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Samsung to lay off 3 percent of employees at US chip division
The tech world is seeing a massive downturn this year. Various tech titans including Twitter, Google, and Amazon laid off a certain amount of employees to reduce expenses and Samsung also joins the list with a small amount of layoff at its US chip business.
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According to a Business Korea report, Samsung Elec’s US chip subsidiary – Device Solutions Americas (DSA) lays off 3 percent of total employees. Sources claim that Samsung DSA notified all of its employees at US business about the plans to cut 3 percent of its staff due to “uncertain economic conditions”.
It’s noteworthy that the total number of employees at Samsung Device Solutions Americas is 1,200, of which about 30 employees (3 percent) were to be subject to layoffs. This move comes as the overall semiconductor industry hit a recession in the aftermath of a decline in demand.
In the previous quarter, the South Korean tech giant recorded $204 million in operating profit in the semiconductor division. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, the profit declined by a whopping 96.9 percent, which could continue to decline in the first quarter of this year as well.
Samsung has just announced the Galaxy A16 5G smartphone. This phone is making waves of excitement among users as it is the first budget smartphone to promise six years of Android updates and security patches.
If you buy the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, you can expect software improvements until October 2030. For a phone priced under $200, this is a remarkable thing.
Now, not only Galaxy flagship users can enjoy the latest features and improvements as Samsung Galaxy A16 has been launched. 6 years of updates keep the Galaxy A16 phone secure and up-to-date with the latest features.
Most budget phones only get updates for one or two years, but Samsung is doing better by offering 6 years longer updates.
Talking about the specs, the Galaxy A16 5G features a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a sharp resolution of 2340 x 1080 FHD+, an octa-core Exynos 1330 processor with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging.
Moreover, the smartphone includes a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. It also has a 13MP front camera for selfies.
If you’re thinking of buying a budget smartphone, the Galaxy A16 5G is a great choice.
Samsung launches Galaxy A16 5G with 90Hz OLED, 6X OS upgrades and more
Samsung and Nvidia reportedly completed the on-site inspection of the 5th-generation HBM3E. This is a significant development, but mass production still appears to be pending.
Digitimes reports that Samsung’s 5th-gen HBM3E cleared Nvidia’s on-site inspection. This inspection is viewed as a significant step forward, but mass production of the HBM is still pending.
Samsung and Nvidia continue to collaborate on the development of advanced memory technologies, which are crucial for applications in AI, gaming, and data centers.
Back in August, it was reported that Samsung’s HBM3E passed Nvidian’s tests for use in AI processors. It came as a big relief for Samsung as it has been struggling to compete with SK Hynix.
Recently, it was reported that Samsung’s chip decision is facing a slow pace of recovery growth. Despite the AI surge, the company is failing to grow faster amid intense competition.
Samsung’s One UI 8 must bring Android 16’s Advanced Protection features. Google is reportedly developing new Advanced Protection features that could debut in Android 16, which we want to arrive on Galaxy phones with One UI 8 update.
One UI 7 is based on Android 15, scheduled to enter Beta this year and Public early next year. Galaxy phones will get Android 16 update with One UI 8 update – only if Samsung keeps stuck to its current version strategy.
Google is working to develop Advanced Protection integration for Android 16. The program includes new settings and a new API that’ll allow apps to change their behavior depending on whether users have Advanced Protection enabled.
Android could add Samsung’s Auto Blocker-like features. The feature restricts apps to be installed on Galaxy phones from unauthorized sources. However, you can still sideload APKs by disabling the Auto Blocker from Privacy settings.
Android 16 could allow you to enroll in Advanced Protection through Settings. Once enrolled, you will have to keep your Google Account signed in, and the OS will not allow you to install apps from sources other than Play Store and Galaxy Store.
Mishaal discovered a new patch in the AOSP Gerrit, which refers to a “new Service for Android Advanced Protection Mode.” It will allow apps to see whether Advanced Protection is enabled on-device, and to adjust their behavior accordingly.
A comment on the patch from a Google engineer clarified that the service in question “allows users to enroll into ‘advanced protection’ via Settings, and for apps to check if the user is enrolled” using a new API.
When enabled, Android 16 could require additional authentication if you try to access certain content, like protected files or banking details. Details are unknown, but we expect to see the Advanced Protection added in the Android 16 version.