Samsung picks fights with Google and Qualcomm

Samsung has signaled it intends to take on Google and Qualcomm. The Korean giant’s weapon of choice to niggle Google is a Windows port of the “Samsung Internet” browser it ships on smartphones. The Korean giant says the port “marks the first step toward Samsung Internet becoming a gateway to truly ambient AI across the …

[Pascal Monett]

"a gateway to truly ambient AI"

Sorry bud, you lost me there.

If that's the direction you're going, you can go it alone.

[simonlb]

Re: "a gateway to truly ambient AI"

My bullshit meter detonated at that one.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "a gateway to truly ambient AI"

I couldn't see any obvious AI nonsense in the Android version. Fairly decent browser and runs under generic Android not just Samsung's.

I use different browsers for different sites: Samsung for a news site, Firefox (no JS) for el Reg, Opera (Annas Archive) and DuckDuckGo (Phoronix) but very rarely Chrome. None are perfect but some are less perfect than others.

[Like a badger]

Anticipates users needs

Like how?

"It's 21:45, you often browse German scat pr0n at this time. Feast your eyeballs on this! "

[Tubz]

"IF" it was bloat free, as quick as Chrome, supported 3rd party blockers, spyware free, didn't phone home, didn't track, easy VPN support, monthly updates, opened source code to scrutiny, then another alternative browser is welcome.

Or somebody with deep pockets, invest in Firefox and redevelop it as the go to open source again and sack the current directors.

[Like a badger]

"Or somebody with deep pockets, invest in Firefox and redevelop it as the go to open source again and sack the current directors."

Almost anybody investing is going to want a return on their investment. The only possible candidate I can think of who might be suitable is Mark Shuttleworth, but I doubt he'd want to get involved in trying to wrest control from the graspers of Mozilla Foundation, esp as the battle would become politicised, nor why he'd want to be supporting a browser that in user count is essentially a minority interest on Windows? A better option might be to select one of the existing Firefox spin offs if their custodians will permit, or even start a new forked version but with better FOSS governance?

Who else is there? I certainly wouldn't expect money without strings and a lot of interference from Elmo or the other techbro, and big corporations would be even worse.

[An_Old_Dog]

Samsung's Ethics

... demand strong data-slurp capabilities be built-in to their software.

Their TVs and custom Android software showcase this.

[Charlie Clark]

With a list like that, do you think anyone will bother?

Personally, I think another browser on a diferent codebase is to be welcomed. Samsung phones do come with some kind of VPN offer, but I'm happy as it is with Ivacy.

[3arn0wl]

Divergence

I applaud Samsung's recent moves to differentiate themselves from Western big tech.

Last year they demo'ed a RISC-V-Tizen TV.

Let's see a RISC-V-Tizen smartphone from them too.

After all, the world is bigger than The West, and the BRICS economy is huge and populous

[Roland6]

Re: Divergence

We can expect HUAWEI to follow given they also have a browser for android and other bits needed to replace the Google bundled apps.

[3arn0wl]

Re: Divergence

Yes - Huawei is similar in many ways. They design their own silicon and they have their own OS.

They also have the motivation, having been an early target of political displeasure. Plus, their primary marketplace is free of Google Services.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Divergence

"I applaud Samsung's recent moves to differentiate themselves from Western big tech."

How so? Seems to me Samsung want to develop a business model exactly like Western big-tech, although they've only had limited success so far. Which is unsurprising, hardware and software are like beast and dairy, you does one or t'other.

I can understand why - Samsung are very accomplished hardware maker but that produces low margins, whereas software is a licence to print money.

[3arn0wl]

Re: Divergence

"How so?"

As per the headline, really! Distancing themselves with both hardware and software.

You're right to suggest that Samsung have a business model similar to other tech giants: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Huawei and Samsung are all cows that produce both milk and beef, to use your analogy.

[In the company of clowns]

Re: Divergence

How exactly are they differentiating themselves from "Western big tech", when they are themselves "Western big tech!"?

They are currently leading the global market for both phones and tv's. And they just had a visit from Trump to sign new deals, and they also host a massive US military base. So South Korea is about as 'West' as any Asian country can get!

[3arn0wl]

Re: Divergence

Well…

Firstly they have their own operating system - Tizen - and app ecosystem. These days Tizen is mostly confined to their TVs (and I've heard it said that it's preferable to Android TV, but I wouldn't know). However, in the past, Samsung have marketed Tizen smartphones, and could fairly easily do so again. Tizen is obviously Google-free, making it acceptable in some regions.

Secondly, although they have chosen to use Qualcomm chips, they also design and build their own silicon, so they're not beholden to Western chip design companies. And

Thirdly, they've been involved with RISC-V since 2017, and are said to have some RISC-V ISA CPU designs, so they are not dependent on Arm Holdings either.

All these elements, whilst undoubtedly being contingency at the moment, nevertheless puts pressure on Google, Qualcomm and Arm. As you say, Samsung is a big player, and the loss of - or just a decline in - their custom would be keenly felt.

[DrXym]

No thanks

Samsung loves to fill its devices with bloatware & adware that it developed in-house or was paid to install and which the user has no way to actually remove, only "disable". Some of it is positively anticonsumer like using dark patterns during phone setup to consent to install "AppCloud" which automatically installs junk & ads on their phones. I don't think there is anybody who actually *wants* those things, let alone is hoping for that software to appear on other platforms. It's even worse in the US of course where many Samsung products are basically running spyware - TVs with automatic content recognition, voice recognition etc.

[Delbert]

Samsung last aria

Adding AI Forceware to the package is the final straw I spent an age disabling all the google spyware (which like the Borg is futile - they are still sniffing) and turning off what Galaxy/Samsung 'features' the tons of subscribe to access garbage. I was hopefully hampering their attempts to spy into my life for 'commercial' purposes.

Next phone will likely be Chinese thus avoiding spying by American and Korean entities, just having the Chinese to worry about, who knows my regular Chinese takeway might be of interest to Beijing.(more Udon noodles please)

[Anonymous Coward]

I’d rather they added Apple Music to my Soundbar as an Alexa skill/stand alone.