Getting Smart around the Home

One of Samsung’s major smart products is the Family Hub 2.0 refrigerator, which launched earlier this year. It uses voice recognition to provide an intuitive way for users to not just connect with their kitchen, but also the world around them. Say, “Can you purchase cheese?” and the refrigerator asks you, “Which product? Please tell me the number.” as it shows an app screen that lets you order food directly from the screen. You can play music or find out what the weather is like as you communicate with the smart refrigerator. It even gives you ideas if you need recipe inspiration.

Next, there is QuickDrive, an intelligent washing machine that was showcased during IFA 2017. It includes an AI-powered laundry assistant called Q-rator, which suggests the best cycle for your laundry based on information you input. Tell it what type of garments you want to wash, how dirty they are and what color they are and it will do the rest. It also lets you set the time for when the loads will be done, meaning your washing will be ready at a time that’s convenient for you. Plus, the system monitors the machine remotely and alerts you if it’s having any issues.

Last but not least, there is POWERbot, Samsung’s smart robot vacuum cleaner that received a 2017 CES Innovation Award. It uses a full suite of sensors to map your space, remember where it’s cleaned, and detect and work around any obstacles in its way, while automatically adjusting its suction power on different surfaces.

Samsung, the Leading Player in the Smart Appliances Era 

The Family Hub sits at the core, serving as the nerve center of a broader connected ecosystem in the home. Each connected home appliance can be configured to reflect the unique preferences for every household. It is a true smart evolution that brings a meaningful experience to users. What’s more, Samsung’s hardware analyzes user information more effectively than ever, and that is what makes Samsung a company with true innovative competitiveness.

The company recently announced its plan to apply Samsung Connect to its various home appliances at IFA 2017. Samsung Connect is a connectivity platform capable of connecting and controlling IoT devices regardless of their operating system. When the smart functions of Samsung’s home appliances are connected through Samsung Connect, users will be able to enjoy a smart lifestyle.

As more and more intelligence is interwoven into new products and technology, Samsung Smart appliances will evolve IoT and deep learning technology, creating a great deal of synergy. It won’t be long until home appliance products use their IQ to provide users more convenience and more time to do the things they enjoy.

The washer’s performance is made possible by its unique Q-Drum^TM , which consists of a ‘main drum’ and a ‘back plate’ that rotate independently, in the same or opposite direction, ensuring clothes move dynamically around the drum in multiple directions to provide a safe yet thorough wash.

See, in the video below, how Samsung’s QuickDrive^TM technology saves consumers time without compromising washing performance, energy efficiency, fabric care and durability.

*Tested on WW8800M compared with Samsung WW8500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) and eCotton cycle with washing performance within ±2%. Saves 20% energy on Cotton (40℃, half load) and Super Speed cycle (40℃, 5kg load), based on Intertek data.

– Product : Quick Drive(WW8800M), Conventional of Samsung(WW8500K)
– Setting : Cotton 40℃ course / 1 Cycle
– Clothes Type & Weight : 5kg of cotton clothes included 5 artificial soiled fabrics
– Standard Washing Machine(Wascator FOM 71CLS) based on IEC/EN 60456 standard
– Artificial Soiled Fabrics : EMPA 108(IEC/EN 60456 strips)
*From left “Aged wine, Cocoa/milk, Blood, Carbon black/mineral oil, Sebum”
– Danish Mechanical Action Swatch(5 hole MA) based on AHAM Standard
– There may be differences in actual use, based on Samsung test data.

The household appliances and products featured in Samsung’s booth combine state-of-the-art technologies, which simplify everything from preparing meals to communicating with family, with elegant designs that seamlessly enhance their surroundings’ aesthetics.

The result is a lineup of innovations whose performance and versatility are truly reflective of families’ needs.

Catered to European Tastes

The booth’s Social Kitchen showcases contemporary kitchen suites assembled with the help of acclaimed European kitchen specialists.

These include suites designed by Nolte, a premium kitchen brand that has been rated Germany’s most popular for two years running*; Marbodal, a Northern European brand of the Nobia Group that is known for functional and stylish designs; and Veneta Cucine, Italy’s largest kitchen manufacturer, which utilizes premium materials and the latest technologies to create thoroughly modern and beautiful kitchens.

The suites have been designed with a focus on performance and luxury, and feature some of Samsung’s latest ovens, cooktops, hoods, dishwashers and refrigerators. Nolte and Marbodal’s suites also feature Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, an IoT-connected kitchen control center that allows families to streamline everything from meals and food management, to entertainment and communication.

In addition, in a particularly tasty demonstration of Samsung’s appliances’ ability to modernize consumers’ kitchens, early on at IFA 2017, Nolte’s suite served as the setting for a special Club des Chefs cooking show, in which Michelin-starred members of Samsung’s culinary club whipped up world-class cuisine for attendees.

Exploring New Ways to Enhance Consumers’ Lifestyles

The booth’s Lifestyle Zone showcases Samsung innovations that allow families to transform their TV into the centerpiece of their living room.

Samsung’s latest lifestyle TV, The Frame, resembles a true work of art. The TV features an elegant frame design as well as a dedicated Art Mode that allows it to display photos and true-to-life renditions of paintings when powered off.

The Frame Gallery showcases the display’s ability to introduce more beauty into consumers’ lives, and invites guests to view impeccable digital depictions of artworks curated from museums around the world, including Spain’s Prado Museum, the U.K.’s Saatchi Gallery, and Germany’s Lumas Gallery.

The contents of the gallery span ten categories, and include a total of 100 stunning works from 37 renowned artists – all of which are available for users to access and enjoy via The Frame’s Samsung Collection feature. Samsung also plans to expand the library of artworks available in The Frame’s Art Store from over 450 to over a thousand.

By curating a world-class collection, and allowing users to exhibit their own photos and images through the TV’s My Collection feature, Samsung is making it easier for consumers to enhance their homes with exceptional art.

The Lifestyle Zone also highlights exciting customizations for Samsung’s latest TVs, including The Frame and QLED TV. Among them are the five finalists of the QLED TV stand design competition, which Samsung organized with leading design and architectural magazine Dezeen.

Exhibited to their left are unique customization options for The Frame that have been crafted by acclaimed Dutch design duo Scholten & Baijings, as well as French designer Inga Sempé.

The former’s art and bezel design is distinguished by its striking use of minimalist lines. The latter’s is a dynamic and colorful blend of flowing lines that evokes liveliness and movement. Some may liken its aesthetic to a breeze blowing through a field. However, like many works of art, interpretations vary depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Check out Samsung’s complete range of lifestyle-focused innovations in the photos below.

Samsung’s Social Kitchen area showcases contemporary kitchen suites assembled with the help of acclaimed European kitchen specialists such as Nolte, whose design is pictured here.

Earlier at IFA, Michelin-starred members of Samsung’s Club des Chefs used Nolte’s suite (pictured here) to whip up world-class cuisine in a special cooking show.

Marbodal’s understated suite features a full range of Samsung innovations, including the Family Hub refrigerator.

Guests examine the fine craftsmanship exhibited in Veneta Cucine’s kitchen suite.

Samsung’s Induction Cooktops project a virtual flame around pots and pans that creates an intuitive way to keep tabs on heat.

Guests explore the range of convenient features that allow Samsung’s latest Family Hub refrigerators to serve as control centers for modern, connected homes.

Samsung’s latest lifestyle TV, The Frame, is available in 43-, 55- and 65-inch models, and features an elegant design and a dedicated Art Mode that allows it to display paintings and photos when powered off.

The Frame Gallery invites guests to view impeccable digital depictions of artworks curated from museums around the world, including Spain’s Prado Museum, the U.K.’s Saatchi Gallery, and Germany’s Lumas Gallery.

Samsung collaborated with Dutch design duo Scholten & Baijings to present a custom art and bezel aesthetic for The Frame that features colorful, minimalist block and grid patterns.

French designer Inga Sempé’s art and bezel design is a colorful blend of flowing lines that evokes movement and liveliness.

Guests examine the winning entries from the QLED TV stand design competition.

*Based on surveys conducted by the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) at the behest of German news channel n-tv.

Audiophiles from every generation rely on HARMAN to produce the best in sound in the studio, on the stage, at home and on the move. Now, working in partnership with Samsung, HARMAN has its sights set on new levels of innovation and connectivity.

At IFA 2017, HARMAN showcased its audio products as the part of the Samsung booth in addition to its own exhibition, and generated a buzz around this exciting new tandem. Among the products on show were high-end headphones, Bluetooth headphones, and portable speakers. Newsroom sat down with HARMAN CEO Dinesh Paliwal to discuss what Samsung and HARMAN have done together already and how he foresees the synergy of both companies in the future.

Q. Samsung’s IFA 2017 booth includes flagship AKG products, as well as products designed to seamlessly sync with Galaxy devices. Could you tell us what it means to have HARMAN’s latest innovations featured in Samsung’s showcase?

It is exciting to witness our combined journey as a global connected technologies powerhouse. Collaboration between Samsung’s Galaxy S8, Tab S3 and Galaxy Note 8 and  HARMAN’s AKG products, which have been recognized for their design and innovation – N60 is a winner of Red Dot Award 2017 and N90Q received EISA Award, CES Innovation Award 2016 and iF Design Award 2016, among others – is a good indicator of what we can achieve together in the future. Samsung’s support allows HARMAN and our brands to attain vast visibility and reach at an incredible pace.

Q. What strengths do you believe the two respective companies – HARMAN and Samsung – bring to the table, and why do they work so well together?

We believe Samsung’s global scale, R&D capabilities, and distribution channels along with HARMAN’s deep technical and engineering expertise, particularly in automotive, audio and enterprise solutions, create the most comprehensive connected technologies company. We are connected with Samsung in our shared vision and culture of speed, innovation and technology.

Q. What aspect of working with Samsung has impressed you the most?

Samsung is truly one of the most innovative and admired companies in the world. Their innovation and technology leadership can deeply benefit HARMAN’s global customer base, and provide HARMAN with the scale, platform and complementary technologies to propel us to the next phase. We are very proud to see Samsung stores in Korea selling HARMAN products, and excited to see our distribution channel expand so quickly. This is just part of what we think defines a true end-to-end partnership.

Q. At this year’s IFA, Samsung has outlined its desire to be a lifestyle brand that changes people’s daily lives. Could you elaborate on how this goal aligns with HARMAN’s?

HARMAN and Samsung are aligned in our goals to drive and elevate the connected lifestyle. At HARMAN, our JBL brand is the market leader in portable speakers. In the world of headphones, everything is moving towards wireless and we were among the first to cut the cord. In our efforts to keep up with the trend, at this year’s IFA we launched a number of new JBL products, including an EISA Award winner JBL Boombox, all-new JBL BAR series, JBL E65BTNC, JBL Free, JBL Jr, and JBL Reflect Fit. Our passion and purpose is to create smart products and solutions that connect and entertain people wherever they are. Our joint vision is to create a world where connected technologies offer people richer and more fulfilling life experiences, and this is really the shared essence of our partnership.

Q. In your opinion, what are some of the ways that advancements in IoT, AI and cloud computing will impact consumer audio technologies’ evolution?

Audio, voice and sound management are critical components of the connected world. Smart audio that is integrated in a seamless, secure and simple way is essential. At HARMAN, we’re leveraging cutting-edge AI and IoT technologies to develop world-class, voice-enabled smart solutions for the home, in the car, at the office and everywhere in between. And this is just the beginning, we envision that advances across the cloud, mobility and analytics will positively connect ecosystems.

Q. How do you foresee the near future? How are HARMAN and Samsung working to shape that future?

HARMAN and Samsung’s union will help us to expand R&D and fast-track innovation in both the near- and long-term. Our combined resources provide the scale, capabilities and networks to expand our leadership in today and tomorrow’s connected lifestyle, and across sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and enterprise, among others.

Q. Could you give us a taste of the types of audio innovations consumers can expect to see in some of Samsung’s upcoming TVs, mobile phones and appliances?

With the voice-controlled device market to cross $7 billion by 2024, we believe intelligent assistants will shape custom, connected experiences across environments, regardless of the device or platform. Today, HARMAN leads the race in voice-enabled technologies with Personal Digital Assistant solutions for every platform, ecosystem and consumer need. With Samsung, we will have access to resources that will enable us to exceed our expectations across all consumer device segments. In Display, we have already seen the power of immersive audio paired with Samsung’s unrivaled LED screens at the Lotte Cinema in Korea. Imagine that combination in theaters around the world!

“All Samsung Electronics products will be connected and form an IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystem with external partners. We will lead the hyper connectivity of the future,” said BK Yoon, CEO of the Consumer Electronics (CE) Business at Samsung Electronics at a press meeting at IFA 2017.

Samsung Electronics is one of the few global companies that covers everything from IT and home appliances to integral abilities and components including an IoT platform, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), voice recognition, wireless communication, semi-conductor chips, sensors and security solutions. The company also offers the best B2B solutions for vehicles, communication, electricity, distribution, content and other areas of interest to the company’s global partners.

CEO Yoon revealed his business vision and said “Samsung will draw out synergies from all product lines. By connecting them to the external IoT ecosystem, we will be able to provide added value to the customers along with enhancements to their everyday life experiences.”

The company’s plan is to first connect all Samsung products by 2020. The products will be connected based on Samsung Connect, a cloud computing based integral platform and application, and also controlled by it. The smartphone intelligent interface Bixby will allow easy control over IoT services. In order to increase the synergy effects from the company, Samsung is currently running an IoT committee in which each department is participating. Furthermore, a task force team is in operation to provide comprehensive IoT and AI services.

Samsung also leads the establishment and spread of IoT standards as a board member of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), the biggest IoT standardization group in the world. The company plans to work collaboratively with Google Home, Alexa and other services through the open platform strategy. At the same time, the company will enhance external IoT product connectivity using its own SmartThings platform with great scalability. Additionally, Samsung is going to reveal its IoT-related cloud computing source code to expand the ecosystem at the Samsung Developers Conference (SDC) in San Francisco, U.S. in October.

“An easy to use IoT service for everyone is impossible without cooperation between businesses,” Yoon emphasized. “By making open cooperation between Harman, SmartThings and internal groups with external IoT businesses, we will realize a user-oriented IoT service at home, in the office, in vehicles and other areas.”

Samsung continues its efforts to suggest a “New Normal” to consumers in their everyday lives by developing unprecedented products in its CE business. The company is drawing attention with brilliant new products at IFA 2017 such as The Frame Lifestyle TV, which includes the Art Store that offers art pieces to display in its picture frame mode. The QuickDrive^TM washing machine is also breaking new ground by reducing the washing time by half* with no compromise on washing performance.

“IoT and B2B will be our main focus of investment to continue innovation in the CE business,” Yoon commented. “We will enter the North American built-in home appliances market as one of the top-tier companies in three years by building the best lineup with Dacor who we acquired last year,” he added.

*Tested on WW8800M compared with Samsung WW8500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) and eCotton cycle with washing performance within ± 2%. Saves 20% energy on Cotton (40℃, half load) and Super Speed cycle (40℃, 5kg load), based on Intertek data.

One thing, however, has always remained the same and helped the trade show grow, and that’s this: Each year at IFA, electronics manufacturers present their latest consumer innovations, attracting attention from all over the world.

Samsung has presented its technical innovations in Berlin since 1991, and is one of the most prominent exhibitors at IFA today.

‘The Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition’

“Dear present and absent ones. When you listen to the radio, also spare a thought for how humanity obtained this wonderful instrument. The wellspring of all technical achievement is the divine curiosity, the ludic drive of the tinkering and pondering researcher, and no less the constructive imagination of the technical inventor.”¹

These were the words with which one of IFA’s most famous guests, Albert Einstein, opened the “Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition” – as IFA was originally known – in Berlin in 1930. The radio – the latest and, arguably, most important technical achievement in mass communications at that time – was the star of the show, and Einstein himself presented the exciting new technology to event attendees.

(Left) Albert Einstein opens the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930; (Right) Einstein explains the potential of the still-young communications medium to attendees. Source: Messe Berlin

Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Stuttgart

The first IFA trade show took place in December of 1924. The inaugural event gathered a total of 242 exhibitors, who fascinated crowds with their latest technological innovations for a total of twelve days.

The trade show was held each year until 1939, when the outbreak of WWII and the subsequent reconstruction forced it into hiatus. IFA made its return in Düsseldorf in 1950 and, on its 20^th anniversary, in 1957, moved to Frankfurt and added “television” to its title. Reconstruction operations in Germany would lead IFA to shift its location from Frankfurt to Stuttgart and then Berlin, only to return to Düsseldorf in the end.

Since 1971, the trade show has taken place exclusively in Berlin, under the official name of “Internationale Funkausstellung” – hence “IFA”. gfu, a corporation that promotes the advancement of consumer electronics, came onboard two years later, and has been organizing IFA² ever since.

The innovation cycles of many products have grown shorter and shorter over the years, and eventually, in 2005, IFA became an annual event.

Queues at the opening of IFA in 1973. Source: Messe Berlin.

Samsung – an Innovation Driver and Major Attraction

Samsung has been a fixture at IFA ever since it first exhibited at the trade show in 1991³. During that IFA, 26 years ago, Samsung presented screens and televisions in a 660-square-meter space.

2003 marked an important juncture in Samsung’s relationship with IFA. A move to Hall 20 meant that a substantially larger exhibition space would be available, turning Samsung into one of the show’s major exhibitors.

With keynote speeches in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2014, Samsung strengthened its position as a global brand, establishing ground-breaking technologies and setting future trends. In 2008, for example, Park Jong-Woo, the then-President of Samsung Electronics Digital Media, predicted that the entertainment industry would take a gigantic leap forward by seamlessly networking a variety of devices. Nowadays, smartphones and tablets easily hook up to users’ TVs and Bluetooth speakers, and even some fridges and washing machines can be controlled on the go.

(Clockwise from top left) Samsung’s IFA booths in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Samsung has been one of IFA’s largest exhibitors since 2003.

2014: Samsung Becomes IFA’s Largest Exhibitor

2014 saw the opening of CityCube Berlin, which IFA’s host venue, Messe Berlin, invested over 83 million euros to build. Samsung moved into the three-story cube – which, along with featuring the largest product-exhibition space (approx. 6,000 m²), also houses several rooms (approx. 2,500 m²) for presentations and sales meetings – as soon as it was completed. The location has been used exclusively by Samsung at IFA ever since.

More exhibition space also opens up new possibilities. Samsung’s individual product divisions were previously presented spread across several halls, but the move to CityCube Berlin meant that they could be showcased under one roof. Today, Samsung has become IFA’s largest exhibitor, with 8,700 square meters of hall space.

In 2016, Samsung impressed IFA attendees with this TV installation at the heart of CityCube Berlin.

Picture quality remains one of the most important focuses for TVs, and is one of the hottest attractions for the trade show. Over the last eight years, the TV industry has mastered the leap from HD to Full HD to UHD resolution – each of which has been successfully established in the mass market.

IFA has also served as a popular showcase for introducing new product categories in other areas. In 2010, Samsung presented its first tablet to the world with the Galaxy Tab. One year later, the Galaxy Note marked the beginning of large-screen premium smartphones, or ‘phablets’. Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, was introduced in 2013, laying the foundation for Samsung’s smartwatch portfolio. And in 2014, the Galaxy ecosystem was further expanded with the Gear S and Gear VR.

This year, too, visitors to Samsung’s IFA booth are treated to a great many innovations and technical highlights, such as QLED TV, The Frame, the QuickDrive washing machine, Family Hub refrigerator, mobile devices, portable SSDs and more.

For more information on Samsung’s presence at IFA 2017, visit: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-shapes-lifes-new-normal-at-ifa-2017

¹Extracted from a recording of Albert Einstein’s opening speech at the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930. Source: http://landesarchiv-berlin.de/

²With the exception of 1985, 1987 and 1989.

³Samsung did not attend IFA in 2004.

“This year, UHD became the most decisive factor for television purchases for the very first time, according to gfu¹. And yet for Samsung, better television is not just about brilliant picture quality, but a better TV experience in every respect.

“With QLED, we have introduced a TV category that convinces thanks to Quantum dot technology, UHD, HDR, and a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits. And where ease of use is concerned, Samsung sets standards with the Smart Hub and Premium Smart remote. Viewers can access any content they want in just three clicks – even from external players. QLED TVs are literally more beautiful televisions, with their clever wall mounts, cable solutions and stands.

“With The Frame, we are transforming the television into a canvas for digital art. The designer TV combines interior design with current smart TV technology, and evokes the aesthetic reserve of a picture frame.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Clear User Menus – The Comprehensive Samsung Interface

“Technology is meant to make life easier. But while the capabilities of smartphones, PCs, refrigerators and washing machines continue to increase in the Internet of Things era, their operation is also becoming ever more complex.

“With Samsung, the technology adapts to the person, and not the other way around. To simplify the daily lives of consumers and enterprises, we carry out trend studies on consumer behaviors and apply the findings when developing the next smartphones, televisions and home appliances.

“We are thus continuously improving how users interact with our products – be it via gesture, touch, gaze or voice. The result is an all-embracing design language for Samsung’s Smart TVs, the Smart View app, smartphones, tablets, our Family Hub 2.0 refrigerators, and many other appliances.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Perfect Sound to Match the Picture – Samsung Soundbars Bring Cinema Sound to the Living Room

“Connectivity and immersive listening are the big audio trends of 2017. This because a successful home cinema experience not only calls for a brilliant picture, but also luscious sound.

“Samsung’s QLED TVs revolutionize picture quality with UHD and HDR. MPEG-H stands for a new sound experience. The new technology permits every audio track to be individually modified and purposefully adjusted in live broadcasts.

“Easy and fast access to music from anywhere in the house is also becoming ever more important for consumers. Two thirds of German consumers, for example, desire clean TV setups² – a clear rejection of complex 7.1 systems and loudspeaker cables.

“With the HW-MS750 Flat Soundbar Sound+, Samsung has already combined a soundbar and subwoofer in a single slim soundbar casing – without any additional speakers or external cables. The Samsung HW-MS950 soundbar, powered by Dolby Atmos, makes sound even more flexible while placing the viewer at the center of the sound experience. The sound can be precisely moved and placed in three-dimensional space, also above the viewer’s head. Dolby Atmos makes home cinema entertainment come alive, and turns it into an intense and emotional experience with a clear and profoundly detailed soundscape.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Untethered Music – The Galaxy S8 with UHQ Audio

“Music is also enjoyed on the go these days. Be it in the fitness studio, on the train, in the kitchen or garden – users always have their soundtrack with them, on their smartphone or streamed from the web. “With its Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio technology, Samsung takes music enjoyment to a new level. It also enables high-quality sound on the road and supports digital recording at up to 32 bit/384 kHz. The audio files are not compressed, and can even be extrapolated.

“This way, music lovers can enjoy the entire sound spectrum of music sources in CD quality – or even higher, for example, with FLAC files or high-quality streaming. The technology is deployed in Bluetooth speakers, high-quality AKG headphones, ultra-light headsets, and even smartphones – the Galaxy S8 and S8+.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

UHD and HDR – QLED TV Creates a Visual Experience That’s Ready for the Big Screen

“UHD is conquering the mass market, as more and more consumers have become captivated by the ultra-realistic visual experiences enabled by UHD and HDR. High resolution is the most decisive factor for television buyers today³.

“A still larger leap is provided by HDR technology, helping today’s televisions achieve pictures that are extremely rich in contrast. The expanded color space becomes even more apparent in a direct comparison. Thanks to its unique suitability for HDR10 content, Samsung’s QLED technology represents the TV experience of the future.

“What’s especially impressive is the brightness of the Quantum dot displays. QLED TVs are extremely bright, with peak values of up to 2,000 nits, and offer the user intensively radiant, lifelike colors even in bright daylight. In doing so, QLED TVs follow the standards for digital cinema, and are able to cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 cinema color space. That is a decisive point for consumers, as HDR will change the TV experience forever. It is thus not without reason that we are talking about a new product category when referring to QLED TV.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Virtual Reality – Gear VR Makes the New Media Age Accessible for All

“Virtual reality and 360-degree video have introduced a completely new media experience to the mass market, and Samsung is a pioneer in these areas. Take social VR, for example. The technology is tangibly affecting our behavior on social networks. Today, we take our followers along in 360 degrees when we go to a concert or climb a mountain. They can then share in the adventure live with their VR headset or on a Samsung smart TV.

“Samsung is one of the first companies to have made these fascinating new experiences broadly available to the public, with its Gear VR headsets and Gear 360 cameras, and is a pioneer for this new media age.

“We have sold over 1.1 million VR devices in Europe since 2015, and already more than 5 million worldwide. This clearly shows that the interest in this technology is huge. It will fundamentally change the way we tell and experience visual stories.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Benefitting Your Health – A Fitter Lifestyle with Samsung Gear

“Fitness wearables have become the norm in the shortest space of time, providing a perfect example of how quickly technologies can transform our lives. This is exactly what our motto for this year’s IFA expresses: “the new normal”. We have long since stopped talking about the measurement of the self instead of a new relationship with our body.

“Wearables change our awareness for a healthy life through their ability to monitor the wearer’s fitness activities, and optimize their efforts with the help of apps.

Samsung has been actively working to shape this trend for five years now with new innovations such as our Samsung Gear smartwatches. We will be experiencing this kind of rapid societal development brought on by technologies more often in the future, as trends spread with ever greater speed these days, not least of all thanks to social media.”

Alexander Zeeh, Director Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Networking in the Household – The Family Hub 2.0 Refrigerator as a Family Manager

“The market for household appliances is growing, and we see ourselves in a very good position to benefit from this growth. Samsung is banking on brilliant, dependable innovations that let us make household chores easier for our customers, and often help them reclaim some time. The industry-wide trend towards connected home appliances has an important part to play in this. We always take a close look at what people need in their day-to-day life, and develop products that meet their needs.

“With Family Hub, a smart refrigerator with an integrated LCD display, we have pooled our know-how in screen technologies, networking, and ease of use in the area of cooling to turn the kitchen into a modern communication center with the fridge as family manager. This is where food is organized, messages are exchanged, and schedules are compared.

“The fridge’s next generation, Family Hub 2.0, caters to the needs of every family member even more individually. Using personal user profiles, the entire family can now also exchange to-do lists or send messages to the refrigerator display on the go.

“The Smart Home App can also be used to control other compatible household appliances, such as a washing machine for example, by way of the user’s smartphone or the refrigerator screen.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

¹ gfu, Motive, Einstellungen und Kaufkriterien. Konsumtrends der Consumer und Home Electronics, May 2017.

² Data collected at the behest of Samsung by Kantar TNS in an online multi-subject survey based on the iBus method. This involved surveying 1,017 Germans aged 16 to 64 from June 1 to 4, 2017.

³ gfu, Motive, Einstellungen und Kaufkriterien. Konsumtrends der Consumer und Home Electronics, May 2017.

This year, the company is introducing an array of innovative products including Family Hub refrigerators with more advanced voice capabilities, and a Samsung Connect app that’s capable of seamlessly products integration across the cloud.

Before we dig into those innovations in detail, check out this video to gain a glimpse of how Samsung is bringing IoT connectivity to more home appliances.

New Smart Home Innovations

Samsung has introduced advanced voice capabilities to Family Hub that allow users to talk to the smart refrigerators to use it, and will expand the voice functionality to European markets this year. This convenient enhancement will make it possible to carry out a wide range of tasks, from looking inside the fridge to playing music, by simply speaking to the fridge.

Samsung is also actively working to evolve Family Hub into an IoT control center, to the point where users will be able to control all of their home’s connected appliances through voice recognition. Just imagine being able to summon your robotic vacuum to clean up the kitchen or monitor your laundry cycle while you cook. The possibilities are endless.

Samsung is also helping to deliver a smart home with the Samsung Connect app, which is compatible with all devices and operating systems, and allows users to control Samsung products through the cloud. With Bixby in Samsung smartphones, it is possible to control the Samsung Connect app by voice recognition.

Samsung’s remote diagnosis service will be upgraded by linking with the Samsung Connect app. Customers will also be able to receive guidance through their smartphones to identify and solve problems with Samsung’s smart home appliances in real-time.

An Expanding External Ecosystem Based in the Cloud

Samsung is the first in the industry to receive the OCF certification for its smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators and air conditioners, and intends to expand the certification to all of its home appliances throughout the year. The OCF certification is a standard that enables compatibility between the products of member companies, strengthening connectivity so that different kinds of devices may communicate effectively with one another. In addition to Samsung, more than 390 companies have joined the OCF.

Samsung is also working with various third parties to integrate voice support for functions including Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant into smart home appliances including its refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and robot vacuums, and Google Home support in its robotic vacuums as well. As the first in the industry to apply open APIs to home appliances, Samsung plans to focus on expanding services through collaboration with various smart home companies.

Samsung will continue to contribute to creating meaningful changes in consumers’ lives and strengthening the industry’s IoT ecosystem. Stay tuned for more exciting developments ahead.

The booth features three sections – an Atelier, Gym, and Workplace – that allow visitors to get their hands on products including Samsung’s newest wearables, the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro, and the updated Gear IconX, as well as its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note8. Fun and interactive exhibits showcase how the devices’ premium functions, seamless connectivity and intuitive designs introduce new aspects of convenience that become normal to users as soon as they experience them.

See how Samsung’s latest mobile offerings deliver your new normal in the photos below.

Samsung’s latest mobile offerings may be found at the center of the company’s IFA 2017 booth.

The new Galaxy Note8 features an immersive, 6.3-inch Infinity Display, an enhanced S Pen, and a best-in-class dual camera with Optical Image Stabilization.

An interactive display in the booth’s Atelier offers a breakdown of the Galaxy Note8’s advanced features.

A large display exhibits a ‘digital gallery’ of selfies that attendees have snapped with the Galaxy Note8 and decorated with fun stickers and animated text using the device’s S Pen.

IFA attendees put the Galaxy Note8’s IP68 water and dust resistance to the test by snapping selfies and dunking the device at the Portrait Pool.

The Galaxy Note8 boasts a wide array of compatible accessories, including various covers, wireless chargers and external batteries.

Attendees get hands-on with the new Gear Sport smartwatch, which features a sleek and versatile design, including a wide range of band options, and premium health- and fitness-management functions.

Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro, a water-resistant GPS fitness band, has been enhanced through partnerships with Under Armour and Spotify, and comes preloaded with Speedo’s best-in-class swim-tracking app, Speedo On.

Samsung’s update of its cord-free Gear IconX earbuds, which allow users to stream music from their phone and also function as a standalone music player, features improved battery life and a new integrated Running Coach with a voice guide that offers real-time updates on workout progress.

The Gear Sport’s dedicated fitness zone invites attendees to test out the smartwatch’s exercise-tracking functions properly: by strapping it on to take part in fun cycling and rowing competitions.

Attendees donning Samsung’s Gear VR with Controller take part in immersive intergalactic battle in the 4D VR Theater.

The booth’s Workplace section showcases various ways that enterprises can utilize Samsung’s latest mobile innovations, including the Galaxy Note8 and Galaxy Book, to streamline how they do business.

Introduced at IFA 2017, Samsung Electronics’ QuickDrive technology was created to provide consumers with the time-saving laundry solution they’ve always wanted but never had, without compromising washing performance*, energy efficiency, fabric care and durability. The result is a laundry solution that finishes cycles in half the time of conventional washers, while providing a thorough yet gentle clean.

Because Samsung firmly believes in glocalization, in which products are optimized for consumers in different countries, the company strives to craft innovations that cater to the unique lifestyles of consumers in markets around the world.

QuickDrive is a result of these efforts, and the latest product of a line of Samsung laundry technologies that have been met with acclaim in areas such as Europe, the birthplace of the drum washing machine. Each of those previous innovations, which include AddWash and EcoBubble, has enhanced consumers’ lifestyles by resolving key pain points.

When the time came to design the technology that would ultimately become QuickDrive, Samsung surveyed consumers in markets across the globe on the factors that matter most to them when buying a washer. The results indicated that washing performance was a leading determinant, and a washer’s ability to reduce the amount of time required to finish a load of laundry was key when assessing this.

QuickDrive was designed to provide entirely new levels of washing performance. The technology boasts several convenient Samsung innovations that not only drastically speed up laundry cycles, but also make the process much simpler and more energy efficient.

In addition to a convenient form, QuickDrive boasts an array of smart features designed to enhance modern consumers’ IoT-connected lives by taking considerable hassle out of managing laundry. These functions, which are provided by an AI-powered laundry assistant called Q-rator, include Laundry Recipe, which recommends optimal wash cycles based on factors like fabric type, color and degree of dirtiness; Laundry Planner, which allows you to schedule when you’d like your wash to finish; and HomeCare Wizard, which proactively alerts you of potential issues with your washer and provides you quick and simple maintenance tips to keep your washer at optimal condition.

Samsung’s WW8800M washing machine with QuickDrive technology will debut first in Europe before expanding to markets across the globe. To learn more about the innovative washer, check out the video below.

*Based on tests comparing the WW8800M with Samsung’s WW8500K model. Saves 50 percent of time during Cotton (a half load at 40℃ ) and eCotton cycles, with washing performance within ±2 percent. Reduces energy consumption by 20 percent during Cotton (half load at 40℃) and Super Speed cycles (5kg load at 40℃), based on Intertek data.

The royalty-free HDR10+ standard promotes vibrant and vivid visuals that bring us closer than ever to true-to-life images. Samsung’s recent announcement of partnerships with Panasonic and 20^th Century Fox will expand the platform’s ecosystem of compatible technologies, eventually making such immersive visuals standard fare.

But how exactly does HDR10+ establish this new standard, and what will the technology’s advancement mean for content creators, device manufacturers, and the future of home entertainment? To answer those questions, let’s take a closer look at how Samsung optimized the platform to offer consumers a more advanced viewing experience.

HDR10+: The Next Step in HDR Technologies

It wasn’t too long ago that HDR represented the pinnacle of picture quality. HDR provided greater depth, brightness and color accuracy – whiter whites, blacker blacks, and a wider color gamut – than standard dynamic range (SDR) displays. Innovations such as Samsung’s Quantum dot technology further advanced picture quality by introducing more accurate color expression and higher brightness levels.

Since its introduction, the second major advancement in HDR technologies, HDR10, has been the standard throughout the industry. The technology is widely used and certified by the UHD Alliance – an association of Hollywood movie studios, content distributors, tech companies and device manufacturers that was formed to strengthen and grow the UHD ecosystem.

HDR10+, the latest and most advanced HDR technology, builds upon the strengths of previous HDR platforms to further enhance the viewing experience. HDR10+ better channels content’s intrinsic dynamic range (the ratio of light and darkness) to produce truer images that appear brighter and more colorful – and therefore more detailed and realistic than with conventional HDR on a wider array of displays. Whereas previous HDR10 iterations utilized static tone mapping, wherein color enhancement is uniform from scene to depicted scene, HDR10+ employs dynamic tone mapping to maximize each scene individually. The results are visuals that feature optimal colors, contrast and brightness, and create a viewing experience that allows you to see a show or film precisely as its producers intended.

Raising the Bar for UHD with an Open HDR10+ Ecosystem

Samsung’s decision to introduce HDR10+ as an open-source, royalty-free platform, which anyone may utilize to create compatible devices and content, underlines a larger commitment to raising the bar for UHD video.

The fact that HDR10+ is open and royalty-free makes the technology an attractive option for a variety of partners – from movie studios and filmmakers, to TV and device manufacturers – and will ultimately hasten its adoption as the new standard with which to create innovative digital devices and dynamic content.

In addition to incorporating support for HDR10+ in its complete range of 2017 UHD TVs, including its new QLED TV line, Samsung is also actively working with some of the world’s leading producers of premium content to make HDR10+ the filmmaking standard.

This past April, Amazon became Samsung’s first official HDR10+ content partner. Soon, the company will offer viewers around the world gripping HDR10+ content available to stream through its widely popular Prime Video service. Also, on September 1, the first day of IFA 2017, Samsung will host the QLED & HDR10+ Summit at Berlin’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where the company will lay out its plans to advance HDR10+ adoption throughout Europe.

By making HDR10+ technology widely available, and forging partnerships that will lead to more visually captivating content, Samsung hopes to make immersive, true-to-life home entertainment the new normal for consumers around the world.

The Q8F is the flat screen counterpart to the previously launched curved screen lineup Q8C. Samsung is expanding its QLED TV line-up in Europe as it seeks to solidify its leading position in the global premium TV market. The new 43-inch version of The Frame combines both technology and art to provide consumers with design value that enables them to personalize and elevate smaller living spaces.

“We are proud to introduce a flat version of the Q8 in response to demand from European consumers seeking premium, flat and mid-size TVs,” said Sang-ho Cho, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our extended QLED TV lineup as well as 43-inch version of The Frame ushers in new possibilities for televisions with their innovative technology and beautiful design, reflecting consumer lifestyles.”

Fortifying its Leading Position in the Premium TV Market

With the addition of the Q8F models, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineup in Europe has been expanded to 14 models. Samsung’s offering, with the Q9, Q8, and Q7 QLED TV models, represents the most comprehensive line-up of premium TVs ranging from 49 to 88-inches in size and includes eight flat and six curved screen sets. The Q8F models, in particular, are the first flat screen models in Samsung’s QLED TV Q8 line-up.

Using metal quantum dot technology, Samsung QLED TVs produce the most accurate colors regardless of scene brightness level. This unique characteristic was verified with a “100 percent Color Volume” by VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker), the global standard certificate authority in Germany. The QLED TV’s Invisible Connection, a transparent optical cable that is only 1.8 mm in diameter, eliminates the tangled clutter of cables, and its No Gap Wall-mount allows the television to be mounted flush against a wall and fit seamlessly into various spaces.

The new 43-inch model of The Frame completes the lifestyle TV’s lineup, which currently consists of 55- and 65-inch models. Through its Art Mode function, The Frame, in addition to serving as a TV, doubles as a home décor element displaying both works of art as well as personal photographs. Through The Frame’s Art Store, users will soon be able to access about 1,000 prominent art pieces from world famous galleries and museums including the LUMAS, Saatchi Art, Sedition and Prado Museum.

The Q8F models will be immediately available following its introduction at IFA, and the 43-inch version of The Frame will be available in Europe starting in October, with the products to be introduced elsewhere on a phased basis. The new Q8F is available at a suggested retail price of EUR 2,599 (55-inch) and EUR 3,599 (65-inch), and the 43-inch The Frame at EUR 1,499.

Catching the Eyes of IFA Attendees with Enhanced HDR10+ Technologies

Samsung will demonstrate its QLED and HDR10+ TV technologies at the QLED and HDR10 Summit, which is being co-hosted by display market research publisher Insight Media. HDR10+ provides unprecedented picture quality for displays with brightness, color and contrast automatically optimized for each scene. The Summit will detail how with HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping, every scene is individually enhanced to bring-to-life vibrant visuals and colors that allow viewers to enjoy content just the way the filmmaker or director intended.

At the Summit, Samsung will also discuss its new partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic Corporation to create an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for HDR10+. The three companies will form a licensing entity in January 2018 and offer royalty-free metadata to content companies, UHD TV, Blu-ray players/recorders and set-top box manufacturers, as well as SoC (System on Chip) vendors.

“Our goal is always to provide consumers with the best possible viewing experience through the latest technology and innovation,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With our latest advanced HDR10+ technology and QLED TV, we hope to make enhanced picture quality with richer colors and deeper contrast easily accessible to users across a variety of content.”

David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Europe

“Samsung’s innovation is inspired by consumers and designed to make an immediate difference,” said David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Electronics Europe. “This innovation is based on craftsmanship, clever connectivity and championing the impossible. As technology increasingly plays a role in every part of our lives, we’re creating products and services that adapt to consumers and set the tone for what becomes their ‘new normal’.”

New Lifestyle Standards in Visual Display

Samsung continued to revolutionise the visual display industry at IFA 2017, with the release of a new 43-inch version of The Frame that was first unveiled earlier this year. Previously available in 55- and 65-inch sizes, the design-led TV experience is the ideal fit for the living room or other sized rooms in the home.

Samsung has partnered with leading galleries and museums such as the LUMAS, Saatchi Art, and Sedition to further enhance The Frame as an art-centric device within the home. Samsung also announced a new partnership with the Prado museum, as well as plans to acquire approximately 1,000 prominent art pieces that can be enjoyed in The Frame’s Art Store in near future. Users will be able to choose from an expanded selection of art, making the most of their TV even when it isn’t in operation.

In addition to the Art Store, the Samsung Collection of specially curated art pieces and the My Collection feature, which allows consumers to project their own personal images onto the screen, gives consumers even more options to visually customize their space, wherever they choose to place The Frame within the home.

Along with The Frame, Samsung presented plans to expand the QLED TV line-up to Europe, as it continues to grow its leadership within the premium TV market. The Q8F model, a flat version of the curved Q8C model, will be launched in Europe in 55 and 65-inch sizes. This model will be a part of the largest TV line up in Europe, which consists of 14 full QLED TVs, in curved and flat models, ranging from 49-inch to an ultra-large 88-inch.To further amplify its premium line of QLED TVs, Samsung has also entered into a partnership with Panasonic and 20^th Century Fox to proliferate HDR 10+ technology. In the months to come, Samsung will continue to expand partnerships to include Hollywood studios, content providers, and game developers.

Samsung also introduced the world’s largest QLED gaming monitor – the CHG90, which measures 49-inches, with a 178-degree ultra-wide viewing angle. The CHG90 offers a full and immersive view of gaming action, expanding the visual capabilities of a gaming monitor without sacrificing speed.

The Craftsmanship for Meaningful Innovation in Appliances

Samsung’s new home appliances introduced at IFA 2017 are designed with a single aim in mind: to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives with brilliant innovations they come to rely on.

Daniel Harvie, Vice President, Home Appliance Business, Samsung Electronics Europe

For example, the need to design around real-life problems was displayed with the launch of Samsung’s new washing machine with QuickDrive technology. Samsung’s QuickDrive technology cuts washing time by half and energy use by 20 percent*, offering consumers the time-saving solution, without compromising washing performance. Its unique Q-Drum^TM consists of a large main drum and a plate in the back that rotates independently. Unlike conventional washers that move clothes repeatedly up and down over the course of the cycle, the QuickDrive moves clothes from top to bottom in the drum but with an added dimension. The plate in the back of the drum introduces a back and forth movement, making a dynamic action powered by double forces that quickly and gently remove dirt to deliver an intense and complete wash cycle.

Samsung introduced the innovative concept called AddWash^TM at IFA in 2015, which allows users to add clothes to a washing machine during an active cycle. QuickDrive takes innovation one step further by offering a new level of convenience and performance. This is the type of technology that Samsung says will eventually become the “new normal” – technology we soon will be unable to live without.

In line with the key theme of Craftsmanship, Samsung also revealed the POWERstick PRO^TM cordless vacuum cleaner. Providing the ultimate cleaning solution, the POWERstick PRO^TM guarantees powerful cleaning performance, easy maintenance and a long-lasting battery. It features an industry-leading 150 watts of suction power and 40-minutes of battery time—twice as long as traditional batteries—with a battery lifespan of five years. It also boasts Flex Handle that folds up to 50 degrees, letting users clean hard-to-reach spaces, such as the below furniture, with less effort.

Samsung will also expand the voice capability of its Family Hub refrigerator to countries in Europe on a phased basis this year, starting with British English, German, French, and Italian. Family Hub will also be integrated with Samsung Connect, letting users control a wide variety of IoT-ready smart appliances regardless of their operating system.

Cleverly Connected for Life on the Move

The new normal for wearable technology isn’t just an activity tracker that counts your steps – it’s about enhanced connectivity to deliver an entire wellness manager and make our lives healthier. At IFA 2017, Samsung unveiled three new wearable devices.

Kate Beaumont, Director, Strategy & Product Planning, Samsung Electronics UK

The versatile smartwatch, the Gear Sport, takes on board the functionality that users want from a fitness gadget today. It is packed with features for people who see no boundary between their life and their wellness. It includes built-in GPS, run-pacing features and nutrition tracking.

With a focus on connectivity, the ever-growing connected ecosystem also brings about the need for more control. The Gear Sport can control the Samsung IoT-enabled devices, act as a remote control for a PowerPoint presentation or Samsung Gear VR, and pay for goods via Samsung Pay (NFC Only).

Samsung also launched the Gear Fit2 Pro – an advanced GPS fitness band. It features a curved 1.5” Super AMOLED display and is able to track various activities – whether on land or in the pool. For the new swimming capabilities, Samsung partnered with swimming expert Speedo to create Speedo On, the first Speedo wearable app that accurately tracks pool exercises. Everything from measuring the number of strokes or lap times, to tracking which stroke the user is doing is all possible on the 5ATM certified** Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro with the Speedo app.

Daily activity can be supplemented with updated Under Armour and Spotify partnerships. Both devices provide access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including Under Armour Record, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo for activity, nutrition, sleep and fitness tracking functions – these apps provide users with a holistic picture of their health and fitness. The Gear IconX (2018) cord-free earbuds complete the line-up of wearable devices launched by Samsung at IFA 2017.

Leading the Standardization of IoT Technologies; Convergence with HARMAN

Samsung has been leading the standardization of global IoT technologies as a diamond member of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF). Samsung is the first in the industry to receive the OCF certification for its smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators and air conditioners, and intends to expand the certification to all of its home appliances throughout the year.

The OCF certification will allow for open compatibility between the different products of member companies. In addition to Samsung, more than 390 companies have joined the OCF, with 20 billion IoT products to be synchronized with the OCF standard in three years.

Samsung’s ongoing partnership with HARMAN is also fortifying its big picture for the new normal. Following six months of partnership, Samsung is now the global leader in connected car technology, with more than 50 million cars on the road worldwide powered by HARMAN and Samsung technology.

The partnership is focused on creating audio and visual experiences that just a short while ago, would have been considered impossible. For example, Samsung’s new HDR LED screen for cinemas, measuring more than 10 meters or 34 feet across, delivers unrivalled picture quality and is brought to life by the audio technology of HARMAN Professional Solutions, together with Samsung AudioLab. The powerful combination of Samsung and HARMAN aims to reinvent both mobility and entertainment, taking the new and making it normal.

Samsung Electronics’ booth will be open at Level 2, City Cube Berlin from September 1 through 6 for IFA 2017.

*Tested on WW8800M compared with Samsung WW8500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) and eCotton cycle with washing performance within ±2%. Saves 20% energy on Cotton (40℃, half load) and Super Speed cycle (40℃, 5kg load), based on Intertek data.

**Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro have ISO 22810:2010 certification for 5 ATM rating of 50 meters (165 feet) under specific conditions. This means that both devices are safe to wear while walking in the rain or showering, and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

Samsung Electronics today introduced three new devices to its industry-leading wearable portfolio: Gear Sport, a sleek and versatile fitness-focused smartwatch that is water resistant; Gear Fit2 Pro, an upgraded GPS sports band with smart features; and Gear IconX, a second generation of the company’s groundbreaking cord-free earbuds. Samsung’s new Gear devices were designed to help consumers get the most out of their day, and help them live a healthy and well-balanced life.

The new Gear devices assist with a range of activities – from robust fitness tracking to nutrition and sleep monitoring, as well as motivational coaching as a lifestyle companion. By introducing new smart capabilities and easy-to-use features, and by partnering with leading names in tech and fitness, Samsung is helping consumers go beyond fitness and accomplish big things.

“At Samsung, we celebrate the everyday athlete – whether you’re going for a light jog, or training for your next triathlon. We have a long history of embracing choice and innovation, and our wearables are designed to help consumers of varying fitness levels meet their goals and aspirations. We want to help remove the stigma that fit can only mean one thing and that fitness trackers are complex and for only the most intense of workouts,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “Our new Samsung Gear wearables help consumers ‘go beyond fitness’ and enjoy an active, balanced and fulfilled life in a smart and seamless way.”

As part of this updated line-up, Samsung created new capabilities for Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro:

• Industry-Leading Water Resistance and Swim Tracking: An ideal companion for any swim – from laps to playing in the pool – these devices are 5 ATM¹ certified for water resistance. Now with Speedo’s latest swimming training app, Speedo On, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro also allow you to easily track key swim metrics including lap count, lap time, stroke type and more.
• Top-of-the-line Heart Rate Monitoring: With improved accuracy, the devices offer advanced real-time heart rate monitoring. They help you continuously monitor your heart activity – whether it’s enjoying a stress-free nap or an invigorating cycling class.
• Premium Partnerships: Daily activity can be supplemented with updated Under Armour and Spotify partnerships. Both devices provide access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including Under Armour Record, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo for activity, nutrition, sleep and fitness tracking functions – these apps provide users with a holistic picture of their health and fitness. Spotify’s Offline mode lets you listen to your favorite music online, offline or even without your smartphone so you can enjoy your favorite tunes regardless of location.
• Auto Activity Detection: Automatic activity detection built into the devices are in tune with your body and can recognize the following categories of activities: Walking, Running, Cycling and performing Dynamic Activities that could include dancing to basketball.
• Personalized Motivation: You can customize your own wellness plan with tailored goals and alerts.

Gear Sport: A New Versatile Smartwatch to Support an Active and Balanced Lifestyle 

Gear Sport is stylish, yet practical with a minimalistic, circular bezel, Super AMOLED 1.2-inch display and improved user interface that makes it easy to view information, even when on-the-go. With Gear Sport, users can work to achieve health and wellness goals, and receive nutrition management alerts and activity recommendations even when they are offline.

Designed with military-level durability, it can handle a wide-range of environments.³  With its sleek, ergonomic form that can be worn in a variety of colorful and easily changeable standard 20mm straps, it is perfect for any occasion so you can effortlessly transition from the gym to a night out with friends. Gear Sport will be available in Blue and Black and also includes Gear foundational functions:

• Control of Samsung IoT-enabled devices through Samsung Connect
• Act as a remote control, whether for a PowerPoint presentation or Samsung Gear VR headset
• Pay for goods with a flick of the wrist via Samsung Pay (NFC Only)⁴

Gear Fit2 Pro: An Advanced GPS Fitness Band

In addition to the new swim and heart rate monitoring capabilities, the new Gear Fit2 Pro features advanced built-in GPS tracking to capture your run or ride with accurate activity tracking. Gear Fit2 Pro’s Super AMOLED curved 1.5-inch display and a high-resolution color touchscreen make real-time updates and notifications easier to read. The all-new secure, ergonomic band is light weight and comfortable to use for all activities. Available in Black and Red, its versatile design also makes it a stylish accessory.

Gear IconX: Comfortable Fit, Cord-Free Earbuds

IconX cord-free earbuds let you effortlessly listen to your favorite music – making your daily commute more enjoyable and helping you get more from your workout. Music can be enjoyed on and offline by transferring songs from a Samsung smartphone⁵ or PC, or accessing your favorite tunes through Bluetooth connectivity. The earbuds are also your newest connection to Bixby.⁶ With a simple tap and hold of the earbud you can use your voice to control your music or your phone – without even having it in your hand.

The updated design comes in Black, Gray and Pink and is even more ergonomic and lightweight so they are effectively secure, comfortable and stylish to use. For the fitness enthusiast, the Gear IconX automatically tracks your running routines, and also features the standalone Running Coach function which can be activated by simply tapping the earbud to provide in-ear audio⁷ exercise status updates – in real-time and without your phone. With a fast-charging and improved battery life of up to five hours of music streaming or seven hours of standalone music playback, and up to 4GB of internal storage, you can enjoy a seamless and fully standalone music listening experience.

Get a first look at Samsung’s new Gear wearables in the official trailer below.

For more product information, please visit news.samsung.com/global or www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Samsung Gear Sport Specifications

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro Specifications

Samsung Gear IconX (2018) 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.

¹Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro have ISO 22810:2010 certification for wristwatches for 5 ATM rating of 50 meters (165 feet) under defined conditions of pressure, time, velocity and temperature. This means that both devices are safe to wear while walking in the rain or showering, and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or the ocean. However, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving sudden temperature changes, high-velocity water activities or submersion below shallow depth. Rinse in fresh water and dry after use in sea water.

²UUnder Armour’s MapMyRun, Endomondo and Under Armour Record for Gear devices are not supported in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Under Armour’s MyFitness Pal for Gear devices is not supported in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

³ Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro are MIL-STD-810G certified.

⁴NFC support only. Service availability may vary by country.

⁵The Gear IconX is compatible with devices running Android 4.4 and above.

⁶Limited to Samsung devices with Bixby voice capabilities including Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

⁷The Gear IconX voice guide supports nine languages including U.S. English, Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, German, French, Korean, Italian, Russian and Japanese.

The Speedo On tracking app measures key swim metrics including lap count, lap time and stroke type to easily track and incorporate swim achievements into personal fitness goals. Paired with the two new devices, consumers have options for what works best to complement their activity needs in the water; Gear Sport is a sleek and stylish smartwatch with premium features while the Gear Fit2 Pro is an all-new ergonomic fitness band with continuous heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking. The data from Speedo On is also compatible with Samsung Health, Samsung’s comprehensive fitness tracking platform, to deliver a broader picture of health and wellness information.

The new Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro features the Speedo On swim tracking app pre-installed, which is powered by Speedo’s expertly developed algorithm for optimum accuracy and seamless data transfer into the Speedo On web-based platform. Developed for data-driven fitness swimmers, the interactive swim tracking platform acts as a comprehensive training partner. It offers analysis of your swims and tracks your progress against your fitness goals, along with additional training programs, tips and advice tailored to you – developed by some of the world’s best coaches and athletes. Speedo On, also gives swimming a social dimension, allowing you to follow other swimmers, take part in challenges and share achievements. On both the Samsung Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro the Speedo On app enables swimmers to complete time trials and get their SWOLF score (a swim efficiency measure).

“Our Gear customers have been looking for more water-resistant products, and now with the Speedo partnership and the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro, we are delivering the best experience to meet their demands,” said Kiseon Kim, Vice President of Wearable Product Strategy Team at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “As we look to meet the changing needs of consumers and their desire to track a range of activities and wellness factors – we are excited to bring these unique capabilities to consumers who love being in the water.”

“Speedo is committed to inspiring more people to get into the pool to achieve their fitness goals. Our collaboration with Samsung is the first of its kind and brings the very best of Samsung’s technological innovation together with Speedo’s swim expertise to provide fitness-focused swimmers with a completely new level of tracking,” said Rob Hicking, Brand Director at Speedo International. “We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the pool.”

About Speedo®

The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations and supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level.  In the 1920s Speedo made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo redefined swimwear again with Fastskin LZR RACER – the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created. In 2015, Speedo launched the Fastskin LZR Racer X, the first suit engineered to help swimmers feel their fastest. Its development was made possible through analyses of the physical and psychological aspects of competitive swimming with over 330 elite swimmers.  Speedo is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, AQUALAB, RACING SYSTEM, BIOFUSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, SCULPTURE and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents. The FASTSKIN³ cap, goggle and suit have worldwide design rights and patents pending. Speedo On is available on Android, iOS and web https://on.speedo.com.

About Speedo On

Speedo On is the new swim training platform from Speedo. Designed to improve the swimming experience and get more people swimming, more often. Users will be able to enjoy personalized recommendations to keep them on track towards their goals, motivated to carry on, and focusing on the best ways for them, personally, to be at their best.

Users will be able to:

• Set personal goals
• Share achievements with other swimmers
• Track their swims
• Analyze their swim fitness metrics
• Access workouts and training plans created by some of the world’s best coaches and athletes
• Consume content relevant to their personal goals and swimming performance
• Take part in challenges

“QuickDrive is the industry’s game changer, dramatically cutting the amount of time it takes for users to do laundry and giving them more time to enjoy life,” said B.S. Suh, Executive Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new WW8800M washing machine uses QuickDrive technology to provide fast and powerful washing performance, with a range of technologies and smart functionality that make doing laundry so much easier.”

Improved Washing Performance with Samsung’s Unique Technology

Samsung’s QuickDrive technology cuts washing time by 50% and energy use by 20%¹ without compromising the cleaning performance. Its unique Q-Drum consists of a large main drum and a plate in the back that rotates independently. Unlike conventional washers that move clothes repeatedly up and down over the course of the cycle, the WW8800M moves clothes from top to bottom in the drum, and the plate in the back of the drum introduces a back and forth movement. It creates a revolutionary dynamic action powered by double forces that quickly, gently and thoroughly remove dirt to deliver an intense and complete wash cycle.

In addition, Samsung’s unrivalled QuickDrive technology was independently tested by Intertek, the world’s largest testing and inspection organization. Intertek confirmed that QuickDrive technology provides the same level of cleaning performance and fabric care as existing products, while reducing washing times.

The new WW8800M also has many of Samsung’s outstanding laundry technologies, like EcoBubble, which provides powerful washing performance by mixing air and water to generate fine detergent bubbles that penetrate fabrics faster and maximize the detergent’s effects even at low temperatures.

Smarter, IoT-enabled Washing Machine for User Convenience

Throughout the washing cycle, QuickDrive offers a range of smart and convenient features. The IoT-ready WW8800M boasts an AI-powered laundry assistant called Q-rator, which provides three key smart features that help manage laundry more conveniently.

• Laundry Planner enables consumers to manage a laundry finishing time, freeing consumers to control their schedule on their own terms.
• Laundry Recipe gives automatic recommendations for optimal wash cycles based on the information such as color, fabric type, and degree of soiling inputted by the user, eliminating the need for guessing about which cycle is best.
• HomeCare Wizard monitors the washer by remote, proactively alerting users about potential problems and providing quick troubleshooting support.

The WW8800M also comes with Samsung’s innovative AddWash, a feature that gives users the ability to add items at any time during the cycle². From a forgotten sock to a delicate item³ that needs to go in later in the cycle, AddWash even allows users to add detergent or fabric softener at a later time. The combination of the Q-rator and AddWash creates a synergistic effect that further enhances the user convenience, simplifying the laundry process.

Designed for Higher Durability and Cost-efficiency

Finally, the WW8800M is designed for long-lasting performance. Equipped with Samsung’s Digital Inverter Technology, the WW8800M reduces noise and helps reduce energy consumption while providing exceptional durability⁴, enabling the washer to maintain its outstanding washing performance and fabric care. Additionally, the WW8800M offers various energy-saving features, including the ability to save up to 50% more on energy than the highest A+++ energy-efficiency standard for a wash cycle.⁵ It also uses a Ceramic Heater+ with a new type of anti-adhesion coating, which ensures up to 55 percent less scale buildup than conventional ceramic heaters⁶, helping the heater maintain its performance longer with more durability.

Samsung Electronics’ booth will be open at Level 2, City Cube Berlin from September 1 through 6 for IFA 2017.

1 Tested on WW8800M compared with Samsung WW8500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) and eCotton cycle with washing performance within ±2%. Saves 20% energy on Cotton (40℃, half load) and Super Speed cycle (40℃, 5kg load), based on Intertek data.

2 The Add Wash door only opens only when the drum temperature is below 50°C.

3 Only fabric items, clothing, detergent and softener can be added.

4 Awarded a 20-year durability certification by the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies in Germany (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker – VDE).

5 e-Cotton course energy rating based on EU Energy Label standard.

6 Tested on Ceramic Heater+ compared with Samsung’s original conventional heater of WF60F4E0N0W/ET, based on independent testing of weight variation in hard water.

On August 30 at Berlin’s Tempodrom arena, Samsung Electronics will hold its IFA 2017 press conference to offer a sneak peek at its latest innovations, designed to cater to your new normal.

The invite-only event will showcase products designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life and streamline more facets of our evolving, increasingly connected lifestyles.

The press conference will begin at 6 p.m. (CEST). Those who will not be present for the big event will still be able to take a front-row seat by tuning in to the official livestream on Samsung Newsroom, where you’ll also find breaking news, articles and multimedia content from IFA 2017.

The CH89, CH80 and SH85 feature the USB Type C interface for seamless connectivity, as well as optimized clarity and color presentation at the ultra WQHD (CH89), Full HD (CH80) and WQHD (SH85) resolutions. The monitors also feature a three-sided, bezel-less design, with the CH89 and CH80 further amplifying the bezel-less effect through an 1800R curved structure. By streamlining setups that typically required multiple screens and equipment to a single monitor, the compact displays additionally free up coveted workplace space and reduce maintenance.

“Today’s professionals cannot afford to waste time navigating complex multi-display systems or having to struggle to access and read necessary content,” said Seog-gi Kim, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through clear, simultaneous content presentation, our CH89, CH80 and SH85 monitors efficiently provide ample space to view multiple data-rich documents without interference.”

Seamless Connectivity

The CH89, CH80 and SH85 displays empower professional users to access, load, view and share content efficiently and quickly. These models include a dedicated USB Type C interface, enabling transmission of data, Display Port (DP) signals and power within a single-cable connection. Beyond removing excess wires from the workspace, the USB Type C composition ensures compatibility with personal laptops, tablets and mobile devices for seamless, port-driven content exchange. Users can view documents and images from their smaller personal screens on the larger monitor without losing visual quality.

Professionals additionally can customize their content presentation through Samsung’s Easy Setting Box software. Within the program’s intuitive interface, users can select from a detailed library of split-screen template and screen-size optimization options and choose their preferred viewing parameters.

For convenient collaboration and screen sharing, the CH80 and SH85 monitors feature DP Out Daisy Chain technology. Users can extend their current desktop across single monitors or monitor groups through one DP connection, preventing the need to synchronize each monitor with a PC or other external device.

Optimized Clarity and Color Presentation

Samsung’s latest professional monitors are designed to depict documents and imagery with optimal clarity and color presentation, amplifying minor or otherwise hidden visual details. The CH89’s ultra WQHD resolution (3,440×1,440) produces a sharp presentation with nearly 2.5 times the pixel density of FHD, creating a wider and more colorful workspace. The SH85 follows suit with WQHD resolution (2,560×1,440) that delivers detailed imagery with nearly 1.8 times more pixel density than standard FHD monitors.

A More Comfortable User Experience

Samsung’s customizable CH89, CH80 and SH85 monitors drive a more comfortable, ergonomically-friendly workspace. All three displays contain a height-adjustable stand as well as swivel and tilt capabilities, allowing users to set the monitor at their ideal viewing distance and position. These models also include Samsung’s Flicker Free and Eye Saver features, which deter harmful visual effects that can otherwise cause eyestrain during long-term usage.

A Wider Workspace

Additionally Samsung will exhibit a 49-inch CHG90, the HDR (high dynamic range) QLED monitor at IFA 2017. The CHG90 expands the workspace while offering panoramic views of figures, diagrams and charts within a single screen. This ultra-wide size prevents users from having to combine two 27-inch monitors to complete their tasks, and also deters the misalignment and central bezel interference that come with such arrangements. Coupled with its HDR QLED picture quality, the CHG90’s size accommodates a range of content while upholding a clear, colorful and true-to-life presentation.

In addition to the Easy Setting Box screen optimization technology, the CHG90’s Picture-by-Picture functionality allows users to connect and view input sources without degrading the original image quality. The CHG90’s extensive connectivity, including DP, Mini-DP, HDMI and USB ports, also welcomes content sharing to and from external personal devices.

Product Specifications

See the infographic below to learn more about the new professional monitors.

Samsung Electronics announced today that it will expand the voice recognition function of the Family Hub refrigerator to European countries in the second half of this year. It will also introduce the “Samsung Connect” smart home feature for the first time at IFA 2017.

Samsung has already applied cloud-based voice features to the Family Hub in Korea and the U.S., and will add European languages on a phased basis this year, starting with British English, German, French, and Italian.

“Samsung has continuously enhanced the Family Hub since its first introduction at CES 2016, focusing on improving consumer lifestyles,” said JS Park, Executive Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our endeavor to advance the smart features of home appliances has always been closely tied to our mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individual consumers and families with innovations that matter.”

In addition to touch command, the Family Hub’s voice capabilities provide a new way to interact with the refrigerator. Users can ask for the time and weather updates, search the internet, read news articles, play music and radio, add items to their shopping list, and even view inside of the refrigerator without opening the door.

Standing at the center of the home, Family Hub is now ready to help households take control of their various Samsung smart devices. Samsung Connect enhances this as a platform capable of connecting and controlling IoT devices regardless of their operating system, such as Android or iOS. Samsung Connect is now integrated into the Family Hub.

Users will be able to turn on and monitor their AddWash^TM washing machine, or tell their POWERbot^TM vacuum cleaner to begin cleaning up the living room from Family Hub’s interactive screen while cooking or entertaining in the kitchen.

Furthermore, Samsung continues to grow Family Hub’s partner ecosystem with innovative new services and content. More than 100 partner companies collaborate with Samsung’s Family Hub platform across North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. As an example, Instacart, Shoprite and FreshDirect provide consumers in the U.S. with seamless e-Commerce shopping experiences. European versions of the Samsung Family Hub feature European retailers like Supermercato24 and Eataly to provide grocery shopping.

For news and entertainment, consumers around the world can enjoy their favorite music on various music streaming services like Spotify, or stay up-to-date with the latest news via NPR or upday. Lastly, cooking enthusiasts can find daily inspiration from recipe apps like Allrecipes, Whisk!, and Samsung Club des Chefs.

Visitors to Samsung’s exhibition booth at IFA 2017 in Berlin, beginning on September 1, can experience the Family Hub’s new voice recognition feature as well as Samsung’s smart home and IoT services implementing with Samsung Connect.

Samsung Electronics today announced the release of the all-new cordless vacuum cleaner, the POWERstick PRO, which will be unveiled at IFA 2017. The POWERstick PRO boasts the industry-leading suction power and establishes a new paradigm for cordless vacuum technology, resolving many of the challenges consumers experience as they vacuum their homes.

“The POWERstick PRO is a true game-changer in cleaning technology,” said B.S. Suh, Executive Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “With its impressive suction power and ergonomic design for easy maneuvering, this new vacuum cleaner provides the ultimate solution for complete cleaning. We’re incredibly excited for consumers to experience a new level of cleaning and remain committed to providing innovation based on consumer needs.”

Strong Suction Power Paired with Brand New Brush and Battery

Powered by Samsung’s Digital Inverter Motor which spins faster than a tornado^*, the POWERstick PRO is built for high performance. With 150W of power, it has the industry-leading suction power^**, guaranteeing thorough cleaning efficiency on all floor types. And unlike brushes on conventional vacuums, the Dual Action Brush of the POWERstick PRO consists of two brushes, each with a separate drum, to pick up dirt better. It spins at 5000rpm, moving in opposite directions to capture both fine dust and large particles in the center and creating a strong grip to remove dirt effectively. Consumers no longer need to vacuum repeatedly in the same area: one sweep is enough.

POWERstick PRO also packs a powerful charge, running on a 32.4V lithium-ion removable power pack that offers up to 40 minutes of battery life, enough to clean most homes. It can be quickly swapped for a replacement and used for 5 years with same level of power.

Ergonomic Design for User Convenience

The POWERstick PRO takes the cleaning experience to the next level by maximizing aesthetic appeal and convenience. The patented ergonomic Flex Handle folds up to 50° with a click of a button, letting users reach under low furniture with ease. The ergonomics of the handle have also been cleverly aligned, so it is light and minimizes strain on wrists, muscles and back.

The POWERstick PRO further amplifies convenience with hassle-free maintenance and strong hygienic features. The EZClean Dustbin empties with one quick pull of the lever so contents can be disposed with minimal effort, and the entire dustbin structure can be detached and washed with water. The EZClean Brush also detaches easily. As it is pulled out from the base, it uses friction to dislodge dust and even hair tangles without getting hands dirty. The POWERstick PRO also boasts HEPA Filtration to ensure that 99.9% of the dust collected stays in the canister, ensuring cleaner air free from allergens.

Additional Tools for the Ultimate Cleaning Solution

Lastly, the POWERstick PRO completes the ultimate cleaning solution with 5 additional tools. The Deep Clean Brush gets tiny dirt or hair out of carpets, while the Mini Motorized Tool allows users to clean the dust and allergens on bed sheets, mattresses and fabric furniture effectively and hygienically. The Extension Crevice Tool removes dirt from deep crevices in sofas and high areas like ceiling corners with ease. The Combination Tool enable users to pick up dirt on a wide range of surfaces, from table tops to window frames, and the Flexible Tool bends at an angle to pick up dust in hard-to-reach places like the top of the refrigerator.

*Based on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

**Compared with other cordless vacuum cleaners.