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The white cane is an important aid for many blind and visually impaired people around the world to help them go about their daily lives. In addition, the tool shows others that impaired vision isn’t something that should hold people back. White Cane Safety Day on 15th October celebrates the achievements of the blind and people with low vision and recognizes the freedom they can have in life with the necessary adjustments.
To mark the day, Samsung is reflecting on the tools it has developed in collaboration with people with reduced vision capabilities to improve the usability of its products. Small changes mean that more people can enjoy Samsung’s flagship products without missing out on functionality.
The New Black
Some of the most recent developments can be seen in Samsung’s smartphones. Samsung’s High Contrast theme was designed to help users with reduced vision capabilities read text more clearly. The company recently launched the second version of the High Contrast theme, called Sky Black, which has been well received by users.
Samsung’s latest High Contrast theme, Sky Black.
High Contrast themes are predominantly black to help readability without overwhelming users with bright light. Users with reduced vision capabilities tend to hold their device close to their eyes. A white background would be too bright for them to read. The use of a dark palette helps with overall usability.
High Contrast functionality from Sky Black is applied to the entire range of the phone’s main screens such as the home screen, menu and functionality. The design of Sky Black has become so popular that all user types are downloading it for their smartphones – even those without restricted vision.
Sky Black follows the success of the first High Contrast theme called Sunset Black. The original theme of this type was launched earlier this year alongside the Galaxy S8 and has been downloaded a million times. It prompted Samsung to listen to the feedback of its users with reduced vision capabilities and refine this accessibility feature even more.
The original High Contrast theme, Sunset Black.
Clearer Browsing
Surfing the web is an activity that all smartphone users frequently do. It made sense then, for Samsung to introduce High Contrast to its Samsung Internet app. It serves an important need because previously, when users deployed the Invert Color option to make the text more readable, the images would become distorted. High Contrast mode on the Samsung Internet app makes everything easier to view – both text and images. This new functionality is receiving positive responses from users participating in the ongoing beta phase. The official launch of High Contrast mode will be within the coming weeks.
High Contrast mode (right) in the Samsung Internet app allows users to flip the contrast of the text in the original internet web pages (left), without distorting the images.
Our smartphones are now such an integral part of everyday life. It’s vital that everyone can interact with them easily and without restriction. Samsung is breaking down the barriers and enabling the best experience for everyone.
With the Galaxy Note8, users get a bigger Infinity Display, the S Pen to communicate in more personal ways, and Samsung’s best-ever smartphone camera to capture stunning photos. It’s a device that’s truly designed for the way consumers lead their lives and lean on technology today.
But what exactly does it take to plan a product like Samsung’s latest smartphone? BJ Kang and Cue Kim, of Samsung Electronics’ Global Product Planning Group, Mobile Communications Business, sat down with Samsung Newsroom to explain.
Cue Kim (left) and BJ Kang, of the Galaxy Note8’s planning team.
Q. Was the planning process for the Galaxy Note8 different from those of previous products?
Kang: Following the Galaxy Note7 incident, Samsung Mobile Communications Business, which had been moving forward so quickly, had the chance to reflect on the core benefits that Note users require of their device. When the time came to design the next model, we made it our priority to reward our loyal users with our most innovative Note yet.
Therefore, the product planning process for the Galaxy Note8 was far more intense than ever before. We also extended the assessment period to ensure maximum safety, and our designated task force carefully evaluated the product by means of the 8-Point Battery Safety Check.
Q. Did you also prioritize that approach – contemplating core benefits – when determining the Galaxy Note8’s new features?
Kim: Absolutely. Whereas before, we took a more ‘big picture’ approach when considering which features to add or innovations to apply, with the Galaxy Note8, we really wanted to hone in on the needs of our users.
To help ensure that consumers are getting what they want from their smartphone, Samsung utilizes qualitative and quantitative research methods such as surveys and interviews to better understand how Note users use their device and what they want from it. For the Galaxy Note8, we decided to focus on enhancing the camera, the S Pen and the large display because our research, going back to the release of the first Note, in 2011, has consistently indicated that these are the features that users love the most.
Q. What is the most important thing to consider when choosing new features to add to a Note device?
Kang: Our top priority is the needs of the consumer. We generally develop and refine a new technology over the course of a few years before implementing it into a product. During that time, we closely observe consumer needs and consider whether or not the new technology is capable of meeting them. When the timing is right, we apply the technology.
Take the Note8’s dual camera as an example. We’ve been developing this technology for quite some time, refining features like Live focus, which lets you snap beautiful bokeh shots that make your subject stand out, and Dual Capture, which simultaneously captures your subject and its surroundings in a separate image. Of course, fundamentally, a dual camera should not only offer crisp close-up images but steady ones as well, which is why we placed particular emphasis on incorporating seamless optical image stabilization (OIS) technology into both cameras.
By the time we’d advanced this technology to a point where it met our stringent standards, the timing was perfect to add it to the Galaxy Note8.
Q. Who are your target consumers?
Kim: When we originally launched the Galaxy Note series, we had a feeling that business professionals would love it. More recently, the devices’ primary user group has expanded to include just about anyone who values productivity, entertainment and creativity. Millennials in particular are drawn to the Note, as they enjoy its communication customization tools and high-performance camera.
Q. In your opinion, which features make the Note popular with business professionals?
Kang: Many of the features of the Galaxy Note8 are useful for business professionals! For instance, the Note’s large display enhances productivity and multitasking, while the new App Pair feature lets users launch two designated apps at once from a single icon. We’ve noticed that these users tend to love the Screen off memo feature the most. This allows them to scribble down up to 100 editable pages of meeting minutes or lecture notes right onto the screen, even when it’s off.
Q. Samsung Note users are known to be particularly loyal to the brand. How have they responded to the Galaxy Note8?
Kim: We already knew that the Note series had a loyal fan base, but the initial reactions to the Galaxy Note8, which were even stronger than those of the Galaxy Note7, made that fact even clearer.
Samsung actually invited a number of Note users to the Galaxy Note8 launch event in New York in August, which was essentially dedicated to the loyal fanbase. For me personally, it was extremely touching and motivating to see how passionate Note users are about the product. I was so happy to see that all of the hard work we had put into planning a product that Note users would love had paid off.
Q. What’s next for the Note series’ planning team?
Kang: Usually, when one project comes to an end, we have a small break before moving on to the next. But this time, we’re not taking any breaks, even though the Galaxy Note8 product planning process was so challenging.
We are already considering how to approach the development of the next Note by evaluating the latest model and looking for ways to improve upon signature features like the S Pen. We will continue to keep users’ needs as our number one priority, and will innovate accordingly.
This week’s highlights include the release of the Xbox Play Anywhere title, Middle Earth: Shadow of War on Windows 10, great news from Lenovo, and much more!
Learn more on the Windows Blog: https://msft.social/hyQjIy
Caleb Ndaka is an #Insiders4Good Fellow who is helping kids in Kenya’s underserved communties learn how to use computers. Watch to find out what actions he’s taking, and why he’s so passionate about this cause. Learn more about the Windows Insider Program: https://aka.ms/WindowsInsiderProgram
Brawlhalla is launching exclusively on PlayStation 4 and will be Free to Play on October 17, 2017. Brawlhalla is a 2D platform fighter and 100% Free to Play. Join the eternal battle arena where the greatest Legends ever brawl to prove who’s the best that ever was, is, or will be.
Check out the Brawlhalla gameplay trailer here! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baixpNzE9es
https://www.brawlhalla.com
Brawlhalla is an eternal battle arena where the greatest warriors in history brawl to prove who’s the best that ever was, is, or will be. Every match is an epic test of skill, speed, and strength, and very victory brings additional glory and bragging rights to the winners.
These slugfests are salted with powerful weapons and gadgets. Fighters scramble to grab swords, axes, hammers, blasters, rocket lances and more! Every weapon changes your play style and your options. Gadgets like mines, bombs, and spiked spheres add even more danger into the mix, letting fighters change the course of battle with a well timed-throw or carefully laid trap.
– Online Ranked 1v1 – A personal test of skill where you match up against a single opponent to claim untold levels of personal glory in Brawlhalla.
– Online Ranked 2v2 – Bolster your ranks with a friend to prove your mettle, wit and teamwork in frenetic 2v2 battles.
– 4 Player Online Free for All – Ranked or casual matches where four fighters enter, but only one can win.
– 8 Player 4v4 & FFA – Because the only thing better than four legends vying for bragging rights is eight legends battling for bragging rights.
– Local Free for All – Up to 4 players can play in free for all mode on one computer – perfect for friendly face-offs.
– Local Custom Teams – Team-up on your local machine, by adding up to 4 bots into the mix for living-room level mayhem.
– Alternate Game Modes – Brawlball, Bombsketball and more provide ‘casual’ ‘party game’ ‘just for fun’ alternate game modes with completely different objectives and just as much competition.
Brawlhalla will always be 100% free to play, with no pay-to-win advantages and no in-game purchases to keep you from the action. The full release features 1v1 & 2v2 online ladders, custom games, an ever expanding roster, monthly updates, a dev team that is constantly updating and supporting the game, and it’s entirely free to play!
The Maps team has been busy making improvements and adding new features to the Maps platform for the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. In addition to performance and visual improvements to the 3D engine, we are introducing features requested by users, like the ability to import 3D models into the map and support for layering and binding for map elements. We also are making enhancements to the styling API to allow clients to specify base map styles and visual states for their own map elements. Finally, we are announcing a places API to see relevant information of a place right within the current context of the calling app.
Without further ado, please see the highlights below and keep your feedback coming!
3D Buildings
You might recall that some 3D buildings were missing in the previous release. We have been working hard since then to bring them back (and improve the ones that didn’t look correct) with this update. Keep an eye out for more 3D buildings in the next few months!
3D Objects
We are adding a new MapElement called MapElement3D. Along with MapModel3D, this new API can be used to import and display 3D objects with ease. Think about fancy 3D push pins, cars, planes, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Here are some great examples of MapElement3D displaying 3D models at a specific location, orientation and scale on the Windows 10 Map Control:
Avatars
Cars
Clouds
Map Layering APIs
We also are adding a new MapLayer class, the first derivation of which is MapElementsLayer. Unlike the existing MapControl.MapElements API, this can be used to manipulate groups of elements independently as a unit or to designate a joint purpose.
Bind your data to the map using MapControl.Layers
You can bind elements on the map to your own custom collections of business objects with the Map Control.Layers API.
We are extending the current set of Map Styling APIs for Windows 10 Map Control. In the previous release, we added the MapStylesheet API to allow you to dynamically change the look and feel of the map in real-time. In this release, we are adding support for two new properties on MapElement: MapStyleSheetEntry and MapStyleSheetEntryState, which can be used to more deeply customize the appearance of your map elements using one of the default style entries and states or custom ones.
Here are some examples of the customization that can be done of map elements using the new styling extensions on the Windows 10 Map Control:
Integrate your elements better with the base map using MapStyleSheetEntry
You can make your map elements look like they are part of the base map by setting their style to an existing entry in the map style sheet such as Water. See MapStyleSheetEntry for the full list of entries you can chose from.
Bing logo is rendered by the Windows 10 Map Control through changing the map polygon’s MapStyleSheetEntry property to Water.
Implement states on your map elements using MapStyleSheetEntryState
You can further modify the appearance of your map elements by leveraging default states like Hover and Selected in the map style sheet, or override them to create your own. See MapStyleSheetEntriesStates for the full list of states you can chose from.
Bellevue Square, City Center and Meydenbauer POIs are rendered by the Windows 10 Map Control through overriding the scale of the existing UserPoint entry and changing the map icon’s MapStyleSheetEntryState property to a custom state that extends the existing Hover and Selected entry states.
Place Info
Finally, we are happy to announce the new PlaceInfo API that allows you to see rich relevant information of a place without the need of switching context, in a pop-up UI, right within your own app.
![[Interview] An Inside Look at the Planning of the Galaxy Note8](https://duncannagle.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Interview-Note8-Product-Planning_main_1.jpg "[Interview] An Inside Look at the Planning of the Galaxy Note8")
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