Samsung Canada to cut off network access to Note7 after December 15

Samsung Canada previously announced that around 90 percent of 39,000 Note7 units sold in the country have already been returned. And to those still holding on to their units, the time you’ll be able to use your devices are almost over. Samsung plans to cut network access to unreturned Note7 devices by December 15. These remaining 4,000 units will lose access to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by December 12 and then cellular capability by December 15. There will also be an update that will limit battery charge on the device. It isn’t clear though up to what percentage that will be. The one thing that will work after the update is the ability for the phone to call 911 for safety reasons.

The South Korean company is still imploring those who still have their units to return them. Samsung even wants to remind these users that they are legally prohibited from selling or giving away the device since it’s a recalled product.

Source: Android Central

Report shows design flaws that cause Samsung Galaxy Note7 explosions

A high resolution image from an Instrumental station shows the tight XY clearances to the battery. It's also possible to see the pocket formed by aluminum walls on all sides, which prevents the rough edges of the PCB from touching the battery pouch. (Instrumental)

An independent test by quality assurance firm Instrumental claims the Samsung Galaxy Note7’s issues have more to do with the phone’s design than with its batteries. Instrumental engineers say in a blog post that they discovered “intellectual tension between safety and pushing the boundaries” during a recent teardown of the smartphone.

The teardown showed little space between the battery and the rest of the components that the slightest pressure like sitting on the phone while in the back pocket could cause the polymer separator layers that keep the battery safe to come in contact with one another. The engineers found a thin shield protecting the battery, which could be seen as Samsung’s effort to mitigate the effects of pressure. But enough pressure applied could still squeeze the separators to a point where the positive and negative layers would touch and cause the battery to explode. Samsung hasn’t really been clear about what’s causing the Note7 to explode, this might give us a bit of an idea as to what happened with the beleaguered device.

Source: PC Mag

Samsung to release update to prevent unreturned Note 7s from charging beyond 60%

Since issuing the recall of all Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices, a spokesperson for the company in the US says almost 85 percent of recalled Note7 units have been replaced through the Note7 Refund and Exchange Program there and that most of them opted to get another Samsung device. But there are still some users holding on to their Note7 units. What Samsung plans to do is to release a software update that will “limit the phone’s ability to charge beyond 60 percent.” This update is expected to drop in the next few days. Alongside that, a pop-up reminder to return the device will show up every time the screen is turned on or the device is powered on or charged. In New Zealand, Samsung has cut off the cellular service to the phone.

Source: TechCrunch

Samsung sets up booths at some airport for Galaxy Note7

As you well know, Samsung Galaxy Note7’s are now banned from US and Canadian aircrafts (among other airlines). Hoping you won’t become phone-less after having to leave the Note7 behind, Samsung is setting up pop-up booths at “some of the most frequently visited airports” in the US and around the world to exchange or refund Galaxy Note7 devices. There’s already a booth at San Francisco International Airport as well as airports in South Korea and Australia.

Source: Quartz