsung Gear VR. For more information about uploading content to Samsung VR, please visit https://samsungvr.com

Samsung Gear 360 also launched in the U.S. today, an affordable, high-resolution camera developed for storytellers to create their own 360-degree videos for mobile viewing and VR content for Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus. The Gear 360 is priced at $349.99 in the United States and will be available for purchase on a limited basis during VidCon in Anaheim, California. Details about additional availability will follow later in the year. For more information about Gear 360, please visit www.samsung.com/gear360.

With these announcements, Samsung delivers the first end-to-end VR ecosystem that enables creators to shoot, stitch and share like never before.

Principal Designer Minki Ham, Senior Designer Kyunghan Noh and Assistant Designer Woojung Moon shared their insights about what went into the device’s creation.

(From left to right) Assistant Designer Woojung Moon, Principal Designer Minki Ham and Senior Designer Kyunghan Noh

Q. How did you first come up with the idea for the Gear 360’s design?

Minki Ham: The idea actually started out quite small. When the product planners asked for feedback on an initial idea, our thought was “that’s worth testing.” At first, we were not really sure whether the concept would fly. However, the burgeoning Virtual Reality industry made us increasingly confident about the opportunities 360-degree cameras could create.

Kyunghan Noh: Many designers of the Gear 360 had worked on camera projects before, but we didn’t take a standard approach this time around. We considered it as a whole new category of product, which required a new creative approach. We had to start from scratch because its imaging experience is very different from that of most cameras.

Q. Tell us a little about the Gear 360’s design concept.

Minki Ham: We began the process by asking fundamental questions about how the device would be used, its imaging quality and other important issues. The Gear 360 is sleek and minimal on the outside, but it is a 360-degree imaging device designed for daily and outdoor use, and features sturdy hardware on the inside.

When we started drafting the Gear 360’s design, there were already quite a few 360-degree cameras on the market, but some required professional knowledge to use or were bar-shaped. Those obviously have their own advantages, but we really wanted to address the limitations of them-available designs with the Gear 360. For instance, bar-shaped 360 cameras can be attached to a head mount, but they may not be as convenient to use.

We also tried to come up with an iconic design that would befit Samsung’s very first 360-degree camera, something that would represent a break from the norm. We were eager to come up with an eye-catching look that would impress. We aimed to make people want to take a closer look at the device or touch it.

Q. Where did you find inspiration for the Gear 360?

Kyunghan Noh: It was inspired by the helmets astronauts wear in space. These helmets look sleek, seamless and minimal, but also feature very sturdy inner structures. The idea of providing 360-degree images also played a major part. Unlike regular cameras, the Gear 360 captures images in a 360-degree field of view. The images it captures are spherical, so it made sense to create a globe-shaped camera that offers a consistent viewing experience from any angle.

Q. What kind of challenges did you need to overcome for this project?

Kyunghan Noh: In terms of design, our top priority was to make this new-type camera appeal to customers. We needed the Gear 360 to have a whole new product look, one that set it apart from existing devices. The challenge for us was to enable it to create images that were totally different, but to do so without losing the essential elements of a 360-degree camera.

The LCD display on the top of the device was actually not an original feature of the design plan. At first we thought that the menu, functions and other information could be displayed on a smartphone screen, as users need to pair it with a smartphone in order to view and share content. However, we later realized that to do so might not result in a truly intuitive design. We wanted to make it intuitively clear to users as they first set eyes on the camera which buttons they needed to press to start recording or change the recording mode. That is why we ended up adding a display to the finished device.

Woojung Moon: As the Gear 360 is spherical, users don’t need to think about where the front or the back of the device is. But as this design was somewhat new for many customers, people would often ask us questions like, “Where am I supposed to look when I’m taking a selfie?” or “What angle should I be looking at the display from?” We also had to decide where to put the display and control buttons, as a spherical camera does not have a front, so to speak.

We initially thought the best way to use the Gear 360 was to put it on a flat surface using its tripod, or to hold the tripod when taking a picture. But to our surprise, many people suggested holding the body or pushing buttons, even though this could mean one of the lenses might be covered by the user’s hand. I have video recordings and images captured using the Gear 360 on my smartphone to show to people who are not familiar with it.

Q. How and why did you choose the colors and materials for the Gear 360?

Woojung Moon: In terms of the color choice, we first had to decide whether the Gear 360 was going to be positioned as a standalone product, or if it was going to be matched together with Samsung smartphones and the Gear VR. The idea of unveiling a new-concept product in a whole new color might have helped draw attention to the Gear 360. However, we thought that as users might want to get more out of it by using it in conjunction with the Gear VR, it would be better to use the same white and black color scheme as the Gear 360 for consistency. In terms of materials, we used optimal solutions that would prevent overheating and also help increase the device’s portability. Unlike the Gear VR, though, the Gear 360 is suitable for outdoor use as well. Therefore, we went with materials which are resistant to contaminants and applied a non-slip coating to the accessories for outdoor usage.

Q. The Gear 360 comes with a tripod. Can you explain a little about this and the accessories’ design?

Minki Ham: During the development, we realized that in order to increase the Gear 360’s usability and portability, it needed a tripod. That’s why we started to think about size and designs that would be a good fit with the body. We designed the body and tripod to fit together as a complete package, and used the same design language for both.

Woojung Moon: As the spherical shape makes for quite a unique design, we also had to think long and hard about how we could make accessories that would match with the Gear 360. Camera accessories are often functionality-focused, and thus can sometimes feel mechanical or tool-like. It is often the case they are not very well designed from an aesthetic standpoint. As they are often large in size, they can sometimes look mismatched when they are connected with the main devices. One benefit of the Gear 360’s spherical design is that you can attach it to a whole range of surfaces. You can even use it on a helmet using its camera mount. That is why, in addition to the standard package, we also developed a Value Pack, which includes the camera mounts (suitable for both curved and flat surfaces), as well as a tripod that is twice as long as the standard model.

The standard tripod is designed to be stood on surfaces, while the value pack tripod can also be held in the hand like a selfie stick, and features a remote control. You can also attach a range of accessories to the universal tripod hole for greater compatibility and convenience.

Six camera experts who worked on the Gear 360 project in the Mobile Communications Business, explained the challenges they had to overcome as well as the lessons they learned during the development of the product.

(From left to right) Principal Engineer Yongwook Kim, Senior Engineer Junghyun Lee, Soojung Kim, Dongok Choi, Dongwoo Kim and Engineer Kiyun Jo

Q. Tell us a bit about the Gear 360 and how it came to be developed.

Yongwook Kim: In the same way that consumers once prompted camera manufacturers to support video recording on digital cameras, they are now wanting to see photos and watch video content in the same way they would with their own eyes. Gear VR provides such an experience, allowing viewers to feel as if they are actually in the moment.

Yet people also want to capture these moments, along with every little object and action that appears in them, as accurately as possible. Understanding this, we developed the Gear 360.

Dongok Choi: Devices like smartphones and TVs—of which Samsung is most reputed for—are essentially tools that enable viewers to consume content. On the other hand, the Gear 360 is a new type of product that lets them produce content.

Q. How did the development process of the Gear 360 differ from that of traditional cameras?

Dongwoo Kim: Traditional cameras allow you to capture an image within a limited angle of view through the lens, so you have to actually point the camera directly at the subject you’re shooting to capture it. In typical lenses, there is a central area and a peripheral area. Because we naturally focus on the center of a photograph, camera lenses, in general, produce the best picture quality at the center and relatively lower quality on the sides.

But 360-degree cameras are different. They shoot in all directions and don’t distinguish between the central and peripheral areas. When using Gear VR, for example, the “center” of an image or video changes as you turn your head in different directions. If there were a drastic difference in picture quality between central and peripheral areas, it wouldn’t feel very lifelike. Therefore, we had to minimize this difference on the Gear 360, and placed a great emphasis on designing and manufacturing the lens to ensure consistency in picture quality.

Q. How did you accomplish this?

Dongwoo Kim: Since it was our first time developing a 360-degree camera, we had to go through numerous procedures including analyzing consumer demands, determining design specifications and developing a methodology for evaluation and standardization.

Also, we had to consider things we had never given thought to before with smartphone cameras such as the stitching algorithm—which connects pictures and videos from all directions in a sphere-like form. We had a lot to do on the software front, too.

Soojung Kim: To adjust sensor assy and lens assy for the Gear 360, we needed equipment to carry out the “active align” process. However, in the initial stages of the Gear 360’s development, facilities that manufactured this equipment were also in their infancy, producing only 10 to 20 units per hour.

Because of this, it took an enormous amount of time to manufacture a pilot device for testing. We really couldn’t afford to wait, so we had to roll up our sleeves and personally help out with the manually-operated equipment. I remember how excited we were when we finally saw the module completion process working properly.

Q. What were the challenges in using two camera modules on the Gear 360?

Kiyun Jo: Considering the sphere-like design of the product, as well as performance and efficiency in aligning multiple cameras, we decided to use two camera modules and two image sensors. This created new challenges, including sensitivity deviation between the sensors and differences in the volume of image shift from each camera.

A typical camera design might incorporate multiple lenses into a single lens module to allow for more sophisticated functions. To do this, it is critical to align the optic axis of each lens accurately. But developing the Gear 360 was even more challenging, as we had to square each lens module perfectly with the other.

Another key element in manufacturing a camera is to set a perfect locational relation between the lens and sensor. While the tilt of the sensor is typically the top priority in smartphone cameras, our focus with the Gear 360 was on both three-directional motion components (x, y and z) as well as spin components (yaw, pitch and roll). In other words, we had to apply far more sophisticated standards to the tilt and spinning of the lenses.

Q. Why did you choose the 195-degree view angle?

Junghyun Lee: If you want to shoot everything in a full field of view of 360 degrees with two lenses, each lens has to capture more than 180 degrees. Also, you need some overlap of the two images or videos for stitching.

We had no specific formula to work with, but we knew that it was better to go for a larger view angle to give the software enough information to successfully stitch the images.

However, a larger view angle forces the device to use up more resources, making it more difficult to design the device in terms of optics and components. With this angle, the lenses might also capture the camera’s internal components. So we had to pay extra attention to ensure that the components would not interrupt the view angle. After much trial and error, we found that a 195-degree view angle guarantees optimal results.

Q. Why do you use fish-eye lenses?

Dongok Choi: Videos and images taken with a fish-eye lens are displayed in a sphere-like form. So if you look at them in 2D, such as on a smartphone, they look flattened and distorted. Considering a 360-degree camera needs to shoot and record everything around you, a fish-eye lens is favorable because it captures things more accurately.

To put this into perspective, imagine a globe in a classroom. Thanks to its spherical shape, it represents scale and size more accurately than a flat world map.

Q. You previously mentioned video and image stitching. How does that work?

Junghyun Lee: Since we shoot with two 195-degree lenses that face opposite directions, the excess parts of the images (from 180 to 195 degrees) overlap each other. The software processes this overlap to seamlessly connect the two images on the sides.

For optimal results, we tried to make the colors and other elements in the two stitched images appear as natural as possible even before being processed by the software. To this end, we made diverse efforts, including minimizing the difference in colors and exposure of the two lenses by adjusting ISO/AWB, and fine-tuning the optics in the engineering process.

Q. How did you evaluate the picture quality for the Gear 360?

Yongwook Kim: There was no specific standard to determine the picture quality. As I mentioned earlier, there is no difference in the central and peripheral parts of the image. So we didn’t know where to look to determine if the picture quality was satisfactory. So we continued to discuss the issue and change the standards and scope throughout the development and verification phases.

Soojung Kim: While we had established standards to evaluate the picture quality of conventional cameras, we didn’t have any to do so with sphere-like images and videos. In addition, we concentrated our efforts to meet consumer expectations, which was difficult as they have ever higher standards driven by steady advancements in smartphone cameras. As a result, we had to devise an entirely new set of standards to evaluate images captured by the Gear 360.

360-degree videos are all the rage on social media, which means that peoples are now welcoming the arrival of an exciting range of 360-degree cameras. One of them is Samsung Gear 360, whose unique, spherical design has won much positive feedback from the market. However, as four of the device’s software engineers explain, the Gear 360 is more than just a pretty face – practical and fun, it is built to perform.

From left to right: Principal Engineers Taewon Eom and Seungkyoon Shin, Senior Engineer Hyunock Yim and Principal Engineer Jinpyo Gwak

Easy to Use and Distinctive

More than just a new technology, the Gear 360 is offering people a new way to create and share their memories, in a format that’s more immersive than ever. “When I let my friends watch a 360-degree video with the Gear VR, they all looked excited and amazed,” says Principal Engineer Taewon Eom. “The widespread use of 360-degree cameras like the Gear 360 will give more people a much more vivid and expanded viewing experience.”

While the popularity of 360-degree videos is rapidly growing, existing equipment has usually been designed for professionals, making it too elaborate for many people. Often those videos required multiple cameras and tools to shoot and edit. But the Gear 360 is an easy-to-use, all-in-one device that lets everyone make photos and videos in this exciting format.

“The editing process [for existing equipment] is also complicated for ordinary people,” notes Principle Engineer Jinpyo Gwak. “However, with the Gear 360, users can shoot and edit UHD-grade videos using a single device. Also users can use amusing camera features such as Time-lapse and Looping Video for special occasions.”

Shin adds that, in addition to creating 360-degree content, the Gear 360 also makes it easier than ever for people to share. “Anyone who uses a 360-degree camera will find it attractive,” he says. “The more active the 360-degree content sharing platform is, the more people will want to create their own content.”

Stitching Together a New Viewing Experience

The engineers say that one of their main focuses during the software development process was properly implementing the Gear 360’s two lenses. Each one captures a 195-degree field, and to make a complete 360-degree image or video, the team needed to find a way to stitch together the fields in a smooth and natural manner.

Gwak says the team considered both quality and speed while developing the stitching feature. He notes, “Obviously, the more time you can spend stitching, the better the video quality becomes. What we needed to do was find an optimal way to reduce stitching time so that users could use the stitching function with ease.”

“Since a 360-degree video includes subjects shot at both short and long distances, all such subjects need to be stitched together. We developed an algorithm that quickly detects and connects subjects that need to be stitched together on the same line,” he added.

After performing a number of tests, the team created a database for natural stitching. Gwak says, “We took photos of the same subject from different distances. If we came across anything that looked strange in any given situation, we modified the subject and took a whole batch of photos again. In the past, I mostly took photos while developing new camera devices. However, while developing the Gear 360, I was the photographer as well as the subject. It was a new and very different experience for me!”

Software Made-Easy for 360 Video Creation

In order to enable people to get the full benefits of the Gear 360 as simply as possible, the software team created two software programs: the Gear 360 Manager app for smartphone and Gear 360 ActionDirector for PC.

Senior Engineer Hyunock Yim says that for existing devices, editing 360-degree videos required the use of several tools. “The Gear 360 is the only such device that enables users to shoot with a real-time view, stitch and trim their videos on their smartphones, and to edit what they recorded on PCs using a single tool,” Yim explains.

They had to decide whether to only make a viewer function for smartphones and PCs, or if they also wanted to add editing functions at the beginning. Eom says, “After we decided which features to add, we made sure that the Gear 360 Manager app was compatible with Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note5, in terms of reliability. We needed to ensure that the Gear 360 Manager app worked in harmony with a range of smartphone apps such as Gallery, Camera and Samsung Gear, both in terms of look and feel.”

While developing the Gear 360 ActionDirector, adopting the concept of 360-degree video for the PC also provided a unique challenge. “Because the Gear 360’s videos are not flat, we had to choose a viewing mode whereby users could watch the videos they had made,” says Yim. “We decided to adopt a spherical viewing mode so that users could enjoy videos in 360 degrees – from up, down, right and left.”

For people who want to document their memories in new, creative ways, the Samsung Gear 360 offers numerous fun and practical usability options. This video shows how one couple seamlessly connected the Gear 360 to a wide range of camera accessories on their camping trip to capture precious times together in wide, detailed panoramas.

With its universal tripod hole, the Gear 360 can be attached various third-party accessories, such as selfie sticks, drones and helmet mounts, depending on users’ needs. And the fun does not stop there. You can take the Gear 360 for a spin on a car or a bicycle using a camera dock, and attach the device to guitars or other instruments with a clamp.

The Gear 360 transforms the way people share and save valuable moments – and allows people the ability to delve straight back into the action. Check out this 360 video, compatible not only with the Gear VR, but also PCs and smartphones. Watch how this couple used the Gear 360 on a camping trip to create footage they will never forget!

*For optimal viewing, use the YouTube application to watch 360˚ videos on your mobile device.

1) Case

Spherical and streamlined, the case of the Gear 360 is designed to support your freedom of movement. Small enough to fit in your hand, you can take your Gear 360 with you with total convenience.

The case is sturdy and compact, good for all for favorite activities, from camping to al fresco dining. The case is IP53 dust and splash resistant, keeping it safe in most conditions.

2)  G1 Lens (Glass 1 Lens)

In addition to the durable, elegant casing, the Gear 360 features the industry’s first tempered glass with a circular design. The tough, tempered glass makes the camera good for indoor or outdoor use, to best suit your needs.

3) Front Bracket

A strong bracket is necessary to ensure the Gear 360’s many parts are secure and functioning optimally, and forms the core of the device.

On one side of the Gear 360 is the 0.5-inch PMOLED display. The 72-by-32 pixel screen is convenient to use, letting customers select image or video and a variety of modes and settings. You can start or finish shooting the video or still image by pressing the OK Key.

4) Camera Module

The Gear 360 features two CMOS 15 megapixel fisheye lenses, each of which can capture high-resolution images and videos in 195 degrees. Software can then stitch them together to create uninterrupted 360-degree content—up to 3,840 x 1,920 for videos or 7,776 x 3,888 for photos. The accelerometer and gyroscope sensor ensures your content are in perfect 360 degrees, constantly adjusting the cameras’ movements. In addition, both lenses are also F2.0, letting you capture vivid, bright images in lower light conditions.

The Gear 360 offers a variety of shooting modes—in addition to regular photos and videos, there is time-lapse video (for slow events, like sunsets) and looping video (for creating seamless action that repeats).

5) Cu Plate

As the Gear 360 has such a powerful collection of specs, protective measures are needed to prevent it from overheating. The device has a variety of materials inside to ensure heat is kept under control, including a copper (Cu) plate and other thermal interface materials (TIM).

6) Main Board

The mainboard houses the CPU and the DRIMe5s image processor. Fast and powerful, the DRIMe5s image processor offers superior color reproduction and reduced noise, with the power that serious photographers need for high-speed imaging.

The microSD card slot here can support memory cards of up to 200GB, so you’re assured you’ll always have plenty of space to record all the content you want.

7) Battery Chamber & Battery

The battery chamber is designed to hold a 1,350 mAh lithium ion battery, powerful enough to record up to 140 minutes of video.

8) Camera Lens

The Gear 360 features two CMOS 15 megapixel fisheye lenses, each of which can capture high-resolution images and videos in 195 degrees.

9) Rear Bracket

You can navigate the shooting options easily on the display, choosing video or still images, 180 degrees or the full 360 degrees. Just press the Menu key, then select Settings, and then Switch lens.

The Gear 360 features a wide range of connectivity, including Wi-Fi direct, Bluetooth, NFC and USB Port, so it is easy to share videos and photos, make films and edit workflows, right from your smartphone or PC. For instance, the Samsung Gear 360 Manager is a mobile app that lets you control and view the Gear 360 content from your smartphone in real time, as well as share those videos and images. For the PC, Gear 360 ActionDirector connects to the Gear 360 for editing, viewing and sharing pictures and videos. Gear 360 ActionDirector makes it easy to share your content, too, whether with YouTube, Facebook, Google Street View or other online services.

The bracket houses other key features of the Gear 360, including the microphone, speaker, and the mount, which can connect to a tripod. Various third-party accessories can also be attached to the universal tripod hole, like mounts or a release buckle.

Designed in a theme park style, the Adventure Park will be full of Samsung’s latest mobile innovations providing breath-taking experiences for fun-seeking concert goers. The interactive technology available to try includes:

• Gear 360 Sky Diving Selfie – the opportunity to take a mind blowing and unforgettable 360 degree selfie with friends experiencing virtual sky diving
• Gear VR Volcano Bungee –through a Samsung Gear VR headset, users will experience what it’s like to take a leap of faith and bungee jump over a smouldering volcano, not for the faint hearted
• Gear VR Roller Coasters – a nail-biting ride on a rollercoaster simulator using the Samsung Gear VR

This attraction is open for 5 days on the 19^th – 20^th May and the 27^th – 29^th May. The Galaxy Adventure Park also includes a Samsung mobile store, the opportunity to win latest Samsung mobile device in a lucky draw, along with complimentary pods of smartphone chargers and battery packs across the space.

About Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio is now one of the most significant festivals on the planet. Born in Rio de Janeiro, it not only conquered Brazil, but also Portugal, Spain and the USA, always with the intention of bringing all styles of music to a variety of audiences. Much more than a musical event, it became complete and comprehensive in addressing issues such as sustainability and environmental responsibility. It also undertook the commitment to make people aware that, with small actions in everyday life, they can make the world a better place. To mark Rock in Rio’s 30th year, the Lisbon event will include performances from world famous bands and musicians including Queen, Bruce Springsteen and Maroon 5.

One advantage of this innovative device is that it is easy to use. In just a few steps, you can set up the device and learn how to create and view 360-degree images and videos without any hassle. Read on to find out how.

How To: Set Up

There are a few things you need to do before you can use your Gear 360 camera. They are as follows.

1. Install Memory Card

A compatible memory card must be inserted to take photos or record videos. You can then format it from the Settings menu. When you insert or remove a memory card, the Gear 360 will turn off.

2. Charge the Battery

Charge the battery before using it for the first time. You cannot charge the Gear 360 while recording a video or using the viewfinder on the connected mobile device.

3. Connect to a Mobile Device

You can control or view Gear 360 content on your Galaxy smartphone.* To sync your Gear 360 and mobile device, you first need to download the Samsung Gear 360 app.

• Download the Samsung Gear 360 app on your smartphone via Galaxy Apps, Google Play Store or apps.samsung.com/gear360.
• Turn on the Gear 360.
• Activate NFC on your mobile.
• Touch the NFC antenna area of the Gear 360 (as indicated by the NFC logo on the side of the camera) to the NFC antenna area on the back of your smartphone.

Now connect your Gear 360 to your mobile device with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.

• Open the Samsung Gear 360 app. Your smartphone’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct will automatically turn on.
• Tap CONNECT and follow the instructions to complete the connection.

How To: Shoot

Gear 360 was designed for travel, festive gatherings and every activity in between to provide an all-encompassing visual experience. With a light and compact design, Gear 360 maximizes portability to film outdoors on the go, as well as indoor activities. Furthermore, in addition to the included tripod, Gear 360 can also be mounted on various camera accessories currently available on the market.

1. Select Camera

Equipped with dual fisheye lenses, Gear 360 gives users the ability to capture high-resolution 360-degree video and still images. Or, should you choose to shoot 180-degree wide angle video or images instead, you can opt to use only one side of the camera lens.

• Press the Menu key > Settings > Switch lens.
• Select the camera you want to use (front, rear, or both).
• To select with your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear 360 app, tap the camera icon and select the lens.

2. Record Video

In addition to regular Video mode, you can shoot several videos at set intervals and save them as one video in Time lapse mode. Looping video mode, on the other hand, lets you record a video continuously by overwriting a set period of the video to allow new footage to be captured and save memory card space.

• Press the Menu key, select Video (or your preferred mode).
• Press the OK key to record. Press OK to stop recording.
• To record with the Gear 360 from your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear 360 app and tap the camera icon. Tap MODE > Video. Then, tap the record button.

3. Take Photos

In addition to shooting videos, you can also take still images that capture 360 degrees in a single shot.

• Press the Menu key, select Photo.
• Press OK to take a photo.
• To take a photo from your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear 360 app and tap the camera icon. Tap MODE > Photo. Change the settings such as ISO, WB and HDR according to your preferences. Then, tap the shutter button to take a picture.

How To: View

Now that you’ve captured your memories, you can easily view them yourself, or share them with friends and family. You can view the videos and images taken with your Gear 360 in three different ways: on your smartphone, on your computer or with your Gear VR headset.

1. View on Smartphone

• Open the Samsung Gear 360
• Tap GEAR 360 and select a video or image.
• Tap the 360 view
• Drag your finger on the video or image to view it from other angles. Or, select Motion view to view the various angles by moving your smartphone in different directions.

2. View with Gear VR

• Open the Samsung Gear 360
• Tap GEAR 360 and select a video or image.
• Tap Save.
• After the image or video is saved, tap the back arrow.
• Tap MOBILE DEVICE > VIEW ON GEAR VR.**
• When prompted, insert your smartphone into your Gear VR headset.

3. View on Computer

• Connect the Gear 360 to your computer using the included USB cable.
• Transfer files between the Gear 360 and the computer.
• You can edit videos or images using Gear 360 ActionDirector.*** Download the program on your computer from samsung.com.

How To: Share

• Select a video or an image and tap
• Select a sharing method such as e-mail or a social media account to share your content.

* Gear 360 is compatible with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5.  3840*1920 resolution video recording and video stitching are supported by the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.

** The VIEW ON GEAR VR icon will appear on devices in which the Gear VR app is already installed.

*** To install, you need the key number on the box.

For some artists, labels like “painter,” “musician,” and “fashion designer” are a comfortable fit. But for people like Henrik Vibskov, they are merely constraints.

He is a leading light in the fashion industry – musicians such as Björk, M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand have proudly sported his designs. However; Henrik is not content to simply clothe music’s biggest stars. When he is not designing new collections, Henrik keeps himself occupied as drummer with his own project Mountain Yorokobu, signed to Fake Diamond Records, and also toured with Trentemøller.

The creativity doesn’t stop there. Henrik is also an award-winning installation artist, an art professor and a prominent figure in the “New Nordic Movement” of media gurus.

In fact, he believes that constant reinvention is at the heart of the creative process. When asked about what pushes him to create such a diverse portfolio of work, Henrik remarked, “I am always inspired by people who challenge themselves to go out there and try something new, to challenge perception and create progress.”

“In the brave new world of multi-discipline art creation, technology can be a powerful tool. If you can make technology as mobile as you are, then the sky is the limit.”

In the Samsung’s flagship range, Henrik believes he has found a device that truly embodies what he aims to achieve and empowers his multifaceted lifestyle. “Samsung is motivated to redefine what a phone can do,” he says.

With the Galaxy S7 in hand, new-school artists like Henrik explain they can enjoy not only creative freedom, but also the flexibility needed to break down interdisciplinary boundaries.

In particular, Henrik says that the Gear VR and Gear 360, compatible with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, have opened up a new channel of ideas and creativity for him.

“It’s a completely new way of thinking, seeing and experiencing the world both near and far from home,” says Henrik. ”It allows me to fully immerse myself in an entirely sensorial experience that stirs my creative senses. I’m interested to see how I can incorporate this progressive technology into my art and design.”

Check out the stories of fellow innovators Alek Wek, South Sudanese supermodel, and Kelli Samuelson, female cycling pioneer, also featured in this series.

An overview of Samsung’s enterprise mobility booth in Hall 6 (#6A30) at the Fira Gran Via Exhibition Centre.

At the center of the company’s enterprise mobility booth is KNOX, a defense grade mobile security platform that works only on Samsung mobile devices to improve security, management and productivity.

As a market leader in the mobile industry, Samsung delivers the strongest mobile security and the most effective enterprise mobility solutions through KNOX.

Samsung KNOX is a suite of mobile enterprise security solutions that provides device protection, management and development options.

Compatible with both NFC and MST technology enabled registers, Samsung Pay is the world’s most widely accepted mobile payment system.

Anasoft, a member of the Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program, offers a solution that allos for the acceptance of an encrypted, legally binding signature in digital form.

KNOX, along with its key partners, is expanding to meet diverse customers’ needs, such as connected car solutions like Samsung’s new Connect Auto. The solution collects a user’s driving data securely to allow for a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

Samsung’s new Connect Auto solution collects a user’s driving data securely to allow for a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.

Find out how Samsung Connect Auto works in the video below:

Visit Samsung’s enterprise mobility booth in Hall 6 (#6A30) at the Fira Gran Via Exhibition Centre to discover more about the KNOX total solution package and other various enterprise applications integrated with KNOX. To find more images of Samsung’s exhibition at the MWC 2016, please visit Samsung Newsroom Flickr.

Samsung’s booth, moments before event attendees rush in on the opening day of MWC 2016.

In addition to exhibiting its latest devices, Samsung is also showcasing its past products, which, at the time of their launch, set new standards in the mobile industry.

Samsung booth staff members prepare to show off the company’s just-unveiled Galaxy S7.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung’s latest additions to its Galaxy S smartphone line-up, are collectively one of the highlights of the booth.

Perhaps one of the most raved-about features of the new Galaxy S7 is its camera capabilities that enable it to shoot high quality images in low light environments.

The new Lens Cover for the Galaxy S7 provides professional level zooming capabilities.

All-new accessories for an all-new phone.

New phone cases for the Galaxy S7 feature fun designs developed by Samsung’s partners, like LINE.

Game pads available for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge make mobile gaming better than ever.

Samsung’s Gear VR and Gear 360 are the perfect combination for capturing and sharing memories in an entirely new way.

Samsung’s new Gear 360 camera allows viewers to experience the world in the way it was meant to be experienced—in 360 degrees.

The Gear S2 Premium Edition impresses with genuine leather straps and premium materials.

An MWC attendee gets hands-on with Samsung Pay, the world’s most widely accepted mobile payment system.

Always a crowd favorite, Samsung’s Gear VR Theater with 4D lets participants take a wild roller coaster ride in virtual reality.

Samsung booth visitors line up to try out the Gear VR Theater with 4D.

Be sure to stop by Samsung’s booth in Hall 3 of the Fira Gran Via Exhibition Centre to see more of Samsung’s latest products and services. To find more images of Samsung’s exhibition at the MWC 2016, please visit Samsung Newsroom Flickr.

The world is now more connected than ever, and while it’s easy enough to share the moments of one’s daily life, Samsung’s Gear 360 allows you to take that connection one step further by turning the mundane into the extraordinary. In fact, the camera’s ability to capture immersive content makes viewers feel as if they, too, are experiencing the sights and sounds in the same way the camera user might when capturing the subjects and settings in view.

Compact and lightweight, the Gear 360 is ideal for preserving the moments of everyday life in 360 degrees, whether you’re at a favorite local hangout with family or exploring an exotic land with new friends. With the Gear 360, Gear VR and Galaxy smartphones, anyone can experience the next generation of content creating and sharing.

See how Samsung’s Gear 360 can transform the way you share your life in the infographic 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.

Even event attendees in the rear of the auditorium got an immersive, up-close look at Samsung’s new products, thanks to the more than 5,000 Gear VR headsets that were distributed at the event.

Just ahead of Mobile World Congress 2016, Samsung Electronics made waves in Barcelona with its most immersive Galaxy Unpacked event yet on February 21. The company rolled out the highly anticipated flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, along with the boundary-breaking Gear 360 camera, much to the delight of the thousands in attendance, as well as those live streaming the event from around the world.

Held under the theme “Beyond Barriers,” the company showcased its continued efforts to push past limits and journey through the unexplored. Staying true to the theme, the event was centered around a 360-degree square stage that was “unpacked” at the start of the event, when an arrangement of glowing transformative screens hanging above it opened like a box.

This stunning 3D effect was only enhanced by the more than 5,000 Gear VR headsets that were donned by attendees during new product introductions—a memorable highlight that received cheers from all corners of the auditorium. The event was also the industry’s first to be broadcasted live in virtual reality, making it possible for viewers to get a front-row view of the action from the comfort of their homes.

The event began with “Unpacking Samsung,” a video that featured the compelling story behind Samsung’s innovation in the mobile industry. It was followed up by a motivating opening speech by DJ Koh, President of Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business, who discussed Samsung’s commitment to developing people-inspired innovation. There were also guest appearances by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Sweeney, founder of Epic Games, which demonstrated the company’s strong commitment to the industry.

In case you missed it, here is a recap of the highlights in photos.

Anticipation builds outside Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona, where attendees await the commencement of Unpacked and the revelation of The Next Galaxy.

Event attendees gather inside the packed venue around a truly immersive stage before the start of Galaxy Unpacked.

Transformative screens open to unveil the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2016 stage.

DJ Koh, President of Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business, opens the event with a speech emphasizing Samsung’s efforts to overcome barriers to develop people-inspired innovation. “Tell us that the world should be flat,” he said, “and we will show you a galaxy that curves on endlessly into an even better future.”

Even event attendees in the rear of the auditorium got an immersive, up-close look at Samsung’s new products, thanks to the more than 5,000 Gear VR headsets that were distributed at the event.

DJ Koh unveils the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, the newest additions to Samsung’s Galaxy S flagship lineup.

Justin Denison, Vice President and Head of Mobile Products at Samsung Electronics America, discusses the streamlined designs, refined function, advanced cameras and enhanced performance of the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The audience was especially impressed by the devices’ IP68 and expandable memory features, as well as their enhanced camera capabilities.

Tim Sweeney, founder of Epic Games and computer game programmer, makes a surprise guest appearance to showcase how Vulkan API is transforming mobile gaming.

Pranav Mistry, Global Vice President at Samsung Electronics and Head of Think Tank Team, shows off Samsung’s Gear 360, a unique, compact camera that allows consumers to create and share their own 360 degree video content. A demonstration of the device was showcased via the provided Gear VR headsets.

Facebook CEO and guest speaker Mark Zuckerberg explains the vast possibilities of virtual reality and 360-degree video, as well as the company’s partnership with Samsung Electronics.

Event attendees get hands-on with Samsung’s just-released products.

Event attendees get hands-on with Samsung’s just-released products.

Event attendees get hands-on with Samsung’s just-released products.

Guests get a first look at the unpacked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the product experience zone.

Guests get a first look at the unpacked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the product experience zone.

With the rise of virtual reality devices like the Gear VR, 360-degree video is becoming one of the hottest trends in digital content. Until now, 360-degree video cameras were bulky and expensive, out of reach for most consumers.

But what if that were no longer true? What if an easy-to-use camera were capable of shooting in an immersive 360 degrees? Such a device could utterly change the way people capture and share their memories.

With the unveiling of the Samsung Gear 360, shooting in 360 degrees is no longer a fantasy. It has become a reality that anyone can explore, and is the latest new experience in Samsung’s ecosystem of industry-leading products.

360 Degrees in a Small Ball

The Gear 360 is a simple and sleek looking ball, featuring dual fisheye lenses—195-degree field-of-view cameras on either side of an aerodynamic white sphere. Software then automatically combines those two images together, cutting together two 180-degree images and stitching them together at the points where they overlap, to create a 360-degree look at the world all around the camera.

Or, should users choose to do so, they can use a single camera to capture videos and pictures for a simpler 180-degree view of half of the world.

High Resolution Camera for High-Quality Images

The Gear 360 camera comes in high definition, 3,840 pixels by 1,920 pixels, capable of capturing images of up to 30 megapixels. And the bright F2.0 lenses will help users to capture images even in low light conditions.

People can also use the Gear 360 to shoot in a variety of modes, including standard video, photos, time lapse videos or looping videos.

Seamlessly Connecting Your Videos

What makes the Gear 360 really useful is how easily it can be synced to smartphones and other devices. When connected to a smartphone, users can preview their content in real time, while they film. Then, just as easily, that content can be saved to the smartphone or uploaded to social media channels or Google Street View.

The Gear 360 is also ready for all sorts of connectivity options, including WiFi-Direct, Bluetooth, NFC and USB, to make sharing and transferring data incredible easy. A microSD slot makes the memory expandable to 128GB, too.

In addition, the Gear 360 is designed to be compatible with most accessories already on the market, including tripod attachments. It is also compatible with Galaxy devices that work with the Gear VR: Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7 and S7 edge.

Changing How Memories Are Made with a Camera On-the-Go, Wherever You Go

The Gear 360 is easy to carry for maximum portability—just 153 grams and 66.7×56.2×60 millimeters—making it convenient to use just about anywhere. And with IP53 certified dust and water resistance, consumers can feel comfortable using it in everyday life, even if there’s a chance it may get wet.

Furthermore, the shutter, settings and shooting modes can be operated directly from the Gear 360 with just a few simple clicks, so it is truly a device designed for the masses.

With the Gear 360, it’s now simple for anyone to shoot video and photos of stunning vistas, spectacular cityscapes and intimate gatherings, immersing viewers in any environment. It’s a small, easy-to-use device that empowers people to capture and share their lives like never before, expanding our horizons by putting our real lives into virtual reality. The evolution of VR is only just beginning, and thanks to Samsung’s Gear 360, now anyone can be at the forefront of this exciting new way of looking at the world.

Gear 360 Videos:

*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.

**Battery performance may vary depending on configuration, and device usage.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd today announced the Samsung Gear 360, a 360-degree camera that lets consumers easily create, view and share their favorite experiences through video and still image content. Gear 360 is designed for travel, festive gatherings and every activity in between to provide an all-encompassing visual experience. The new camera leverages the best of the Samsung Galaxy experience so users can become the creator of their own virtual reality content to enjoy through Gear VR.

“Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the mobile experience to extend beyond the smartphone,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “On the heels of last year’s Gear VR release, Gear 360 continues to push the limits on immersive content – providing a visual experience that makes capturing and sharing life’s moments even easier.”

Compact Design with High Performance for Every Activity

Samsung Gear 360 is equipped with dual fisheye lenses, which both have 15 megapixel image sensors, giving users the ability to capture high-resolution (3840×1920) 360-degree video that also supports 30 megapixel still images. Users are also able to shoot 180-degree wide angle video and images with only using one side of the camera lens. Built for any time of day, Gear 360 offers Bright Lens F2.0, which creates high resolution images even in low-light conditions, where users can create full panoramic videos.

With a light and compact, spherical shaped design, Gear 360 maximizes portability to film on the go or for indoor activities. Gear 360 features a user-friendly tripod and is also compatible with a wider selection of accessories and mounts currently available on the market.

The Galaxy Experience

Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.

When Gear 360 is synced with a Samsung smartphone, users will be able to preview content in real time when recording. Also, Gear 360 will automatically bring up filmed content for users to view and save on their smartphone or to upload and share directly on social channels including Google Street View. For a real 360 viewing experience, users can simply watch self-created content through Gear VR. All these features will be available through a dedicated mobile application for download from Galaxy Apps, Google Play and PC software for more in-depth editing capabilities.

Gear 360 is compatible with select Samsung smartphones including the newly released Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6.

Gear 360 will be available starting Q2 2016 in select countries.

For more information, visit www.samsungmobilepress.com

Samsung Gear 360 Specifications

*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.

**Battery performance may vary depending on configuration, and device usage.