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Samsung accepts fake water-resistance ads, court fined $9.7m
Yesterday, the Australian competition regulator said that a court had ordered Samsung Electronics’ local subsidiary to pay a fine of 14 million Australian dollars (around 9.7 million USD) over misleading water resistance ads on some Galaxy smartphones.
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A recent Reuters report revealed that Samsung accepted misleading buyers about the water resistance ratings of some Galaxy phones, as said by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). To be noted, regulators first sued the company in July 2019.
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According to the information, the statement revealed that Samsung Australia made false or misleading descriptions of the water resistance of its Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, A5 (2017), A7 (2017), S8, S8 Plus and Note 8 smartphones.
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Not too much, but surely, taking advantage of ads, Samsung sold over million Galaxy phones in Australia. The regulator said that between March 2016 and October 2018, Samsung advertised in retail stores and on social media that the Galaxy phones could be used in swimming pools or seawater.
Meanwhile, the ACCC has received hundreds of complaints from users that the smartphones did not work properly or even stopped working altogether after exposure to water.
Samsung Australia has accepted that if a Galaxy phone is dipped in a swimming pool or seawater, the charging port has the potential to corrode and stop working if the phone is charged in wet conditions.
Apart from this, Samsung Australia’s parent company Samsung Electronics has previously sought to recall the Galaxy phones in an effort to mitigate the impact of the aforementioned charging port corrosion.
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9 Samsung Galaxy devices will get Circle to Search feature this week
Samsung‘s Galaxy S24 series introduced the Google-powered Circle to Search feature, which is now set to expand to more Galaxy devices with the One UI 6.1 update. The Circle to Search feature expansion has been officially confirmed for more Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Circle to Search will be available on more Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices this week. He also noted that this feature would allow users to translate text on their screen without switching between applications.
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One UI 6.1 update will bring the Circle to Search feature to nine Samsung devices, including the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
Following the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 series, this feature is also now scheduled to be released for the Pixel 6 series, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet starting this week.
Starting this week, we’re bringing Circle to Search to more Pixel and Samsung phones, foldables and tablets. And soon, you can use Circle to Search to instantly translate whatever’s on your screen without switching apps. pic.twitter.com/bgUcUh7K9v
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 27, 2024
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Samsung’s Bespoke AI Combo shines in outdoor ads at Korea’s major landmarks
Samsung is enhancing its presence with the ‘Bespoke AI Combo’ through outdoor advertisements at major landmarks across Korea. The advertisement highlights the product’s efficiency, showcasing its ability to wash and dry clothes swiftly using AI technology.
Since the 8th of March, the campaign has reached 20 significant locations, leading to outstanding sales of over 1,000 units in just three days and a total of 3,000 units in 12 days.
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The company has showcased the ‘Bespoke AI Combo’ at prominent locations in Korea including Yeouido The Hyundai Seoul, Seoul COEX, Seoul Famille Station, Gangnam Station, Starfield Suwon, Busan Shinsegae Department Store Centum City Branch, and Shinsegae Department Store Daegu Branch.
Samsung is set to expand its marketing efforts for the ‘Bespoke AI Combo’ with a TV advertisement scheduled for the 23rd, complementing its existing outdoor campaign.
Furthermore, this year, Samsung continues to advance its AI home appliance line, introducing products like the Bespoke Jet AI and Bespoke Grande AI, strengthening its position as a leader in AI-powered home appliances.
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Apple faces US DOJ lawsuit over alleged iPhone monopoly
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Apple, accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market. The DOJ accuses Apple of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.
The suit claims Apple has restricted third-party app growth, limited cloud and game-streaming services, forced continued iPhone purchases for messaging, diminished non-Apple smartwatch functionality, and prevented third-party digital wallet use.
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In a press conference, US Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted issues such as the App Store’s fee system, degraded third-party accessory experiences, and relies heavily on Messages. The case, backed by 16 state Attorneys General, could have significant implications for Apple’s business practices and the broader tech industry.
The US DOJ said in a release about the suit:
“Apple exercises its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others.”
Apple also responded by defending its innovation and user-focused approach, warning that the lawsuit could hinder its ability to deliver the seamless technology integration users expect. Check the entire response of Apple below.
“At Apple, we innovate every day to make technology people love — designing products that work seamlessly together, protect people’s privacy and security, and create a magical experience for our users. This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets.
If successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple — where hardware, software, and services intersect. It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering the government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology. We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it.”