What You Missed at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015

Throngs of eager journalists toting oversized lenses crowd a narrow sidewalk, refusing to surrender their spots in line, seemingly undeterred by the midsummer heat. An immediately recognizable suspense fills the air, while their chatter becomes increasingly more excited. Most of it consists of speculations and expectations surrounding Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015, which has finally arrived after much anticipation.

Welcome to New York

While the feelings of excitement are very familiar, the surroundings are less so. Samsung’s monumental product revelation event made its way to New York City, a metropolis known for creativity, entertainment and being ahead of the trends.

Soon enough, it’s time for the event to begin. The doors open and chaos ensues as hundreds spill into the three story glass lobby of Alice Tully Hall of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, eager to get one of the coveted seats that are only available on a first come, first served basis.

The concert hall, which is home to the New York Film Festival and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, is at once state-of-the-art and architecturally impressive, much like the enhanced versions of Samsung’s Unpacked products that are minutes away from being revealed.

Unpacked and Unveiled

As event attendees take their seats, the lights dim and the screens illuminate, filling the room with a palpable energy. Soon enough, JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics, takes the stage. The audience sits in silence as he delivers the keynote address, highlighting the company’s core vision behind all the innovations based on the needs of consumers.

“The fact is, we’re all using our smartphones in two major ways,” Shin claims. “So we developed two devices: one ideal for the multimedia consumer, the other that’s perfect for the multi-tasker.”

And with that, the much anticipated devices are presented to the cameras and eyes that remain glued to the stage. A collective “oooh” sounds from the audience as they let out an applause that resounds throughout the hall, ushering in a new era in the Galaxy series.

Justin Denison, VP of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Samsung Electronics America, steps up to unveil more about the Galaxy Note5, the latest version of Samsung’s S Pen-laden super-sized smartphone and the centerpiece of the event.

Images of the device illustrate its narrow bezel and curved back, which give it a sturdier grip than its predecessor. Likewise, its design has received an upgrade, expertly crafted from strong but beautiful premium metal and glass. The real excitement, however, commences with the announcement of the enhanced S Pen functionality, which includes improved writing capabilities and a more intuitive and customizable Air Command feature to allow for more efficient multi-tasking.

Denison notes the new S Pen is better than ever and is “to the Note what the mouse is to the PC, making it an indispensable tool for creators.”

Next up is Alanna Cotton, VP of Product Marketing, Samsung Electronics America, who offers a few words about the Galaxy S6 edge+, which boasts an impressive 5.7-inch AMOLED dual edge display, a testament to Samsung’s craftsmanship and technical leadership, that allows for an optimal viewing experience with the same great design and abilities of the Galaxy S6 flagship phone that was released last April.

When designing the latest device, Cotton explains, Samsung aspired to combine the highly praised dual edge with a much desired large display. “Now we’re bringing everything you love to the big screen” she says.

Utilizing the stunning dual edge design, the phone aims to enhance the way users interact by allowing them to send emoticons and hand-written messages to their favorite contacts on “People edge.” Additionally, the phone’s usability has been improved with the addition of a moveable floating “handler” which allows for quick access to the edge’s exclusive functions.

Next is Now (and Coming Soon)

Despite their differences, the two new products boast equally impressive and innovative features, as discussed by Justin Denison when he returns to the stage. Of them, the ones that generate the most buzz from the audience are those that answer to the growing needs of the public.

The new immersive multimedia features include improved video capabilities and a live broadcast mode that allow one to share the moment more easily.  Furthermore, the devices can be charged faster than ever before, and can be seamlessly connected with other devices with SideSync.

Yet, the most anticipated feature is announced by Injong Rhee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, Global Head of Samsung Pay, when he introduces the launch dates of Samsung Pay, the mobile payment service that has garnered much media attention in recent months. The simple, safe process that can be used virtually anywhere aims to bring consumers closer than ever to a world without wallets.

Just when it seems like things could not get more exciting at this year’s Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, a teaser video flashes animated images of the Gear S2, slated to be released in Berlin next month, across the screen. It was just a hint of what’s to come, but the video of the highly anticipated wearable device illustrates how Samsung never stops innovating, showing the public that they are in for even more surprises very soon.

Enhanced and Hands-On

Although the product presentations have concluded, the event is not quite over. Lucky attendees are ushered into the product experience zone in which they are given the opportunity to participate in a hands-on session with the long-awaited devices. It becomes clear that the completely enhanced Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 exceed the expectations of attendees, who seem to agree that the electronics manufacturer has once again outdone itself in blending form and function with industry leading features.

In what seems like a matter of minutes, Unpacked has come to an end. Event participants make their way out, exiting at the corner of Broadway and 65th Street. By now, the previous commotion has died down a bit, but one thing is for certain: Samsung has left its mark on the City That Never Sleeps with its new accomplishments, affirming the company’s commitment to being a creative leader in an ever-evolving market.