Bucket Tech: Samsung Camera Innovation

Today’s mobile imaging goes beyond just a high-quality lens or advanced sensor — it demands seamless integration of hardware, software and AI. That’s why Samsung Electronics approaches camera innovation as a holistic system, where each advancement is supported by tightly integrated technologies. This unified vision allows Galaxy devices to continuously redefine mobile photography, empowering users to capture, create and communicate more meaningfully.

As AI evolves from text-based prompts to multimodal understanding, Galaxy devices are becoming smarter — able to get what you’re looking at and respond to situations. The camera is at the heart of this transformation. More than just a tool for capturing images, coupled with enhanced AI-powered features, the Galaxy camera is now part of the intuitive interface that turns what users see into understanding and action.

When paired with the flexible, expansive screen of a foldable, this experience becomes even more powerful, dynamic and immersive. Because innovation means nothing without trust, privacy is built into every layer helping to ensure that data is protected at all times.

Stay tuned. The camera will only get smarter — helping users capture life’s moments more vividly and make everyday experiences more seamless, personal and impactful.

The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.

Bucket Tech: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Unpacked

Wednesday saw Samsung unveil their latest in the Note model of flagship devices to the world, the Note 20 series showcased just why it remains one of the worlds leading business orientated smart devices. Experiencing the launch from home was a first for many of us media partners but hats off to Samsung SA for having a private launch for us so that we could ask some questions to the big wigs before the global proceedings. So whats new with the Note? Well lots, first up there's three variants, the Note 20 LTE, the Note 20 5G and the Note 20 Ultra 5G. With global demand shift to 5G networks its understandable that most models would be 5G ready, SA has already begun its roll-out in main business areas and slowly it will make its way all over, with this in mind Samsung SA chose to also bring in the LTE version of the device seeing that many wont be able to make full use of the 5G services. 

Both devices are styled beautifully, both in a full metal unibody available in a host of mystic colours, with the pick of the bunch being mystic bronze. The Galaxy Note 20 features a 6.7" Infinity-O Display with the Ultra having a bigger 6.9" Infinity-O Display and a refresh rate of 120Hz! Camera wise, both devices feature packed optics with both having a triple camera systems, the Note 20 features a 64MP main camera with 3x hybrid optical zoom and the Note 20 Ultra having a 108MP main camera with 5x Optical zoom from the telescope lens. The Note 20 Ultra has 8K recording capabilities hence the high refresh rate on the screen, for ultra clear and crisp footage. Battery life on both devices is as good as it gets, with the standard Note 20 having a 4,300mAh battery and the Ultra coming with a 4,500mAh battery.  

The key selling point for the Note is how it is transforming the way we work, with the drastic change in times that we're in, working from just about anywhere is critical so with the Note 20 it is trying to give you an all in one business capable device. With easy synchronization from Dex via Microsoft or Google, you can start off working on documents from your phone and finish them off on your PC or tablet. With the dynamic new S-Pen, you can jot down notes and the new AI converts them into text, the AI learns as you write and predicts what you're writing for faster point taking. It can also record conversations or lectures as your write so you can listen to what was being said while you were making notes, a real game changer for many. 

While the Note 20 might be seen as a business device, Microsoft came in to ensure that it has a fun aspect to it as well with its Xbox pairing system. With the Bluetooth controller and clamp you can use the Note 20 as a second screen for gaming or carry it around wherever you go and continue your favourite games when you have nothing to do. It's perfect for all you gamers out there as with the Xbox controller, you don't feel out of touch having to readjust to using the phone as your controller. Don't have an Xbox? Well thats okay too, you can cast your phone screen to your smart TV and then your Note 20 becomes the controller!

Samsung also launched some other goodies at the launch, first being their new Galaxy Buds Live, a retake on the  conventional wireless earphones. This all new design looks like a bean, has a perfect in ear fit thats not only comfortable but sits well too, so there isn't a risk of it falling out while you're on a run or doing vigorous exercises. The Buds Live also works well with the video camera on the device, where it can pair up with the mic and record your voice clearly while in a crowd. It has a 6 hours playing time and the carry case has up to 21 hours charging time for the buds. Also launched was the Galaxy Watch 3, a stylish new edition to the smart watch models in the range, it features a host of apps, as well exercises which pair to your phone and can be cast to your TV so you can see follow the training from there. It also has built GPS to track your runs and workouts, an ECG setting to check how fit you're are as well as give you accurate blood pressure readings on the go. Another cool feature is how you can personalize the watch face by snapping a picture of what youre wearing, the AI will select faces with colours close enough to match your outfit!

Local pricing for the devices are as follows.

• Galaxy Note 20 LTE - R24,999
• Galaxy Note 20 5G - R27,999
• Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G - R36,999
• Galaxy Buds Live - R3,999
• Galaxy Watch 3 LTE - (45mm) R10,499/ (41mm) R9,999
• Galaxy Watch 3 Bluetooth - (45mm) R9,499/ (41mm) R8,999

All these devices will be in the country from the end of August with pre-orders already open on the Samsung e-Store. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 20 will include a R4,000 voucher to spend on anything from the store. Samsung Global launch also showcased the Galaxy Z Fold 2 which will be available in the country from September. 

Bucket Tech: Samsung Galaxy Fold

In a low-key event held last week in Johannesburg, Samsung launched their much anticipated Galaxy Fold. The world's first fold-able smart phone. It creates a new mobile category for the market  and combines the smart phone with a tablet. Now while it may create a lot of hype, it begs the question of the practicality of such a device with tablets being used for specific purposes these days and while being portable you never see many out in public, while the versatility of the smart phone has grown ever popular with many but clearly there is a gap in the market for such a device like the Galaxy Fold, as it garnered lots of interest world over when it was first shown. Other manufacturers are also hot on the heels of Samsung to create foldable devices of their own, one of which has already got theirs on the market in the Asian countries. 

 South Africans have given the same amount of interest to the device as the first batch of Samsung Galaxy Fold have already sold-out with the pre-order sales. Samung South Africa is currently working on increasing stock levels to keep up with the demand. Even after a delayed-release, there is clearly an appetite for this pioneering device. The Galaxy Fold officially goes on Sale in South Africa on the 18th of October 2019. 

Just a quick recap on what the Galaxy Fold features, the world's first 7.3 inch Infinity Flex Display which folds into a compact device with a cover display. Galaxy Fold offers a powerful new way to multitask, watch videos, play games and more - bringing to life new experiences and possibilities years in the making. "Samsung is proud to introduce a premium foldable device that goes beyond the limitations of a traditional smartphone" said Cambridge Mokanyane, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa. "The pre-order sales are indicative of the public's affinity for technology that transcends the norm". 

Bucket Tech: Samsung #Unpacked

Wednesday saw Samsung unveil their latest range of Galaxy smart phones, with rumours rife from last year, everyone was keen to see if the S10 did feature a folding screen. From long before the smartphone, Samsung had a great legacy with its flip phones, none more popular than the E600 which at one stage was the best selling phone in the country. A return to this sort of model of device, with it's nostalgic background was appealing to many but 24 hours prior to the official launch, hopes were dashed as Samsung Norway mistakenly uploaded their ad for the S10 and S10+ on YouTube and while the device looked fantastic, it didn't fold up but knowing Samsung the event had more in store for us than just two devices, fast forward 24 hours and we were not disappointed. 

The local launch took place at Discovery's head office in the heart of Sandton and proved to be the perfect setting to watch the live stream event. The very first device that was unveiled was the Samsung Galaxy Fold, yup they did it, Samsung made a device with a folding screen! While it wasn't quite the device some of us were expecting, it is a major breakthrough in technology. Essentially the Fold is a tablet that folds into a device the size of your average smart phone. It it has two screens, one on the front which is a 4.6" HD_Super AMOLED touch screen and when opened up, the screen on the inside measures 7.3" and is a QXGA+AMOLED. The Fold packs massive specs, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of onboard memory, a 7nm 64 bit-Octa Core processor and because of the fold, it has two batteries which function as one, with a combined power of 4,380mAh. The Fold has 6 cameras, 3 on the back, which feature a 16MP Ultrawide camera, 12MP Wife Angle camera and a 12MP Telephoto camera with 2 x Optical Zoom. The Fold has 2 cameras, which are a 10MP Selfie Camera and a 8MP RGB Depth camera, and lastly on the cover, a 10MP Selfie Camera. The Fold runs Android 9.0 and features app continuity, which basically means, if you're using an app when the device is folded, when you open it, the app displaying the same information expands onto the larger screen. It also has 3 app multitasking, so you can use 3 apps at the same time. Pretty powerful stuff from the Korean electronics manufacturer. Local release date for the Galaxy Fold in SA is said to be with the global launch on the 26th of April but no local pricing details are available yet, don't expect it to be cheap though. 

After the main attraction left everyone in awe, it was time for us to meet the rest of the Galaxy squad. Samsung launched 3 versions the Galaxy S10 on the night. The normal Galaxy S10, the S10e and the S10+. All devices boast their new infinity-O design screen with the screen extending over the bevel, giving the user a greater screen to body ratio. The one thing that strikes you is that the device doesn't feature the famous "notch" that other brands have on theirs. Samsung have laser cut the front facing cameras into the actual screen, so it just a black dot on the top right corner. The Galaxy S10 is powered by Samsungs Exynos 9820 Octa-core chipset with memory on the S10 at 128GB and ranging from 128GB up to 1TB on the S10+. The Galaxy S10 finally features tripe lens technology with an ultra wide lens, with a 123 degree width, the same as the human eye. Colours captured by the device in all light conditions look astounding but as Samsung's claim to fame with their mobile device cameras, is definitely the video quality, the Samsung S10 records videos in HDR10+ which is a format developed by Samsung to beat Dolby Vision and will feature on all their smart TV's. It has Dynamic Tone Mapping which gives you a brighter, more crisp picture with an insane amount of detail. Samsung also announced a host of collaborations, one which caught our attention was one with Adobe, who created a version of their popular video editor, Premiere, called Premiere Rush exclusive for the Galaxy S10. It gives the user a powerful video editor on their device so they can make stunning videos on the go. Other notable collaborations was with Instagram, which allows to user to edit pictures using Instagram tools and upload the picture instantly. 

Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy range have begun, with everyone who pre-orders getting a set of Samsungs new wireless buds which are valued at R3500 for free. The price range for the Galaxy range starts off at R15,000 for the S10e, S10 comes in at R18,999 and up to R35,999 for the S10+ 1TB.  Overall, pretty convincing products by Samsung, who are laying down the challenge to the others in the market as they aim to keep their number one status in the country for yet another year.