News
Samsung research reveals accessibility crisis in UK tech market
A recent Samsung study shows that the lack of accessibility in design is excluding millions of consumers from products, services, and experiences in the UK. It’s a wake-up call for brands operating in the United Kingdom to revisit the design approach.
Samsung and OnePoll surveyed 1,000 adults with invisible and visible disabilities (accessibility issues) in the UK. The study reveals that over 68% of survey participants have felt excluded from products or services due to accessibility issues.
Key takeaways:
- 55% of respondents don’t believe mainstream brands are invested enough in making products that cater to individual needs.
- 54% don’t think companies understand which accessibility features are important for consumers with disabilities.
- 80% claim major brands could be missing out on millions by not thinking about inclusive design for consumers with disabilities.
- 72% of consumers surveyed have abandoned a purchase due to a product’s lack of accessibility.
- 56% are willing to pay more if they find a fully accessible product.
The Korean tech giant highlighted that UK tech brands are missing a trick here. The spending power of disabled people and their households – known as the purple pound – is estimated to be worth a staggering £274 billion a year.
Samsung continuously works on enhancing accessibility across its products. From mobile devices to smart TVs and shopping apps to services, all are optimized for people with disability. This user-centric approach inspires many brands out there.
Galaxy phones feature useful and intelligent accessibility features. Samsung also brought universal gestures to Galaxy smartwatches. The brand-new Galaxy Ring is the latest example of Samsung’s commitment to accessibility.
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
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.
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 Music Sync | Source: Samsung
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.