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Refresh Roundup: week of September 9th, 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!
Tizen 3.0 UI allegedly spotted running on a Galaxy S 4
Tizen, the progeny of MeeGo, LiMo and Bada, hasn't exactly set the world on fire. But even if manufacturers and consumers aren't clamoring for yet another smartphone platform, that doesn't mean Samsung and Intel are simply going to let the OS wither and die. In fact, version 3.0 of the UI is well on its way, and it appears to be up and running Galaxy S 4 hardware. The new look is flatter, squarer and much more inline with current design trends. Gone are the slightly cartoonish and round elements that have now been adopted by Mozilla for Firefox OS. The bright and varied color palate remains, however, giving Tizen a much more whimsical appearance than Android or Windows Phone. Though the images at the source link are hardly a thorough tour of the new UI, you can see that there are detailed lockscreen alerts and you can get a quick glance at the music player. Now it's just a waiting game to see if Samsung will actually release a high-end Tizen phone based on the S 4 to consumers... but we're not exactly holding our breath. [Image courtesy of Tizen Indonesia]
Mobeam's new app digitizes loyalty cards, exclusive to Note 3 and GS4
Last time we've heard of Mobeam, it formed a partnership with Samsung to bring its barcode-scanning tech to the Galaxy S 4. Now, the company has launched a new app on Google Play called Beep'nGo, which digitizes membership, gift and loyalty cards and allows them to be read by ordinary laser scanners. While potentially useful -- who wouldn't want to leave some of those plastic rectangles at home? -- it only works on phones sporting Mobeam's proprietary technology. For now, that means the Galaxy S 4 and the Note 3 only, although the San Francisco startup is looking to expand to more devices. Samsung faithfuls who see themselves using the Beep'nGo app frequently can head past the jump for the press release and a video of how Mobeam's tech works.
Mophie Juice Pack for Galaxy S 4 now shipping, brings an extra 2,300mAh battery for $99
Galaxy S 4 users already benefit from solid battery life, but if your Life Companion has become more of a compulsion, you're probably in need of a power solution that can go the distance. Naturally, one option is to swap out batteries, but a new charging case from Mophie could be a simpler route. The Juice Pack -- also available for the HTC One and iPhone 5 -- wraps around the phone and connects via micro-USB, adding an additional 2,300mAh cell to the 2,600mAh battery within the GS4. The Mophie Juice Pack is available now for $99, and is currently offered in black or white (with pink and red versions to follow). As an unfortunate consequence, the extra bulk prevents NFC functionality, but it could be a minor sacrifice if your phone's battery life regularly comes up short.
MoDaCo.Switch for Galaxy S 4 now available in beta... to Indiegogo backers
For about a month now, HTC One owners have been able to enjoy MoDaCo's efforts to mix up the Android experience on the Taiwanese company's handset. But, hey, don't go thinking anyone forgot about Samsung's own flagship device, the Galaxy S 4. Available now to those who backed the campaign on Indiegogo, MoDaCo.Switch is giving the GS4 crowd a ROM to sense what it's like to seamlessly switch between the TouchWiz and AOSP versions of Android OS. It's worth noting that this particular ROM is only compatible with GSM models of the Galaxy S 4, and, as ever, creator Paul O'Brien notes it is a beta after all, so some issues may arise. In other words, backers must install at their own risk -- capiche?
Sprint releases purple Galaxy S 4, gives Prince a new 'life companion'
Sprint's eggplant-colored Galaxy S III must have proven a hit, as the carrier is already following up with a version of the Galaxy S 4 in Purple Mirage. Like its ancestor, the purple GS4 is strictly a palette swap; the $200 you pay on contract still gets you a 16GB version of Samsung's familiar 2013 flagship, just in a more vibrant shade. If you're tired of conservative smartphone colors, though, you could do far worse than to buy Sprint's latest royal-hued smartphone... especially if you're a platinum-selling rocker from Minnesota.
AT&T lowers Next device pricing, just happens to trump Verizon
Competition can be a beautiful thing. AT&T's Next upgrade pricing hasn't looked good when compared against Verizon Edge in the weeks since launch, but today is a different story: the carrier has quietly lowered the monthly payments for some devices. While the company hasn't said which hardware is cheaper, the Galaxy S 4 and iPhone 5 have dropped from $32.50 per month to $27. Prices are down for BlackBerry and Nokia devices as well, a tipster says. As MacRumors notes, the bargains are rather convenient. While AT&T isn't offering as good a deal as T-Mobile, a 16GB iPhone 5 now costs $1 less through one year of Next payments than it does with a similar Verizon Edge plan. You'll want to act soon if you like what you see, too. AT&T tells us that this is a promotion; although there's no firm end date for the discounts, we wouldn't count on these rates lasting forever. [Thanks, Anonymous]
LG G2 vs. the competition: flagship Android smartphones square off
Now that the LG G2 is official, the battle between mid-2013 Android flagships is fully underway. But which wins the war? We've pitted the new smartphone against its biggest competitors in the US -- Samsung's Galaxy S 4, the HTC One and the Motorola Moto X -- to understand which device most deserves a place in your pocket. Based purely on the spec sheet, the G2 is the frontrunner. Its larger 5.2-inch screen, quicker 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 and image-stabilized 13-megapixel rear camera will please those who want a media powerhouse. Its extra-large battery and 24-bit / 192KHz audio are also unique in a category where longevity and sound quality tend to play second fiddle. If all you want is the most technically capable device, look no further. Yet each of the G2's competitors has an advantage that's harder to quantify. The GS4 has a full set of hardware nav keys (for those who prefer them), air gestures and a slightly tougher plastic build. The One claims superior low-light photography and dual speakers. And the Moto X partly makes up for its lackluster speed through design customization and helpful tricks like Touchless Control. To us, that puts LG in an awkward middle. While the G2's performance is almost beyond compare, many of its software features aren't all that unique -- those who aren't sold on its performance could easily be lured away.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 29th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought overwhelming support for MoDaCo.Switch on the GS4, new markets for the budget-priced BlackBerry Q5 and a pint-sized Android handset from Acer. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 29th, 2013.
Google Play Edition smartphones start receiving Android 4.3 (updated)
If you were wondering just how long it would take the Google Play Editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 to get Android 4.3, we can now tell you: not long at all. Owners of both devices report that they're receiving over-the-air updates to the new OS. There isn't yet word of any GPE-specific additions, but we'll let you know if there are surprises in store. Update: AnandTech has noticed a few GPE-specific changes. Most home screen icons appear larger, infrared now works on the HTC One, and Bluetooth-based internet tethering is now an option for the Galaxy S 4.
Leaked photos: Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini is headed to Verizon
Here is it: the Galaxy S4 Mini... for Verizon? As of now, Samsung's smaller Galaxy S4 sibling is an international-only device; in other words, no US carriers have officially signed on to offer it. That said, a Samsung SCH-i435 recently made its way into the Bluetooth SIG's website, and those who follow VZW's classifications of Samsung products are all-too-familiar with the "SCH" prefix. Of course, a handful of leaked photos can't confirm a release date nor a price, but if it's already popping up with that label on the rear, surely the wait won't be much longer. Hop on past the break for a side-by-side shot with an iPhone 5. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Samsung preps Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S4 Mini variants with seamless dual-mode LTE
It hasn't been easy to bridge differing LTE network types in one phone; ZTE's attempt requires a reboot, for example. Samsung claims to have solved that problem with new dual-mode LTE versions of the Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy S4 Mini. Both devices can switch between the common FDD-LTE standard and TDD-LTE without restarting, and they'll automatically hand over any ongoing data sessions or voice calls. The advantages are potentially huge for both roaming and bandwidth -- travelers are more likely to stay on 4G, and providers running both FDD and TDD can switch customers to whatever network has the most capacity. Samsung hasn't said where and when the dual-mode Galaxies will be available, although TDD-LTE's worldwide reach (including the US) suggests that the smartphones could soon be commonplace.
Refresh Roundup: week of July 15th, 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!
Galaxy S 4 for Verizon spied in Brown Autumn
History might be repeating itself. Just as Samsung launched a red Galaxy S III for AT&T and followed up with black and brown Verizon models, a new @evleaks image hints that AT&T's red Galaxy S 4 could be matched by a Brown Autumn equivalent on Verizon. The product shot doesn't reveal more than the color, mind you -- we don't know when this GS4 could ship, or if Blue Arctic would tag along. If the past is anything to go by, though, customers won't have to pay a premium for any additional Verizon hues.
Refresh Roundup: week of July 8th, 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!
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom review: a messy marriage of smartphone and camera
More Info Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom hands-on Samsung Galaxy Camera review Samsung Galaxy S 4 review Android on a point-and-shoot? Last year we learned that it could be done. But with some features that duplicate the functionality of a smartphone without an ability to make calls, Samsung's Galaxy Camera was a confusing mix of form and function. It was very much a first-generation device, and while they may have regretted it later, some curious early adopters did drop $500 for the soon-to-be-obsolete hybrid. The cumbersome compact, with its massive 21x lens and power-hungry 4.8-inch touchscreen, may not have won over the photography community, but Samsung's 2013 approach has a much better chance at success. With a design that's based on the Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom adds a fair amount of heft to accommodate the feature that sets it apart from every other smartphone on the market: a 10x 24-240mm optically stabilized lens. But it's still pocketable, believe it or not, and it functions quite well as a phone. While the Galaxy Camera was first and foremost a camera, the Zoom's primary function is as an ordinary Android smartphone -- albeit one with a larger sensor and a powerful lens. Can it replace both devices? And will you want it to? Shoot past the break for our take.%Gallery-193692%
Samsung Galaxy S 4 arrives on C Spire's LTE network for $199
Looks like Samsung's on a mission to make the Galaxy S 4 available on as many carriers as possible, and C Spire is one of its latest destinations. Samsung's prolific flagship device joins the iPhone 5 and the HTC One on the company's list of smartphone offerings for its LTE network. The phone is available (in both black and white) through the carrier's website and retail locations for $199 with a two-year contract. If C Spire doesn't offer its services in your area, you still have other regional carrier options, including US Cellular, Cricket, and Ting.
Sprint Galaxy S 4 update adds Knox, app installs on SD cards (updated)
Samsung's big Galaxy S 4 update hit Europe a month ago; it's now spreading to the US through Sprint. The American patch adds much of what we saw in its international counterpart, including the option of moving supporting apps to the SD card. Business-minded customers also reportedly get access to the Knox security suite. Just be careful about upgrading if you're planning to install a custom ROM -- XDA-Developers members report that the bootloader has changed, but they haven't yet verified whether or not it's locked down. Those who aren't concerned about flexible firmware should receive the update soon, though, and we're hoping that other US carriers aren't far behind. Update: Early adopters jumped the gun -- Samsung tells us that this doesn't include Knox. Activation of that service is still coming at a "later date."
MetroPCS brings Galaxy S 4 to eight areas for $549 plus tax, wider availability coming 'soon'
Well, we can't say we didn't see this one coming. Shortly after making a stop by the FCC and being teased on Twitter, MetroPCS has made the Galaxy S 4 official with a $549 plus tax sticker price (and no contracts attached, of course). Samsung's latest flagship is only available across eight covered areas initially (list in source link), however the plan is to set in motion a "full market rollout in the near future." The GS4 is up for grabs in stores starting today, and MetroPCS says extra locations and online availability will "be announced soon."
Refresh Roundup: week of July 1st, 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!
