Samsung has launched several digital campaigns to showcase the unique experiences of Gear S3 users around the world, demonstrating the smartwatch’s innovative design and technology in both everyday settings and life-changing terrains.

Watch the videos below to see the exciting places and moments people have experienced with the Gear S3.

Extreme Unboxing in the Andes

As part of its Extreme Unboxing campaign for the Gear S3, Samsung Brazil followed Brazilian journalist Pedro Andrade and actress Mel Fronckowiak on a three-day journey to Macchu Picchu, Peru. Set against a background of magnificent mountains towering 4,600 meters high, the film shows how the Gear S3 endures through challenging terrains while guiding the adventurers with its resourceful features such as its alti-barometer, GPS and heart rate sensor. It’s easy to see why the Gear S3 is the perfect partner for explorers.

Combining Style with Technology

In France, Samsung introduced the many ways the Gear S3 can be customized for your own individual style with a video that shows more than 30 styles in less than a minute. With a wide range of interchangeable wristband options and faces, coordinating your smartwatch with any type of look is effortless. Whether wearing a suit, streetwear or even ski wear, you can match your Gear S3 to any outfit and still have access to its incredible features.

Free to Do What You Want

For a more personal perspective, British actor and singer Raleigh Ritchie illustrates where a day with the Gear S3 can lead you. Raleigh shows how Samsung’s latest smartwatch enhances all aspects of one’s life—fitness, career, and social interactions—to keep users on track and in style. See how the Gear S3’s S Health features, standalone music player and messaging functions enable you to be free to do and get what you want.

From Macchu Picchu right to the comfort of your own home, the Gear S3 goes wherever you go, demonstrating its true versatility. It’s functional for both everyday activities and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, but sleek and modern enough for even style enthusiasts to enjoy.

* The videos included in this article were created for marketing purposes.

For so long, virtual reality was thought of as impractical and futuristic—a mind-boggling technology plucked from the pages of science fiction, solely utilized by diehard gamers and tech geeks. But the past couple of years have shown us that virtual reality has already trickled into a variety of industries, from film and entertainment to education and advertising. This rapidly growing and expanding virtual environment is powered by 360-degree video, a new kind of medium that allows viewers to sense the action from all angles and directions, so they feel as if they’re actually in the scene as it unfolds before their eyes.

In the Middle of the Action

Recognizing the potential of this highly immersive means of delivering content, online platforms such as YouTube, Flickr and Facebook have taken numerous measures to support 360-degree video formats. In doing so, people are now able to experience things they wouldn’t likely encounter in “reality,” such as flying a WWII fighter plane or viewing Earth from the International Space Station, in new and unique ways.

While these kinds of videos generally provide an immersive experience, traditional filmmakers and production companies are exploring how 360-degree video can also transform storytelling and make a viewer feel more emotionally involved. Some of the most favored videos among those already published have been horror films, which trap viewers in eerie, highly atmospheric scenes in which they can literally look over their shoulder to see what’s lurking in the dark.

Engrossing and emotion-provoking videos like these have given way to an unpredictable increase in the popularity of virtual reality elements at this year’s major film festivals—including Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca and Hot Docs—and have accelerated major film and television studios’ recent VR initiatives.

Storytelling in the Age of Digital Video

Journalists are also hoping to evoke similar emotions and create empathy in a field that is often criticized for lacking such components. The New York Times, for example, recently ventured into the world of 360-degree video storytelling with “The Displaced,” their Nov. 5 story about the plight of refugee children forced from their homes by war and persecution. This pioneering journalistic endeavor let viewers move their mobile devices around to take in the full scenery, exploring the refugee experience in a highly personal way.

But storytelling isn’t just for journalism. In fact, the buzzword is also strongly tied to the advertising industry, and 360-degree video provides a way to create intense moments and rich, enveloping experiences that can help boost a brand’s story. So much so that the medium is predicted to be one of the biggest marketing trends to watch for in 2016. Already several large media organizations, as well as athletes, celebrities and TV show producers, have put together promotional videos offering a variety of immersive content options to engage fans. Consumer brands have also begun utilizing 360-degree video technologies in striking advertising campaigns to reach out to the young, tech-savvy consumers of today.

In addition to entertainment, news and marketing, there are a whole host of use cases that 360-degree video creators have only just begun to explore. Such use cases include educational applications, like surgical training tools for medical students, and content that aims to treat illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder in war veterans or phantom limb syndrome in amputees.

A New Way to Consume, Create and Connect

The quality of 360-degree video has improved greatly in recent years, due in large part to the technology that enables its creation and consumption. What was once only available for viewing on a personal computer can now also be easily accessed and viewed on a mobile device. Yet 360-degree video is most impressive when experienced through mobile virtual reality devices, such as Samsung’s new consumer edition of the Gear VR headset, which hit shelves last month.

Headsets like Samsung’s utilize gyro sensors, geomagnetic sensors and proximity sensors to shift the 360-degree video and sound in unison with the user’s head movements, tricking the brain into reacting as if it were all real. And, considering the advantages of smartphone capabilities, the masses can now experience virtual reality in all its glory at a comparatively low cost.

Furthermore, with the Samsung Internet for Gear VR app, users can now also browse the web and experience digital content in a highly immersive environment, as if they were at the cinema watching it on the big screen. With the ability to stream both 360-degree and 3D videos from the web, the app provides users with an easily accessible, fully immersive VR viewing experience.

While the technology utilized to view 360-degree video continues to advance, so does the camera equipment used to film the content, making it easier and more affordable for just about anyone to produce their own omnidirectional films. Furthermore, organizations are opening their doors to foster the creation and development of 360-degree video content. The Sundance Institute, for example, has established a residency program for independent filmmakers who hope to lay the groundwork for this new film language. Likewise, YouTube Space is a studio that offers resources for creatives to produce 360-degree video, and conducts periodic workshops and social gatherings to help creators collaborate with one another.

Although 360-degree video has already made its mark on a variety of industries, it is certain that people will begin to share far more VR content—whether personal experiences or artistic endeavors—as technology makes it easier for amateurs to produce it themselves. As more content is created, sites will adapt by adding supportive features, and, soon enough, 360-degree video will allow people to create, tell and share the stories and experiences that are important to them in a richer and more immersive way.

https://youtu.be/YXl3dKtfW_Q

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There’s an undeniable sense of festivity in the air that can only mean one thing: the holiday season is officially upon us. From pumpkin spice lattes to holiday songs taking over the airwaves to the fact that just about everyone is full of good cheer, there’s plenty to love about this time of year. The Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 are two smartphones that are packed with features and offer apps that will help you enjoy the holiday season even more. Here are some of them.

1. Great Photos, Even in Low Light

As the year comes to an end, the days are getting shorter, but the cameras of the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 ensure that you get great photos, even in low light. Whether taking pictures at a party or a football game, or just snapping photos of your fall/winter OOTD, lighting is no longer an issue.

2. Video Collage

Rather than sending out that boring, run-of-the-mill Christmas card again this year, spice things up a bit and extend holiday greetings to your loved ones with a creative Video Collage, one of the newly added camera modes of Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones. Choose between three options—Collage, Series or Slow Motion—and let your creativity run wild.

3. Live Broadcast

It’s not always easy getting the whole family together in the same place at the same time. But now you can share your special holiday moments with all of your loved ones, no matter where they are, with the Live broadcast feature of the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5. The feature is built directly into the native camera app and allows users to broadcast a live video stream directly to YouTube. Users have the option of publishing their broadcast publicly, or directly to their friends and family via a private link.

4. Samsung Pay

With all the great deals available on Black Friday, you’ll most certainly be running from store to store to load up on all of the good stuff before it’s gone. Don’t waste a minute messing around with credit cards and checks. Use Samsung Pay to quickly and easily make all your holiday purchases for friends and family (and yourself, of course). Samsung Pay is accepted virtually anywhere you can swipe or tap a credit card.

5. My KNOX

The holidays are for spending time with your loved ones, but sometimes it can be difficult to completely remove oneself from work. For the moments you have to check an important document or send an urgent email, My KNOX ensures that your sensitive work data stays protected, even on your personal devices.

6. Game Tuner

As temperatures continue to drop, there are even more excuses to stay indoors and spend your days gaming. Samsung’s new Game Tuner app for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 reduces resolution and frames per second (FPS) to ensure a longer battery life so that you can play for as long as your heart desires.

7. Game Recorder+

While you’re at it, save and share your high score as well as the highlights of your most exciting game sessions using Game Recorder+. Capture your game play and face-cam commentary with a single touch of the record button. With this app, gaming enthusiasts will be happier than a kid on Christmas.

8. Smart Manager

There’s nothing worse than losing battery power just before getting the perfect wide-angle shot of the whole family gathered around the dining room table, or getting lost en route to your colleague’s ugly Christmas sweater party, leaving you unable to call for directions. Which is why the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 come equipped with Smart Manager, an app that helps extend battery life by optimizing apps. Users can also free up storage space and scan for malicious software easily and quickly.

9. Soundcamp

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the holiday parties that come along with it. Make yours a holly, jolly good time with Samsung Soundcamp. The app allows all musicians—both amateurs and professionals—to play, compose and mix their own tracks right from the screen of their Galaxy smartphone without any extra equipment. And with features like Looper and Sampler, added especially for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5, DJing your own party is easier than ever.

10. PEN.UP

Artists can be inspired at any time, but the fiery autumn hues, crisp air and holiday cheer are especially inspiring. Whatever awakens your creativity, express yourself with the ultra-precise S Pen of the Galaxy Note5. Then, use the PEN.UP application to curate, tag and share your digital artwork with the world. You can also follow popular artists, communicate with people by giving “Likes” and adding comments. Your holiday art might even land you in the PEN.UP Hall of Fame.

After much anticipation, the Samsung Gear S2 has finally hit shelves across the world and has already garnered a great deal of attention, thanks to its innovative rotating bezel, convenient connectivity features and stylish appearance. But how does one get the most out of their brand new Gear S2? Check out these tutorials to find out.

How to Set Up

Now that you’ve got your hands on the Gear S2, you first need to pair it with your smartphone to take advantage of all its fun and useful features.

1. Download the Samsung Gear app from the Galaxy Apps store if you’re using a Samsung device, or from Google Play if you’re using a non-Samsung Android phone.
2. Access the Samsung Gear app on your mobile device.
3. Tap Connect to Gear.
4. Select Gear S2 from the Select your Gear
5. Confirm your passkey on the Bluetooth pairing request alert by tapping OK.
6. Agree to all terms and conditions by ticking the boxes and tap Done.
7. In the Manage notifications menu, choose the notifications that you want to appear on the Gear S2.

How to Get in Touch

Your Gear S2 is set up and ready to go. Easy, right? You can now receive, access and send messages quickly and conveniently, right from your wrist.

1. From the home screen on your Gear S2, turn the bezel one notch to the left to access notifications.
2. Tap the number of notifications received.
3. Turn the bezel to the right to browse received messages.
4. Tap a message to read it in its entirety, and turn the bezel to scroll.
5. To send a quick reply, tap Reply.

a. To send a pre-set message, turn the bezel to browse and tap to select your preferred message.
b. To reply with a voice note, tap the microphone icon, record your voice note and send.
c. To send an emoji, tap the smile icon and turn the bezel to browse emojis. Tap to select and send.
d. To reply with a text message, tap the keyboard icon, type your message and tap the send icon.

How to Customize

Whether you want your Gear S2 to match your #OOTD every day, or you prefer to stick with the same ol’ look for weeks, the watch face of the Gear S2 can be customized as often or as little as you’d like, straight from the device.

How to Get a New Look

The Gear S2 comes with two sizes of wrist straps, large and small, which can also be mixed and matched to customize the length. Samsung has also partnered up with a number of designers and brands to offer an eclectic selection of wrist bands, with a style for just about everyone.
(For video tutorial on how to replace bands for the Gear S2 Classic, click here.)

Now that you’re acquainted with the Gear S2, take some time to explore the settings and features that make it uniquely Samsung, and stay tuned for more tutorials to come!

1. To remove bands from the Gear S2, press the latches where the bands meet the case body and slide down to release.
2. Replace the new bands by sliding upward until they snap into place.
3. Tap and hold the home screen.
4. Turn the bezel to browse watch faces. Tap to select.
5. To customize your preferred watch face (when available), tap Stylize.
6. Navigate customization options using the bezel and by swiping left to change the dial, hands and/or shortcuts. Then, tap OK.

More and more people are sharing the photos and videos of their special moments through instant messenger services and social networking channels. As this trend grows in popularity, people increasingly want to be able to control and personalize their contents, create great-looking videos and images that are as diverse and unique as their lives.

The Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 both feature the most advanced camera technology available on mobile devices today, able to capture clean, crisp images in any occasion. They also come with Video Digital Image Stabilization (VDIS), which reduces shake from unsteady hands on both the front and rear cameras, for sharp video shot on-the-go. Plus they offer an even faster quick launch (0.6 seconds) than ever before.

But in addition to better technology, the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 also feature many new modes and options that are both powerful and easy to use, so you can better create videos and photos tailor-made to your individual style.

Video Collage: Add Creativity to Your Shots

Just as photo collages became very popular for turning photographs into creative displays that are fun to share, now you can do the same with videos using the new mode Video Collage.

Video Collage has three options, each offering a fun option for preserving your special moments. Collage lets you combine videos side-by-side or in a grid, so viewers can see several films at the same time. Series combines videos together one after another in a sequence. And Slow Motion takes a single film and divides it into segments in a two-by-two grid, so you can watch the action from different points in time; each segment can be slowed down and played at different speeds.

These features are fun, but also easy to learn and require just a few steps:

1. In Camera, go to MODE in the lower left of the screen, then select Video Collage.
2. On the top of your screen, select which type of Video Collage you want to make (it’s the option third from the left, between flash and time).
   1. For Collage, you need to choose how many frames and the arrangement you want in the composition.
   2. For Collage and Series you also need to choose an aspect ratio.
3. Select the recording time (between 3 and 15 seconds for Collage and Series, or between 6 and 15 seconds for Slow Motion).
4. Press the red record button in the bottom center to begin filming
5. If you like the results, press SAVE.

The mode walks you through the steps in a way that is both easy and intuitive, and anyone can pick up the process quickly.

Live Broadcasting

The Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Galaxy Note5 also feature Live Broadcasting, giving you the ability to share your experiences via YouTube. You can share your broadcast with all of your contacts, no matter what device they use, quickly and easily.

With Live Broadcast, you no longer have to upload videos and wait for them to process. Now they can just go out directly, to anyone you choose. You can also schedule your video to go out at a time of your choosing, depending on what you prefer. It’s a powerful new tool that lets you share your ideas, memories and content like never before.

1. In Camera, go to MODE in the lower left of the screen, then select Live Broadcast.
2. Sign in to your YouTube account (you will need a Google+ profile).
3. Select Invite and choose who you want to watch.
4. Start your video and share instantly.

See how easy Live Broadcasting is, check out this video:

?list=PLhpbZcOKxtO3R9TnWQkfPQiUDUZrpXrP4

Effects for Rear and Front Camera

Video is not the only function that has gotten significant changes for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5. For photographs, too, there are now more modes and effects than ever, ensuring you can capture just the look and feel you want for every occasion.

Effects have gotten a big overhaul. People love filters because they allow them to customize their photos and create a variety of moods and feelings. But the effects people most enjoy when taking photos of the world around them can be different than what they want for taking photos of themselves, which is why Samsung has created all-different effects for the front and rear cameras.

The rear camera has eight all-new options—Pastel, Vivid, Retro, Film, Monogram, Nostalgia, Gold and Delicious. Selecting the front camera brings up eight different filters—Calm, Dawn, Grayscale, Evergreen, Rose, Sweet, Riddle and Everyday—designed to make you and your selfies look stylish and unique.

Whichever effects you choose, you can now control the strength of the effect as well as how much of a Vignette (or pinhole effect) to add.

Taking Selfies with Beauty Effects

Both the Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Galaxy Note5 have added more options to their Beauty face mode, now giving people more control over their image and helping them capture just the right look.  Because every person is different, now there are four different settings for creating beautify effects depending on each person’s needs.

To use beauty editing, just turn on the front camera and select Beauty from the top menu. That brings up a menu with four options: Skin Tone, Large Eyes, Slim Face and Shape Correction. All are adjustable on a scale of 1 to 8 (except Shape Correction, which is simply on or off).

Photo Editing Modes

The Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Galaxy Note5 provide various tools for editing photo, such as creating collages, cropping, tone adjustment, changing aspect ratio and applying effects. As always, the focus is on giving you the ability to create and personalize, easily and effectively.

Animate

In addition, there is now a fun new option called Animate, which allows you to string together any photos or other images stored in your phone to create animated shorts. Just follow these steps:

1. Select a photo or image from your Gallery. Select Edit, then choose Animate.
2. Press the + button under the photo, which will take you to your Gallery. Select all the additional images you want to animate, then press DONE.
3. The photos you have selected are now in a row. You can change the order, delete images you do not want to use, or add more images. When you’re satisfied, press DONE.
4. The animated short will play. You can choose Ratio to change the aspect ratio of the film, and Speed for how fast you want the images to move.
5. If you want to make more changes, press EDIT. If you’re all done, press SAVE.

The finished sequence is saved in the Photo Editor album of the Gallery.

If you want to personalize the animated short more, you can always draw on the individual images directly.

See some examples of GIFs created with the Galaxy Note5.

Collage

Using Photo Collage (which has been available since the launch of the Galaxy S6), users can create beautiful multi-photo images in one frame. You can select borders, roundness and aspect ratio, as well as edit each individual photo within the collage.

Share Your Moments, Share Your Life

Whatever the occasion, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 make it easy to create and share the moments that matter most with the people that matter most. With the best in mobile camera technology and the most unique editing features, Samsung helps you share your life, in a style that’s uniquely you.

Each zone will offer ways Samsung can enhance business capabilities, create virtual shopping experiences and leverage partner innovation respectively, for greater productivity and performance.

Samsung has the right TV for everyone, no matter what their home needs. And thanks to Samsung’s cutting edge lineup of UHD and SUHD screens, no matter what TV you choose, you’re certain to get an amazing, immersive experience.

Watch at IFA 2015 to learn more about the future of television.

Car Mode for Galaxy is an app that seamlessly combines your car with your smartphone or other favorite mobile device, allowing you to get directions and navigate, listen to music, and take calls—it will even read your text messages to you—all without taking your hands from the wheel or your eyes from the road.

Another app, Car-Net e-Remote, lets you connect your car to the Gear S2, so you can check to see if your car doors are locked, if the battery is charged, or where you parked your car.

Afterwards, world-renowned chefs Elena Arzak and Modest Amaro joined Troisgros to treat guests to a live cooking demonstration of some of their favorite dishes. After getting the chance to interact with the Michelin-starred culinary masters, attendees were able to sample the tasty treats that were prepared using the Samsung Chef Collection kitchen appliances. Check out the highlights:

To demonstrate these innovations, we have created an IoT Zone, where visitors can learn about and try out the newest and most cutting edge devices. For example, there is the SmartThings Hub, bringing together all the devices in the home in one smart, interconnected center, and SleepSense, a small monitoring device that tracks your sleeping patterns and provides key feedback.

Now you can check out Samsung’s exciting IFA exhibit for yourself—in virtual reality. With this VR tour, available online, people everywhere can explore our innovative vision of the future, anytime, anywhere.

The IoT Zone is a peaceful, reflective area in the middle of Samsung’s exhibition space. It’s a circular space, symbolizing the infinite and boundless possibilities of the IoT. With 24 glass showcases, arranged like the pages of a popup book, the IoT Zone explores four major aspects of our approach to the IoT: SleepSense, the SmartThings platform, Smart TV and the Gear S2.

The showcase kicked off with a captivating presentation highlighting the features of the Gear S2, rooted in the natural perfection of the circle and designed to create an unprecedented level of style and functionality for wearable devices. Check out how exciting the showcase was with this video

So what exactly is IoT capable of? Well, seemingly just about everything. And never before has this been clearer than at the 2015 IFA Samsung Press Conference, when a new video was released, spelling out a few specific (and fantastically awe-inspiring) examples. From things that help one locate a favorite Chardonnay at the supermarket to things that create an optimal environment for a good night’s sleep, IoT makes one’s life richer and more convenient.

But what’s the best thing about the Internet of Things? Simply that it is designed to be in sync with life. Check out the video below to find out how.

Samsung has transformed the world of mobile devices with its curved screen technology, with the dual curves of the Galaxy S6 edge smartphones and flexible displays of the Samsung Gear S and Gear Fit wearables.

But with the debut of the Samsung Gear S2 fast approaching, “curved” is going all-out “circular.”

As anticipation for the newest version of the Gear series builds, a just-released video for the Gear S2 showcases a very different form for the cutting-edge device. The Samsung Gear S2 boasts a very different interface that’s “ready to turn.”

As Alanna Cotton, VP of Mobile Computing Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, promised at the Unpacked event in New York in August 13, its new form “is the shape of things to come.”

One thing that remains the same, though, is the dedication to design and style that has made the entire Gear lineup so popular all over the world.

Fortunately, you don’t have long to wait. The Samsung Gear S2 is set to make its debut on September 3 at IFA in Berlin. You can check out the video for the Gear S2 below and get a sense of the latest in “What’s Next”.

The Galaxy Note5, the latest addition to the Galaxy Note lineup, features an all new design and an all-powerful S pen, and was created with limitless productivity in mind.

With a best-in-class 5.7-inch screen, users can do more, while its design, which incorporates beautiful glass and metal curves, proves that style doesn’t have to be sacrificed for function. The addition of a curved back enables it to better fit in one hand, especially so users can take full advantage of the useful S Pen, which has been redesigned to feel and write just like a real pen.

The new and improved S Pen gives one instant access to an enhanced Air Control menu which now features shortcuts to frequently used apps. Other added functions of the S pen include the ability to take notes on the display without unlocking the screen, as well as “Scroll Capture,” which makes it possible to capture full articles as a seamless image. The S Pen also makes multitasking effortless so you can work, play and create faster than ever before.

Multimedia fanatics will love the Galaxy Note5’s advanced video recording capabilities like 4K (UHD) filming and video collage modes that invite creativity, while those that enjoy sharing life’s finer moments will appreciate the fact that they can now livestream straight from the phone’s camera app.

Find out about some of the other great features of the Galaxy Note5 that allow you to do more and create more in these hands-on videos.

https://youtu.be/s61uCM5Xu78

https://youtu.be/T52C6NXbuwE

With an even bigger dual edge screen, the unique and distinctive Galaxy S6 edge+ provides a more immersive multimedia experience, taking entertainment to an unprecedented level.

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S6 edge, its design is slim, sleek and fits perfectly in your hand while an improved user interface and new features have enhanced the way you communicate with your favorite contacts. In addition to messaging and calling, you can now send emoticons and handwritten memos to your friends via ”People edge.” Furthermore, the new “Apps edge” makes accessing your most frequently used applications a cinch.

The Galaxy S6 edge+ has Video Digital Image Stabilization on both the front and rear cameras which allows for sharp, crisp video on-the-go, and you can also share whatever you’re doing in real time via YouTube with the built-in Live Broadcast function.

See for yourself how these new and improved functions and features make the Galaxy S6 edge+ a truly innovative device by taking a look at these hands-on videos.

Samsung, in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has unveiled the RE:Shakespeare app, which enables users to study and experience the works of the “Bard of Avon.” This hands-on video shows how students of literature can use the app to understand the connection between Shakespeare and modern hip-hop and to practice lines from plays.

Read More: Samsung Unveils RE:Shakespeare App, an Encounter of Digital and Literature

Captured on Samsung Galaxy S6

More and more consumers are illustrating their life stories with pictures. When Samsung designers and engineers were envisioning the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, the camera was a key area of focus. The Galaxy S6’s front and rear cameras are the perfect companions for all journeys. Most photographers will tell you that besides the device, the skill and capability of the photographer dictate the quality of the picture. But at Samsung, we decided to put this to test with the help of 10 Indian journalists and technology bloggers to see whether the average consumer can utilize the features of the Galaxy S6 camera to produce professional photographs and videos.

We embarked on a momentous journey, armed with the Galaxy S6 and its brilliant cameras, to capture the beauty of a town nestled in the heart of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Sikkim. Pelling is abundant with nature’s beauty and offers the perfect opportunity to capture compelling and scenic pictures. And that’s precisely what we wanted – to capture nature in her element with the vivid camera of the Galaxy S6, which brings even ordinary scenes to life in the most extraordinary way.

Captured on Samsung Galaxy S6

Over the three days of our Photowalk, photojournalist Sanjay Austa, took the group through the basics of photography and our product expert helped the enthusiastic group through the many camera features, which include Selective Focus, Slow Motion, Panorama Mode and the Wide Selfie Mode, among others.

Throughout the trip, our photography enthusiasts were engrossed in clicking pictures of the awe-inspiring scenery. Even a downpour couldn’t stop them. The various scenic locations in Pelling offered a plethora of opportunities for our photographers to shoot pictures, which explored the beauty of nature and tested the cameras in various lighting conditions.

Whether it was during early morning walks at sunrise, during the bright sunshine of the afternoon on the gardens and hill slopes, or during sightseeing trips in the mountains bathed in the setting sun at dusk, the Galaxy S6 demonstrated unparalleled camera quality. It captured with vivid clarity the monks in serene monasteries, the colorful flags, the fluttering kites and the temple bells. Gushing waterfalls were captured with the Slow Motion Mode, the engravings in monasteries were taken with the Selective Focus mode and the group took closeups of rare blooms of orchids in the rainforest – all great memories for the group.

Captured on Samsung Galaxy S6

“The future of photography is the smartphone camera,” said Austa. “Professionals do not want to carry heavy equipment around if the same job can be done with your phone. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is fast, has innovative features and can come in handy everywhere a professional camera can.”

At the end of the Photowalk, the group reviewed the more than 2,500 shots that we had captured. Some were amazed to see the professional quality of the shots that they themselves had captured. The Photowalk ended with a firm belief that with a device like the Samsung Galaxy S6, one can never miss capturing any moment in great detail.

See more: [Infographic] The Stylish and Powerful Wireless Audio-360

You might find yourself perched precariously, sitting in a chair on the edge of a building in a post-apocalyptic cityscape as a murder of crows flocks around you. Later, you’re sitting on a rattling railroad, directly in the path of a speeding train.

This is the world of Gear VR, where it’s all about the wow factor, and bringing imagination to life.

First announced in September 2014, the Samsung Gear VR innovators editions, now available for the Galaxy Note 4 and S6 and S6 edge, have a gradually expanding list of apps and content that users can enjoy. But the Suwon, Korea-based team that works with content producers says they have only scratched the surface when it comes to the possibilities that the Gear VR presents.

“The first reaction when someone puts on the Gear VR is ‘Wow, I’ve never seen this before, it’s so real,’” says Weston Chirwa, a manager with the New Business Development Group at Samsung Electronics. “That’s the reaction we are going for with all the contents for the Gear VR.” Whether it’s under the sea amidst marine life, or sitting front row at Cirque du Soleil, or walking through  Korea’s historical heritage, Gear VR’s Oculus Store has a good selection of offerings that packs a heavy visual impact for the first-time user of the head-mounted display.

Chirwa, along with manager Helen Hyunjung Nam and assistant manager Dongmin Shin, spend a lot of time working together with producers, evaluating VR content and offering feedback on how to optimize content for the Gear VR. The goal is to create video and games that are immersive, visually stimulating, entertaining and comfortable for the user.

In partnership with Lionsgate, “Insurgent – Shatter Reality”, as described above, is a fully-immersive, 360-degree narrative experience set in the world of feature film The Divergent Series: Insurgent. In Shatter Reality, which puts the user through a series of mental “simulations,” the user can make eye contact with characters and experience two distinct, intensely gripping and realistic “fearscapes,” transporting them from the frightening heights of a crumbling Chicago skyscraper to the intimidating challenge of a massive, fast-approaching locomotive. In addition to their work with Lionsgate, Nam says Samsung has formed partnerships with other film studios including DreamWorks, FOX and Marvel, who are interested in making VR content. “Some want to provide existing movie contents through a VR application while others wants to create new content in VR,” she says.

After the Gear VR hit the market, interest from content producers skyrocketed. “There is great interest from content providers because it gives them another medium to avail their contents to viewers. We are seeing a good response with content providers. Most people want to be on board with Gear VR,” said Chirwa. “Gear VR brings out the creativity in content providers. It gives them the space to be creative. The viewer is able to see a 360-degree world, so developers can create contents that really wow the imagination. The potential is huge.”

When Chirwa, Nam and Shin are evaluating VR games and videos, two of their biggest considerations are level of immersion and the content’s likelihood to cause dizziness or motion sickness. “If the camera is moving fast, some people get dizzy. So we recommend producers to use small and slow movements. We also find that if objects are too far away in the 360 environment, it doesn’t feel like you are there in that environment. To feel like really being there, the camera needs to be very near the object.” Turning around and seeing a ghost or being suddenly confronted by barking dogs is especially startling in the Gear VR world, but these are creative devices that can make for an even more immersive experience.

“Another thing we are looking for is the quality of the stitching,” says Shin. “For 360-degree video, producers need to use several cameras and then the footage is all stitched together.” Shin adds that similar considerations are made for games. “Game developers really like to use first-person (instead of third-person). But we tell them that for an optimal experience, they need to reduce the speed of movements.”
Shin says one of the best games currently available for Gear VR is HeroBound. The game was created by Oculus CTO John Carmack, the man behind such popular games as Quake and Doom. “The game is well optimized for the Gear VR, he built it based on the capabilities of the hardware. I played it for the first time and I was impressed. It’s like playing a game on your desktop but it’s on the Gear VR.” Shin adds that he believes it is only a matter of time until big video game developers are creating Gear VR editions of their most popular games.

As fascinating as the Gear VR may be thus far, the possibilities for future applications are vast and varied. Some companies are already using virtual reality to market products. For example, major carmarkers like Audi and Lamborghini collaborated with Samsung to offer virtual reality test drives using the Gear VR. “It is going to move fast,” says Nam. “Before long, there will be 360-video cameras for consumers so if there’s a family birthday party, you can stream it to your relatives. We are only at a starting point, but we’ll have these sorts of environments later.”

Chirwa believes that Gear VR will take over the inflight entertainment experience, providing passengers with the chance for more privacy and isolation from the annoyances of other passengers. He adds that Gear VR will undoubtedly be a part of the Internet of Things revolution, with the capability of interacting with every other device in the house. The Gear VR has a see-through camera function which brings in the potential of augmented reality. There is potential to overlay information using the Gear VR, so you can look over at your refrigerator and see what is inside. “You are using the Gear VR but you’re interacting with the outside environment and you can overlay everything,” Chirwa says.

Thus far, the focus of most Gear VR content has been entertainment. But educational applications are possible as well. “We feel like the potential is there and future is very bright,” says Chirwa. “We are happy to be the first pioneers to be producing a product that is viable and above the competition in terms of what’s already on the market. The Samsung Gear VR has a 96-degree field of view. It is the best virtual reality product out there.”

No other point in time has as much power or potential as the moment of “now.” “Now” is the only time that truly exists; as such, it is the only moment in which we can truly live. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are two smartphones that allow you to capture this powerful moment and, at the same time, live it.

To show this, an expansive journey around the world was designed to illustrate this compelling moment through the eyes of the Galaxy S6 smartphone. In this epic adventure, the features of the device were highlighted to create a unique interactive online experience exclusively at www.samsung.com/galaxy in which users could engage with the moment more deeply in Samsung’s “Next is Now” campaign.

For the last leg of the journey, Samsung invited photographer Daniel Lau, who is famous for scaling some of the world’s tallest and most breathtaking landmarks and buildings, to join in on the excitement and encourage more users to take part in the campaign.

He captured stunning imagery with the Galaxy S6’s new camera features at all new heights in Shenzhen, China. In addition, every heart-stopping moment of his journey to the top was captured in a unique 360-degree experience, allowing online users to climb alongside him virtually.

https://youtu.be/GnaED9t9UpU

The “Next Is Now” campaign has connected with and engaged users along the way through interactive storytelling and the digital streaming of these events. During the journey, three “Now Moments” were lived out by iconic influencers who continuously push the boundaries in their respective fields. The event that kicked off this particular campaign involved “Jetman” Yves Rossy when he took to the skies of Dubai in an extraordinary race against the Samsung Galaxy S6’s Fast Charge function. Get a glimpse of the experience with this video.

World-renowned artist Marco Brambilla created a video sculpture inspired by the iconic design of the Samsung Galaxy S6 for the campaign’s second event. The online experience following its reveal in Barcelona allowed users to deeply engage with the masterpiece, exploring its curves and zooming in to see every angle of Brambilla’s mesmerizing structure. See more in this video.

Throughout the campaign, users shared their personal experiences and took part in the online conversation using the hashtag #NextIsNow. Here are a few of their comments:

“A Samsung video that shows how fast it’s charging compared to “Jetman”. This is really cool!”

“I want to watch this over and over and over… I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!”

“This is how you launch a new phone. http://bit.ly/1JcvU1a #NextIsNow”

“First impressions: Sexy & blazing fast! #GalaxyS6 #NextIsNow”

For the fifth consecutive year, we are taking part in the Milan Design Week between April 14-19, led by a video installation depicting our vision and understanding of the Internet of Things, or IoT. Our exhibit, including the installation, has been set up in the Samsung District in Milan.

“Our design philosophy is to create new possibilities based on our understanding of consumers and their lifestyles,” said BK Yoon, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics, who also oversees the Samsung Design Center. “This philosophy will continue to underline our designs, as we look to foster new lifestyles through innovative, new products.”

Exhibited under the theme, ‘Embrace: Sensorial Experience,’ the video installation consists of two horizontally stacked rings, each measuring 10 meters in diameter, hovering above ground. Underneath the unembellished, dark exterior surface of each ring, the interior surface is composed of 36 curved SUHD TV panels that take you through an immersive passage of the IoT world.

While both rings are stacked on top of each other when stationary, once they begin to rotate, they start to oscillate vertically, creating a wavering gap. While doing so, the rings begin to exude abstract images in a vibrant palette of colors.

The passage starts as small dots appear, symbolizing individual objects. These dots begin to enlarge, and lines begin to appear, connecting an ever-growing number of objects. As the dots and lines start to exhibit brighter colors, the lines then begin to move, turning into waves, while the dots evolve into different shapes and forms. The passage culminates in a forceful burst of energy that symbolizes the “big bang” of the IoT era.

In addition to the video installation, we are also showing our Chef Collection kitchen appliances and our latest SUHD TV’s, namely the JS9500 and JS9000, as well as the UN82S9W which was designed in collaboration with Yves Behar.

Find out more about our past Milan exhibitions at: http://www.design.samsung.com/global/#milanoportal

http://youtu.be/5X7KiYSK5Xg?list=PLTHa7qutpLjAhrOqCCVWWI9i_nSVOwDwd