U.S. Cellular pushing out Android 4.4.2 to their Galaxy S4
Hot on the delayed heals of Verizon, or possibly the other way around, U.S. Cellular customers are being treated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat for their respective Galaxy S4′s too. In their “What’s New” guide they talk about memory optimization, faster touch screen response time, and better multitasking.
The update is trolling out via a typical OTA and could take a little while to hit every user out there. If you are a bit impatient, you can hook your Galaxy S4 up to your PC and use Samsung Kies to push the update onto your device. Either way, be sure you have well over 50% battery life before you get going on this.
Via U.S. Cellular 1 / 2
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Verizon Galaxy S4 Finally Seeing Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update
If you held off from grabbing a Galaxy S5 and are still rocking your fully functional Galaxy S4, then we have some good news for you. looks like the long wait for Verizon to catch up to the times is finally over. A number of user reports are being confirmed that Android 4.4.2 KitKat is finally making its rounds. We checked in with the Verizon support pages for the Galaxy S4 and came across the PDF for the update.
Along with the few things in the image above, the document outlines a few other important things regarding the update:
THE FOLLOWING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE:
• Google+ Photos is now Photos
• Play Magazine is now Play Newsstand
• VZ Security is now VZ ProtectTHE FOLLOWING APPS ARE NOW PRE-LOADED:
• ISIS Wallet
• VZ Protect (version 2.0.0)
• Verizon Cloud
• Audible app (version 1.5.4)
THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE BEEN FIXED:
• Shortcut Folders on Home screen
• Contact issue when using messaging and dialer apps
• Backup Assistant Plus contact sync
• Bugs when using KNOX appTHE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE:
• Phone book and contact syncing to some Bluetooth car kits
• “Locked up” display and device heating
• Group messaging performance on the messaging app
• Stability and power cycle issues
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Bluetooth audio disconnect when using Music/Navigation app
• ISIS activation issue
• Now supports roaming to Canada (TELUS) network
• Improvements to Accessibility (subtitles) settingsTHE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE:
• SMS to Google Hangouts
• Google Printing framework
• Google+ User Location widget has been added
As always, this is going to be a staged roll-out, so many of you might not see it today. You can always head into Settings>About Phone> Software Update to see though. Make sure you have a good 50% or more battery remaining, a solid Wi-Fi connection and some time to kill while it does its thing.
Anyone seeing the update hit their Galaxy S4 today?
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NBA Game Time updates with extra special additions for select Samsung device owners
With the 2013-2014 NBA Playoffs underway sports fans will be keeping close tabs on things when mobile. Of course Google Now does a pretty good job of keeping you in the loop at all times, but there is also an ‘app for that’ as it were. The NBA Game Time app is a free app that is meant to keep you in the loop all things NBA related. Last week they pushed an update to the app that brought some special treats to Samsung Galaxy device owners.
The new Samsung Experience section is officially live for owners of the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 3. The new section brings you an exclusive lockscreen with live countdowns to your teams next game, live scoring updates during the game and quick access to playoff series scores all without unlocking your device. You also get some wallpapers to set of your favorite teams.
As a Galaxy owner you will also get special highlights from the playoffs like slow motion video content taken with the phantom camera, mini-movies from select games and segments from “NBA Inside Stuff”. As a famed Galaxy owner, you will get all that content before it is released to the general mobile community.
If you don’t have the app and ant to check it out feel free to hit the button below to go pick it up.
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Samsung Galaxy S5 sales were between 30% and 100% higher than Galaxy S4 on launch Day
If Samsung was worried about the popularity of its new flagship device, those concerns have been quelled emphatically. Reports from ZDNet have reported that Samsung Galaxy S5 sales on launch day were up on average by 30% over its predecessor, the Galaxy S4, and that in some countries, the sales increase was closer to 100%. In fact, the above photo was taken in France on launch day there, with scores of people lining up in anticipation of purchasing the phone. There’s definitely some irony in the appearance of lines; Samsung is well known for disparaging Apple for the appearance of lines when they launch new devices.
Many of you will remember that the Galaxy S4 sold 10 million handsets in its first month on the market; it looks like the Galaxy S5 is on track to smash that record and while Samsung probably isn’t worried about the demand for its new smartphone, they will likely be worried about the supply which took several significant hits in the weeks before the Galaxy S5′s release, including a contracted factory catching fire and the assembly of its ISOCELL camera not progressing as quickly as they hoped. Whatever happens in the ensuing weeks, the Galaxy S5′s launch day performance sure makes it seem like Samsung still has a stranglehold on the Android market for the foreseeable future.
Have you got a Samsung Galaxy S5? What are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: ZDNet via Phone Arena
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Sprint Updates Tri-Band Capable Galaxy S4 Devices with Wi-Fi Calling
Sprint has begun pushing out an update today for the Samsung Galaxy S4 which will make it the 4th device on the network capable of using Wi-Fi calling. The others are the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Note 3. The update is rolling out now, but is expected to take a couple of weeks to complete.
How will customers benefit?
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Enhanced coverage for in-building coverage or areas with challenging network conditions
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Easy setup: Once activated, everything is seamless and happens in the background
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Unlimited voice calling and messaging on Wi-Fi: All domestic calling and messaging is FREE (standard CDMA international rates apply for international calls)
Be on the look out for the update and let us know how it works out when it arrives. Also kep in mind that this update and the Wi-Fi calling option is only for the tri-band version of the device. (The ones that can utilize Sprint Spark)
Source: Sprint
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DisplayMate says the Samsung Galaxy S5 has the ‘best performing smartphone display’
If you asked me what smartphone has the best display of them all, I probably wouldn’t be confident in giving you an objective suggestion. DisplayMate, experts in the display analysis business, on the other hand, has put together a very objective report which conclusively says that according to them, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has the ‘best performing smartphone display’ available.
Through all their tests, which saw the Galaxy S5 perform extremely favorably compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S5 broke records for multiple ‘best display’ categories including “Highest Brightness, Lowest Reflectance, Highest Color Accuracy, Infinite Contrast Ratio, Highest Contrast Rating in Ambient Light, and smallest Brightness Variation with Viewing Angle”. While there are no doubt a few more challengers that are yet to enter the ring, it’s fantastic for prospective Galaxy S5 owners to know that Samsung‘s OLED screen hasn’t missed a beat and has been improved on since the Galaxy S4.
If you want to check out the full and very comprehensive report, be sure to hit the source link below. What do you think about the suggestion that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has the best display out of all the available smartphones on the market now? Let us know what your opinion is in the comments.
Source: DisplayMate via SamMobile
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Engadget giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S 4 and blinged out Galaxy Gear courtesy of Brilliance!
You’ve tricked out your ride, splurged on some curves for your home theater and even recreated that floating Burnquist ramp for extreme weekend fun, but there’s still something missing. The gem and jewelry purveyors at Brilliance have just the thing; they’ve provided an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S 4 and bundled it with a gemstone-studded Galaxy Gear, so that one lucky Engadget reader (or someone near and dear) can rock a bit of bling like the stars. Brilliance offers gemstone customization for a variety of gadgets and has recently worked with Samsung to create shiny custom wearables for celebrities like Jennifer Hudson. You get to choose the color of the Galaxy Gear and take your pick of real-life gems, so you can rock your rocks while wearing your tech — Xzibit would be proud. To get a chance at winning this sparkly wrist machine and life companion smartphone, you’ll need to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Go ahead, it might just be your chance to shine.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337), and one (1) Samsung Galaxy Gear (SM-V700) customized with the gemstone of your choice, courtesy of Brilliance.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Samsung, Brilliance and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until March 26th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt
All New HTC One Dummy Unit Poses with Other Popular Phones
It wouldn’t shock me, if HTC’s CEO just walked out on stage at their event, raised the New HTC One up in the air and yelled, “Here it is! Go get it!” then just walked off stage. The All New HTC One has been spotted more times in the wild than the Loch Ness Monster, and today, we get a dummy unit posing with some other phones you might have heard of.
The iPhone 5s, LG G2, Xperia Z1, and the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, lay beside the All New One, and we get a good look on how it measures up. Not like it is much of shock that it is pretty distinctive when compared to the other popular phones. So check out all the images, and let us know how excited you are about the new HTC One.
Source: Droid-Life
Samsung Galaxy S4 Replacement Battery (2600mAh) [Accessory of the Day]
Need to replace the battery on your Samsung Galaxy S4? Maybe you like to have a spare one around so you can toss it into a bag for an extended night on the town. Whatever the case, you can scoop one up from Amazon for as little as $10.48 today. Discounted 79% off the normal price, it’s one heck of a bargain. Note that this is the real deal from Samsung and not an off-brand replacement.
The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Replacement Battery (2600mAh) [Accessory of the Day] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Android 4.4.2 for the T-Mobile Galaxy S4 and Many More! – Device Updates
Alright friends, time to see if you got an update headed your way. Pretty much all the updates are Android 4.4.2 related, and you T-Mobile Galaxy S4 and Note 3 users should be you are finally getting it. If you haven’t gotten you update yet, don’t worry, these update rollouts take time. Just be glad that they are coming.
Device Updates
T-Mobile Galaxy S4 gets Android 4.4.2
Android 4.4.2 for the HTC Butterfly S
Huawei Ascend P6 gets Android 4.4.2
KitKat hits the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3
Android 4.4.2 rolls out to the Sprint Moto X
AIVAnet 