Samsung Galaxy S5 teaser hints at new privacy and fitness features
We’re not mathematicians, but we’re fairly sure that you can’t multiply Life to the power of five. That hasn’t stopped Samsung, however, from claiming as much on its latest MWC invite. The company’s “back-to-basics” Galaxy S5 is expected to dominate the show, and this is the first official hint of what we can expect. The grid of nine icons are grouped by color, with Speed, Curiosity and Privacy in team blue and Outdoor, Style and Fitness in healthy green — and yes, all are multiplied to the power of five. It’d be hasty to leap to any conclusions just yet, but perhaps we’ll see Samsung beefing up device security in the wake of PRISM and, hopefully, a renewed focus on fitness.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung (Twitter)
Android 4.4 Hits the Verizon HTC One. Older Galaxy Phones to Receive KitKat – Device Updates
It is Monday, so we check to see what updates happened in the past week. Android 4.4 finally hit the HTC One, or at least one carrier’s HTC One. Galaxy users with older phones will be happy to know that Samsung is planning on getting some of that KitKat on your device. Hopefully sooner than later.
Device Updates
Android 4.4 for the Verizon HTC One
Older Galaxy devices getting Android 4.4
Android 4.4.2 ready for the T-Mobile Moto X
[LEAK] Android KitKat for the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 are coming and this is what the status bar will look like
Knock, knock. Leak. Leak who? Leak from Eldar Murtazin, that’s who! Eldar Murtazin has been on top of some very important leaks the last few weeks including ones regarding the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the apparent demise of the Nexus line of devices. This time his leak comes in the form of the above picture which is allegedly the status bar for Samsung’s Android KitKat update. Naturally, that would be the Android KitKat for the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 that is imminently due, and no doubt also to be featured on the Galaxy S5 to be announced at MWC 2014.
Pure white is definitely an interesting choice, particularly if you have a white background, but it looks like it adheres to the standard KitKat interface that we have seen on all the devices that have already received Android 4.4. Murtazin also tweeted earlier today that this change to the standard white icons “means a lot for TouchWiz‘s future” which suggests that Samsung may be finally playing Google‘s fiddle after the two were at loggerheads regarding Samsung’s Magazine UX and treatment of native Android apps. This can only mean good things for Samsung and, in turn, TouchWiz, which has been increasingly disparaged for its memory space hogging and general operation.
What do you think about the status bar leaked today? Think this is Samsung turning over a new leaf with Google? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Twitter (1), (2) via Phone Arena
Judge denies re-retrial in never-ending Apple v. Samsung patent battle
It turns out we’re not the only ones who are ready to see this patent battle royale come to an end. Last night, Judge Lucy Koh denied Samsung a retrial in the case that will not die, but took the opportunity to shame Apple’s lawyers for bringing the Korean company’s foreignness into the equation. The court-appointed shaming comes as a result of closing arguments made during a partial retrial that saw a portion of Apple’s original award bumped from $450 million down to $290 million in damages. At the time, Apple’s attorney argued that Samsung’s infringement of Apple’s patents could have an impact on the US economy.
When I was young, I used to watch television on televisions that were manufactured in the United States. Magnavox, Motorola, RCA. These were real companies. They were well known and they were famous. They were creators. They were inventors. They were like the Apple and Google today.
But they didn’t protect their intellectual property. They couldn’t protect their ideas. And you all know the result. There are no American television manufacturers today.
Samsung originally moved for a mistrial in that case based on those comments, but was denied. Instead, Koh informed the jury to avoid letting prejudice inform its decision. While Koh didn’t see a need for yet another trail, she repeatedly referred to the comments as “troubling,” saying they “could have been perceived as invoking racial or ethnic prejudice.”
Filed under: Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Via: re/code
Source: Scribd
Samsung launches a new trailer to show off the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro
There are a lot of mixed opinions on the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 tablet since it debuted at CES 2014, most of them centred around it’s new Magazine UI and also it’s price. The price in particular has garnered quite a lot of attention as preorders for the device have been priced at $849.99 USD for the 32GB version, which is a gargantuan amount of money. It’s probably this outpouring of slightly negative response that has caused Samsung to release a trailer today that actually does a pretty good job of showing off all the great new features. Check it out:
Interestingly, the trailer doesn’t even show a peep of the new Magazine UI, which might be Samsung’s way of saying “we’re listening”, though I wouldn’t get your hopes up of them removing it from the final product. I really liked this trailer as it shows quite a few new and some further developed features of the Note Pro that show exactly how far Android has come over the last few years and I think it definitely shows how much closer tablets are to actually being a viable alternative to laptops in the near future. The one feature that had me impressed was the multitasking cascade view with all the open windows being stacked up; oddly reminiscent of another OS don’t you think?
It looks like Samsung is going to be promoting the Note Pro pretty hard considering the device is expected to become available on February 13th. Will you be getting the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro? What from the trailer did you like the best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: YouTube
Samsung’s new Windows Phone for Verizon reaches the FCC
Just in case it wasn’t already clear that Samsung is prepping a next-generation Windows Phone for Verizon, the company has just passed the device (the SM-W750V) through the FCC. The approval confirms the presence of Big Red-friendly LTE and CDMA frequencies, as well as GSM and HSPA for world roaming. The handset is also large enough to hold that rumored 5-inch screen. The filing doesn’t offer any clues as to when the hardware ships, but we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an announcement at or around Mobile World Congress.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon
Source: FCC
The week’s best Android rumors (February 7)
HTC Nexus tablet
HTC and Google may again partner for a Nexus product, this time a “high end” tablet. Details are very light at the moment, however it’s rumored for release in Q3 2014.
Asus 8-inch Nexus tablet
Google and Asus will release an 8-inch Nexus tablet by the end of April, says semi-unreliable Digitimes. Rather than fighting it out in the 7-inch space yet again, Google wants to put distance between the larger smartphones and other tablets.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung will reportedly tone down the introduction of the flagship smartphone when it’s introduced later this month, says the New York Times.
As for the hardware, the latest chatter says we should expect a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor or an octa-core 64-bit Exynos SoC clocked at 2GHz – varies by market. Additionally, the display may be a 5.2-inch/5.25-inch AMOLED display with WQHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels). Rounding the specs, we’re told to look for 3GB RAM, 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage capacities, a 16-megapixel rear camera, a front-facing 3.2-megapixel camera and a 3,200 mAh battery. Reportedly, this is will be the first Samsung flagship to feature an all-metal case.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
As we’ve seen with the Galaxy S4, Samsung is alleged to be working on a waterproof version of the upcoming smartphone. It’s not known if it will arrive at the same time as the standard model.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom
Indian import database Zauba is listing a Samsung SM-C115 “mobile camera for R&D purpose”, leading some to assume this is the camera-centric version of the forthcoming flagship.
Samsung TouchWiz UI
Leaked screenshots, which have since been pulled, show flatter user interface elements in Samsung’s S Health app. Presumably, Samsung will employ the same aesthetics across all of its apps in upcoming devices.
Sony’s nearly bezel-free smartphone
Two images posted on Chinese-language Digi-Wo forum might be our first look at Sony’s next flagship smartphone experience. Although they are blurry, the photos do show a handset with almost zero bezel around the screen, something that could lead to smaller devices with bigger screens.
HTC Desire 310
The upcoming Desire 310 may be rather unique as it pertains to the software front. Leaked photos suggest the device could run a stock Android experience with HTC’s BlinkFeed sprinkled atop.
Huawei Ascend P7 “Sophia”
Huawei’s first smartphone to come with KitKat under the hood is alleged to be the 5-inch Ascend P7. Rumors say this model will have a 1080p HD display, quad-core 1.6GHz HiSilicon 910 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, and a 2460mAh battery. The front side should house an 8-megapixel camera with the rear offering a 13-megapixel shooter.
Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 with LTE
Another version of the Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is on the way, according to a user manual found on Samsung’s website. The key difference between this and the other model is that users can tap into 4G LTE data connectivity.
The post The week’s best Android rumors (February 7) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Joy of joys: Android 4.4 is coming to multiple Samsung Galaxy Devices
For Samsung owners who don’t own a Galaxy S4 or a Galaxy Note 3, the big question remains: which of Samsung‘s remaining devices will they bother updating to Android 4.4? Well, according to Phandroid’s sources, they’re actually bothering with quite a few as they are reporting that Android 4.4 is coming to multiple Samsung Galaxy devices. The devices included in this report were:
- Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-i337
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
- Samsung Galaxy Mega
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
- Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Of which, we know the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 have already started their updates. This report does strengthen the case for Android 4.4 KitKat coming to some of Samsung’s other devices, which was first suggested by several leaked Samsung documents (see here and here) which appeared to suggest that Samsung was contemplating KitKat updates for devices as far down its hierarchy as the Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2. I do find it interesting that the Galaxy S4 Mini isn’t included in Phandroid’s list though, but judging by these multiple corroborated stories, it’s probable that the actually list of device updates is much longer.
What do you think of this news: do you think Samsung is actually going to make good and release Android 4.4 to all of these devices and potentially more? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Phandroid via Phone Arena
California law could end grand theft mobile with kill-switches in all smartphones
Lawmakers in California are so intent on curbing record levels of smartphone theft, they’re ready to fine phone makers if anti-theft measures aren’t available on their devices. The New York Times reports that the order will come from State Senator Mark Leno, who is set to introduce a new law requiring all smartphones and tablets sold in the state to include a “kill switch” solution. Ignore the ruling and device makers could face a $2,500 fine for each device sold.
San Francisco and New York prosecutors George Gascón and Eric Schneiderman set the ball rolling when they met with representatives from Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft last year. Apple then won praise for including its Activation Lock feature by default in iOS 7, requiring device owners to set a passcode that stopped thieves reactivating a stolen phone. While it would only officially cover California, the new law could force phone makers into a full US rollout, likely upsetting the carriers. The CTIA, which represents the likes of AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, believes its stolen phone database is a better solution and will fight the ruling. If it is signed into law, phone makers will have until January 1st, 2015 to implement a solution or they will not pass Go and will be forced to hand out more than $200.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Internet, Software, Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Source: New York Times
[RUMOUR] Samsung Unpacked event to be low key announcement of Galaxy S5
While the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S4 last year could be more likened to a Broadway production with its orchestral performance, the New York Times is reporting that a source close to this year’s event is saying that the Samsung Unpacked event scheduled at MWC 2014 this year is going to be a ‘low key’ affair; this event is widely expected to usher in the announcement of Samsung’s next flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S5. According to the Times though, this ‘low key’ event is because the Galaxy S4 ‘underperformed’ according to analyst’s expectations; I’m not sure, but I think most of the other Android phone manufacturers would have died for a disappointing phone that still sold well over 40 million handsets.
Perhaps more interestingly, according to the Times’ source, the Galaxy S5 will not feature a Quad HD display, also known as 2K resolution, nor will the device feature a retina scanner as it has been previously rumoured. This definitely throws a spanner in the works as multiple parties have previously speculated that these features would definitely be in the Galaxy S5, but I guess we should take this, and all other news surrounding the Galaxy S5, with an extra big grain of salt as you never really know who to believe. The Times also goes on to say that its source says Samsung will also show off its upgraded Galaxy Gear, which is actually a little early according to some previous rumours, but I guess the only way we’ll know is to wait till the Unpacked event itself.
I think after all this news, the only thing I know conclusively about the Galaxy S5 is that I’m slightly confused: what hardware will it actually have? What do you think about these rumours: which ones do you think are true? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Source: New York Times via Phone Arena
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