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NFC Roadmap Is Official: Longer Range, Better Wireless Charging and more

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NFC Forum

NFC Forum has recently revealed its comprehensive Technology Roadmap, sharing insights into the future of NFC technology and its anticipated developments.

The NFC Roadmap outlines key initiatives, which will shape the direction of NFC, presenting exciting opportunities for product development, markets, and businesses.

Since these initiatives’ timeframe spans two to five years, individual work items are currently at different stages of development, from research to market requirements and draft specifications.

The NFC Roadmap was developed by leading Board representatives from Apple, Google, Huawei, Identiv, Infineon, NXP, Qualcomm, Sony, and STMicroelectronics as well as the Forum’s 400-member company community.

NFC Forum

NFC Roadmap

Increased Power for NFC Wireless Charging: The NFC Forum aims to enhance the current NFC Wireless Charging specification, increasing the power capabilities from 1 watt to 3 watts. This advancement will enable wireless power and charging in smaller form factors, disrupting industrial design and opening up new markets.

Increased Range: The NFC Forum is examining ways to extend the operating range of NFC connections, aiming for distances four to six times greater than the current 5mm limit. Even a modest increase in range will facilitate faster and easier contactless transactions, enhance user experience, and reduce the need for precise antenna alignment.

Multiple Purpose Tap: This feature aims to improve the contactless user experience by enabling several actions with a single tap. From point-to-point receipt delivery to loyalty identification and total-journey ticketing, this innovation will enhance convenience and efficiency.

Modernizing Device-to-Device Communication: The NFC Forum is working towards empowering NFC-enabled smartphones with Point-of-Sale functionality, known as SoftPOS. This advancement will enable businesses and individuals to accept payments anywhere, expanding the reach of NFC technology.

Expanding NFC’s Data Sharing Capabilities for Sustainability: To meet evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements, the NFC Forum aims to enable NFC to share data on product composition and recycling options. This enhancement will contribute to a healthier circulatory economy and support sustainability goals.

Regarding the announcement, NFC Forum Executive Director Mike McCamon said,

The exponential growth of NFC technology is a testament to our members’ forward-thinking approach and unwavering dedication to innovation. Through our continuously evolving standards, business-line managers and product designers will be able to create new and exciting products and services that customers will love. As NFC technology becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, our planned features have the potential to significantly enhance the way we pay and receive payments; engage with our favorite brands; power our devices; and access sustainable products and services.

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James is the lead content creator on Sammy Fans and mostly works on Samsung's firmware section. His first phone was the Galaxy S4 and continues to get new S series devices. Most of the time, James tries to learn about new technologies and gadgets but he also sneaks a bit of free time to nearby rivers and nature.

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Google trying hard to compete with Galaxy AI’s Live Translate

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Gemini AI

Google is trying hard to challenge Samsung’s Live Translate powered by Galaxy AI. Google is testing new AI features for Pixel’s Call Screen tool, following Samsung’s lead in democratizing advanced artificial intelligence features.

It’s been revealed (via AssembleDebug) that Google is testing the AI Replies feature for Pixel’s Call Screen to better rival Galaxy AI’s Live Translate. While Samsung’s version is advanced enough, the Android maker is working to narrow the functioning gap.

Pixel’s Call Assist could soon add an AI Replies feature that will suggest AI-powered smart replies based on the caller’s Call Screen responses. At present, Assistant in Call Assist offers generic contextual reply suggestions.

The latest Google Phone app’s Beta revealed how the feature will work on Pixel phones. The company is said to be using Gemini Nano to power AI Replies, letting Call Assist understand natural language and provide smarter suggestions.

Galaxy AI’s Live Translate not only offers real-time translation of text, audio, and videos but also translates phone calls. Breaking language barriers, it becomes your interpreter – translating two different languages at the same time.

Pixel 9 series supports the most advanced Call Assist and Call Screen features. Despite limited device availability, only certain markets support manual call screening. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy AI is supported by more than a dozen languages.

Beyond Samsung Phone app, the Live Translate feature’s AI magic also works on many third-party applications. Those apps include Facebook Messenger, Google Meet, Instagram, Kakao Talk, LINE, Signal, Telegram, WeChat, and WhatsApp.

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How will Donald Trump’s return impact Samsung’s semiconductor ambitions?

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Trump chip tariff Samsung TSMC

President-elect Donald Trump is an unpredictable man. The return of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States could impact Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC’s semiconductor ambitions and we wish the best for the manufacturers.

CHIPS Gone, Tariff On?

During the election campaign, Donald Trump threatened to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act introduced by Joe Biden. The act aims to provide billions of dollars of federal subsidies to semiconductor vendors to boost localization.

Rather than repealing the CHIPS Act, Trump may cut subsidies for chipmakers and raise tariffs on outsiders such as TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Korean firms should leverage AI chip expertise and further bolster ties with the new US administration.

Samsung Chip Biden US

Taiwan’s TSMC is apparently on Trump’s radar, with Samsung and SK Hynix could also face the heat in the future. If Trump revokes the CHIPS Act, these firms will lose access to potential subsidies to establish production plans on American soil.

Trump has called the act “so bad,” and insisted that imposing tariffs is the way to push companies to build chip factories in the US, rather than providing subsidies and tax credits. Notably, Samsung is eligible for up to $6.4 billion in subsidies against its $45 billion chip foundry.

Trump’s comeback could shape Samsung’s semiconductor future

In case Trump’s actions target TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chip maker, new opportunities will born for Samsung Elec and the US-based Micron. Meanwhile, the potential impact will only be determined once Trump takes over Biden in January.

Trump’s envisioned high tariff policy and decoupling strategy to isolate China from the global supply chain is expected to have both benefits and challenges for Korean chipmakers.

However, Korean chipmakers could benefit in the long term when Trump’s high tariffs on chips made outside of the US force companies to produce chips on American soil.

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Samsung boosts Auto Blocker with new ‘Maximum Restrictions’ feature

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One UI 7 Auto Blocker feature

Samsung has rolled out a fresh update for its Auto Blocker app with version 1.1.00.28. The update brings a new layer of security as it introduces the “Maximum restrictions” option for users who require extra protection against potential threats.

The fresh update is rolling out for Galaxy devices running One UI 6.1.1. It offers different conditions for One UI 6.1.1 and the upcoming One UI 7. Notably, the upcoming One UI iteration will provide enhanced security with Auto Blocker.

The fresh update of Samsung Auto Blocker adds the “Maximum restrictions” mode, which offers stronger protection for sensitive data. When activated, this mode restricts certain features on the device to limit exposure to unauthorized access.

Samsung Auto Blocker Maximum Restrictions

The update turns on the “App protection” feature, which blocks the activation of device admin apps and work profiles. Additionally, some Samsung apps, including Samsung Messages and Gallery, will have limited functionality when this mode is enabled.

What’s new for One UI 7 devices?

With  One UI 7, the “Maximum restrictions” mode will receive even more robust protections. When the Auto Blocker turns on, it blocks USB connections and prevents devices from connecting to your phone for purposes other than charging. In addition, the update also blocks 2G networks and prevents automatic reconnection to non-secure Wi-Fi networks.

Aside from this, Samsung has already started rolling out One UI 7’s Auto Blocker maximum restrictions conditions to Galaxy devices through a new update. Currently, some Galaxy flagships received its support and will expand to more soon.

US unlocked Galaxy S24 gets advanced Auto Blocker with November 2024 update

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