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A24 technology
Tuesday 27 February 2018
New Samsung phone: Nicer camera, static design, higher price

By ANICK JESDANUN Here are some additional
AP Technology Writer things to know:
NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung — UNCHANGED: The S9
unveiled new smartphones features the same screen,
with largely unchanged same virtual home button
designs and incremental and same battery capac-
improvements such as a ity as the S8. Samsung did
better camera — accom- move the fingerprint sen-
panied by a second annu- sor on the back to reduce
al price increase for many smears on the camera lens.
customers. — A SECOND LENS: The
The static design of the new camera on the Plus model
Galaxy S9 underscores both now has a second lens with
the slowing pace of smart- twice the magnification, a
phone innovation and feature already available
the extent to which other in Samsung’s Galaxy Note
manufacturers, particu- 8 and some iPhones. This
larly Apple, have caught means sharper close-ups.
up with Samsung features — FUN WITH SELFIES: Snap
that once stood out. That a selfie, and Samsung’s
includes everything from software will turn that into
edge-to-edge screens to an emoji version of you for
facial recognition to a wa- This Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, photo shows the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, left, and Galaxy S9 sharing. It’s usually a static
ter-resistant body. mobile phones are shown in this photo during a product preview in New York. image, though you can
The new phone’s biggest Associated Press produce an animated ver-
selling point is a collection seconds. improvements, the new ers and carriers make up sion — much like the iPhone
of minor improvements While single features like this camera is competing with for lost revenue. X’s Animoji feature.
to its camera, which is al- aren’t likely to drive buying already good cameras in Some of the increases will — VISUAL ASSISTANT: Sam-
ready among the best in decisions, the slow-motion earlier Samsung phones. be offset with promotions. sung’s Bixby digital assistant
the smartphone business . effect could be “the kind Nonetheless, you may have And T-Mobile will cut prices mimics a similar Google
The S9 promises even better of thing that will get a lot to pay more, though noth- from last year’s models. You feature that pulls up infor-
low-light shots, while offer- of attention,” said Bob ing quite at the level of last can also buy unlocked ver- mation on landmarks or
ing a video mode that ap- O’Donnell of the research year’s $100 price hikes for sions more cheaply directly other items you’ve just pho-
pears to freeze fast-moving firm Technalysis. the Galaxy S8. In the U.S., from Samsung — $720 for tographed.
objects, matching a fea- For the first time in a major Verizon, AT&T and Sprint the S9 and $840 for the S9 New Bixby capabilities let
ture in some Sony phones. phone, the S9 will let you are raising prices from what Plus — though most people it instantly translate signs
The S9 can automatically change the camera’s ap- the S8 cost at launch — to in the U.S. buy through their (point the camera, and the
detect when there’s high- erture to let in more light, nearly $800 for the regular- carriers. phone replaces the sign’s
speed motion to record, making for better images in size S9 and more than $900 The new phones were un- text in a matching color
such as a cork popping off dark settings. for the larger S9 Plus. As veiled Sunday in Barcelo- and font) and provide nu-
a bottle of champagne. A But analyst Carolina Mila- people hold onto phones na, Spain, and will be avail- tritional info for that restau-
fifth of a second of video nesi of Creative Strategies longer before upgrading, able March 16. Advance rant meal you’re splurging
gets stretched out into six warns that despite the price hikes let manufactur- orders begin this Friday. on.q

Q&A: Comcast exec on the future of the cable bundle

By ANICK JESDANUN that lasts just two weeks? a playlist. Somebody is where Comcast already
AP Technology Writer A: The focus has been programming a channel offers regular TV services?
NEW YORK (AP) — Faced around how we push 24 hours a day, seven A: That’s a very crowded
with competition from the envelope to create days a week. space. There are so many
the internet, Comcast experiences that are not We have the technology opportunities to bundle
has turned its X1 TV set- only great for the Olympics to challenge the paradigm services within our footprint
top box into something but also become a of what it means to be a profitably that it’s a much
resembling a Roku or sandbox for us to learn. This network. Every sport now bigger priority than looking
Apple TV streaming player, is just a great opportunity has a channel. Athletes at a video-only service out
complete with app-like to experiment. can have a channel. of footprint, which some
menus and a voice- Q: During the Olympics, We can create channels seem to be selling at a
activated remote. During Comcast has “virtual” around biggest upsets or loss.
the Olympics, X1 merged channels of streaming wildest crashes or funniest Q: If you’ve invested so
both TV and online videos This undated photo provided video, similar to music moments. This is allowing much in X1 and traditional
to give viewers a one-stop by Comcast shows Matt playlists. Why is this needed us to say, “You like cable TV, why offer an
vice
executive
Strauss,
experience. president of Comcast’s Xfinity when all the events are snowboarding? There’s a internet TV package at
Matt Strauss, executive services. already available on snowboarding channel.” all?
vice president of Associated Press demand? Q: Comcast offers a A: We’re creating a
Comcast’s Xfinity services, A: A lot of viewers like package of TV channels portfolio of products
spoke with The Associated and answers have been more of a lean-back delivered over the internet, and services with the
Press recently about the edited for clarity and experience, which has similar to YouTube TV and goal of trying to get the
company’s Olympic length. been known as TV. In Sling TV. Why aren’t you right product to the right
ambitions and the future Q: Why are you spending some ways, if you think selling this outside your customer at the right time
of television. Questions so much effort on an event what a network is, it’s just “footprint” — markets of their life. q