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Samsung Galaxy S 4 up for pre-order at US Cellular for $200, ships late April
Chalk up another one: in sync with Sprint and T-Mobile, US Cellular has joined the ranks of US carriers detailing their Galaxy S 4 launch plans. The mid-size provider won't commit to a more specific timeframe for its launch beyond "late April," but it's already taking pre-orders for a 16GB edition at $200 with a contract and a steep $750 contract-free. That last detail prices it above AT&T's offering, although US Cellular is sweetening the pot by giving away an S View Cover to those willing to buy sight unseen. The news leaves just Cricket, C Spire and Verizon without mostly complete Galaxy S 4 plans -- let's hope they pick up the pace.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 priced at $150 on Sprint and T-Mobile, hits both carriers in late April
US launch details for the Galaxy S 4 are arriving at last, and both Sprint and T-Mobile are on the vanguard. The two carriers plan to sell Samsung's flagship for $150 in 16GB form, albeit with different pricing strategies: T-Mobile's plan includes its now-standard device payment installments, while Sprint is discounting the phone from its normal $250 price through a $100 instant credit for those switching to the network. Just when you'll have the chance to plunk money down also varies. Sprint plans to offer pre-orders starting on April 18th, with an actual launch on April 27th. T-Mobile isn't giving customers the same opportunity to buy in advance, although they will get to take the Galaxy S 4 home a few days earlier, on April 24th. We're still waiting on other American carriers to hop on the bandwagon, but we suspect it won't be long.
AT&T's Galaxy S 4 page lists April 30th ship date, $199 / $639 price for 16GB
We saw AT&T open up a registration page for the Galaxy S 4 almost as soon as Samsung's presentation was over, but now that link is exposing a bit more information. Several tipsters let us know that for customers in certain areas, the website is now showing the 16GB GS4 available for pre-order in White Frost or Black Mist. Some of the details are visible to all, including that the phone is promised to ship April 30th and has an off-contract price tag of $639 ($199 w/ two-year agreement). Those who can get further in the ordering process report it's expected to arrive at their homes on or before May 3rd, with two-day shipping. Hit the link below if you're moved to get your pre-order for Samsung's latest standard-bearer in as soon as possible. [Thanks, Stephen, Asim, Jeff]
Galaxy S 4 pre-orders live in Canada today, $199 on a three-year commitment
Samsung's next Galaxy flagship is seeking a new home in the land of hockey, maple syrup and politesse. Starting today, Canadian subscribers on Telus, Rogers or Bell will be able to pre-order the 16GB Galaxy S 4 for $199 on a three-year plan. Shipments of the TouchWiz-laden überphone are slated to begin later this month on the 27th, with Telus committing to an in-store date of May 3rd. Of course, you needn't sign away such a significant chunk of your wireless life for subsidized GS4 privileges -- the handset can be had outright for $700 CAD. Whether you go all in or opt for the monthly payment package, you'll at least have your pick of carrier poison.
Galaxy S 4 availability hinted at in Staples document, pegged for April 26th on AT&T
Scrambling to find a launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S 4? Staples may have just dropped a hint. According to a leaked store training sheet, AT&T will be offering the next Galaxy phone on April 26th, followed by T-Mobile on May 1st and Verizon on the 30th. Bold lettering warns these dates are tentative but they are familiar, matching both the UK launch date and T-Mobile's own declarations. Naturally, we try to take these things with a grain of salt, though it's worth noting that the document asks stores to prepare GS 4 reservation signage on 4/15, one day before official pre-orders begin. It isn't an iron-clad case for the phone's launch by any means, but for the eager Galaxy fan, tentative is better than nothing. Skip on past the break for a peek at the full page. [Thanks, anonymous!]
Samsung Galaxy S4 undressed on camera, found to be easily repairable
If you damage the microUSB connector, SIM slot or camera module on Samsung's new Galaxy S4, you may not need to spend a lot of time or cash swapping in replacements. Of course, you'll need to get the flagship smartphone in hand before you're able to damage it, but if you do, repairs shouldn't be a tremendous undertaking, if today's teardown video is any indication. According to TechnoBuffalo, which published the clip (available at the source link), the Gorilla Glass screen could be a bit more costly to replace, but overall, the device appears to be quite repairable. US carriers are expected to begin selling the Jelly Bean smartphone later this month, so even though this first undressing isn't terribly detailed, we should have but days to wait before taking a much closer look.
Monster Watts WiQiQi puts wireless charging in Samsung Galaxy phones without new cases
Samsung already has wireless charging options for phones like the Galaxy S4, but they require a separate cover that adds a slight amount of bulk. For Monster Watts, that's still too much. The company's upcoming WiQiQi charging receiver is thin enough to slip under the existing cases of both the S4 as well as the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, giving them the same Qi-based wireless power as official kits without disrupting the design or wrecking compatibility with accessories. Kits for the two phones already on the market should be available as soon as the middle of this month, with discounted early pricing for a receiver-and-charger bundle starting at $45 (normally $78) for the GS3; a WiQiQi for the GS4 won't show until around early June at a regular $88 price, although it should also start at $45 for advance buyers. Monster Watts' wire-free solution isn't seamless, but it may be one of the more elegant in an era when wireless charging is only occasionally built-in.
Samsung kicks off Galaxy S4 ad campaign with new TV spots, focus on features
We may still not have exact launch dates for the Galaxy S4 on all carriers, but the launch is approaching -- and with it, Samsung's latest big ad campaign. From the looks of the first few TV spots, the company is staying away from any shots at its rivals or celebrity appearances (at least for now), focusing instead on some of the new features of the smartphone; Sound Shot, Group Play and S Translator all get their own 30 second ads, while another minute-long commercial (appearing in at least in the UK) offers a more general and suitably dramatic overview of the phone. There's no word yet on exactly how big a push Samsung will be making with the new ad campaign, but it's pretty safe to bet you'll be seeing lots of these in the months ahead. Update: Samsung's also put up an infographics about the highlights of the S4. Good timing!
AT&T to offer 16GB Samsung Galaxy S 4 for $200, 32GB for $250
Interesting timing, AT&T: just a day after the HTC One pricing was announced, the carrier has clarified its launch plans for the Samsung Galaxy S 4. We already knew the phone would be available on pre-order for $250 on April 16th, but AT&T has now specified that this will be for the 32GB model; the 16GB flavor will actually be $200, both with two-year commitments. This certainly doesn't help HTC's hopes of conquering the world, though the $200 One will hold twice as much internal storage as the GS 4 (although Samsung's flagship at least offers expandable memory, whereas the One does not). AT&T still hasn't announced an official release date, so that's the last remaining piece of the puzzle yet to be revealed.
The Daily Roundup for 04.02.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 isn't even out yet, but it might have been rooted already (update: or not)
We might have spent a few hours toying with Samsung's new mobile hardware, but some tinkerers over at XDA-Developers claim have had enough time to root the Galaxy S 4, already. This means those (very) early adopters might be able to peruse the inner workings as soon as it arrives on store shelves. There's a video of the process after the break and you can pick up all the necessary custom ROM files (and warnings of not to meddle with what you do not understand) at the source. There is one tiny caveat to the news, however, as the rooting magic is focused squarely on the Exynos 5 Octa model for now. According to SAM Mobile, several batches of the new Galaxy phone are rumored to be packing Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 instead of Samsung's homemade chip series. An official spokesperson from the UK branch has confirmed that it'll arrive there with the Snapdragon processor. Update: Perhaps we were a little too zealous. Notable smartphone tinkerer Chainfire has taken to Google Plus to note that this would be a pretty huge accomplishment given the limited number of handsets currently out there. Most of the XDA-Developers thread details custom ROMs, while the Galaxy S 4 apparently has a few extra tricks to slow down the rooting process. Read Chainfire's full breakdown in More Coverage. Apologies for any confusion. Update 2: A mere day and a half later, and Chainfire's been in touch to confirm he/she has a working root for the S 4, although aren't yet able to try it out on the final retail iteration. We'll have to wait a few weeks before it's able to pass that tet.
Samsung SGH-I337 hits FCC with AT&T LTE bands, fits the GS 4 profile
We have to be skeptical when new devices arrive at the FCC without photos or a blinking sign that says "I Am AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S 4." But even doubters can likely tie that model to a certain Samsung SGH-I337 that the FCC just waved through. Why? First off, it's carrying a certain LTE band 17 used exclusively by AT&T in the US (in addition to bands 2, 4 and 5, also frequently featured by the carrier's LTE devices). Secondly, the dimensions line up perfectly with the device we recently got our hands on at Samsung's recent Galaxy S 4 phone-a-palooza. Finally, we already saw a device packing the same model number on UAProf, a normally reliable source that revealed a 1,920 x 1,080 screen and "ARM11" Exynos processor. Since it's unlikely the carrier has another unannounced 1080p model coming from Samsung, those coveting an AT&T GS 4 can probably start warming up their wallets.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 for Verizon swings through the FCC
We weren't kidding about that influx of FCC filings: the Verizon edition of Samsung's Galaxy S 4, the SCH-i545, has passed through the US regulator's approval right on cue. The device on display ticks all the checkboxes we'd expect, including LTE on both Verizon's main 700MHz band and the carrier's recently acquired AWS frequencies. We also notice HSPA-based 3G, which suggests Big Red's GS4 won't be a paperweight when abroad. The filing just leaves AT&T and T-Mobile as the major stragglers in the US; at the current rate, though, they'll have little trouble getting clearance before they have to fulfill any future orders.
US Cellular to begin Samsung Galaxy S 4 pre-sales April 16th
AT&T's not the only operator to grant early adopters the opportunity to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S 4 on April 16th -- US Cellular will be following suit as well. While the regional carrier hasn't announced pricing or any other details on availability yet, interested customers will be able to at least start the purchase process before it hits retail shelves. Head to the source to sign up for email alerts on pricing and availability, and we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear updates.
Samsung Exynos Octa now rocking LTE, destined for Korean market
When Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa was announced, it was believed to be compatible with 3G networks only. As such, the HSPA+ (global) version of the Galaxy S 4 was the only handset to feature the company's eight-core SoC -- the LTE model shipping with Qualcomm's 4G-capable, quad-core Snapdragon 600 instead. That's apparently changed, with the Korean giant tweeting that the Exynos 5 Octa now supports LTE on 20 bands. So why even make a Snapdragon 600 version of the Galaxy S 4, then? Perhaps Samsung can't produce as many chips as Qualcomm to meet the upcoming worldwide demand for its new flagship. This appears likely, with inews24 and new-samsunggalaxys4 reporting that the Exynos 5 Octa with LTE is currently reserved for Korean models only (SHV-E300S, SHV-E300K and SHV-E300L, to be exact). So, anyone fancy a trip to Seoul in the near future?
Samsung Galaxy S 4 heads to AT&T for $250 on contract, pre-orders begin April 16th
Just two days ago, T-Mobile's potty-mouthed CEO John Legere gave us a tentative May 1st launch date for Samsung's Galaxy S 4 on that network. And now, AT&T's making its S 4 plans public, opening up pre-orders for the device on April 16th. Subscribers that sign-up for a two-year plan will be able to snag the 5-inch 1080p GS 4 for $250. As to when it'll actually ship, well, that bit's still up in the air and we expect AT&T to elaborate in the weeks to come. But you can bet it won't be long before Samsung rushes to get its next big Galaxy thing into eager hands.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 hits the FCC in MetroPCS and Sprint forms
Get ready for a small deluge of Galaxy S 4 filings at the FCC in the near future. Just a couple of weeks after Samsung's flagship hit the US agency in its international guise, we're now seeing the first US editions of the smartphone receive approval, starting with both MetroPCS (SCH-R970) and Sprint (SPH-L720) examples. Either has CDMA, EV-DO and LTE, although there's variances you'll want to watch for if you're free to choose between carriers: the Sprint version has HSPA 3G for world roaming, while the MetroPCS model drops HSPA but has a broad four bands of LTE meant mostly to support other mid-size American networks, like US Cellular. We still have AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon to go among the bigger US providers supporting the GS4, although it's just a matter of time before their models make FCC appearances.
T-Mobile's UnCarrier event roundup
The news (and the choice language) was hurled out at a rapid pace during today's T-Mobile UnCarrier event. In case you missed any of the proceedings, we've got you covered with a full rundown just past the break. From the initial LTE markets to handset launches and details surrounding Big Magenta's phone plans, all of the particulars on what the carrier looks to "unleash" are here for your perusal.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 expected to launch on T-Mobile on May 1st
Here at T-Mobile's "UnCarrier" press conference, we've heard loads of pricing and availability details for the company's new LTE-enabled handsets. Well, here's one more tidbit: the Galaxy S4 is expected to hit T-Mo on May 1st. If that sounds like soft, tentative language on our part, it's because the carrier said the phone will arrive "about May 1st," so it's possible it could arrive, you know, on May 3rd instead. That said, it's coming, and soon. As for pricing, nothing's been confirmed, but we already know T-Mobile's other LTE phones (the iPhone 5, HTC One, etc.) will go for $100 plus monthly payments of $20 for two years, so we wouldn't be surprised if the same were true here.
CyanogenMod founder leaves Samsung, praises the Galaxy S 4 on his way out
Less than two years after the CyanogenMod founder was scooped up by Samsung to improve Android's veneer, Steve Kondik has decided to depart for greener pastures. In a Google Plus posting, the software engineer shared his mostly positive impressions for Samsung's Galaxy S 4, casually mentioning that he'd departed the Korean behemoth's embrace. The one thing that came in for a bashing was TouchWiz's updated UI, that he says "feels like it has been sent back a few years in time to the Froyo days." Responding to a comment, Mr. Kondik said that nothing in particular had prompted his departure beyond a desire to "do something new," but given the man's pedigree, we can only assume it'll be somehow related to the little green droid that could. [Image credit: Erica Joy]
