Released on April 10, the fitness-focused earbuds’ latest software update makes it even easier for users to maximize workouts – introducing new ways to customize the listening experience and streamlining how users fill the device with their favorite ‘pump-up’ tracks.

For example, the Gear IconX’s new Equalizer feature allows users to quickly and easily adjust their audio’s frequency to optimal levels by choosing from five finely tuned presets: Bass Boost, Soft, Dynamic, Clear and Treble Boost.

The enhanced Ambient Sound function, meanwhile, enables users to specify exactly how much ambient sound they would like the earbuds to let in. This makes it easier for users to pay attention to sounds around them, which makes the function especially useful when running or cycling outdoors. When indoors, users may activate the earbuds’ new Voice Focus function, which amplifies the voices of those in their surroundings.

The Gear IconX’s standalone music playback and 4GB of built-in storage allow users to get in the zone during workouts without being weighed down by their phone. The update’s new Wireless Transfer feature enhances this functionality by streamlining how users manage their earbuds’ music library – removing the need for cables and allowing users to wirelessly add multiple tracks at once.

Gear IconX users may download the update via the Samsung Gear app.

The response, quite simply, was overwhelming.

The panel of judges – which included world-renowned watch designer Yvan Arpa, aBlogtoWatch founder Ariel Adams and Ariel Vardi, Co-founder of Little Labs, the team behind Facer – combed through over 2,000 submissions that encompassed a wide range of aesthetics, from more traditional designs to incredibly creative and even outlandish entries.

Each was evaluated based on its quality, creativity and innovative use of the smartwatch platform. After much deliberation, the judges narrowed the list down to these five finalists:

• MbM-Aileron 2 Gold by John Morga
• Muro by JC Dalisay
• Green Army by Jimmy Cheung
• Black Revolutions by HarpoCrate
• HUD by TIKTOK

And now, Samsung is pleased to announce that the Gear S3 watchface design contest’s grand prize-winning entry is: MbM–Aileron 2 Gold, by John Morga! John’s aviation-inspired entry garnered the most votes in the final round, and was also the only design to be universally nominated by each of the judges in the contest’s early stages.

For winning, John Morga will receive cash rewards, as well as the array of prizes awarded to each finalist. These include:

• A Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch
• Design featured on aBlogtoWatch.com, as well as on the Facer platform and Samsung’s social media channels
• Design turned into a functional watchface, available to hundreds of thousands of smartwatch users on the Facer platform
• Enrollment in Facer’s Premium Designer Program, which includes royalties on revenue generated by their designs

Samsung would like to thank all those who participated in the contest and congratulate each of the finalists. Winning designs will be available to download soon via the Galaxy Apps store.

Speaking of lifting, exercising with the Gear S3’s Samsung Health app has also been enhanced, thanks to an improved user interface (UI) and new workout features. Now, when viewing workout results, users will be informed of how much time they spent in each heart rate zone via simple, color-classified graphs, and will also be kept abreast of their daily heart rate range. In addition, a newly added streamlined Stretching guide is activated after 50 minutes of inactivity and utilizes a counting sound to guide users through the activity.

Other Samsung Health enhancements include the abilities to auto-locate and record approximate location for detected running or walking, as well as sync pace-setter running targets from the Samsung Health app on your phone with the Gear S3.

Users who need a little reminder now and then to kick-start their workout routine can utilize the updated Reminder app, which now allows you to add specific dates for reminders delivered via S Voice.* This means that a command such as “Remind me to work out at 7:00pm this Sunday” will produce the desired alert on the desired day. The update also allows you to easily edit the titles of dictated reminders, and is compatible with the Gear S2.

The Gear S3’s Accessibility features have been enhanced to offer users more control over their device’s display. Now, after activating ‘Direct access’ in the Accessibility menu, users will be able to enable new, readability-focused screen options including ‘Dark screen’, ‘Greyscale’ and ‘Negative colors’.

Samsung has also made it easier for users to track down their Gear S3 in the event that it is misplaced. Now, under the Find My Gear section of the Gear Manager app, which allows users to lock their lost device remotely to prevent unauthorized use, users may add personal contact information, such as an email address or phone number, to display on the smartwatch’s lock screen.

Left: Accessibility, Right: Find My Gear

Other notable value pack additions include an auto-calibration option for the Alti/Barometer and a simplified Settings menu. Furthermore, with new complications for select watch faces**, users can control the music player (Play/ Pause) and check the date directly from the Gear S3’s watch face.

The News Briefing widget can also be more easily navigated, thanks to an enhanced up/down button interface. Finally, for added convenience, the Stopwatch counting time has been increased from one hour to three hours.

Left: News Briefing widget, Right: Stopwatch

Users may download the value pack update via the Samsung Gear app.***

* S voice supports the following languages: English (US), English (UK), Spanish (US), Spanish (ES), French (FR), Portuguese (BR), German, Italian, Russian, Chinese (Simplified), Korean and Japanese.

**The new Music complication is available on the Minimal, Blue Pop and Gear Dashboard watch faces, while the new Date complication is available on the Gear Dashboard watch face.

*** The user’s Gear S3 and smartphone must be synced in order to download the value pack update.