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Samsung's April update is ready for more tablets and Galaxy A phones
Now arriving for the A52, Tab A 10.5 (2018), and Tab S7+
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Samsung has put a lot of effort into improving its software reputation, and a big aspect of that change has been a renewed focus on issuing regular security updates. Over the last couple of years, Samsung has frequently managed to beat Google to the punch, and that continues even now as the Galaxy Note10, Z Fold2, and S21 have all received the April security patch, more recently followed by the Galaxy A72, Tab A 10.5 (2018), and Tab S7+.
Samsung launched the Note 7 in 2016, but the phone was on sale for less than two months before repeated issues with battery fires resulted in its cancelation. The phone came back in 2017 as the Note FE (Fan Edition) in select markets. Even though Samsung would probably prefer to forget this whole incident ever happened, it's still pushing a Pie update today.
It feels like years have passed, but it was only a little more than a year ago when the hottest topic (and joke) on the block was Samsung and its Note 7's propensity to spontaneously go up in flames. But the Note being the Note meant that despite many a recall program, several updates supposed to render the device useless, and dozens of offers to tempt users to give back their phones, some held onto their precious Note 7 like a little collector item. Samsung capitalized on it by releasing a special Galaxy Note Fan Edition (notice the missing "7") last February with a very similar design and internals as the Note 7, save for a few differences (smaller 3200mAh battery, no Samsung logo on the front, Fan Edition inscription on the back, and Bixby.)
Aside from its tendency to catch fire, the Galaxy Note7 was a good phone - so good, in fact, that some decided to keep theirs even after the final recall, using the reasoning that the chances of the phone burning itself and other things away was minimal. Thankfully, those of you who loved your Note7s don't have to do that anymore - a revised Galaxy Note Fan Edition has been released with the same hardware, as leaks have suggested. Well, aside from the battery, of course.
Samsung took a big hit last year when the well-reviewed Galaxy Note 7 showed a propensity to burst into flames. Samsung eventually had to recall millions of units and cancel the device entirely. The company has been working on a revamped version of the Note 7 in recent months, but now the Wall Street Journal has release details. According to the WSJ report, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Note 7 Fandom Edition on July 7th in South Korea.
Ah, the Galaxy Note7. It had such promise, but it was gone too young. Now, though, it's getting a second chance on life in the form of the Galaxy Note FE, and it's launching in South Korea in early July with the Bixby virtual assistant on board.
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- In a statement to The Verge, Samsung confirmed that it "will not be offering refurbished Galaxy Note 7 devices for rent or sale in the US." Samsung did not reveal where the devices would be sold.
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 was one of the most disastrous product launches in recent memory. After launching to rave reviews, reports of the phone catching fire started to appear, eventually causing Samsung to conduct a global recall. Shortly after, Samsung started selling a 'safe' Note7, only for that model to start catching fire as well. Another global recall was initiated.
Samsung has finally announced the results of the company's investigation into the Note7 accidents today, and it has come to an interesting conclusion. In addition to its own internal investigation, Samsung brought in safety consulting firms UL, Exponent, and TÜV Rheinland to help determine the root causes.
The unfortunate tale of the Galaxy Note7 has been a long one. Shortly after the release of the Note7, reports of the phone catching fire began to materialize, and before long Samsung started a global recall. Samsung sent affected users a "safe" model with the problem supposedly fixed, and later began selling it on retail channels, only for that to start exploding as well.
The Galaxy Note7 was a spectacular failure for Samsung that has turned into a customer service nightmare for its carrier partners. People are still using the Note 7 even after a series of OTA updates designed to reduce the phone's charging capacity and finally stop it from charging altogether. Verizon says thousands of people are still using the Note7 on its network, and it's looking to put a stop to it by blocking all outgoing calls. The carrier may also be delivering some bill-shock to holdouts.
The saga of the Galaxy Note7 was one of the most surprising and disastrous events in the tech industry last year. The Note7 received very positive initial reviews, but soon after, several reports of the device catching fire were made public. After acknowledging that the problem was with the Note7, Samsung began recalling all units.
The FAA has officially lifted its requirement on airlines to notify passengers that the Galaxy Note7 is banned while in flight. While the ban itself is still in place, and having a Note7 on a plane could still get you ejected from your flight - you'll just stop hearing about it from someone over a garbled PA system.
After a lot of huffing and puffing about consumer safety, it seems Verizon has now decided it will brick your Galaxy Note7 after all. Just not until January 5th. Originally, Verizon had rebuffed a statement issued by Samsung saying it would begin sending out an OTA to prevent Galaxy Note7s from charging on December 19th. It turns out, at least apparently, Verizon was most miffed by the date, not the actual prospect of disabling customer devices. The language in their original statement specifically referenced the timing: "We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note7 to work as a mobile device in the heart of the holiday travel season."
The Note7 doomsday has arrived. Samsung announced several weeks ago its intention to send out an OTA update that killed the Note7's ability to charge in the US. T-Mobile was the first carrier to schedule the update, and now it's rolling out. Any remaining Note7 devices on Tmo will soon be put out of their misery.
A prudent person doesn't ever joke about bombs in an airport. After today, you might want to extend those warnings to a certain flagship Samsung smartphone. According to a BBC report, a passenger on a Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Boston last week labelled his phone's Wi-Fi hotspot as "Galaxy Note 7." Hijinks, of the not particularly entertaining variety, ensued.
Over two months ago, Samsung stopped production of the Galaxy Note7 permanently. Recalls ensued across the globe, and returns have exceeded 90% of devices sold. Today, if a report from app research firm Apteligent is to be believed, that still means there are more Galaxy Note7s out there in use than there are LG V20s. A lot more. Apteligent's report suggests that there remain well over twice as many Note7s out in the wild as there are LG V20s. The Moto Z just barely comes in above the Note7, too, and according to Apteligent is actually declining in popularity, which is a bit weird.
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- We've been informed by a commenter that effective December 15th, Samsung Australia will be banning the IMEIs of all Galaxy Note7 smartphones. Samsung AU is also offering $250 to customers who trade their Note7 in for an S7 or S7 edge in addition to the difference in resale values until December 22nd. Thanks, Beau.
Samsung's been trying very hard to get all units of the Galaxy Note7 returned to them, but some owners are having trouble letting go of their beloved stylus-equipped phablets. To force owners into giving them back, Samsung will be updating the Note7 to be severely crippled in Canada and literally unusable in the US. Now, Samsung is taking similar measures with UK Note7 units.
Here's an interesting wrinkle in the rapidly-closing saga of the Galaxy Note 7. Yesterday Samsung announced that it would send a software over-the-air update to the few remaining phones in the US, preventing the devices from taking a new electricity charge, and hopefully stopping any more battery-based fires. It's far from the first measure the company has taken to further encourage owners of the defective phones to accept the voluntary recall, but it might be the last. American wireless carrier Verizon, for reasons of its own, isn't participating in the latest software update.
In the ongoing Galaxy Note7 saga, today's chapter includes another drastic measure taken by Samsung in the USA to encourage reluctant owners of the phone to pretty please, come on, it's time already, stop using their device and return it. So after issuing an OTA in the US that limits the battery capacity to 60% in November, Samsung has scheduled another update that will completely prevent the phone from charging.
The ongoing recall of Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices is serious business for the Korean company. After canceling the phone following repeated battery fires, Samsung has done everything in its power to make sure owners return or exchange the phones. When asking nicely didn't elicit the desired response, Samsung put a 60% cap on battery charge. Now, it's going to start crippling any remaining devices in Canada.