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Sprint will roll out Windows Phone 8.1 upgrades this summer
Windows Phone fans on Sprint don't have to worry about when they'll get the 8.1 update on their devices. The carrier tells Engadget that both the HTC 8XT and Samsung's ATIV S Neo are getting 8.1 sometime this summer; more details should come closer to the rollout. That's later than when we'll see the OS preloaded on brand new devices, but it's good news for those who are still happy with both Microsoft's mobile platform and Big Yellow's network.
Samsung ATIV S Neo Windows Phone coming to AT&T on November 8th for $100
AT&T's love of Samsung-made Windows Phones seemingly turned sour after it skipped last year's ATIV S. It's clear that any ill will was short-lived, however, as the carrier just unveiled its version of Samsung's ATIV S Neo. The Windows Phone 8 device is a close match for its Sprint counterpart, sharing the same 4.8-inch 720p screen, dual-core 1.4GHz processor, 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front shooter. The launch price will be easier to swallow, though. AT&T plans to ship the ATIV S Neo on November 8th for $100 on contract, or $50 less than it cost at Sprint when brand new.
Samsung ATIV S Neo coming to Sprint on August 16th for $150
We knew it was coming to Sprint this summer, and we knew it would run $150 (with a two-year contract and $50 rebate, of course) -- and now the carrier's given us an exact date: August 16th. (Not to say we didn't already have our suspicions...) Samsung's ATIV S Neo will become the Now Network's second Windows Phone 8 handset this Friday. The 4.8-inch smartphone packs a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, an eight-megapixel camera and NFC-based ATIV Beam sharing. More info on all of the above after the break.
BlackBerry Q10 hits Sprint August 30th, Samsung's ATIV S Neo arrives August 16th
Sprint users awaiting BlackBerry's Q10 and its promised "summer" launch, wait no more -- the Q10 will start shipping pre-orders beginning August 30th, with "all other channels" following on September 13th. At least that's according to an internal release date list provided to Engadget by an anonymous tipster, which also gives Samsung's ATIV S Neo an August 16th launch date on Sprint. Of course, these dates are tentative as always, and could shift before the official announcement. In the meantime, we've reached out to Sprint for an official word and will update this post should we hear back. Update: Sprint tells us ... not too much. The company's official statement is: "We have not announced availability for either device, and we do not comment on rumors or speculation on product availability dates. We have said BlackBerry Q10 will be available in late summer, and Samsung ATIV S Neo will be available this summer. Exact availability dates for both smartphones will be shared closer to their availability dates."
Editor's Letter: More than a point release
In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. This week is Microsoft's time to shine. Its Build conference, typically held later in the year, kicked off on Wednesday and along with it came a lot more about Windows 8.1 -- which we thought we already knew plenty about, honestly. But there was more to learn, including a new milestone for the Windows Store: 100,000 apps. Well, almost 100,000 apps. Steve Ballmer said the store was "approaching" that number and has racked up "hundreds of millions" of downloads. A bit of a far cry from Apple's 50 billion, but hey, it's early days yet. More interesting to me is the inclusion of native 3D-printing support in Windows 8.1. Good 'ol 2D printers were certainly common before the traditional driver came into standard practice, but that market didn't really take off until they effectively became plug and play. One could say it's perhaps a bit early for that kind of native support to be needed in Windows for a 3D printer, but better too soon than too late.
Sprint launching Samsung ATIV S Neo for $150 after rebate this summer
There may not be too many mobile-focused surprises at Microsoft Build, as Sprint has just let slip its two biggest pieces of news. In addition to HTC's 8XT, the company will carry Samsung's latest Windows Phone 8 handset, the ATIV S Neo at some point in the near future. The ATIV S followup comes with a 4.8-inch HD display, a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and a 2,000mAh battery, as well as unspecified WiFi, NFC and Bluetooth features. There's no word about on-board storage, but the release specifically mentions a microSD card slot, so we'd assume you can add either 32 or 64GB more storage to the unit. On the imaging front, there's an 8-megapixel primary camera with an LED flash, as well as a 1.9-megapixel front-facing lens with "Manga Camera" and "Beauty Shot" apps to transform your selfies and smooth away those wrinkles. The phone will also have "international roaming," meaning that owners won't suffer the pain of traveling to CDMA-phobic parts of the world like Europe. Dan Hesse's big Yellow Network isn't talking about a release date beyond "summer," but when this handset does make it to stores, it'll set you back $149.99 with a two-year, unlimited LTE deal after the customary $50 mail-in rebate.
