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Samsung retires Galaxy S10 line from monthly software support [U: S10 5G too]
Update: June 8, 2022
Two months after the Galaxy S10 series devices, Samsung has now retired the Galaxy S10 5G smartphone, from monthly software support, as well. The S10 5G was launched around 2 months later from the Galaxy S10 lineup, which has now been completed three years of its initial global debut.
Initial Story: April 5, 2022
As usual, Samsung has recently published the revised software update support page for the Galaxy devices. Aside from the addition of some newly launched devices, we saw two major revisions in the company’s security patch distribution policy.
Firstly, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus smartphones are no longer eligible for any new software update by Samsung. At the same time, Samsung has officially ended monthly software update eligibility of the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ devices.
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Accordingly, the Galaxy S10 series smartphones will now have new security patches on a quarterly basis. This move is not unexpected as the company is offering monthly patches to these devices since 2019. And after three years, they will now get quarterly updates for a year, followed by biannual for a year.
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Launched back in March 2019, the Samsung Galaxy S10 series devices shipped pre-loaded with the Android 9-based One UI 1.1. These models have completed their major upgrades lifecycle later last year by receiving the Android 12-based One UI 4.0.
Last month, Samsung released the new One UI 4.1 update, which brings the Galaxy S22-inspired Camera features to the Galaxy S10 lineup. Unquestionably, the Galaxy S10 series consumers will have to enjoy their models with the Android 12-based One UI 4.1 as there’s no big upgrade remaining.
As of now, Samsung Galaxy S10 series devices have not received the monthly (April 2022 security patch) so far. Therefore, we can expect the next s/w update two months later if the company skips the April patch for the Galaxy S10 phones. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S10 5G is still eligible for monthly software updates, at least some more.
Source – Samsung
Samsung could shift its investment from the EV battery business in the US. The company plans to adjust its investment in ESS from EVs due to a sluggish market. The move comes after low demand for EVs, particularly bikes, and growing demand for ESS.
TheElec reports that Samsung eyeing the growing demand for ESS (energy storage systems) in the US. North America’s largest power company NextEra Energy could be awarding Samsung with a potential 1 trillion won ESS order.
Samsung is investing in converting its EV battery pack production line in Michigan, US. The electric bike battery pack line will be dismantled and converted for ESS use. The investment is expected to begin as early as the fourth quarter.
- The ESS battery pack line will be located in Factory 1, where a battery pack line for Harley-Davidson is currently in operation.
- Factory 2 primarily produces battery packs for Stellantis PHEVs, such as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe.
The Korean tech giant is pursuing a 1 trillion won order for ESS batteries from NextEra Energy. The order is estimated to be around 5GWh. The company has started accelerating its penetration into the ESS market since last year with its Battery Box.
Samsung is exploring advanced sensor-shift image stabilization (OIS) camera tech for future Galaxy phones. The company recently filed a patent application related to image stabilization technology for mobile devices in South Korea.
The latest Samsung patent suggests work on the sensor-shift image stabilization (OIS) camera is underway. However, Apple iPhone-like sensor shift camera tech is far from arriving on Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones.
The patent entitled “Actuator for optical image stabilization and camera module including the same” describes how less force is required to stabilize the sensor itself. This allows for a more precise correction of the sensor position.
The patent document shows that Samsung is continuing to develop its ideas and methods for sensor-shift image stabilization. The absence of such cameras is not a sign that the company has abandoned the idea.
Samsung has been working on sensor-shift image stabilization for years. The company aims to upgrade the Galaxy camera capabilities in the future. The sensor-shift stabilization offers a sharper image by moving the camera sensor.
Previously, patents related to sensor-shift telephoto camera surfaced. However, the Korean tech giant hasn’t commercialized the technology. The patent was published recently, but doesn’t mean we will be seeing this upgrade in the Galaxy S25 series.
The development suggests that Samsung won’t include it on Galaxies till an advanced variant evolves. As the exploration continues, sensor-shift OIS feature remains in hope for the future of Galaxy smartphone segment.
Samsung officially confirmed its teaming up with Qualcomm and Google for XR devices. Now, Qualcomm CEO revealed that the company is working with Samsung and Google to develop mixed-reality smart glasses.
According to the info, Samsung is working on portable mixed-reality smart glasses in collaboration with Qualcomm. Not XR headset, the company’s first extended reality product could be smart glasses with AI for new experiences.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon shared new details about Samsung’s upcoming XR product. In an interview to CNBC, Amon confirmed the collab with Samsung will result in “a new product” that offers “new experiences.”
Beyond that, he hinted that this product will likely be a pair of XR smart glasses, not a headset. Just opposite to Apple’s approach, Samsung and Qualcomm aimed to create XR smart glasses that would be portable and easy to carry around.
“I want everyone who has a phone to go buy companion glasses to go along with it,” Amon said. “We need to reach a point where wearing smart glasses feels no different from wearing regular glasses or sunglasses. Only then can we achieve true scale,” he added.
The XR smart glasses could debut later this year, featuring artificial intelligence. Samsung and Qualcomm reportedly aiming to make XR glasses mainstream, while Google could support them with optimized software.
Following the trend, the XR smart glasses could pack on-device AI capabilities. Some AI features will run directly on the device, others on the phone, and certain tasks will require cloud processing – unlocking “a whole new set of experiences.”
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