Samsung’s Digital City
Samsung’s Digital City is the company’s most important complex of buildings, where their Galaxy smartphones are designed and the first curved TVs were conceptualized. This complex is home to a unique ice chamber, decked with soundproofing pads to create a pin-drop silence, where the audio performance of phones is tested. It also houses a sound lab filled with instruments, where many of Samsung’s iconic ringtones and alert sounds are created. The company has a philosophy called ‘Work Smart’, which allows employees to work whatever hours they want up until 6 p.m., as long as they remain productive.
Samsung’s Size and Reach
Samsung has an impressive 320,000 employees, which is as much as Google, Apple, and Nokia combined. The company’s revenue accounts for 17% of South Korea’s entire GDP, and they have sold over a billion Galaxy phones, not including tablets and other non-smart ventures. This makes them the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.
Samsung’s Innovations
Samsung has always been a leader in innovation, introducing the first Android-powered smartphone in 2009. They also developed the world’s first curved OLED TV in 2013, and the world’s first foldable phone in 2019. They are also at the forefront of 5G technology, with their 5G Exynos Modem being the first 5G modem to be commercially available.
Samsung’s Other Ventures
Samsung is not just a smartphone manufacturer; they have a wide range of other ventures. They are a major player in the semiconductor industry, producing chips for a variety of applications. They also produce home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. They are also heavily invested in the automotive industry, producing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies.
Samsung’s Philanthropic Efforts
Samsung is also committed to giving back to the community, and has donated over $100 million to various charities and causes. They are also committed to sustainability, and have invested heavily in renewable energy and green technology. They have also launched a number of initiatives to promote STEM education, and have partnered with a number of universities to provide scholarships and research grants.
Samsung’s Global Reach
Samsung’s reach is truly global, with its products being used by more than a quarter of the world’s population. This is a testament to the company’s success in branching out from its core business. Samsung has a number of subsidiaries, ranging from Samsung Life Insurance to Samsung Heavy Industries and Samsung Techwin.
Samsung Heavy Industries
Samsung Heavy Industries is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding companies, and it has been responsible for constructing some of the world’s most impressive vessels. Samsung Techwin, meanwhile, is the company’s defense and military division. It has developed the K-9 Thunder, an anti-infantry tank that can shoot targets up to 40 kilometers away. This tank has been used by the Korean Armed Forces.
Smart Sentry Gun
Samsung Techwin has also developed a smart sentry gun, which is believed to be the first of its kind. It combines surveillance, a red camera, voice recognition, and the ability to shoot targets. This technology has been used by the military and law enforcement agencies around the world.
Other Ventures
Samsung has also ventured into other areas, such as the automotive industry. Samsung Motors sold hundreds of thousands of cars before it was sold to Renault in 2000. Samsung Construction was responsible for constructing the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The company has also developed helicopter engines, fighter jets, and even toilet seats.
Samsung vs. Apple
Samsung and Apple have been rivals for many years, and the two companies have been locked in a battle for market share. Samsung has been able to gain an edge over Apple by offering a wide range of products at different price points. This has allowed Samsung to capture a larger share of the market than Apple.
The Legal Battle Between Apple and Samsung
The legal battle between Apple and Samsung has been ongoing for seven years, with Apple accusing Samsung of copying the design of the iPhone. Apple initially sought to have Samsung smartphones completely blocked from sale, but when this failed, they pursued two billion dollars in damages. In the end, Apple only walked away with about five hundred and thirty million. This amount of money was barely worth Apple’s time, and the company also suffered a few losses during the battle. For example, when Apple filed a public complaint saying that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab had copied the iPad design, the judge disagreed and Apple was told to run both newspaper and online adverts to state that Samsung had not copied the iPad.
The Relationship Between Apple and Samsung
Despite the legal battle, Apple and Samsung have a close relationship. Samsung supplies about 90% of the OLED panels used in iPhones, meaning that without Samsung, Apple would be struggling for displays. Similarly, without Apple, Samsung would have lost a massive customer for its Display department. Samsung is also present in many other products, even though these products are not retail products with the company’s brand name on them.
Samsung’s Other Business Ventures
Whilst Samsung is primarily known for their phones, this only makes up about 20% of their business. Samsung is also involved in many other industries, such as semiconductors, automotive components, and medical equipment. The company is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence, with the aim of becoming a leader in the field. Samsung is also investing in 5G technology, and is working on developing its own 5G network. , Samsung is also investing in biotechnology, with the aim of developing new treatments for diseases such as cancer.
The Birth of Samsung
Samsung was founded in 1938 by Lee Byung-Chull in South Korea. Initially, the company sold noodles, dried fish and groceries. It wasn’t until 1970 that the company made its first electrical product, over 30 years after its founding. The name Samsung is a combination of two Korean words: “Sam” meaning three and “Sung” meaning stars. This was chosen by the founder to represent the everlasting nature of the company, just like the stars.
Samsung’s Expansion
In the years since its founding, Samsung has grown to become a global leader in the electronics industry. It has become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of processors, storage chips, mobile image sensors, and other semiconductor components. In 2018, Samsung became the world’s biggest advertiser, spending more than any other company across any industry. It was also the biggest filer of patents in the United States, with over 300,000 active patents.
Samsung’s Impact
The success of Samsung has been immense. In 2018, the company earned just under 400,000 of revenue per minute. A large portion of this revenue is reinvested back into the company, allowing it to continue to innovate and grow. Samsung’s impact on the world of technology has been immense, and it is a testament to the company’s humble beginnings and its founder’s vision.
Samsung said that the dream doghouse was designed to give dogs the same kind of luxury lifestyle that their owners enjoy.
The Three Stars
The iconic three stars of the Samsung logo have been present in every single historic logo up until two decades ago. The stars are believed to represent the three core principles of the company: Quality, Technology, and Service. Despite being removed from the logo, the underlying space theme has remained.
The Mobile Division Logo
The mobile division of Samsung has changed its logo over the years, but many of its other sub-companies still use the same logo which looks an awful lot like a Milky Way. This is because the entire smartphone sub-brand is called Galaxy, and it has been themed around space.
The 1990s
In the 1990s, Samsung’s reputation was very much focused on quantity over quality. They were churning out products, but they just weren’t all that great. The Chairman at the time decided that he wasn’t going to have any of it, and ordered over 2000 staff to gather round a pile of 150000 Samsung products and watch as he set them on fire. This act of destruction was estimated to be worth around 50 million dollars.
The Dream Doghouse
More recently, Samsung has become a giant company churning out tons of products which have been complete runaway successes. However, they have also made a couple of questionable items, such as the Samsung Dream Doghouse. This $30000 pad contains a pool, a treadmill, and a controlled snack dispenser. It also has a Galaxy S tablet. According to Samsung, the Dream Doghouse was designed to give dogs the same kind of luxury lifestyle that their owners enjoy.
The Matrix Reloaded
Samsung has been involved in the production of a number of films, including the sci-fi action film The Matrix Reloaded. As part of their collaboration with the Matrix team, they developed a prop that was used in the movie: a spring-loaded earpiece. This earpiece was a precursor to the current trend of wearable technology.
The Foldable Motorola RAZR
The Motorola RAZR phone was recently released with a foldable design, but Samsung had already detailed a similar concept some time ago. The Galaxy Fold, when unfolded, is more of a tablet than a phone. Samsung has also released a smart flip phone called the Samsung Folder, which runs full Android and has a touchscreen.
Bada OS
When Android was first released, Samsung attempted to compete with their own software platform, Bada OS. Even after this failed and Samsung moved to Android, they continued to create alternatives to many of the apps and features that Android already had. This was done in order to make a Samsung phone feel unique and distinct from other Android devices.
Android Acquisition
Interestingly, Samsung had the opportunity to buy Android back when it was first released, but they declined. This decision has since been seen as a missed opportunity, as Android has become one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world.
Samsung’s Rejection of Android
In 2004, the Android team was looking for funding, and approached Samsung, but the Korean tech giant did not see any potential in the project. The Android team’s ambitious goals were met with amusement by Samsung, and just two weeks later, Google bought the Android platform. Had Samsung decided to invest in Android, the entire landscape of the tech industry could have been different, with Bixby potentially becoming a life assistant.
Rooting Risks
Rooting is a process that allows users to gain administrator permissions over their phones, enabling them to do things like block adverts and install custom software. However, Samsung does not encourage users to root their phones, as it can present additional security risks. Over the years, the company has made it increasingly difficult to root their phones, with the Galaxy S5 requiring a bounty of up to $18,470 for the first person to successfully root the device.
Social Media Moments
Samsung has had some memorable social media moments. In 2013, a 26-year-old man messaged the company on Facebook, shortly after the Galaxy S3 was announced. He asked if he could get a free Galaxy S3, and included a drawing of a dinosaur. To the man’s surprise, Samsung responded positively and sent him a free phone.
The Custom S3
It was an extraordinary gesture by Samsung to gift a one-of-a-kind custom S3 to a person who had been trolled. The device was adorned with the individual’s drawings, making it difficult to determine who had been the perpetrator of the trolling. It is likely that Samsung found the drawings amusing and decided to use them as a way of making light of the situation.
Samsung Medical Center
Samsung Medical Center is a fully functioning hospital located in Korea. It is used to treat patients, but also serves as a testing ground for potential future medical technologies. In addition to this, Samsung also owns Everland, South Korea’s largest theme park. It is an impressive sight and provides a great day out for the whole family.
Professional eSports Team
Samsung has its own professional eSports team, playing Starcraft and League of Legends. The Seoul Samsung Thunders are also part of the Korean Basketball League, and continue to compete to this day.
Testing Smartphone Quality
Samsung has a dedicated department for testing the quality of their smartphones. The phones are subjected to a variety of tests, such as playing games for long periods of time while charging or having a robot repeatedly sit on them. This was done in response to the iPhone 6 bending fiasco, to ensure that the Note 4 would not suffer the same fate.