Samsung has launched its much-awaited new smartphone, the Galaxy S8.
The device was introduced during a media event Wednesday in New York. The launch came after Samsung was forced to recall millions of its troubled Note 7 devices last year.
Samsung's chief of mobile operations, D.J. Koh, began the event by admitting the company had faced a "challenging" year. One filled with "valuable lessons and hard decisions." But he said the launch marked an important new beginning.
"Today, I'm excited to show you a new phone that extends our heritage of great innovation and stunning design."
Samsung launched two versions of the new phone – the Galaxy S8 (14.7 cm), and the slightly larger Galaxy S8+ (15.75 cm).
The company said one of the most exciting features of the S8s is what it calls the Infinity Display. This end-to-end design gets rid of a structured edge, resulting in curving on all sides.
The frame has also been reduced on the new phones, giving more room for the display. Also, the S8 does not have a separate home button – a virtual home button is built into the display.
Samsung's senior vice president, Justin Denison, explained the process behind the latest design.
"In other words, we've redesigned the smartphone from the inside out – to unbox the screen and unleash its infinite potential."
Samsung's new Galaxy S8 smartphone includes built-in technology that automatically searches based on photos and pulls up information for the user. (SAMSUNG)Samsung also gave the world its first look at a new voice assistant named Bixby. The service uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology comparable to offerings by Google, Apple and Microsoft. This allows voice to control many device actions.
The company said users can take photos of books, food or other products and Bixby will automatically search and bring up information on them.
The S8s include a higher quality 8 megapixel camera in front, with a 12 megapixel one in the back. Samsung also launched a new virtual reality camera, called Gear 360, which can support the highest quality video, 4K.
Samsung's new Galaxy S8 phone features iris technology allowing users to unlock their phone by looking at it. (SAMSUNG)The new phones come with iris and facial recognition technology that the company says lets users unlock a device just by looking at it.
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available for pre-order beginning March 30 and will begin shipping to the U.S. on April 21. Prices have not yet been announced.
Samsung issued a worldwide recall of its popular Galaxy Note 7 devices last September after repeated overheating problems. A company investigation found the overheating was linked to batteries that caused some devices to catch fire.
Samsung stopped production and recalled at least 2.5 million phones worldwide, costing the company at least $5.3 billion.
This week, the company said it plans to sell some refurbished Note 7 phones with new batteries that passed new safety tests. Some parts from recalled devices will also be used in future phones.
The decision came after environmental group Greenpeace and others had urged Samsung to come up with a plan to recycle the troubled devices.
Samsung is still working on plans for how and where the refurbished devices will be sold. But the company said they would not be for sale in the United States or India.
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Words in This Storyheritage – n. traditions, beliefs, etc. that are part of a group of nation
innovation – n. new idea device or method
stunning – adj. very attractive, beautiful
curve – n. smooth, rounded, without edges
frame – n. basic structure holding other things inside
virtual – adj. existing on computers or the internet
unleash – v. allow something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly
iris – n. the colored part of your eye
recall – n. – a request by a company for people to return a product because it has a defect or problem
refurbish – v. repair or rebuild