logo
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: What's the S Pen's Fate?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: What's the S Pen's Fate?

Geeky Gadgets2 days ago

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 introduces a significant evolution in foldable device technology, particularly through its innovative S Pen system. By eliminating the need for a digitizer or battery, Samsung has reimagined how users interact with foldable displays. This advancement not only simplifies the internal structure of the device but also enhances its durability and sustainability. However, while the new system offers exciting possibilities, it also highlights areas where further development is necessary to meet user expectations. The video below from TechTalkTV gives us more details about the device.
Watch this video on YouTube. Transforming Stylus Technology with a Passive System
At the heart of the Galaxy Z Fold 7's innovation is its passive stylus system, developed in collaboration with High Deep. This system replaces the traditional digitizer by embedding a specialized touch chip directly into the display. This approach eliminates the need for a separate digitizer layer, resulting in a more streamlined internal design. The absence of a battery in the S Pen further simplifies its construction, making it a more sustainable and user-friendly tool.
Key benefits of this passive stylus system include: Enhanced durability: The simplified internal structure reduces potential points of failure, which is particularly important for foldable screens.
The simplified internal structure reduces potential points of failure, which is particularly important for foldable screens. Improved sustainability: By removing the need for a battery, the S Pen becomes a more eco-friendly accessory, requiring less maintenance over time.
Another noteworthy feature is the hybrid compatibility of the passive stylus. Users who own electromagnetic resonance (EMR)-based S Pens from earlier Galaxy Fold models can seamlessly use them with the Z Fold 7. This backward compatibility not only adds convenience but also reduces the need for additional purchases, aligning with Samsung's focus on sustainability and user satisfaction. Addressing Challenges and Limitations
While the Galaxy Z Fold 7's passive stylus system represents a leap forward in technology, it is not without its limitations. These challenges may affect the overall user experience and highlight areas for improvement in future iterations. Limited functionality on the cover screen: The S Pen is only compatible with the main foldable display, leaving the cover screen without stylus support. This restriction could hinder quick tasks like jotting down notes or multitasking on the go.
The S Pen is only compatible with the main foldable display, leaving the cover screen without stylus support. This restriction could hinder quick tasks like jotting down notes or multitasking on the go. Absence of Bluetooth features: Unlike previous S Pen models, the Z Fold 7's stylus lacks Bluetooth capabilities. This omission means users lose access to features such as remote camera control and air gestures, which have been popular in earlier devices.
These trade-offs simplify the stylus design and reduce power requirements, but they also limit the versatility and functionality that many users have come to expect from the S Pen. Advancing Foldable Device Innovation
The introduction of a digitizer-free, battery-free stylus system in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 marks a pivotal moment in foldable device innovation. By streamlining the interaction between the display and the stylus, Samsung has paved the way for thinner, lighter, and potentially more affordable foldable devices. This approach also aligns with global sustainability efforts, as it eliminates the need for disposable batteries in the stylus.
However, the current limitations of the system suggest that there is still room for growth. Future iterations of the Galaxy Z Fold series could address these issues by: Adding S Pen functionality to the cover screen, enhancing flexibility and usability.
Reintroducing Bluetooth features to expand the stylus's capabilities and restore popular functionalities like air gestures.
Such advancements would not only improve the overall user experience but also reinforce the S Pen's position as a versatile tool for productivity and creativity. Shaping the Future of Foldable Technology
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7's S Pen technology represents a bold step forward in redefining input methods for foldable devices. By prioritizing innovation, durability, and sustainability, Samsung has set a new standard for the industry. The device's passive stylus system demonstrates the potential for foldable technology to evolve in ways that enhance both functionality and environmental responsibility.
However, the limitations of the current system underscore the challenges of balancing innovative innovation with user expectations. As Samsung continues to refine its foldable technology, future models are likely to build on this foundation, addressing existing shortcomings and delivering even more versatile solutions. For now, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 serves as a testament to the possibilities of foldable innovation, offering a glimpse into the future of mobile technology and the evolving role of the S Pen in enhancing user experiences.
Here are more guides from our previous articles and guides related to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 that you may find helpful.
Source & Image Credit: TechTalkTV Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News, Top News
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Japan launches a climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight
Japan launches a climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight

The Independent

time3 hours ago

  • The Independent

Japan launches a climate change monitoring satellite on mainstay H2A rocket's last flight

Japan on Sunday launched a satellite to monitor greenhouse gas emissions using its mainstay H-2A rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market. The H-2A rocket successfully lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, carrying the GOSAT-GW satellite as part of Tokyo's effort to mitigate climate change. The satellite was released into orbit about 16 minutes later. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which operates the rocket launch, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will hold a news conference later Sunday to give further details of the flight. Sunday's launch marked the 50th and final flight for the H-2A, which has served as Japan's mainstay rocket to carry satellites and probes into space with a near-perfect record since its 2001 debut. After its retirement, it will be fully replaced by the H3, which is already in operation, as Japan's new main flagship. The launch follows several days of delays because of malfunctioning of the rocket's electrical systems. The GOSAT-GW, or Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle, is a third series in the mission to monitor carbon, methane and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. It will start distributing data in about one year, officials said. The liquid-fuel H-2A rocket with two solid-fuel sub-rockets developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has so far had 49 flights with a 98% success record, with only one failure in 2003. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has provided its launch operation since 2007. H-2A successfully carried into space Japan's moon lander SLIM last year, and a popular Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2014 to reach a distant asteroid, contributing to the country's space programs. Japan sees a stable, commercially competitive space transport capability as key to its space program and national security, and has been developing two new flagship rockets as successors of the H-2A series — the larger H3 with Mitsubishi, and a much smaller Epsilon system with the aerospace unit of the heavy machinery maker IHI. It hopes to cater to diverse customer needs and improve its position in the growing satellite launch market. The H3, is designed to carry larger payloads than the H-2A at about half its launch cost to be globally competitive, though officials say more cost reduction efforts are needed to achieve better price competitiveness in the global market. The H3 has made four consecutive successful flights after a failed debut attempt in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed with its payload.

Online hacks to offline heists: crypto leaders on edge amid increasing attacks
Online hacks to offline heists: crypto leaders on edge amid increasing attacks

The Guardian

time8 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Online hacks to offline heists: crypto leaders on edge amid increasing attacks

Cryptocurrency traders such as Mohammed Arsalan are prepared to watch their online assets expand and explode if they miss the right moment, making or breaking their fortunes in just minutes. All in a day's work on the internet. Offline, though, they have found themselves less equipped for the consequences of affluence. A string of kidnappings has plagued the industry over the past year and left traders across the globe paranoid, fearful and keen to invest in physical security measures. Arsalan grew up working class in Karachi, Pakistan. He hustles in any setting. At 14, he started a business exporting T-shirts overseas. By 17, the pandemic swept it all away. Inside, online and penniless, the booming world of Bitcoin beckoned him. To learn how to trade digital coins, he would record himself explaining how the markets worked. His phone didn't have enough storage to keep the videos, so he'd upload them onto Facebook groups. To his surprise, people were watching. Arsalan says he went from $24 to $340,000 in five years. Along the way, the 23-year-old amassed more than 160,000 followers across various social media channels. 'Crypto is my bloodline,' he says. 'It's the only business that accepted me when I was poor.' But a knock at the door on Christmas Day, 2024, would reveal the price of his audience. A group of men bundled him into the back of a flashing police car. They darted through checkpoints with ease, driving further away from Karachi and into the night. After an hour, they stopped. With a gun to his temple, Arsalan was ordered to take out his phone, reset its passwords, and hand it over. Holding the keys to his kingdom, the car sped away. Once home, Arsalan ran to the computer and opened his Binance wallet. It was empty. As he stared at the zeroes on the screen, five years of sacrifice washed over him. 16-hour days alone in his office. Parties unattended. Purchases never made. Life as Pakistan's cryptocurrency posterboy was over. 'I made this money from very, very hard work,' he says. 'After this case, I will not trust anyone.' Arsalan's abduction is not an isolated event; kidnappings of cryptocurrency industry figures have surged in the past 18 months. There have been at least 231 physical attacks against digital asset holders to date, according to news reports. Almost a third of these have taken place since the start of 2024. This year, a single French gang cut off the finger of an entrepreneur, doused an influencer's father in gasoline and tried to snatch a CEO's daughter from the streets of Paris, according to French police. An Italian investor was tortured with a chainsaw and taser for weeks in a New York City townhouse, local police said. A British trader was allegedly held captive in a Spanish hotel room. A popular influencer in Houston, Texas, was held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped in her own home while her three assailants demanded millions in cryptocurrency, according to local news reports. The list goes on. As the industry matures, so does the cybersecurity guarding exchanges and wallets. The value stored within these digital vaults is soaring. The result: hacks are becoming heists. Cryptocurrency has long suffered from sophisticated and devastating digital attacks. Now, however, thefts are manifesting in the offline world, too. For the industry's high-rollers, the targets on their backs have never felt heavier. 'Everybody's a bit on edge,' says Louis d'Origny, the founder of FTXCreditor, a platform that buys bankruptcy claims. 'In five minutes, you can find someone's address. You can see our wallets online. You can see millions of dollars a day transacting out of these wallets. You'd be very tempted to show up at a house with a machete.' Recent attacks have even led his co-founder to move house, after realizing his home address was available online. Navigating an increasingly dangerous offline world, the industry is on edge, feeling as though securing their empires now falls to them as law enforcement struggles to keep up. Building one's fortunes on blockchains entails novel risks. Firstly, blockchains, the technology on which cryptocurrency is based, create public ledgers, so balances and transactions are visible. Every online wallet corresponds with an address in the form of a randomly generated series of characters. To avoid hacking, bigger sums are typically stored offline, on a small piece of hardware called a 'cold wallet', which also corresponds to a public address. Assailants invade homes to steal devices or force hostages to unlock their online wallet at gunpoint. Criminals have started to find who owns which wallet, by using illicit software to analyze blockchain data. Other times, they will hack exchanges to access personal data, as was the case last month, when Coinbase support agents in India were bribed to leak the data of 70,000 users. 'A lot of these [crypto] guys thought they were moving around in silence. But, people are now able to find out that they are actually some of the richest guys in their cities,' says says a US-based founder and trader, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Secondly, transactions are instant and permission-less – kidnappers don't need a bank to approve their withdrawal. This can also make looted funds easier to hide. Assets are swiftly sent to various decentralized exchanges, which do not require know-your-customer information. Once there, funds can't be frozen by centralized entities like Binance or Coinbase. In Karachi, Arsalan's kidnappers were found within 48 hours. The two policemen among them had been bribed to help orchestrate the plan. Following the attack, Arsalan was offered protection from three other officers and a police car. But, fearing this could actually endanger him further, he declined. For many of crypto's kings and queens, unfettered access to one's money via blockchains can feel buffered from institutional corruption. 'There is no justice in Pakistan if you're poor,' says Arsalan. 'But decentralization means there are no institutions, no people, no banks … I own this money.' But self-custody comes with a downside: there are fewer middlemen deterring a thief. This means taking matters into their own hands – or a pair they've hired. 'I used to like my space away from my [bodyguards], but now I want them closer,' says the anonymous US-based founder and trader, who doesn't reveal his security arrangements to anyone, even his close circle. 'In crypto, no one trusts anybody. Half of these guys are scammers,' he says. Over the past month or so, his two guards have not left his sight – even for walks around the block. 'Everyone's being a lot more cautious.' Over the past six months, Jethro Pijlman's global security services firm, Infinite Risks International, has seen a rise in cryptocurrency investors from western cities wanting protection. Requests range from safeguarding team meetings to guarding entire families around the clock. Paris leads when it comes to new requests, says Pijlman, as France emerges as a hotspot for attacks, particularly after the high-profile kidnapping in January of David Balland, the entrepreneur whose finger was severed. In mid-June, an investor was abducted from a Paris suburb, while his partner was ordered to deposit the key to his cryptocurrency account. Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion The Ethereum Community Conference takes place at the end of June in Cannes, but the mood will be different from last year. It will feature the 'most comprehensive security effort in the event's history', conference organizers said in a statement. For the first time, local police, special forces and the coast guard are being deployed to the site. Prepping security began almost a year ago, taking three times longer than usual, according to Bettina Boon Falleur, head of EthCC. Companies are also taking measures to protect their staff. Kraken, the second-largest exchange in the US, has deployed armed guards to accompany its top executives at all times, including outside their homes, according to a source familiar with the matter. Matthew Liu, co-founder of the cryptocurrency Origin Protocol, was among the attendees of Donald Trump's private gala for the top owners of his token last month, a guest list which was leaked to the New York Times. Liu says his company is evaluating hiring a team of bodyguards for trips. 'It's a cost, but the cost of getting kidnapped or dealing with violence? It's very, very scary,' says Liu. He's also begun learning how to shoot a firearm and using a multi-signature wallet, whereby multiple people across the world need to sign-off on a payment. His company has also introduced a new rule when the team goes to conferences: no posting until after the event. 'Many crypto investors are increasingly conscious of their exposure, especially after publicly sharing – or oversharing – details of their success and affluent lifestyles online,' says Pijlman in regards to his clients. Indeed, for an industry that's chronically online, its titans have often built large social media followings, while their wealth stays encrypted in anonymous blockchains. 'This illusion of invisibility may have led to a false sense of security.' For Arsalan, he watched his savings be chopped up and sprinkled across the cryptographic abyss. Over the next four months, he fell into a deep depression. He went offline and relied on whatever handouts his father could afford to give him. He considered ending his life, he says. As Arsalan's case demonstrates, kidnappers haven't exclusively targeted only multimillionaires or only westerners. Between 2020 and 2023, a Florida-based gang accessed the personal data of everyday cryptocurrency investors, and were able to steal from their wallets remotely. The gang then carried out four home invasions against the same victims, spanning North Carolina, Texas and Florida, according to the US Department of Justice. Account holders were forced to unlock their wallets at gunpoint, while their families were tied up. One man's mother was tortured. Another man was abducted and found 120 miles from his home. Two of the attacks targeted seniors, court documents show. 'I always dreamed of having a good retirement. I worked for it. I feel like I deserved it,' one victim, 70, told the court during the sentencing. Her husband has Parkinson's. They'd hoped to take one last trip together – 'to have at least some good years, good times', she said. The couple lost $3m in cryptocurrency at 2022 prices via wire fraud. Wanting more, the gang invaded their home and held them at gunpoint to claim whatever was left. Their portfolio would be worth nearly $10.7m today. 'One whole life of savings and you just took it all,' she said. In the case of the retirees, the judge ordered the defendants to pay restitution to the victims. Receiving it looks unlikely. Despite the burgeoning risks, only 10% of cryptocurrency holders across the world have coverage on their digital assets, according to a report by insurance firm GlobalData. Only two insurers offer kidnapping and ransom (K&R) coverage for crypto companies: Aon and Canopius. Glenn Morgan, SVP, head of digital assets at Aon, says he's seen an increase in clients asking about coverage in recent months. Amid the surge, insurers may be on the eve of a windfall: last month NBC News reported that three crypto-specific insurance companies are working on K&R policies. From the moment Arsalan checked his balance, he knew any chance of recovery would fall to him. Without the help of law enforcement, he's been able to trace and recover about $160,000 of cryptocurrency, while the police have seized $60,000 in cash and a luxury car. It's all now held by local police as case property. He thinks it'll be at least six years before it's returned to him, given the pace of Pakistan's courts. He says seven people have reached out to him with similar ordeals they didn't report. Trading digital assets in Pakistan is a legal gray area, as banks are forbidden from facilitating transactions. When asked why they targeted crypto traders, the kidnappers said they thought victims wouldn't have legal recourse, according to Arsalan. In the meantime, Arsalan trades on. He wants to rebuild within a year: 'They grabbed my money but they did not grab my brain.' He's also returned to social media, posting his first video in May. No amount of threats will make him give up crypto, he says. Despite all of its risks, public ledgers still feel safer to him than institutions.

Argos shoppers can snap up Samsung SmartTag 2 for £9 - here's how
Argos shoppers can snap up Samsung SmartTag 2 for £9 - here's how

Daily Record

time8 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Argos shoppers can snap up Samsung SmartTag 2 for £9 - here's how

The Samsung SmartTag 2 is now available at a discounted rate of £9 with the Argos TopCashback offer Summer is here at last, and countless Brits are gearing up to fly off on holiday to soak up the sun, sea, and serenity of overseas destinations. However, misplacing luggage or personal items is a frequent mishap - but don't worry, as Samsung's Bluetooth SmartTag 2 can now be snapped up for a wallet-friendly £9, after cashback. Argos is selling the SmartTag 2 for £23.99 on its website - however, shoppers can take advantage of TopCashback to bag an extra £15 off when they sign up for a new account on the site. The Samsung SmartTag 2 has been hailed by shoppers as ideal for monitoring luggage, valuables, or even cars, offering peace of mind for those worried about theft or prone to losing things. It boasts durability with an IP67 rating, ensuring it's dust - and water-resistant. It's also a brilliant travel buddy thanks to its impressive battery life that lasts up to 500 days. With Power Saving Mode adding an extra 40%, holidaymakers can depend on the SmartTag2 for reliable location services. However, there's one catch - these trackers are only compatible with Samsung phones, which is a crucial factor to bear in mind, reports the Express. Apple aficionados needn't feel left out - they have options such as the Tile Mate, priced at £20, or they could go for the Apple AirTag, which comes in at £28. Shoppers can nab the £15 discount by registering for TopCashback – simply sign up and you'll receive a £15 bonus on top of any cashback earned from Argos purchases. Here's a simple guide to securing the deal: Grab the Samsung SmartTag2 Bluetooth tracker for £9 from Argos Begin by signing up as a new member via this TopCashback link. Find Argos on the site and hit 'Get Cashback Now'. Shop and check out as usual on the Argos website. Sit tight - cashback will track and pop up in your TopCashback account within seven working days of the transaction. For newbies to TopCashback (TCB) and first-time purchasers at Argos, this nifty item is up for grabs for £8.69 following cashback. Meanwhile, existing TCB members with previous Argos shopping experience can swipe it for £8.79 after claiming their cashback. The SmartTag2 has been causing quite a stir with an avalanche of positive reviews from delighted consumers. One user expressed initial doubts about its reliance on Bluetooth and the Samsung ecosystem, but their experience turned out well: "I was dubious at first, being solely reliant on Bluetooth and locked into the Samsung ecosystem, but it has worked well and stood up to the tests of frequent global air travel." Their commendations didn't stop there, as they detailed the device's usefulness: "I now have multiple tags for all my luggage and carry-on when travelling for work and have been able to track my bags without any issue, even when my bags have landed up in a different location to me." Another seasoned traveller eagerly recommended the product, sharing: "If you're a Samsung Galaxy owner, I would highly recommend it. Small, compact, robust, with great battery life." Yet, a slight drawback was mentioned by one user who experienced a sudden malfunction, saying it "randomly just gave up".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store