U.S. Aviation Authority Lifts Note7 Warning as Samsung Prepares to Relaunch Galaxy Brand

[MacRumors]

U.S. airlines will no longer have to make a pre-boarding notification to passengers that the Samsung Galaxy Note7 is prohibited on aircraft, it was announced yesterday.

In a statement on its website, the Federal Aviation Administration said it was dropping the requirement because public awareness that the banned Note7 was a fire risk was deemed to have reached a sufficient level, thanks in part to extensive recall efforts by Samsung and smartphone providers.

The Department of Transportation removed the requirement for air carriers to specifically notify passengers about the Note7 phone immediately prior to boarding due to the high degree of public awareness of the ban since issuance of the emergency restriction/prohibition order, as well as the extensive efforts by Samsung and U.S. wireless providers to make all Note7 users aware the phone is recalled and banned from transport on U.S. aircraft. 

Following the announcement, Samsung released a statement claiming that over 96 percent of Note 7 devices have been returned so far. U.S. carriers have sent out an end-of-life software update to handsets that remain in circulation, rendering the devices unable to charge. Meanwhile, Samsung has said it will release a report later this month detailing the results of its investigation into what caused some handsets to explode or catch fire while charging.

Samsung appears to have weathered the storm of last year's Note7 debacle, after officially halting sales of the phone worldwide in early October and discontinuing the model. Despite Apple phones outselling Samsung phones two to one over the holiday period, iPhone 7's lack of "compelling" features is said to have convinced most Galaxy Note7 owners to stay with Samsung.

Purported leaked image of the Galaxy S8 expected to launch in April (Image: Weibo)​

According to one report on Tuesday, Samsung has refused to give up on the Galaxy Note name, due to the historical popularity of the brand in the "phablet" category, and a Note8 is currently being readied for launch later this year.

Samsung is currently focusing on the Spring launch of its flagship Galaxy S8, which is rumored to include a "Bixby" AI voice assistant - based on its acquisition of Viv - and is said to have a home button embedded in its edge-to-edge display. The company is reportedly aiming to ship 60 million S8 units by the end of the year.

Article Link: U.S. Aviation Authority Lifts Note7 Warning as Samsung Prepares to Relaunch Galaxy Brand

 

[Col4bin]

TouchWiz...fart. No thanks.

 

[sshambles]

I understand the dropping of the required announcement pre-flight, but dropping the ban is a bad move. No doubt there will be some defiant owners taking them onboard and keeping them for various reasons.

 

[BMcCoy]

There almost cetainly have been owners taking their Note7 on board despite the announcement/ban.

Anyone who would listen and comply with the announcement is the sort of person who would already have returned their Note7. Therefore the announcement and ban are now redundant.

 

[dilbert99]

TouchWiz...fart. No thanks.

I'd consider buying a Samsung/Android phone if it had stock android.

 

[Aussi3]

The note saga starts again! Here we go! Fear for your lives!!!

 

[Vorkeyjones]

So now it's ok to take a bomb onto a plane.

 

[JoeInMilwaukee]

I understand the dropping of the required announcement pre-flight, but dropping the ban is a bad move. No doubt there will be some defiant owners taking them onboard and keeping them for various reasons.

The devices are still banned. According to the FAA's statement: "The devices are still prohibited on both passenger and air cargo aircraft, but the DOT has lifted the requirement that the airlines make the specific pre-boarding notification."

MacRumors needs to change its headline!

 

[69Mustang]

.

The devices are still banned. According to the FAA's statement: "The devices are still prohibited on both passenger and air cargo aircraft, but the DOT has lifted the requirement that the airlines make the specific pre-boarding notification."

Facts. They're not really required on the internet.

Switching gears. If that image of the S8 is accurate then... damn. If I can get it in black or that blue color then that's my next phone. So much screen. So little bezel.

 

[RedOrchestra]

The devices are still banned. According to the FAA's statement: "The devices are still prohibited on both passenger and air cargo aircraft, but the DOT has lifted the requirement that the airlines make the specific pre-boarding notification."

The European airlines didn't get caught up in all the US hype.

Passengers were allowed to carry on their Note 7s (NOT in checked luggage) ... they had to be turned off completely, not just in airplane mode; they could not be in bags placed in overhead bins; so either on your person OR in a bag on the floor of the seat in front of you.

 

[Mr Fusion]

MacRumors needs to change its headline!

Why should they when it makes such great clickbait? They're running a business here, we're the product.

Facts here are as rare as actual Rumors about Macs.

 

[Mildredop]

Galaxy S8, which is rumored to include a "Bixi" AI voice assistant

I hate it when these forums go on about Samsung copying Apple, but this has tipped me over.

Bixi? Siri? Really?!

 

[timmyh]

The devices are still banned. According to the FAA's statement: "The devices are still prohibited on both passenger and air cargo aircraft, but the DOT has lifted the requirement that the airlines make the specific pre-boarding notification."

MacRumors needs to change its headline!

Indeed - headline tweaked! 'Twas a genuine oversight that occurred in my struggle to guess our headline word count limit. Still waiting for the plugin to update and fall in line with Twitter's changed limits.

Nothing has been changed in the article body.

 

[RiddlaBronc]

Samsung does make good looking phones. Really digging that S8 prototype.
Also ehy Bixi? How about Sammy?

 

[Sasparilla]

.

Facts. They're not really required on the internet.

Switching gears. If that image of the S8 is accurate then... damn. If I can get it in black or that blue color then that's my next phone. So much screen. So little bezel.

Isn't it just a picture of the flammable Note7? (Note the stylus) - My bad, didn't notice the photo later in the article. They didn't go as far as I was expecting based on the rumors....so it looks like its still up to Apple to give us a bezel-ess phone in September.

I'd consider buying a Samsung/Android phone if it had stock android.

That was the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition and the canceled S5 GPE. They'd certainly sell a big chunk that way, but it would be a loss of prestige / face for the company, so probably never happen on their own.

It is a bit odd all the Android/Samsung phone lovers here on a Mac / iOS site (references here and the comment directly above)...why waste your time (considering the time I spend on Android sites - which is none), right?

Wonder if Samsung (and possibly other Android suppliers) pay for astroturfing these forums?

 

[RedOrchestra]

Wonder if Samsung (and possibly other Android suppliers) pay for astroturfing these forums?

I'm thinking Apple pretty much does the same thing with the amount of misdirection and apologizing that goes on here.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I'm thinking Apple pretty much does the same thing with the amount of misdirection and apologizing that goes on here.

If you call it apologizing and misdirection when an Android fan is corrected for having an unreasonable opinion or being shown how they're wrong...sure.

 

[itsamacthing]

I'd consider buying a Samsung/Android phone if it had stock android.

Try Huawei Mate 9, it's nearly stock Android 7 and or you can install the Google Now launcher which is basically stock Android. Or grab a pixel (I went with the Mate 9, I need dual sim, and I freaking love it)

 

[silentbob007]

The European airlines didn't get caught up in all the US hype.

Passengers were allowed to carry on their Note 7s (NOT in checked luggage) ... they had to be turned off completely, not just in airplane mode; they could not be in bags placed in overhead bins; so either on your person OR in a bag on the floor of the seat in front of you.

I met someone who had his confiscated in Copenhagen because the recall came in the midst of a very long trip.

 

[RedOrchestra]

I met someone who had his confiscated in Copenhagen because the recall came in the midst of a very long trip.

Was he on a US or Canadian carrier transiting through Copenhagen?

I was just on 5 or 6 domestic flights in Europe and the message was the same and NO Note 7s were confiscated.

 

[69Mustang]

It is a bit odd all the Android/Samsung phone lovers here on a Mac / iOS site (references here and the comment directly above)...why waste your time (considering the time I spend on Android sites - which is none), right?

Wonder if Samsung (and possibly other Android suppliers) pay for astroturfing these forums?

What's even more odd? Someone expressing a limited capacity for understanding that most people can and do use products from Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and other tech companies without having an unnatural affinity for a single brand. Most odd is someone expressing that limited capacity for others to see. I mean, I wouldn't do it, but who am I to criticize an obtuse expression of fandom?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Samsung appears to have weathered the storm of last year's Note7 debacle, after officially halting sales of the phone worldwide in early October and discontinuing the model. Despite Apple phones outselling Samsung phones two to one over the holiday period, iPhone 7's lack of "compelling" features is said to have convinced most Galaxy Note7 owners to stay with Samsung.

It seems premature to say that Samsung has weathered the storm. Have their sales returned to where they were in Q3 2016 and prior yet?

 

[avanpelt]

Wow, the airport personnel and flight crews were making verbal announcements prior to flights? I figured there were just signs posted at check in and at the TSA checkpoint. I obviously haven't flown since the whole Note 7 debacle.

Somehow, a verbal announcement seems to be even worse for the brand than a simple sign. I'm sure the brand will recover; but man, 2016 kicked their ass!

 

[kdarling]

It is a bit odd all the Android/Samsung phone lovers here on a Mac / iOS site (references here and the comment directly above)...why waste your time (considering the time I spend on Android sites - which is none), right?

A lot of people here use whatever mixture of devices meets their needs and desires.

Many, for example, might own a MacBook, iPad and a Samsung phone. While also using a Roku and an Amazon Echo.

Wonder if Samsung (and possibly other Android suppliers) pay for astroturfing these forums?

Or more to the point, you're basically wondering if this site is paid for by Samsung and other Android suppliers, since it posts a lot of news articles about Samsung and Android?

Ironically, they often are paying for this site. For instance, I often see Samsung ads presented here, but NEVER an Apple ad. Apple is apparently too cheap to support its own fan sites with ads.

So thank your lucky stars that Apple's competitors are willing to advertise on Apple fan sites. Their money allows you to gripe about them

 

[69Mustang]

It seems premature to say that Samsung has weathered the storm. Have their sales returned to where they were in Q3 2016 and prior yet?

They're reportedly set to announce a 50% increase in operating profit for Q4 2016. Their diversified businesses mitigated the effects of the Note firestorm. <-- firestorm... tee hee

Somehow, a verbal announcement seems to be even worse for the brand than a simple sign. I'm sure the brand will recover; but man, 2016 kicked their ass!

It depends on how you look at their year. Brand perspective? They got kicked in the nuts. Business perspective? Not so much. YoY up 10% overall and Q4 up 50% in operating profit.