Google introduced seamless updates about 8 years ago with Android Nougat. Now it looks like Samsung has finally decided to come on board with seamless updates. Interestingly enough, they are starting with their newly-launched Galaxy A55 smartphone.

 

For those unfamiliar, seamless updates are a way to better manage the downloading and installing of Android updates. It creates a situation where an update is downloaded and installed in the background, while keeping the phone completely operational. This means that instead of sitting around waiting for an update to download and install, you can do other things.

 

The use of an A/B partition system also helps in the event an installation goes wrong. This is done by reverting to the previous build. We're not sure why Samsung took this long to implement seamless updates, but we're glad it's finally here.

 

Now, there is the question of whether or not existing Samsung devices will get it. The bad news is that chances are they won't. This is because this is a feature that needs to be configured ahead of time. So even if you own the latest Samsung flagship, you'll be missing out on this feature.

 

Presumably future Samsung handsets, like the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series, will get it. So unless you plan to get the Galaxy A55, you'll just have to wait until your next Samsung phone.

 

From what we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring so far, it sounds like a pared down version of the Galaxy Watch. It is basically a smartwatch without a screen where users can use it to track their health and fitness. This isn't a bad thing. Smartwatches aren't for everyone, so a smart ring could come in handy. But it turns out maybe the Galaxy Ring could be a useful tool for those looking to diet.

 

In a report from Korean publication Chosun Biz, it seems that the Galaxy Ring can help users with their diet. How this works is that Samsung wants to link the smart ring with Samsung Food and Samsung e-Food Center. For those unfamiliar, Samsung Food is an AI food and recipe service that creates more personalized and intelligent meal planning.

 

Based on the information gleaned by the ring on the wearer, such as their BMR and BMI, Samsung Food will be able to recommend a diet to users. Further pairing with Samsung's smart refrigerators, will allow Samsung Food to potentially analyze the contents of your fridge and come up with meal ideas on what's available.

 

If this is true, it is actually pretty awesome. We're not sure if this will be a Galaxy Ring exclusive or if Samsung can eventually introduce it to its smartwatches as well. Either way, take it with a grain of salt for now. The Galaxy Ring has been officially announced and is expected to potentially launch alongside Samsung's new foldables later this year.

 

After several weeks and months of rumors, leaks and whatnot, Samsung has finally taken the wraps off its newest pair of midrange smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35. While both devices share some similar specs, there are some minor differences once you take a closer look.

 

Take for example the design - at first glance, the Galaxy A55 and A35 look very identical, although the A55 uses a metal frame and Gorilla Glass Victus panels on both the front and rear, while the A35 is built with a plastic frame and back. Both phones do feature a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2340 resolution and 120Hz though.

 

 

The similarities also extend to the newly-designed frame around the power and volume buttons, which now features a raised section and does make for a unique design. Additionally, both phones ship with Android 14 alongside the latest One UI 6.1 platform version from Samsung, with a promised four generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and five years of security updates.

 

This year, Samsung has decided to equip the Galaxy A55 and A35 with different chipsets - the A55 comes with the newer Exynos 1480 chipset, while the A35 comes with last year's 1380 chip, which was also used on other A-series handsets. The Galaxy A55 starts with a base storage configuration of 8GB + 128GB, while the A35 comes with a slightly lower 6GB + 12GB setup.

 

 

For camera hardware, the Galaxy A55 comes with a 50MP primary lens, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 32MP front camera; meanwhile, the A35 features a 50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 13MP front camera. Powering both phones are 5,000 mAh capacity batteries.

 

In terms of pricing, the Samsung Galaxy A55 starts at around $530 for the base storage model, while the A35 starts at around $415.

When it comes to tablets, there are different tablets for different needs. If you happen to work outdoors a lot and need something to withstand the daily rigors of outdoor use, then a rugged tablet might be the way to go. The good news is that the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 has finally made its way to the US.

 

The Galaxy Tab Active 5 is the successor to the Galaxy Tab Active 4. Under the hood, you can find an Exynos 1380 chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM. It will also come with 128GB of storage. This storage can be further expanded via a microSD card. It will feature a 13MP on the back and a 5MP front-facing shooter.

 

 

The tablet will also come with Android 14 out of the box and is eligible for four major OS updates and five years of security updates. Samsung is also including an S Pen in case you need to write or sign documents or draw.

 

Now, obviously the selling point of the tablet is its rugged design. It has an IP68 rating when it comes to dust and water resistance. It is also MIL-STD-810G rated when it comes to drops and bumps, so you don't have to worry about it getting damaged too badly. According to Samsung, it can survive drops on concrete surfaces from a height of up to 8 feet.

 

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features the use of titanium in its chassis. One thing to note is that not all titanium is equal. In titanium itself, there are varying grades of quality. It turns out that the one that Samsung is using is the cheaper stuff.

 

The phone was taken to Moxtek Products to determine the grade of titanium in the phone following a teardown by JerryRigEverything. According to the test, it seems that the titanium used in the Galaxy S24 Ultra is Grade 2 quality.

 

 

For context, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro which also uses titanium uses Grade 5. Compared to Grade 2, Grade 5 titanium is also about four times more expensive. It might be easy to dismiss the use of Grade 2 as being "worse", but it's not necessarily true. As we said, there are different grades of titanium and it depends on what the manufacturer wants out of the material.

 

As it is easier to work with, Grade 2 titanium is more commonly used. For a company like Samsung that churns out millions of phones, making the manufacturing process easier means less defective units and waste. Granted it isn't quite as strong compared to other grades, but it still enjoys the benefit of being lightweight.