Samsung Printing Solutions has released the V.1.5.0 update for its Smart UX Center Software Development Kit (SDK), adding new features including mobile compatibility to its versatile software tools.

Samsung’s Smart UX Center SDK debuted in 2015. It is an open interface for the Android-based Smart UX. The kit provides a comprehensive suite of features and tools that allow app developers to integrate a wide range of printer functions into an easy-to-use user interface (UI).

With the new update, Samsung has expanded the accessibility and usability of the Smart UX Center SDK, bringing it to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

“Samsung Electronics is an innovator in the printing business, developing smart office environment. We’re pleased to present the next phase of the smart office by bringing mobile technology to our Smart UX Center SDK for our multi-functional printers.” said David SW Song, Senior Vice President of Printing Solutions Business at Samsung Electronics-. “The Smart UX Center SDK mobile version should also expand the range of Android-based applications built by third-party developers.”

As well as mobile support, the new Smart UX Center update offers card reader support. This new feature allows multi-function printers (MFPs) to check on the availability of human interface device (HID) card reader devices, and provides information for authentication.

The new software update also comes with a style guideline for the Smart UX Center, enabling developers to gain better access to Samsung’s design resources when creating applications. In addition, counter and proxy network information have also been updated.

Samsung’s Smart UX Center is an Android-based touchscreen control panel for Samsung’s MFP printers, including the MultiXpress and ProXpress series. The UX Center enables users to copy, scan and print using applications and widgets.

The newest update for the Smart UX Center SDK, as well as relevant documentation, libraries and sample applications, can be downloaded from the Samsung Developers website: https://developers.samsung.com.

“IDC’s recognition of Samsung Printing Solutions affirms our ongoing commitment to help organizations boost business efficiency by improving how they digitise paper and manage their printing,” said Paul Birkett, Director of Print Operation Sales and Marketing of Samsung Europe. “In the newest areas of mobile-first, cloud-first printing, Samsung is helping clients connect to the information they need, by merging mobile and printing technology in its Smart UX platform. This uses standard mobile apps to reduce repetitive or wasteful tasks through advanced machine-to-machine communication.”

The study is the first vendor analysis of the managed workflow services (MWS) market using the IDC MarketScape assessment tool. The report evaluates the capabilities and business strategies of leading hardcopy vendors in the Western European MWS market, and discusses the quantitative and qualitative characteristics that position vendors for success. The report also examines vendors’ capabilities of providing clients with a roadmap for higher-value workflow automation, and the optimization services required to deliver this effectively.

In particular, the IDC MarketScape report recognised Samsung’s use of emerging cloud and mobile technologies, as well as intuitive hardware products and value added services that extend beyond print. These include business process management, mobile print, mobile capture and digital signature services, which all extend Samsung’s IT portfolio. Samsung was also praised for the printing solutions partnerships and alliances it is forging worldwide.

IDC also remarked on Samsung’s ability to draw on expertise and innovation from other areas of its business, stating that its strength in consumer electronics is an advantage, because of the growing influence consumers now have in the world of work.

“Samsung’s key strengths are its application development and use of innovative solutions which include more than one Samsung product line,” IDC MarketScape reported. “Its focus on security alongside its rapid development helps the company gain traction with potential customers, while some competitors are still trying to dissipate security fears associated with solutions adoption.”

”Managed workflow services market players are continuing to develop their offerings to address challenging process workflows in their customers’ organizations,” said Jacqui Hendriks, Research and Consulting Manager, IDC European Managed Print Services and Document Solutions. “Established Western European market players have taken cautious steps and are more aggressively fulfilling customers’ functional and industry-specific workflow requirements,” she added.

For the MarketScape demonstration, Samsung focused on its new products and solutions incorporating mobile functionality and the intuitive interfaces common to multi-function printers, tablets and smartphones.

Samsung Smart UX Center

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,100 IDC analysts provide global, regional and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For 50 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. www.idc.com

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“We believe that printers should be as user-friendly as a mobile. Based on this firm belief, we introduced the first Android-based Smart UX center in 2014. It has shown that people can use apps to do great and productive work right on their printer – just as they do on their mobiles,” said David SW Song, Senior Vice President of Strategy Marketing and Sales, Printing Solutions, Samsung Electronics.

“Our in-house apps have received great feedback from our partners; but we know they would love to offer even more customization, and that’s why we launched the SDK. With its unlimited extensibility of printer functions, the SDK will encourage developers to create a wider range of apps that will be customized for the individual needs and business workflows of print users. The SDK will expand our current professional partnership and provide better user experiences that you would have never expected from a printer.”

Simple to Use, Easy to Deploy Tool for Customizing Your Office Printer

The Smart UX SDK is an Android-based open interface technology for Samsung’s new MFP (Smart UX Device Series). The Smart UX SDK provides a comprehensive suite of features to allow application developers to integrate features such as copying, scanning, and printing into Android applications in a secure manner. With numerous “easy to use, easy to deploy” Android-based APIs, Samsung expects to see more optimized apps that will improve productivity and efficiency of each vertical market.

Developers can explore a broad range of options through sample scenarios and test their app before installing it with Smart UX Simulator. The apps submitted are evaluated and registered at the Samsung Printing App Center*, alongside our own apps.

Key Benefits of App Center and Smart UX SDK

The primary beneficiaries of the App Center and the SDK are end-users. Individual firms and organizations can now extend the functionalities of printers to meet their specific needs. Downtime during system updates and switching of firmware can also be replaced with quick downloads of an app. All together, the office workflow can be optimized through installation of apps that are tailored to their specific requirements.

Resellers should also find these features useful. Customized apps mean that they can proactively respond to customer requests. There are benefits for independent software developers too. The SDK is simple and easy to use and will eliminate any pain points when it comes to integrating additional functionalities into printer applications.

Current Print Applications in Smart UX Center

The Android based Smart UX Center serves as a platform for mobile apps to expand their existing printer functions tailored to customer needs. It has received positive feedback from users for its usability and convenience. There are currently 10 printer apps and 2 widgets that can be downloaded directly to the printer from the Printing App Center website (printingapps.samsung.com).

Here is a selection of the available apps and their features:

• Workbook Composer: With the Workbook Composer app you can drag and crop one part of the document from the full document and print or save it to a folder, e-mail or other designated locations. This app is particularly handy in educational and legal settings, when using many different sources, or compiling information scattered across many files.

• HanCom Office: You don’t need to go back to your computer to correct errors you find on your printout. The HanCom office app allows you to view and edit Office and Hwp files directly at the printer. With the Smart UX Center, the entire process is just the same as if you would work on a tablet.

• Smart color manager: This app makes it easier to manage the color settings at the printer. If your company or organization uses the office printer for brochures or designs, this is the app for you. You can check and fine tune the color table before you print, or create and save a color profile of your company’s color scheme.

Another benefit of having a tablet mounted on a printer is that you can create customized widgets too. For example, these built-in widgets can check quickly toner levels, printing volumes or see key device information such as the IP name.

Samsung’s new Smart UX SDK is now available for download at the Samsung Developer Site (developer.samsung.com).

* Samsung Printing App Center (printingapps.samsung.com) is a service for users to download and use android apps (or XOA apps) for Samsung Printer Device easily.