Samsung to use Tizen OS for Gear 3 smartwatch, pivots away from Android Wear

Samsung recently unveiled its Gear Fit 2 fitness tracker and new wireless earbuds. The company's next smartwatch codenamed "Solis" will probably become Gear S3. It will also run on Tizen OS like Gear S2, which makes it dubious Samsung is loyal to the Android Wear platform.

The name "Solis" could have various meanings. It could refer to the sun. Another theory is it could imply that the new smartwatch will have a round watch face after Gear S2 had moderately more success than the blocky design of the first version of the wrist wearable.

"Solis" might also refer to the smartphone's design shown in two recently leaked photos. The smartwatches seem to have bezels that look like the sun's rays.

However, it is unclear whether or not the leaked photos are real. The images reportedly look too close to a real and expensive timepiece that is not related to Samsung or smartwatches, according to Slash Gear.

It is unclear how the smartwatch industry will make the wearables more attractive. Companies seem to be focusing on designing devices that are bigger and faster.

It is not surprising that Gear 3 will run on Tizen. However, there are many rumors about whether the Korean conglomerate plans to switch all phones, tablets and smartwatches to Tizen.

Samsung has claimed that it has not changed its commitment to smart watch platforms. However, this does not seem the case since it is not launching a new Android Wear Gear.

The company is reportedly also studying how its future Galaxy smartphones and other models could function without Google's Android OS. Switching to Tizen OS would give it more control over the hardware and software of its handsets. This would increase its profit margins.

Samsung has been making a lot of money for the Alphabet subsidiary by using its Android platform. That is through downloaded content and Google services such as Google Maps.

Samsung's goal is to be more like Apple by having more control of its ecosystem. However, there are a few possible issues.

Android is a tried and tested operating system that millions of people around the world are used to using, according to Know Your Mobile.

Another possible problem is Samsung phones without Google Play. Like Microsoft's Windows Phone, it might be difficult for Samsung to convince developers to make Tizen apps.

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Samsung Gear S3 “Solis” will unsurprisingly run Tizen

Early this month, Samsung revealed the Gear Fit 2 alongside a curious Gear IconX earbuds. That would have probably raised questions on whether Samsung also has plans for that other kind of wearable device. Of course it does, and it even has a codename for it. Dubbed "Solis", the smartwatch will most likely be named the Gear S3 after its predecessor. And like its predecessor, it will be running on Tizen, which raises questions on Samsung's actual commitment to the Android Wear platform.

The name "Solis" could be interpreted to mean a good many things. From the word for the "sun", the implication is that it will be a round-faced smartwatch once again. It's almost inconceivable that Samsung would return to a blocky design after the relatively higher success rate of its Gear S2. A rotary dial is probably also already in the books.

The name might also be a hint towards its design, at least based on this pair of leaked photos. The very premium looking watches do seem to have bezels that resemble the sun's rays. There are some, however, that are calling this leak a hoax, considering how it looks too similar to an actual existing, not to mention very expensive, timepiece that has nothing to do with Samsung or smartwatches for that matter.

This leaves the door open for possibilities, as well as questions. At this point, it isn't exactly clear what improvements can still be done on smartwatches to actually make them more appealing, especially when it comes to hardware. The lack of innovative new designs and features is perhaps telling of how the market has quickly become a competition over larger and faster. It seems that the race might switch over to platform really soon.

That the Gear S3 would be running on Tizen is really no surprise, but the news does come at a time when Samsung's motives for that OS is being put under a microscope. Rumors are surfacing again that the Korean manufacturer is eying moving its whole hardware portfolio over to Tizen, which is perhaps easier now that there are extremely few members of the Tizen Alliance left. Samsung earlier stated that it hasn't changed its commitment to smartwatch platforms, but the lack of a new Android Wear Gear weighs heavily against it.

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Samsung to shift from Android to Tizen OS for mobile devices: report

Samsung is trying to push its Tizen based chain in the Indian marker by steadily releasing cheaper mobile phones.

One of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers Samsung is expanding its Tizen OS in all company devices including smartphones in an attempt to reduce reliance on Google’s Android, according to a company executive.

According to a report on Korea Times, the executive, who wished not to be named, said a company has ‘no future’ without a pragmatic ecosystem. It’s a known fact that Google’s Android is used by a majority of smartphones and now that third-party developers are included, the platform is growing exponentially.

On the other hand, Apple, Samsung’s biggest rival in the mobile space, also has a ecosystem of its own, in-house iOS, which is also gaining significant thrust. Amid all this, Samsung is not only losing out on expanding its native OS but also depending heavily on Android.

The company were a tad late in developing its native ecosystem, said the executive added that “Samsung is doing much better now.”

Since the inception of Tiizen, the company has weaved a chain of applications surrounding it, including Android Pay on Samsung wearable devices. Currently, the company is trying to push its Tizen based chain in the Indian marker by steadily releasing cheaper mobile phones.

He also said that Samsung’s Tizen-powered phones are popular with Indian consumers and during the first quarter of this year, the company sold about 64 million phones there. Tizen, he feels, is proving its competitiveness over due course.

Hinting about more additions to TIzen, he said that more incentives and support will be added to Tizen developers but did not spill out the beans entirely.


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Samsung puts Tizen into signage for the first time

After putting Tizen on smartphones and smart TVs, Samsung has installed its self-developed OS into outdoor signage for the first time.

Samsung has unveiled indoor and outdoor signage that is powered by its own Tizen operating system (OS) -- the first time the platform is being used outside of smartphones and TVs.

The South Korean tech giant has previously stressed that Tizen would be a platform that will be used outside the smartphone. Cameras and tablets with the OS were launched first in 2013. The Z1, the first commercial phone with the platform, launched in India in 2015 and was a considerable success.

It has installed the OS on the majority of its TVs since 2015 as well.

Shown at Infocomm 2016 in Las Vegas, the indoor signage, part of its P series, is 29.9mm thin and comes in 700 nit and 500 nit versions. The outdoor signage of its OHF series has a PC embedded in it and is IP56 water- and dust-proof.

The company said it has changed the UX on the new signage accompanying the change to Tizen. It supports HTML5, its own API, and Samsung Smart Signage Platform, a service program that help clients manage their signage.

Samsung said it plans to expand the application of the Tizen platform on more of its smart signage lineups.

The company is expanding its enterprise display business, which includes signage, LEDs, and new technology.

It installed a large LED scoreboard for a ballpark in South Korea in April, and last month installed mirror displays in a barbershop franchise in the country.

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