삼성전자는 3일 베를린 세계가전박람회(IFA)의 개막을 앞두고 새로운 스마트홈 플랫폼인 ‘삼성 스마트싱스 허브’를 공개했다. 　　삼성은 최근 사물인터넷(IoT)을 기반으로 한 스마트홈시장에 역점을 두고 있는데 이에 가장 중추적인 역할을 하고 있는 것이 지난해 인수한 미국 IoT 플랫폼 업체 스마트싱스(SmartThings)이다. 　 　이날 삼성 프레스컨퍼런스에서 만난 스마트싱스의 설립인 알렉스 호켄슨 CEO는 지난 1년간 삼성과의 파트너쉽에 만족을 나타내며 “현재 많은 삼성 직원들이 우리 본사에서 일하고 있다”고 코리아헤럴드에 말했다. 　　스마트싱스는 지난해 4월 2억불에 삼성에 인수됐다. 2년 밖에 안된 신생 스타트업이 세계 최고의 가전회사인 삼성의 광범위한 제품군과 유통채널을 바탕으로 진정한 ‘오픈 플랫폼’ 생태계를 조성할 수 있는 기회를 갖게 된 것이다. 　　인수 이후 회사는 기존 워싱턴에서 있던 본사를 삼성의 오픈이노베이션센터가 있는 캘리포니아 팔로 알토로 이전했다. 하지만

Basking in its status as the No. 1 mobile messaging operator in Korea, Daum Kakao has been experimenting with new mobile services compatible with its mobile messenger app KakaoTalk, such as KakaoTaxi and KakaoMusic.In a bid to increase its presence in the video content market, Daum Kakao rolled out KakaoTV which allows KakaoTalk users to find video content that fit their tastes and to share the video clips with their friends on the messenger and other Daum Kakao mobile services with ease in June

BERLIN -- LG Electronics will showcase premium TVs and other of its latest home appliances at IFA, Europe’s largest electronics trade show that kicks off Friday in Berlin, in its ongoing upscale push.The Korean tech giant is one of the biggest exhibitors at the annual event. This year, the company has set up its largest-ever 3,799-square-meter exhibition booth under the slogan “Innovation for a Better Life.”Models look at the media wall made of 64 OLED TVs at LG Electronics’ exhibition booth at

BERLIN/SEOUL -- South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics will showcase its state-of-the-art electronics products from wearables to TV at the IFA electronics trade show, set to kick off Friday in Germany.The tech firm said it would focus on introducing its electronic devices and home appliances that can be interconnected at this year’s trade show. Hong Won-pyo, the chief of Samsung’s global marketing division, speaks at a news conference on Thursday, a day ahead of the IFA trade show in Berlin

MIELE SHOWCASES NEW HOME APPLIANCES -- German electronics-maker Miele cochief executive Markus Miele (right) and Reinhard Zinkann pose with the firm’s fridge, Blackboard Edition, on Thursday at its exhibition booth at the IFA electronics trade show, set to kick off Friday in Berlin. Users can jot notes on the fridge’s surface with marker pens. (Miele)

Customers look at LG Electronics` clothing care system, LG Styler, in Guangzhou, China on Thursday. (LGE)LG Electronics’ clothing care system, LG Styler, is going global to repeat its success story on its home turf. The Korean tech giant said Wednesday it would start selling the product in key Chinese cities this week, while it would hit the U.S. market within the month. The Styler is a steam closet designed to refresh clothes without washing or ironing them. It doesn’t use chemical detergents,

GADGET FOR GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP -- Tech giant Samsung Electronics will unveil its sleep-tracking device, dubbed the “Sleep Sense,” at the IFA electronics trade show to be held from Sept. 4 to 9 in Berlin. The smart device gathers data of users’ sleep patterns and health conditions such as heart rate and respiratory rate. (Samsung) GADGET FOR GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP -- Tech giant Samsung Electronics will unveil its sleep-tracking device, dubbed the “Sleep Sense,” at the IFA electronics trade show to be

　LG Electronics, a pioneer in the world‘s organic light-emitting diode TV market, will join hands with global broadcasting firms and media content providers to demonstrate high dynamic range technologies for OLED TVs.    The HDR improves the picture quality of TVs as it helps produce brighter, crisper and more detailed images.　Combined with LG’s OLED TVs, which deliver more vibrant colors than liquid crystal display TVs, the HDR technology will offer a great viewing experience for consumers, acc

　Merck, the world’s leading chemical and electronics materials firm, has constantly explored untouched business areas for more than three centuries, including the firm’s three main business pillars -- performance materials, health care and life science -- and has been able to stay on top in each field.　Walter Galinat, president and CEO of the German company’s performance materials business, said placing an emphasis on making bold business decisions is a key to securing the lead in competition an

South Korea’s leading telecom firm KT signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Football Association on Tuesday to sponsor the national soccer team until 2019.  (From left) Ky Seung-yong, the captain of the South Korean football team, KT vice president Oh Young-ho, head coach of the national soccer squad Uli Stielike, vice chairman of the KAF Kim Ho-gon, and forward Son Heung-min. (KT)At an MOU signing ceremony at Hwaseong Sports Complex in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, KT and Korean so

Mobile messenger and Web-portal operator Daum Kakao said Tuesday that it has decided to change its name to Kakao in a bid to highlight its corporate identity as a leader in the mobile era.The company came to the limelight when it was established last October as the result of the merger between Web-portal Daum and mobile messenger firm Kakao.Some market analysts had previously predicted that the company would make efforts to beef up its mobile business platforms rather than the Web services.Daum

　Samsung Electronics on Monday released a new front-load washing machine with an extra door that allows users to put in additional laundry in the middle of a wash cycle.　The new model, dubbed the Bubble Shot Add Wash, comes as Samsung has been enjoying a sales momentum with its new top-load washer, the Active Wash, that is fitted with a built-in sink for soaking or prewashing.  Models pose with Samsung Electronics’ front-loading washing machine, called the Bubble Shot Add Wash, at the firm’s hea

 Tech giant Samsung Electronics said Monday it would join forces with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy to make conventional factories run by small and mid-sized enterprises “smarter.”Signing a memorandum of understanding on the day, Samsung and the ministry agreed to make a joint investment of 30 billion won ($25 million) to refurbish the outdated factories. Samsung Electronic president Kim Jong-ho (left), Vice Industry Minister Lee Kwan-sup (center), and Park Jin-woo, the head of KOS

삼성 전자는 31일 세계 최초로 도어에 창문을 낸 드럼 세탁기 ‘버블샷 애드워시,’를 출시 했다. 이번 신제품으로 삼성은 드럼 세탁기 시장의 강자인 LG와는 다른 아이디어와 디자인으로 소비자의 불편함을 해소 하겠다는 의지를 비추었다. 새롭게 출시된 버블샷 애드워시는 세탁기 도어위에 착은 창문이 설치되어 있으며, 사용자는 작동 중인 드럼 세탁기를 일시 정지한 뒤 간편하게 창문을 통해서 세탁물이나 세제를 추가적으로 투입이 가능하다.삼성전자가 31일 공개한 드럼 세탁기 `애드워시.` (삼성전자)삼성전자 서초 사옥에서 이날 열린 신제품 설명회에 참석한 한 삼성전자 관계자는 세탁기 시장에서 “우리만의 길을 가겠다,”고 말하며 최근 LG에서 출시한 ‘트윈 워시,’와 비슷한 제품은 내놓지 않을 것이라고 밝혔다.또한 그 관계자는 LG의 트윈워시와 비슷한 제품을 이미 “2005년경 시제품으로 개발을 했었다,”고 밝혔다. 왜 제품화를 하지 않았느냐는 질문에 “드럼 세탁기는 드럼 세탁기다워야 한다,”고

Huawei’s Honor 7 smartphone featuring CrucialTec’s fingerprint module. (Huawei)South Korea’s biometric technology firm CrucialTec said Friday it has supplied its fingerprint modules for Chinese smartphone powerhouse Huawei’s Honor 7i.Unlike other fingerprint modules fitted in the home button of smartphones, the Korean firm’s products are installed on the left side of the Honor 7i, aimed at enhancing the user experience.“The side fingerprint scanner allow users to easily scan their fingerprint wh

Few may have anticipated the tremendous impacts of smartphones and mobile applications on conventional businesses from taxi operators to brick-and-mortar retailers when the market began adopting smartphones in earnest less than a decade ago.Now few can dismiss the striking tech development under which previously dominant business sectors, including financial services, are going through disruptive changes caused mainly by the versatile telecommunications devices.The mobile payment market, in part

KT LAUNCHES IOT ALLIANCE -- South Korea’s leading mobile carrier KT established an alliance to nurture Internet of Things -- Internet-connected devices -- businesses, dubbed the GiGA IoT Alliance, together with its domestic and global partners including Samsung Electronics, Nokia and China Mobile in Korea Tuesday. The mobile carrier and its alliance members would help small and mid-sized enterprises conduct research and development for IoT technology and tap into global markets. (KT)KT LAUNCHES

Information technology solutions developer Samsung SDS said Tuesday that it would offer logistics platform services, dubbed the Cello Square, from Thursday. The Cello Square will serve as a venue where shippers, forwarders and carriers can share logistics information and proceed with businesses projects together, according to the Seoul-headquarter IT firm. Shyam Pillalamarri, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Samsung SDS Research America, speaks at a press meeting for the fir

Information technology solutions developer SK Planet said Monday its real-time public transport mobile app service had crossed the 4-million download mark.Utilizing its capabilities to collect and analyze traffic data across the nation, the affiliate of SK Group launched the mobile app, dubbed T Map Public Transit, in September last year. The number of daily active users for the app has surpassed 200,000 since then, and around 60 percent of commuters during use the app during rush hour, the comp

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province -- Since its debut last month, LG Electronics’ Tromm Twin Wash -- a washing machine fitted with a front loader with a separate small top loader below -- has won fans overseas.　Inundated with orders from global retailers for what LG calls a revolutionary invention, the tech giant said it has been working flat out to meet demand.LG Electronics employees work at the assembly line in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday. (LGE)　The electronics firm declin