JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 03 September 2018 – Samsung and Dezeen, a leading design and architectural magazine based in the UK, announced the grand prize winner of the co-hosted ‘Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition’ at IFA 2018 on August 31. “Kinetic Decor,” designed by Matthew Cockeril, Stephen Waller and Peter Hälldahl of UK and Denmark-based Swift Creatives, was honoured with the grand prize and €8,000 prize money, for best demonstrating how the Ambient Mode feature in Samsung’s QLED TV transforms the TV into something meaningful, even when switched off.

The Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition, held from June 25 to August 3, focused on the evolving usability of the Ambient Mode, a new feature on Samsung’s QLED TV which blends the TV into the living room and the surrounding space by mimicking the wall’s colour and displaying desired content and information such as the news, weather, photos and music. In order to enter the competition, entrants submitted their best Ambient Mode designs using static or animated images.

“Now in its second consecutive year, the Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition provides the perfect opportunity to honour leading designers from around the world while acquiring graphic designs that reflect the premium quality of our TVs,” says Justin Hume, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa. “The opportunities to increase the usability of the QLED TV’s Ambient Mode is endless. The designs are reflections of how we imagine the Ambient Mode – as a feature that enriches the everyday lifestyles of our consumers across the world.”

The contest awarded €29,500 in total prize money, reflecting Samsung’s ambition to celebrate talented designers and acquire premium concept and design quality from all around the world. The judging panel this year included esteemed designers, Neville Brody and Erwan Bouroullec, who selected the winner based on a complex set of criteria – a full understanding of the Ambient Mode, as well as overall design, originality, usability and seamlessness with the surrounding space and user lifestyle.

The winning design “Kinetic Decor” is a digital re-staging of the ‘mobile’ concept, with the live movements of the design’s fish becoming more animated as a room’s lighting increases or a user approaches. The submission especially received high marks for its connectivity with Ambient Mode content that is already available today.

“Our design aims to bring calm and a beautifully dynamic structure into the living space,” said Swift Creatives team member, Matthew Cockeril. “We were motivated to apply because of the unique way Samsung’s display technology supports designs that are responsive and sensitive to the people within the space it sits.”

Alongside the grand prize winner, four finalists were shortlisted with their designs exhibited as special displays within the Samsung booth at IFA 2018. The designs include “Time Frame,” displaying the outside scenery on the TV; “Bird Clock,” picturing birds sitting on a power line to indicate time; “Architectural Extension,” a virtual space like the balcony that creates the illusion of extended space; and “Sphere,” displaying graphics of the Earth’s rotation matched with relevant content and data, including photos, news and friends’ social media posts.

In order to extend the ecosystem of Ambient Mode, Samsung will roll out a Software Development Kit (SDK) in beta version later this year.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 03 September 2018 – Samsung held a press conference at IFA to outline its commitment to developing ground-breaking products and services that will shape the next era of connected living. Samsung showcased how breakthrough technologies that are powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) can bring greater convenience to people’s lives; eliminate complexity to enhance everyday experiences and offer a level of security that gives peace of mind.

“Samsung is uniquely positioned to provide consumers with a full range of cutting-edge AI and IoT products and services based on our wide-ranging portfolio of TVs, displays, audio, home appliances and of course mobile devices,” said Justin Hume, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa. “We are striving to shape a new era of connected living, where our products and services seamlessly interact with one another to make our consumers’ lives richer, smarter and more entertaining.”

At the frontline of the future

Samsung is at the forefront of unlocking the power of AI and 5G for consumers, with multi-billion-dollar investments announced in recent months, to ensure the continued integration of advancements across hardware, software and services. With the new AI research centres established across the world, including the recent addition at Cambridge in the UK, Samsung expects about 1,000 renowned AI researchers to be working in its facilities globally by 2020, designing and developing user-centric AI that continuously learns and enhances users’ lives in an ever-more intelligent, useful and personalised way.

Furthermore, a next generation network infrastructure is a pre-requisite for the next era of connected living: through its active role in establishing 5G industry standards, Samsung is spearheading the rollout of next-generation networks and later this year, anticipates the introduction of the world’s first 5G-powered gigabit home broadband service (5G Fixed Wireless Access) in the U.S.

The next frontier of picture quality with 8K resolution

Samsung continued to revolutionise the visual display industry at IFA 2018 with the introduction of the Q900R QLED 8K, complete with 8K AI Upscaling. Available in four ultra-large screen sizes (65”, 75”, 82” and 85”), Samsung QLED 8K TV will feature several 8K-ready enhancements, including Real 8K Resolution, Q HDR 8K and Quantum Processor 8K, all created to bring 8K-quality images to life.

Real 8K Resolution can produce 4,000 nit peak brightness – a standard met by most film studios. Q HDR 8K, powered by HDR10+ delivers perfect colour expression for realistic, life-like images, just as the creator originally intended. The Q900R’s 8K AI Upscaling, a proprietary technology developed with artificial intelligence, is designed to enhance both picture and sound quality – regardless of the original source quality or format – to premium 8K quality.

Samsung also announced The Wall, a cutting-edge Micro LED screen designed for enterprise and out-of-home viewing environments. Complete with self-emitting display technology and a modular design, The Wall is fully-customizable to give users the freedom to decide how to incorporate the display in their space.

In addition, Samsung introduced a new 49” model to The Frame line-up with the addition of easy discovery, giving users easy access to specially-curated works of art that can be displayed on the screen without having to sort through hundreds of options. In addition, The Frame’s Art Store continues to expand, with more than 850 works of art from some of the world’s most renowned art institutions, including the Berlin State Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tate.

Finally, sound quality continues to remain a top priority, with the introduction of the HW-N950 and HW-N850 premium soundbars from Samsung and Harman Kardon. Both soundbars support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to create an incredibly immersive sound environment.

Home appliances full of ideas

Globally, modern lives shift towards more dynamic technologies, expecting these to play multiple roles at home. In line with this trend, the kitchen becomes the centre of the home and appliances act as intelligent personal assistants. Ultimately, people want to transform their lives at home more than ever. Building on such continued momentum, Samsung has met the needs of evolving homes and consumers’ lifestyles with a full range of cutting-edge AI and IoT solutions.

With Family Hub refrigerator, users can enjoy a connected living experience to make kitchen life even more convenient and fulfilling. Using the large touchscreen as a control panel, Family Hub can easily control connected devices including third-party devices. With Bixby and Voice ID, users can instantly receive tailored and personalised information they need, while Family Hub’s Meal Planner helps consumers plan meals by recommending the recipes that suit them best.

Dual Cook Flex has brought increased cooking efficiency to meet varying dietary requirements and preferences. With its flexible door and dual-cook function, users can cater to each family member’s needs efficiently. With the Cooking Guide, consumers can also receive recommendations on which oven to use based on the food ingredients and the type of cooking.

The revolutionary washing machine Quick Drive has dramatically transformed people’s lives for the better. Quick Drive can wash clothes in half the time without compromising on washing performance, freeing up consumers’ time. In addition, its AI-powered laundry care Q-rator system serves as a personalised and intelligent assistant, while Laundry Planner minimises time wasted on washing clothes by allowing users to start and stop laundry according to their schedules.

Next-generation mobile experiences

At IFA, Samsung presented its most powerful smartphone yet, the Galaxy Note9. Announced earlier this month in New York, the Galaxy Note9 is designed for those who demand the best of the best. The phone comes in two internal storage options – 128GB or 512GB* – which can be maximised to 1TB with a microSD card inserted. The Galaxy Note9’s 4,000mAh battery performance enables users to talk, text and play games without worrying about battery life, and its intelligent camera helps users to capture the perfect shot every time. The S Pen, a trademark of the Galaxy Note series, has been revolutionised by incorporating a Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) function. Evolved into a Bluetooth remote control device, the S Pen now lets users take selfies and control presentation slides.

Building on its premium professional credentials, the Galaxy Note9 is also compatible with the Samsung DeX, delivering a PC-like experience. By simply connecting a single HDMI adaptor** to a screen, the phone can power a virtualised desktop or serve as a fully-functional second screen. Not only that, the Galaxy Note9 offers maximum productivity, but without compromising on security, with the most comprehensive configuration, deployment and management features on the market, courtesy of the Samsung Knox platform.

Also showcased at IFA is the new Galaxy Watch, which blends the look of a traditional watch with smart technology. Galaxy Watch’s improved battery life of up to 80+*** hours eliminates the need for daily charging. With the addition of LTE connectivity, users of the Galaxy Watch can now also stay connected without being tethered to a smartphone. Reflecting the rise of consumer consciousness around well-being, the Galaxy Watch comes added with a new stress management tracker, sleep tracker and breathing exercises to help users stay focused.

The Samsung Electronics Booth will be open at Level 2, City Cube Berlin from Friday, Aug. 31 to Wednesday, Sep. 5.

^{*512GB internal memory as standard. 512GB models available in select countries. Up to 512GB additional storage with external SD card (sold separately).}

^{**Samsung’s HDMI adapters include HDMI Adapter (EE-HG950), Multi Port Adapter (EE-P5000) and DeX Cable (EE-I1300)}

^{*** Battery life varies by device and usage: Galaxy Watch 46mm (80+ hours with typical usage; up to 168 hours with low usage) and Galaxy Watch 42mm (45+ hours with typical usage; up to 120 hours with low usage). The actual time of battery life may vary depending on the network connection, component, setting, signal strength, noise and many other elements.}

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 27 August 2018 – Samsung, in collaboration with renowned photography agency Magnum Photos, announced the release of 28 specially-curated photographs available exclusively in the ‘Art Store’ on ‘The Frame’ for 2018. As part of the collaboration, four Magnum photographers have been challenged to take a unique, eye-catching photograph every day for one week to showcase how The Frame is able to seamlessly integrate fine art into the everyday lives of consumers. The “Fine Art, Everyday” campaign video will also be unveiled at the IFA2018 Samsung press conference. With a newly-announced 49” model, consumers can select between four different sizes (43”, 49”, 55” and 65”) of ‘The Frame’ that best suits the aesthetic and design of the home.

In order to complement the exclusive photographs from Magnum Photos, ‘The Frame’ for 2018 includes a new ‘Slideshow’ feature that allows users to create customized collections of art that cycle-through on the screen when the TV is placed in ‘Art Mode’. In addition, the new ‘Favourite’ and ‘Curation’ features allow users to gain easy access to their favourite and specially curated works of art to display on screen without having to sort through hundreds of options. Along with the fine art partnerships, these added options have allowed customers to experience ‘The Frame’ not just as a television, but also as a discovery hub for the world’s most beautiful works of art.

“The Frame’s Art Store is the only digital art platform on TV. We will continue to develop it into a window to communicate with more viewers and a screen that enriches consumer’s everyday lives,” said Justin Hume, Chief Marketing Officer Samsung South Africa.“ Through the ‘Fine Art, Everyday’ Collection created in collaboration with Magnum Photos, we hope to bring to consumers joy and excitement in discovering new works from the comfort of their own homes.”

The photographs of the four artists that will be showcased in the collection are Alex Webb, Carolyn Drake, David Alan Harvey and Jonas Bendiksen. With their images, these celebrated photographers will show consumers the beauty in everyday life.

• Alex Webb has published 14 books including The Suffering of Light, a survey book of his colour work. His most recent book, Memory City, is a meditation about film, time, and the city of Rochester, NY. Webb’s works are best known for vibrant and complex colour work, especially from Latin America and the Caribbean that have been featured in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum.
• Carolyn Drake became interested in the approaches to documentary at a young age – specifically the ways history and reality are purposefully shaped and revised over time. Between 2007 and 2013, Drake travelled frequently to Central Asia from her base in Istanbul to work on two projects, which became the highly acclaimed photo books Two Rivers and Wild Pigeon. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, the Lange-Taylor Prize, a World Press Photo award, a Magnum Emergency Fund grant and a Fulbright fellowship.
• David Alan Harvey discovered photography at the age of 11 when he began photographing his family and neighbourhood. Harvey was named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association in 1978. His work has been exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Nikon Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
• Jonas Bendiksen is a Norwegian photographer who began his career at the age of 19 as an intern at Magnum’s London office, before leaving for Russia to pursue his own work as a photojournalist. In his works, Jonas often focuses on isolated communities and enclaves. He has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography, New York, and second place in the Daily Life Stories for World Press Photo, as well as first prize in the Pictures of the Year International Awards. His documentary of life in a Nirobi slum, Kibera, published in the Paris Review, won a National Magazine Award in 2007.

The Frame’s Art Store continues to expand, with more than 850 works of art from some of the world’s most renowned art institutions, including the Albertina, Museo Del Prado Collection, Yellow Korner, Victoria & Albert Museum, Berlin State Museum and more.

Samsung will showcase ‘The Frame’ for 2018 along with its latest television and audio announcements in its booth at IFA, located at the City Cube Berlin on Level 2. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.