(ThyBlackMan.com) Samsung shows off its new products and software at the developer conference. This year, at SDC18, Samsung introduced some of the latest smartphone innovations including the foldable screen phone and talked about other products such as S Pen, developer tools, new UI, mobile games and a lot more. Here are all the exciting details Samsung shared about its latest smartphone innovations.
Infinity Flex Display
One of the biggest announcements Samsung made this year at SDC18 was the Infinity Flex display. The long-rumored foldable phone is now a reality and Samsung showed the display while concealing the design in a square-shaped box. The display, when you unfold it, features a seamless 7.3-inch screen allowing users to use the device like a smartphone and a tablet. For software support, Samsung confirmed that it worked with Google to design a dedicated version of Android that runs on this new device. Samsung also introduced Multi-active Window feature that allows users to use three apps at the same time.
One more feature called App Continuity was showcased during the event. It is exactly how we were expecting it to be. When you fold the screen, you will be able to use your current app in a small-sized display. According to Samsung, the mass production will begin in the coming months. However, the company didn’t confirm whether it was talking about the mass production of the actual smartphone or the flex display. The 18.5cm screen looks beautiful and according to Samsung, it can be folded hundreds of thousands of times.
More Powerful Bixby
When Samsung introduced Bixby alongside the Galaxy S8 and S8+, there was very little you could do with the new AI-powered smart assistant. Within a year, Bixby has become popular among smartphone users and developers. AT SDC18, Samsung confirmed that it won’t restrict the use of Bixby as the company is now ready to expand the reach of its AI-based assistant. Bixby will now be available on more Samsung products including tablets and smart speakers.
Samsung plans to invest more money, about $22 billion, on research and development of AI technology for its hardware and software products. The company also aims to hire more AI specialists by 2020. According to Samsung, all of its products will be connected to the internet and Bixby by that time.
One UI
Samsung wants navigation on its smartphones to be easier than ever. To do that, the company introduced a new user interface for its smartphones – One UI. As the size of smartphones is getting bigger, Samsung wants that users should be able to navigate their smartphones with ease and comfort.
A software update for One UI will be rolled out in January for the existing smartphones including the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The Note 9 will also receive One UI update. Samsung has not shared more details about One UI update, but it seems that the company has learned lessons from the past as its TouchWiz UI which was later renamed Samsung Experience, was heavily criticized by users. Now when One UI update is just a few weeks away, Samsung is focusing more on one-handed use of its devices making interactions more seamless.
Samsung has worked on adding more visual comfort by removing distractions and putting more focus on natural ways of interactions. The most relevant content will be available at the bottom as One UI splits the screen allowing users to have easy access to the most important content on their phone. Given the fact that display has become taller as the majority of smartphones these days embrace 18:9 aspect ratio, these changes in UI are exactly what users wanted. You’ve probably noticed that even in One UI, the notification bar still sits at the top.
Better Gaming Experience
Thanks to Samsung, gaming on smartphones is changing for good. The company invited some of the leading game developers to its two-day event. Pokemon Go developer Niantic, Fortnite star Epic Games were present there. Samsung promised fans that it will enhance the gaming experience on Galaxy devices with such partnership deals as the company aims to make Samsung Galaxy smartphones an exclusive games heaven for users.
Samsung, during the SDC18 keynote, also announced a lot of improvements and changes for its AI and IoT products. The company promised developers that it will support innovative ideas with initiatives like SmartThings certification program. The program helps developers get their apps developed and running.
Staff Writer; Corey Shaw
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