The Samsung Gear S2 blends style and substance to create a wearable that is at once distinctive and practical. First launched in 2015, the smartwatch is continuously evolving. As it does so, it has also incorporated several enhanced functions from Samsung’s latest smartwatches, reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to refining the user experience of wearables. The Gear S2 will now become better than ever thanks to a new software update.

Let’s take a look at the features of the new update that will make the Gear S2 more convenient and even easier to use.

Clearer User Interface

At first sight, the user experience has undergone several noticeable changes. The update optimizes the icons and widgets for the Gear S series’ hallmark circular display. The new look of the user experience enhances the unified appearance of each screen, enabling the content to be viewed more easily.

(Left) App Shortcuts widget (Center and Right) Swipe down to view Quick Panel

Design is not only about form, so the device’s functions have also been carefully considered to increase usability. The new App Shortcuts widget now automatically places your most recent apps, but you can still manually select your favorites. Additionally, the Gear S2’s Quick Panel for fast settings such as display brightness, volume and airplane mode can now be viewed by swiping down from all screens – not just the watch face.

Personalized Training On Your Wrist

(Left) Samsung Health widget (Center) Multi-workout widget (Right) Inactivity Alert

With a smarter and even more intuitive Samsung Health, it’s easier to manage and track your activity.  Health information, such as pace count and heart rate, are easier to read on the screen at a quick glance. What’s more, if you have a preferred type of regular exercise, you can get quicker access to it by setting it as a preset on the newly added Multi-workout widget. There are now additional Inactivity Alert’s options too, so you can stretch when it’s convenient to do so.

View on your Samsung Phone or TV and control with your Gear S2

When the Gear S2 is connected to Samsung Health on your smartphone, there are even more options to explore. The Weight Management feature, for instance, displays your daily exercise and caloric intake. In addition, as well as viewing your real-time heart rate, you can access and control exercise-related video content with your Gear S2, after connecting the device to a smartphone synced to your TV, to experience a professional fitness program at home.

Control for PowerPoint and Gear VR

(Left) Gear VR Controller (Right) PPT Controller

The updated Gear S2 is able to connect with even more of the hardware and software you already use and enjoy. For example, download the Gear VR Controller app and you will be able to manipulate the Gear VR with your Gear S2 as you interact with VR content.

For office workers who want to make the right impression with their presentations, the PPT Controller app allows them to control the display of PowerPoint slides – even offering a timer function – so they can ensure a slick presentation, without having to remember to bring a PowerPoint clicker.

Be Prepared, Whatever the Weather

(Left) Weather widget (Right) Detailed View of the day’s weather

Gear S2 wearers are unlikely to be caught out by unexpected change in the weather again, thanks to the simple – yet detailed – weather information they receive every morning on the Gear S2. The device provides useful forecast updates, so that users can prepare for whatever the weather may bring that day. The information includes daily highest and lowest temperatures, along with wind chill and temperature differences from the previous day. You can also look up sunrise and sunset hours, probability of rainfall, UV index and other various weather details to make sure you’re fully informed before you leave the house.

The Gear S2’s latest software update is available to download via the Samsung Gear app.

Check out the results of Samsung’s high-flying initiatives below.

The First Smartwatch Trusted by Aviators

The world of aviation has historically inspired exceptional examples of watchmaking. Samsung’s Gear S3 frontier Special Edition, the first smartwatch to be associated with military aeronautics, is the latest product of this innovative history.

The Gear S3’s IP68 dust and water resistance and military-grade durability distinguish the device as capable of adapting to the requirements of military missions. The PoAF’s special edition enhances that utility with an exclusive watch face – one that combines exceptional functionality with aesthetic cues that celebrate the tradition and innovation of the Portuguese Air Force.

The watch face features a design based on specifications provided by pilots across PoAF divisions. The black dial displays the time, date, day of the week and month, and includes a display for UTC/Zulu time, the worldwide reference time zone for pilots, at 9 o’clock.

The numerals are written in the same font that the PoAF has historically used for the tail numbers of its aircraft. In addition, to honor the anniversary, the 6 and 5 are highlighted either in gold or in the colors of the Portuguese flag, and may be customized to suit the user’s preference. At the top of the dial, in place of the 12, are the PoAF’s symbol – a stylized eagle – and the inscription, “Portuguese Air Force”.

Although it was originally designed exclusively for use by PoAF pilots, the watch face is currently available to download via the Gear App Store.*

Taking Flight with the Gear VR

Over the course of several months, Samsung Electronics Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force and Impresa Media Group shot a series of virtual reality films that allow viewers to experience the sheer exhilaration that comes with piloting a state-of-the-art aircraft.

The films were recorded with Samsung Gear 360 cameras and showcased at the PoAF’s 65th anniversary exhibit in Castelo Branco, two hours’ drive from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Upon strapping on Samsung’s Gear VR headset, attendees at the event were transported into the cockpits of Alpha-Jet instruction fighters, Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters and F-16 AM fighter jets.

By creating an experience that’s as close as can be to actually stepping into the cockpit of a supersonic aircraft, the immersive footage allowed attendees to experience the thrill and beauty of flying for themselves.

*Availability may vary depending on market

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.

Date: 31st August (Wed) 18:00 CET (Door open 16:30)

Venue: Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany (Address: Möckernstraße 10, 10963 Berlin, Germany)

Launch event to be live streamed on www.samsung.com/galaxy and Samsung Newsroom news.samsung.com

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.

Samsung Electronics today announced that its new Gear Fit2 GPS sports band is now commercially available in select markets including the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, and will gradually be launched around the globe.

Featuring an ergonomic and sleek design, the Gear Fit2 offers accurate and robust fitness tracking and measurement with an embedded GPS and heart rate monitor (HRM). Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, or even using an elliptical trainer or rowing machine, the Gear Fit2 automatically detects the type of activity you’re engaging in and tracks your progress. It also monitors 15 different activities including Exercise bike, Step machine, Pilates, Lunges, Crunches and Squats.

Users can easily monitor their workout status and check notifications with a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED curved display. In addition, its standalone music player, seamless integration with S Health and new “Steps Challenges” for one-on-one competition with friends provide enhanced motivation and enable users to work out more actively, even without a smartphone.

The Gear Fit2 is compatible with smartphones running on Android OS 4.4 and above with over 1.5GB RAM. It’s available in three colors (Black, Blue and Pink) and two sizes—Small (for wrist sizes 125-170 millimeters) and Large (for wrist sizes 155-210 millimeters).

The Gear Fit2 automatically and accurately tracks your everyday activities, from walking to squatting to yoga, to encourage a healthier lifestyle. It also comes equipped with a slew of features optimized for fitness enthusiasts and casual exercisers alike, such as a standalone music player and increased memory storage, as well as a comfortable and stylish design.

Functions That Blend Fitness and Fun

The Gear Fit2’s features make all-day fitness tracking more accurate and workouts more enjoyable. Utilizing a combination of sensors including a standalone GPS and heart rate monitor, the device lets you accurately gauge your fitness activities, including distance, pace, route and calories burned, as well as your heart rate.

Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, or even using an elliptical trainer or rowing machine, the Gear Fit2 can automatically detect the type of activity you’re engaging in and accurately track your progress toward your target goals. You can track and monitor 15 different activities including Exercise bike, Step machine, Treadmill, Pilates, Yoga, Lunges, Crunches and Squats, among others.

Depending on the activity, the Gear Fit2 displays animations to illustrate proper exercise techniques for more accurate tracking, and can also provide feedback at set intervals during your workout.

You can also check your fitness performance and trends with your Gear Fit2 or your smartphone through S Health, which easily syncs with the GPS sports band. Or, for an added boost of motivation, you can share your activity data on Facebook, as well as compete in a Steps Challenges with a friend.

Meanwhile, the easy-to-use interface lets you maneuver through information screens with just a few simple swipes.

Stay Fit with Better Style

The Gear Fit2 offers a simple, lightweight design that complements everyday wear.

With its ergonomic curve, the GPS sports band allows for a comfortable fit throughout the day. Likewise, the strap’s secure fastener and size—available in small and large—ensures that the device stays on even during the most vigorous workouts.

Featuring a stylishly slim and classically chic design, the Gear Fit2 is available in three fashion-forward colors (black, blue and pink) and boasts a variety of watch faces so you can choose the best look to complement your own personal style.

The Gear Fit2’s 1.5-inch Super AMOLED curved display, high resolution and color touchscreen let you easily monitor your progress, check the time or show off your impressive fitness stats, even in bright sunlight. And should it start raining, the GPS sports band’s IP68 rating—the premium standard of protection against water and dust—ensures that your workout won’t be interrupted.

Move to the Beat and Stay Connected

To enhance your workout even more, the Gear Fit2 offers Bluetooth connectivity for a seamless experience, providing a motivational soundtrack to keep you moving.

Or, if you don’t feel like carrying around multiple devices or getting tangled up in cords, the GPS sports band also features a standalone music player with internal storage. For ultimate convenience, the device can transfer music between the Gear Fit2 and your smartphone with the Samsung Gear application.

Understanding that most wearable device users are constantly on the go, Samsung designed the Gear Fit2 to be a device that can keep up with your fast-paced lifestyle. Check notifications at a glance from a single screen, and stay connected with family and friends by easily replying to text messages, emails and messaging apps—straight from your wrist.

* 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.

But what if your earbuds not only kept the rhythm flowing, but also offered real-time, in-ear feedback of your performance and let you take calls, all the while being completely cord-free?

Samsung Electronics’ all-new Gear IconX aims to do all of the above. The two earbuds provide all of your fitness tracking and music needs, ensuring that no awkward devices weigh down your pockets and no cords keep you from achieving your fitness goals.

A Reinvented Design—Music to Your Ears

At first glance, it’s clear that Samsung’s Gear IconX is no ordinary set of earbuds.

By reinventing traditional earbuds through an ergonomic design, the Gear IconX maximizes comfort, whether you’re engaging in fitness activities or simply listening to music during your daily commute.

Featuring three sizes of eartips and wingtips, the earbuds comfortably fit your ears, while three color options—black, blue and white—ensure that they also fit your style. And for those that prefer a bit more subtlety, the Gear IconX’s small design discreetly conceals your earbuds whether you’re at the gym or on the go.

Spice up your fitness routine with your favorite workout tunes by transferring music from a Samsung smartphone or a PC to the Gear IconX, or accessing music through Bluetooth connectivity.

With up to 4GB of internal storage (which can play up to 1,000 songs), users can enjoy a seamless and fully standalone music listening experience, easily controlled by a user-friendly interface. Play or pause music, adjust volume or switch tracks by simply tapping or swiping the Gear IconX earbuds.

For those times that you are on the go, the convenient charging case of the Gear IconX not only keeps your earbuds safe, but also allows for up to two additional charges that begin automatically when the earbuds are placed inside.

An In-Ear Fitness Tracker and More

The Gear IconX is optimized to complement your personal fitness level, whether you’re training, jogging or taking a morning stroll through the neighborhood.

To activate the device, simply place the Gear IconX in your ears. With a tap and hold of the touchpad located on the earbud, you can launch activity tracking and receive real-time status updates.

The earbuds provide data such as heart rate, distance, speed, duration and calories burned through the Voice Guide, even without a smartphone. In addition, utilizing its built-in heart rate monitor, the Gear IconX’s standalone voice guide helps you stay in the Vigorous Intensity Zone for a more effective workout.

After your workout, you can transfer and manage recorded data on your smartphone with seamless integration with the S Health application. Through Bluetooth connectivity, Gear IconX also provides real-time heart rate data transfer to select third-party applications.

Additionally, if you’re training in areas where you need to be more aware of your surroundings, Gear IconX supports ambient sound mode for your safety.

* 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.

* Gear Fit2 pairs with smartphones running on Android OS 4.4 and higher with over 1.5GB RAM.

* 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.

Galaxy Apps is a store that features entertainment, gaming and productivity-boosting applications for the smart devices of Samsung Electronics. Following the integration, it will also boast a curated section of apps designed exclusively for Samsung’s Gear products.

As such, Gear users can browse customized watch faces, health trackers and information streams directly from Galaxy Apps via the Gear tab.

In addition to providing an improved search function, the integration allows for maximized convenience. No longer will users have to download from two separate platforms—Galaxy Apps has all their needs covered.

Now, both smartphone and Gear versions can be installed or deleted using the Phone App Also button. Managing and updating apps on both devices is also considerably easier thanks to the My Apps menu.

Users contemplating a Gear device purchase can also look at gear applications previews via Galaxy Apps.

To celebrate the new integration, Galaxy Apps is offering a range of complimentary watch faces to Gear S2 users designed by popular watch face maker Mr. Time (Apposter Inc.). These designs allow consumers to change their smart watches into fashion items, luxurious tourbillons or even gaming devices with just a few simple taps.

Throughout the evolution of Samsung’s Galaxy line-up, Galaxy Apps has consistently added value to the smartphone experience. And now, with the integration of Gear Apps, Samsung aims to provide a better, more seamless experience for both smart device and wearable device users.

*Availability of the new Galaxy Apps may vary by operator and region.

The DIY (Do-It-Yourself) revolution is no longer limited to the world of arts and crafts. From cars to clothes and even smart device user interfaces, the DIY method can be applied to just about anything you care to mention. It is often a perfect means of adding a touch of your own personality to something.

In response to this trend, Samsung has developed the Gear Watch Designer—a program that allows you to make your own unique watch face. It is easy to use and requires neither expert knowledge nor coding skills.

Five of the Gear Watch Designer’s key developers explained more about what makes the program “tick.”

The Gear Watch Designer is home to designer-friendly tools and functions, many of which resemble those used in Photoshop and Flash programs.

DIY Watch Faces Made Easy with the Gear Watch Designer

Previously, non-developer Gear S2 users were not able to personalize watch faces based on their unique preferences, much less share their designs with others.

But the introduction of the Gear Watch designer has changed that.

“In the beginning, we intended to create the Gear Watch Designer as a utility program to help developers. But as we progressed, the general consensus was that it would be better to make a designer-oriented program,” said Young Jae Min, Senior Designer of the UX team.

As a result, the team developed the Gear Watch Designer to allow designers to better express themselves, even if they lacked development expertise.

The Gear S2 maximizes customization, so that users can directly configure its hardware or software, and edit functions according to their tastes. And the Gear Watch Designer only enhances these customization features yet further.

With the program, you can easily add and arrange calendar, heart rate or daily fitness information directly to the watch face, for example.

You can also fully express yourself by customizing the index, hour hand, minute hand and second hand in the colors and styles just as you desire, all the while checking to ensure the designs function properly as you edit them.

It has only been a short few months since the Gear Watch Designer was launched as a beta version, in December last year on the Samsung Developers website. However, a number of users have already since shared their own unique watch face creations with the Gear Watch Designer’s online community.

“In the beginning, we intended to make the program simple. However, over the course of its development, it has become more complex as the team has diversified its ideas,” said Moo Chang Kim, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team.

This rather unique development process, in which the team constantly and collectively brainstorms and shares ideas, has allowed the Gear Watch Designer to advance consistently and in a multitude of ways.

“It has been interesting to gradually expand this project by incorporating our ideas,” explained Hyung Jo Yoon, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team. “It was a refreshing and novel experience to be able to share ideas between multiple departments in pursuit of a single goal.”

Sample watch faces made with the Gear Watch Designer.

Boundless Creative Potential

While anyone can use the Gear Watch Designer to make their own watch face, graphic designers in particular can let their creativity run wild by using their own images as part of the program. As such, the team focused on making the Gear Watch Designer as user-friendly as possible so that designers could use it with great ease.

However, as the developers were not all designers themselves, they explain that they found it difficult to find flaws and limitations in the program before they actually launched the beta version.

“We actively encouraged designers to start use the program when it reached the 60-70 percent completion mark,” explained Sang Min Jung, Senior Engineer of the Tizen R&D Team. “We then proceeded to hold contests internally, through which we were able to improve the tool based on employee feedback.”

Thanks to feedback and regular inter-departmental brainstorming sessions, the Gear Watch Designer soon developed into a more complete experience.

As a result, the program now boasts a number of familiar tools specifically aimed at designers, such as animation functions and graphic interfaces. Even more useful functions will be added in the future in the form of updates.

Both experienced graphic designers and keen amateurs can use the Gear Watch Designer with ease, a fact that has led to more and more people sharing their watch face designs online. In fact, some of the most popular of the paid watch faces available were created using the Gear Watch Designer.

“The Gear Watch Designer has allowed for some significant developments, allowing designers to directly create an end product without the help of developers,” said Sang Hyun Park, Principal Designer of the UX design. “As a UX designer, it’s rewarding to design for the product itself. It’s also very meaningful to be able to create tools that encourage other designers in different fields to create their own designs.”

On March 11, Samsung hosted a workshop at the California College of Arts, UCLA, focusing on watch face design using the Gear Watch Designer. Around 30 design students participated in the event, creating their own unique watch faces using the program.

Design students at the California College of Arts, UCLA participate in a Gear Watch Designer workshop.

The team will also showcase the program’s various functions at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC), to be held from April 26 to 28 in San Francisco, California.

The Gear Watch Designer team (from left to right): Senior Designer Young Jae Min, Principle Designer Sang Hyun Park, Senior Engineers Moo Chang Kim and Hyung Jo Yoon and Engineer Sang Min Jung.

“At Samsung, we listen to consumers and engineer products that deliver on those needs. From the rotating bezel to the range of apps, we give consumers the ability to personalize their devices and use them in ways that work best for their lifestyle,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.

Popular Gear S2 applications include:

• Unique, Stylish Watch Faces: From artists Jean-Michael, Jeremyville to Burton Morris, new designs announced this year from artists Jean-Michael, Jeremyville and Burton Morris will give users even more options to customize the Gear S2 to fit their style. These new watch faces will join already popular choices like the Snoopy design, available in multiple styles, and the Art Collaborated Watch Face series inspired by the American artist and social activist Keith Haring.

• On-the-Go Convenience: Whether on the ground or in the air, consumers can experience a convenient way to travel, without having to worry about the logistics of transportation. With the Uber app, users can schedule a ride from their location, expect reliable pick-up and pay without reaching for their wallet. With Iberia and KLM, travelers can easily check the flight information, check-in, and access the boarding for a quick scan-and-go.

• Fitness: Dedicated applications on Gear S2 make it easy for users to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With its built-in sensors and voice guide, the S-Health feature helps users achieve health and fitness targets. And for golf fans – from beginner to pro – Golf Navi, free on Gear S2, manages everything from measuring the distance to the hole and keeping score; the app can even locate the nearest golf course.

• Get in the Game: For a fun break any time of day, Bubble Bash is a popular game that takes advantage of the rotating bezel on the Gear S2 letting users burst bubbles and take a gaming break no matter their location.

Samsung Gear S2 and applications reflect Samsung’s commitment to collaborate with developers and partners to broaden the wearable ecosystem to give users more personal and smart wearable experiences.

When Samsung developed the Gear S2, the company immediately knew Uber would be a perfect fit for the revolutionary smartwatch. With a circular interface, 3G connectivity (available on certain models) and straightforward navigation, the device was designed to simplify day-to-day tasks like getting around, whether commuting to work or traveling around New York. Utilizing Uber’s application programming interface, the Gear S2 now makes it easier to do all these things, even in those instances when your phone is out of reach.

An Easier Way to Travel

New York City is a sight to behold during the holidays. Snow blankets the busy streets of Manhattan, crowds gawk at the spectacular window displays along Fifth Avenue and skaters glide across the ice under the glowing lights of the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Traversing this urban jungle, however, isn’t always as appealing. Public transportation can be confusing, and competing with throngs of tourists to hail a cab is chaotic to say the least. Which is why Uber, an application that seamlessly connects riders to drivers, has become favorited among business travelers and tourists alike.

Though traditionally used on smartphones, the app has recently been updated to re-create the Uber experience on the Gear S2, making traveling even more convenient. Within the app, all the core Uber features are supported, including product selection, ride status updates and the ability to drag and drop pin locations. As such, through this new Uber experience, users can save time and stay moving.

Taking a Spin Around New York with the Gear S2

So, if you’ve just wrapped up dinner in SoHo and want to take in a spectacular night view of the city at the Empire State Building, simply turn the rotating bezel of the Gear S2 to access the Uber application. You can effortlessly set your pickup point from the app’s intuitive user interface. Next, request your preferred level of service, ranging from the basic UberX to UberBLACK, the company’s pricier luxury service.

Once you confirm the driver, the app will pull up a map with which you can quickly determine the vehicle’s estimated time of arrival. Review the driver and car information with a simple twist of the bezel, or cancel your request if necessary. After arriving at your destination, check the driver’s rate and total fare of your ride right from your wrist. Before you know it, you’re 102 floors above The City That Never Sleeps, relaxed from a convenient and hassle-free journey.

Being able to request an Uber vehicle, receive trip updates and complete your ride without ever having to ever touch your phone also means you can use your hands for more important things, like snapping photos of Times Square or chowing down on the city’s famous pizza. Likewise, its convenience and speed ensure that you get to see as much of your travel destination as possible.

With an updated design and hardware, Samsung and Uber have brought a popular experience to the Gear S2, making travel easier and bringing people and their cities even closer.

* The services listed above may not be available in all regions and features may vary by region, and service provider may change the name and/or value of its application at any time. Restrictions may also apply.

December is half over and New Year’s Day is just around the corner. Getting into the holiday spirit of “in with the new,” Samsung launched a new out of home (OOH) advertising campaign. Seasonal signage, interactive billboards, metro station takeovers and pop-up stores celebrate the new wearable and the new year to come.

As part of the festivities, Samsung is releasing a wide range of holiday-themed watch faces, including winter landscapes, snowflakes, snowmen and snow globes. There are even faces that look like Christmas sweaters, Christmas trees and more. And as usual with the Gear S2, you can customize the faces, and try out a variety of colors and looks.

In addition, the festive Gear S2 greetings, showcasing the special watch faces for both the Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic, are surfacing all over Europe and Asia. A coffee shop on Seoul’s popular Garasugil Street, in the famous Gangnam district, is operating a fanciful Gear S2 pop-up store until the end of the month, full of holiday cheer. It features such attention-getters as an entrance decorated like a giant present, a large LED installation depicting the Gear S2 and a Christmas tree full of watch-face ornaments. There is also an experience zone on the first floor for visitors to try the Gear S2.

Take a look at some of the colorful ways that the Gear S2 is appearing around the world this holiday season.

A coffee shop in Seoul.

Gear S2 on the wall of one of the world’s top museums, the Natural History Museum in Paris.

Gear S2 covered the Central Building wall in the heart of Central, Hong Kong.

Gear S2 at the center of Italian fashion, Via Montenapoleone, where luxury brands and products are showcased in Milan.

Gear S2 filled the walls of the BFI IMAX cinema in London.

Marble Arch in London.

Central House of Artist in Moscow.

Samsung Electronics will once again demonstrate how technology can transform the human experience through a live virtual reality broadcast of alternative rock band The Gift’s highly anticipated concert on Saturday, December 19 at 10 p.m. in Lisbon, Portugal.

The concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Gift will take place at the MEO Arena and will be the first direct transmission in Portugal of a musical performance in virtual reality. Utilizing two cameras, the transmission will give the viewer the option of watching the show from the front row, or from the stage alongside the band.

To watch the concert in virtual reality from anywhere in the world, viewers will need the Samsung Gear VR headset, a compatible smartphone and the IM360 VR App, which can be downloaded from the Oculus Store. Alternatively, the concert can be viewed at various Samsung Experience Store locations throughout Portugal.

The Gift was formed in 1994 and is made up of Sónia Tavares, brothers John and Nuno Gonçalves, and Miguel Ribeiro. The band has released five albums of Portuguese and English songs over the past 20 years, which were well received in their native country, as well as throughout Europe. They were also recipients of the MTV Europe Award for Best Portuguese Act in 2005.

Thanks to the latest technological developments, and more affordable devices such as Samsung’s Gear VR, virtual reality has become more accessible. Leveraging this, Samsung recently set out to use this increasingly evolving media platform to connect sports fans around the world to their favorite athletes in a way like never before in Portugal.

On September 20, the soccer match between Portuguese teams FC Porto and S.L. Benfica was broadcast to the world in virtual reality using a multi-camera system which featured 360-degree cameras placed on the pitch and in the bleachers. In October, surfing fans from around the globe had the opportunity to be transported to Portugal’s Supertubos Beach to get an up-close view of the Moche Rip Curl Pro. Now, Samsung is expanding its virtual reality efforts to music.

In September, a smartwatch boasting this powerful shape was unveiled at IFA—a design drastically different from the rectangular styles that preceded it. The mesmerizing Gear S2 immediately set itself apart by boasting a more traditionally analog design. Likewise, the concept of the circle was also applied to the Gear VR, another device by Samsung Electronics. The virtual reality headset allows users to watch digital content in 3D with a 360-degree view—an entirely new experience for most.

Yet, it’s not just tech fans that have fallen for the charms of these circle-centric products. They have made their way into the fashion, sports and entertainment industries throughout the world.

In Vogue

On November 28, Samsung held a fashion show in collaboration with BALR., a Netherlands-based fashion brand founded by three professional soccer players. BALR. produces clothing and accessories based on the concepts of simplicity, luxury and comfort. With over 700,000 Instagram fans, the brand is constantly growing in popularity, especially among millennials.

Working hand-in-hand with Samsung, the brand showcased the Gear S2 with the unique styles of BALR. at the show.

https://youtu.be/rxwqli1Qb7w

“The union of the Gear S2 and BALR. illustrates the future of fashion and technology. Going forward, we will continue to feature technology unique to Samsung by merging IT devices with fashion.” said Menno van den Berg, Managing Director at Samsung Electronics Benelux B.V.

Gear S2 Goes Global with Circular Experience Zones

With a unique circular design, Gear S2 experience zones have sprung up in a total of 17 countries across the world. At these interactive locales, which have been established in cities such as New York, Dubai, London and San Paolo, visitors have the opportunity to try out the Gear S2 and Gear VR devices that are showcased on circular tables.

Virtually Courtside

In early October, Samsung hosted “Balls Don’t Lie” in Milan, Italy. At the event, basketball fans donned Level headphones as they watched their favorite NBA teams bring the action of the courts to Samsung’s SUHD TVs in real time.

The highlight of the event, however, was the Gear VR experience, which allowed attendees to get courtside access to the big game.

Luca Rossi, a sports enthusiast who tried out Samsung’s Gear VR first-hand stated, “I just wanted to watch the game since I love basketball, but I felt like I was actually playing the game. It was so vivid that I can’t explain. It was so real that I could turn around in a circle and see the entire venue, just as if I were really there.”

Hang Ten

Just about every surfing aficionado around the world has heard of Portugal’s Supertubos Beach, which made it the perfect location for a 4D surfing experience.

At the Moche Rip Curl Pro in October, participants were able to slip into Gear VR headsets and hop on surf boards.

“I can’t believe Samsung makes such a fun device!” exclaimed Pedro Guedes, an impressed participant, as he took off the headset. “I feel as if I just came back from surfing!”

Frederico Paiva of Samsung Electronics Portugal explained, “People will begin to see our products associated with sports more often in the future. We plan to carry out unprecedented marketing activities in an effort to bring consumers closer to Samsung.”

The Charm of the Circle

Moving away from the rectangular shape which has been so prevalent in technology in the past, the Gear S2 and Gear VR highlight the charm of the circle. These products promise satisfaction to consumers, not only in design but also functionality.

Created to display information in a circular design, the Gear S2 is appealing to the eye. The product is not only revolutionary in shape, but the functionality upgrade of the Gear S2—which is easily connected to other Android devices—has taken the world by storm. Similarly, the Gear VR, which places the user at the center of attention, is a product that is taking the mobile experience to the next level.

Both products beautifully demonstrate the power of the world’s most captivating shape and how it has inspired Samsung to lead the way in technological innovation across multiple industries and lifestyles.

“Samsung has actively adapted its approach to wearable device development as the leader of the rapidly developing category,” said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics. “Through thoughtful and progressive innovation, Samsung embraces open collaboration to enrich the application ecosystem and create unique user experiences for a smart, mobile life.”

To join the program, developers must register at the Samsung Developer’s website and become a member of the community. Once the application is submitted with the terms and conditions agreed, it will be sent to Samsung and the applicant will be notified through email of verification status along with the SDK technical resources. The developers will be among the first to get an up-close look into the SDK, and start to build Gear apps with Samsung.

For more information, visit http://developer.samsung.com/wearable.