Samsung Galaxy S8 highlights: Phones to come with Bixby, iris scanner and Snap 835 | HT Tech

Samsung Galaxy S8 highlights: Phones to come with Bixby, iris scanner and Snap 835

Live - Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone with its all new Bixby assistant. The phone is expected to be priced around 61,000. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.

By: ANIRBAN GHOSHAL
| Updated on: Mar 29 2017, 22:24 IST
Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone with its all new Bixby assistant. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.
Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone with its all new Bixby assistant. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.
Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone with its all new Bixby assistant. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.
Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone with its all new Bixby assistant. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.

Korean handset-maker Samsung is all set to launch its flagship Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone in an event called Galaxy Unpacked in New York. Catch live updates of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch here.

9:33 PM: The event is over but there are no details about price or about availability in India.

9:30 PM: Koh is back on stage. "We believe progress comes from applying human insight to the hard work of solving problems and overcoming obstacles," he claims. Now a AV is playing.

9:25 PM: Samsung says it worked with Microsoft and Adobe to optimize apps for DeX.If DeX has decent performance, it could be what Windows 10 Continuum has failed to be. The Galaxy S8 will come bundled with a pair of $99 wired Harmon AKG headphones.

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9:19 PM: Samsung is going the Windows 950 XL way. It launches a productivity tool called Samsung DeX, a desktop dock for the S8 that pushes a full desktop experience from the phone.

9:17 PM: Samsung is also launching a new Gear 360 camera that allows users to capture videos in 4K. Samsung says that it is more portable. Users can also live broadcast from the camera. Samsung is giving away the new 360 to all attendees.

9:15 PM: Samsung launches a new motion-sensing Bluetooth remote controller for the Gear VR. The Gear VR content lineup is also getting an update. Oculus will soon release games that will let users drop in the middle of a battle. Audiences will also be able to drop in between a movie or a wrestling match.

9:14 PM: It will be available starting April 21st and comes with a set of AKG headphones in the box. (Samsung recently purchased a stake in Harman, AKG's parent company.

9:12 PM: In addition to the app, Samsung is doing a mesh router like Eero and Google Wifi. Samsung Connect Home.

9:10 PM: Samsung unveils Samsung Connect -- the company's answer to managing the mess of IoT devices. This is just like Apple home.

9:08 PM: Bixby also shows contextual info. This means it learns about app usages and throws back info in the form of cards. It simply adapts to the user based on usage, time and date.It also has a basic reminders tool that lets you set geolocation alerts. Bixby to work with Google Play Music.

9:07 PM: There's a button on the side of the S8 that's entirely dedicated to launching Bixby. The S8's camera is enhanced with Bixby for visual search. It sounds like Google Goggles, but right inside the camera. It can search for similar images, identify landmarks, and of course let you buy things from Amazon.

9:05 PM: Samsung goes live with digital assistant Bixby. The assistant will make live interactions easier with users. It will help users to switch between touch and voice commands, a top executive says.

9:03 PM:Samsung Health will now let you directly connect with a doctor to get diagnosis and prescriptions without having to leave your house. It does it through video calls.

9:01 PM: Talking services, highlighting Samsung Pay and its success over the past couple years. Has been used for 240 million transactions to date. Samsung also has something new called Samsung Pass. It's Samsung's tool that lets you log in to apps and websites with biometric authentication.

Watch the live stream here

8:59 PM: Samsung S8 to come with Iris Scanner and face recognition more like Windows Hello. There is still a fingerprint scanner at the rear.

8:55 PM: Samsung S8 is dust-resistant and water-resistant too. The S8 will come with a 10-nanometre processor. The US will see the Snapdragon 835, but other markets will get Samsung's own Exynos chip. In terms of battery, S8 has a 3,000mAh battery and the Plus has 3,500. Both smaller than the S7 Edge from last year, but include fast wired and wireless charging.

8:53 PM: Samsung S8 comes with multi-frame processor to take better phones. The camera takes a lot of images and then the frame processor chooses the best of the lot. The front camera on the phone is a 8-megapixel sensor.

8:50 PM: Samsung S8's Infinity display will give users more screen to interact with. The S8 has a UHD display that means that your favourite shows will be more enjoyable. The Home Button is under the display now to provide more space for the screen.

8:48 PM: Denison starts with the Infinity display. The S8 has dual-curved edges too. This means that the phone will have a bigger display just like LG's new G6 display.

8:46 PM: Justin Denison, Samsung vice president for US, takes to stage to explain the specifications in detail. He starts with the display.

8:44 PM: Koh says S8 will take customers to the future. Samsung also confirms a near bezel-less display on both sizes.

8:42 PM: Samsung confirms that there will be two phones -- Samsung S8 and S8 Plus. This means that there will be a difference in screen sizes just like Apple did with its iPhones.

8:39 PM: Samsung S8 to come with Infinity display, a sharper camera with Iris scanner. Koh confirms that Samsung S8 will come with Bixby. There will be announcements in the VR arena too with a new VR 360 headset.

8:38 PM: Samsung S8 will be everything you expect, says Koh. "It will be trustworthy and we have focussed on quality and customer satisfaction.

8:34 PM: Koh is taking stock of the innovation of smartphones as he prepares to showcase what Samsung is calling the next innovation. Samsung built its first smartphone in 1988.

8:33 PM: Says that it has been a challenging year for Samsung.

8:32 PM: President of Mobile communications business, DJ Koh, takes to stage to start the presentation

8:31 PM: The Samsung presentation starts with an AV playing. Samsung starts playing an advertisement.

8:28 PM: The presentation is about to begin in New York. Samsung is calling the event Galaxy Unpacked 2017. It was at this time of the year in 2016 that Apple had unveiled its iPhone SE.

8:22 PM: According to a report in The Investor that cites Korean outlet Chosun Biz, the company may offer Galaxy S8 buyers a three-month unconditional return policy. Currently most smartphones offer upto two weeks - an industry average.

8:15 PM: Reports and leaks suggest that the phone is expected to come with an all new digital assistant called Bixby which will also have a dedicated button at the side of the smartphone.

8:11 PM: Speculations are rife that the phone may be the first to carry Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor although Samsung might use its Exynos processor on the phone in a few countries. Live updates here.

Additionally, reports also claim that Samsung is doing everything under the sun to get its clean image back. Not only has it started a new laboratory to make sure phones don't explode but it also might take a huge risk and offer customers an 'unconditional return' from three months of purchase on the Galaxy S8 smartphones.

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First Published Date: 29 Mar, 18:24 IST
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