Samsung+: Taking a closer look at Samsung’s help and assistance app

If you happen to live in the U.S. and own a Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, or pretty much any other Galaxy device from the past few years, you've probably heard of Samsung+. For those unaware, it's a pre-installed application that comes on most recent Galaxy devices, aiming to provide users with personalized, live expert help in just a few taps.

Let's be honest – if you're reading this, you probably know a thing or two about smartphones. So why would you need a help and assistance app if a simple problem arises? The thing is, Samsung+ offers much more than Wi-Fi and Bluetooth advice, and it's not just for the less tech-savvy users out there. Let's take a closer look and see just what this app is all about.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – The Beginner's Guide4

The basics

When you launch Samsung+ for the first time, you'll be given a brief overview on how to navigate through the app. You can perform a quick search if you already know what you're looking for, or simply swipe through six different tabs – Live Help, Diagnostics, Answers, For You, Explore and Community.

The For You section is the first thing you'll see after launching the app. This is where you'll receive tips and tricks regarding your registered Samsung devices, as well as topics popular in the Samsung community that you might like. Smartphone aficionados might not find a ton of useful information in this tab, though it's perfect for folks looking to make their device setup process go a little smoother.

Speaking of the less tech-savvy users out there, the Answers tab is perfect for basic troubleshooting problems.

A digital instruction manual

So, you thought you'd be nice and buy your parents brand new Samsung Galaxy phones for Christmas. Little did you know, this automatically made you the go-to tech support person in the family. Fun!

If you're in a pinch and don't have the time to walk through how to perform the more basic tasks – setting alarms, taking screenshots, playing music – Samsung+ will definitely help. Just navigate to the Answers tab, choose the category you're looking for, and you'll be presented with a number of useful walkthroughs and how-tos relating to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, device features, battery and power saving tips, and more. Seriously, there's tons of useful information here.

If somehow these walkthroughs don't do the trick, though, there are a few more steps you can take to get the help you need.

Live customer support

By far the most impressive feature in Samsung+ is the Live Help section. With just a few taps, users have the ability to chat with Samsung representatives over the phone or through video.

After my video chat was connected, it was smooth sailing from there

Call support is offered 24 hours a day, while video chat support is offered from 7am-10pm CST. Both methods worked quite well for me, but as you might expect, video chatting was a slightly bigger hassle. I made three video calls in all, though I was only able to make the video work for one of them. After everything was connected, though, it was smooth sailing from there.

Once connected, I had to fork over my device's IMEI, my name, email address and phone number in case the call was dropped at any point.

You might be thinking, wouldn't it just be easier to chat on the phone rather than using video? Well, for certain scenarios, phone calls work great. But the app's video chat support combined with the Samsung Assist feature is where it really shines.

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Samsung Assist allows you to share your screen with the representative and let them operate your device to see if they can fix the problem. Don't worry – you don't need to use this feature if you don't want, and you need to grant permission before they take control of your device. Basically, Samsung reps can do anything on your device aside from performing a factory data reset. They also don't have access to the physical buttons, either, so they can't power off your device or soft reset it.

As of right now, Samsung Assist is only available on the Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+. Additional device support will be added in the future.

Honestly, the whole Live Help section of this app is a game changer. Again, it might not be super useful for seasoned smartphone veterans, but it can really help less tech-savvy folks in a bind.

A simple, easy-to-use diagnostics app

Samsung+ isn't only about tech support. If you're looking for more real-time stats regarding your device's battery, data, storage and more, the Diagnostics feature will do the trick.

This is my favorite part of the app. If you're experiencing any problems with your device (poor battery life, bad internet connection, etc.), all you need to do is head to this page to try and figure out what's wrong. Samsung+ will scan your device and let you know if your battery temperature is too high, if it's charging at the correct speeds, if your Wi-Fi is secure enough, and many more useful tips.

Samsung+ is also a full-fledged diagnostics app

There are also two useful features to help you optimize your battery life: Battery Forecast and Battery Optimizer. Battery Forecast will tell you your current battery percentage, when it's predicted to reach empty, and how long you need to charge the device to reach a certain percentage. This is super helpful if you're planning on going out for the night and have a low battery. Battery Optimizer, on the other hand, scrolls through your settings and lets you know what to change to achieve better battery life. For instance, in the screenshot below you'll see that my screen timeout is set to 30 seconds, which is much less battery-friendly than if I were to set it to, say, 15 seconds.

Data Monitor and Storage Manager tools are also found in the Diagnostics section of the app, allowing you to keep better track at your remaining data usage and on-board storage. As you're probably already aware, all Android devices have built-in data monitor and storage manager features, so these two aren't really all that necessary. Still, it's nice to see them baked into the app, so users can access all of their diagnostics info in one place.

Oh, and one other thing – there's also a built-in Speed Test section that can test your Mobile or Wi-Fi connections. Pretty neat, right?

A place for Samsung die-hards

If you're not having any problems with your Galaxy device, Samsung+ can still be quite useful. The Explore and Community sections are there for you to learn more about your devices. For instance, navigating to the Explore section will give you access to camera tips and tricks, tips on how to to multitask, and more. I'm not sure if the Explore tab will be useful for everyone out there, but it might be fun to poke around if you're looking to learn more about your device.

For die-hard Samsung fans, or even for folks who just want to learn more about their Galaxy devices, Samsung+ offers a full Community section. It's here that you'll be able to read and ask questions about Galaxy S and Note devices, tablets, wearables, TVs and more.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review103

From what I've been able to tell, the Samsung Community could be quite helpful if you're looking to resolve device-specific issues, or if you're just looking to geek out with other fans around the world. As for how the Community section is implemented in the app, that's a different story. It's not particularly fast, and it doesn't really have an intuitive layout. Since everything is either black or white in this section, it can be tough to differentiate between links and plain text, too.

Wrapping up

Samsung+ is a useful help and assistance app that will come in handy in more ways than one. Not everything you find in Samsung+ will be for everyone, but the features it offers are pretty compelling and work well for the most part. Whether you're a tech-savvy user or someone who is new to the smartphone world, you'll likely find something useful in this app.

Get it from Google Play

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Daydream VR will debut “in coming weeks” with big Google content push

When Google announced its Daydream virtual reality platform in May, it showed a number of applications which were in development to help make the experience great. Though most of the apps it showed off at its annual I/O conference were proprietary experiences such YouTube, the company announced that it would be opening up the platform to developers to produce new content for smartphone owners to enjoy. Now, Google has announced that it is partnering with companies such as Hulu to produce 360 degree content which will help populate the platform with experiences for everyone to enjoy.

While headsets such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift have a high barrier to entry, Daydream allows anyone with a compatible smartphone to experience virtual reality content on the fly. Requiring little more than a VR viewer and the phone itself, users can witness the content in a whole new way, becoming much more immersed in the applications they use everyday.

It's revolutionary, said Finn Staber of Wave VR, commenting an his recent VR concert experience. "While competitors are targeting users willing to spend hundreds of dollars for top-notch VR equipment, mobile will reach mass audiences."

While Hulu is planning to introduce its new 360 degree content for a variety of developing platforms, the company is waiting for Google to debut its new VR service before this content is launched. Daydream is set to release alongside Google's new Nexus devices within the next month or so, and should introduce a whole slew of new content.

• 5 annoying quirks of current VR headsets
• The best upcoming HTC Vive games (August 2016)

Alongside the Hulu launch comes new original content which Google is pouring funding into. The company is enlisting the help of a number of YouTube stars such as the Dolan twins and Justine Ezarik to create a selection of 360 degree videos for viewers to enjoy. For film makers looking to produce their own content, Google is placing some pretty strict standards on hardware used. To be eligible for Google's Jump VR film program, film makers must use a certified 16-camera rig such as the Go-Pro Odyssey, priced at $15,000.

It's set to be an exciting year for Google's new platform, which should help to revolutionize the already amazing space that is mobile VR. With Google's enthusiasm and funding pouring into the development of the new platform, Daydream should quickly become a popular option for those looking to experience the new tech.

This post was originally published on our sister site, VRSource.com.

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Bring back Nougat’s Night Mode with this app

Night Mode, just like a few other features from Android Nougat's development builds, didn't make it into the final cut, which has left a few users a bit missed. Fret not though, as developer Michael Evans and his colleagues have built a simple app to re-enable the feature.

If you missed it, Night Mode is a blue-light filter toggle that is designed to make your smartphone display a little more friendly on your eyes while using your phone at night. It turns out that the code is still left behind in the final Nougat build, and can be easily re-enabled through a few ADB commands. Of course, not many people want to mess around with that stuff, so the team built a quick app that does the same thing, called Night Mode Enabler.

Google has previously stated that the feature was removed from the final build because of performance concerns. Given that the code is left behind, it's possible that Google may be working to bring its blue-light filter back at some point once the bugs are ironed out. However, it's also possible that the feature may be completely removed at some point in the future.

See also: The official list of Android 7.0 Nougat features299

Strangely, enabling Night Mode doesn't appear to be working properly on every device, although the app is still worth a shot if you really want the feature back. Night Mode Enabler is free to download from the Play Store.

Download from Google Play

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Lots of NVIDIA Shield games on sale this week

NVIDIA's Shield range of products support a selection of exclusive titles to keep today's gamers entertained, but building up a collection of top-notch games isn't exactly cheap. Fortunately, a number of Shield exclusive games are currently on sale over at the Google Play Store, which could save you up to 66 percent on some titles.

Some of the most notable reductions can be found for Doom 3: BFG Edition, reduced by 50 percent to $4.99, and on Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, now available for $4.99 with a 66 percent discount. However before you stump up the cash, note that many of the titles in the list below won't be compatible with every Android device. Here's the list of discounts:

• Doom 3: BFG Edition – $4.99
• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – $4.99
• Parallax – $2.49
• Pix the Cat – $2.49
• Q*Bert Rebooted – $2.99
• Q.U.B.E. Director's Cut – $2.99
• Stealth Inc. 2 – $4.99
• Stikbold! – $4.99
• Super Meat Boy – $7.49
• Ultimate Chicken Horse – $5.99

See also: 15 best Android games of 2016181

It's not clear how long these deals will be available for, so it might be best to make your purchases soon. Have any of these games caught your eye?

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NFC payment ring now available to pre-order

Remember that NFC Ring Kickstarter from three years ago? Well the payment ring is now finally ready for prime time, as pre-orders have kicked off today with support for mobile payments.

The new NFC payment ring is primarily designed to work with wireless payment systems, without the need to whip out our credit card or smartphone. Once it's all set-up, you wont even need your phone close by to use the ring, as it uses anonymous tokens to make payments.The ring meets EMVCo's contactless performance requirements, ensuring support for a range of VISA cards from a selection of banks.

There are a few others cool uses for the NFC Ring too. It can unlock your smartphone or tablet with a quick tap to the back of your phone. If you have an NFC enabled door lock, you can get in and out of your house without fumbling with keys. You can also use the ring to share WiFi information, link to websites, pictures, and contact information with other NFC devices.

If you're interested, two NFC Ring models are available pre-order in three different colors and a huge selections of ring sizes. Prices are set at $53 (£40) for the latest model, and the company is offering 50 percent of all titanium rings this summer.

Pre-order your NFC Ring

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Android 7.1 name spotted in Developer Console, could arrive as MR1

Google is changing the way it's handling Android updates (it's high time it did, we might add) by introducing Maintenance Releases (MR).

These patches will include bug fixes and tweaks, and we can speculate that Google could use the opportunity to add certain new features or change the behavior of existing ones. The first MR for Android 7.0 Nougat is expected this fall, and more will follow on a quarterly basis.

We don't know yet whether MR will bump up the version number. In other words, will MR1 be called Android 7.0.1, Android 7.1, or something else entirely?

We have some flimsy evidence that points to Android 7.1. One clue is a section in the Android Developer Console (first spotted by Android Police) that includes a mention of Android 7.1.

Another is the presence of Android 7.1 in the analytics logs of various websites and apps. Here's a sample from our Analytics:

While it's possible that Googlers are using 7.1 in the wild right now – and visiting Android Authority – it's also likely that lots of hits are coming from devices whose build.prop was altered to show a custom Android version. For instance, we also see Android 8.0, Android 9.0, and even Android 69.0 in Analytics. So we wouldn't put too much stock on Android O showing up anytime soon.

What will Android 7.1 bring, assuming it's real? The prevailing thinking seems to be that it would include certain features that Google saved for the release of the two HTC-made Nexuses.

Regardless of the specifics, the good news is Google is becoming more flexible with the way it handles updates, and more transparent about it, thanks to the ongoing Android Beta program. So whatever is in store for MR1, we should find out pretty soon.

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Samsung will boost production to ease Note 7 supply shortage

Samsung's having a great year and with phones like the Galaxy S7 Edge and the new Note 7 it's easy to see why – despite their high price tags, customers love Samsung's Galaxies.

High demand can create problems however. Samsung has already adjusted its Note 7 launch plans and now the company revealed that it can't manufacture new units as fast as existing ones fly off the shelves.

In a statement today, Samsung said it's facing "supply constraints globally" due to pre-orders volumes that "far exceeded" estimates.

Samsung used a similar language last year when the curved Galaxy S6 Edge sold much better than the Korean giant had anticipated.

The problem this year is not related to the double-curved display of the Note 7, according to an anonymous source cited by Reuters. While the root cause of the supply issues remains unclear, the company said it's trying to boost production. Analysts consulted by Reuters think the supply snag is only temporary and predict sales of up to 15 million Galaxy Note 7 units this year. That's compared to just 9 million for the Note 5, which was released in a limited number of markets.

Cynics could see this talk about "unprecedented demand" as a corporate hype-building exercise. And that might be the case to some extent. But nobody can deny the warm welcome the Note 7 received, especially when you compare it to the muted response to the Note 5.

Have you run into any issues trying to order a Note 7?

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