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Lego Cubestormer robot solves Rubik's Cube in less time than it takes to read this headline
Until yesterday, the world record for fastest time in solving a Rubik's Cube was 5.27 seconds, which was set in the fall of 2011 by a Lego robot named Cubestormer 2. Thanks to the machine's successor (aptly named Cubestormer 3), the time to beat is now 3.253 seconds. The robot, which is the third in a series of automatons designed solely for the purpose of solving the Rubik's Cube ASAP, is powered by an octa-core Samsung Galaxy S4; it's got four high-performance ARM Cortex-A15 cores and four lower-intensity Cortex-A7 cores running the show, each one managing its own Lego Mindstorms actuator.
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.
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.
gdgt's best deals for July 29: Samsung Galaxy S 4, Canon PowerShot A2500
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Today's hottest deals include one of the best smartphones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy S 4, at half price with a Sprint contract, as well as a cheap deal on an entry-level Canon PowerShot. Want the latest deals delivered to your inbox? Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
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."
gdgt's best deals for July 1: Free LG Blu-ray player with LG 3D HDTV purchase
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Today's hottest deals include an Amazon promotion that hands out a free LG Blu-ray player with the purchase of an LG 3D HDTV. Want the latest deals delivered to your inbox? Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Report: Apple considering new suit against Galaxy S 4
Bloomberg is reporting that US Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal has rejected Apple's attempt to include the recently released Samsung Galaxy S 4 in Apple's second California lawsuit against Samsung which is slated to begin in March 2014. Adding another product to the case is a "tax on the court's resources," Grewal said in the ruling. "Each time these parties appear in the courtroom, they consume considerable amounts of the court's time and energy, which takes time way from other parties who also require and are entitled to the court's attention." Apple initially filed a motion seeking to include the Galaxy S 4 this past May and noted that it would be willing to drop one of the accused products already included in the suit if necessary. That, apparently, wasn't sufficiently persuasive for Judge Grewal. An Apple lawyer argued that by excluding the GS4, Apple might have to file a new lawsuit since the devices already covered by the suit will be out of date by the time a verdict is reached. Indeed, this seems to be an ongoing problem for Apple and one for which there doesn't seem to be a practical solution. Tim Cook acknowledged this very predicament when he appeared before Congress this past May. I think the US Court system is currently structured in such a way that tech companies aren't getting the intellectual property protection they need. Our cycles are fast, the court system is very long and the foreign competitors in the US can quickly take IP and use it and ship products with it and they're to the next product as well. I would love to see conversations between countries and see protections between IP globally. For us, our intellectual property is so important, I would love the system to be strengthened in order to protect it. Put simply, the cases Apple brings to trial against Samsung are perpetually a generation behind Samsung's current smartphone lineup. The end result is that Apple is continuously playing catch-up and expending a lot of money litigating cases over products that don't often include Samsung's current flagship devices. The Verge has posted the full court ruling over here.
Stock Android edition Samsung GS4 and HTC One hit Google Play Store
Look, you said you wanted pure Android. You said custom skins were always second best. Well, today's the day to show Samsung and HTC that you're not just all talk. The two best Google-powered phones on the market, Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and HTC's One, are now available directly from the Play Store running an unadulterated version of the OS. The One will set you back $599 and it comes with 32GB of non-expandable storage. Samsung's GS 4 is a bit more expensive at $649, and you get only 16GB of space, but you'll be able to augment that with a microSD card. Both devices support AT&T's and T-Mobile's respective 4G LTE networks and are fully unlocked. Unfortunately, you can't buy either of these if you live outside the US, at least not yet. We have a hands-on with these two mythical creatures up now.
Galaxy S 4 software update enables moving apps to SD card, HDR video recording and more
Perhaps this is what Samsung meant when it said it would addressing GS4 storage capacity concerns through "software optimization." An update for the flagship has begun hitting Snapdragon 600-loaded handsets in Germany, and it enables an option to move apps over to the SD card, freeing up some of that precious on-board storage. Other changes, as noted by mobiFlip and SamMobile, include a partially see-through notification bar when using a custom wallpaper, new camera firmware with an HDR video recording option and an "increased legibility" display mode. S Planner and settings icons apparently have a slightly new look, and a Smart Pause toggle has been added to the drop-down list. Samsung may have achieved a modicum of optimization, too: the update reportedly claws back an extra 0.8GB of internal storage. The update will hopefully see a wider release soon, but make sure you're connected to WiFi before you accept any OTA prompts -- it's a whopping 366MB.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 Developer Edition coming soon to AT&T and Verizon
Samsung will be releasing developer editions of the Galaxy S 4 for AT&T and Verizon, according to the company's site. At least for now, the phone will only be offered in Black Mist, and internal storage is listed as 16GB. It's not clear exactly when the devices will come to their respective carriers, but they likely won't be offered with a subsidy when they do. For those considering purchasing Sammy's latest flagship handset, this offers an alternative to the several variants across service providers, not to mention the stock Jelly Bean version announced at Google I/O. Hit up the source link for more info.
Apple: Google Now violates Siri patents
We recently asked if Apple's ongoing legal battles with Samsung were worth the effort for the computer giant. As if to answer our question, this week Apple amended their infringement claims with a new motion filed in the second California patent case targeting five patents that the Galaxy S 4 infringes on. But the motion contained a new component; the targeting of Google Now's search app. Foss Patents has a thorough run down of Apple's claims, including the specific five patents Apple says Samsung is in violation of. The main point of contention that the Android Quick Search Box and Google Now infringe upon several of their patients covering their own voice search program Siri. In a footnote found in their motion Apple sums up their claim thusly: Apple determined that the Galaxy S 4 product practices many of the same claims already asserted by Apple, and that the Galaxy S 4 practices those claims in the same way as the already-accused Samsung devices." It will be interesting to see how the courts rule on this motion. Head over to Foss Patents to read the complete motion and find an explanation of the patents Apple says are currently being violated. We will keep you updated as this case continues to develop.
LoJack for Android to be embedded in Samsung Galaxy S 4's firmware
Since the Galaxy S4's launch, Samsung's been eager to make security one of the device's stronger selling points. Through its partnership with Absolute Software, makers of LoJack for Laptops, Samsung will soon embed a theft recovery system right into the the phone's firmware. LoJack for Android smartphones, launching exclusively on the Galaxy S4, joins SAFE for Knox in Samsung's quest to develop "the most comprehensive mobile security solution" on the market. While there are plenty of apps that can locate misplaced phones via GPS and wipe their contents, the hope of retrieving a stolen phone is slim to none. In addition to content-clearing software, LoJack will offer a service in which "recovery specialists" attempt to return lost phones to their owners. There's no guarantee that said recovery specialists will be able to successfully track down thieves and reclaim stolen devices, but it's nice to dream. Subscriptions for LoJack for Android will start at $29.99 a year, though there's no official word yet on a release date.
Galaxy S 4 Active caught on camera again, reported specs are lower than regular GS4 (video)
First came the model number mentions, then the pictures, and now Samsung's rumored and rugged Galaxy S 4 Active has been caught on film. In a situation that screams "controlled leak," MobileTechReview appears to have handled exactly the same tethered unit we've seen snaps of, and says the device sports a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU and an 8-megapixel main camera. Even though it's just another unconfirmed piece of the rumor puzzle, an alleged AnTuTu benchmark puts a Snapdragon 600 inside the Active, matching that of the regular S 4, which packs a 13-megapixel shooter. If MobileTechReview are correct, then it wouldn't really be a hardy version of the GS4 at all, but rather another new Samsung mid-ranger that'll put up with a bit of a beating.
Galaxy S III Android 4.2.2 firmware leaked, adds several S 4 features (video) (update: international model)
Samsung didn't stray far from its comfort zone when designing the Galaxy S 4, and now a leaked build of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for the S III makes it even harder to distinguish the older flagship from the newer one. The folks at SamMobile got their mitts on a test firmware build and, better yet, have combed through it to see what's new. As you may know, the S 4 ships with 4.2.2 under a TouchWiz layer, so it's not surprising to hear most of the features new to this S III build are on the S 4 already: an updated version of S Voice, more lock screen options / unlock effects, new display modes, a redesigned settings interface, voice control, and more. SamMobile has put together a video walkthrough of the build (embedded below), and you'll find an expanded changelog and software screenshots at the source link. Apparently, the firmware "works perfectly," so if you'd rather not wait through the (often lengthy) carrier approval process, you can download it for your S III right now (flashing required, of course). Update: This is for the international model of the GS III (i9300).
Daily Update for May 14, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
This week on gdgt: Samsung plays it safe with the Galaxy S 4
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their latest picks -- along with a few you should probably avoid. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S 4 up for pre-order starting tomorrow (update: launching May 30th for $199.99)
You've already read our review and you're still convinced you need Samsung's latest Galaxy S smartphone as soon as humanly possible, eh? Well if you're on Verizon (or you'd like to be), the Galaxy S 4 goes up for pre-order starting tomorrow according to a tweet from Verizon's Twitter account. Of course, when you'll get it is another question altogether -- last we heard was "sometime in May," so take that as you will. May is pretty soon, right? In any case, you won't immediately be able to purchase the GS 4 anywhere: Sprint is reporting delays until some unknown date, while T-Mo-'s version isn't arriving until April 29. Meanwhile, AT&T is still planning for an April 25th launch for pre-order customers, and in-store on April 27th. Update: Verizon PR rep Ken Muche has also confirmed on Twitter that the phone will launch on May 30th and go for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on the usual two-year contract.
Sprint delays Galaxy S 4 in-store launch due to inventory issues, online and phone sales aren't affected (update: Samsung responds)
After T-Mobile said yesterday that it won't be able to offer Samsung's Galaxy S 4 through its online store quite as soon as it expected, Sprint has today announced a similar delay. The carrier originally planned to have Sammy's latest flagship available through all retail channels this Saturday (April 27th), but "unexpected inventory challenges from Samsung" have meant that although online and phone-based sales will open on that date as planned, you won't be able to wander into a Sprint store and pick one up until those supply issues are solved. When that'll be is anyone's guess, but we imagine Sprint will get them into consumers' hands as soon as possible in the hope of improving its balance sheet. See Sprint's full statement after the break. Update: Samsung has also responded with an official statement, citing "overwhelming global demand" leading to inventory shortages. We've added the comment underneath Sprint's.
Samsung releases kernel source for a trio of Galaxy S 4s
As Samsung prepares to release its new flagship to the masses, the company is already making moves to accommodate its open source following. Today, the Korean electronics maker served up the kernel source for three versions of the Galaxy S 4. On tap are two unlocked variants of Samsung's next big thing (GT-I9500 and GT-I9505) along with Virgin Mobile Canada's rendition of the handset. Seeing how you've already seen the device stripped down to its unmentionables, why not go the extra mile and take a whack at its software? That is if you know what you're doing.
Survey: Half of Chinese users want to own a Galaxy S4 instead of an iPhone
As we've reported quite a bit, Apple has been working hard to try and grow its influence in China. That nation has become the world's largest smartphone market, and so Apple has plenty of reason to be promoting itself and selling as many phones as possible. A new survey shows that as much work as Apple has been doing in the region, it may be behind already. According to research from Trendforce, almost 60 percent of 5,000 Chinese smartphone users polled say they would rather buy the newest Samsung Galaxy S4 than Apple's latest iPhone. This doesn't mean there isn't a market for Apple product in China. In fact, the same survey found that 52 percent of users did want to own an iPhone, which is very good news for Apple (the company currently holds an almost 10 percent market share there, so it seems destined for more). Still, Apple has far from an iron grip on the region. If Apple does release a cheaper iPhone this year, most analysts say that would help them make a bigger dent in the Chinese market. Given how deep Samsung's roots and influence go in China, it's still going to be a tough battle for Apple to get the market share it wants.
