Developer Conference
Samsung Electronics announced on October 19 that it presented its vision for the integrated internet of things (IoT) and AI that emphasized openness and connectivity in the “Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2017” in San Francisco, the USA for two days starting from October 18.
Samsung Electronics introduced “Bixby 2.0,” an artificial intelligence assistant and a software development kit (SDK), which evolved one notch higher in the fourth SDC. The company also announced that it will integrate cloud services for the internet of things (IoT) devices, which were divided into Samsung Connect, SmartThings, and ARTIK (IoT platform).
Bixby 2.0 is an upgraded version of Bixby 1.0 released with the Galaxy S8 in April by Samsung Electronics. The biggest changes in 2.0 are openness and compatibility. Bixby 1.0 which officially launched in May is currently used by more than ten million people in more than 200 countries around the world and is available via the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus and the Galaxy Note 8.
While Bixby 1.0 is used only in the Galaxy smartphone series, Bixby 2.0 is designed to be used in any product such as Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub Refrigerators. Samsung Electronics is planning to load the Bixby into Samsung smart TVs launched in 2018.
The introduction of the Bixby 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is interpreted as a gambit to extend the Bixby ecosystem. "The introduction of the kit means that Bixby becomes a key element in the ecosystem of various devices," a Samsung official said. "We will help partners to develop applications with Bixby functions"
Samsung Electronics also unveiled its integrated internet of things (IoT) vision that emphasizes openness and connectivity. Samsung Electronics plans to provide more powerful IoT services by integrating all of its IoT products and services such as SmartThinks, ARTIK and Samsung Connect into SmartThinks.
Samsung Electronics will connect all Samsung IoT platforms and ecosystems through SmartThinks which is an integrated IoT service, and will connect with third-party applications, terminals and services to build innovative and consistent consumer experiences together.
The first step to this goal is to integrate Samsung Connect Cloud and ARTIK Cloud into 'SmartThinks Cloud' so that consumers can control all IoT products and services at one stop.
Developers will be able to deliver solutions to more people by developing solutions that connect to all SmartThinks products using one SmartThinks Cloud application programming interface (API). In addition, they will be able to utilize more secure and convenient services that can be provided to the B2B area.
Of course, Samsung will continue its virtual reality (VR) business. At the event, Samsung Electronics unveiled the Samsung 360 Round, which supports high-quality 3D content creation and live broadcasting for virtual reality. The Samsung 360 Round is equipped with 17 cameras and can produce 4K 3D video and 3D audio contents. The new device is loaded with an IP65 waterproof and dustproof function. It is possible to combine images shot at multiple angles into one image at one go and supports real-time live streaming through a dedicated PC control program, hinging on network environments. The Samsung 360 Round will hit the shelves in the US in October.
Samsung Electronics also plans to expand its strategic partnership with Google to lead the VR and AR (augmented reality) field. Developers can provide augmented reality services to users of the Galaxy S8, the Galaxy S8 Plus and the Galaxy Note 8 using Google's ARCore software, an augmented reality development platform.
About 5000 people including developers, service partners and designers, attended the conference under the theme of Connected Thoughts. The event featured 50 sessions and panel discussions about the IoT, intelligence, games, health, security, smart TVs and more.