A very good afternoon to every Samsung Community Member.
I am super-dooper excited to share that I will be attending the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in a couple of weeks time on Wednesday 22nd January 2025. I'll be joining other Samsung Members Stars on what will be my first ever Samsung Unpacked Event, with several UK Samsung Members Stars and @SocietyGirl to keep us SM Stars in check!
My day started a couple of weeks ago working from home when I received a phone call. @SocietyGirl was on the other end of the phone and it took a moment or two before we were both talking. 5 minutes later & I am booking annual leave for some days in January for an event I wasnt told any details of or even where it may be.
What is my Samsung Story?
So, almost 3 decades ago I bought my first mobile phone. A Nokia device with a game on it called Snake. Remember that? It was cutting edge at the time. As time went on, mobile devices went from being phones that could call & text, to limited internet (who remembers Edge as an internet connection?), then £20billion or more later in Government Licence Fees and the 4 main networks (Vodafone, Orange (now EE), One2One /o2 (now o2) and Three commenced 3g operations.
How times have changed. Today we have 2g, 4g & 5g (some still have 3g). 6g is in development. Mobile devices are now handheld computers with such computing power they can put many mainstream computers to shame. No longer is your phone just a phone, it is now your go to, your life is inside that device! Calls, texts, data, mms, social media, internet, online banking, online shopping & now we have AI (Artificial Intelligence) that will drive the next level of innovation from Samsung & Google.
Over the years I have had a number of Samsung Devices. D900, G600, S3, S4, S7, S9, Note 4, Note 8 (what a device that was in its prime), S21 Ultra, S23 Ultra (I still think this is the best device Samsung have ever produced and I still have it) and my main go to device today the S24 Ultra. I've also had a play with the Fold 6 and have had a couple of Samsung Tablets over the years (might be time to get a new one me thinks).
Like most users, I discovered Samsung Members Community when I had an issue that I didnt know how to resolve. How simple was it to get an answer? Search the Forum, post a question, wait for responses from other knowledgeable members and then remembering to say thank you. Having been on the o2 Community a few years ago for quite a while I got to understand what a great feeling it is to be helped and that made me think hey, this is a two way street, so along with @BandOfBrothers who I have known on various Communities over the years, I became more & more active. With the S21 Ultra I started to post on Samsung Members Community and I have been particularly active over the last couple of years becoming a proactive member who simply takes pleasure & pride in helping others for no other reason than it is a nice thing to do. In 2024, I received a Private Message out of the blue from @AntS who invited me to join the Samsung Members Stars, again amazeballs.
More selfishly though, I have also learnt a HUGE amount from this Community. How to get the most out of my devices, how to achieve things, how to fix things etc. But also equally importantly, I have made a number of what I hope to be life long friends. Too many to mention and also I dont want to risk offending if I miss anyone out, you know who you are. And for that I thank you all. 😉. However I will specifically mention @BandOfBrothers, @Obsydian, @Glenntech @SocietyGirl, @Lucy C, @Ferenc, @~Robot, @Iminvti, and never forgetting @James4578 who have provided me with so much support along the way. You guys rock (along with those I havent mentioned by name).
Already I was thinking "2024 has been a good year for me on Samsung Community, lots of engagement followed by being asked to be a SM Star". I wasnt ready for what came next......
Bounce forward to January 2025 and that wonderful morning. A call from @SocietyGirl out of the blue. "Are you free for a few days towards the end of January?" I was asked. "I cant tell you much, if anything, but I need your passport details, some personal info, email address, got your phone number, if I can have your inside leg measurement and your eye retina details that would be helpful!". Reality was, I was told nothing, but I sort of worked it out. Stunned is an understatement, I didnt know what to say or do other than book a week off from work and not tell my line manager why! I couldnt think straight, what do I need to do? (Wait for info I was told but I sort of didnt listen to that bit). So I did what all Unpacked Virgins do, YouTube was my best friend at this point and I watched some of the previous year's events. I remember listening to some in the past, but this time I am going to be there!
From my own experiences in Samsung Members Community, I can honestly say that I think this to be a fabulous resource which supports Samsung, Samsung customers, enthusiasts and the wider tech world generally. It has never been "about me", it has been about the Community, the vast range of opinion (we dont all have to agree, just get along), the knowledge and sharing of same and perhaps most importantly, recognition that Samsung are a Premium Brand offering a Premium Product and appreciating the passion for the brand by millions of users across the globe.
#SamsungMembersConnect
#Samsung Members
#GalaxyUnpacked
#UNPKiscoming
S24 Ultra
