The Samsung Mobile Design Competition attracted entries from up-and-coming designers and creators from around the world, and featured $40,000 in prize money. The top three finalists in both the Next Mobile + Product Design and the Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm Graphic Design categories were invited to attend SDC19 in San Jose, California, where mock-ups of their designs are currently on display and, yesterday, grand-prize winners were announced.

Out of a pool of finalists that included several entries inspired by the beauty of nature, the grand prize in the Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm category went to Kalle Järvenpää of Finland’s eye-catching Garden of Galaxy design. The grand prize in the Next Mobile + category was awarded to André Gouveia, Nuno Pires and João Pereira of Portugal’s Star of Galaxy – it is designed for a robotic stand that turns any Samsung Galaxy device into a collaborative countertop smart assistant with Bixby.

The winners were selected by a panel of jurors that included renowned designers Stefan Scholten and Paul Austin, Samsung executives, and Dezeen editor-at-large Amy Frearson. Dontae Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Corporate Design Center, and Yun-je Kang, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Design Team, summed up what hosting this inventive competition means to Samsung.

“At Samsung, whether it’s through hardware or software, we’re constantly exploring ways to take users’ experiences with their Galaxy devices to the next level,” said Lee. “Hosting this competition, and attracting the talents of gifted designers, allows us to do just that. We look forward to creating more opportunities for creators to shape the next wave of Galaxy experiences.”

Read on for a closer look at each category’s shortlisted and winning entries.

Next Mobile Wallpaper Paradigm

[WINNER] Garden of Galaxy by Kalle Järvenpää (Finland)

The idea behind Kalle Järvenpää’s wallpaper design is that each Galaxy device comes with a seed from which a unique flower sprouts. Each flower’s appearance is based on a combination of randomly generated “genes” and the user’s environment. They grow bigger with time – no tending necessary – and users can even share clippings with friends to create beautiful and unique gardens.

Approachability of Galaxy by Andre Cardoso (Portugal)

Andre Cardoso designed his wallpaper concept around the idea of bringing people closer at a time when face-to-face interactions are becoming increasingly scarce. Each device essentially has its own color, and when users come together, their wallpapers begin to blend until they eventually show the same hue.

Blossom of Galaxy by Guan Hong Yeoh (Malaysia)

Guan Hong Yeoh’s wallpaper design is a visual representation of energy in motion. Inspired by nature, his design features colorful organic forms that create beautiful geometric patterns based on ambient sounds and the time of day. As he explains, the design “manifests new experiences of being engaged with natural elements, and brings the invisible nature into the magic of Galaxy.”

Next Mobile +

[WINNER] Star of Galaxy by André Gouveia, Nuno Pires and João Pereira (Portugal)

Star is a robotic stand with an articulated structure that’s designed to charge and hold Bixby-enabled mobile devices. Capable of tilting and rotating 360 degrees, the stand allows the devices to follow and assist the user via face and voice recognition – adding new levels of comfort and flexibility to things like video conferencing, cooking, recording video and more.

Fellas of Galaxy by Cagatay Demirpence and Ece Demirpence (Turkey)

Fellas of Galaxy transforms Samsung’s Galaxy Watch into an interactive toy that can sing songs, tell stories and more to entertain the user’s child. The adorable dock – resembling a pig, bear, deer or crocodile – protects and charges the smartwatch, and allows its display to act as an expressive mouth for each Bixby-powered character.

BELT of Galaxy by Alexander Rehn and Tobias Saller (Germany)

Alexander Rehn and Tobias Saller’s accessory, which they call BELT, was designed to help users of all ages maintain a comfortable grip of Galaxy mobile devices. The loop, which locks easily into place with a clip, can help prevent young and old users, who may not have the muscle endurance or strength to maintain a constant hold of their smartphone or tablet, from accidentally dropping their devices.

Let’s Hear from the Winners

After accepting their respective awards, Kalle and André shared their thoughts on what taking part in the Samsung Mobile Design Competition meant to them.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with a company the size of Samsung,” said Kalle. “If by some chance you managed to get something that would be on, let’s say even one tenth of the Galaxy devices out there, it would be awesome!”

André described the prospect of working with a company like Samsung as a key motivator to bring Star to life. He hopes his team’s creation will be produced and put on the market soon. “We are here to make that dream come true,” says André.

To help you catch up with these and other exciting updates from San Jose, here’s a handy list of the top themes on display at SDC19.

Held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in sunny California, this year’s Samsung Developer Conference is a showcase of the hottest topics in tech.

Expanding the Bixby and SmartThings Ecosystems

This year at SDC, Samsung is showcasing strides it’s made to integrate Bixby into a wide range of devices. The company is also introducing enhancements that will make it easier for developers to enrich Bixby and the SmartThings IoT platform with useful services, and in doing so, create more ways for users to infuse intelligence into everything they do.

Outlining Samsung’s efforts to offer developers more ways to work with Bixby, Eui-Suk Chung, EVP, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, discusses the AI platform’s expansion. “In 2019, we made it even easier to use Bixby,” Chung explains. “We added new capabilities not only on our flagship devices, but also on most of our A-series devices, on more Galaxy tablets and watches, TVs and home appliances. Just to give you countless new ways to integrate intelligence into everything you do.”

Samsung demonstrates how enhancements to the Bixby Developer Studio, including new Bixby Templates and Bixby Views, will streamline the development of capsules that work across Bixby’s ever-growing ecosystem of devices.

In addition to unveiling a new Rules API that will spur the creation of more automated smart home experiences, Samsung introduced a SmartThings Device SDK beta program – set to launch early next year – that will help third-party manufacturers build SmartThings-supported devices.

New Devices and Experiences

Those visiting SDC19 are treated to first looks at some of the latest and greatest products of Samsung’s innovation. Spanning categories like mobile devices, UX design and more, the devices and experiences showcased at the conference hold the power to transform the way people live, work and connect.

The launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold established a brand-new product category – one that opens the door to a new era of mobile experiences. To help realize its vision of a foldable future, Samsung is demonstrating its commitment to developing a variety of foldable form factors at SDC19. Enriching the category with more options will help Samsung and developers explore new use cases and user experiences.

Also on display at SDC is the new, Bixby-enabled Galaxy Home Mini, which fosters continuous IoT experiences when managing connected devices, and offers powerful pound-for-pound audio quality.

Seeing is believing: An SDC attendee examines how Samsung’s AI ScaleNet technology makes it possible to stream high-quality 8K videos on networks with lower bandwidth capabilities.

Peeks at Cutting-edge Blockchain and Enterprise Solutions

SDC19 offers partners and developers a chance to learn more about one of the hottest trends in technology today: blockchain. Speakers and sessions discuss how enterprises and developers can utilize Samsung’s latest blockchain-powered services to capitalize on the technology’s incredible potential.

The conference also offers attendees an opportunity to see how Samsung is leveraging its years of experience leading innovation in a variety of industries – ranging from retail and manufacturing to transportation and healthcare – to provide enterprises with customized services tailored to their needs.

Seungyun Lee, Principal Engineer, Knox Platform for Enterprise, Samsung Electronics, discusses Samsung’s commitment to advancing blockchain technology – a commitment that’s seen the company produce one of the first smartphones with blockchain technology built-in, and streamline data and cryptocurrency management with the launches of the Samsung Blockchain Keystore and the new Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK. “Together,” Lee explains, “all of these innovations mark a new beginning for the blockchain ecosystem – with Samsung at the forefront.”

SDC attendees eagerly explore the various blockchain innovations being displayed at SDC19. Included among these is the new Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK, which opens up exciting opportunities for developers by 1) offering them more options for securely storing private keys, 2) supporting cryptocurrency transactions, and 3) enabling apps to be smoothly integrated into a mobile space.

Samsung’s SDC19 booth also includes exhibits that illustrate why enterprises in a variety of fields – including industries known to employ the strictest security standards – trust Samsung to help them customize solutions.

But Wait, There’s More!

At the end of the day, SDC is about inspiring people to pursue meaningful innovation. Which is why those visiting the conference are also exposed to projects and initiatives that are making a tangible difference in the world, like the Samsung Global Goals app.

Created to support the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the educational and donation-based mobile app offers a simple way for the Galaxy community to support the causes they care about. To help maximize the app’s impact, Samsung has announced that it will match proceeds generated through the app and donate the same amount.¹

That’s all for now, but there’s plenty more to come as SDC19 enters its second day. For more information on the topics and innovations being discussed at the event, be sure to check out Samsung Newsroom’s ongoing coverage. And don’t forget to check back here for more updates on Samsung’s latest AI, IoT and developer innovations.

¹Samsung has pledged to match donations with ad proceeds generated through the Global Goals app; up to $5 million annually.

As part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring that its technologies are accessible to all users, on October 29 at SDC19, Samsung Electronics unveiled One UI 2. The latest version of Samsung’s signature UI includes an array of advanced audiovisual functions that make it easy for any user to get the most out of their Galaxy device.

Improving Visibility for Everyone

When it comes to core accessibility functions like high-contrast features, user demand is resoundingly clear.

Samsung’s high-contrast theme, which helps people with low vision see their smartphone more clearly, has so far recorded more than 15 million downloads. To make users’ displays more accommodating to their eyes, Samsung has introduced, among other features, options to 1) adjust the screen’s color settings, which enhances visibility for users who have difficulty seeing certain hues, and 2) utilize a high-contrast keyboard featuring colors that make keys really stand out.

Another way that One UI 2 offers users with low vision a helping hand is by visualizing Bixby’s dictation function. This convenient feature allows users to, for instance, easily send messages to friends by simply telling Bixby what they’d like to type. Users can also use their voice to make notes and save ideas in the Samsung Notes app.

Having low vision can also make it difficult to sense when lights have been turned on around you. Galaxy devices’ unique Light Sensing feature addresses this difficulty by detecting the status of nearby lights and informing the user through vibration. Users may then decide whether they’d like to turn the lights on or leave them off.

Enhancements to Help All Users Communicate Better

Samsung believes that a smartphone cannot truly be called a smartphone if it doesn’t allow users to make the most of its call function. In One UI 2, users will now be able to enjoy an improved experience when engaging in phone conversations, even in places with lots of background noise.

One UI 2 also comes with the Live Transcribe feature. This feature will automatically put spoken words into a text form on the screen that live updates so users can follow along with a conversation straight from the palm of their hand.

Furthermore, users of Galaxy Note devices can harness the convenience of Screen Off memo and other S Pen features to quickly and easily write down what they wish to communicate in situations where the need arises.

Where Accessibility Meets AI

Since the launch of its artificial intelligence (AI) platform Bixby, Samsung has been working to provide wider accessibility to its products and services for all users. As these AI technologies develop, so too will the range of accessibility capabilities offered across all Samsung devices and services.

When it was first introduced, Bixby was envisaged as an assistant for general smartphone users to enhance their experiences. As the service developed, it became of use particularly to the elderly, and to children who did not have a strong understanding of how Samsung’s products and services operated.

Samsung is committed to bringing more AI features to its technologies and devices in the future. Thanks to users’ continuous usage of these accessibility features, Samsung has developed a better understanding of how they should be enhanced. This means that more advanced customization options will soon become available.

“When developing One UI 2, we considered accessibility to be the most important element in the development process,” noted Eui-Suk Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of Software and Artificial Intelligence at Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. “This is our philosophy regarding accessibility here at Samsung.”

Chung is determined of the value accessible products and services will have in the future. “If we take care to implement accessibility into our products thoroughly, many more people will be able to use our products and services comfortably,” Chung explained. “Better accessibility will improve the user experience not only for those with impairments, but also for the youngest and eldest members of our society. It can also benefit users in general when they are driving, cooking, or simply want more comfort.”

“I hope that the enhancements we have made to our accessibility features in One UI 2 are valuable to those whom they can help,” Chung continued. “It may not seem like a lot to people would require assistance in this way, but we know these functions can be essential for those who need them. Accessibility should no longer be considered as something extra – it should be at the core of all development, technological and otherwise.”

For more information about the Samsung Mobile Accessibility, please visit here.

DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics today announced, at the Samsung Developer Conference 2019 (SDC19), new ways its platforms will enable developers to introduce simpler, more powerful experiences to consumers around the world. Samsung shared its vision for the next era of mobile and connected living, offering inspiration to developers, enterprise leaders, and consumers through innovative experiences with the devices they rely on every day.

“We are fortunate to work with the world’s best developers and designers. Together, we have built an extensive and secure ecosystem of devices and services,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “We continue to make progress toward our vision to be the innovator of new mobile experiences that flow seamlessly and continuously wherever we go.”

Creating Opportunities for Developers through Open, Scalable AI and IoT Platforms

ES Chung, EVP and Head of Software and AI, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, outlines plans to enrich Bixby to offer users “countless new ways to integrate intelligence into everything you do.”

To help consumers discover new ways Bixby can work with them to get things done more quickly and easily, Samsung launched Bixby Marketplace earlier this year, creating a way for developers to introduce their Bixby capsules to millions of Bixby users. In the past six months, the size of the Bixby developer community has doubled. And starting in 2020, the Bixby Marketplace will expand gradually, enabling developers to offer their services across more Samsung devices.

To make it easier for developers to create new experiences on its AI platform and ensure consumers have more intuitive experience, Samsung announced enhanced capabilities in the Bixby Developer Studio at SDC19.

• New Bixby Templates makes it easy for developers to create capsules using pre-existing forms so that they don’t have to start from scratch.
• Enhanced Bixby Views enable developers to build capsules with a consistent design even beyond smartphones—to televisions, tablets, smart watches and refrigerators.
• Developers can now register their capsules under Natural Language Categories. When users ask Bixby for help related to a category—such as radio, news, or navigation—Bixby suggests a capsule that can help them get what they need more quickly and easily, even without having to call out exact name of the capsule.

Larry Heck, CEO of Viv Labs, Samsung Electronics, introduces new Natural Language Categories, which simplify how users engage with and discover Bixby capsules.

More consumers than ever are seeing how seamlessly connected devices and services can make everyday life easier. Developers can scale their device and service offerings through Samsung’s IoT platform, SmartThings. Already, developers and partners have brought connected experiences to more than 45 million monthly active users and thousands of compatible devices, and the platform is expected to grow further with the Work as a SmartThings Hub (WASH) program, which allows partners like network operators to embed SmartThings Hub software into their devices.

To help developers build on and integrate existing devices with the SmartThings platform, Samsung announced new capabilities for developers:

• The new Rules API brings to life more automated smart home experiences to reflect individual daily routines across a broad range of SmartThings devices.
• Samsung is launching the SmartThings Device SDK Beta program in early 2020 to enable more third-party manufacturers to create SmartThings-compatible devices.

Samsung continues to invite developers to actively participate in its ecosystem and supports the developer community with several incentive programs—including the Best of Galaxy Store Award, the Samsung Mobile Design Competition, Bixby DevJam and the Samsung Mobile Security Reward program.

Inspiring Developers with New Experiences Across Devices

Samsung continued to refine the mobile experience to allow users to focus on what matters most to them. One UI 2 includes new features that declutter the user interface—making it easier for people to interact naturally, while also making it easier on their eyes. And now, to make both the developer and the user experiences consistent across devices, Samsung is expanding the use of One UI 2 beyond smartphones to tablets, wearables, and new form factors, including foldables.

Sally Hyesoon Jeong, VP and Head of Framework R&D Group, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, introduces an all-new, compact form factor for foldable devices.

With the launch of Galaxy Fold, Samsung designed a first-of-its kind mobile experience that is much more than a foldable device. Samsung, alongside hundreds of developers and partners, created an entire foldable ecosystem that continues grow and opens up new possibilities to the mobile experience. As promised at SDC last year, Samsung will continue to explore a range of new form factors in the foldable category. And at SDC19, Samsung invited developers and users alike to join the exploration of exciting new use cases and user experiences.

Terry Halvorsen, CIO and EVP, IT of Mobile Communications B2G Business, Samsung Electronics, discusses the importance of stout security solutions like Samsung Knox – particularly in today’s hyperconnected world.

Emerging technologies, such as IoT, AI and 5G, are bringing new capabilities and opportunities to the developer landscape. For Samsung, it means providing the community with the tools and programs necessary to deliver secure and reliable solutions.

Secure Development Lifecycle delivers systematic reviews at every phase of the development, supply chain, and manufacturing process. To give both developers and users peace of mind, Samsung offers the Knox SDK, allowing partners and app developers to integrate advanced security solutions to their apps and services. In addition, Samsung has been working with German government agencies, especially BSI, and industry partners on developing a mobile-enabled eID for digital services to support customers and governments by developing a solid foundation for trusted identity services.

Seungyun Lee, Principal Engineer, Knox Platform for Enterprise, Samsung Electronics, discusses features that make Samsung Knox attractive to developers. “Knox is software that is built around hardware root of trust, not just implemented after the device is built” Lee explains, “giving it a foundation like no other security system in the market.”

Samsung invites developers and partners on its journey to bring new and secure experiences to life. For more information about working with Samsung and the Samsung Developer Conference 2019, please visit sdc.developer.samsung.com. Further information can also be found on Twitter (@samsung_dev) and using the hashtag #SDC19.

SDC19’s keynote event was packed with people eager to learn more about Samsung’s latest innovations

About Samsung Developer Conference
SDC brings together thousands of developers and creators to explore today’s tech and visualize what’s possible in the future. The two-day conference will feature exciting keynote announcements, technical sessions and valuable networking time. Plus, Samsung product teams and technology partners will showcase the latest tech advances and tools.

* All services and programs mentioned above may vary by region.

Since that announcement, Bixby has expanded to a variety of products, including smartphones, wearables, tablets, smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators and more, as well as SmartThings-connected devices. Over the last year, Samsung has opened the door for developers to create their own Bixby capsules with the introduction of the Bixby Developer Studio, and made it easy for users to download those services with the launch of the Bixby Marketplace in June.

The tools and enhancements introduced at SDC19 will make developing capsules easier, and offer developers opportunities to reach an expansive user base across Samsung’s device portfolio. For example, with the Bixby Developer Studio’s new Bixby Templates, rather than building a capsule’s code and model manually from scratch, developers can simply choose from a variety of templates designed to handle many situations – including offering a fact of the day or quiz, telling jokes, or playing a podcast.

Not only are capsules easier to create, they’re also quick and easy to find thanks to new Natural Language Categories. This means that now, when developers register their capsules under specific categories, if a user makes a request, Bixby will be able to search and suggest related capsules that fall under that category. It also means that users can call up capsules using natural language, rather than invoking the capsule’s specific name. This not only offers users a more convenient experience, it also makes it easier for developers’ capsules to be discovered and used.

To kickstart the creation of more capsules, the Bixby Developer Studio includes a new Bixby Views function, which enables developers to create capsules that feature consistent user interface designs across Bixby-enabled smartphones, TVs, tablets, smartwatches, refrigerators and more. Samsung has also announced that beginning in 2020, the Bixby Marketplace will expand to devices beyond smartphones. Interested developers can get a head start on developing for upcoming Bixby-enabled devices by using Bixby Views to start building seamless multi-device experiences.

In addition to hosting SDC, throughout the year, Samsung organizes workshops and sessions at locations around the world that offer developers valuable opportunities to hone their skills, gain exposure, and win prizes. Included among these are the Bixby DevJam competition and the Bixby Premier Developer Program. The former offers developers prizes for exceptionally innovative capsule creations, while the latter offers them first-class technical support, devices for testing and iterating capsules, and Bixby Marketplace exposure.

Check out the infographic below to trace Bixby’s incredible journey, and discover how the platform is helping developers add useful and personalized intelligence to more services and devices.

Samsung is always working to find ways to make your smart home even more personalized, automated and fine-tuned to the way you live your life. Our Internet of Things (IoT) vision for SmartThings is to create an open, intelligent and global platform that can improve the way users manage their lives, and so we are constantly working to expand on SmartThings’ tools and capabilities so that we, together with a global community of developers, can expand the capabilities of IoT for your smart home – and beyond.

In order to improve your SmartThings experience, at SDC 2018 we introduced Works With SmartThings (WWST) to deliver a better connected living experience across more devices. At this year’s SDC, we are introducing the new Rules API to bring the full power of SmartThings to developers, making the process of device automation that much easier for users to enjoy the most seamless smart home experience yet.

Making Your Smart Home Work for You

Setting up your smart home with SmartThings and enjoying all the conveniences Samsung and partner devices have to offer is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Simply create a SmartThings profile after downloading the app, let the app automatically connect all your supported devices, and configure custom automation for your daily routines.

The portfolio of devices that can help you control your smart home is ever growing. Thanks to Works As a SmartThings Hub (WASH) program, which lets you transform your existing hub device into a SmartThings Hub, and WWST, which lets you integrate a growing number of devices into your Samsung SmartThings ecosystem, your smart home can do more for you than ever before. Today, SmartThings brings together more than 5,000 different smart home products, including those from over 100 different partners for over 45 million monthly active users.

We also understand that, when managing your household, security is always key, which is why we have introduced a new range of smart home products and services, such as the SmartThings Cam, SmartThings Vision, SmartThings Video, and SmartThings Home Monitor to provide real-time data and monitoring straight to your SmartThings app for 24/7 control.

SmartThings Automation

Samsung is constantly working to bring more power to SmartThings users’ fingertips through collaboration with partners and developers. At last year’s SDC, we introduced a new suite of tools for the redesigned SmartThings Developer Workplace, and this year, we are bringing even more SmartThings tools to developers, such as the Rules API. With Rules API, developers are able to create and manage complex automations within the SmartThings Cloud, meaning that the number of services and products available to users with automation built into their capabilities is set to expand.

Automation with SmartThings not only allows you to control individual devices, but also to create a variety of personalized smart home sequences that will automate complicated processes for you.

For more information on how to get started with SmartThings and which devices are compatible with it, visit the SmartThings website.

Its main benefits stem from decentralization and transparency. By distributing data across many computers rather than a centralized server, no single authority has control over the information, making it more fair, secure, and transparent. For these reasons, blockchain has promising potential across a variety of industries including finance, medicine, real estate, and entertainment.

From cryptocurrency wallets to DApps–or decentralized apps– Samsung has been steadily building a variety of blockchain-powered services, as it sees an opportunity to capitalize on that potential. But still, there are a number of obstacles to overcome before blockchain technology becomes commonplace.

The Trouble with Blockchain

One of the major obstacles of taking blockchain mobile is that, in the current environment, the majority of blockchain applications are PC or web based. The main reason for this is security.

Access to a blockchain requires both a public and private key, or cryptic strings of characters that are near impossible to simply guess by luck. This is both the strength and weakness of blockchain technology: although it is impossible to access data in a blockchain without the right key, the key is all a hacker needs to access your data. Rather than waste time guessing keys, hackers simply try to steal them at the most vulnerable point in the system – your personal computer or mobile device.

Anytime blockchain keys are entered, displayed, or stored unencrypted on such devices, they are susceptible to the prying eyes of a hacker. Additionally, mobile DApps built for blockchain typically store private keys in their internal data storage, making them vulnerable to hacks. But Samsung is tackling some of these issues and pushing the envelope of mobile blockchain solutions.

Delivering Blockchain Solutions

Earlier in the year, the company announced the Samsung Blockchain Wallet App, along with the blockchain-enabled flagship Galaxy S10. The main purpose of the wallet is to allow users to make transactions in cryptocurrencies and easily access DApps on their smartphones. This is all made possible through Samsung Blockchain Keystore.

Samsung Blockchain Keystore is a critical part of Samsung’s blockchain initiative and addresses some of the key security concerns presented by bringing blockchain to mobile platforms. Samsung Blockchain Keystore allows security-conscious users to treat their phone like a cold wallet, storing their private information in a dedicated secure zone with the additional protection of Samsung Knox and TEE.

Samsung has also given DApp developers access to the Samsung Blockchain Keystore through the Samsung Blockchain Keystore SDK, allowing them to integrate the Samsung Blockchain Keystore into their DApps and provide secure private key authentication. Samsung’s push into blockchain is expanding even further with the Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK.

Opening Doors for Developers

The Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK will be announced at SDC19 and is a comprehensive solution that tackles two of the biggest obstacles in expanding the DApp ecosystem: security and the complexity of building a mobile-compatible DApp. The new SDK not only allows DApps, many of which are web based, the ability to seamlessly integrate their apps into a mobile space, it is also highly attractive for legacy apps that want to integrate blockchain features, such as enabling payment with cryptocurrency. Here’s how the Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK is opening new opportunities for developers.

A Better Blockchain Experience

Reducing the complexity of building blockchain apps is a huge boost to both developers and users, opening up a wider ecosystem of DApps and more possibilities for blockchain.

A dedicated mobile DApp browser is kicking down the mobile door for developers, allowing web-based blockchain applications to work on mobile with a simple SDK integration. Users will no longer need access to a desktop or laptop to make cryptocurrency payments since they will be able to use the applications right from their phones.

Support for legacy applications means developers can easily incorporate blockchain into any existing app. This ultimately allows users to make payments in cryptocurrency in their favorite applications – whether it’s buying a coffee, purchasing in-game items, or subscribing to app services.

Perhaps most importantly, the Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK is giving users peace of mind with improved security. With the integration of Ledger, users now have even more options for storing their private keys, so they don’t have to worry as much about hackers.

Ultimately the Samsung Blockchain Platform SDK is a big step forward for both developers and users in the blockchain community. Developers will find it easier to integrate blockchain into their software while the expanding ecosystem of DApps will allow users to transact with blockchain easily in their most commonly used applications no matter where they are.

In less than a week, thousands of individuals from around the world will gather in San Jose, California to take part in the sixth annual Samsung Developer Conference (SDC). Held from October 29–30 at the San Jose Convention Center, this year’s showcase of the latest trends in tech will offer creators and developers an opportunity to get to know Samsung innovations that will allow them to take consumers’ AI and IoT experiences to the next level.

A wide variety of sessions – led by Samsung and tech industry leaders – will offer attendees a first look at the company’s latest SDKs and dev tools, as well as exclusive previews of cutting-edge advancements in the fields of AI, 5G, secure solutions and more.

Read on for our roundup of SDC19 sessions that attendees won’t want to miss.

Bixby

SDC19 features a variety of sessions that showcase just how easy it is to develop seamless device experiences using Samsung’s open AI platform, Bixby. Included among these are:

• Game Changing Voice Assistant: Industry Perspectives
  Listen to industry leaders and premier developers share their experiences developing Bixby Capsules and scaling their services for the Bixby experience. Speakers will discuss the platform’s ability to drive business growth, and outline their vision for the future of intelligent voice assistants.

• Building Bixby Conversational Experiences for Devices with and without Screens
  This session will explore how Bixby behaves across devices both with and without screens, and discuss how to provide the best user experience for multiple devices. Learn from the best Bixby engineers in the world how to account for the many interfaces you’ll encounter in the Bixby device ecosystem.

• Bixby Developer Center and Marketplace
  Learn how to configure and submit Bixby Capsules for launch in the Bixby Marketplace, and how to set up teams for seamless collaboration. Plus, gain insight and access to Samsung’s exclusive Bixby Premier Developer Program.

5G

The 5G era is officially upon us, and at SDC19, Samsung is spotlighting some of the incredible opportunities that 5G connectivity offers businesses and developers. Those in attendance should be sure to check out:

• Unleashing Business with 5G Solutions
  This session offers valuable insights into how 5G will transform enterprises and businesses. Beyond the increase in speed, 5G will remove a wide range of existing limitations. Speakers will discuss 5G’s impact on key industries, offer predictions for the future, and share how developers can use these insights to identify new opportunities for B2B app development.

• Making 5G Wireless Technology a Reality and Initiatives Towards 6G
  The 5G platform is expected to play a critical role in connecting devices not just in the home, but across a wide range of industries. This session will explore Samsung’s 5G leadership, chart 5G’s evolution, and outline Samsung’s vision for the next generation of wireless technology: 6G.

Security

SDC19 features several sessions that underscore Samsung’s commitment to providing comprehensive security. Notable sessions include:

• Is Your Code Secure? Automatic Security Analysis Tools and Systems
  This session will introduce Samsung’s automatic analysis tools and systems for detecting security vulnerabilities and weaknesses in developed software. Discover how Samsung utilizes these tools, and learn how to make your code more secure.

• Samsung Blockchain Is Open for Partnerships
  Samsung believes in an open environment and embraces the idea that a decentralized world will revolutionize how we interact, work and play. This engaging session will outline the company’s approach to blockchain technology, and examine its efforts to further this revolution through collaboration with developers.

Enterprise Solutions

In addition to serving as a platform for partners and developers to unlock exciting business opportunities, SDC19 will showcase Samsung collaborations that are redefining what’s possible for enterprises. Notable sessions include:

• How AI Can Improve Operational Effectiveness, Safety and Wellbeing
  IBM and Samsung are expanding a decades-long partnership. This session will discuss the companies’ shared objective – to bring their combined innovation capabilities from the lab to your daily life – and showcase examples of this reinforced cooperation.

• Knox Partner Program and Knox Dev Tools
  This session will introduce the mobile enterprise-focused Knox Partner Program, which places a wide range of valuable resources and B2B dev tools – including EMM, Mobile Threat Detection, Remote Control and Secure Voice – at developers’ fingertips.

IoT (the Internet of Things)

This year at SDC, Samsung will introduce enhancements to its open IoT platform, SmartThings, that will enable partners and developers to enrich people’s lives with better connected living experiences. Highlighted sessions include:

• IoT 2.0: The Next Phase of IoT Engagement and Growth
  Learn more about SmartThings, its services and devices, and Samsung’s plans for the platform going forward. Find out how to join the SmartThings ecosystem, and how Samsung improved the platform to help partners and developers grow their businesses.

• Digital Marketing and e-Commerce Development for Smart Appliances
  Whether it’s e-commerce or digital content, developers are leveraging IoT and emerging technology to drive innovation and offer consumers additional convenience. Find out how partners are working hand-in-hand with Samsung to make this happen through collaborative development.

And Much More

All in all, SDC19 features more than 90 sessions covering a wide range of important subjects – including, in addition to those listed above, topics like developing apps for foldable devices, 8K content streaming, and Samsung’s One UI. Notable sessions include:

• More Than Foldables: Android Apps for Foldables and Larger Screens
  Android apps are now available on more than just single and small screens. Consumers are increasingly demanding versatility in screens, and this broadening device landscape is fueling a shift toward more immersive and productive usage. This interactive session will offer insights from Samsung, Google, VSCO and top developers on how to make your applications work well across multiple form factors, including foldables, tablets and desktops. Listen to experts share best practices on improving the user experience, expanding your audience, and increasing engagement across screens and devices.

• One UI : Designed for Everyday Simplicity
  Since introducing One UI at SDC18, Samsung has been hard at work refining its signature mobile software in ways that enhance users’ daily lives. Join this session for a deep dive into One UI 2’s design principles and visual language, and examine Samsung’s vision as well as its progress toward creating a single, unified user experience.

• 8K Streaming, Low-Latency Livestreaming, and AI Streaming
  This session will discuss Samsung’s collaborations with various content and service providers on 8K streaming services. Discover how to integrate 8K streaming support into new and existing apps, and learn how Samsung’s neural network-based AI streaming technology intelligently scales images and videos in order to dramatically improve image quality and enable users to enjoy more 8K content.

More details on these and other SDC19 sessions may be found here. And don’t forget to follow @samsung_dev on Twitter and keep an eye on the hashtag #SDC19 for the latest news and updates from San Jose.

Samsung Electronics announced its keynote speakers for the Samsung Developer Conference 2019 (SDC19). The annual conference brings together thousands of developers and creators to learn about the latest development tools and explore new technologies that drive forward next-generation experiences.

Thanks to Samsung’s continuing commitment to open ecosystems, technology leaders are empowered to collaborate with Samsung to bring more convenience, productivity and fun to everyday life for consumers and enterprise customers around the world. Partners work together in the spirit of open innovation to build new, powerful, and unique experiences on Samsung platforms—making it possible for people to do things they couldn’t do before.

DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, will open SDC19 by sharing Samsung’s vision for the future and how the company is delivering on it through continuous innovation. “Samsung has built an open ecosystem of technologies and solutions to enable mobile innovation without barriers or limits,” said DJ Koh. “There has never been a more exciting time to pioneer the next generation of mobile experiences – but it will require open collaboration with partners who also believe in the possibilities of boundless innovation. We look forward to working with the developer community to re-imagine the way we experience the world and to continue pushing the limits of today’s technology together.”

Among the full lineup of mainstage speakers, SDC19 will feature keynotes and spotlight sessions from Samsung executives at the forefront of next generation technologies:

Eui-Suk Chung, EVP and Head of Software and AI, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, will share updates to Bixby’s progress and showcase Samsung’s mission to build seamless and transcendent user experiences, including more opportunities with Bixby Marketplace. Larry Heck, CEO of Viv Labs, and Adam Cheyer, CTO of Viv labs, will walk through the new and updated Bixby tools that will help developers bring their solutions to life, and demonstrate how much faster and easier it is to create Bixby Capsules using the latest version of Bixby Developer Studio.

Jaeyeon Jung, VP and Head of Service Security Technologies Group, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, will share Samsung’s vision for connected living, and the progress SmartThings has made in making it a reality. She will also showcase Samsung’s commitment to collaboration and openness, and will introduce enhanced developer tools for creating richer IoT experiences.

Terry Halvorsen, CIO and EVP of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, will be joined onstage by Samsung’s Principal Engineer on the B2B Service Team, Seungyun Lee. Together, they will address the importance of security in today’s hyper-connected world, and how developers can benefit from new technologies incorporated into Samsung Knox, which is setting the bar for security.

Sang Kim, VP of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, will highlight how, as the global leader in Smart TVs, the company is constantly innovating to introduce new capabilities, and along with them, developer-friendly tools that enable partners to build, grow, and extend business opportunities. In addition to introducing new tools, he will share how the company is building and expanding the Tizen ecosystem.

Sally Jeong, VP and Head of Framework R&D Group, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, will share the improvements integrated into ‘One UI’ and how it’s designed to provide easy-to-use, intuitive experiences for the users across the Galaxy ecosystem. And Hassan Anjum, Head of Product, Mobile Computing, Samsung Electronics America, will highlight Samsung’s vision for mobile computing to provide enhanced portability, connectivity and productivity.

Additionally, Taher Behbehani, SVP and Head of Mobile B2B at Samsung Electronics America, will kick off Day two with a discussion on the opportunities for software innovators, entrepreneurs and enterprises to partner with Samsung. Special guests will join him onstage to demonstrate how enterprise developers are delivering next generation social and business apps and services in rewarding ways. And Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, will follow onstage for a fireside chat on the development and challenges of creating his open source, public, blockchain-based distributed computing platform and share his advice for developers.

SDC19 is set to be one of Samsung’s most inspiring and hands-on events yet, featuring technical sessions by industry leaders and fun networking activities. Attendees will be able to meet with Samsung product teams and partners showcasing the latest technology advancements and tools in areas from AI and IoT, to gaming, 5G and blockchain. More information about sessions will be shared in the coming weeks.

For more information about the Samsung Developer Conference 2019, please visit developer.samsung.com/sdc. Further information can also be found on Twitter (@samsung_dev) and Facebook (@samsungdev) using the hashtag #SDC19.

To participate in this year’s conference, please visit here.

About Samsung Developer Conference

SDC brings together thousands of developers and creators to explore today’s tech and visualize what’s possible in the future. The two-day conference will feature exciting keynote announcements, technical sessions and valuable networking time. Plus, Samsung product teams and technology partners will showcase the latest tech advances and tools. The event will take place from October 29 – 30, 2019, at the San Jose Convention Center in California, U.S.