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Microsoft remind me of ‘Note 21’ that Samsung sent to heaven
If Samsung had not discontinued the Note lineup, we would be having the Note 22 Ultra in our hands. The company sent its iconic smartphone lineup to heaven in order to push the Z line of foldables last year. Loyal Note fans are trying to forget the Note, and, Microsoft also showed its love for the canceled Samsung Galaxy Note 21, identically.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the rollout of a new Windows 11 Insider Program Build to the Developer Channel. With the update, the company added a useful feature that lets PC users access their phone’s hotspot and even turn it ON without touching it a single time.
As Samsung is a frontiersperson when it comes to innovation, Microsoft revealed that the Instant Hotspot feature is just limited to select Galaxy devices. Interestingly, Microsoft mentioned a graphical image showing the interface of the Instant Hotspot functionality.
And here I felt, onetime again! The name of the smartphone shown in Microsoft’s blog post was set as “Maria’s Note 21.” No doubt, Samsung never launched any smartphone with the name Note 21, while it shows Microsoft also misses the Note lineup and Note 21 that now lives in heaven.
It’s not rocket science, we can use any text for the name of our hotspot, but, I’m glad to see, Microsoft also loves the iconic Note lineup that was discontinued. The employee who created the interface image of the Instant Hotspot feature might be missing Note 21 or she was using the S22 Ultra with the name Note 21.
The Galaxy Note 20 was the last Note lineup officially launched by Samsung in August 2020. Since then, the Korean tech giant has not released any smartphone with Note branding but expanded the S Pen functionality to Galaxy S Ultra and newer Galaxy Z Fold models.
Still, there’s a vast community of Galaxy Note lovers because of their large display, sharp corners, boxy design, and of course, the in-house S Pen support. Samsung officially confirmed that the Note series is no more and the iconic features will continue to arrive with other flagship devices.
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Samsung Galaxy S24’s One UI 7 Beta returns Monday with potential Beta 2 launch
Samsung’s One UI 7 Beta Program for Galaxy S24 series hit full capacity. If you missed joining the Beta Program, there’s good news: Samsung is expected to reopen the One UI 7 Beta on Monday along with the Beta 2 launch.
Max Jambor revealed that Samsung may open the second phase of One UI 7 Beta registration, and the date aligns with previous rumors of a Beta 2 launch. The rollout of the second Beta should bring another opportunity to join the Beta.
At present, Samsung is running the Beta Program for the Galaxy S24 series. The program is already live in four out of six key markets: Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
Samsung stopped Beta registrations just the next day after the Beta launch in the US. It seems the slots are fewer than last year, keeping the Beta build restricted to a limited audience.
Recently, Samsung Support confirmed that the One UI 7 Beta Program will start on December 16 in India, and the same date is rumored for the remaining European market: Poland.
The Beta participants will receive an incremental update as Beta 2 on their Galaxy S24 device. However, the latest build will directly be provided to the Wave 2 markets: India and Poland.
The second Beta of One UI 7 will bring improved animation and transition effects. Samsung users can expect more natural and fluid system animations in the next Beta updates.
One UI 7 Beta 2 – What to expect?
- Smoother animations, fluid transitions
- Enhanced performance and lesser app incompatibility
- Bug fixes and overall user experience improvements
News
Samsung TV Plus unveils exclusive ‘Letterman TV’ channel
Samsung TV Plus has introduced a new, free channel named “Letterman TV,” available now in the U.S. and Canada. This channel streams the legendary “Late Show with David Letterman” non-stop. You’ll get to see curated moments and new commentary from Letterman himself.
David Letterman, who hosted the show for 22 years, said, “Now I can watch myself age without looking in the mirror!” Walter Kim, who works with Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, Inc., is excited about the channel. With over 4000 hours of content, the programming will keep changing.
On “Letterman TV,” viewers can watch memorable moments of Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks playing The Newlywed Game, Denzel Washington sharing laughs with Don Rickles and Dave, Will Ferrell’s comedic antics, musical performances by legends like Ringo Starr, unforgettable stunts like Dave working at Taco Bell and jumping into a giant bowl of eggnog. In classic segments, viewers can watch Top Ten lists and “Stupid Tricks”
New content will added monthly, and exclusive intros from Letterman offer fresh insights and behind-the-scenes stories. For those in the U.S., the channel also offers on-demand half-hour compilations of fan-favorite moments.
Salek Brodsky from Samsung TV Plus says the service aims to provide personal and accessible entertainment. “Letterman TV” adds to their growing list of exclusive content.
Whether you’re a new viewer or a longtime fan, “Letterman TV” offers a mix of nostalgia and discovery. You can watch “Letterman TV” for free on Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors, and more.
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Samsung SmartThings teams up with YouTube Music for ultimate smart lighting
Samsung SmartThings is collaborating with YouTube Music. The latest collaboration reiterates that the company continues to elevate the SmartThings experiences further.
Following the partnership with YouTube Music, Samsung SmartThings can tailor the Music Sync experience more effectively to users’ needs regardless of the setting or time of day.
This includes new buttons that align with familiar YouTube Music settings like Relax, Party, and Workout, creating a seamless connection between Music Sync and the YouTube Music App.
SmartThings’s Music Sync unlocks accurate content sync across music apps within the Galaxy ecosystem. This ensures users can enjoy a truly synchronized experience without limitations.
It seems collab with YouTube Music is just the beginning. Later this year, SmartThings will announce additional partner companies to enrich the Music Sync experience.
SmartThings x YouTube Music
With Music Sync integration, YouTube Music Premium users can enjoy perfect light synchronization with Philips Hue bulbs while listening to their favorite songs.
For instance, when users press the Party button on Music Sync, their party playlist on YouTube Music will start playing, and the lighting will shift to a color pattern preset.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding our ecosystem and incorporating user feedback to enhance the Music Sync experience even further.