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Samsung Galaxy Fold devices have taken the mobile industry by storm, offering users a revolutionary way to interact with their applications. One of their key features is the rear display mode that enables users to continue their tasks seamlessly on the cover display while the main display remains turned off. Jetpack WindowManager has introduced APIs to enable this mode programmatically, and starting from One UI 6.0, developers can now utilize these APIs to integrate rear display mode into their applications, enhancing usability and maximizing the potential of foldable devices.
In this blog post, we dive deeper into implementing Jetpack WindowManager's rear display mode in a camera application. By leveraging this mode, users can take selfies with superior image quality using the rear camera instead of the front camera. Join us as we explore the exciting possibilities of foldable technology and uncover how to optimize your applications for the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
You can download the sample camera application here.
CameraXApp.zip (623.3 KB) Sep 26, 2024 Step 1: Add the WindowManager library into the project
WindowManager, a Jetpack library introduced by Google, supports rear display mode starting from version 1.2.0-beta03. To add the WindowManager library, go to Gradle Scripts > build.gradle (Module: app) and enter the following to the dependencies block:
implementation "androidx.window:window:1.3.0" Step 2: Implement the WindowAreaSessionCallback interface in MainActivity.kt
The WindowAreaSessionCallback interface updates an Activity about when the WindowAreaSession is started and ended. Using the onSessionStarted method, this interface provides the current WindowAreaSession as soon as a new window session is started.
class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() , WindowAreaSessionCallback { … override fun onSessionEnded(t: Throwable?) { if(t != null) { println("Something was broken: ${t.message}") } } override fun onSessionStarted(session: WindowAreaSession) { } } Step 3: Declare variables
The WindowAreaController provides information about the moving windows between the cover display and the main display of the Galaxy Fold device.
The WindowAreaSession interface provides an active window session in the onSessionStarted method.
WindowAreaInfo represents the current state of a window area. It provides a token which is used later to activate rear display mode.
WindowAreaCapability.Status represents the availability and capability status of the window area defined by the WindowAreaInfo object. We utilize this status to change the UI of our application. The status of the Galaxy Fold device can be one of the following:
WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_ACTIVE: if the cover display is currently active.
WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_AVAILABLE: if the cover display is available to be enabled.
WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNAVAILABLE: if the cover display is currently not available to be enabled.
WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNSUPPORTED: if the Galaxy Fold device is running on Android 13 or lower.
private lateinit var windowAreaController: WindowAreaController private var windowAreaSession: WindowAreaSession? = null private var windowAreaInfo: WindowAreaInfo? = null private var capabilityStatus: WindowAreaCapability.Status = WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNSUPPORTED private val operation = WindowAreaCapability.Operation.OPERATION_TRANSFER_ACTIVITY_TO_AREA Step 4: Create an instance of WindowAreaController in the onCreate method
windowAreaController = WindowAreaController.getOrCreate() Step 5: Set up a flow to get information from WindowAreaController
In the onCreate() method, add a lifecycle-aware coroutine to query the list of available WindowAreaInfo objects and their status. The coroutine executes each time the lifecycle starts.
lifecycleScope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) { lifecycle.repeatOnLifecycle(Lifecycle.State.STARTED) { windowAreaController.windowAreaInfos .map { info -> info.firstOrNull { it.type == WindowAreaInfo.Type.TYPE_REAR_FACING } } .onEach { info -> windowAreaInfo = info } .map { it?.getCapability(operation)?.status ?: WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNSUPPORTED } .distinctUntilChanged() .collect { capabilityStatus = it updateUI() } } } Step 6: Update the UI according to the device's WindowAreaCapability.Status
private fun updateUI() { if(windowAreaSession != null) { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = true } else { when(capabilityStatus) { WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNSUPPORTED -> { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = false Toast.makeText(baseContext, "RearDisplay is not supported on this device", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show() } WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_UNAVAILABLE -> { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = false Toast.makeText(baseContext, "RearDisplay is not currently available", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show() } WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_AVAILABLE -> { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = true } WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_ACTIVE -> { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = true Toast.makeText(baseContext, "RearDisplay is currently active", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show() } else -> { viewBinding.switchScreenButton.isEnabled = false Toast.makeText(baseContext, "RearDisplay status is unknown", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show() } } } } Step 7: Toggle to rear display mode with WindowAreaController
Close the session if it is already active, otherwise start a transfer session to move the MainActivity to the window area identified by the token.
While activating rear display mode, the system creates a dialog to request the user’s permission to allow the application to switch screens. This dialog is not customizable.
private fun toggleRearDisplayMode() { if(capabilityStatus == WindowAreaCapability.Status.WINDOW_AREA_STATUS_ACTIVE) { if(windowAreaSession == null) { windowAreaSession = windowAreaInfo?.getActiveSession( operation ) } windowAreaSession?.close() } else { windowAreaInfo?.token?.let { token -> windowAreaController.transferActivityToWindowArea( token = token, activity = this, executor = displayExecutor, windowAreaSessionCallback = this ) } } } Step 8: Start the camera preview
Call startCamera() when onSessionStarted is triggered by the WindowAreaSessionCallback interface.
override fun onSessionStarted(session: WindowAreaSession) { startCamera() } Step 9: Add a button and set a listener to it for activating rear display mode
<Button android:id="@+id/switch_screen_button" android:layout_width="110dp" android:layout_height="110dp" android:layout_marginStart="50dp" android:elevation="2dp" android:text="@string/switch_screen" app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent" app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@+id/horizontal_baseline" app:layout_constraintStart_toEndOf="@id/vertical_centerline" /> viewBinding.switchScreenButton.setOnClickListener{ updateUI() toggleRearDisplayMode() } Incorporating rear display mode into your application can significantly enhance user experience by providing more intuitive control and greater flexibility. By following the outlined steps, you can create a more dynamic and user-friendly interface. As technology continues to evolve, staying ahead with features like rear display mode can set your application apart and offer users a seamless, professional-quality experience. To learn more about developing applications for Galaxy Foldable devices, visit: developer.samsung.com/galaxy-z.
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The end of a year is the perfect time to gather friends and family and celebrate the year that has passed as well as the one that is to come. When it comes to planning the perfect year-end party, curating the perfect playlist is a must — but so is ensuring that your audio devices are able to set the tone all night long for that perfect celebratory mood.
 
In order to help you make your celebration unforgettable, Samsung Newsroom has put together some ideas of ways you can ensure your party is the best in town with Samsung’s sound technologies.
 
 
Ultra Slim Soundbar: Rock Out in Style

 
For those who prioritize style as well as great audio quality, Samsung’s Ultra Slim Soundbar (S801B) is the perfect choice for your year-end celebrations. As its name suggests, the Ultra Slim Soundbar features an incredibly slim design of just 38mm in height and 40mm in thickness — a size equivalent to that of a soda can — meaning that its wall-mounted design is sure to stand out. You can also install it freely around your space thanks to its wireless connectivity to ensure your sound system blends seamlessly into your surroundings.
 

 
If you’re looking to further personalize your space, you can give your Soundbar a boost with the Ultra Slim Soundbar Skin (SCFBS8[BW/TK]) released earlier this year, which comes in warm brown and teak colors. Paired with your The Frame and its elegant, modern design, you are set to enjoy not only top-level audio experiences but also a cozy, festive feel.
 

 
Despite its slim appearance, the Ultra Slim Soundbar is capable of powerful sound. Designed with 3.1.2-channel technology that features seven front speakers and one subwoofer centered on the top two speakers, the Ultra Slim Soundbar provides complete and truly surround-sound experiences. Dolby Atmos support also further contributes to providing you with captivating entertainment experiences.
 
 
S-Series Soundbar: Envelop Your Space With Truly Immersive Sound

 
For those who love to set the scene with truly immersive sound experiences during a celebration or party, the S-Series Soundbar is the soundbar for you.
 
The S-Series Soundbar delivers rich, room-filling surround sound able to reach every person in the room. This compact, 67cm, all-in-one 5.0-channel soundbar has an impressive four built-in woofers and three tweeter speakers, providing you with a fully immersive, 3D sound experience — all without the need for a subwoofer.
 

 
In addition, Adaptive Sound technology is able to analyze the source of any sound in order to automatically deliver optimized audio based on its specific genre. Experience the best, most immersive audio for each and every type of content you’re enjoying, whether it’s a sports game, a classical performance or an action movie.
 

 
Your S-Series Soundbar can be easily connected to your Samsung Smart TV and is the first soundbar in the industry to support Dolby Atmos connection for room-filling, optimized 3D sound.
 
 
Q-Series Soundbar: Bring the Cinema Experience Into Your Home

 
If you’re looking to celebrate the year-end season with your favorite movies or TV shows, you can transform your home into a cinema with the room-filling sound of Samsung’s premium soundbar, the Q-Series Soundbar (Q990B).
 
With an astounding 17 front surround sound speakers, one subwoofer and four up-firing speakers, the Q-Series Soundbar fills the room with truly cinematic surround sound. Synced with your Samsung Neo QLEDs, these 22-channel speakers can deliver truly immersive surround sound experiences like no other.
 

 
Samsung’s proprietary Q-Symphony technology allows for compatible TVs and soundbars to play audio at the same time, in sync, taking your listening experiences to the next level through powerful sound quality. Meanwhile, Spacefit Sound technology optimizes your audio based on the structure and layout of your room, providing you with sound that is perfectly crafted for your space and rivals a VIP seat in a movie theater.
 
In addition, the Q-Series Soundbar has been recognized by renowned global media outlets for its immersive sound experiences, as well as its sleek design.
 

 
 
Sound Tower: Take the Party Spirit to the Next Level

 
If you’re planning to celebrate the year-end with a bang and throw a party, the Sound Tower (MX-ST90B) is a must-have. This oval Sound Tower fills up virtually any space with 3D audio. The 24.5cm speaker with a built-in woofer provides the perfect punching bass experience, with up to 1700W bass boosting for a beat that sets the party mood perfectly.
 

 
In addition to its powerful audio capabilities, the Sound Tower’s various light modes provide an audio-visual harmony that truly matches the mood of the night. Its Bluetooth multi-connection, which allows for two smart devices to be connected simultaneously, and its Group Play functionality, which connects up to 10 Sound Towers, really help you get the party started both indoors as well as outdoors.
 
Be sure to finish your year strong with Samsung’s range of soundbar and Sound Tower devices. Once you’ve chosen your perfect soundbar based on your own preferences and purposes, enjoy enriching sound during your year-end festivities and beyond.
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This month in San Francisco, the 2022 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) spotlighted some of Samsung’s best and brightest minds across tech, marketing and product fields, sharing a compelling vision of the future, showcasing the transformational technologies that will improve consumers’ daily lives and giving users more time to focus on what matters most.
 
With opening remarks from Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device Experience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, the presentations revealed how Samsung is crafting systems that help make lives smarter, safer, more convenient and more connected than ever before.
 
▲ Attendees take their seats at SDC 2022 in anticipation of the day’s wide-ranging Keynote
 
Read on to see Samsung Newsroom’s recap of the innovation and inspiration revolutionizing how we live and work both now and in the future.
 
 
Opening: A Seamless, Frictionless Experience
Jong-Hee Han opened up the day’s talks by underscoring the importance of convenience in an age of brilliant yet complex technologies. “At Samsung, our goal has always been to make our lives easier through technology innovation,” said Han. “But innovation can also be burdensome for users if convenience is not at the forefront. Our teams are determined to deliver devices that are as smooth and accessible as they are advanced.”
 
▲ Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of DX Division at Samsung Electronics, welcomes attendees to SDC 2022.
 
Covering everything from Calm Technology to Knox Matrix to holistic household platforms like Bixby Home Studio and SmartThings, Han outlined a device and systems ecosystem that puts the user experience at the center. “The goal of all this is to give you an easier, seamless and more frictionless experience,” Han emphasized. “So you can focus on what matters most.”
 
 
A Home That Learns and Adapts Through SmartThings
Following Jong-Hee Han, Jaeyeon Jung, Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Mobile eXperience Business, discussed how Covid-19 galvanized teams at Samsung to prioritize the important things in life, particularly in the home. “If you’re like me, the past few years have been a time to prioritize what matters, to find moments to pause and refresh,” said Jung.
 
▲ Jaeyeon Jung, Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Mobile eXperience Business, outlines how the platform is helping realize a truly seamless, intuitive household device ecosystem.
 
Samsung’s SmartThings platform, Jung explained, is the perfect way to do this in your home. Thanks to a wide range of improvements to the household ecosystem platform, finding, setting up, onboarding and synchronizing new devices into your household will be easier and more efficient than ever. This includes Galaxy Quick Pair, Matter Hub connectivity, SmartThings Energy and SmartThings Music Sync, as well as boosted integration with partner systems and an expanded SmartThings website.
 
 
Matter: A Truly Harmonious Household Experience
At the end of her talk, Jung introduced Matthew McCullough from Google, who provided an overview of Matter, a system that lays the groundwork for true interoperability between devices in the home. Samsung is committed to Matter integration, and confident it will make the dream of a fully integrated household a reality.
 
▲ Google’s Matthew McCullough explains how the Matter interoperability system works, reinforcing Samsung and Google’s collaborative efforts to expand its integration.
 
By working closely together, Samsung and Google aim to make life for both users and device makers simpler and smoother, with multi-admin features that cut down on manual management and make Google Home and Nest Hub more accessible. “This ease of use across Samsung and Google is just the start, and we’re looking forward to delivering a more seamless, delightful home experience,” said McCullough.
 
 
Industry Collaboration Making Device Ecosystems More Open
▲ Mark Benson, Head of SmartThings U.S. at Samsung, expands on the company’s enthusiasm for Matter adoption and introduces the SmartThings Matter Early Access Program.
 
Continuing with the theme of interoperability, Mark Benson, U.S., emphasized Samsung’s commitment to supporting Matter. “To accelerate Matter adoption, we created the SmartThings Matter Early Access Program, where we work with major device manufacturers to ensure their Matter-enabled devices work seamlessly with SmartThings,” said Benson.
 
The SmartThings app, SmartThings Hub Core and SmartThings Cloud, Benson pointed out, are already prepared to support Matter. “It’s all about delivering interoperability right out of the box,” he said.
 
 
The Expanding Role of Bixby
Anil Yadav, Head of Bixby Lab at Samsung Research1 America, took to the stage to discuss SmartThings’ bespoke speech platform and de facto voice in the home, including its exciting new feature: Bixby Home Studio. “With Bixby Home Studio, you can create experiences that span multiple devices and respond more intuitively to user commands,” said Yadav. “For example, if you ask Bixby to turn on your air conditioner, Bixby can check if you have any windows open and let you know to close them, saving energy.”
 
▲ Voice system expert and Head of Bixby Lab Anil Yadav lays out the platform’s evolving role in the home and celebrates the launch of Bixby Home Studio.
 
Ready to do everything from queuing up your next action movie on your Samsung Smart TV to boosting your mobile security with On-Device AI, Bixby is smarter and more powerful than ever.
 
 
Premium Security and Privacy for an Integrated Household
▲ Shin Baik, Principal Engineer of Security Team, Mobile eXperience Business, underscores the significance of strong security and personalized privacy, as exemplified by systems like Samsung Knox and Knox Matrix.
 
Samsung envisions more than just a convenient and integrated home experience. Its teams are also creating an experience that is as safe as it is smooth, as private as it is proactive. After Yadav’s Bixby talk, Shin Baik, Principal Engineer of Security Team, Mobile eXperience Business, discussed with the audience how top-notch innovations need top-notch security to go with them. Unwavering in its three security and privacy principles — transparency, choice and protection — Samsung has worked hard to develop platforms like Samsung Knox. This will keep everything from your phone to your refrigerator safe and secure, said Baik.
 
A new platform called Knox Matrix, in particular, is now on the frontline of multi-device protection. “Knox Matrix is your own private blockchain,” Baik explained. “Multiple devices share credentials, turning the ecosystem of devices into a shield that protects everyone.”
 
In step with these developments, of course, is Samsung’s insistence on a customizable privacy experience, which is provided by Samsung’s comprehensive Security and privacy dashboard. “We believe that you — and only you — should be making decisions about how your information is managed and stored,” said Baik.
 
 
A More Vibrant Content Ecosystem Than Ever
Sang Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Product & Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, shared important insights on Samsung’s extensive media network, covering a range of recent successes.
 
▲ Sang Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Product & Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, provides a roundup of Samsung’s diverse — and rapidly expanding — media network.
 
Samsung Gaming Hub, launched in June, is an all-in-one gaming solution that, thanks to partnerships with industry leaders like Xbox, lets players connect their controllers to Samsung TVs and access all the games they love without even needing a console or PC.
 
Samsung TV Plus, the FAST streaming TV and video platform that relaunched this summer, now reaches 24 countries and 465 million devices globally. It is projected to clock in an impressive three billion hours streamed by users by the end of 2022.
 
Thanks to broad reach, smooth monetization integration and an advertising environment optimized for both clients and users, Samsung streaming also offers an ideal platform for premium advertising.
 
“Today, Fortune 500 companies from around the world have leveraged Samsung TV Plus and our other advanced TV advertising solutions to reach valuable consumers,” Kim said.
 
 
Tizen’s Global Conquest
▲ Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business discusses all things Tizen, from the operating system’s global reach to its growing spectrum of applications.
 
Following Sang Kim, Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business, took to the stage to talk about Tizen, Samsung’s open source, Linux-backed operating system. Kim took the audience through a huge variety of developments in the Tizen journey, which is growing its capabilities to an ever-wider spectrum of uses and applications.
 
Leveraging partnerships with gaming leaders like Xbox, NVIDIA and Utomik, Tizen is helping bring a truly consolidated, uninterrupted gaming experience to users with Samsung Gaming Hub, with fantastic performance and image quality, Kim explained. It delivers stunning visual displays and blockchain wallet integration to Samsung TVs for better at-home art experiences, while also helping Smart Hub deliver the best in content searches and recommendations. Tizen Enterprise, meanwhile, is boosting B2B partners’ display and signage options, while Tizen Everywhere aims to expand licensing and bring the system to more countries.
 
“Since its launch ten years ago, Tizen now powers more than 330 million TVs, refrigerators and other smart devices,” said Kim. “At Samsung, we will continue to create Tizen experiences that transform and go beyond what many thought possible.”
 
 
One UI 5 and the “Your Galaxy, Your Way” Philosophy
Next up was Sally Hyesoon Jeong, Vice President of Framework R&D Group, Mobile eXperience Business, whose theme for the day was the company’s latest leap forward in the UI experience: One UI 5.
 
▲ Sally Hyesoon Jeong, Vice President of Framework R&D Group, Mobile eXperience Business, introduces One UI 5, the next stage of Samsung’s UI evolution and a distillation of the “Your Galaxy, Your Way” philosophy.
 
“On this stage three years ago, I shared our vision for One UI, the essence of the Galaxy experience,” Jeong began. “One UI truly captures the ‘Your Galaxy, Your Way’ philosophy by bringing users an intuitive, connected experience that is uniquely yours.”
 
Splitting the new UI update’s advancements into three areas — Personalization, Productivity and Possibility — Jeong shared a host of new and improved features. Personalization included deep customization enhancements, like Dynamic Lockscreen for smartphones, Watch Face Studio for Galaxy Watches and custom-built Modes and Routines, while health and security functions are also more adaptable than ever. The Productivity section included Bixby Text Call, improved phone-to-PC connectivity and multitasking upgrades like Taskbar improvements. Possibilities covered One UI 5’s integration with innovative Samsung Foldable devices and related functions like Flex Mode.
 
 
A Look Over the Horizon: Robotics and Health in Tomorrow’s Homes
The final talk before the wrap-up was from Sebastian Seung, President and Head of Samsung Research. While many of the day’s talks focused on recent improvements, Seung has his eye on the innovations of tomorrow, aiming for no less than the merging of the physical and digital worlds.
 
“I’d like to invite you to look over the horizon, to a future dreamed of but not yet realized,” said Seung, who divided his presentation between the future of robotics in the home and Samsung’s ambitions to contribute to health & wellness research.
 
In the home robotics field, Seung discussed the company’s continued success with a household supported by advanced, AI-enhanced devices, including the object-detecting JetBot AI+ vacuum, the Bot Handy chore assistant prototype and even future plans for Samsung’s latest robot arm manipulation code, which will soon be available on GitHub.
 
▲ Sebastian Seung, President and Head of Samsung Research, discusses the company’s plans for a future where advanced robotics technologies support households and outlines Samsung’s ambitions in health & wellness research.
 
Moving on to the subject of health, Seung introduced Samsung Health Stack, an open source project from Samsung that aims to actively advance health & wellness research. “This is a full stack SDK, a mobile app for patients, a portal for researchers and a backend database,” said Seung. “A complete package of open-source tools designed for the easy creation of digital systems for the research of health and wellness.”
 
 
Closing: Building a More Sustainable Future With Samsung
To round off the talks, Jong-Hee Han returned to the stage to offer a final word, summarizing the technologies showcased at SDC and the course of the company’s future of innovation.
 
▲ Jong-Hee Han returns to the stage to conclude the day’s talks, ending on a proactive vision of a future driven by sustainable, eco-conscious technologies.
 
“I would like to talk about the future one more time,” he added. “The future of something very dear to my heart: our planet. I believe we have a responsibility to help create a sustainable future. We do that through Everyday Sustainability, a belief that every stage of the product lifecycle can be more sustainable.”
 
Han presented a range of Samsung sustainability commitments and environmental research directions, including responsible material sourcing, recycling, disposal, renewable energy and billions in investments toward meeting carbon emissions reductions.
 
“By 2027, we will run all DX operations on renewable energy,” Han said, ending the day on an optimistic note and a glimpse of a future for customers that is easier, more seamless, more frictionless and — crucially — more eco-conscious.
 
Watch the video below to see the complete recording of the SDC22 Keynote.
 
  
▲ Attendees explore the latest Samsung products at SDC22 booths.
 
 
1 Samsung Research, acting as Samsung Electronics’ advanced R&D hub, leads the development of future technologies for the company’s Device eXperience (DX) Division.
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