galaxys4
Latest
Supreme Court: Samsung's in-box warranty can't kill lawsuit
Samsung can't force a closed-door proceeding to settle a lawsuit filed by a customer who felt misled about the capabilities of his Galaxy S4, the Supreme Court has ruled. The Korean tech giant has been trying to quash the lawsuit since it was filed, arguing that any customer who buys the S4 agrees to private arbitration, since it's a clause in its warranty booklet. The plaintiff, Daniel Norcia, fought back by pointing out that he bought the device from a Verizon store, where an employee set it up for him. He said he left the phone's box and warranty booklet in the store.
Samsung can't use in-box warranty to kill Galaxy S4 lawsuit
Oh Samsung. When the company isn't busy recalling cellphones and washing machines for being safety hazards, it's busy fighting its customers in court. In 2015, Daniel Norcia contended that he was misled by Samsung about the capabilities of his Galaxy S4. Specifically, its speed, performance and memory capacity, according to Consumerist.
IRL: Olloclip's 4-in-1 photo lens for Galaxy S4 and S5
We first met Olloclip's tiny pop-on camera lens more than three years ago. The iPhone accessory got its start on Kickstarter, in the crowdfunding site's infancy, and became our very first featured Insert Coin project. Today, it's a staple at the Apple Store and a slew of other retailers -- you can even pick one up at those Best Buy vending machines in the airport. Several more iPhone versions have since debuted, but we've never seen an Olloclip for Android smartphones, until today. The first Android versions are compatible with two recent Samsung flagships, the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. Because photo effects are created using a physical lens rather than an app, Olloclips are designed for specific devices. If you don't own a Galaxy S4 or S5 (or an iPhone), don't lose hope -- we may see models for other handsets in the near future.
This is how Samsung thinks about design
Samsung said it would launch a website that showed off its design chops, and it's delivering as promised. The newly launched Make it Meaningful page dives into the inspirations behind the Korean company's products, complete with an abundance of giant artwork, marketing speak and promo videos. It's not just breathless prose about "timeless" TVs (the S9) and "sharply refined details" (the Galaxy S 4), though. The tech giant also addresses the more pragmatic concerns behind certain products -- Samsung notes that it built one washing machine just for India, where humidity and limited electricity rule out conventional appliances.
Samsung details KitKat update plans for US Galaxy phones and tabs
Some of Samsung's Galaxy devices are already getting Android 4.4.2, but today we found out exactly which ones in the US will get a taste of KitKat. The full list is a mouthful. The Galaxy S III, Galaxy S III mini, Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S 4 mini, Galaxy S 4 Active, Galaxy S 4 zoom, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Mega, Galaxy Light, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, and Galaxy Tab 3 are all on the waiting list. Sadly, even though part of Google's goal with KitKat was to bring a refined Android experience to "the next billion people," slightly older hardware like the Galaxy S II are conspicuously absent from the list. Samsung says the updates have already started trickling out, though it didn't mention which device (or devices) were at the head of the line. How quickly you get the update depends on what you have and how quickly your carrier can get it certified. So, just take a deep breath and keep an eye on Samsung's MWC announcements in the meantime.
Nyko unveils Qi wireless charging dock, Intercooler for PS4 and a DualShock 4 controller extended battery (update: prices)
It's CES time, folks, and that means that Nyko's got a slew of gaming peripherals to show us all. Naturally, next-gen is the order of the day, with the reveal of an Intercooler device that attaches to the rear of your PlayStation 4 to keep it cool. Nyko's also rolling out a PowerPak replacement battery for Sony's DualShock 4 controller that doubles up the standard battery pack with a 1,000mAh cell. Additionally, and perhaps puzzlingly, the company is also announcing a Qi wireless charging dock, called the Power Base, built to fit Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Nexus 5 handsets. You can get a glimpse at pictures of all the products in the gallery below, but alas, renders are all we can give you for now -- the real products, prices and arrival dates won't be available until long after CES 2014 is over. Update: Nyko just relased pricing for all its new gear: the Power Base is $40, Intercooler is $25, and the PowerPak is $20, and all three can be had this spring.
Google's 2013 Zeitgeist includes Mandela, iPhones and a 3D trend map (video)
Google is back again with its annual list of the most popular searches of the year -- only this time, with a 3D twist. In addition to old-fashioned 2D charts, the internet giant's 2013 Zeitgeist includes a trend globe that lets you see what major cities were looking for on any given day. Google+ also plays a large role, as you can share and browse the social network's most memorable public photos. Like in years past, 2013's top searches were a mixture of tech and tragedy. The deaths of Nelson Mandela and Paul Walker led the world's queries, but many also spent a lot of time looking for the iPhone 5s, Galaxy S 4 and PlayStation 4. Other notable searches ranged from serious matters like the Boston Marathon bombing to the silliness of the Harlem Shake. Want to see more? Hop past the break, where we have both the full top 10 list as well as Google's year-in-review video.
Sprint to launch Galaxy S 4 variant with speedy Spark LTE
Sprint already has a few devices that support its extra-fast Spark data service, but one of its hottest smartphones -- Samsung's Galaxy S 4 -- has been "stuck" with ordinary LTE. That won't be a problem for much longer, as the carrier has revealed a Spark-capable version of the Android flagship. The upgrade won't do much more than introduce support for the tri-band wireless technology, but we doubt that owners will complain when they're downloading at a brisk 50-60Mbps. They may balk at the price, though. While the regular GS4 currently sells for $100 on contract, Sprint will offer a 16GB Spark edition for $200 when it ships in the next few weeks -- you'll have to really, really want that extra bandwidth (and live in a Spark area) to justify the premium.
South Korea may get a Galaxy S 4 Active with LTE-A, processor and camera upgrades
South Korea's SK-Telecom already has a variant of the GS4 to surf its LTE-Advanced waves, and now it appears Samsung will release a version of the Galaxy S4 Active that plays nice with the carrier's next-gen network. A flyer posted on a Korean-language website revealed the handset and detailed its specs, listing a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, a healthy horsepower boost from the original's 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600. What's more, the smartphone now sports a 13MP camera -- which matches that of the vanilla Galaxy S4 -- and its storage has doubled to 32GB. Besides shaving off a few grams in weight and nabbing a white color option, the device retains the rest of its predecessor's features, all the way down to its 5-inch 1080p display and 2,600mAh battery. It's not clear if a revamped GS4 Active will make its way to other territories sans LTE-A, but adventurous (and clumsy) souls can keep their hopes up for a more powerful incarnation of the ruggedized phone.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition scores Android 4.4 KitKat update
If you own a Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition, you can now put down your pitchfork and stop dripping with envy. Apparently, Android KitKat is also gracing not only the Sense-less version of HTC's One today, but also the non-TouchWiz device. When the phone getting Android 4.4 in its purest form, you can look forward to all the features the updated platform promises, including a better camera app and longer battery life. The update should soon be available for download via Settings -- if it's yet to arrive, that is -- those who own a version of the Galaxy S4 with all of Samsung's software tweaks will have to sit tight a while longer.
Verizon's Galaxy S 4 can now surf more LTE bands after Android 4.3 update
In a particularly punctual effort from Verizon, the carrier has begun feeding its Galaxy S 4 variant with Android 4.3 via an OTA update, after Samsung gave it the nod earlier this month. As the Korean company has been keen to iterate, this update adds Galaxy Gear compatibility to the flagship, as well as support for Sammy's Knox security platform and some other, minor software tweaks. Most importantly for Big Red customers, the software activates Band 4 as previously promised, meaning the handset is now able to cruise LTE over AWS frequencies where that new slice of spectrum is active. Those unburdened airwaves are currently offering some tantalizing speeds, which are now just an update away.
Samsung begins rolling out Galaxy Gear support to more smartphones in the US
Right on schedule, Samsung has announced the rolling out of a key software update that will bring Galaxy Gear smartwatch support to more of its phones in the United States, beyond just the Galaxy Note 3. Owners of the Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note II and GS3 will get their refresh as early as today, or "over the coming weeks" depending on their exact model and how energetic their carrier is. The same update will also upgrade the OS to Android 4.3 and add compatibility with the manufacturer's KNOX software for businesses. As expected, owners of Galaxy Mega and the GS4 Mini handsets will have to wait a little longer for these features, but should expect their update in the "coming months."
Samsung sold over 40 million Galaxy S 4s in six months
T Sure, Samsung's sold more than 38 million Galaxy Notes since late 2011, but its latest flagship puts that number to shame. According to a Korean publication, the company has sold 40 million Galaxy S 4 units worldwide, just six months after the device hit the market. It's a hearty milestone, although it's not a particularly surprising one -- the phone moved more than 10 million units in its first month alone. Samsung's JK Shin didn't give inews24 specifics on how the sales broke down between the device's assorted models, but we're betting that the golden S4 didn't take the lion's share.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 with Snapdragon 800 and faster LTE treks to Europe
Remember how there was an LTE-A-equipped Samsung Galaxy S 4 with a juicy Snapdragon 800 CPU for South Korea and a lesser Exynos 5 or Snapdragon 600 version for everywhere else? Well, it looks like the more desirable former variant is about to migrate to Europe, judging by a GT-I9506 product page on Samsung's German site. That CPU would put the six month-old handset on par with Samsung's new Galaxy Note 3 flagship, along with the latest models from Nokia, LG and others. At the moment there's no European countries that actually support the 150Mbps LTE-A speeds, though Sweden has been testing it. Still, if you need feel the need to future-proof all your gadget buys, don't be surprised to see the model in stores around Europe soon.
Galaxy S4 now lets you talk to Samsung's Gear smartwatch with latest update
As Android updates have gone as of late, there really hasn't been much to get excited about -- not until we break into Kit Kat, anyway. But the rollout of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean to Samsung's former flagship the Galaxy S4, now live according to SamMobile, is notable as it adds compatibility with the newly hatched Galaxy Gear. So while you may not notice the bevy of tweaks Google's made to keep your Android device whirring along and fending off old mobile age, Samsung's made it so that you can early adopt its half-baked fad innovation and talk to your hand, literally. Samsung's also bundled in its own Wallet app, reading mode, updates to the imaging software, as well as a new keyboard and browser. It's not for everyone though -- you will need to have an unlocked model of the GS4 to download the update. We expect over-the-air updates to hit carrier-locked GS4 variants sometime in, well, let's conservatively say next year.
Samsung's Galaxy S4 Zoom leaked for AT&T
Itching for a better smartphone camera, but can't afford to buy an unlocked device? You're in luck: Samsung's Galaxy S4 Zoom appears to be coming to AT&T. Images of the AT&T branded smart camera (complete with carrier identification and official apps) appeared on Twitter today, hinting that a AT&T subsidized version of the device could be forthcoming. The 16-megapixel Zoom is an intriguing mash up between the Galaxy Camera and the Galaxy S4 Mini, but unless Ma Bell has made some major tweaks to the device, we wouldn't run out to your local AT&T store: the original was kind of a mess.
Galaxy S 4 software leak offers near-final Android 4.3 build
Trying to jump the queue in the real world? Forget about it, all you'll get is a host of hostile glares. In the world of technology however, it's a very different story. For instance, all impatient Galaxy S 4 owners, desperate to bring Android 4.3 to their handsets need to do is download and install SamMobile's latest leaked build. The nearly-complete version of the OS offers no headline-grabbing tweaks or amendments, but so long as you're up to the task of installing it, you'll save yourself a few days or weeks of waiting for Samsung to push it to your device.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 30th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Out of nowhere, Samsung hits us with a gold GS4
And just like that, Samsung Gulf has announced the gold-trimmed Galaxy S 4, complemented by either brown or pink plastic for the guys and girls, respectively (dare we say it). We don't know whether these fresh editions will ever come to markets outside the Middle East, but Samsung's timing couldn't have been better. Meanwhile, we're still waiting on that gold HTC One.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 16th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
