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Breaking: Samsung recalls ~ 663,500 washing machines in the US due to fire hazard
Samsung issues a recall of over 663,000 top-load washing machines in the US over fire hazards. Notably, the risky top-load washing machines were sold in the country between June 2021 and December 2022 through Samsung.com Best Buy, Costco, and The Home Depot and Lowe’s.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Samsung recall involves several top-load washing machine models with super speed wash. The washers were sold in white, black, champagne, and ivory colors and include model series WA49B, WA50B, WA51A, WA52A, WA54A, and WA55A.
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Software update available
Samsung said that all washers featuring Wi-Fi connectivity support will automatically download the free software repair through SmartThings app. In case you have not connected your Wi-Fi-equipped washer to the internet must follow the instructions below on how to download the software repair through SmartThings app.
- Consumers whose washing machines do not have Wi-Fi capability should immediately stop using the washer and contact Samsung directly for a free dongle to plug in and download the software repair.
The following model and serial number ranges are included in the recall:
Samsung’s commitment
Samsung is working to ensure customers can continue to use their washers with minimal disruption by providing the first-ever over-the-air software recall remedy in the home appliances industry. If your washer’s control panel requires a physical repair even after installing the update, Samsung will repair it free of cost.
#Recall: @SamsungUS top-load super speed washing machines can short-circuit and overheat; Fire hazard; 51 reports of smoking, melting, overheating or fires. Three cases of smoke inhalation. Get free software repair. Full notice: https://t.co/0RedjszU8L pic.twitter.com/EO1qB55kh8
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) December 22, 2022
Samsung scored a major victory over BOE in the ITC patent dispute in the preliminary decision. The US International Trade Commission ruled that BOE infringed on Samsung Display’s patents.
The company is now seeking a ban on the import and sale of patent-infringing products in the US. In the preliminary ruling, ITC declined Samsung’s request seeking a sell and import ban.
However, Samsung Display has gained a favorable position with this preliminary ruling in the patent dispute. The final decision will be made in four months, in March of next year.
“BOE infringed on three of Samsung Display’s patents, and US importers and wholesalers infringed on four of Samsung Display’s patents.” – ITC preliminary ruling says
Back in December 2022, Samsung Display filed a patent infringement case against 17 US importers and wholesalers regarding OLED patents, with BOE included in this case in March 2023.
A patent industry official said, “Because the ITC also considers the impact on US industries and markets, even if it determines that there has been patent infringement, a ban on import and sale may not be issued.”
Since infringement has been recognized for all of the US International Trade Commission’s disputed patents, Samsung Display will have a favorable position in future disputes.
Samsung Display’s recognition of BOE’s patent infringement in the ITC patent dispute preliminary ruling can work to its advantage in other disputes it is waging against BOE in the United States.
Since the five disputed patents in the Eastern District of Texas federal court patent infringement lawsuit are the same, this ITC preliminary ruling is bound to have an impact.
Object Eraser may have been your favorite photo editing feature. Samsung is preparing a big boost for the feature, making it compatible with videos. The One UI 7.1 update could introduce a new Video Object Eraser feature.
A new rumor via X user Sawyergalox suggests that Samsung could launch a Video Object Eraser feature with One UI 7.1. It will be equipped with generative AI capabilities so the removed part should be filled with relevant elements.
Video Object Eraser may allow you to remove unwanted objects and other things from recorded videos. It would work the same way the Object Eraser does, just the processing time may increase significantly to fix the removed part.
You may have faced an issue when an additional object is recorded alongside the main subject. It could be anything like a human or a background element. With the upcoming AI feature, your video editing will be elevated to a whole new level.
Samsung Object Eraser
Apple iPhones have an edge in mobile videography aspect. Samsung flagships pack cutting-edge hardware but lag behind iPhones in some areas. Well, the AI advancements would bring a bold push to Samsung’s market ambitions.
One UI 7.1 is prepared as an AI feature-rich firmware, which will launch with the S25 series. Select older flagship models would be eligible for the One UI 7.1 update. It will be offered to devices running the Android 15 OS next year.
Samsung is currently working on the One UI 7 Beta firmware. The testing activity is rumored to kick off this month. The company will offer a sneak peek of the new features and changes to Galaxy users through the Beta Program.
Samsung announced the beginning of equipment installation at its new research and development complex, NRD-K. It is a cutting-edge research and development facility for next-generation semiconductors.
NRD-K facility is a significant investment in Samsung’s future semiconductor tech. It is expected to accelerate the company’s development process.
The NRD-K is a state-of-the-art, 109,000-square-meter complex. It is being built to secure Samsung’s leadership in future semiconductor technology.
It will serve as a core research base for memory, system semiconductors, and foundries. The Korean tech giant plans to invest a total of 20 trillion won (~ $14 billion) in this facility by 2030.
Samsung says NRD-K will be equipped with a highly advanced infrastructure to enable research from fundamental technologies to product development in one place.
The facility could become a hub for cutting-edge chip tech, with the introduction of high-res EUV lithography systems, new material deposition equipment, and wafer bonding infrastructure.
“NRD-K will bolster our development speed, enabling the company to create a virtuous cycle to accelerate fundamental research on next-generation technology and mass production. We will lay the foundation for a new leap forward in Giheung, where Samsung Electronics’ 50-year history of semiconductors began, and create a new future for the next 100 years,” said Young Hyun Jun, Vice Chairman and Head of the Device Solutions Division at Samsung Electronics.