Samsung announced it is introducing a new beta News app to replace the existing Free app on its Galaxy devices. This new client is designed to be more focused, with similarities to Apple’s News app. It offers curated top headlines, which are categorized into morning and evening briefings, as well as customizable feeds. In addition to these features, the Samsung News app also allows users to listen to podcasts, setting it apart from other news apps.
The beta version of Samsung News will be released to U.S. Samsung Galaxy users as an update to the existing Samsung Free app. On April 18, 2023, users who already have Samsung Free installed will see the app icon change to Samsung News when the app is updated. Other users can download the app directly from the Samsung Galaxy Store. Initially, the feature will be available on select phones, with a rollout to all addressable devices in the coming weeks.
Samsung News will offer users access to news content from various partners, including Bloomberg Media, CNN, Fortune, Fox News, Glamour, GQ, HuffPost, Money, Newsweek, New York Post, Parade, POLITICO, Refinery29, Reuters, Salon, Slate, Sports Illustrated, The Daily Beast, TheStreet, USA TODAY, and Vice. Through Samsung’s syndication partner, upday, the app will continue to add more news sources over time.
Although the new News app may be more useful for catching up on the day’s events or listening to a recap during the commute home, the change, as Engadget stated may create some inconvenience for users. Previously, the free app combined news with Samsung TV Plus channels and casual gaming, but now users will need to access separate apps to access that content.
Also, there is no indication of a paid service comparable to Apple News+ that offers access to subscription-only news sources and magazines. However, the strategy is similar in that Samsung is focusing on services to attract and retain customers in the challenging phone market. By offering appealing services such as the News app, users may be more likely to stick with their Galaxy phones and maybe even pay for content as well.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
