Samsung Gear S2 gets a big software update, here’s what’s new

It’s been almost a good 2 months since the Samsung Gear S2 officially launched here in the US. Today, the smartwatch is getting its first big software update. Well, the Korean version anyway. Although an official changelog wasn’t posted, XDA member “supersoulfly” was able to detail some of the new changes you should expect to see when the update — build number R732XXU2BOKF — arrives for your model. Here’s some of what’s new.

Samsung Gear S2 changelog
‘Add Widgets’ label: There’s a new ‘Add Widget’s label under the plus symbol, which makes the action easier to understand.
Auto Open Apps: When you activate this new option, apps open automatically once you stop rotating the bezel on an icon.
Vibrate When Disconnected: Under the connection settings, you can use this option so that the watch vibrates as soon as it gets disconnected with your smartphone.
Screen timeout options: 15 secs, 30 secs, 1 min, or 5 minutes.
New apps: World clock, Starbucks, a navigation app (for South Korean), and Flipboard News Briefing app.
New watchfaces: Nothing new, but the same watchfaces that were showcased during the device announcement.
Notification Indicator: There’s a little orange circle that acts as a notification indicator. It appears only when notifications aren’t set to wake up the screen.
Larger Notification Text: When you double tap on a notification, the text grows bigger so you can easily read the information. Also, when you swipe up from a notification to dismiss it, a trash can symbol appears.
Notification Reply: A smiley symbol has been replaced with a simple and more traditional icon.
Watch Face Template: When you scroll right from the watchface menu, you can use the ‘Add Template’ option to customise the watchface and save it as a template.

Compatible with any Android device (4.4+), the Samsung Gear S2 is yet another solid entry in the world of smartwatches. Although it doesn’t actually run Android (unlike most smartwatches these days), the watch features a good amount of apps and a unique rotating bezel to control some of the UI elements onscreen. The Gear S2 comes in 2 models — both standard with more modern styling, and classic for more traditional tastes. You’ll find the Samsung Gear S2 on sale right now at Best Buy for $250 ($50-off) and Amazon. Links provided below.

Buy the Samsung Gear S2: Best Buy | Amazon

Buy the Samsung Gear S2 Classic: Best Buy | Amazon

Source Phandroid

This is what unboxing the Samsung Gear S2 will be like when you pick one up today (VIDEO)

Unless you haven’t read our front page yet, you know the Samsung Gear S2 is available to buy right now. For those who aren’t buying one or can’t wait to get their hands on it, you’re probably wondering how it is to unbox the thing.

Thankfully Samsung gave us a look of their own. The packaging isn’t crazy or futuristic. But it’s sleek, and comes with a lot of bells and whistles. Inside you’ll find alternate watch bands, the charging adapter for the wireless charging pad it ships with as standard, and, of course, the watch itself, which you’ll probably be too eager to play with to read the manuals it’s sure to come with.

Europe not getting the Samsung Gear S2 3G, not yet

Okay, Samsung, what did Europe do to you? First no more laptops, then no Note5 and now no Samsung Gear S2 3G...
That's right, the 3G-enabled version of the Tizen-powered smartwatch will be launching only in the US and South Korea, Europe and other markets are only getting the versions without mobile data.

Samsung points to the e-SIM – an "embedded SIM" format that's available in the US but hasn’t been adopted by EU carriers. It can't be removed from the device, instead carriers can reprogram it to make it their own.

Apple has a similar feature, Apple SIM used in US iPads, and UK carrier EE even supports it. But not the GSMA-standardized e-SIM. The original Gear S used a tiny nanoSIM and avoided such problems.

VP of Samsung Mobile for Samsung UK says that fitness is the driving factor behind smartwatch adoption and for that you need GPS.

GPS is available only on the Gear S2 3G, the plain S2 and Gear S2 classic don't have a receiver. They still have fitness tracking functionality, but runners and bikers will be missing out.

Launch details for the Samsung Gear S2 will be unveiled next week. The VP hinted at a price around £320 for the models to be available in the UK.

A New Look at the Samsung S2 Gear First teaser (VIDEO)

The other day, at the launch of the new Galaxy Note and Galaxy 5 S6 edge +, Samsung is as quick and announced new gear S2 smart clock, which will be officially presented at the IFA in Berlin. Today released the first teaser video, and provides an even better view of the round SmartWatch.

Samsung seems to have everything subordinated opposition to Apple. This is probably the main reason why they rushed this year with the launch of a new Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge +, in order to instill in the head but also got into the hands of customers before the launch of the new iPhone this fall.

Their new smart owl, Gear S2 so will directly confront Apple Watch, which has in record time become the best-selling smart watch market.

Gear Samsung S2 will unlike last year's models have a round screen and it appears to the rotary ring around it, to be used for navigation and so compete with the crown on the side of Apple Watch.

Today published a teaser video does not reveal much, which is normal because it is a task to attract attention. Exterior design hours will probably have a major role in a future video, and today you will see some of the fitness application, different designs watchface, S Health, stopwatch and circular application launcher.

>>Read more - Samsung Galaxy Note 5 drop test (VIDEO)<<

>>Read more - Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge + are great on the test battery<<