Samsung Expands One UI Software Branding to TVs and Home Appliances in 2025

 Samsung has announced plans to expand its "One UI" software branding, currently exclusive to Galaxy devices, to its other major tech products, including TVs and home appliances, starting in 2025. This move aims to create a cohesive software experience across the company's portfolio.

One UI, first introduced in 2018, replaced the widely criticized TouchWiz Android skin on Galaxy devices, providing a welcome and well-received update. Since then, Samsung has continued to build upon and refine the software, even expanding it to smartwatches following the company's adoption of Wear OS.

During its annual developer conference, Samsung revealed that One UI will become the new name for the company's software experiences across major product lines, encompassing TVs and home appliances. While details on how this will affect software design and features are scarce, the announcement suggests a unified design language and integrated software experience across devices.

In related news, Samsung also announced that One UI 7, its upcoming Android update, will be delayed until 2025, with a beta version expected before the end of the year.

This expansion of One UI is part of Samsung's efforts to create a seamless and consistent user experience across its diverse range of products. By unifying its software branding, Samsung aims to simplify and enhance the way users interact with its devices, ultimately strengthening its position in the market.

This move is a significant development in Samsung's software strategy, and its impact will be closely watched by industry observers and consumers alike. As the company continues to refine and expand its One UI software, it remains to be seen how this will shape the future of Samsung's product lineup and user experience.

Samsung Expands Passkey Support to Smart TVs and Smart Home Devices

 

Image: Samsung

Samsung has announced the extension of passkey support to its smart TV lineup and other smart home devices, further enhancing the security and convenience of its ecosystem. This move is part of the company's ongoing efforts to streamline user authentication across its range of devices, which includes smartphones, tablets, and smart home products running on the Tizen operating system.

Passkeys, a more secure alternative to traditional passwords, offer a passwordless authentication process that relies on biometric data or device-based verification. This technology is designed to mitigate the risks associated with password-based security, such as phishing attacks or credential theft, by eliminating the need for users to input passwords.

By integrating passkey support into its smart TVs and smart home devices, Samsung aims to provide users with a seamless and secure experience across its connected ecosystem. The passkey feature will work in conjunction with Samsung's proprietary security framework, Knox, to ensure that user data and credentials are protected at all times.

The passkey functionality will allow users to log in to various apps and services on their smart TVs and smart home devices without needing to enter a password. Instead, they can authenticate using biometric methods, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, or via a paired smartphone. This not only simplifies the login process but also strengthens security by reducing the reliance on potentially vulnerable password systems.

Samsung's commitment to enhancing its smart home technology is evident through this initiative, as it aligns with the broader industry trend of adopting more secure, user-friendly authentication methods. The passkey support will also integrate with Samsung SmartThings, the company's smart home platform, enabling users to manage and control their connected devices more securely.

This update reflects Samsung's efforts to keep pace with evolving security standards while enhancing user convenience. By expanding passkey support across its devices, Samsung continues to position itself as a leader in the smart home technology space, offering innovative solutions that prioritize both security and ease of use.

Availability

Samsung has not yet specified the exact timeline for when passkey support will be rolled out to all compatible devices. However, the feature is expected to become available through a software update, and users will be notified once it is ready for use.

Conclusion

Samsung’s integration of passkey technology into its smart TVs and smart home devices represents a significant step toward a more secure and seamless user experience. As the company continues to innovate in the smart home sector, this development underscores its commitment to enhancing both security and user convenience across its ecosystem of connected devices.

Google Pixel 9a Release Date Rumored to be Earlier than Ever

In a significant departure from its traditional release schedule, Google's mid-range Pixel 9a is rumored to launch as early as March 2025, the earliest release date in the lineup's history. This development comes on the heels of the Pixel 9 series' early launch in August, which was released over two months before the usual October expectation and ahead of Android 15's debut.

According to a report by Android Headlines, citing multiple sources, the Pixel 9a will be available for pre-order in mid-March 2025. This revised schedule aligns with the rest of the Pixel 9 series and may explain the recent surge in leaks and prototype sightings. The report also references earlier CAD-based renders of the Pixel 9a as evidence of the altered schedule.

Google's mid-range Pixel series has historically had a volatile release schedule. The initial Pixel 3a was released at Google I/O in May 2019, while the Pixel 4a was delayed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pixel 5a followed a similar timeline, and the Pixel 6a launched in July 2022. The Pixel 7a returned to the I/O schedule, launching in May 2023, and the Pixel 8a maintained this pattern.

The report suggests that Google intends to maintain this schedule going forward, with the Pixel 10a launching in March 2026. Additionally, the Pixel 10 is rumored to launch in August, although this date has not been officially confirmed.

The Pixel 9a has been the subject of several recent leaks, including design renders and codename suggestions. The device is expected to feature a slightly larger design, four color options, including a new purple "Iris" variant. The camera design has also been leaked, showing a flat camera setup that deviates from Google's traditional design.

As Google continues to shift its release schedules, it remains to be seen how this will impact the company's overall product strategy. One thing is certain, however: the Pixel 9a is generating significant buzz, and its rumored early release date has piqued the interest of tech enthusiasts and industry observers alike.

Microsoft Unveils Office 2024 for Mac and PC with One-Time Purchase Options Starting at $149.99

Microsoft has officially launched Office 2024 for both Mac and Windows users, offering an updated suite of productivity applications available through a one-time purchase. The new version, introduced on October 2, 2024, is priced at $149.99 for the Home and Student edition, which includes core applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

This release marks a continuation of Microsoft's strategy to provide a perpetual license option for users who prefer a standalone product rather than subscribing to Microsoft 365, the company's cloud-based subscription service. The one-time purchase versions of Office 2024 will not include access to cloud services such as OneDrive or Outlook and will not receive the continuous updates that Microsoft 365 subscribers benefit from. However, Office 2024 will receive security updates and necessary patches for several years post-release.

The Home and Business edition, priced at $249.99, includes additional access to Outlook alongside the standard applications found in the Home and Student version. This edition is designed to appeal to small business owners and professionals who require email management and other business tools.

While Microsoft 365 has been the company's primary focus in recent years, with its subscription model providing regular feature updates and cloud-based integrations, the release of Office 2024 demonstrates Microsoft's ongoing commitment to serving users who prefer one-time purchases. This option is particularly suited for customers who do not require cloud connectivity or those who prefer a more traditional software experience.

Office 2024's release aligns with Microsoft's broader product strategy, offering flexibility for users across different platforms, including both Mac and PC, while maintaining distinct options for those seeking either subscription-based services or standalone software solutions.

The release of Office 2024 is expected to appeal to a wide range of users, from students and home users to small businesses and professionals, providing a familiar and reliable suite of tools without the need for a recurring subscription.

Samsung Phones that Support Gemini Nano: What You Need to Know

In 2023, Google introduced Gemini Nano, a lightweight version of its Gemini AI technology, designed to enable Android devices to run AI-powered features locally without relying on an internet connection. Initially, the technology was exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, but it has since been expanded to other devices, including the Galaxy S24 series.

However, until now, there has been a lack of clarity regarding which smartphones support Gemini Nano and which ones feature the enhanced multimodality version. Thankfully, this ambiguity has been resolved, courtesy of a report by Android Police, which has obtained confirmation from Google on the devices that support Gemini Nano and those that feature the multimodality variant.

Devices that Support Gemini Nano

The following devices have been confirmed to support Gemini Nano:

• Google Pixel 8
• Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Google Pixel 8a
• Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
• Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S24
• Samsung Galaxy S24+
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
• Realme GT 6
• Xiaomi 14T
• Xiaomi 14T Pro
• Xiaomi MIX Flip

Devices that Support Gemini Nano with Multimodality

The following devices feature Gemini Nano with multimodality, a more advanced version of the technology that enables enhanced AI processing capabilities:

• Google Pixel 9
• Google Pixel 9 Pro
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Samsung Devices that Support Gemini Nano

Notably, six Samsung smartphones have been confirmed to support Gemini Nano, including:

• Galaxy S24
• Galaxy S24+
• Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Galaxy S24 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 6
• Galaxy Z Flip 6

Interestingly, the Galaxy S24 FE, a fan edition device, also supports Gemini Nano, indicating that the Exynos 2400e processor is capable of running this technology.

Future Prospects

While Samsung devices currently do not support Gemini Nano with multimodality, it is hoped that Google will extend this feature to Samsung smartphones in the future, enabling them to offer more AI-powered features without the need for an internet connection. Furthermore, it is expected that Gemini Nano will be made available to older and more affordable Galaxy phones, expanding the reach of this innovative technology.