by Hark-sang Kim

In light of modest global sales recently, some observers say that smartphone innovation has hit a bottleneck, as new devices bear more iterative upgrades instead of groundbreaking features. Others even predict that the smartphone era may be coming to an end soon.

But with mobile technologies like 5G, AI, and AR maturing rapidly, users will be able to do even more with their smartphones soon. Instead of losing relevance, the next wave of technological innovation will make the smartphone more central to our lives than ever before. Whether it’s leveraging increased connectivity or harnessing next-generation mobile intelligence, a larger display will be key to accessing future smartphone experiences.

Despite current trends, we are still living in a world where the size of the smartphone display can only be as large as the device itself. At Samsung, we began to ask ourselves how we can overcome this limitation and expand the possibilities of what users can accomplish on the go.

The Shape of Things to Come

Smartphone displays can’t get any larger without compromising portability – this was the orthodoxy for a long time.

Instead of accepting the status quo, resolving the contradiction between screen size and portability and developing a new form factor became the central focus of our innovation efforts.

The recent unveiling of the Infinity Flex Display at SDC 2018 signaled the start of this new chapter. But building a foldable device was no mean feat. After the prototypes of the flexible display debuted at CES in 2011, it took another seven years to perfect the technology and deliver a truly meaningful experience to users. From developing new materials to overcoming mechanical challenges, the foldable screen demanded a total reconfiguration of the smartphone from inside out.

Preparing for the New Era

We expect to see a sea change in the smartphone form factor in the coming years. From rollable and stretchable devices to the devices that can fold in multiple ways are no longer beyond the realms of reality. Samsung is ready to usher in this future and create meaningful experiences for consumers that help them do more of what they love.

To build the new foldable device, we made significant investments to create a new material that completely changes the anatomy of the smartphone display. We also created a natural and durable folding experience that users can appreciate from the very first time they unfold the device and crafted an innovative mechanical technology that can withstand hundreds of thousands of folds. We also had to rethink the placements of the battery, cooling system, and camera so that they can be placed inside the slim body efficiently. Last but not least, we developed an intuitive UX to ensure apps can transition seamlessly between the smaller and larger displays. We are committed to continue pushing the limits of possibility and lead the mobile industry into a new era.

Smartphone innovation is at the cusp of the next major transformation. The arrival of the Infinity Flex Display is just the beginning. We will continue pushing the limits of possibility and shape the future as it unfolds.

The Writer is Senior Vice President, Head of Visual R&D Team, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics

Last month at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC18), Samsung Electronics revealed a number of exciting enhancements that underscore Bixby’s transformation into an open, scalable intelligence platform that empowers users to interact with a wide range of devices to get things done.

During the sessions, Samsung signified the democratization of Bixby, introducing the Bixby Developer Studio: a collection of intuitive tools that allow partners and developers to infuse intelligence into more products and services. To scale services powered by Bixby, developers can now build Bixby Capsules (features or services created for Bixby) and connect them to their existing APIs. The Bixby experience will be further enriched once the Bixby Marketplace officially opens, allowing users to browse through a variety of capsules that developers create and activate them on their devices as they wish.

To learn more about how the company is enriching Bixby by empowering developers to build their own Bixby experiences, Samsung Newsroom spoke to Danny Whang, a Principal Engineer in Samsung Electronics’ AI Strategy Group.

Q. Samsung revealed the “Bixby Developer Studio” at SDC18. How did developers react? What actions are Samsung taking, going forward?

We garnered a lot of attention on the Bixby developer Studio, as seen by the 4,000+ developers who attended SDC18. Ever since, we’ve established a number of ‘Developer Relations’ departments that serve as touchpoints for developers to connect with our specialized Bixby experts and get answers to any questions that they may have. They’re currently up and running in the U.S., China and Korea, and we’re working on expanding to locations around the world. We’re also organizing more events that will allow us to meet and collaborate with talented developers.

Q. What were some of the steps that Samsung took to transform Bixby into a full-fledged AI platform?

We’ve always thought of Bixby as a platform through which people can use various Bixby services across multiple compatible devices. The first iteration of Bixby was revealed as an intelligent interface that interacts with our mobile devices because we wanted to unveil each function at the appropriate moment.

We also thought long and hard about ways to improve the consumer experience, and make it easier for developers to create dynamic Bixby services. Our goals in releasing these new tools are to help third-party developers build services more comfortably and efficiently, and eventually get more developers to participate in the Bixby ecosystem. This will help develop the Bixby Marketplace, to offer consumers a place where they can easily pick and choose the services they want.

Q. What is Samsung doing to encourage more developers to participate?

We are offering developers access to the same tools that we use to build those services, and this comes in the form of the Bixby Developer Studio. We’ve created this so that developers can create Bixby Capsules more efficiently. With it, developers and AI can work together to make programs – when the developer gives Bixby the building blocks, Bixby uses the developers’ models to learn about users, making it a collaborative process with the AI.

In addition to providing developers with the tools they need to take Bixby’s convenience to the next level, we’re continuously enhancing the platform with more devices, more services, and support for more languages.

Other than that, we are investing more in technologies such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and other technologies in the Audio Intelligence category so that Bixby can understand the natural language better.

Q. You mentioned the Bixby Marketplace. How many Bixby Capsules will need to be ready before the Marketplace opens, and what types of capsules can users expect to find there?

When it comes to the Bixby Marketplace, what really matters isn’t the sheer number of capsules, but the actual quality of the Bixby Capsule selection. The Marketplace will feature a wide range of capsules spanning categories like transportation, music, lifestyle and more, and we’ll need to have enough high-quality capsules ready to fill out those categories.

The more third-party developers jump on board and contribute innovative capsules, the faster the Marketplace will be up and running. When it officially opens, developers will also be able to upload more capsules to the Marketplace. These capsules will utilize Bixby’s natural language understanding to simplify users’ daily lives. Users will be able to easily access every single one of them through the Marketplace.

Q. Is the new Bixby compatible with Samsung’s TVs and appliances as well? Will developers’ Bixby Capsules need to be customized to work on these devices?

Devices that already support Bixby, from our Family Hub and Smart TVs, will also be made compatible with the New Bixby in the near future.

As far as Bixby Capsules are concerned, just because Bixby functions across a variety of devices doesn’t necessarily mean that developers will have to rebuild their capsules to make them compatible with each. Various departments in Samsung are working closely together to make this aspect of the development process as simple as possible.

Each device’s features might be different – the device may or may not have screens or speakers, for example. But for each device, all the developer will have to do is reorganize the layout of the data. These capsules for various devices will be easy to develop, as the tools Samsung provides will include various UI components and simulators that help developers in their processes.

Q. Compared to other intelligent assistants, what are some key benefits that Bixby offers developers and consumers?

Seamlessness, for one. With Bixby, you’re dealing with a single assistant across all kinds of devices—one that’s constantly being optimized to enhance its convenience.

Samsung sells more than 500 million devices a year, creating millions of opportunities for consumers to engage with dynamic Bixby services. We’re committed to expanding the platform to encompass all Samsung devices in the near future, starting with five more languages in the coming months. And with our industry-leading expertise in mobile, display and home innovations, we understand exactly how to create simple and unified multi-device experiences.

Because the platform invites third-party developers to contribute their own services, and encourages users to utilize the services that work for them, each person’s experience is ultimately unique. That inherent aspect of personalization is part of Bixby’s beauty.

Q. Do you have any final words for developers out there who are interested in growing their services with Bixby? What do you see as the future for Bixby?

Because Bixby is an open platform—a platform that will constantly evolve as more and more developers create and contribute innovative capsules—we can’t even imagine what the future will hold. But we’re excited to find out.

With Bixby, you’re looking at a platform that allows your services to truly shine, and offers a means to deliver them to millions of users around the world. We still have areas where we need to improve, and I encourage interested developers to join us on this journey, provide us with constructive feedback, and help us build a more seamless and connected future.

We’ve all dreamed of a futuristic world where the boring chores of day-to-day life are handled by robots at the touch of a button or by a simple voice command. Whether it’s managing a busy calendar, making sure the laundry gets done, or having the latest headline news and a cup of hot coffee ready to make the morning a little less daunting, we all want tech to help make our lives a little easier. Thanks to Samsung’s vision for connected living, that futuristic world is becoming a reality.

At the Samsung Developer Conference 2017, the company announced a major step toward that vision with the consolidated SmartThings Cloud, which brought together all of Samsung’s IoT devices and services under a single, seamless platform. The addition of the SmartThings app unified the IoT experience, making it easier than ever to help consumers organize their lives, so they can achieve more. Developments like these have turned SmartThings into one of the largest connected platforms in the world – available in more than 200 markets with more than 18 million devices.

This year, Samsung is furthering those developments by opening the Bixby Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to collaborate with partners and developers, so that new mobile devices, home appliances, consumer electronics, connected cars, and services can leverage Samsung’s intelligence platform and continue to expand SmartThings.

Patrick Chomet, Executive Vice President of Product and Innovation at Samsung Electronics, sat down to discuss some of the company’s latest developments as it pushes toward a world of truly connected living.

Q: Let’s start big picture: what does the future of the IoT market look like?

A:  We live in a time where consumers are continually looking for new experiences. It’s not difficult to find people that use services on multiple devices, and there are signs that they increasingly find it more satisfying to pay for a new experience rather than purchase a new product. They say it brings them more joy.

So it’s not surprising to see new categories of products emerge – products that offer a novel experience for consumers. The Internet of Things, which is poised to expand quickly in the coming years, is a great example. Within this realm, smart speakers are carving out a solid space, posting significant growth in the number of units just in the span of one year from 2017.

It’s no exaggeration to say voice is going mainstream. This novel technology has become a disruptive force and is redefining how people interact with their devices. Some project half of all searches are expected to be by voice by 2020, and already nearly 40 percent of adults are said to use voice search once a day.

Against this backdrop, Samsung is in a position where it leads innovation at scale, enjoys a large installed base, and longlasting relationships with key partners. Considering the trends mentioned, and the heritage we have, Samsung is in a unique position to capture new opportunities in the IoT space.

Q: A lot can change in one year. Exactly how has Samsung’s IoT ecosystem developed since SDC 2017?

A: During SDC 2017, we announced the SmartThings cloud: a unified platform, controlling all Samsung devices. Now, we are focusing on opening it to partners. This is part of a broader concept, called ‘democratization of IoT.’

Q: Can you expand on what the democratization of IoT means for Samsung?

A: Consumers find the smart home setup complex; there are also too many ways to access and share content, and it is also virtually impossible to control all smart devices with one hub. Meanwhile, families want more out of voice commands; they look for ways to mitigate tedious tasks, and want to track things like energy usage and waste.

Considering these needs, Samsung is focusing on creating simple, yet relevant experiences at scale. This is the foundation for the ‘democratization of IoT.’ We are pursuing meaningful changes that help people live smarter, better lives.

Going forward, Samsung will focus on improving contextual experiences, whether it’s at home, out of home, or in the car with Connected Living, Entertainment, Health & Fitness, or Communication experiences. To support these experiences, Samsung is developing technological foundations (platforms) such as account management, Bixby, and SmartThings Cloud.

These platforms will be open to all partners. For instance, service partners will be invited to integrate their solutions with our platforms, providing access to their services to most of our customer touchpoints, such as screens and speakers.

To show this in practice, we developed a partnership with Korea Power Exchange. We’ve created a service that allows people to control and manage their energy consumption during peak periods when prices are at their highest. Not only do they save money, they do better for the environment.

Q: You’ve mentioned quite a few developments with Bixby – what role do these changes play in the democratization of IoT?

In the case of Bixby, our intelligent platform, we are opening the Bixby Developer Studio so that third-party developers can create their own Bixby-enabled services that can be used across Samsung’s huge device ecosystem. We’ve also introduced the Bixby Developer Center, a learning resource for developers, and the Bixby Marketplace, where they can sell their services. We’ve also expanded language support for Bixby, to bring those services to more markets.

Q: When it comes to building a bigger device ecosystem, how has Samsung been working on new SmartThings product integrations?

To provide peace of mind and simplify our home environment, we’ve partnered with Plume to create SmartThings Wi-Fi, an AI-powered router. Not only can it learn your usage patterns to optimize your home’s Wi-Fi performance, it can help you control and manage your home automations. We’ve also implemented Works with SmartThings (WWST), our functional and security certification program for SmartThings devices that ensures new devices meet our guidelines so consumers get the best experience.

Q: Let’s talk more about Galaxy Home. How does Galaxy Home fit into everything we’ve been talking about?

Galaxy Home will improve ‘connected living’ experiences and relationships with the ecosystem of home devices. Now, Galaxy Home could be used to streamline difficult set-ups, settings and control devices and services.

And soon, Galaxy Home will be able to command hundreds of devices, from your washing machine to your car, from the comfort of your couch. If you’ve got a Galaxy phone, it can even help you make calls or find it when you misplace it.

Q: There are already many smart speakers on the market. What makes Galaxy Home different?

First of all, it’s incredibly easy to set up. Thanks to Bixby, users get a more integrated smart home experience right out of the box and hands-free control of home devices.

In addition, the sound quality is one of the standout features. Galaxy Home comes equipped with Harman’s Natural Sound Processing (NSP) that automatically turns stereo signals into 5.1 surround sound, so you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of a concert when listening to your favorite album. It’s also the first smart speaker to feature Soundsteer, so you can tell Galaxy Home to aim the sound in your direction while you’re busy cooking in the kitchen or preparing for your day in the morning.

And last but not least, Galaxy Home comes with a growing list of ecosystem partners. One great example is Spotify, the leading music platform. It’s partnering with Samsung to provide the best music content so users can enjoy all this through an intelligent, premium sound experience.

Featuring over 5,000 attendees, roughly 60 technical sessions, and a total of 35 booths, the fifth edition of Samsung’s showcase of technologies designed to empower developers and creators to build the software and services of tomorrow transformed San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center into a crossroads ‘Where Now Meets Next’.

The exciting AI, IoT and mobile advancements unveiled during the two-day event—encompassing, Bixby, SmartThings, UX/UI design and more—will enable partners and developers to create seamlessly connected, intelligent experiences across software, services and devices. The resulting innovations will have the power to change the lives of consumers around the world—ultimately making connected living a reality for more people.

In case you missed it, here’s a rundown of five factors that made SDC18 unforgettable.

#1 Announcements of Exciting Developer Tools

Day one of SDC18 began with a flurry of exciting announcements revealing advancements that will enable partners and developers to unlock the power of AI in their products and services, and demonstrate the true value of connected living to their customers.

Keynote speakers including DJ Koh, President and CEO and Head of Samsung Electronics’ IT and Mobile Communications Division, explained how new additions such as the Bixby Developer Studio and the new and improved SmartThings Developer Workspace will strengthen the world’s most powerful technology ecosystem, and help the company foster an ecosystem of open innovation that spans every aspect of people’s lives.

The speakers also offered a first look at Samsung’s new One UI, as well as the company’s highly anticipated Infinity Flex Display. The former features an intuitive interface that makes interactions with your device more natural, and makes it easier to focus on tasks at hand. The latter features a revolutionary foldable design that lays the foundation for an entirely new kind of mobile experience.

After introducing the exciting new developer tools and resources, the speakers encouraged attendees to experience them for themselves in the exhibition zone.

#2 Expert Insights

Day two of SDC18 kicked off with a bang as Samsung employees and leading lights of the worlds of gaming, film and mobile technology discussed technologies that could dictate the future of their respective fields.

(From left) Sarah Bond, Head of Xbox/Microsoft; Thomas Ko, VP at Samsung Electronics; Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games; John Hanke, CEO of Niantic.

The conference’s Spotlight Session was led by a presentation on Samsung’s latest gaming and AR innovations and partnerships, followed by a panel discussion on the future of gaming that featured Sarah Bond, Head of Xbox/Microsoft, as well as John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, and Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games.

(Clockwise from top left) Marc Mathieu, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Electronics America; Dag Kittlaus, CEO of Viv Labs; Sally Jeong, VP at Samsung Electronics; Nobutaka “Nobu” Ide, CEO of Wacom.

Other keynote speakers headlining day two included Nobutaka “Nobu” Ide, CEO of Wacom, and Spike Jonze, director of the AI-inspired film “Her”. Mr. Ide led a captivating presentation that examined how Samsung’s S Pen is reshaping the ways in which consumers interact with their device to get things done. Mr. Jonze sat down for a fireside chat on the intersection of AI and humanity, and described why he, as an artist, believes that developers should prioritize maintaining the human element when developing AI technology.

#3 A Firsthand Look at Samsung’s Latest Innovations

Samsung packed the conference center with a wide range of exhibits that offered attendees all they needed to know about innovations including SmartThings and Bixby, as well as Samsung’s mobile services, Smart TVs, Tizen, and more.

The interactive exhibits allowed attendees to experience the company’s latest mobile, display and home technologies, and spotlighted innovative ways that partners have utilized them to build dynamic solutions. Featured technologies in the mobile section included devices such as Samsung DeX and the Galaxy Watch, as well as apps and services such as Samsung Pay and Samsung Health.

Other sections of the booth showcased Samsung’s Smart TV services and digital appliances, and highlighted exciting ways to develop IoT, Smart TV and wearable services using the Tizen OS. Visitors to the Tizen section were offered in-depth introductions to TizenRT and the Tizen TV and Tizen .NET SDKs, including rundowns of available APIs, SDK tools and resources.

#4 Fun and Interactive Activities

Each SDC features a full slate of engaging sessions that demonstrate innovative ways for developers to build apps and services utilizing Samsung’s latest technologies. This year’s sessions slate placed Bixby, SmartThings and Samsung’s new foldable UX center stage. Samsung and industry experts answered participants’ every question through fun and informative lectures, panels and discussions.

But the interactive fun didn’t stop there, as SDC18 also included exciting competitions, giveaways and challenges that made the entire experience that much more memorable.

The Bixby Developer Showcase was one such example. In the lead up to SDC18, Samsung challenged developers to come up with first-class Bixby experiences, for the most dynamic submissions. On the second day of SDC18, the competition’s finalists presented their Bixby Capsules, which demonstrate the AI technology’s incredible potential. Competitions like this demonstrate exciting ways that Samsung and developers are making Bixby better.

Each SDC also features a wide array of workshops and activities that allow attendees to get up close and personal with Samsung’s latest innovations.

This year, the interactive workshops were held within the confines of the Code Lab, located at the center of the conference hall. Covering the ins and outs of developing for Bixby, SmartThings, Samsung DeX and more, these in-depth workshops offered attendees the opportunity to hone their coding skills with the aid of Samsung’s experienced instructors. Notable examples included workshops demonstrating how to create a Bixby Capsule for a service, as well as how to build SmartThings apps with TizenRT.

#5 A Peek at Life-changing Projects

Some of the most inspiring exhibits included at this year’s event spotlighted Samsung initiatives that are affecting change in communities that many attendees call home.

The exhibits demonstrated interesting ways that Samsung technologies are being used to create life-changing solutions. One of the most attention-grabbing examples was the booth for Rehago, an innovative training system (created through Samsung Germany’s “Life’s a Pitch” startup competition) that helps hemiplegic stroke patients during recovery.

Other standouts included the exhibits for Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program, which encourages students to use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to develop solutions to issues affecting their communities; Project Pontis, which enables Samsung Smart TV users with physical limitations to control their TV via brain waves; and uSound, an app that helps detect the risk of hearing loss and improves quality of life through communication and education for those affected by it.

And thus concludes another successful Samsung Developer Conference. For more information on the topics and innovations that were discussed at the event, be sure to check out Samsung Newsroom’s recap of SDC18’s keynote speeches. And don’t forget to check back here for more updates on Samsung’s latest AI, IoT and developer innovations.

Not so long ago, consoles and PCs were the only platforms powerful enough to deliver the best gaming experiences. But as the computing and graphics capability of smartphones continue to improve, the experience of gaming on mobile devices can now rival traditional platforms.

The statistics speak for themselves. There are an estimated 2.1 billion mobile gamers around the world; 56 percent of them play games on their phone more than ten times per week.

As the Galaxy smartphone is the world’s largest platform for Android games, Samsung is in a unique position to shape the future of mobile gaming. Our aim is simple – create immersive and unique experiences for gamers across the globe.

Our commitment to push the boundaries of mobile gaming led to the establishment of Galaxy GameDev in 2016 – a program dedicated to supporting global game developers and partners.

Since the program was announced at SDC 2016, it has helped over 50 partners, including Unity and Epic Games, optimize their offerings. By providing cutting-edge tools to developers, such as 64-bit and Vulkan API, GameDev set a new standard in the quality of mobile gaming. The launch of Fortnite for Android with Galaxy Note9 is just one of many examples of the program’s enormous influence on the gaming landscape.

Building on the progress made to date, we are ready to take mobile gaming on Galaxy to the next level. At the core of our vision are three principles – help game developers to create best games, help users discover great games, and help the game industry to grow its great ecosystem.

To turn this vision into reality, we are taking steps to provide the best support for the game development industry and game developers.

In the coming year, Galaxy GameDev will expand to include even more cutting-edge tools, including GPUWatch andGameSDK with Android P.

To help our gaming partners easily deliver their latest creations to their fans, we are launching the Galaxy Store Seller Program. For users, the brand-new Galaxy Store, the only store in Galaxy, will simplify the steps to find new games on Galaxy phones and more exclusive benefits.

And finally, we are strengthening Samsung IAP by enhancing the fraud detection system, settlement system and the seller dashboard. Our partnership program called Made4Samsung that started in the US will also expand globally, providing more opportunities for developers to commercialize their games.

The future of mobile gaming is limitless and now is the perfect time to join the world of Galaxy. Together with the developer community, let’s become the game changer.

Samsung has been working to expand its gaming ecosystem to make Galaxy devices the go-to platform for gamers. The all-new Galaxy Store, for example, will become the single destination for all digital items related to Galaxy devices, making it easier and more convenient to discover and download everything from new games, to applications, themes, fonts and more.

With developers in mind, the company is enabling high-performance game development through its Galaxy GameDev program, which features exclusive tools and technical support.

• Vulkan API equips developers with the right tools to deliver a high-quality gaming experience. An enhanced iteration of Vulkan announced at Samsung Developer Conference 2018, offers 10 percent improved performance compared to the OpenGL ES, taking user gaming experience to the next level.

• GPUWatch aids developers in their monitoring and measurement of performance between Vulkan and OpenGL ES. It’s now packed with new features, such as overlaid measurement results and real-time information on-screen – all made possible without separate installation or PC connection.

Along with key partnerships with some of the world’s biggest game companies such as Epic Games, Square Enix and Niantic Inc., Samsung has created an unparalleled mobile gaming platform that makes having fun on the go easier than ever. Check out the motion graphic below to see all that’s new with Samsung’s gaming ambitions from Samsung Developer Conference 2018.

This year’s Samsung Developer Conference (SDC18) is still more than a week away, but the excitement is already building for Samsung’s showcase of technologies that will help developers and creators build the software and services of tomorrow.

Held from November 7–8 in San Francisco, SDC18 offers a platform for developers and partners to unlock exciting business opportunities by utilizing Samsung’s latest technology. The conference features a full slate of enlightening sessions, hosted by Samsung and tech industry leaders, that cover the latest advancements in AI, IoT and more. These engaging and informative lectures, panels and workshops offer attendees a first look at the company’s newest SDKs, partnerships and dev tools, and allow them to connect one-on-one with Samsung product experts and developers from across the industry.

Read on to learn more about some of the exciting sessions that will make SDC18 an event Where Now Meets Next.

Spotlight Session

The Spotlight Session headlining day two of SDC18 will cover some of the tech industry’s most interesting topics. Hear from thought leaders in gaming and AI as they discuss exciting news, and reveal their respective outlooks on the future.

Samsung will also share insights into its gaming strategy during the session, and spotlight innovations encompassing artificial intelligence, the S Pen, and much more. Speakers include Sarah Bond, Xbox/Microsoft’s Head of Global Gaming Partnerships and Development; Tim Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Epic Games, the studio behind the wildly popular Fortnite; and John Hanke, Founder and CEO of Niantic Labs, makers of Pokémon Go.

Bixby

SDC18 features a variety of sessions that demonstrate how Samsung’s intelligence, Bixby, is shaping the landscape for AI platforms. Spanning lectures, panels and interactive activities, these sessions, including those listed below, offer attendees the insights they need to develop seamless user experiences for a wide range of devices and services.

• Bixby and the New Exponential Frontier of Intelligent Assistants
  In this session, key business and technical leaders from the Bixby team will explain the ins and outs of the technology, outline Bixby’s vision for a new kind of open ecosystem for developers, and discuss how and why to get involved.

• Teaching Bixby Fundamentals: What You Need to Know
  Learn how to access Bixby’s development tools, including Bixby SDK and IDE, to create a Bixby experience for your business and prepare it for launch within the Bixby ecosystem.

• Conquer the World with Bixby: Building for Multiple Languages and Locations
  The world is filled with millions of devices and millions of users. In this session, you’ll learn how to expand your user base by offering experiences that work well on multiple devices and for multiple languages and locales, while maximizing code reuse across experiences.

SmartThings

Last year at SDC, Samsung unveiled SmartThings, a new platform for connecting and controlling smart devices. This year, the company will discuss SmartThings’ latest enhancements, and demonstrate ways to implement the intuitive platform into more devices. Highlighted sessions include:

• SmartThings 101: New to SmartThings
  This session will discuss topics such as which kinds of SmartThings API integrations can be built, as well as how to quickly create and integrate with the SmartThings API.

• Streamlining IoT Systems: SmartThings Cloud-to-Cloud Device Integration
  This session will introduce a new Developer Workspace for integrating cloud-connected devices with SmartThings. The workspace will feature new APIs and tools that will streamline development and go-to-market processes. Devices that are integrated with SmartThings will be controlled by Bixby and other voice assistant platforms, as well as a full ecosystem of automation and service integrations.

• What’s New in the SmartThings Platform?
  The SmartThings ecosystem has seen tremendous growth since its renewed launch last year. This session will cover what’s new with the platform, and discuss incorporating support for new services and devices.

Gaming

Two years ago, at SDC 2016, Samsung launched its Galaxy GameDev program, which offers developers the support they need to bring their games to life. This year, Samsung is renewing its commitment to empowering developers’ creativity by introducing a slew of new SDKs and tools. A series of fun technical sessions will demonstrate how to utilize these technologies to optimize games for Galaxy devices. Notable sessions include:

• Galaxy: The Best GameDev Platform
  This session will examine Galaxy GameDev partnerships with some of the biggest names in mobile games, and preview soon-to-be-released tools and a new SDK.

• Fortnite Behind the Story: Road to Android and Vulkan Collaboration with Galaxy GameDev
  Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Samsung and Epic Games optimized the global-phenomenon game’s performance for Galaxy devices.

And Much More

Also included among the dozens of sessions in SDC18’s jam-packed lineup are presentations that will introduce enhancements to fan-favorite apps such as Samsung Pay and Samsung Health, as well as Samsung DeX, AR Emoji, Bixby Vision, Samsung Knox, and the Tizen OS. Notable sessions include:

• Do What Your Phone Can’t With Samsung DeX
  Samsung DeX allows you to turn virtually any place into a workplace by letting you use your phone to power a PC-like experience. In addition to sharing updates on how to optimize apps for Samsung DeX, this session will include a demonstration of how the new Linux on DeX helps developers work more flexibly.

• Technical Aspects of Galaxy Watch App Development
  This session will discuss key aspects of Galaxy Watch app development, with a focus on the Tizen 4.0 Wearable SDK. Attendees will learn how to develop a best-in-show Galaxy Watch app from concept to design and development, and explore exciting use cases for Galaxy Watch users.

• Samsung AR Emoji Studio: Create and Market New Avatars
  The combination of AR and emojis has changed the way people communicate and express themselves digitally. In this session, attendees can check out Samsung’s new Avatar Studio and its features and tools, and learn how to publish new 3D avatars in the Galaxy Apps store.

• Samsung Pay, More Than a Wallet
  Samsung Pay, a widely accepted mobile payment service, now includes even more features that can help merchants grow their online and offline businesses. Our Samsung Pay In-App and Web SDKs have enabled frictionless online payments at merchants around the world. We’ll unveil new, exciting implementations that offer merchants unique and compelling ways to connect with consumers.

Additional details on these and other SDC18 sessions may be found here. For more information on this year’s conference, including registration details, please visit SDC18’s official website. And don’t forget to follow @samsung_dev on Twitter and keep an eye on the hashtag “#SDC18” for the latest news and updates.