[Video] How the Gear 360 Can Be a Perfect 360˚ Companion for Your Life

For people who want to document their memories in new, creative ways, the Samsung Gear 360 offers numerous fun and practical usability options. This video shows how one couple seamlessly connected the Gear 360 to a wide range of camera accessories on their camping trip to capture precious times together in wide, detailed panoramas.

With its universal tripod hole, the Gear 360 can be attached various third-party accessories, such as selfie sticks, drones and helmet mounts, depending on users’ needs. And the fun does not stop there. You can take the Gear 360 for a spin on a car or a bicycle using a camera dock, and attach the device to guitars or other instruments with a clamp.

The Gear 360 transforms the way people share and save valuable moments – and allows people the ability to delve straight back into the action. Check out this 360 video, compatible not only with the Gear VR, but also PCs and smartphones. Watch how this couple used the Gear 360 on a camping trip to create footage they will never forget!

Samsung Amplifies Longstanding Partnership with 20th Century Fox, Highlights Shared Vision in Video

Samsung Electronics unveiled today a shared vision with 20th Century Fox (Fox) to further elevate the consumer viewing experience, and the TV industry at large.

A new video released by the company highlights its longstanding partnership with industry leading film studio and underlines the importance of TV in today’s larger content ecosystem, featuring executives from both Samsung and Fox who share their collective vision for the future.

“Fox and Samsung have been working collaboratively for many years on new technologies,” said Danny Kaye, executive vice president, global research and technology strategy, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “Over the years, we’ve formed a deep mutual respect and now we’re taking that collaboration to a whole new level.”

The partnership between Samsung and Fox began in 2013, when Samsung joined the Secure Content Storage Association (SCSA) — a consortium of companies in the entertainment and storage space that aim to provide consumers with new ways to access high-quality digital programming across devices — and did so with the backing of Fox. Samsung has since launched a UHD download service with Fox content, as well as an expanded service that includes High Dynamic Range (HDR) titles, which is available to consumers globally.

“Our goal is to offer the best consumer experience while preserving the filmmaker’s intent with no distortion, no compromises,” said Won Jin Lee, executive vice president, service business team, visual display at Samsung Electronics. “We are answering industry, market and user demand with this continued partnership.”

In 2014, Samsung launched its first ever branded “Video Pack” that provided users with five titles licensed by the studio. That same year, Samsung and Fox established the Fox Innovation Lab, with the first project integrating accessible content into Samsung’s Ultra High Definition (UHD) TVs.

“We share a common goal of delivering the best user experience at home,” said Won Jin Lee. “Our complimentary skill sets have helped us continuously raise the bar for ourselves, as well as the industry.”

In 2015, Samsung and Fox, among other industry leaders, co-announced the UHD Alliance — a coalition of companies united to set the bar for next generation video entertainment by establishing standards to support innovation in video technologies. The Alliance is dedicated to furthering this commitment in 2016 and beyond.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S: Is there a new flagship king?

iPhone 6S vs Galaxy S7: Apple vs Samsung battle it out for mobile domination

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is now on the market, heralding the next round in the ongoing Samsung vs Apple smartphone grudge match.

Now that our review is in, we can confirm that the Galaxy S7 is a serious contender for the top smartphone crown. It might pack a familiar design, but a faster CPU, improved battery, and a stunning-looking camera could well be giving Apple more cold sweats than the FBI.

Of course, it wasn't too long ago that Apple released its iPhone 6S flagship. Many saw that phone as one of Apple's best ever 'S' devices, so it's not like Samsung has the market all sown up right up until the launch of the iPhone 7.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of Samsung's new handset and how it stacks up against Apple's current iPhone.

Watch our Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S comparison video

Samsung Galaxy S7: 7.9mm thick, 152g, metal alloy, glass front and back, IP68 certified, Black/Gold

iPhone 6S: 7.1mm thick, 143g, Series 7000 anodised aluminium back, Space Gray/Silver/Gold/Rose Gold

The Galaxy S6 was the prettiest phone Samsung's ever made by quite some margin. It ditched the horrid plastic backs seen on past Galaxy phones, replacing them with a wonderfully luxurious mix of glass and metal. The design made the Galaxy S6 look and feel premium.

However, its design still didn't completely beat Apple's. While the iPhone 6S's design doesn't radically differ from its predecessor, the iPhone 6, it remains one of, if not the best put together phones on the market. true, it may not be as iconic as the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5, but it's a much more pleasant phone to use day-to-day.

It's curvier and somehow warmer than previous iPhones. What's more, with Apple's use of Series 7000 aluminium, it's also tougher than before.

However, picking between it and the Galaxy S7 is tricky, as Samsung's made a number of small but important design changes to its latest flagship. The camera sensor bump is gone and Samsung's added a few millimetres to the thickness by adding a slight curvature to the back, reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 5.

This thickening is actually a considerable improvement, making it much more comfortable to hold and less prone to slipping out of your hand. It also means that the Galaxy S7 is a lot easier to pick up from a flat surface, which is an important attribute.

What's more, Samsung somehow managed to make the gorgeous looking Galaxy S7 IP68 certified. This means that, unlike the iPhone 6S, the Galaxy S7 can survive an accidental aquatic encounter unscathed. That this has been achieved with no external signs of 'ruggedisation' - flaps, a thicker display etc. - is impressive.

Samsung's design hasn't really gotten any prettier this year, then, but it has become a lot more practically sound. That's just as important as aesthetic considerations, if not more so, and it's enough to give the Galaxy S7 a win over the iPhone 6S in this area.

GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: DISPLAY

Samsung Galaxy S7: 5.1-inch Super AMOLED, 2,560 x 1,440, 577ppi

iPhone 6S: 4.7-inch IPS LCD, 1334 x 750, 326ppi, 3D Touch

The Samsung Galaxy S7's display is very similar indeed to the S6's. This means that once again it is radically sharper than the iPhone 6S's screen, and once again displays deeper blacks thanks to its Super AMOLED tech.

For those that don't know, AMOLED screens display deeper and richer blacks by electrically charging each individual pixel when generating colours, letting them create blacks simply by turning off the relevant pixels. LCD technology lights up all pixels, even when they're displaying black, making for a slightly washed out grey look. This means that the Galaxy S7, like the S6, has a more vibrant and sharp display than the iPhone 6S.

Of course, some will argue that AMOLED screens tend to be oversaturated, making films and pictures look false and other worldly. But Samsung, as always, offers a number of screen tone options so that you can attain a more naturalistic picture if you so wish.

That Galaxy S7 screen also has a cool new always-on feature. The feature is a low power screen mode that activates when the phone is put to sleep. It offers peek views of incoming notifications and alerts from certain services, meaning you can check who's messaged you without having to fully power up the display.

However, we felt that this always-on feature was a little half-baked, with limited functionality and poor app support. It's a nice idea, but it isn't truly useful yet.

The Galaxy S7's screen also doesn't feature a competitor to Apple’s 3D Touch tech. 3D Touch is a nifty feature that lets the iPhone's screen detect varying amounts of pressure. It can be used to enact a variety of tasks, like previewing emails and websites. For iPhone 6S owners familiar with 3D Touch, the lack of an equivalent feature on the Galaxy S7 could be a sticking point.

GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: PERFORMANCE

Samsung Galaxy S7: Exynos 8890 octa-core/Snapdragon 820 quad-core CPU, Adreno 530/Mali-T880 MP12 GPU, 4GB RAM

iPhone 6S: Apple A9 64-bit dual-core CPU, 2GB RAM

The Galaxy S7 is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 8890 processor in most territories, including here in the UK. Our US cousins get the more general, off-the-shelf (but still highly capable) Snapdragon 820.

Whichever chip you get, it will offer radically better performance than the Galaxy S6. Samsung claims that both will offer 30% better performance than the Galaxy S6's Exynos 7420 64-bit octa-core CPU. The phone's also got a memory upgrade, with Samsung having loaded the Galaxy S7 with a staggering 4GB of RAM.

Our own extensive hands-on time with the Galaxy S7 bears this performance boost out. Games in particular absolutely fly on this phone, whether it's the fast-paced 3D racing thrills of Asphalt or the detailed 2D puzzling of Lara Croft Go.

The iPhone, meanwhile, has the dual-core A9 chip and 2GB of RAM. That combo matched the S6, and even exceeded it in general usage, but Samsung holds the advantage - at least until the iPhone 7 arrives.

Our multicore CPU benchmark tests showed that the Galaxy S7 had a clear lead over the iPhone 6S for high-end tasks.

GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: CAMERA

Samsung Galaxy S7: 12-megapixel, phase detection, Dual Pixels, OIS, f/1.7 lens, 1/2.6" sensor, 1.4 µm pixel, 4K video, 5-megapixel front camera

iPhone 6S: 12-megapixel rear camera, f/2.2 aperture, dual LED flash, 4K video recording, 5-megapixel front camera

The iPhone 6S is no slow poke when it comes to snapping photos. The phone's automatic mode is one of the best we've seen on a smartphone and makes it quicker and easier to take great photos without having to get bogged down in complex settings.

It's only drawback is its lack of optical image stabilisation (OIS), a factor that, combined with its lower f/2.2 aperture meant it struggled to compete with the Galaxy S6 in low light.

The Galaxy S7 widens the gulf in that respect, employing a number of techniques to help boost its low light performance.

For starters Samsung's loaded the Galaxy S7 with a new 12-megapixel sensor - actually less than its predecessor - that's been designed to capture bigger pixels, and as a consequence more light.

The lens aperture has also been widened to f/1.7, meaning that much more light can physically enter the lens than with the iPhone 6S. Samsung claims the combination of factors mean the Galaxy S7 can capture 95 percent more light than its predecessor - which much equate to a whole heap more than the iPhone 6S.

Our own snaps seem to confirm this, with significantly better results in dark conditions for the Samsung phone.

But it's not just in low-light performance that the Galaxy S7 camera betters the iPhone 6S. It also has the best autofocus system we've ever seen in a smartphone. It's ridiculously quick and accurate.

The iPhone 6S camera remains one of the best in the business for general snaps in good lighting, in which the colour accuracy and general look is often preferable to the Galaxy S7 equivalent. But overall, the Galaxy S7 is the better photographic tool - especially when you factor in its handy home button shortcut and tweakable Pro mode.

GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: STORAGE

Samsung Galaxy S7: 32GB, microSD

iPhone 6S: 16GB / 64GB / 128GB

Samsung's only loaded the Galaxy S7 with 32GB of internal storage. By comparison the iPhone 6S is currently available with 16GB, 64GB or 128GB of internal space.

So, a win to the iPhone, right? Not quite.

While the additional options are nice, and we wish Samsung had followed suit and offered more, the entry-level Apple offering is pretty much hopeless. 16GB is completely inadequate for a modern flagship phone.

Also, unlike last year's Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S7 allows you to bolster its fixed storage with a microSD slot. Unfortunately, Samsung has shot itself in the foot somewhat by refusing to take up Google's Adoptable Storage facility.

This feature effectively turns any inserted microSD card as part of the core system storage. As it is, you can shift photos, files, and some apps to the microSD card on the Galaxy S7, but you're otherwise much more limited as to its usage.

GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: SOFTWARE

Samsung Galaxy S7: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, TouchWiz UI

iPhone 6S: iOS 9.3

Traditionally Samsung's insistence on loading Android smartphones with Touchwiz has been a key issue hampering their ability to compete with Apple iPhones.

As well as making Android's UI feel a little cluttered, the skin loaded past Galaxies with more bloatware than could easily be counted. What's more, the skin also radically delayed how quickly Samsung's phones could be upgraded to new versions of Android. This is because Samsung needs to tweak Touchwiz to work with Google's code with every new release.

To this day many Galaxy S6 smartphones have not been upgraded to Google's latest Android Marshmallow operating system.

Sadly (but predictably), Samsung doesn't seem to have learned its lesson with the Galaxy S7. It's better than before, but it still has TouchWiz and a stack of unnecessary extra apps. You still get two browsers and two music players, for example.

Some of Samsung's additions are quite nifty, such as the new Game Launcher that organises your games and lets you record footage of your exploits. But they're rarely essential additions to the core Android experience.

Say way you like about Apple's closed management of iOS, but it has let the company ensure device owners are always able to get software updates - so long as the iPhone, or iPad's hardware is able to run it. It also makes for a much cleaner, smoother, more consistent experience than Samsung can achieve with TouchWiz on the S7.

Samsung's managed to do great work fixing the bloatware issue on the Galaxy S7 and should be applauded for preloading it with Android Marshmallow. However, we're certain the upgrade issues will persist. From a pure software perspective, the iPhone 6S remains the better phone.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 VS IPHONE 6S: PRICING

Samsung Galaxy S7: £569

iPhone 6S: £539 - £699

At first glance, it looks like the iPhone 6S is cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S7, which plays against expectations somewhat. Prices for Apple's phone start from £539, while Samsung's latest will start from £569.

Look a little closer, though, and you'll see that the entry-level iPhone 6S in question comes with a piddly 16GB of storage. Combined with a lack of expansion potential, it's a bit of a lame duck. Samsung starts off with a much more reasonable 32GB of storage, not to mention a microSD slot of expansion.

The next phone up in the iPhone 6S range comes with 64GB of storage, and that costs a hefty £619.

1. VERDICT

The Galaxy S7 is an absolute beast of a smartphone that aces the smartphone holy trinity of design, performance, and camera. As such, it's a more than worthy rival to the iPhone 6S.

Samsung's phone features a much better display, a generally more capable processor, twice the memory, and a better camera. We'd still take iOS over Samsung's fussy TouchWiz UI any day of the week, but in most other respects we'd have to give the nod to the Galaxy S7.

However, this isn't really a surprise. Apple's iPhone 6S is already over halfway through its lifecycle as a flagship smartphone. Samsung's real competition awaits six months down the line.

Samsung’s Designers Lead to Meaningful Design

The creative and adventurous designers of Samsung Electronics have played an important role in discovering the needs of consumers and developing products they find truly meaningful.

For many designers, their personality can be seen in their workspaces. Wild or weird, cluttered or clean, the desks of Samsung’s designers showcase their unique personalities and provide insight into what inspires them. It’s that diversity of backgrounds, experiences and styles that creates strength and is a vital part of realizing meaningful design.

Which is why we made “Designer Desk”—presenting the desks of six Samsung designers, to provide a glimpse of the variety and inventiveness of the people who create our wide range of products.

Meet the Designer’s Desk

How can you really get to know a person? Look at their surroundings. People’s personalities tend to inadvertently show up in the things around them. The seemingly little things, like your music playlist, the books you read or what you do over the weekend, can tell the world a lot about the kind of person you are.

When we decided to introduce our designers here at Samsung Electronics, the first thing we thought of were their desks. What better way to showcase you their personalities than the place they display their personal belongings and spend the most time? So we sat down with each of our designers as they showed us their desks and shared their thoughts on design and the work that they do.

“My desk is a discount store display.”

Taewon Seok / Senior Designer / Mobile Communications Business

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

My origami Doberman Pinscher. I started making origami dogs after I saw a movie about Dobermans when I was young. Finding the unique characteristics of each kind of dog and translating those features into paper construction has many parallels to the design process.

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

A quick, often rough, sketch that really captures the essence of an idea. We tend to think a marker drawing or a detailed sketch meant for presentations shows the creative moment, but often that simple sketch is a doorway to so much possibility to develop your idea.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

I would say my approach to design is with irony and wit. My style is direct and my goal is to be memorable, like nice perfume.

“My desk is a place with flowers and plants to brighten your day.”

Eunyoung Choi / Assistant Designer / Visual Display Business

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

An empty perfume bottle I use to put flowers in. The bottle is curved, which I prefer to the straight lines of a normal perfume bottle. Some days there will be ranunculus, and other days, I’ll have pompom flowers that really brighten up my desk.

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

Ideation and brainstorming. While it’s important to make something pretty and stylish, coming up with a good idea takes hard work. In my opinion, a good idea ultimately yields good results.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

I think experiencing new things is important. I personally like to learn and feel new things. Accepting them, visualizing them and organizing them into something I could use later on in my work is what inspires me and my design.

“My desk is red leather.”

Jinhoo Lee / Senior Designer / Mobile Communications Business

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

My earphones. While they may look like hearing aids and not very high-end, the sound is impeccable. And because they fit inside your ear, they’re good for times when you want to avoid outside noise and really concentrate on your work.

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

I think the direction of the design and the core value comes out during the ideation stage. But really, every step along the way is equally important.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

Experiencing as many things and as much as you can. Nothing is more important than that.

“My desk is my comfort zone filled with things I love.”

Jungjoo Sohn / Designer / Corporate Design Center

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

LEGO IDEAS 21301 BIRDS. The fact that a bird lover developed this LEGO IDEAS series and that it’s so cute to look at makes it the most important thing on my desk!

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

Research and ideas. During this stage I really get my inspirational juices flowing. I find out about different worlds and experiences that add to the creativity of the project.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

I aspire to be a designer that makes something that gets better over time.

“My desk is a cafe with pictures and music.”

Jangwoon Kim / Designer / Mobile Communications Business

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

My Galaxy Note 10.1. Since I don’t always carry around pen and paper, the tablet really comes in handy. Whether it’s in meetings or on my day off, I always have it close by.

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

In school I thought it was having a good idea. Now, after working a bit, I realize that it’s the final attention to detail when complete the project or product that really makes the difference.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

Because I view being a designer as needing to understand the inner workings of a product or a project and not just the superficial details, I strive to meet and converse with professionals from diverse fields and backgrounds. If you lend an ear to what they’re saying you’ll gain valuable insight into what consumers need, if not society as a whole.

“My desk is a home for rest and comfort.”

Kaei Kim / Senior Designer / Corporate Design Center

What’s your favorite item on your desk?

Messages from my colleagues. When a project becomes difficult or we reach a standoff, the kind words of encouragement from my team members or others in the office often help me back on my feet so I can continue to trudge on.

In your opinion, what is the most important step of the design process?

Design research. It’s vital to find a basis for your design and to develop a goal for it. Research is fertilizing the seed of creativity for your design work.

How would you define yourself as a designer?

I’ve always wanted to move hearts with my design work. Finding out what exactly triggers such emotions and thoughts has been a recent pursuit of mine.

Different Designers Come Together for Meaningful Design

All the designers who agreed to show us their desk, their inner sanctum if you will, were a bit shy at first and reluctant to do so. Soon they opened up their workspaces, as well as their views on design with confidence and determination. While all of them have different goals and dreams, their willingness to design something meaningful unites them and pushes them forward.

A wide range of individuals from all walks of life come together to create, make and design. As Jangwoon mentioned during his interview, diverse backgrounds and experiences add to design insights. For us at Samsung Electronics, those insights are key. It is our drive to discover the needs of users and consumers – insights that are vital in realizing meaningful design.

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Samsung’s New Lifestyle Band to “Charm by Samsung” Users with Unique Style and Functions

Charm by Samsung (“Charm”), a stylish lifestyle band by Samsung Electronics, was launched in Korea, Italy, France and Russia, and will soon be released in select markets .

No ordinary fitness band, Charm boasts a sleek design and looks more like a piece of jewelry than an electronic device. The band features a simple yet eye-catching square charm that keeps track of the number of steps you’ve taken in a day and also notifies you of incoming calls, texts and social media updates.

Its distinctive design, available in Gold, Black and Rose Quartz, is the perfect match for just about any style. Wear it alone for a sophisticated look or layer it with other trendy bracelets to complete an outfit that’s uniquely you.

In addition to being a stylish accessory, Charm, in conjunction with the Samsung S Health app, monitors your daily activity levels. Simply sync it with a smartphone via Bluetooth and pair it with the Charm by Samsung app (which is available for download via Galaxy Apps and Google Play Store) to see how many steps you’ve taken, how much distance you’ve covered over the course of a day and how many calories you’ve burned.

Even if you do not have your smartphone with you, Charm’s built-in storage monitor lets you continuously gather fitness data so you don’t lose track of a single step.

Charm also uses LED notifications to alert you of incoming calls and text messages, as well as push alerts from applications that you can select via the Charm by Samsung app. Straightforward, color-coded notifications also display information about charging, connectivity status and battery level.

To make your life even more convenient, Charm is equipped with a powerful, rechargeable, built-in 17mAh battery that allows you to use the device for up to 14 days on a single charge.* And, when you do need a battery boost, the included Pogo-pin charging cradle makes it easy and convenient.

Charm is compatible with smartphones running on Android OS 4.4 or subsequent versions including the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, as well as with S Health 4.6 or subsequent versions.

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