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I tested Samsung’s glare-free OLED TV vs a conventional OLED TV – here’s what I learned

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OLED is a much sought-after display technology in consumer products ranging from phones to  TVs. OLED TVs are consistently ranked as the best TVs, thanks to their unparalleled contrast, steadily improving brightness with each new generation of sets, dynamic color and refined detail. However, there is one area where OLED TVs suffer: reflections.

The pixels in an OLED display individually dim as required, making them capable of greater light control than LED and mini-LED TVs, which use a separate backlight. But OLED TVs have also lacked brightness compared to mini-LED TVs, and their dimmer screens mean reflections can become a real issue. In recent years, brightness-boosting micro-lens-array (MLA) tech has been introduced into some of the best OLED TVs such as the LG G3 and Panasonic MZ2000 to limit reflections. And while MLA has helped OLED TVs to become brighter, reflections remain a problem. 

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Matter 1.3 could bring support for more devices to Samsung’s SmartThings

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The latest version of Matter (v1.3) has arrived. It supports more smart home device types and routines, and that support could come to SmartThings in the future.

Matter is a smart home device standard jointly developed by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and other consumer electronics brands.

Matter 1.3 brings support for ten new device types, energy management, and scenes

Matter 1.3 Release

Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has released the Matter 1.3 standard today. It now supports the several smart kitchen appliances, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, sensors, and valves. All the newly supported smart devices are listed below.

  • Cooktops
  • Dryers
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers
  • Extractor Hoods
  • Freeze detectors
  • Microwave Ovens
  • Ovens
  • Leak Detectors
  • Rain Sensors
  • Water Valves

With these additions, Matter now supports almost all types of commonly found smart home devices. Remember, Matter 1.2 already brought support for a host of device types in December 2023, including air purifiers, air quality sensors, dishwashers, fans, refrigerators, robotic vacuum cleaners, room air conditioners, and smoke detecting alarms.

In addition to support for new device types, Matter 1.3 also supports energy tracking and scenes. Energy tracking allows users to track energy usage of the device throughout the day. Scenes allow users to batch several actions together. For example, you can create a scene in which an AC turns on when the room temperature reaches a particular level.

Improved Matter Cast

Matter Casting Amazon Prime Video Fire TV CES 2024

Moreover, TVs that support Matter can now display notifications about other Matter devices. For example, your smart TV can display when the washing machine finishes a laundry load. Matter 1.3 now supports improved Matter Cast, a protocol similar to AirPlay and Google Cast, allowing audio, images, and videos to be casted to a compatible smart display or TV. It now allows multiple clients to be connected, and the experience can be different for each user, depending on the usecase.

This makes Matter Cast a great, open alternative to AirPlay and Google Cast. However, Amazon is the only adding support for Matter Cast. Fire TV devices and the Echo Show 15 are now getting support for Matter Cast. The Prime Video app for smartphones and tablets is also getting Matter Cast support. No other brand is supporting Matter Cast as of now, and it would be great if Samsung adds support for this new casting protocol to all its laptops, phones, tablets, and TVs.

One disappointment is that Matter still doesn’t support security cameras and video door bells. In the next release, Matter will support heat pumps, water heaters, and solar panels. Another disappointment is that none of the brands have added support for Matter 1.2, let along Matter 1.3, even six months after its release.

Samsung may add Matter 1.3 support to SmartThings

Samsung Bixby SmartThings Integration CES 2024 AI

Samsung is among the important contributors to Matter, and its SmartThings platform supports Matter. However, it still doesn’t support Matter 1.2, and the company might need months more to add the new version of Matter to its smart home device platform. Samsung’s smart home devices don’t support Matter, though, which is worrying.

Home Assistant and SmartThings are the two platforms that are ahead of the others (Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home) in supporting Matter, but Samsung itself isn’t adding Matter support to its own home appliances. If Matter is to be successful, all its primary promoters need to make sure that all their new devices support Matter.

Watch our hands-on video of Samsung’s new smart TVs below. These TVs act as SmartThings Hub (and Matter Hub) and can control compatible smart home devices.

Matter can be extremely helpful to Samsung. For example, Samsung TVs currently don’t support Google Cast, so casting audio and video to its TVs from non-Samsung Android devices is unreliable. If Samsung adds support for Matter Cast to all its audio and video products, it could help improve the sales of its devices.

Hopefully, Samsung will add support for Matter 1.3 to SmartThings in the coming months. This could potentially push other brands to improve Matter support, which will in turn expand the reach of Matter and help consumers worldwide.

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Hisense CanvasTV copies Samsung’s The Frame TV

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Last updated: May 6th, 2024 at 08:50 UTC+02:00

Chinese firm Hisense seems to have heavily copied the idea from Samsung’s The Frame TV for its new CanvasTV. Hisense announced its new CanvasTV lineup, which aims to be the central point of attraction in your living room by displaying art pieces through its matte screen.

Hisense CanvasTV copies heavily from Samsung’s The Frame TV

The CanvasTV from Hisense uses a 4K QLED screen with a 144Hz variable refresh rate. Its matte finish can trick you into believing that it isn’t a TV at all—it may look like a real piece of art or painting. The screen’s brightness and color temperature can be adjusted to match the ambiance. A motion sensor turns the TV off automatically when no one is in the room. It even features Art Mode, which brings a curated collection of art pieces that you can display on your TV when you’re not actively using it.

Hisense is also targeting gamers with its new TV, and has equipped CanvasTV with ALLM and VRR. It has a 2.0.2-channel speaker setup for Dolby Atmos audio. It comes with a teak frame, but it can be replaced with optional white and walnut frames that can be slid onto the TV’s body. Those frames are firmly secured using the magnetic mechanism. It even comes with the UltraSlim Wall Mount that helps the TV sit flush with the wall. All of this sounds exactly like Samsung’s The Frame TV, which was first launched in 2017.

Samsung The Frame TV LS03D Art Store

The new TV from Hisense runs Google TV, though, which means it features built-in Chromecast and access to more apps. Samsung’s The Frame TV runs Tizen OS. The TV will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes and has a starting price of $999. This undercuts Samsung’s The Frame TV by $100 (current price on Amazon).

It will be available in the US in late summer this year. So, if you want the Frame TV but wanted it to run Google TV, Hisense’s CanvasTV could be your option.

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Samsung’s archrival strikes crucial partnership with Nvidia’s closest ally to deliver key next-gen memory — SK Hynix teams up with TSMC to advance HBM development but could this move encourage TSMC to become like Intel?

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South Korean memory giant SK Hynix, which recently announced plans for the construction of the world’s largest chip factory, has now announced a major partnership with top Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, TSMC. 

The two firms aim to cement their positions in the fast-growing AI market by developing and producing the next-generation of High Bandwidth Memory, known as HBM4.

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A four-pack of Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 trackers is back on sale for $70

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We recommend Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide to Galaxy phone owners who want an AirTags-style device that can keep tabs on their keys, luggage and other sensitive items. If that describes you, here’s a quick PSA: A four-pack of the little oblong devices is currently $30 off and down to $70 at Amazon. This discount has popped up periodically since Samsung released the tracker last October, but it nevertheless matches the four-pack’s lowest price to date. If you’d rather not shop at Amazon, the same bundle is available at B&H for $2 extra.

If you don’t need quite so many trackers, meanwhile, single SmartTag 2s are also on sale for $21 each. That’s a dollar more than the device’s all-time low but still $9 off its usual street price.

Samsung

This matches the lowest price we’ve seen for a four-pack of Samsung’s AirTag-style Bluetooth trackers.

$70 at Amazon

The key thing to note with the Galaxy SmartTag 2 is that it’s a Samsung-only affair. You need a Samsung phone or tablet running Android 11 or later for it to fully work, and it uses the company’s SmartThings Find crowd-finding network to locate items. The latter is Samsung’s alternative to Apple’s Find My network and Google’s recently-launched Find My Device network. (Yes, the names of these things are way too similar.) It’s not as large as either of those, so it’ll generally be less precise at pinpointing an item that winds up outside of your tracker’s Bluetooth range. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any plans for the Galaxy SmartTag 2 to support Google’s expanded network, either. If you’re an Android user who isn’t beholden to Galaxy phones, you should wait and see if it’s worth buying upcoming trackers from Chipolo and Pebblebee (among others) that are designed to use the Find My Device network.

That said, because there are still a few hundred million Samsung devices that’ve opted into SmartThings Find out in the wild, we’ve found the Galaxy SmartTag 2’s crowd-sourcing to be effective enough in testing. Its separation alerts — i.e., its ability to ping you when you’ve left a tagged item behind — worked about as reliably as any model we tested, and it does well to map out its location history over time. It’s capable of tracking up to 120 meters (roughly 394 feet) directly over Bluetooth, which is on the longer side, plus it supports ultrawideband tech, which can help it more accurately direct you towards an item once you’re close by.

The device itself is simple to set up, and its flat design has a built-in cutout, so it’s easy to stash in a wallet or attach to a keychain. It’s also IP67-rated, so it can survive a dip underwater. Samsung says the device can last up to 500 days with typical use, and you can replace the battery once it peters out. There are technically more capable options out there (with more to come), and all Bluetooth trackers carry some level of privacy issues. A device like this isn’t ideal for warding off theft, either. But for forgetful Galaxy diehards who are looking to save some cash, this is a decent deal.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.



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Samsung’s best customization app for Galaxy phones is now on Google Play

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Samsung’s Good Lock app has recently been spotted on the Google Play Store hinting at a wider release. Good Lock, if you’re not familiar with it, is a customization app exclusive to Galaxy smartphones. It allows users to decorate various aspects of their device with the help of “modules”. These modules can be used to apply new themes, change the lock screen, revamp the keyboard, and more. The software has been around since 2016 and is a favorite among Samsung enthusiasts.

Initially spotted by several users on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), Good Lock on the Play Store is currently sitting in Early Access. You can’t even find the app on the digital storefront unless you have a direct link to the listing page. Reports state you can only download the software on a Galaxy phone. 9To5Google in their coverage says you’ll see a line of text informing you that your device is not compatible if you try this.



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Samsung’s post-apocalyptic Australia Fortnite map offers real prizes worth $8,000

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Last updated: May 2nd, 2024 at 13:20 UTC+02:00

Samsung Australia is rolling out a new Fortnite Creative map for mobile gamers. The new experience called Clash of Commuters features “a uniquely Australian and public transport-inspired map.” And for a limited time, players will have the opportunity to win Samsung prizes.

The new map features Australian icons, including so-called bin chickens and the Sydney train. Clash of Commuters has a post-apocalyptic theme, and gamers will be tasked with defending an Aussie public bus across 5 checkpoints.

Virtual Galaxy S24 Ultra phones will also be hidden throughout the post-apocalyptic Australia Fortnite map, and players finding these hidden objects can unlock special bonuses.

As for the Australian player base, Samsung Electronics research suggests that 48% of Aussies most frequently use smartphones as their gaming devices. Meanwhile, 26% of Australians use consoles, and 24% use desktop PCs and laptops.

Play the map for real prizes

Clash of Commuters players have the chance to win prizes if they participate in the event before May 30.

This Fortnite Creative campaign consists of five rounds, and players who complete all five in the shortest amount of time will be eligible to win a Samsung gaming pack worth over $8,000.

This gaming pack prize consists of a 55-inch OLED TV, an Odyssey OLED G9 monitor, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung Australia offers additional prizes for players who compete in the event exclusively on mobile devices, and for players who complete the most side quest phones. Lastly, four winners will be picked at random from all completed time submissions.

Through this event, Samsung also invites Australians to experience the game on the Galaxy S24 Ultra at interactive pop-up locations in Melbourne and Sydney.

Image Credit: Samsung

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Samsung’s Good Lock app is now available on Google Play Store!

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Last updated: May 2nd, 2024 at 08:59 UTC+02:00

Good Lock, Samsung’s impressive One UI customization suite, is now available on the Google Play Store. Earlier, Good Lock and its modules were available exclusively through Samsung’s own Galaxy Store.

Good Lock arrives on the Google Play Store

The Good Lock app is now available directly via the Google Play Store. You can install it via the Play Store if you don’t want to download apps from the Galaxy Store. This app listing was recently spotted by X user @Litto31102469 (via @tarunvats33). We also discovered that the Good Lock’s One Hand Operation + module is available on the Play Store. Hopefully, all other Good Lock modules will make it to the Play Store, offering a choice for Galaxy users.

Samsung has mentioned ‘Early Access’ to Good Lock’s name in the Play Store, so the company is clearly testing the waters right now. It is possible that it may remove the Early Access tag after things get stable.

Good Lock is a group of apps officially supported by Samsung. They can be used to change the design and behavior of several UI elements and sections inside One UI. For example, you can change the home screen, keyboard, lock screen, notifications, and a lot more, depending on which Good Lock module you use.



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A cheaper Apple Vision Pro might not land until 2026 – and Samsung’s XR/VR headset could steal its lunch

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The current Apple Vision Pro is a fantastic bit of mixed reality kit, blending impressive hardware and an innovative user interface. But as you’ll see in our Apple Visio Pro review, it’s far from perfect; throw in a $3,499 price tag and other early-adopter woes, and the headset isn’t something for most people. 

As such, Apple has been tipped to be working on next-generation and potentially cheaper versions of the Vision Pro. But Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who’s a renowned and accurate Apple tipster, has said the Cupertino crew is some 18 months away from releasing a ‘Vision Pro 2’, with a roadmap that reportedly won’t see a second-generation model ready until the end of 2026. 

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Samsung’s all-new S90D OLED TV is already on sale: save $200 while you can

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The 2024 Samsung S90D OLED TV was only released in March, and the retailer is already offering an impressive discount on the gorgeous display. For a limited time, you can save $200 on Samsung’s S90D OLED TV, bringing the price of the 55-inch model down to $1,799.99 (was $1,999.99) and the 65-inch model on sale for $2,499.99 (was $2,699.99).

The all-new Samsung S90D OLED TV has big shoes to fill as its predecessor, the Samsung S90C, is ranked in the top spot for TechRadar’s best TV list. The S90D delivers an exceptional picture with deep blacks and bright colors thanks to OLED technology. The OLED TV also packs Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen2 processor for improved performance, plus four HDMI 2.1 ports, a 144Hz refresh rate, and support for Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite.

This rare and first-time discount on the S90D is the lowest price you can find and an impressive deal for a 2024 Samsung OLED TV. Thanks to the release of Samsung’s newest TVs, you can also find fantastic discounts on older models, and I’ve listed the best deals further down the page.

Samsung’s all-new S90D OLED TV deal

More of today’s best OLED TV deals

You can see more of the best cheap TV deals and OLED TV deals happening right now. You can also look forward to bargains at the 2024 Memorial Day sales event.

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