Samsung
Samsung unveils new 50-megapixel GNJ and JN5 mobile camera sensors
Samsung launched new 50-megapixel ISOCELL GNJ and JN5 camera sensors for smartphones. The company has also officially introduced the ISOCELL HP9 200-megapixel Telephoto solution.
The company said its latest image sensors deliver stunning results from every angle. The new lineup features industry-leading 200MP and 50MP sensors, bridging the gap between main and sub cameras.
ISOCELL GNJ
The ISOCELL GNJ is a dual pixel sensor with 50 million 1.0μm pixels in a 1/1.57-inch optical format. The image sensor simultaneously captures full color information for quick focusing with sustained image quality.
Samsung’s 50MP GNJ combines dual pixel technology with an in-sensor zoom function to deliver clearer footage in video mode and higher-resolution images free from artifacts or moiré patterns in photo mode.
Coupled with Samsung’s proprietary high-refractive microlens, the newly improved high-transmittance ARL ensures that dark areas are not overly brightened for more accurate photos with well-preserved image details.
Adding to this, the GNJ includes an upgraded pixel isolation material in DTI from polysilicon to silicon oxide. These innovations have been achieved with less power consumption, featuring a 29% improvement in preview mode and 34% in video mode at 4K 60fps.
ISOCELL JN5
The ISOCELL JN5 features 50 million 0.64μm pixels in a 1/2.76-inch optical format. Dual vertical transfer gate (Dual VTG) technology increases charge transfer within pixels, substantially reducing noise in extremely low light.
Thanks to the Super Quad Phase Detection (Super QPD), the JN5 adjusts focus by comparing phase differences both vertically and horizontally. It also incorporates dual slope gain (DSG) technology to enhance its HDR.
This technology amplifies the analog light information entering the pixels into two signals, converts them into digital, and then combines them into one data, expanding the range of colors that the sensor can produce.
Implementing remosaic algorithms improves camera shooting speed. The JN5’s slim optical format makes it highly versatile, allowing it to be used across main and sub cameras, including wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, front and telephoto.
Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Watch’s Irregular heart rhythm notification feature in Taiwan. Samsung’s Health Monitor app has received approval from Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration for its irregular heart rhythm feature.
Irregular heart rhythm feature is now officially available in Taiwan, supporting Galaxy Watch 4 series and later models, as well as Samsung smartphones running Android 9 Pie or later operating systems.
After software updates, this feature, when combined with the app’s existing manual ECG detection function, can actively track heart rhythms related to atrial fibrillation (AFib) from the wearer’s wrist, helping users build a healthier lifestyle.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat widely considered a warning sign of serious cardiovascular problems.
It can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. However, since some cases of atrial fibrillation have no symptoms or even no signs, many patients are unaware of their risk.
Samsung Galaxy Watch is equipped with precise BioActive sensors, allowing users to gain a deeper understanding of their health. The One UI 6 Watch update is pending, which could land on your watch in October or November.
After activating the Health Monitor app, this feature will use sensors to check for abnormal heart rhythms and promptly alert users to potential AFib activity, reminding them to conduct an ECG check using their watch for more accurate data.
Epic Games suing Samsung and Google over One UI’s Auto Blocker feature. The company alleges that the default activation of One UI’s Auto Blocker feature is an illegal conspiracy to help Google maintain its dominance in the Android app market.
Samsung has dismissed claims made by Epic Games, stating that the Auto Blocker feature is designed for user security and privacy. It doesn’t have any motive to benefit Google to maintain its monopoly as it can be easily disabled by the user for sideloading.
“It’s about unfair competition by misleading users into thinking competitors’ products are inferior to the company’s products themselves,” Epic Chief Executive Tim Sweeney told reporters.
Epic Games previously won a lawsuit against Google over antitrust issues in the app market. The company argues that Samsung’s pre-enabled Auto Blocker circumvents the remedies ordered by the US district court following the jury’s verdict.
“The features integrated into its devices are designed in accordance with Samsung’s core principles of security, privacy, and user control, and we remain fully committed to safeguarding users’ personal data,” Samsung said in the statement.
Epic Games plans to initiate the lawsuit in the US and is considering legal options or regulatory policy measures in Korea. Epic wants Samsung to stop shipping Auto Blocker enabled or adopt a reasonable whitelisting process.
In late 2023, Samsung debuted the Auto Blocker as a new security feature. With the One UI 6.1 update, the company enabled it by default. It restricts app installation from sources other than Google’s Play Store or its own Galaxy Store.
September 2024 is about to end and Samsung is now rolling out a new update for the Galaxy S23 series, which reportedly addresses the camera zoom issue of One UI 6.1.1. After the last major update, users faced camera issues with their smartphones.
Following the release of One UI 6.1.1, several Samsung Galaxy S23 users reported issues with the zoom feature of the camera. When trying to zoom in between 16x and 19.9x while using Intelligent Optimization at maximum, the quality of photos dropped significantly.
The camera zoom issue led to frustration among users and prompted Samsung to pause the rollout of the One UI 6.1.1 update until the issues could be fixed.
Now, the new September 2024 update for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series resolves this camera zoom issue. It is reportedly allowing users to enjoy better photo quality when using the zoom feature.
In addition to fixing the camera issues, this update also includes important security patches to help protect your device from potential threats. Also, it updates some stock apps to the latest available version.
Users of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra can identify the latest software update through One UI build version S91xNKSU4CXI1. The installation package size of this update is around 380MB.
The fresh update is currently rolling out for Samsung Galaxy S23 models in Korea and the company will expand it soon to more countries. It’s recommended to download and install this update to benefit from the improvements in camera functionality and to ensure your device is secure.
To check and install the update, open Settings >> Software Update >> Download and install.
One UI 6.1.1 defects Galaxy S23 camera, Samsung readying quick patch