T-Mobile now rolling out Android 4.4.4 KitKat update for Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)
If you own a T-Mobile-branded Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) today could just be your lucky day as the operator has just started rolling out the much-anticipated Android 4.4.4 KitKat update to all its LTE variants of the slate currently located in the United States.
When perusing the device’s update history page on Samsung’s website we were somewhat flabbergasted to say the least as, historically, tablet updates rarely happen in the US due to the sheer amount of carrier involvement that’s entailed in adapting the SDK to suit their requirements.
Unfortunately, neither the operator or the manufacturer provided a changelog for the upgrade, but seeing as it’s a bump to the latest version of Android we presume it will bring all of the usual changes, including: faster multitasking, smart caller ID, SMS-to-Hangouts integration, Cloud Print and QuickOffice.
To see if your tablet is eligible for the update, head into “Settings,” then “About Device,” and select “Check for Updates”. If a pop-up window doesn’t appear prompting you to upgrade, don’t worry. It means that the update is not ready to be pushed out to your device, just yet. But when it is available, you will receive a push notification requesting you to download and install it.
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Samsung’s Intel-based Chromebook 2 availability and pricing announced
Earlier in the year, Samsung released the Exynos powered Chromebook 2 in both a 11.6-inch and 13-inch variety. The Exynos powered device however met with much criticism regarding its ability (or lack thereof) to multitask well compared to Intel based Chromebook options. Today, Samsung is adding a new Chromebook 2 option that’s powered by an Intel processor. The chip under the hood, the fanless Celeron N2840 chipset running at 2.58GHz.
The Intel Chromebook 2 sports 2GB of RAM, and according to Samsung the laptop has an improved design. The USB ports, as well as the four corners are now metal-reinforced, as is the display. it still has the faux leather stitching like the original Chromebook 2 and Note 3, and features a 1,366 by 768 screen.
A new Google Help app that Samsung collaborated with Google on, allows users unfamiliar with ChromeOS to click a button and be connected to a support representative from Samsung’s operation center in North Carolina, a la Amazon Mayday. They’ll be able to take control of your screen, show you how to accomplish tasks such as changing settings, or even help fix problems. However unlike Mayday, you’ll only have access to support from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.
You’ll be able to pre-order the new Chromebook starting today for $250. Otherwise you’ll only have to wait a week until it’s available through retail channels. If you do make this you’ll be happy to know that you’ll get 9-hours of juice before you have to throw the Chromebook on the charger.
source: The Verge
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According to a new FCC filing, Sprint will carry the Galaxy Note Edge
For a device that is going to be very limited at launch, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is going to be available in a lot of places. We already know it will be available through T-Mobile, and we’re pretty sure AT&T and US Cellular will be getting it as well, but according to a new FCC filing, it seems that Sprint will be getting Edge-y as well.
The new filing is for an Edge with the model number “SM-N915P” and offers support for Sprint’s network (LTE band 26, LTE band 41 and LTE band 25). It will be interesting to see how the device is received by consumers, and if Samsung decides to produce more of the unique handset. No word on stateside pricing, but judging by what we’ve seen overseas, it is safe to assume it won’t be cheap. Any readers out there going to try and get an Edge at launch?
Source: FCC
Via: G For Games
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T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 receiving minor update
With today being the day that the Note 4 is launching in the United States officially, and T-Mobile customers who pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 getting a nice surprise earlier this week when they started receiving their orders, users on the uncarrier network are seeing a minor update pop up. The 65MB update looks to fix performance problems and increase battery performance. The carrier’s web site has nothing yet regarding details on the new update but if you’re on T-Mobile and have a Note 4, you should see a notification pop up. If not you can manually check for the update in the settings menu.
source: T-Mo News
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Samsung revamps its lower-end Chromebook with faux leather
It’s taken a while, but people finally seem to be embracing Chromebooks as the low-cost laptops that they were designed to be. Samsung’s already earned our plaudits for this year’s Chromebook 2, but what if you just don’t have $400 to spend on a new piece of hardware? Never fear, for the company has also refreshed the lower-end model from 2012 with better specs, but the same $249.99 price-tag. The low cost doesn’t mean that this new (old) Chromebook can’t be stylish, however, as Samsung has coated the top lid in the same faux-leather backing that we’ve seen on plenty of the company’s other gadgets.
Speaking of the hardware, the Exynos 5 that ran the show in the 2012 model has been ditched in favor of a 2.58GHz Intel Bay Trail CPU (Celeron N2840) paired with 2GB RAM. You’ll also find 16GB storage, Intel HD graphics and an Intel-made 802.11ac WiFi chip lurking beneath the keyboard. Display-wise, there’s a 1,366 x 768 TN screen nestled beneath a 720p webcam, and we’d imagine both have been carried over from the original in order to keep the costs down. In addition to the battery rated for nine hours of life, owners will be some of the first to be able to use Google Help, the company’s Mayday-esque tech support service. Available between 10am – 7pm (ET), all a user needs to do is type Chrome:help into their address bar and, if an agent is available, you’ll be given the option to call them for assistance. If that’s all the information you need before slapping cash on the counter, you’ll be able to pre-order the Chromebook from right now, with shipping commencing at some point next week. If not, then you’ll just have to wait for our review
Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
Where to buy Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4
A week later than Samsung had originally planned, the new Galaxy Note 4 has today officially landed on UK shores. As far as we’re concerned, the 5.7-inch behemoth is the best big-screen phone you can get your hands on at the moment, with a gorgeous, pixel-dense display and all the power you can manage. And thanks to various software tricks, it’s not much of a chore to use one-handed, despite its beastly dimensions. Phablet fans waiting on the newest Note from the pioneer of the super-sized handset now have that all-important decision ahead: to buy or not to buy? Well, join us below as we investigate where you can get one, and how much of a dent the many options are going to make on your bank account.
| EE | Three | Carphone Warehouse | Buymobiles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest contract (with upfront) | £15 (£460) | £38 (£99) | £25 on EE (£200) | £25 on EE (£240) |
| Cheapest contract (no upfront) | – | £49 | £43.50 on Voda 4G | £46 on EE |
| Pay-as-you-go | £530 | £600 | – | – |
| Unlocked (SIM-free) | – | – | £650 | – |
A new addition to the Galaxy Note series is usually a high-profile affair, and yet a couple of the big carriers are slightly behind the curve when it comes to updating their online stores with pricing and availability details. O2 is still listing the Note 4 as “coming soon,” while Vodafone’s keeping mum. We’d be surprised if both networks weren’t featured in the above table by the end of the day, but we’ve reached out to both to try and speed things up a bit. And by the way, if you’re after the flashy gold model, that’s currently exclusive to Carphone Warehouse customers.
Developing…
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Galaxy Note 4 owners get three months free of OnLive gaming
Ahead of the Galaxy Note 4’s release in the US tomorrow, Samsung has a last-minute incentive for potential buyers as well as those who have already pre-ordered. The company just announced a new partnership deal with OnLive, which gives owners of its fresh, big-screen handset three months of free gaming through the streaming platform. Samsung’s promotion is part of the Galaxy Gifts Package, a collection of free software from its own app store, and will give users access to titles from OnLive’s PlayPack bundle, such as Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders, Rogue Legacy and many more. The OnLive service is typically $9.95 per month — so not only do you save some cash, but also have the chance to try it without any attachments. Once you have your Note 4, the OnLive app can be downloaded from the Galaxy Apps shop.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Internet, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung Galaxy Apps
Blocks modular smartwatch will use Samsung’s Tizen OS
Blocks, a company based in the UK that’s investing into modular tech design, has announced some new details regarding their upcoming modular smartwatch. The watch works pretty similarly to what we’ve seen from Project Ara where you’ll be able to swap out different pieces of the hardware to keep your device up to date and customize it exactly how you want it. We’ve yet to see a modular device become extremely mainstream, so the idea may not be a commercial success, but there are plenty companies willing to tackle it, anyway.
Blocks claims that the hardware side of things is moving along nicely, so they’re investing into the software side of things. In an interesting twist, Blocks smartwatches will use Tizen, the collaborative OS from Samsung and Intel. Yep, the same operating system that Samsung uses for their own Gear smartwatches. It shouldn’t affect compatibility with your devices, though; the company said they’re targeting support for Android, iOS, and Windows, which should cover a majority of consumer devices.
I think it’s surprising to see a company opt for Tizen over anything Android based, especially when they’re striving to make things extremely customizable, but the gamble might pay off. We’ll have to wait until 2015 to find out, however you slice it.
source: Phone Bloks
via: Android Headlines
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Archos is launching a GearVR competitor that costs just $40
We may not know how much GearVR will cost, but we’re reasonably sure that Archos is already trying to undercut Samsung and Oculus head-mounted effort. The French company is busting out the wittily-named Archos VR Headset, a Rift-like device that’s compatible with any smartphone that measures between 5 and 6-inches. The kicker here, of course, is that the device will retail for £25 in the UK, roughly converting to $40, which would put it well beneath the – frankly insane – $200 figure an unnamed Samsung official told VentureBeat during New York Fashion Week. If you’re interested in trying one out, it’ll be available at some point in November, and we hope that the GearVR isn’t too far behind.
Galaxy Golden 2 user manual leaks showing off some impressive specs
The first Galaxy Golden was originally marketed as a premium flip-smartphone with some less than premium specs. The original had a dual-core 1.7GHz CPU, two 3.7-inch screens (800×480) displays and Android 4.2. We’re not sure how successful the Golden was but it appears that Samsung saw enough purchases to make a sequel and this go-around shows some better specs.
The Galaxy Golden 2 user manual has leaked and it shows some amazing specs. The new Golden sports Android 4.4, better 4.6-inch SAMOLED displays (1,280×768), a Snapdragon 801 with Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM, and like the S5 and Note 4 will also feature a 16MP rear shooter that records 2,160p 4K videos. The front shooter comes in at 2 megapixels.
The device sports two microSIM card slots but if you’re nostalgic for the days of the flip phone just know that you’ll probably not be able to buy this phone as it looks like it may be exclusive to China. We’ll let you know if we found out otherwise.
source: Sam Mobile
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