BRUSSELS, June 29 (Reuters) - EU competition enforcers have extended a near two-year investigation into Hungarian state aid for South Korean manufacturer Samsung SDI Co Ltd's (006400.KS) electric vehicle (EV) battery factory after Hungary submitted new data to back its case.
Samsung SDI, an affiliate of South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS), began production at the Hungarian plant in 2018, making batteries for 50,000 EVs a year.
The European Commission opened an investigation in October 2019 to assess whether Hungary's plans to grant 108 million euros ($128.5 million) in state aid complied with the bloc's competition rules.
"Hungary now argues that Samsung could have benefited from an investment grant and a tax exemption in an alternative location outside the EU, which would have increased the viability of the alternative location with respect to Hungary," the Commission said.
It said Budapest has also produced new documentary evidence to show that Samsung's search for a location for the plant had also included a number of new production facilities in Europe and an alternative location in a less developed region in the EU.
Extending the EU investigation will allow third parties to comment on the Hungarian aid.
Earlier this year, Samsung said it would invest 942 billion won ($849 million) to expand the plant.
Samsung Electronics’s rising carbon emissions and slow reduction of fossil fuel use is undermining the group’s sustainability claims, according to environmentalists.
The criticism comes as companies are under increasing scrutiny over climate change and concerns about greenwashing, whereby organisations overstate their environmental commitments and achievements.
“Everybody has ESG initiatives, everyone’s talking . . . but we don’t see real tangible changes,” said Youn Sejong, director of Solutions for Our Climate, a Seoul-based non-governmental organisation.
Samsung is one of the world’s biggest producers of computer chips, smartphones, electronic displays and appliances. The South Korean group has reported that its greenhouse gas emissions rose 5 per cent year-on-year in 2020.
The company also relies on fossil fuels for more than 80 per cent of its electricity, according to Greenpeace, the environmental campaign group.
The data have prompted questions over Samsung’s climate change efforts despite the group touting claims that its sites in the US, Europe and China now use only renewable energy.
Samsung declined to comment.
The company’s challenge to shift is highlighted by South Korea and Vietnam, two of its biggest manufacturing bases, where energy systems remain reliant on coal.
Samsung has been pushing Seoul and Hanoi to speed up energy market deregulation aimed at inviting renewable energy investments.
Samsung wants to be able to purchase power from independent renewable energy generators, bypassing state-owned energy groups that have been slow to transition away from coal.
The company is drawing up specific targets for renewable energy usage in both countries but no timeframe has been set, highlighting a lack of confidence in making significant near-term progress.
Samsung has also been looking for opportunities worldwide to purchase credits to offset carbon emissions and join other pricing schemes for boosting renewable energy. In Brazil and Mexico, for instance, the company plans to reach 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.
But activists said Samsung should put more pressure on governments, given its immense political influence. In South Korea and Vietnam, the group is the single biggest corporate employer and contributor to gross domestic product.
“Given Samsung’s scale of business and impact on the overall economies of Korea and Vietnam and its pledge to pursue renewable energy goals in other markets, it has the power to make great strides in Korea and Vietnam by pursuing easier access to renewable energy in the two countries,” Greenpeace said.
Youn said “the real culprits” in South Korea are state-owned energy group Korea Electric Power Corp and government ministries for resisting energy market changes for years.
Renewable supply in the country is only about 5 per cent, although new rules to allow direct power purchasing agreements are being rolled out.
“It is ridiculously low, and that makes it really difficult to do any meaningful renewable energy initiatives,” Youn said.
Further undermining the company’s claims, Samsung affiliates — along with units of carmaker Hyundai, Kepco and other South Korean companies and financial institutions — have for years been at the forefront of coal power development in Vietnam.
“On one side they say they want more renewables for their electronics factory, and the other side, they’re building this unnecessary coal power plant . . . We all know that Samsung headquarters actually does co-ordinate between those decisions,” Youn added.
Several groups, including Samsung’s financial units, last year promised to end coal finance.
Samsung made waves with its Galaxy S21 smartphone launched last year thanks to notable improvements to its camera system. Multiple rumors have speculated the smartphone manufacturer would partner with Olympus in the S22 Ultra, and a new render of what that might look like has renewed that speculation.
In early April, rumors that Samsung would be partnering with Olympus — or more accurately, OM Digital Solutions — sprung up. And while Olympus said that it would collaborate with other companies that aren’t in the camera or lens industry at CP+ earlier this year, there were reasons to doubt the veracity of these reports. As also reported by Sammobile, Samsung is reportedly working on a new Exynos processor that is codenamed “Olympus,” so seeing the names appear together in rumors may simply the result of a bad translation or misunderstanding.
Still, an early rendering published by LetsGoDigital showed what that partnership might look like.
Additional reports about the alleged partnership have been absent in recent months, but LetsGoDigital may spark renewed interest thanks to a set of very convincing new renders combined with a well-produced promo video all made by TechnizoConcept.
LetsGoDigital says that because of the silicon shortage, fans should not expect a Note 21 this year, which is why the manufacturer is expected to package the popular S Pen with the Galaxy S22. More than that, Samsung will have its efforts focused on making the S22 Ultra even more impressive due to the lack of a Note smartphone.
“Samsung seems to have big plans for the camera this time,” the publication says. “Stories have been circulating for some time that the South Korean manufacturer has started a collaboration with the Japanese company Olympus.”
LetsGoDigital says to expect the partnership with Olympus to feel similar to how OnePlus works with Hasselblad, Huawei with Leica, and Sony with Zeiss. The result is rumored to be a massive rear camera array that features one giant main camera and three additional cameras. While the publication admits taht very little is known about the camera configuration of the S22 Ultra at the time of publication, the company predicts Samsung will use the Exynos 2100 chip that can support 200-megapixel sensors. As such, the giant main camera is presumed to be a 200-megapixel and will be combined with an ultra-wide and two telephotos.
The full report on LetsGoDigital discusses other features that it thinks might make its way into the new Galaxy S22 Ultra, but this is the second render that points to a giant main camera among a group in the large camera notch. It remains to be seen if this comes to pass.
Image credits: Renders by TechnizoConcept and shared with permission from LetsGoDigital.
Knowing how to AirPlay to a Samsung TV will let you mirror videos and other content from your Apple device to a bigger screen.
Like many of the best TVs, Samsung's QLED sets support AirPlay built-in, meaning you can take advantage of the feature without an Apple TV 4K (2021) or other Apple streaming box. As long as the proper settings are in place, you can AirPlay to a Samsung TV directly from your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
AirPlay lets users with these Apple devices mirror their device's screen onto another AirPlay-supported device. Whether you're mirroring music, videos or photos, an exact replica of what you see on your primary device should be seen on the secondary one. It's a pretty neat party trick, especially when the secondary device is a brand-name smart TV (or in this case, any of the best Samsung TVs).
1. Turn on your TV and make sure it's connected to the internet. See our guide on how to set up your set up your Samsung TV if you need help getting your set online.
2.Review your Samsung's TV's AirPlay settings. Go to Settings > General > Apple AirPlay Settings.
(Image credit: Future)
3. Turn AirPlay 'On' if it's not already. Decide whether to require a pairing code every time you want to AirPlay from an Apple device, or just the first time you AirPlay from a given device.
(Image credit: Future)
Your Samsung TV is now ready for AirPlay. Make sure the TV is turned on when you're ready to AirPlay. And keep in mind that AirPlay will disrupt whatever you're currently watching.
How to AirPlay to a Samsung TV from iPhone or iPad
1. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is currently connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. AirPlay to a Samsung TV won't work if both your TV and device aren't on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Choose and open the content to AirPlay to a Samsung TV. Any photos or videos in your camera roll will work. You can also AirPlay audio from Spotify and Apple Music.
3. Tap the AirPlay button, if there's one available. It's a curved rectangle with an arrow pointing up at the bottom. If there's no AirPlay button, tap the sharing or casting button. In the Photos app, it looks like a square with an arrow pointing up at the top.
(Image credit: Future)
4. Select AirPlay from the sharing options. In a third-party app like Spotify, the AirPlay options might be found alongside Bluetooth options.
(Image credit: Future)
5. Select your Samsung TV from the list. You might see other AirPlay-compatible devices on the list, so be sure to choose your TV.
(Image credit: Future)
6. Enter the 4-digit AirPlay Passcode displayed on your TV, if prompted. If you've used this device to AirPlay to your Samsung TV before, you might not need to enter a passcode depending on your set's AirPlay settings.
You should now be able to AirPlay to a Samsung TV from your iPhone or iPad.
How to AirPlay to a Samsung TV from Mac
1. Make sure your Mac computer is currently connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. AirPlay to a Samsung TV won't work if both your TV and your Mac aren't on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Choose and open the content to AirPlay to a Samsung TV. Any photos or videos saved to your Mac will work. You can also AirPlay audio from the Apple Music desktop app.
3. Tap the AirPlay button, if there's one available. It's a curved rectangle with an arrow pointing up at the bottom. In the Photos desktop app, it's next to the settings wheel.
(Image credit: Future)
5. Select your Samsung TV from the list. You might see other AirPlay-compatible devices on the list, so ensure you choose your TV.
(Image credit: Future)
6. If prompted, enter the 4-digit AirPlay Passcode displayed on your TV. If you've used this device to AirPlay to your Samsung TV before, you might not need to enter a passcode depending on your set's AirPlay settings.
(Image credit: Future)
You should now be able to AirPlay to a Samsung TV from your Mac.
The new Galaxy Watch will be the first device to feature One UI Watch and the new unified platform jointlybuiltwith Google
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced its One UI Watch user experience at Mobile World Congress (MWC) today. The new interface is designed to make the Galaxy Watch and smartphone experience more deeply connected. Samsung also confirmed that One UI Watch will be available for Galaxy Watch on the new, unified platform it jointly built with Google, bringing performance enhancements, a more seamless experience between the Watch and Android smartphones, and access to an even greater number of applications. Samsung further revealed that its upcoming Galaxy Watch will be the first to feature the new unified platform and One UI Watch, which will make its debut at the Unpacked event later this summer.
“To unlock the full potential of these wearables, we’re leveraging our long legacy of mobile innovations and our partnerships with trusted industry leaders who have grown with us in our open ecosystem,” said Patrick Chomet, EVP and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through these efforts, we will enrich our smartwatch experience and convenience of the Galaxy ecosystem for our consumers.”
One UI Watch together with the new unified platform will create an entirely new Galaxy Watch experience. As part of the new experience, once you install watch-compatible apps on your smartphone, they will be swiftly downloaded onto your smartwatch. If you’ve customized your clock app on your phone to show the time in different cities around the globe, this will be automatically reflected on your watch as well. And if you block calls and messages from your watch, they will now be blocked on your smartphone, too.
The unified platform will open up new features and integrations with popular third-party apps available to download from Google Play directly on your Galaxy Watch. So, whether you’re a sports and fitness fanatic who wants to get more out of apps like Adidas Running, GOLFBUDDY Smart Caddie, Strava and Swim.com, a wellness seeker who wants to live a more balanced lifestyle with apps like Calm or Sleep Cycle, a music lover who revels in discovering new artists on Spotify and YouTube Music, or an intrepid explorer ready to roam with Google Maps—there’s something for everyone, thanks to a diverse range of partners.
Recommended News
“Samsung and Google have a long history of collaboration and whenever we’ve worked together, the experience for our consumers has been dramatically better for everyone,” said Sameer Samat, Vice President of Product Management, Android and Wear, Google. “That certainly holds true for this new, unified platform, which will be rolling out for the first time on Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch. In collaboration with Samsung, we’re thrilled to bring longer battery life, faster performance, and a wide range of apps, including many from Google to a whole new wearable experience.”
In addition, Samsung will bring an improved watch face design tool, making it easier than ever for designers to create new watch faces. Later this year, Android developers will be able to unleash their creativity and release fun, new designs that will be added to Samsung’s ever-growing collection of watch faces to give consumers even more options for customizing their smartwatches to suit their mood, activity and personality.
The new Galaxy Watch will be the first-ever device to feature One UI Watch and the new, unified platform, which is scheduled to be announced at Samsung’s Unpacked event later this summer. Stay tuned for the new Galaxy Watch and much more.
We've heard the rumors before so the report from the reputable Korean media ETNews comes out as a confirmation about the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold3's and Z Flip3's display sizes.
According to the inside sources, the Galaxy Z Fold3's external display will measure 6.23" in diagonal while the inner, extended display will go up to 7.55". In other words, there won't be any changes in size, just expect a more compact overall device.
The Galaxy Z Flip3, on the other hand, will get a larger 1.9" external display, coming from 1.1" on the original Z Flip. The main, inner panel, however, remains at 6.7".
Other details were not mentioned but we still have a little over a month until Samsung unveils both devices so more rumors will pop up until then.
Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of Samsung Newsroom Australia, which will serve as the official news source of Samsung Electronics for Australian media and consumers.
The first Samsung newsroom in the Oceania region will feature a wide range of content, from press releases and live broadcasting of Samsung’s global events to high-quality images and videos. In addition, the new digital content hub will provide original content specifically created for the Australian audience.
The Newsroom launches following over 30 years in the local Australian market for Samsung Electronics, and marks the 32nd Samsung Electronics’ Newsroom site around the world.
Samsung is hosting a virtual event for Mobile World Congress 2021 on Monday, June 28th, where it promises to share how it’s “reimagining smartwatches.” Along with wearables, the company is also supposed to share news on the latest additions to the Galaxy ecosystem and the work it's doing to enhance mobile security.
At I/O 2021, Google announced that Samsung’s Tizen operating system would be merging with Wear OS to serve as the future software powering smartwatches for Android phones (tentatively called “Wear”). There are no rumors to suggest Samsung will offer an in-depth look at those efforts, but recent leaks show that the company does have a new Galaxy Active Smartwatch in the works it might announce. There’s also a chance Samsung will show off the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3.
The event is set to run for exactly one hour, according to Samsung’s MWC event page, which should hopefully give the company plenty of time to get into all of the details.
It starts at 10:15AM PT / 1:15PM ET / 7:15PM CET on Monday, June 28th.
We’ll embed Samsung’s livestream above as soon as it’s available. You can also follow along with us at the links below:
Samsung released its latest wave of Windows 10 laptops in late April, and one of them is already seeing a significant discount. The Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha is $800 at Best Buy when you clip the $100 “Student Deal” discount underneath its asking price (you’ll need to sign in with a Best Buy account). This is $250 off its original $1,049 price. For an $800 laptop, the Flex 2 Alpha has a lot going for it, like its QLED display, a recent 11th Gen Intel Core i7 1167G5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and that it’s a flexible 2-in-1 form factor. It comes with 512GB of storage, and its ports include two USB Type-A 3.0 ports, one USB-C port, a headphone jack, a power plug, HDMI, and a microSD slot.
The lower-spec version of the Flex2 Alpha that has half the RAM and storage, as well as an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor instead of a Core i7 costs $600 at Best Buy (originally $849).
The Flex2 Alpha doesn’t have the same OLED as the high-end Galaxy Book Pro, but it’s no slouch when it comes to its 2-in-1 design and specs. It has a QLED display and a capable 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor.
Google has slashed the cost of its Nest Wifi router bundle that includes a Point extender. Normally $269 outside of a sale, it costs $189 at retailers like Walmart, Adorama, and Best Buy. Considering that a single Nest Wifi router costs $169 (and the Point extenders usually sell for an additional $149 each), paying just $20 more is a bargain if you want to cover a large space with a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
The Nest Wifi is faster than the original Google Wifi, but it’s still a Wi-Fi 5 mesh system. Some other important things to note are that the router has two ethernet jacks, while the Point extender has none. Though, the Point can operate as both an extender and a smart speaker with Google Assistant built in. Check out Dan Seifert’s review for more.
Google’s Nest Wifi router and Point extender have an unassuming design. The router has two ethernet ports, while the Point can be used like a smart speaker.
You have another chance to save big on Sony’s WH-1000XM4 over-ear wireless headphones that are known for their excellent sound quality and noise cancellation effect. While any deals on new models came and went with Prime Day, there’s still a good deal happening on eBay for a refurbished set that costs just $200 (originally $349 new). It’s said to function like new and shows “minimal if any, signs of wear” according to the eBay listing. All accessories are included, and this is being sold by a seller with a 98.7 percent positive rating.
The Samsung Galaxy A32, left, and A52 smartphones prove you don't have to overspend to get a 5G ... [+]device.
DWIGHT SILVERMAN
(Note: This story originally appeared inmy Release Notes newsletter. Get the good stuff first bysigning up. Release Notes drops each Tuesday morning.)
Typically, brand new smartphones cost a lot of money, particularly those at the very top of the electronics pyramid. The latest Apple and Android-based devices approach and soar beyond the $1,000 mark. And in the early days of a cellular tech transition such as the one we’re going through now with 5G, devices designed to use the newtech have an even higher premium.
But we’re far enough down the road that you can find relatively affordable phones with 5G capabilities. Earlier this year, Samsung refreshed its line of Galaxy A series phones, mid-priced to downright cheap handsets that are still pretty capable. I got my hands on a Galaxy A52 and an A32 for testing, and depending on your needs, each is a satisfying device. Make no mistake, though, there are sacrifices to be made. Whether what you give up is worth it is the question.
There are some things the A52 and A32 share in common. Both have 6.5-inch displays, though the A52 is of higher quality. Both have 5G capabilities – I tested them on T-Mobile’s network – but neither support super-fast millimeter wave connections that offer jaw-dropping downloads but can’t penetrate solid objects and are generally hard to find. Both come in black – take it or leave it – and both accept microSD memory cards to add up to 1 terabyte of storage. Both come with Android 11.
Galaxy A52 5G, $499.99.
This phone’s 6.5-inch screen is a Super AMOLED with 1,080 x 2,400-pixels at a 120-Hz refresh rate. It’s an excellent display, and considering you’d pay close to $1,000 last year for the S20 with this screen, it’s a great deal.
MORE FOR YOU
The phone feels good in my hand, and although it’s mostly made of plastic, it feels solid, with some heft. The fingerprint sensor is under the display and works very well, unlocking quickly and reliably. I had less luck with the face recognition, but then I’m spoiled with Face ID on my iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The A52 5G uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage, but that’s expandable as mentioned earlier. It’s fast and responsive, with apps opening quickly and screens scrolling smoothly – it feels like a flagship phone. Mid-range games played well.
The phone has a 32-megapixel front selfie camera, and there are four cameras on the back: A 64-MP main camera with optical image stabilization; an ultra-wide 12-MP camera; a 5-MP macro camera; and a 5-MP depth camera to help with portrait mode shots. Video can be captured in up to 4K resolution.
Images don’t have the usual hyper-saturated look you expect from Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phones, with more natural tones. Low-light photos lacked the detail and depth I get with my iPhone, but did a good enough job with available light.
Portrait mode occasionally blurred foreground objects, and zooming to capture distant objects sometimes resulted in an odd blurring of things in the foreground. But the camera system does include a lot of the fancy features found in the higher-end Galaxys, such as Single Take, which lets you capture both stills and videos in one extended shot.
Note how some of the leaves on the left are blurred, even though they're part of the primary subject ... [+]in this A52 portrait mode shot.
DWIGHT SILVERMAN
The 5G connectivity on the A52 matched my iPhone 12 Pro Max, which also is on T-Mobile’s network. With 2-3 bars, I was able to get download speeds over 200 Mbps, and in some areas where all five bars lit up, I got speeds close to 300 Mbps. However, it does not support Wi-Fi 6.
Battery life is good, and I typically got a day and half’s worth of charge on moderate use. It supports 25-watt fast charging but won’t do wireless charging, as it’s got a plastic back.
Galaxy A32 5G, $279.99.
When Samsung launched its A-series lineup in April, the A32 was then the least-expensive 5G smartphone you could buy. Now there’s at least one cheaper 5G phone: the Motorola one 5G ace at $264. Still, if you specifically want a Samsung device, this is your lowest-cost 5G option.
The Galaxy A32 5G has a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display with a 720-by-1,600 pixels resolution and a 90-Hz refresh rate. It’s neither as bright nor as crisp-looking as the A52, but scrolling is smooth.
The fingerprint sensor for the A32 is embedded in the lock button on the right edge of the phone. It wasn’t quite as responsive as the under-screen sensor on the A52, sometimes complaining that I wasn’t covering the entire button with my thumb when I was. But I found that I liked the convenience of the button sensor more than the version on the more expensive phone – placing my thumb on the button felt more natural. I’d love to see this on other phones, with the sensitivity improved.
Like what you see?Pleasesign up for my Release Notes newsletter, bringing you consumer tech insights, help and practical tips. It drops each Tuesday morning.
The A32 5G is powered by a MediaTek 720 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, but like the A52, it’s expandable to 1 TB. I was pleased with the speed of popular apps – Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Microsoft’s Office app, which is included on the phone, were quite snappy. But some mid-range games I tried didn’t play as smoothly as on the A52.
The A32 has a four-camera system on the back similar to the A52, but there’s no camera bump – the lenses for the camera have raised rims. (The A32 is noticeably thicker and heavier than the A52, which is likely why the bump is MIA.) The rear cameras include a 48-MP main, an 8-MP ultra-wide; a 5-MP macro; and a 2 MP depth camera. It also shoots video up to 4K resolution. There’s has a 13-MP front selfie camera as well.
The A32 sometimes oddly blurs foreground objects when you zoom in on a distant one.
DWIGHT SILVERMAN
Like the A52, colors are more subdued than on Samsung’s flagship phones. The out-of-focus smearing I mentioned in some zoomed photos was worse on this device. Portrait images were of decent quality, and low-light images were not nearly as well-lit. I would not recommend this model for anything beyond casual smartphone photography.
The 5G connectivity was as good as on my iPhone or the A52. Like the A52, it doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6.
The A32 has a larger battery, and battery life was very good. But it only supports 15-watt charging, and no wireless charging.
I was excited about the possibility of the A32 as a decent 5G phone, and for undemanding users who prefer Android devices it would likely suffice at an excellent price. But the A52’s higher cost gets you a much better display, a beefier camera system and more power for gaming. If you need more muscle, it’s worth it.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69513207/flex2alpha.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22475568/Galaxy_Book_Flex2_Alpha_012_R_Perspective_Windows_Mystic_Black_RGB.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19276764/vpavic_191010_3722_0008.jpg)
