News
Samsung Pay will start charging credit card companies
Apple Pay launched in Korea, prompting Samsung Pay to shift its strategy. Samsung Pay is currently free for both consumers and credit card companies, but like Apple, Samsung also plans to start charging credit card companies.
Business Korea reported that Samsung Electronics informed all credit card companies in Korea that it will no longer offer Samsung Pay for free. Samsung Pay has been free for banks and Galaxy phone users since its launch in 2015, but Samsung will now begin charging credit card companies a small fee in South Korea, and this change is expected to apply to all markets worldwide where Samsung Pay is available.
Credit card companies, who have promoted Samsung Pay to over 16 million users for the past eight years, were reportedly surprised by Samsung’s decision to charge for the service. In response, they may have to reduce benefits provided to users to cut costs. While the South Korean government considers company contracts to be autonomous, it may intervene if the new charges are ultimately passed on to consumers.
Insiders in the financial industry are speculating that Samsung’s decision to charge for Samsung Pay may be linked to the recent launch of Apple Pay in South Korea. A credit card company executive suggested that Samsung may have felt compelled to act due to other credit card issuers planning to launch Apple Pay, and may have questioned why credit card companies should pay for the service when merchants already pay for Samsung Pay.
According to some analysts, Samsung may be attempting to leverage its decision to charge credit card companies for Samsung Pay as a negotiating tactic to pressure those who have not yet adopted Apple Pay. However, a representative from Samsung Electronics stated that no final decision has been made regarding Samsung Pay. Market analysts predict that Samsung will initiate negotiations with credit card companies on this matter by August 10th.
According to reports from various news sources, Samsung is taking steps to counter the competition from Apple Pay in South Korea. One such measure is the collaboration between Samsung Pay and Naver Pay, which will allow users to make online payments through Samsung Pay. In addition, Samsung is planning to activate Samsung Pay on the Galaxy Watch in South Korea to compete with Apple Pay. These moves are seen as part of Samsung’s strategy to maintain its position in the mobile payment market in the face of increasing competition.
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Huawei
Future Huawei Smartwatches May Feature Auto-Gesture Control
Huawei has recently filed a new patent indicating that their future smartwatches might include auto-gesture control features. This innovative enhancement will simplify gesture management, making it more intuitive and user-friendly for consumers.
According to the details, Huawei applied for the new patent on March 23, 2022, and it was published on May 30, 2024. The patent application is titled “Method for Controlling Wearable Device” and has been published by the U.S. Patent Office.
Input reveals that the new auto-gesture control technology for future Huawei smartwatches appears somewhat similar to the Apple Watch Series 9 Double Tap functionality.
The information suggests that the new auto-gesture control technology for future Huawei smartwatches resembles the Double Tap functionality found in the Apple Watch Series 9.
This feature automatically detects the motion between the index finger and thumb to perform specific tasks. Examples of such “Double Tap” actions include answering a phone call, scrolling through settings on the watch, and replying to texts.
Unlike Apple’s Double Tap feature, Huawei’s auto-gesture control technology for wearables will detect accidental touches on the screen. In other words, this feature will address and correct issues related to the device’s touchscreen operations.
For example, if you’re having trouble using the watch’s touchscreen in the rain, the device will automatically switch to gesture controls.
In short, the technology will detect unusual touch events on the screen and automatically activate gesture controls to ensure smooth interaction between the device and users.
How does the auto-gesture control technology work?
1. Advanced Touch Recognition Algorithms:
- The watch’s touchscreen would have built-in algorithms that can differentiate between normal touch interactions and unusual patterns.
- For example, rain might cause multiple, scattered touch points on the screen, while a finger swipe would typically leave a smooth, linear trail.
- Upon detecting unusual touch patterns, the algorithm would trigger a switch to auto-gesture control mode.
2. Multi-Sensor Fusion:
- The watch could combine touch data with input from other sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope.
- Rain hitting the watch might cause slight vibrations that the accelerometer could detect.
- Additionally, the gyroscope might not register the typical wrist movement associated with deliberate touch interaction.
- By combining touch data with these other sensors, the watch could build a more comprehensive picture of user interaction and trigger auto-gesture control when necessary.
3. Machine Learning:
- Huawei might employ machine learning algorithms on the watch itself or on a connected smartphone.
- The algorithm would be trained on a vast amount of data to differentiate between normal touch interactions and various types of interference like rain, sweat, or accidental touches.
- Over time, the machine learning model would continuously learn and improve its accuracy in recognizing unusual touch patterns.
Gesture Recognition for Control:
Once the watch detects the need for auto-gesture control, it would need to recognize the user’s gestures:
- Pre-programmed gestures: Users could set up specific hand movements beforehand, like clenching a fist for skipping a song or rotating the wrist for volume control.
- Context-aware gestures: The watch could analyze the situation and suggest context-appropriate gestures. For instance, during a workout, raising your arm with a clenched fist could be interpreted as “pause music.”
While the specifics remain to be seen, auto-gesture control has the potential to significantly improve smartwatch usability in various situations.
Overall, the concept of auto-gesture control for Huawei smartwatches holds promise. It could enhance user experience by adapting to different scenarios. However, we’ll need to wait for official announcements to get a clearer picture of its implementation details and compatibility with various operating systems and hardware.
via:- HC/huaweinews
Huawei
Huawei Developing Celia Assistant with 5.5G and AI Features
Huawei plans to develop a new version of its Celia assistant, featuring upgrades like 5.5G and AI capabilities. The company announced this at the 2024 Mobile Communications High-Quality Development Forum on June 7.
At the event, Huawei’s Senior Vice President, Cao Jibin, discussed how teamwork can usher in the era of 5G-A technology in the region.
Cao also announced that Huawei plans to develop a new Celia super assistant with 5.5G network technology and advanced AI features.
This new Celia assistant will be built on the Pangu AI large model. Since Huawei is set to launch the Pangu Model 5.0 at HDC 2024, this technology is expected to be integrated into the new assistant app.
Currently, the Celia voice assistant uses Large Language Model (LLM) AI and advanced algorithms. However, Huawei aims to make it even smarter and more efficient for users. Cao believes these enhancements will better meet users’ needs.
“Huawei is the first company to introduce AI into smartphones. In the next step, we will build Celia into a super assistant based on the Pangu model, integrating the capabilities of 5G + AI to provide users with better devices.” – says Cao Jibin.
Apart from the Celia assistant, Cao Jibin discussed the benefits of 5G-A technology, also known as 5.5G. This advanced network offers faster, more stable, and more functional mobile communication compared to previous versions.
Over the next 5-10 years, 5G-A will become more powerful and benefit individual users, families, offices, and other settings. It will also boost digital transformation and introduce various AI facilities for customers.
Cao mentioned that the demand for smart technologies will increase by 100 times, and AI computing will grow by 500 times. Despite slow progress in chip production, he is optimistic about future improvements.
via:- weibo/huaweicentral
News
Samsung Expands DIY Repair Program to Include Galaxy S23, Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and More
Samsung is making it easier for users to fix their devices by expanding its DIY repair program. In a recent announcement, Samsung shared that over a dozen new devices will be included in the Self-Repair program. Among them are the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, marking the introduction of DIY repair options for Samsung’s foldable phones.
The Self-Repair program will provide users with access to parts and guides for fixing their devices at home. Samsung [Samsung Newsroom Post] is taking a step towards empowering users to take control of their device maintenance, offering support for popular devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in this latest expansion.
Until now, Samsung mainly provided DIY repair options for its regular smartphones, tablets, and laptops. However, when it came to the more intricate foldable models like the Galaxy Fold and Flip, the company limited users to professional repair services due to the complexity of these devices.
Now, in a noteworthy move, Samsung is expanding its DIY repair support to include its foldable models, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. This means users will soon have the option to tackle repairs at home, marking a shift in Samsung’s approach to empower users in maintaining and fixing their foldable devices.
This development follows Google’s recent introduction of DIY repair options for its Pixel Fold, though it’s worth noting that repair parts for the Pixel Fold can be relatively expensive, such as the inner screen alone costing $900. As Samsung joins the DIY repair trend for foldables, it’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the accessibility and affordability of maintaining these innovative devices.
The full list of new Self-Repair options for Galaxy devices includes:
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy S23+
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy A05s
- Galaxy Tab S9
- Galaxy Tab S9+
- Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S9 FE
- Galaxy Tab S9+ FE
- Galaxy Tab A9
- Galaxy Tab A9+
- Galaxy Book 2 Pro (15-inch)
- Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (15-inch)
Samsung is making its Self-Repair program available to more people around the world. The program is spreading to South Korea and over 30 European countries, including places like Denmark, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal. However, it’s important to note that, as of now, these new devices are not yet supported in the United States, and parts are not available from Samsung’s retail partner, iFixit.
via:- 9to5google/samsungnewsroom/ifixit