По всей видимости в Samsung решили отказаться от брэнда смарт-девайсов серии Gear ("шестерёнка"), посчитав это название неудачным. Ранее южнокорейский техногигант уже представил смарт-часы Galaxy Watch, пришедшие на смену Gear S3, а гарнитура виртуальной реальности Gear VR, по сообщениям отраслевых источников, будет скоро переименована в Galaxy VR. Также изменения коснутся и линейки беспроводных наушников Gear IconX. Оригинальная Gear IconX вышла в 2016 году и стала одной из первых полностью беспроводных смарт-моделей на рынке. В августе прошлого года было представлено 2-е поколение, получившее название Gear IconX (2018). Похоже, что вместо 3-го поколения Gear IconX корпорация собирается представить Samsung Buds. Вендор уже зарегистрировал соответствующую торговую марку. Впрочем, некоторые полагают, что Buds будет выпускаться параллельно с IconX и прежняя линейка никуда не денется, а просто будет дополнена ещё одной (возможно, более дорогой). Что касается начинки Buds, то радикальных изменений вряд ли стоит ожидать. Все бывшие девайсы Gear продолжат использовать операционную систему TIZEN, правда более позднего поколения. Разумеется, улучшатся характеристики этих устройств благодаря обновлённой аппаратной и софтверной части, которые разрабатываются исключительно силами инженеров и программистов Samsung. Ожидается, что новые Buds будут представлены в начале 2019 года вместе с Galaxy S10. New trademark application suggests Samsung Buds could be landing soon Samsung has filed a trademark application for Samsung Buds, indicating that the Korean company could be preparing a new hearable for launch The filing, which was lodged at the European Union Intellectual Property and uncovered by SamMobile, lists the name of the potential device, though unfortunately details are scarce regarding the Buds. Going by the name, it would appear likely that Samsung is looking to replace the Gear IconX 2018 - the second generation wireless earbuds which launched just over a year ago - but we don't yet know if the application indeed denotes the next generation of the smart earbuds or simply a dumb equivalent that comes packaged with its phones (akin to Apple's EarPods, for example) - or, you know, a different device altogether. There's no previous filings or rumours surrounding the moniker that could add any weight to the minimal details within the application, however, at least on paper, a rebranding would fit with what we've recently seen from Samsung and its smartwatch line. Of course, as we've seen through the IconX's best-known smart rivals - the Apple AirPods and the Google Pixel Buds - smart assistants are now at the heart of smart earbuds. We've yet to see Bixby really shine in any of Samsung's wearables, despite it being introduced through the IconX 2018, and so it's not completely out of the question the Buds could be used to help propel the stuttering assistant once again.
Samsung заключил соглашение о партнёрстве с Музеем Ван Гога (Амстердам, Нидерланды), что уже в скором времени позволит отображать 25 картин художника на дизайнерских телевизорах серии The Frame в формате 4K, выступающем в роли экспоната. Об этом 24 сентября было сообщено в официальном пресс-релизе южнокорейского электронного гиганта. С помощью специальной опции Art Mode, распространяемой по модели подписки, пользователи смогут выставлять на своих телевизорах в качестве заставки не только картины художника, но и другие изображения ультравысокой чёткости. Названный «крупнейшей в мире арт-платформой», телевизор имеет набор специальных сменных рамок по периметру экрана, которые делают его похожим на чёрную, белую, ореховую или бежевую картинную раму. Владельцы The Frame могут вывести на экран, к примеру, «Подсолнухи» Ван Гога и превратить любую комнату в динамичную галерею — для этого задействована специальная технология последовательного отображения кадров по тщательно разработанному алгоритму. Услуга, позволяющая превратить телевизор в стенд для произведений искусства, распространяется по подписке и стоит $4,99 в месяц. С момента запуска новой услуги арт-коллекция Samsung разрослась до 800 изображений из ведущих музеев и галерей мира. TV When It’s On, Art When It’s Off: Samsung Brings the Art of Van Gogh Home with The Frame Samsung and the Van Gogh Museum Partner to Transform the Living Room With 25 of the Iconic Artist’s Masterpieces coming to the Samsung Art Store Samsung Electronics America Inc. announced a partnership with the world-renowned Van Gogh Museum to bring the art of Vincent Van Gogh to its award-winning lifestyle TV, The Frame. The Samsung Art Store[1] – the world’s largest art platform for TV – will have 25 masterpieces from the Amsterdam-based museum available for purchase or via subscription for owners of The Frame. The selected pieces feature landscapes, self-portraits, and still life imagery from some of Van Gogh’s most famous works. With this selection, owners of The Frame will be able to find a Van Gogh painting that suits their personal tastes and their home décor with the option to select a new painting if they ever want to transform the aesthetic of their living space. For example, they can display Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers when they want to create a warm and welcoming space for a dinner party or they can display Orchard in Blossom to welcome the first signs of spring. They can even create personalized collections to shuffle through a variety of Van Gogh’s masterpieces or if they want to display his celebrated work alongside work from other artists. Owners of The Frame now have more ways than ever to customize the look and feel of their room. The Samsung Art Store houses an ever-growing and diverse library of artwork from some of the most prominent museums, galleries and artists around the world. Adriaan Dönszelmann, Managing Director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam said, “people from all over the world really love Van Gogh, so we’re always searching for new ways to make his life and work accessible to as many people as possible. This partnership with Samsung creates a great opportunity to reach a new audience outside the museum. We are very proud of this collaboration.” “We’re excited to welcome the Van Gogh Museum to the ever-growing list of distinguished galleries and museums on the Samsung Art Store,” said Andrew Sivori, Vice President of TV Product Marketing for Samsung Electronics America. “This partnership allows new audiences to discover and showcase the beauty of Van Gogh’s work in their home by using The Frame’s innovative display technology to transform any room into a dynamic gallery.” The Art Store will include the following Van Gogh works of art: * The Yellow House (The Street) (1888) * The Bedroom (1888) * Fishing Boats On The Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (1888) * Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries (1888) * The White Orchard (1888) * Field With Irises near Arles (1888) * Stairs in the Garden of the Asylum (1889) * Wheatfield with Crows (1890) * Wheatfield with a Reaper (1889) * Orchard in Blossom (1889) * The Sower (1888) * Sunflowers (1889) * The Harvest (1853-1890) * Tree Roots (1890) * By the Seine (1887) * The Bridge at Courbevoie (1887) * View of Auvers (1890) * Entrance to a Quarry (1889) * Self-Portrait (1887) * Field with Poppies (1888) * Wild Roses (1889) * Grapes (1887) * Landscape at Twilight (1890) * Wheatfield under Thunderclouds (1890) * Farmhouse (1890) In addition, Samsung Electronics America and the Van Gogh Museum are coordinating a Van Gogh Museum pop-up tour across various U.S. malls that feature unparalleled, curator-approved replicas of nine carefully selected paintings by the artist, including: Almond Blossom, Sunflowers, The Harvest, Wheatfield under Thunderclouds, Boulevard de Clichy, Undergrowth, The Bedroom, Fishing Boats on the Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Landscape at Twilight. Three-dimensional replicas of Van Gogh’s masterpieces pay exclusive tribute to his artistic genius and original, unique approach to art. The pop-up tour is currently being showcased at the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia, PA and will be on display there through October 31, 2018. It will then go on display at the Short Hills Mall in Short Hills, NJ, between December 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019. All proceeds from the tour will support the preservation of the collection in the Van Gogh Museum as well as support the development of new educational programs and future initiatives of the Van Gogh Museum. About Van Gogh Museum Enterprises Under the brand name ‘Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam’, Van Gogh Museum Enterprises BV (VGME) develops a variety of products and services based on the Van Gogh Museum’s mission to make the life and work of Vincent van Gogh accessible to as many people as possible in order to enrich and inspire them. All of these products and services are developed – also in collaboration with external partners – with Vincent van Gogh’s legacy in mind. The generated income contributes to supporting the activities of the Van Gogh Museum. [1] $4.99 per month. New subscribers get 1 month free. Art can also be purchased a la carte.
Вслед за Европой новейший флагман Samsung Galaxy Note9 возглавил потребительский рейтинг в США. Ведущий журнал Consumer Reports (CR), являющийся рупором старейшей некоммерческой организации Consumer Union, отстаивающей интересы американских потребителей, назвал коммуникатор от южнокорейского вендора лучшим из всего, что имеется на рынке в настоящий момент. Всесторонние испытания, которым аппарт подвергли в абораториях CR, Galaxy Note9 выдержал с честью. Среди плюсов особо отмечаются прочность, долгое время автономной работы и качество фото/видеосъёмки. Смартфон выдержал все запланированные 100 тестовых падений, не потеряв работоспособность. От одной зарядки аппарат проработал 29 часов. Это не абсолютный рекорд, но его чуть опережают всего несколько аппаратов актуального списка Consumer Reports. Из минусов Galaxy Note9 эксперты отметили большой размер и высокую стоимость. Вместе с тем в CR отмечают, что в ближайшее время конкуренты в лице новых флагманов от Apple могут потеснить лидера, поскольку в предварительных тестах они также демонстрируют хорошие результаты. Окончательный вердикт относительно позиций iPhone XS и iPhone XS Max будет вынесен в ближайшие 2-3 недели. Но поскольку приток высококлассных коммуникаторов на мировой рынок бесконечен, уже в начале 2019 года нынешние чемпионы почти наверняка будут сметены с пьедестала юбилейной серией флагманов Samsung Galaxy S10, которые, согласно предварительной информации, будут обладать выдающимися характеристиками. Consumer Reports: Samsung Galaxy Note9 Tops CR's Smartphone Ratings Long battery life, durability, and great cameras help make this phablet No. 1 The Samsung Galaxy Note9 is a good example of how—sometimes—bigger does mean better. Consumer Reports just finished its testing of the extra-large phablet. A long-lasting battery and other factors have helped the Note9 become our highest-rated smartphone. At least for now. The Note9 may face stiff competition in CR's labs from the new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, which are going on sale to the public this week. Consumer Reports only rates products we buy at retail, which means test results on the new iPhones will be available soon. In our testing, the Note9's battery lasted a whopping 29 hours. While a few other CR-recommended models lasted a little bit longer, the Note9’s battery performance beat those of a vast majority of smartphones currently on the market. “It’ll get everyone except the most extreme user through a day without needing to recharge,” says Richard Fisco, CR’s head of smartphone testing. To find out exactly how long a smartphone’s battery can go, Consumer Reports uses a robotic finger programmed to put the phone through a range of tasks designed to simulate a user's average day. The robot browses the internet, takes pictures, uses GPS navigation, and, of course, makes phone calls. Fisco adds that once the Note9’s operating system is upgraded to the newest version of Android, which is designed to boost smartphone battery efficiency, the Note9's battery could last even longer. While its industry-leading battery life gives the Note9 an edge, Fisco says it's just part of an all-around strong performance that also includes improved durability and a great camera, along with unique features such as a redesigned S Pen stylus. Here’s a more detailed look at how the Note9 did in our testing. Note9 Strengths Improved durability. Consumer Reports tests the durability of smartphones by submitting them to 100 drops in a tumbling machine that repeatedly subjects them to falls of about 2.5 feet. This ensures that the devices strike the bottom of the machine at myriad angles, simulating a wide range of falls. It’s not an easy ride to survive, especially for phones like the Note9 that have a glass front and back. But the Note9 made it through all 100 drops with the glass intact and just a few minor dings. In contrast, when we tested the Note8 last year, the glass back broke in the first 50 drops. And when testers checked after 100 drops, the display was broken, too. Bigger display (slightly). The Note9 has one of the biggest displays out there, at 6.4 inches when measured diagonally. Among the phones we've tested, only the iPhone XS Max, which goes on sale this week, has a larger screen—by just one-tenth of an inch. At first glance, the Note9 looks much like its predecessor, the Note8, which has a 6.3-inch display. The Note9 has the same tall, thin aspect ratio of 18.5:9, which makes it fairly big yet easy to hold. To make room for the larger display, Samsung whittled away at the bezel running around the edge and eliminated wasted space on the phone’s face. You really have to look closely at the two models to see the difference between the Note9 and the Note8. Like the Note8, the Note9 has an OLED screen. The technology, also used in high-end TVs, produces blacker blacks and nearly unlimited viewing angles. So it’s not surprising that just like the Note8, the Note9 got high marks for its display. Better camera. The Note9’s cameras rate right up there with the best of the best, Fisco says. Like other premium phones, this model has two rear cameras, one with a wide angle and a second with a 2X zoom that can go seamlessly to 10X for shooting up close. The bokeh feature, which allows you to take a portrait where the subject appears in sharp focus in front of a blurred background, works well, according to the testers. They also noted that the autofocus is very fast. The cameras take great-quality still photos with very sharp images. But while daylight images are very detailed with true-to-life colors, photos shot in dim lighting end up slightly dark, though little detail is lost. New and improved stylus. The phone's trademark S Pen stylus makes handling the big device a little easier. With a phone this size, many consumers would need two hands to reach every corner of the screen. Our testers found the stylus convenient and well-designed. For instance, you can click the button on the S Pen to snap pictures with the front camera, making it easy to take selfies with your friends. Tap the button twice and the Note9 shifts from the front- to the rear-facing camera. The button can also be used to advance slideshow-like through the images in your photo library. It can even help you play the role of DJ, aptly controlling the song selection from your favorite music app. And, of course, you can use the stylus to doodle and jot down notes on your lock screen. Because Samsung has decided to open the S Pen’s remote-control abilities to third-party development, we expect owners to be able to use the button for even more tasks sometime soon. Note9 Shortcomings The Samsung Galaxy Note doesn't have a lot of objective weaknesses, Fisco says, but it's not for everyone. As mentioned before, the phone is big—really big. And it weighs in at just over 7 ounces. If you don’t like that sort of heft, you might want to look for something a little smaller. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S9, which is also rated very high by Consumer Reports, includes much of the same hardware and software but weighs a bit less at 5.75 ounces. The Note9's price could be a hurdle for many consumers as well. With a $1,000 starting price, the Note9 is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, matching the new iPhone XS. (The $1,000 version of the Apple device has a 5.8-inch display and only half as much storage—64GB.) If you want an Apple smartphone with a similar-sized display, you’ll have to shell out $1,100 for a 64GB iPhone XS Max. The 256GB version costs $1,250.
