Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, and Tab 4 getting Android 5.1.1 with Stagefright fixes
Verizon is pushing Android 5.1.1 and a Stagefright fix to update the Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Tab 4 10.1.
The new update also includes a switch for the parallax wallpaper effect, new camera quick exposure, caller ID for Advanced Calling, and Chinese language support.
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Court Rejects Samsung’s Latest Appeal in Patent Case
The U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals today rejected Samsung’s latest appeal in its patent infringement case with Apple without comment, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The appeal was Samsung’s effort to get the court to reconsider a central part of the ruling, which would account for $400 million of the $548 million in damages owed to Apple.
Samsung had urged the Federal Circuit to rehear the case with its full 12-judge roster, arguing that a three-judge panel erred earlier this year when it left intact a jury’s verdict that the South Korean tech giant’s smartphones and tablets infringed on Apple’s design patents.
Samsung’s only legal option to overturn the latest verdict is to turn to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision comes weeks after Facebook, Google and other Silicon Valley companies sided with Samsung in the case, arguing that forcing Samsung to turn over profits from devices that infringed Apple patents would stifle innovation.
This decision is the latest turn in the ongoing patent war between Samsung and Apple. In 2012, a jury ruled that Samsung willfully infringed Apple patents and awarded the Cupertino company $1 billion in damages. The award was slightly reduced after it was determined the jury erred in its judgment. Earlier this year, a U.S. appeals court reversed a significant part of the decision, cutting the award down to $548 million. In mid-June, Samsung asked the court to reconsider its latest appeal, targeting $400 million of the $548 million it owed to Apple.
[Deal] T-Mobile offering 1 year of free Netflix with purchase of a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or S6 Edge+
Samsung announced the successor to the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ earlier today alongside the all new Galaxy Note 5. Both will arrive in stores on August 21. Following the announcement, Sprint announced a deal for buyers of the new flagships, but T-Mobile users shouldn’t feel left out.
The U.S. carrier T-Mobile just agreed to give all buyers of the new flagships 1 full year of Netflix for free. In order to take advantage of this offer, buyers must sign up through the pre-register on T-Mobile’s website by August 20 and then purchase the device by September 30. In fact, T-Mobile ran the same promotion earlier this year with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
You can head over to T-Mobile’s website where you can pre-register the flagships today. Pricing details for the flagships are slightly different depending on the model. You can buy the flagships on T-Mobile’s jump program or buy them off-contract. Either way the deal works. Stay tuned at our website for all the details on the Samsung’s new flagship devices. We have you covered.
Source: T-Mobile
Come comment on this article: [Deal] T-Mobile offering 1 year of free Netflix with purchase of a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or S6 Edge+
Why I’m still getting either a Note 5 or S6 Edge+
I’ll first say that one of the best things to come out of Samsung’s announcement today is that the constant leaks of these two devices can STOP, finally. With that said, it looks like the leaks were mostly accurate.
I can essentially sum up these two devices as so:
Note 5 – A blown up Galaxy S6 with a stylus.
S6 Edge+ – A blown up Galaxy S6 Edge.
From my tone, you’ve probably guessed that I’m underwhelmed by this announcement. However, I’m not as distraught as many people are about it. I mean, I can sympathize with Note power users, such as our own Derrick Miyao. Samsung turned your world upside down.
But I actually like Samsung’s hardware refinement. Never being a Galaxy user, Samsung finally convinced me with the S6 Edge. And I adored the design.
So that got me thinking…what exactly is Samsung doing here? Let’s recap: Derrick, an avid Note fan, is upset. Me, never a Note user, is satisfied.
If Samsung is trying to redefine the Note’s audience, I must ask: Does it really have the luxury to dump their fan base? I mean, it’s a huge company, but really?
I digress. I liked the S6 Edge. Two big problems I had with it was the small display and battery life. This means that both the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ are closer to perfection. So job well done Samsung?
Not quite. A mediocre effort deserves to be called one. The event began with Samsung presenters on the stage talking about the evolution of the Note line. They touched on how it has improved into the beautified mold of their current metal/glass design.
But when we saw it on the screen, past all the talk, I just kept thinking how it simply looks like a large Galaxy S6. And I don’t think I was the only one.
Fortunately, Samsung didn’t leave it at that. It threw us a couple bones. The stylus is spring-loaded now and satisfyingly pops out of it’s hole. You can start writing notes on the screen right away, without pressing the power button. And that keyboard case…
While I shrugged at the keyboard case in the leaked images (to me the appearance looks dated), in action it seems like a promising accessory. Especially when you recall that the Note line has traditionally been aimed at people who use their phone for work.
Cleverly, the keyboard section of the case can pop off and be attached to the back until you need it again. This is a great solution considering that the keyboard takes up a good chunk of screen real estate when you use it.
As far as the S6 Edge+ goes, I think Samsung could’ve just said one sentence and been done with it: The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a larger S6 Edge. That’s essentially all there is to it. And yes, I’m ignoring those minor software tricks on purpose.
You may be confused by my back and forth. What it comes down to is that Samsung leads both display and camera in smartphones. You can knock Samsung all you want, but the fact remains.
Three things keeping the Galaxy S6 from being perfect were screen size, battery, and TouchWiz. With these new phones, Samsung addressed the screen size and helped the battery life. Say what you will, but the arguably best Android phone is now improved, in the right ways. This is why I’m getting either a Note 5 or S6 Edge+…once I can decide on which.
But I won’t let Samsung off that easy. You can’t just spend 6 months and deliver us the same phone but larger. That in itself says that you’ve run out of ideas and aren’t putting forth an effort. The fast wireless charging is a good step, but that cordless-free future isn’t so close.
What are your thoughts, are you still picking up either of these phablets?
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Pricing and availability details are released for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
As everyone, everywhere knows, Samsung announced the highly anticipated Galaxy Note 5, and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. The official announcement of the specs have a folks divided about whether Samsung is sticking to their roots with the Note 5. Some believe these new devices are leaving the true Note fans in the dust, while other’s think that the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ really are the next big things.
We’ve already covered how to get your hands on both devices from Sprint, but the rest of the carriers have announced their pricing, as well as any deals that may be accompanied with the release of the Note 5 or S6 Edge+.
AT&T
AT&T is offering quite a few different perks for using their network. If you’re looking to head to AT&T, and needed a reason, now may be the time to go. AT&T is offering a $100 bill credit and a $200 “buyback” credit if you leave you current carrier and turn in your old phone. In addition to that, current customers taking advantage of the Next Program, will get at least a $200 trade in credit towards the purchase of either device. The final deal that AT&T is offering for purchasing the Note 5 or S6 Edge+ is in connection with their recent DirecTV/U-Verse merger. If you switch your lines from your current carrier to AT&T, and use U-Verse, you will receive a $300 bill credit per line.
Galaxy Note 5
| Storage | Off-Contract | 2-Year Contract | Next 24 (30 months) | Next 18 (24 months) | Next 12 (20 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $739.99 | $249.99 | $24.67/month | $30.84/month | $37/month |
| 64GB | $839.99 | $349.99 | $28/month | $35/month | $42/month |
Galaxy S6 Edge+
| Storage | Off-Contract | 2-year Contract | Next 24 (30 months) | Next 18 (24 months) | Next 12 (20 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $814.99 | $299.99 | $27.17/month | $33.96/month | $27.17/month |
| 64GB | $914.99 | $399.99 | $30.50/month | $38.13/month | $45.75/month |
Verizon
As of right now, it doesn’t seem like Big Red is offering anything special for purchasing either of these devices. However, it does seem that the 32GB variant of the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ are cheaper than everyone, if you purchase the device at full-retail cost.
Galaxy Note 5
| Storage | Full Retail Cost | 24-Monthly Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $696 | $29/month |
| 64GB | $792 | $33/month |
Galaxy S6 Edge+
| Storage | Full Retail Cost | 24-Monthly Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $768 | $32/month |
| 64GB | $864 | $36/month |
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is running a pretty awesome deal that allows anyone who orders either device, to receive one free year of Netflix. The only requirement is that you pre-register by August 20th, and actually order the device of your choice by September 30th. As an avid Netflix user, this is a GREAT deal that will save you over $100, even if the offer is for the basic Netflix account option.
Galaxy Note 5
| Storage | JUMP! (18 months) | Equipment Installment Plan (24 Months) | Full Retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $0 upfront, $25/month | $0 upfront, $29.17/month | $699.99 |
| 64GB | $99.99 down, $24.34/month | $99.99 down, $28.34/month | $779.99 |
Galaxy S6 Edge+
| Storage | JUMP! (18 Months) | Equipment Installment Plan (24 Months) | Full Retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $0 down, $28.50/month | $0 down, $32.50/month | $779.99 |
| 64GB | $99.99 down, $27.67/month | $99.99 down, $31.67/month | $859.99 |
Sprint
Sprint is also offering a few goodies for those who are looking to upgrade to the Note 5 and S6 Edge+. If you purchase the device through either the Sprint Lease or Sprint Easy Pay plans, you will be able to upgrade after 12 months and get at LEAST $200 for trading in a working smartphone. For the final fireworks, users will also get a free Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 with a new 2-year activation. Those are some great deals for switching to Sprint. The problem lies within the service, and the fact that Sprint just dropped to the number 4 spot in the list of top US carriers.
Galaxy Note 5
| Storage | Sprint Lease | Sprint EasyPay | 2-Year Contract | Full Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $0 down, $25/month | $0 down, $30/month | $249.99 | $720 |
| 64GB | $0 down, $30/month | $0 down, $34/month | $349.99 | $816 |
Galaxy S6 Edge+
| Storage | Sprint Lease | Sprint EasyPay | 2-Year Contract | Full Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB | $0 down, $30/month | $0 down, $33/month | $349.99 | $792 |
| 64GB | $0 down, $35/month | $0 down, $37/month | $449.99 | $888 |
US Cellular
Galaxy Note 5
- 32GB for $199 on a two-year contract
Galaxy S6 Edge+
- 32GB for $299 on a two-year contract
Extra Specials
Best Buy is running a couple of specials to entice folks to pre-order and get the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ from their stores. If you pre-order or purchase either of Samsung’s newest devices, you will receive a free wireless charging pad.
In addition to that, if you trade in a working smartphone towards the purchase of your new device, Best Buy will give you a $200 gift card to be used in store. While the wireless charging pad may not force you to run to your local Best Buy, or jump on their website immediately, getting $200 for free, will definitely make you think twice.
As everyone in the world now knows, we will officially be able to purchase these devices come August 21st. However, if you want to get any one of these extra deals that come with the device purchase, you may want to think about pre-ordering.
The post Pricing and availability details are released for the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung SideSync 4.0: Mac support and improved connection speeds
We have been going nuts over the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+, but those are not the only things the Korean manufacturer introduced today. The company also announced a new iteration of their SideSync services, taking the software to version 4.0.
If you don’t know what SideSync is, you are missing out. It’s actually one of the biggest reasons why I want to get a Samsung device (even though these are not my favorite). SideSync allows you to link your Samsung smartphone to your computer, creating a seamless connection between these devices. Once connected, you can control your smartphone screen from your PC.
Furthermore, one can even use the phone as a secondary display, as SideSync allows you to drag your cursor from PC to phone. Users ca type on either platform, and even copy/paste content and data. It’s also possible to send text messages and initiate calls from a computer. You can learn more about SideSync features in our original demo post. Or you can watch the video below.
There’s already a bevy of amazing features packed into this awesome software. And though the new updates don’t change the functionality much, they are still quite a big deal. For starters, Samsung is introducing Mac support, which will be a huge deal for all Apple OSX fans. In addition, connection speeds have been improved, making the experience even more seamless than it already is.
We are not exactly sure when the new version will be rolling out, but it was announced along with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. These phones are set to be released later this month. Maybe Sidesync 4.0 will be read by then, as well? Let’s hope so!
Watch Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ event in under six minutes
Unless you’re living under a rock, you probably already know that Samsung announced two flagship phones today and also teased a smartwatch. But depending on what time zone you’re in — or how busy you were at work — you might not have had time to follow our liveblog or tune into the livestream. Not to worry: We’ve condensed the full 50-minute press conference video into our very own sizzle reel, cutting out the fluff and cutting straight to the newsy bits. Have a gander, and then when you’re done check out all our coverage of Samsung’s Unpacked event here.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: mobilepostcross, samsung, samsungunpacked2015, video
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ versus OnePlus 2
Samsung today announced the successor to the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy S6 Edge+, set to hit stores on August 21. While their aren’t any monumental changes on the hardware side, Samsung has worked hard refining the design, and adding better performance in addition to a handful of awesome software features.
On the other hand, we have the OnePlus 2, a device OnePlus says is intended to be the “2016 flagship killer.” While it may compete well by being offered at a low price point, is it able to stand up to Samsung’s top of the line hardware bundled in a premium package?
Hit the break to find out.
Design
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ sizes in at 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9mm and weighs a meager 151 grams. As is per the norm with most Samsung devices, the volume rocker is placed, power button, and SIM card tray is placed on the sides of the device. The home button is centered on the bottom of the device with capacitive button on each side.
Finally, Samsung is done an excellent job refining the design of the Galaxy S6 Edge+, making it feel like a premium package. It has a glass back that gives it a top-of-the-line feel.
The OnePlus 2’s dimensions are 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.9mm and weighs 155 grams. It employs your standard button layout: volume rocker, power button, and SIM card tray on the sides. However, there’s an Alert Slider offering volume control for notifications. Similar the Galaxy S6 Edge+, there is a home button at the bottom of the device with capacitive buttons placed on the left and right sides.
Winner: Galaxy S6 Edge+ for its premium style.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ features a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD Super AMOLED curved edge display with a pixel density of 512ppi. Additionally, it features Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and has a 75.6% screen-to-body ratio.
The OnePlus Two sports a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LTPS LCD display with a pixel density of 401ppi. Similarly, it features Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and has a 73.3% screen-to-body ratio.
Winner: Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ wins for its better resolution, Quad HD Super AMOLED display, and a higher pixel density.
Hardware
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ features the company’s own Exynos 7420 chipset, a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 processor and a second quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 CPU, a Mali-T760MP8 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 32/64GB of internal storage.
Additionally, it sports a 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Running the OnePlus 2 is a Snapdragon 810 chipset, a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and a quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 CPU, a Adreno 430 GPU, 3/4GB of RAM, and 16/64GB of internal storage.
Finally, it has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Winner: There’s no clear winner, as both have about the same sheer processing power on paper.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ touts a 3,000mAh battery, but due to the big display and high definition resolution, it may not last long on a single charge.
OnePlus’ OnePlus Two has a 3,300mAh battery. While it’s larger than the S6 Edge+’s battery, it should also last much longer, as the OnePlus 2’s display isn’t anywhere near as detailed.
Winner: OnePlus 2
Software
The OnePlus 2 is running OxygenOS atop of Android 5.1.1. It’s a relatively clean skin with little additions aside from some handy features like support for icon packs and icon grid resizing.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ features the latest version of TouchWiz atop of Android 5.1.1. It’s packed full of many extra features, and this time around, Samsung has even added the ability to lifestream to YouTube via the camera app. Another thing to take into account is the software many carriers preload on the device as well.
Winner: It’s a tie, as it comes down to a matter of preference.
Availability and price
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is available to pre-order as of today, however, the device won’t launch for another week on August 21. AT&T is selling the 32GB model for $299 on a new two-year contract or $815 outright, however, many carriers are selling it at varying price points.
The OnePlus 2 is available to buy in some markets. It costs $329 for the 16GB model and $389 for the 64GB model. Unfortunately, the device has been delayed in North America for a few weeks, due to it being in high demand.
Winner: Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ wins, as it has a lot more to offer than the OnePlus 2 and there aren’t any foreseen delays in fulfilling orders.
Wrap Up
Both Samsung and OnePlus have set out to offer a high-end smartphone, but unfortunately, OnePlus has made a lot of cuts that take away from that premium package, such as a lower res display, no NFC, and so on.
On the other hand, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ is significantly more expensive, but it offers a lot more features and has an overall premium design.
Who do you think wins? The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ or the OnePlus 2?
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ versus OnePlus 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 gallery
Samsung today held its Unpacked event in New York City and London, unveiling not only the Galaxy S6 Edge+, but also the Galaxy Note 5. The much-anticipated Galaxy Note 5 has been speculated about over and over again, but now it’s been made official.
Is it everything we were expecting? Not necessarily. But Samsung took some design hints from the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge and brought it to the refreshed Galaxy Note 5. And boy, does it look gorgeous.
Take a look for yourself!
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 gallery
Samsung has ignored its users’ basic needs
Samsung released its new phablets for the year earlier today, and there is already a plethora of articles out there full of reactions about Samsung’s decision to remove expandable memory and replaceable batteries from its Note line. However, this article is going to focus on something I think is much more important. I am here to talk about one thing and one thing only…battery capacity.
The Note 5 demands more power!
Samsung, you know I am not your biggest fan, and it is times like this that has constantly kept you away from your phones. You claimed today that you listen to your fans and built the Note 5 around what they want. However, you seem to have forgotten to focus also on what they need.
If you do not want to include a microSD card slot or removable battery in your phones anymore, okay. That is your decision, and the only people you are going to upset are they users who utilized those features. However, every customer who buys a Note 5 will be relying on the battery you placed in it.
In the Note 4, you included a 3220mAh battery; in the Note 3, you included a 3200mAh battery; and in the Note 2, you included a 3100mAh battery. But for some reason, you thought it would be a good idea to only put a 3000mAh battery in the new Note 5?
The Note 5 is your fastest, most powerful phone yet, and you decided it needed battery that is smaller than the one in the Note 2. Have you not read all of the complaints about battery life that you received about the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge? And these phones have batteries coming in at only 400 mAh less than the Note 5.
News flash! 400mAh is not enough extra capacity for a phone meant for productivity!
While the S6 and its curved twin have productivity features like multi-window, they become much more usable on a larger screen phone with a stylus. This means that more people will use it on the Note 5, which will require more processing power, which then requires more battery power.
I am beginning to think that you did not consider your users at all when designing the Note 5. If you had, then you would have realized that the Note line has always been praised for good battery life, and people know that.
Now, when a Note 3 user comes into the store to get the Note 5, they are going to be expecting the battery life that they got with their Note 3. Unfortunately, they will find out very quickly that the new Note does not last as long as their old phone.
Normal consumers do not know what battery capacity their phones has, or that the Note 5 has the smallest battery in three generations of the device. It is your responsibility to provide them with a phone that will last the whole day on a single charge, and I am afraid you have failed this time.
Who are the wall huggers now?
I am going to shift my focus from something you obviously do not care about, the users, to something that you obviously do care about, money. It does not take a genius to see that the Note 5 is your attempt to compete directly with Apple, and you have every right to do that. They have created their own phablet and are encroaching on the market you created.
However, you have to compete with them by making a phone that is actually better than theirs. From all indications, the iPhone 6+ has pretty good battery life, and consumers know that. What is going to happen when people start buying the Note 5 and learn that battery life on it pales in comparison? They are going to tell their friends that your phone has awful battery life and that the iPhone 6+ will last much longer on a charge.
I worry that the tables have turned. It seems only yesterday you were making fun of iPhone users who suffered from miserable battery life and had to spend much of their time as “wall huggers.” However, it seems that now you have created a phone that will transform its user into one who constantly searches for the nearest outlet.
You do not have to worry about me, Samsung. I have already decided to stay away from the Note 5 and find a phone that can last a full day.
I am worried about the normal customers; the ones that do not know all of a phone’s specs and just get it because they had the older version. These users may be in for a rude awakening, and it was your responsibility to provide them with a phone worth using.
Hopefully people who are disappointed with battery life on the Note 5 will not think all Android phones suffer the same fate, but they definitely might. Hopefully you will gain users with your new design instead of pushing them towards your main competitor. Hopefully you have optimized the Note 5 like crazy and that battery life is actually good.
Regardless of this, I have to say you have disappointed many fans and even non-fans like me. Anyway, good luck on your future attempts, Apple Samsung.
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AIVAnet 