Smart phone – Samsung Newsroom South Africa

5 Reasons to Use Your Smartphone’s Low Light Feature

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:14:37 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have done a lot of soul searching and they’ve decided to let the light in. That may sound super deep, but it’s actually a literal thing—the sensor size has increased and its aperture has widened, which means that the 12-megapixel camera captures brighter, more detailed images, even in low-light situations- those moments we often call “inside” and “nighttime”.

We can think of about 500 reasons why you’d want crisp photos sans-flash, but let’s start with five of them—more time for low-light snaps that way.

1. Candlelight Deserves Clarity

So as it turns out, your photographic memories of that perfect candlelit dinner are a bit grainy. But it’s not your fault—in the past, your keepsake photo might have looked like a few tiny campfires swimming in a sea of grain. With your smartphone’s low-light tech, feel free to capture the carbonara in all it’s glory. Oh, and your date too. That would be good.

2. The Human Factor

At night time, the human face and your camera’s flash are not friends. We glisten, our eyes turn red, and—for the fair-skinned among us—our faces glow with the power of a sun going supernova. It’s not a good look.

When photo-worthy moments strike and the light is low, a wide aperture lens is a total face-flatterer. You’ll get a natural-looking portrait without the whole “ghost of Christmas past” effect.

3. Some Things Are Shiny

Taking pics of shiny objects (like your favourite bowling ball, gadget screens, or aquarium glass) in low light meant you’d either have tons of grain, or, if you turned your flash on, funhouse-style reflections of your face. In this case, low light isn’t an issue so go ahead and grab a photo of your fishy friends, or show off your shiny new tablet—leave the grain to the Food Pyramid and the reflections to the mirror.

4. To Capture the Moment (Before)

Surprise party time is that moment when the surprise-ee busts through the door is bound to be filled by dozens of smartphone flashes, a few dropped grocery bags and maybe even a tear or two. But if you want to snag a memory of the pre-party anticipation – proof of your immaculate planning skills, a low-light lens is the way to go. Remember, real party ninjas don’t use flash photography.

5. To Remember the Moonlight

Lots of the things that make moonlit walks magical—the dusky streetlights, the stars and the moon itself—have at least two things in common: They’re majestic and they don’t make for very good photo-op lighting. Till now, that is. With your smartphone’s low-light camera, the moonlight is more than enough to make memories.

Photo Credits: Describe the Fauna/Demand Media

Kids Mode Helps Parents in the Digital Age

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:26:55 +0000

Most children find long car trips horribly dull, but keeping them occupied by buying interactive pop-up book apps can be expensive. But what other choice do parents have to keep their child entertained during a protracted drive or at a nice restaurant, during a long dinner, what can a parent do if their 4-year-old suddenly starts crying? For many parents, the easiest solution is giving the child a mobile device, like a smartphone or a tablet. Children love the bright, flashy images and intuitive, responsive interfaces and are happy to spend hours watching videos and playing games. How, then, do we to protect children from inappropriate online content and limit them from using the device too much without spending too much on an expensive, complicated monitoring service?
Samsung’s Kids Mode provides a solution to these problems, creating a free and easy-to-use interface on smartphones and tablets that is simple to control and monitor, while providing plenty of fun and educational apps for children. Indeed, Kids Mode has already gained 1.9 million monthly active users and supports 2,500 child-friendly apps and video content, with more being made available consistently*.

Samsung Introduces an Easier Option

*Quantity of apps and content may vary by region.
With Kids Mode, parents can select and control apps and monitor how their children use mobile devices, making those devices as open or as closed as they wish. Kids Mode controls the apps that a child can use, the videos, music and other content they can access and how long they can use a device.
But just as importantly as helping parents out, Kids Mode is also fun to use. Its simplified user interface features large and colourful buttons designed for children, with controls that are uncomplicated but that give a wide range of options for children to explore. In addition, there are a variety of exclusive native apps that come pre-installed and that can be downloaded. Addition to the above, Kids Mode and many of its related apps are free, so it’s a solution that every family can afford.

Getting Started

To begin using Kids Mode, parents need to download the app from Galaxy Apps. After installing, they set up a PIN code and a profile for their child and then the app is ready to go.

Parents can then go to the Parental Control area (the button on the lower-left) to customise Kids Mode as they see fit. They can limit the amount of time, each day, that their child can use the device, setting different amounts for weekdays and weekends. Parents also get to control the list of contacts, apps and media their child has access to, ensuring the content is always appropriate for their family.

Kids Mode comes with the Kids Store pre-installed, as well as the Play Zone, a 3D block house with seven themes users can choose. The Play Zone comes with several mini-games that feature the app’s four cartoon characters: Crocro, Cooki, Bobby and Lisa (see box below).

Adding the Exclusive Native Apps

Once the device is configured, parents will need to download apps to get the most out of it. Kids Mode offers a variety of exclusive, native apps, featuring those familiar cartoon characters and the same easy-to-use interface. Among those apps are Kids Camera, Kids Drawing, Kids Music, Kids Magic Voice, Kids Video and Kids Call, offering lots of fun options for playing and developing creativity.
For example, the Kids Camera lets children take a picture of someone, then add funny stickers to the photograph, like googly eyes, mustaches and silly hats. Kids Drawing lets children unleash their artistic side, with a drawing application, colouring book, sandbox and a scratchboard.
Kids Music offers a playful, interactive space for children to play digital instruments along to tunes that a parent has uploaded to the device. In addition, Kids Media lets children watch only the content their parents make available.

All these apps are available both in the Galaxy Apps store and Kids Store. They are free to download, appearing on the Kids Mode home screen. The first time they are downloaded, they appear as a cute gift ready to be unwrapped; tapping the gift opens it up to reveal the regular app icon.

Thousands More Apps and Media to Choose From

Aside from those native apps, Kids Mode is optimised for thousands of partner apps and media content around the world, which can be downloaded from the Kids Store. Samsung has focused on the quality of its apps through partnerships with the most popular content providers from around the world—including Lego and PBS Kids.
The Kids Store groups apps by three different age groups or by category, makes selecting for the appropriate apps easier for parents. Just a few taps on the Kids Store download the content, once again appearing on the phone’s home screen as a cute gift. Some apps are educational, some functional and others are just fun, but there are plenty of options in the Kids Store for everyone.
Samsung introduced the tablet designed especially for children in 2013 and since then the company has continued to enhance both usability and content on smart devices for kids. Kids Mode was a major step forward in ensuring mobile devices were optimised for young people.
Now, in 2016, Samsung is showing its continued commitment to children through a newly launched Kids Mode. website, which offers more content and services than ever to parents around the world.
* Features and functions of Kid Mode can vary by device and region. This article was written using a Galaxy Note5.
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Tips on a Romantic Dinner at Home

Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:25:20 +0000

Plan the Menu

Even if you already have a special dish in mind, it’s smart to ask your partner what she likes to eat. If she’s a vegetarian or has food allergies, you’ll need to know before planning a meal. You may want the meal to be a surprise, but it’s better to share your intended menu with your partner ahead of time. Listen to her suggestions, and you’ll look like a thoughtful and caring mate.
It’s sometimes tough to plan dinner when you or your partner has special dietary needs. You’ll find hundreds of appetizing dishes online. Search for specific food terms, such as “gluten-free” or “kosher,” followed by the word “recipes.” You can bookmark the best recipes so you’ll have plenty of choices now and for future dinners.
For something different and unexpected, try a meal of appetizers and finger foods instead of a big sit-down dinner. Finger foods work well for snacking during other activities, such as watching movies or playing games.

Atmosphere

Your home might not rival the elegance of a fancy four-star restaurant, but you can still impress your partner with a charming and romantic atmosphere. Start by cleaning up the dining room and anywhere else your partner might go, including the bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom. If your partner lives with you, you’ll score extra points for tidying up your home.
Choose appropriate music for the evening that both you and your partner enjoy. Make sure your playlist is set on repeat for a few hours of favourite songs or stream music from your favourite radio station so nothing interrupts your romantic evening. The Wireless Multiroom speakers can be placed throughout the house so you can either play your music playing the same song or different music for different settings.

Cooking

Don’t start cooking until your partner arrives at your home. You want to serve the meal when it’s hot and fresh; food that’s been drying out in a pot for 20 minutes isn’t very appealing. One exception is if you’re cooking a dish that takes hours to make, such as a large roasted chicken or turkey. If your partner enjoys cooking, she may offer to help you make the meal. Even if you have a small kitchen, an Oven with a cooker Hob gives you plenty of room to work together.
Prepare your ingredients in advance and have them ready to cook so your partner won’t need to wait long for the meal. Preheat the oven, chop all vegetables, measure spices and set out your pots and pans before she arrives. If you’re cooking from a recipe, read over it at least once and have it ready in the kitchen. Use your tablet’s browser or file system to display the recipe in an easy-to-see spot.

Activities

The fun doesn’t need to end after dinner. Keep the night alive by watching romantic movies on TV or dancing to the playlist of songs you set up on your computer. Go for a walk around your neighborhood or head to the local park and sit on the swings.
If you and your partner like playful competition, try some card games or board games. Your partner may prefer cooperative games that task you with solving puzzles as a team. If your partner’s not familiar with video games, stick with a game that has simple controls and a straightforward goal.