The latest versions of Samsung's folding smartphones line-up will soon hit the market as the South Korean giant doubles down on generative artificial intelligence and expands its range of wearable tech.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 – the next generation of Samsung's successful folding devices that have propelled the company to a years-long pole position in the market – were the stars of the unveiling at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games.
With a design now featuring flat edges, similar to what Samsung did with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year, the new line-up, according to the company, is the thinnest and lightest yet.
For the first time in three years, Samsung announced changes to the pricing structure on Wednesday.
Its customers will now have to spend more to get hold of the generative AI-powered line up of folding smartphones.
The range of wearable devices was also boosted with a new generation of Ultra watch and the highly anticipated Galaxy Ring finally made its debut.
The global launch date for the devices is July 24, and pre-orders are already live. The Galaxy Ring is not available in the UAE at the moment, and Samsung will confirm its availability soon, according to a company representative.
The National takes a look at what was unveiled in Paris and the new price structure.
Coming to grips with the Galaxy Z Fold 6
Let's take a quick glance at the new specs, with some comparisons to their predecessors:
· Main display: 7.6 inches (unchanged)
· Cover display: 6.3 inches (from 6.2 inches)
· Main camera: 50MP wide plus 12MP ultra-wide plus 10MP telephoto (unchanged)
· Inner camera: 4MP under-display (unchanged)
· Cover camera: 10MP (unchanged)
· Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy (same with the S24)
· Memory/storage: 12GB plus 256GB/512GB/1TB (unchanged)
· Battery: 4400 mAh (unchanged)
· Charging: Up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes (unchanged)
· Durability: IP48
· Colours: Navy, pink, silver shadow; crafted black and white exclusive on samsung.com
· Prices: Dh7,199, Dh7,699 and Dh8,699 – from Dh6,799, Dh7,249 and Dh8,149 – the first price increase in three years
The lowdown on the Galaxy Z Flip 6
Aside from the improved Galaxy AI, arguably the most notable boost to the new Flip is its new 50MP main camera sensor, putting it on par with Samsung's other flagship devices (except the Galaxy S24 Ultra).
That gives the device more versatility to perform powerful tasks, such as instant slow-motion on videos.
· Main display: 6.7 inches (unchanged)
· Cover display: 3.4 inches (unchanged)
· Main camera: 50MP wide (from 12MP) plus 12MP ultra-wide
· Cover camera: 10MP (unchanged)
· Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy (same with the S24)
· Memory/storage: 12GB (from 8GB) plus 256GB/512GB
· Battery: 4000 mAh (from 3700mAh)
· Charging: Up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes (unchanged)
· Durability: IP48
· Colours: Blue, mint, silver shadow, yellow; crafted black, peach and white exclusive on samsung.com
· Prices: Dh4,299, Dh4,799 – from Dh3,899 and Dh4,349 – first price rise in three years
Important notes on Galaxy AI
There's a lot to digest on the updated Galaxy AI, so here's a quick glance:
· Galaxy AI: The tech is now more deeply integrated with Google Gemini
· Circle to search: This feature has now been expanded to help solve maths problems
· Composer: Using Samsung Keyboard, it generates suggested text based on simple keywords
· Sketch to image: Creates more sophisticated art pieces by generating image options simply by you simply sketching or drawing on photos in Gallery or on the Note screen. For example, if you draw an outline of a house, Galaxy AI will convert it into an actual drawing
· Interpreter: Now with a new conversation mode that enables both parties to view translations on the main and cover screens for better interactions
· Live translate: It has now been extended beyond Samsung’s own native calling app to certain third-party apps
· Auto zoom: Lets the FlexCam feature automatically find the best framing for a shot by detecting the subject and zooming in and out before making any necessary adjustments
· Listening mode: Using the new Galaxy Buds 3 series (more on these later), it will listen to voice or speech and translate it for the user
· Another key announcement: Samsung is planning to expand Galaxy AI to other Galaxy devices by the end of 2024.
The Galaxy Ring is finally here
The Galaxy Ring has three sensors that help measure sleep, heart rate and other metrics, as well as other insights – without any subscription.
It comes in nine sizes, ensuring there's one for everyone. Black and gold options are available, and is made of titanium.
Samsung says pairing it with a Galaxy Watch gives more accurate results. It is priced at $399.
Samsung goes 'Ultra' on your wrist
A new wearable is here: The Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is an “extremely durable” smartwatch that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions.
Suffice to say, it's a direct challenge to the Apple Watch Ultra. (Samsung has been using the “Ultra” moniker since the mid-2000s.)
Aside from the usual health and performance metrics, it has one distinct feature: It is the first smartwatch certified by the US Food and Drug Administration to track sleep apnoea.
It is priced at $649.
Galaxy Watch 7
Samsung's latest entry-level smartwatch is the Galaxy Watch 7.
It is a lower-end version of the Watch Ultra – without the “extreme” features.
Your new Galaxy Buds
Also out of the box are the Galaxy Buds 3 and the high-end Buds 3 Pro, which come with an interpreter feature powered by generative AI that can translate speech, as well as a voice command to control certain functions without having to touch the connected smartphone.
The Pro version, in particular, has a more enhanced sound system and a more reliable active noise cancellation.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
Winner: Halima Hatun, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer).
7.05pm: Longines Gents La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,200m.
Winner: Moosir, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
Winner: Mazeed, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
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Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
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