Another Lite at the end of the tunnel: Galaxy Tab 3 Lite coming in January 2014

Posted by Unknown on Thursday, December 5, 2013

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 18:39

tab-3.7.0

Brace yourselves folks, it looks like Samsung is preparing a barrage of "Lite" variants of existing devices for the unsuspecting mobile market come next year. Our insider recently revealed the existence of the Galaxy Note 3 Lite and Galaxy Grand Lite, and now we've received information that there's a Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (SM-T11) in the works as well, scheduled to launch sometime around the second week of January.

There's currently no info available on the specs of the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite, but it will carry a price tag of around 100 Euros and will be the cheapest tablet Samsung has ever made – this is enough to reconfirm the reports that have pegged Samsung as planning on focusing on the low-end and tablet market, and the company will likely position the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite, Galaxy Grand Lite, and possibly other such devices in the low-end bracket, perhaps to compete with the onslaught of cheap-yet-respectably-spec'd devices made by Chinese manufacturers.

The Galaxy Tab 3 Lite will come in both Wi-Fi and 3G variants. The Wi-Fi variant in Cream White color will be first to hit the market in week two of 2014, followed by the 3G variant in week three; an Ebony Black color option for both variants will come next, in weeks four and six respectively. The fact that a 3G variant exists suggests the specs will be quite respectable, though we'll believe that when we actually see some concrete details.

Keep in mind that these are tentative launch dates that might change later on, though it's not like many people are going to be looking forward to these to care. In fact, we wish there was some info on that tablet with an AMOLED screen that Samsung is supposedly working on – let us know if you wish for the same by retweeting the tweet below!

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Samsung SM-G900F shows up in shipping. Is this the “super premium” Galaxy S5?

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 9:38

galaxy-s5-concept

Just when a device that could possibly be the Galaxy S5 showed up in benchmarks (SM-G900S), another device that looks to be a separate variant of the S5 has made an appearance in a shipping manifest, further cementing the possibility that Samsung has begun testing its next flagship in earnest. A SM-G900F was shipped to India on December 2nd for testing, and while this could be a variant for a particular carrier or region or the variant with Samsung's Exynos processor, the separate model numbers also fit in well with previous rumors of Samsung making two versions of the S5.

These rumors suggested that Samsung has begun working on a super-premium series of flagship phones called the Galaxy F, and it might just be that the SM-G900F is the super-premium variant of the Galaxy S5. This premium version could be the one Samsung is ordering all those metal chassis for, while keeping the faux leather back for the standard Galaxy S5 (SM-G900S), and also the one on which Samsung would use its rumored fingerprint technology.

Of course, this is just speculation, so you're free to make of it what you will. A market launch of the Galaxy S5 is still a couple of months away, and I'm sure we'll see more details leak in the coming days to back up or refute the rumors and leaks that have run rampant lately.

sm-g900f

Source

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Exynos Galaxy Note 3 receiving yet another stability update (N900XXUCMK2)

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 10:21

note-3-diagonal-feature

While you're waiting for Android 4.4 KitKat to arrive on your Galaxy Note 3, Samsung is continuing to push out stability updates for its latest phablet. A 30 MB software update with build number N900XXUCMK2 is rolling out to the Exynos variant in Russia, Thailand and a few other nations, and as with the previous updates, the changelog mentions stability improvements and nothing else.

You should get an update notification on your Note 3 soon, though it could take a few days before the rollout finishes. If it makes you feel good, check manually through the Settings » About phone » Software updates menu, or grab the full firmware from our firmware section once it's available for your country.

n900xxucmk2

Thanks Geoffrey Whall!

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Samsung having a tough time in enterprise market, opens R&D center in Canada to fix it

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 15:08

SamsungLOGO

The consumer market is firmly under Samsung's grasp, but despite strong focus on enterprise solutions, the Korean manufacturer is finding it hard to attract enterprise customers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The biggest issue seems to be with KNOX – the security suite has faced delays and bugs, which has annoyed potential customers, including the U.S. Department of Defense, even though the latter has approved KNOX for government use.

However, Samsung is aware of the issue, and following an announcement that the company plans to focus half of its workforce on bettering its software, it has now opened an R&D center in Canada. The new R&D office will be focused on "enterprise security solutions, while also providing global technical support for the company's diverse B2B customers," and could spell further trouble for BlackBerry, which has also recently announced plans to turn its fortunes around with a renewed focus on the enterprise market that has traditionally been its stronghold.

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Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2 announced in India for Rs. 10,990

Posted by Unknown

Posted by kunalg on 05 December 2013 at 12:58

GalaxyS_DUOS2

Galaxy S Duos 2 is no surprise but if you're looking to pick up the new mid-range device, Samsung has officially introduced the phone in the Indian market. Carrying a price of Rs. 10,990, the phone supports Indian regional languages and comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 768 MB RAM. Additionally, you'd find a 4-inch display with WVGA (800×480) resolution support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1500mAh battery.

The Galaxy S Duos also supports Dual-SIM Always On feature that allows users to receive calls on one SIM number while taking a call from the other.

GalaxyS_DUOS2

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Samsung resumes Android 4.3 update roll out for Galaxy S III (GT-I9300)

Posted by Unknown

Posted by FaryaabS on 05 December 2013 at 13:31

s343

Last month, Samsung started rolling out Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy S III but later on removed the update from its servers due to some serious issues. Today, Samsung has resumed the Android 4.3 update roll out for the Galaxy S III and hopefully has fixed all of the major issues issues of previous firmwares.

There are quite a lot of changes and improvements in the new Android 4.3 firmware over Android 4.1.2. Samsung has completely changed the core UI to the one found on the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, even the setting app has been completely overhauled with a new tabbed interface. The bad news is that even though Samsung has changed the core UI elements, it's still using the same old original Galaxy S III launcher and widgets. Also, Samsung hasn't implemented Samsung Knox yet, but we may see it in future builds of Android 4.3. Samsung doesn't provide an official change log for its updates but after testing a few internal builds and this official one, we can give you folks our own list of changes and improvements we have noticed.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ANDROID 4.3 UPDATE
- GALAXY GEAR Support
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- Core UI elements updated to the ones on the Galaxy S4 (Galaxy S4′s theme all over)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- GPU drivers have been updated (Higher GPU benchmark scores)
- New Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
- New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
- Daydream
- Driving mode
- Actionable notifications
- Move-to-SD-card feature
- New Camera mode : Sound and Shot
- New Additions in Notification Centre
- Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the Galaxy S4)
- Implementation of Voice controls (Let's you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
- New Samsung Apps: Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Gallery, Music
- Full screen Samsung apps
- New S-Voice (from Galaxy S4)
- Found more? Tell us about them in the comments below!

s343

The new software update is being rolled out in phases, so it may not yet be available in your country at the moment but don't worry it will arrive very soon. If your device is carrier branded then it might take sometime as the update has to get improved by the carrier first and only then Samsung will make it available for your device. For now, the new software update is only available in the United Kingdom.
To keep track of the countries and carriers receiving the new Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) update for the Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-I9300), check out our live feed below:
To update your Galaxy S III to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, connect your device to your computer and use Samsung KIES or simply use Samsung's OTA service. To download and install the firmware via OTA, go to Settings > More > About Device > Software update > Update.

Model: GT-I9300
Country: United Kingdom
Version: Android 4.3
Changelist: 2168382
Build date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 21:02:26 +0000
Product Code: BTU
PDA: I9300XXUGMK6
CSC: I9300OXAGMK6
MODEM: I9300XXUGMK6

All new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Firmwares for the Galaxy S III (GT-I9300) are present in our Firmware Section, as well. You can use our Firmware Section to manually update your device if for some reason you can't officially update your device via Samsung Kies or via OTA as you might be using a Custom ROM or if your country has not yet received the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update. Also, bookmark this page as we will keep this page up to date with the latest information on countries and carriers releasing the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update.

We are currently updating our device to the newest firmware and will report back with the new changes and screenshots. So, stay tuned!

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Samsung SM-W750V could be new Windows Phone 8 device

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 11:37

windows-phone-8-2

At the moment, Nokia has a very strong hold on the Windows Phone market, enjoying an unchallenged reign with more than 90 percent market share. But with the Finnish company to be soon acquired by Microsoft and with its name to be removed from all smartphones post acquisition, it looks like Samsung is thinking of attacking the Windows Phone market once again, in the hopes that with Nokia's name no more on smartphones, there will be a higher chance of consumers looking towards other brands when picking up a device running on Microsoft's mobile OS (I mean, come on, it's gonna be tough selling "Microsoft Lumia" phones).

Leading the charge could be a device with model number SM-W750V, which has appeared on Indian shipping company Zuaba's website. It has a 5-inch display of unknown resolution, and judging by the price of a single unit (Rs. 33,245), it is most likely a flagship-class handset. The shipping record doesn't mention any specs, but with the latest Windows Phone update allowing support for high-end hardware like quad-core processors and 1080p Full HD screens, the SM-W750V could have specs similar to the Galaxy S4, and would go up against Nokia devices like the Lumia 1020/1520.

Any of you interested in a Windows Phone 8 phone from Samsung, or do you think Nokia's phone are the better deal when it comes to the budding mobile operating system?

sm-w750v

Via | Source

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Some Galaxy S5 models to come with LDS antenna technology (antennas built into rear plate)

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 10:43

samsung-logo-booth_1-360x270

What, you didn't think all the talk about the Galaxy S5 was going to die out too soon, were you? A new report published by the Korean media says Samsung is planning on implementing LDS antenna technology on "some" Galaxy S5 models – in layman terms, this means the needed antennas will be molded directly into the rear plate of the device, that which resides between the internal circuitry and the battery.

You're probably thinking why the report mentions "some Galaxy S5 models." Well, we're not sure either, but it could mean the rumors about two variants of the S5 being made are true, and the LDS technology will be used in the variant which uses plastic instead of metal, with the latter reserved only for the higher-end variant. LDS technology is already implemented in the Galaxy Note 3, and allows a device to be thinner and results in a more effective manufacturing process (while also making the antennas more vulnerable to external damage.)

Via | Source

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Report: Samsung to release smartphone with fingerprint sensor next year

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 05 December 2013 at 9:55

fingerprintregisterguid

According to a Reuters report, Samsung (and other manufacturers) is expected to start implementing fingerprint sensors in their smartphones from next year, in order to keep up with Apple. Fingerprint Cards CEO Johan Carlstrom says Samsung will be launching a smartphone with some form of fingerprint identification next year, and that the company is hoping to become one of the suppliers for providing some of the needed fingerprint sensors.

A Samsung official had earlier said the company wasn't developing fingerprint technology, but that was quite the vague statement that could have just meant that it wasn't developing technology of its own, so there is a chance the Galaxy S5 or Note 4 will sport a fingerprint sensor. However, Samsung is also been said to be working on eye-scanning technology for its devices, so it remains to be seen which, if either, techniques is used by the manufacturer any time soon.

Via | Source

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Samsung and Nokia reign supreme in J.D Power’s feature phone Customer Satisfaction survey

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 11:14

samsung-logo

Samsung already has a substantial lead in the smartphone market, and according to J.D Power's latest survey, the company's feature phones also sit right at the top in terms of consumer satisfaction, a position it shares with Nokia. The survey was conducted among 1929 feature phone owners who have had their current device for less than a year, and the results bode well for Samsung's smartphone sales in the future, as feature phone users usually opt for the same brand when moving to smartphones, and also because Samsung expects most of its smartphone sales to come from the low-end and mid-range segment of the market in the coming years.

Find all the details on the survey at the source link.

Samsung-and-Nokia-tie-on-top-of-J.D.-Powers-list-of-featurephone-customer-satisfaction

Via | Source

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Samsung granted patents on new phone and phone case design. Could the former be for the Galaxy S5?

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 11:34

samsung_logo_genericdevice4-580-75

Samsung was recently granted a couple of design patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office, and two of them reveal possible upcoming designs for the company's phones and also cases for those phones. The new phone design shows a device that's similar to the Galaxy Note 3 in that it sports rather square edges with just a hint of roundness. The back is a bit different that you see on the Galaxy S4, and all the ports, like the USB and headphone jack, are placed at the bottom – the back also juts out quite a bit, but if the design does make it to a phone in the future (maybe the Galaxy S5?), the final product will likely be as thin and proportional as current Samsung handsets.

patent-phone-phone-case-1

Meanwhile, the phone case design patent shows an evolution of the wallet-like cases Samsung already makes for its devices. There are the usual two front and back flaps, but a third flap in between the two looks designed to hold things such as credit and debit cards. Since these design patents have actually been granted, there's a high chance we'll see Samsung use either on future devices, though it could be rather long time before that happens.

Head to the source link to get more details and pictures on the phone and phone case patents.

patent-phone-phone-case-2

Source

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Galaxy Win Pro listed on Samsung China website

Posted by Unknown

Posted by kunalg on 04 December 2013 at 13:40

win-pro

Samsung will soon release Galaxy Win's successor in the Chinese market. The phone will be known as Galaxy Win Pro and going by the feature set, the phone looks to be a variant of Galaxy Express 2 with some changes suited for the Chinese market.

The phone is equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and supports dual-SIM (3G+2G) functionality. Furthermore, it runs Android 4.2 with TouchWiz UI out of the box and features a 4.5-inch qHD display (960×540), 5 megapixel main camera, front-facing camera, 2100mAh battery and the usual Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS.

There's no word on the price or the release but given the phone has been listed on the website, an official announcement is nigh.

Source | Via

win-pro

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Eldar Murtazin: Galaxy S5 to launch in late April, not Q1 2014

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 18:30

galaxy-s5-concept

A lot of rumors have been making the rounds lately, suggesting the Galaxy S5 will be launched in the first quarter of 2014, earlier than usual than previous Galaxy S flagships have launched. The latest rumor supporting the fact came just today, but according to Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, the Galaxy S5 will be launched in late April instead of in Q1.

Now, before you take that too seriously, keep in mind that Murtazin is quite notorious for being inaccurate most of the times. Not that the reports about an early launch are to be believed either, but for now, there's no telling when Samsung will actually release the Galaxy S5. A faster launch does have its advantages – sales of the Galaxy S4 have not managed to hold up that well against the company's expectations, and the Galaxy Note 3 isn't a device that can keep the cash flowing in for the company, both because of its high price and large screen. However, there's a disadvantage that counters it, mainly that it wouldn't be fair for owners of the Galaxy S4, many of who probably bought the phone only recently.

What do you guys think? Should Samsung go ahead with an earlier-than-usual launch, or stick to the traditional yearly schedule?

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Samsung working on tablets with flexible displays and digitzer-less stylus support?

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 18:04

SamsungLOGO

Samsung is expected to focus on the tablet market next year, and a report published in the Korean media suggests the company is working on changing its display technology for tablets. Samsung is reportedly planning on adopting metal mesh touch screen panels, and has begun testing a few panels for approval, aiming to complete the reliability tests by the end of 2013.

The metal mesh panels have a couple of benefits. They have low surface resistance, which means they're easily bendable and usable for flexible displays on tablets, and are cheaper to produce. Furthermore, metal mesh panels will also allow Samsung to implement stylus recognition without the need for a dedicated digitizer chip – the lack of a dedicated chip is another factor that will reduce cost, and will also let the manufacturer implement stylus support in more tablets than just premium/high-end ones.

Along with rumors that Samsung will be bringing back AMOLED screens for tablets, the idea of cheaper tablets that come with stylus input even when they're not flagship devices sounds pretty cool, so let's hope tablets making use of the above mentioned technologies come out as soon as possible.

Via | Source

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Samsung patents backside touch controls for devices with transparent displays

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 16:31

logosamsung

Flexible displays are already a reality on smartphones (even if they aren't exactly flexible in the real sense), and Samsung is already looking at innovative ways to make use of transparent displays, which are currently in development but will take considerable time to make their way to actual devices. A patent application of Samsung's describes how touch controls on the back of a device with transparent displays on both sides would allow for different functions to be carried out.

For example, touching the back of the device would let one open a folder from a list of folders, showing a preview of the content residing within the tapped folder; or, a touch on the back would make additional info pop up, such as a note, photo, and more, without having to navigate away from what's shown on the display on the front. Another nice example described in the patent includes moving two overlapping objects, one with a touch on the face of the device and one with a touch on the back.

patent-transparent-display

Furthermore, other functions, such as controlling a video or drawing a pattern to unlock the device, are also shown, indicating Samsung has put quite a lot of thought into how transparent displays with backside controls would make the experience a more convenient one. There's no telling when we'll see smartphones with transparent displays crop up in the market, but whenever that is, Samsung will likely be a step ahead of other display makers, something that isn't exactly new for the Korean manufacturer. Hit the source link for more details on the patent.

Source

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Amazon offering 50GB of free cloud storage with numerous Samsung handsets in the US

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 15:12

holiday_wireless_takeover_1200x360_node_hero._V367489116_

Cloud storage isn't exactly the most optimal solution for the data storage needs of most folks, but it's still always nice to see that your cloud storage accounts have lots of space available. Amazon understands that, and as a holiday promotion, the retailer is offering 50 GB of free storage on its Cloud Drive service to buyers of numerous carrier-branded Samsung handsets, for all purchases made till December 31st.

After you purchase the phone, the additional storage will be added to your account within 10 days. There's a catch here: that extra storage will expire in a year, after which you'll have to either take your files elsewhere or start paying for a premium subscription. Other storage providers usually give a two-year validity on extra storage, but since they're not exactly giving away free cloud bandwidth with these phones, you'll have to make do with Amazon for the time being.

Here's a non-exhaustive list of phones Amazon's offer is valid for, and you can find the full list at the source link.

  • • Galaxy S4
  • • Galaxy S4 Active
  • • Galaxy Note 3
  • • Galaxy Note II
  • • Galaxy S III
  • • Galaxy S III mini
  • • Galaxy S4 mini
  • • Galaxy Mega 6.3
  • • Galaxy S4 Zoom
  • • Rugby Smart (AT&T)
  • • Galaxy Stellar (Verizon)
  • • Galaxy Express (AT&T)
  • • Galaxy Victory (Sprint)

Via | Source

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Samsung increases tablet shipments for Q4 2013 to 12 million

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 14:51

Samsung-Logo-with-Galaxy-Tab_Logo

The holiday season has pretty much begun, and it's that time of the year when many folks will be buying new smartphones and tablets, especially through deals and other discounts that run amok among retailers and carriers. To prepare for the increased demand of tablets in the holiday season, Samsung has reportedly increased its tablet shipments for Q4 2013 from 10 million to 12 million, and is expected to ship up to 37 million tablets combined with Apple, which has also taken its tablet shipments up a notch.

Basically, Samsung shows no signs of stopping its assault on the mobile market, with the increased shipments expected to help the company grab additional tablet market share, as it prepares to focus on tablets going forward. So the next time you see too many Samsung tablets out in the wild, you'll know what the reason is behind it.

Via

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We’re switching to Terafile.co for firmware hosting, as Hotfile shuts down on infringement charges

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 12:20

homepage

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has scored another victory against piracy, this time against Hotfile, which has shut down all operations and taken its site down, which means it's a file host we can't use for hosting our firmware files anymore (which, by the way, are completely legal). Therefore, since the last few hours, we've begun transferring all firmware in our database to Terafile.co, which is the file host we'll now be using for the foreseeable future.

It will take at least 48 hours before we're able to finish uploading all firmware, so do forgive us if you're unable to get that firmware you wanted to download for the next couple of days. We're looking at file hosting options other than Terafile, and would like to point out that we can't offer free hosting on our own servers for everyone, as that would require too much bandwidth and reduce the download speeds for users. Furthermore, using a file host also lets us earn some revenue from downloads, which in turns helps us keep SamMobile alive and kicking so that you can get the latest on all things Samsung.

We'll update you guys once we've finished shifting to Terafile.co. Again, while we do that, our apologies for the inaccessible firmware in the firmware section.

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Report: Samsung to launch Galaxy S5, Note 3 Lite, Grand Lite, and two entry-level handsets in Q1 2014

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 12:02

logo-samsung

We recently revealed, thanks to our awesome insiders, that Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Note 3 Lite and Galaxy Grand Lite sometime in the first quarter of 2014, and now a report in the Korean media has reconfirmed what our insider told us. The report also mentions that the Galaxy S5 will be launched in Q1, too, something previous reports have hinted at as well. Furthermore, one or two entry-level handsets will also be announced before Q1 is over, as Samsung intends to start selling new handsets from the first month of 2014.

The Galaxy S5 is no doubt the most important device here – only today we saw what could be the supposed specs of Samsung's next flagship, which is expected to be made out of metal instead of plastic, and the repeated mention of a Q1 launch makes us think we'll really see the Galaxy S4′s successor ahead of schedule of Samsung's usual flagship releases. The Galaxy Note 3 Lite will be the other high-end handset, though there's no telling just how much of a downgrade it will be over the original Galaxy Note 3, but one thing is certain: Samsung's going to be flooding the market with new devices as soon as 2014 kicks in, and that's ultimately a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.

Via | Source

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SM-G900S shows up in benchmark with 2k display, could be Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Round 2

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 04 December 2013 at 10:45

galaxy-s5-concept

There have been a lot of rumors making the rounds about the Galaxy S5, but now we finally have what we could consider concrete details on Samsung's next flagship, including a model number and a few of its specs. A device with model number SM-G900S has made an appearance on GFXBench – the model number suggests it could be the Galaxy Round's successor, but what reduces the chances of that being the case is the hardware listed in the benchmark.

The display resolution is listed as 2560×1440 – it's a resolution the Galaxy S5′s display is all but confirmed to have, and it's pretty much a given that Samsung wouldn't want to debut its highest resolution display on anything but its next flagship phone. Another spec that hints at the SM-G900S being the Galaxy S5 is the Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at ~2.5GHz – the current cream of the crop Snapdragon 800 chips are all clocked at 2.3GHz, so the one listed in the benchmark is an upgraded one (likely the 8974AB or 8974AC variant) that will offer even faster and more efficient performance (though the non-LTE variant will most likely use Samsung's upcoming 64-bit Exynos chip.)

SM-G900S

The SM-G900S is running on Android 4.4 KitKat, which isn't surprising considering Samsung has been at the forefront of launching flagship devices with the latest version of the OS since the Galaxy Note II. Provided this is the Galaxy S5 we're looking at, its appearance in benchmarks at this time doesn't come as a surprise – numerous reports have suggested Samsung is planning on launching its next flagship in the first quarter of 2014, so it would be normal for the company to be testing the device in full force and effect.

What do you guys think? Is the SM-G900S the Galaxy S5? Actually, there's a very high possibility it is, so the real question is: are you impressed by the hardware it will apparently sport, and does it do anything to increase your impatience for Samsung's next premium offering, one that might finally be made of metal instead of cheap plastic?

SM-G900S-2

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[Video] Galaxy Gear meets its demise at the hands of an HK 417 rifle

Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 03 December 2013 at 20:27

bullet-test-gear

There's a certain section of society that takes pleasure in dropping mobile devices on to the floor in drop tests that are painful to see, and then there's Richard Ryan, who goes several steps further and blasts devices to smithereens with one of the many weapons in his arsenal, all in slow motion video that lets you cherish every moment of the wanton destruction. In the latest bout of, um, bullet tests, Ryan decided to put the Galaxy Gear to the test and see how it fares against an HK 417 battle rifle.

As you'd expect, the smartwatch doesn't live to tell the tale – dropping the Gear in water, on dirt, and on concrete doesn't do anything to harm it, but the 7.62mm round fired from the rifle goes straight through. In fact, it's impressive the Gear didn't blow up into pieces after being shot, but then again, we wouldn't have taken extra points off for that even if it did.

Well, time to stop reading, and time to feast your eyes on a spectacle that shows what happens when a puny object meets an unstoppable force, in slow-mo glory.

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Galaxy S5 with metal construction almost a certainty, says report

Posted by Unknown

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 03 December 2013 at 12:15

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One of the most interesting rumors about the Galaxy S5 has been about the possibility of Samsung finally moving away from plastic and adopting a metallic build for its flagship. It was rumored that Taiwanese company Catcher was one of the prime candidates Samsung had selected to acquire metal casings for the S5, and now a report out of the Taiwan media says the possibility of the Galaxy S5 having a metallic body has shot up considerably.

According to the report, Catcher will start supplying a certain amount of the required metal housings (10 to 30 million units, according to the initial rumor) this month, while Chinese company BYD and Taiwan's Ju Teng will be contracted for supplying the remaining units. As always, considering Samsung's love for plastic (it keeps the device light and helps them bring out devices to market faster), it wouldn't be a good idea to get your hopes too high, but going by the numerous reports, a metallic Galaxy S5 is looking to be more and more likely.

We'll keep our fingers crossed, and maybe you should, too.

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Sprint Galaxy S4 getting MK2 update, fixes sleep mode issues

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 03 December 2013 at 10:09

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There are major upgrades, like the Android 4.3 update that everyone waited so long for, and there are minor ones, like the one Sprint is pushing out to the Galaxy S4 right now. Like, extremely minor – the MK2 update resolves sleep mode issues that some users were apparently facing, but doesn't do anything other than that. However, considering poor battery life was one of the issues for many folks with the Android 4.3 update that rolled out a couple of weeks back, it's perhaps an important update despite the rather short changelog.

The MK2 update has been rolling out since November 30th, so you should already have received a notification for it, though you can do a manual check in the Settings » About phone » Software updates menu if you haven't. Do let us know if you notice anything new or different once you've updated your S4.

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Samsung Galaxy J Taiwan launch seemingly confirmed in press invitation

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 03 December 2013 at 9:43

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When an unknown variant of the Galaxy J, a device that's a cross between the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, showed up recently, it wasn't clear which market or carrier it was intended for. However, it is now pretty much a given that Taiwan's the market where the Galaxy J will be making its first stop outside Japan, thanks to an invitation sent to the Taiwanese press that shows the outline of a device that looks strikingly similar to the currently Japan-exclusive handset, revealing a December 9th unveiling date.

The Galaxy J is basically a Galaxy Note 3, but without the S Pen or the gigantic 5.7-inch screen. The specs include a Snapdragon 800 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, 13-megapixel camera, 32GB of storage and a microSD slot, a 2600 mAh battery, and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean; devices like the Galaxy J that launch in Japan don't usually make their way to other markets, but as previously discussed, the relatively low sales of the Galaxy S4 (compared to expectations Samsung had for its flagship), is likely the reason why the Galaxy J will be launching in Taiwan in the near future.

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Android 4.3 update is live Galaxy Note II in Canada

Posted by Unknown on Monday, December 2, 2013

Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 16:30

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The Android 4.3 update is now rolling out to the Galaxy Note II in Canada, on multiple carriers, such as Mobilicity (SGH-T889V) and Videotron (SGH-T999V). The OTA update should be showing up on devices in the next few hours, though users can also update via Kies or download the firmware from our firmware section and upgrade manually, in case they're unwilling to wait any longer (let's face it, no one is, considering how Android 4.3 has been a long time coming for Samsung's yesteryear flagships).

The Android 4.3 update brings the following changes and features:

  • - GALAXY GEAR Support
  • - TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
  • - Samsung KNOX
  • - Samsung Wallet (Pre-loaded)
  • - Better RAM management
  • - Core UI elements updated to the ones on the Galaxy S4 (Galaxy S4′s theme all over)
  • - New Samsung Keyboard
  • - GPU drivers have been updated (Higher GPU benchmark scores)
  • - New Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
  • - New screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
  • - Daydream
  • - Driving mode
  • - Actionable notifications
  • - Move-to-SD-card feature
  • - New Camera mode : Sound and Shot
  • - New Additions in Notification Centre
  • - Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the Galaxy S4)
  • - Implementation of Voice controls (Let's you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
  • - New Samsung Apps: Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Gallery, Music
  • - Full screen Samsung apps
  • - New S-Voice (from Galaxy S4)

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Patent shows possible Galaxy S5 feature: improved one-hand operation with custom orientation of on-screen apps

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 14:43

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One-hand operation of smartphones is becoming more and more of an inconvenience as display sizes become bigger with each passing year. Samsung mitigates the issue by offering a one-handed operation mode on the Galaxy Note 3, which reduces the size of the on-screen content and pushes it to a particular side of the screen, and the Korean company might be working on making one-hand operation even better with the Galaxy S5.

A patent application describes a feature that will let a user resize the on-screen interface according to his/her comfort zone., described by the scope of the thumb. Furthermore, instead of a standard square window and portrait/landscape orientation, a particular app's window would be resizable to any odd form and placed on a particular side of the screen, rotated diagonally and/or any which way the user would want; users will also be able to change the density of the interface's elements, such as the on-screen icons. It's an interesting feature, and one that would make the one-hand experience on the Galaxy S5 even better, especially if Samsung intends to adopt a larger screen than the one on the S4′s.

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As always, a patent application doesn't mean we'll see the feature actually be used any time soon (if at all), but in this case, it would be a nice feature to flaunt for the Galaxy S5, and it will likely make its way to older smartphones like the Galaxy Note 3 (which would benefit greatly from it). The source link has more details on how the feature would work, so go ahead and give it a good read.

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Flexible OLED TV tipped for CES 2014

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Posted by kunalg on 02 December 2013 at 15:00

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Ready for another innovation from Samsung? If the Korea Times report holds any water, we may see a flexible OLED TV from Samsung early next month at CES. Samsung has not officially commented on the report but the things we know for now comes from an "industry official" who says that a prototype of the flexible OLED TV will be shown at next month's CES. The TV will use a plastic-based OLED display along with a "back panel that can deform the display".

The TV's flexibility will be controlled by a remote control, thus giving users the liberty to adjust the viewing angle of TV, unlike the current range of curved OLED TVs.

Meanwhile in the same report, Samsung's competitor LG has confirmed that they "will also unveil a remote bendable OLED TV that hasn't been seen before".

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Samsung unveils Rose Gold White, Rose Gold Black, and Merlot Red colors for Galaxy Note 3

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 12:08

rose-gold-note-3

We recently confirmed that Samsung would be launching the Galaxy Note 3 in red and Rose Gold color options, which was reiterated by Samsung Argentina just the next day. Now, Samsung has made the new color options official. First up is the "Merlot Red" model, which sports a fully red front; meanwhile, the Rose Gold versions are the standard black and white variants, but with bronze accents on its edges (and also on the Samsung logo on the back).

The Rose Gold variant is a pretty sensible paint job in our eyes, better than having a device that's painted gold from every angle (and looks rather tacky). The "rose gold white" model will be launching in China this month, while the other colors will be launched "according to each market's preference" next year, which is to say they won't be available everywhere.

rose-gold-note-3

Source | Image Credit: Android Central

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SamMobile confirms Galaxy Note 3 Lite (SM-N7505), to debut at MWC 2014

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 10:13

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Before the Galaxy Note 3 was launched, there were many rumors that hinted at Samsung's plans to launch both a premium and lower-cost variant of the phablet. Well, thanks to our insider, we can confirm that the latter variant does exist – Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 3 Lite at the MWC next year, and market availability will begin sometime in February/March.

The Note 3 Lite – model number SM-N7505 - will be available in black and white (at least initially), though we weren't given any details on its hardware specs. The device showed up in shipping manifests over the weekend, and the listings indicate Samsung is testing the device with both 5.49 and 5.7-inch screen sizes. If we go by older rumors, the camera will likely be downgraded to an 8-megapixel unit, and the screen technology might be changed from Super AMOLED to LCD, traits which the Note 3 Lite will share with the Galaxy S4 Active.

Unlike the Galaxy Grand Lite, the Galaxy Note 3 Lite is a device that makes sense, at least when it comes to price. At the moment, Samsung doesn't have any large-screen devices that offer anything more than mid-range specs – the Note 3 has a rather high price tag, and the Note 3 Lite will let Samsung offer consumers some of the Note 3′s features and hardware at a lower price after downgrading it in a few areas. However, that's just speculation, so we'll be waiting for more information on the Galaxy Note 3 Lite to come to a better conclusion.

Would any of you be interested in buying the Galaxy Note 3 Lite?

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Samsung working on 20-megapixel camera modules

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 8:45

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We're all patiently waiting (well, maybe not that patiently) to see what the rumored 16-megapixel camera on the Galaxy S5 will be capable of, but in the meantime, according to a report out of the Korean media, Samsung's engineers are already working on 20-megapixel camera modules that will debut sometime in the second half of 2014. This is contrary to previous rumors which suggested that Samsung wouldn't be increasing the megapixel count on their cameras by a considerable margin.

As always, this is a rumor that shouldn't be taken to heart, but if the camera quality that Samsung's 13-megapixel sensors on the Galaxy S4/Note 3 is anything to go by, the 20-megapixel cameras should be considerably better. Also, since the Note family of devices usually sports the same camera hardware as that year's Galaxy S flagship, the 20-megapixel camera might not debut on an actual smartphone before 2015.

The report also reiterates there's still no guarantee of the Galaxy S5 coming with optical image stabilization (OIS) hardware in the camera – Samsung needs at least 50 million OIS modules if it intends to make it a Galaxy S5 feature, but unless the company can make its own modules, it might be an uphill battle. No OIS on the S5 would certainly be a disappointment, but hopefully Samsung will manage to procure enough OIS units for its post-S5 flagships.

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NTT DoCoMo’s Galaxy S4 (SC-04E) to receive Android 4.3 from mid-December

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Posted by Abhijeet M. on 02 December 2013 at 9:01

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Android 4.3 will be heading out to NTT DoCoMo's Galaxy S4 (SC-04E) in Japan from mid-December. The carrier hasn't officially confirmed the schedule, but an announcement about the Galaxy Gear mentions that the smartwatch will be compatible with the Galaxy S4 when it launches in five new colors in the country in mid-December, which is a good indication of when we can expect the update to start rolling out.

As a refresher, the Android 4.3 update will bring faster performance and improved RAM management, new lockscreen, widgets, and camera features, updated Samsung apps, new Samsung keyboard, KNOX functionality, and more. The update will be available over-the-air, and we'll be sure to let you know once it starts rolling out.

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