U.S. Cellular Galaxy S 4's Android 4.3 update changelog posted by Samsung

Today's the day that U.S. Cellular said it would begin updating its version of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 to Android 4.3, and right on schedule, Samsung has posted a changelog for the update. According to the page on Samsung's site, the update bumps the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S 4 up to software version R970VXUAMJA and includes Android 4.3, Galaxy Gear compatibility, support for Samsung's Knox security software and updates for a number of preloaded apps. The full changelog is as follows:

T-Mobile to launch Nexus 5 online on Nov. 14, in stores Nov. 20

Just in case you need another way to buy Google and LG's new Nexus 5, T-Mobile just announced that it will begin selling the Nexus 5 online on Nov. 14 and in its retail stores on Nov. 20. T-Mobile's pricing for the Nexus 5 will be set at a down payment of $41.99 followed by 24 monthly payments of $17.

Google Nexus 5 review Q&A: post your questions here

 

 

 

Well, that didn't take long. It has been only a couple of hours since we posted our Google Nexus 5 review, and the comment section below it has already exploded. And we aren't surprised, to be perfectly honest with you. After all, the launch of the Google Nexus 5 was a highly anticipated event, observed by Android geeks and regular Joes alike. And now that the handset is ready for prime time, the crowd is curious to know if the handset delivers the goods. (Hint: it does.)

BlackBerry board said to have turned down offers from Apple, Microsoft and others

The past month and a half have been busy for BlackBerry: After agreeing to be acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited for $4.7 billion, the smartphone maker reportedly shopped itself around to several other companies in an attempt to get a better deal. Ultimately, BlackBerry ended up with a $1 billion investment from Fairfax and a new CEO.

Google Search app reportedly set to gain several new features on Nov. 13

Yesterday we saw Google push major updates to two of its Android apps, Hangouts and Google Keyboard, giving them new features like SMS integration and space-aware gesture typing. It looks like Google may not be stopping there, though, as a new report suggests that the company's got another big update planned for next week.

Attention, Android users: Hoot could be the social video chat app you’re looking for

While there are many messaging apps that allow you to trade photos and text with ease, there aren’t too many that actually let you pass video messages back and forth, hassle-free. Some apps have tried in vain to tackle this, and failed.

First Nvidia Tegra 4i-powered hardware expected early 2014, chip certified by AT&T

Nvidia's Tegra 4i processor was originally announced alongside its LTE-less Tegra 4 brother way back in February 2013, but so far we've yet to see any devices actually come to market with the chip inside. It looks like that could finally change in the near future, though, as Nvidia CEO Jen Hsun Huang teased today that Tegra 4i-powered products are expected to debut early next year.

GALAXY Note 3 Experience app allows you to know what its like to own the phablet

 Samsung is putting the experience of owning the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 inside an app so that those who don't own the phablet can know what it feels like to own the device. Is it essentially a sales tool? Absolutely. But with the use of videos and tutorials, you get to see exactly what the Galaxy Note 3  is all about. Besides the phablet, the app will also show you all of the features of the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

Nokia patents foldable battery

Talk about folding phones or flexible phones is great and exciting, but fails to take something important into consideration. To power such a phone you would need a folding battery. And that is where a new patent from Nokia comes in. The Finnish based manufacturer has come up with a folded battery that uses cells that can curve and fold with the phone that it powers. With this technology, we could see smaller and thinner devices.

Report reveals exact reason for the delayed launch of the Apple iPad mini with Retina display

Now that the Apple iPad Air has been exploding onto the tablet scene (see what we did there?), that still leaves many iPad buyers waiting for the launch of the Apple iPad mini with Retina display. Delayed by production problems with the display, a new report on Friday explains that Sharp has been having problems with LCD burn-in on the Retina display panels that it is producing for the tablet. The burn in is said to be not noticeable to the ordinary eye, but the screen still does not meet Apple's exacting standards.

This app may dethrone Tinder as the fastest way to hook up with strangers

Dating services are not created equal. They each cater to a different (and sometimes unsavory) type of people. But no matter what niche a dating service has, or how distinguished it is, there will always be a bunch of people on it (mostly guys) who just want to hook up. Usually, they’re so desperate for a quick bang that they don’t even hide their hope to score.

Apple iPad explosion forces evacuation of an Australian Vodafone store

 A Vodafone store in Canberra, Australia was evacuated and firefighters were called in after the explosion of an Apple iPad Air inside the store resulted in the release of smoke that filled the retail establishment. According to a spokesman for Vodafone, "A burst of flames" came shooting out of an Apple iPad Air demo model. Firefighters were called in when smoke and sparks continued to come out of the tablet, although no one was hurt. Apple sent out a crew to the store on Wednesday to pick up the tablet so that it could do an autopsy on the slate.

Between Apple and Google, I can't tell who held a better launch this year

Within the past two months, the mobile industry has been nothing short of hectic with phone releases, two of which most notably come from the most popular phone companies in the business. Back in early September we saw the release of the much anticipated Apple iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and the arrival of iOS 7. On the last day of October, just one week ago, Google released its newest Nexus device, the Nexus 5, along with Android version 4.4 (KitKat). With these being some of the most anticipated device and software releases of the year, it's hard not to compare the two when it comes down to who managed to pull it off better.

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod Edition to launch in December with several extras in tow

When Oppo first introduced us to its new flagship N1 back in September, it teased that in addition to the regular version of its device that will ship with its custom Color OS interface, it planned to offer a limited edition N1 that will come preloaded with CyanogenMod. We haven't heard much about the special N1 since, but today Oppo broke its silence and revealed that it won't be long before the unique handset goes on sale.

On the fence about buying into a Samsung tablet? Up to $600 worth of freebies for US buyers should help

Samsung's charge of the US market continues, as it is now raising the stakes by offering more freebies than ever for buyers of one of its tablets, including: Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi, Galaxy Tab 3 Wi-Fi, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Student Edition, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and finally, Galaxy Tab 3 Kids (and Samsung HomeSync).

Google's Nexus 5 wholesale price exceeds retail, UK retailers say

Google's Nexus line of contract-manufactured handsets, at least as of late, has become prominent thanks to a healthy mix of a great quality, high-performing handset that also carries a bargainious price tag.

22 problems with iOS 7, and how to fix them

Every new operating system has its issues and Apple’s iOS 7 is certainly no exception. We’ve seen a multitude of bug reports rolling in and, while many people have updated successfully, there’s no shortage of people encountering glitches or even major problems. We discussed how to prepare for and download iOS 7, and we’ve suggested some helpful iOS 7 tips and tricks, now it’s time to review some common iOS 7 problems and, where possible, identify solutions. We’ll refer to the iPhone throughout the article, but the majority of the problems and fixes will apply to the iPad and iPod Touch as well.

HTC announces the Gramohorn II, an artist's vision of an audio dock for the HTC One

HTC UK has just announced the Gramohorn II, an unusual 3D-printed speaker dock for the HTC One. This audio enhancer looks like a modern art interpretation of the classic gramophone speakers used in the past. It was created by the British designer Justin Wolter during HTC's “Here's to Creativity” campaign, which celebrates the company's 17 years of "innovation and breakthrough in the mobile industry".

Brick-and-mortar book stores tell Amazon, and the Kindle it rode in on, to screw off

This week Amazon announced an initiative that was probably designed to look like an olive branch to independent brick and mortar booksellers but instead came across as yet another way for the online giant to steal customers from the nation’s bookstores. The Amazon Source program gives indie bookstores the opportunity to sell Kindles in store and get a percentage of sales generated by that store’s customers. Sounds like an okay deal, right? Booksellers don’t think so.

AT&T Nokia Lumia 1520 launching Nov. 22 for $199.99, 32GB model coming soon

Remember how I told you earlier this week to circle Nov. 22 in pencil as a possible Nokia Lumia 1520 launch date? You can now switch to the pen, because Nokia just announced that the Lumia 1520 will be available from AT&T on Nov. 22 for $199.99 with a two-year contract. The Lumia 1520 will also be available through AT&T Next for $27.00 per month or $584.99 without a commitment.

Snapdragon 800-touting Xiaomi Mi3 flagship to come in December with 3G WCDMA support

The Mi line of Xiaomi phones has been around for quite a while now, starting with the dual-core Snapdragon S3-sporting Mi-1, and for fans of the Chinese company, it has become synonymous with high performance devices, but at an affordable price. The last descendant of the now aged Mi1 is the Xiaomi Mi3 – a Snapdragon 800-touting performance beast, with a price of 1,999 yuan, or about Think China's Nexus 5, of sorts.

Xiaomi sells it's first batch of 100,000 WCDMA Red Rice (Hongmi) phones in 4 minutes

Chinese Xiaomi has been getting some air time lately, mostly thanks to the excellent price to quality ratio their smartphones offer. Starting with the Xiaomi Red Rice (Hongmi) a few months ago, the company started something of a craze in its homeland, due to the phone's satisfying specs sheet and and an affordable price tag of about $130. In exchange, you're getting a 4.7-inch 720p display, a 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589T chipset, a gig of RAM and an 8MP shooter. A deal most any would say yes to.

Apple reportedly gearing up to offer in-store iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c repairs

Rejoice, clumsy iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c owners! New reports out of 9to5Mac and AllThingsD claim that Apple will begin performing in-store repairs on both of its new iPhone models in the near future. Sources speaking to the two sites say that Apple is gearing up to begin offering repairs for things like broken screens and replacement batteries, rear cameras, volume buttons and more.

Sony names several Xperia devices that will receive Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 updates

One week after HTC and Motorola spilled the details of their Android 4.4 update plans, it's now Sony's turn to talk KitKat. The company today took to its official product blog to announce its plans for Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 updates for several of its Xperia-branded devices.

Bosch’s new laser rangefinder augments reality on your smartphone

Still toiling away with a tape measure like some sort of carpentry-savvy caveman?  It’s 2013 – get yourself a laser measure already. Not only are they faster, easier, and more accurate than tape, but some of the newer ones – like the GLM 100 C Professional from Bosch – can interface with your smartphone to do all kinds of nifty next-gen stuff.

Google Now to add more features with November 13th update for Nexus 5?

According to a published report, an update for the Nexus 5 on November 13th will bring new features to Google Now. It is unclear whether this update will eventually spread to all Android phones using the card based Google Now application, or if it will be confined to Nexus 5 users only. For those who have not had the pleasure to use Google Now (which is also available for iOS users in the App Store), it works in conjunction with Google Search to push out information that you might need at that very moment.

Dell Venue 11 Pro now available, starts at $499, full Windows 8.1, full HD, 64GB of storage

While Dell enters ownership again, we have been told that smartphones will not be a part of the future for the famed computer maker. Tablets on the other hand, are definitely part of the portfolio.

Microsoft has had about a month getting the new generation of Surface tablets launched and in the spotlight. The Surface Pro 2 is appealing to those that want or need the ability to run traditional PC applications and until now, it was pretty much the only option in the tablet space.

Everything we think we know about Google’s next Nexus 10 tablet

Another common hint we’re about to see a replacement model is the original being out of stock on Google Play. That’s not the case yet. The Nexus 10 is still ready to buy, albeit at a slightly lower price. Not only that, but Google is still rolling out the tablet in other countries, with India coming up during November, or thereabouts.

LG G Flex gets November 12th release date in Korea

The LG G Flex, LG's curved handset, will be launched in Korea starting on November 12th. With a curve on the top and bottom of the handset, the LG G Flex really does flex when pressure is applied to it as we showed you with a 14 second video. The phone is priced at 999,900 Korean Won which works out to $940 U.S.Dollars.

The curved screen measures 6 inches and with resolution of 720 x 1280, pixel density works out to 245ppi. A quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU powers the handset, while the Adreno 330 GPU takes care of graphics.

Blue Arctic Samsung Galaxy S4 comes exclusively to Best Buy in the U.S. on November 14th

The Samsung Galaxy S4 in Blue Artic launches as a Best Buy exclusive next Friday

Next Thursday, Best Buy is going to launch an exclusive variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The flagship Android model will be available in Blue Arctic from Best Buy's website. It will also be offered at the "Samsung Experience" shops that can be found in 1400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile locations. The device will be offered for customers of Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The Blue Arctic Samsung Galaxy S4 will be priced at $199.99 with a signed two-year contract and should be shipped on November 14th.

Our Nexus 5 battery life test is ready

We know you can't wait for a battery rundown of the Nexus 5, and we made one as soon as we had a chance, with pretty foretold results. Google's Nexus 5 skimps on a few things to get to that juicy $350 price point without subsidies, and perhaps the most major one is its 2300 mAh battery capacity.

A brand new Nexus 5 with broken-in battery lasted 4 hours and 50 minutes on our standardized test, where the phones are running a taxing custom script with screens set at the same 200 nits brightness level. The results are in the ballpark of the Xperia Z1, iPhone 5s and Galaxy S4, but the Nexus 5 endurance is a far cry from the excellent 6 hours and 48 minutes of its forefather LG G2. 

Samsung analyst event slides tease plans for super high-resolution displays

Most people would probably elicit a yawn upon hearing the words "analyst day," but it turns out that some analyst events can actually be sources of exciting mobile information. One such example is Samsung's recent Analyst Day in South Korea, at which the company detailed some of its processor and display-related plans for the next couple of years.
First up, slides from the analyst day show that Samsung plans to begin using 560ppi AMOLED displays sometime in 2014, while a second slide mentions screens with a resolution of 2560x1440 are in the works for next year

Verizon Galaxy Note 3 update brings improvements to connectivity and sound quality

Looks like Verizon's got an update fever, and the only prescription is more new software. Following its announcement of updates for several of its Android-powered phones earlier this week, Verizon has now announced that its version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will soon be on the receiving end of an shiny new update of its own. The update is build number VRUBMJ7 and, according to Verizon's official changelog, it brings with it improvements to the Note 3's connectivity and sound quality.

Why you should buy a smart watch?

Like it or not, smart watches are coming. And yes, at some point – you’ll want one. You may not like the fact that your wrist will be used for more than showing the current time, but sooner or later – you’ll get used to idea.

U.S. Cellular's Galaxy S 4 to receive Android 4.3 update Nov. 8

Looks like the stream of Android 4.3 updates for CDMA-flavored Samsung Galaxy S 4 variants will continue this Friday. Following the updates for the Sprint and Verizon versions that hit last month, U.S. Cellular today announced that it plans to begin rolling out an Android 4.3 update to its Galaxy S 4 this Friday, Nov. 8.
Exactly what will be included in the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S 4's update is still up in the air since there's no official changelog available quite yet. However, Samsung has previously said that the Premium Suite Android 4.3 update packs in Galaxy Gear compatibility, updated versions of Easy Mode and Multi-Window, advanced camera options and more.

Cream, sugar, or Wi-Fi? The iKettle makes coffee at your iPhone or Android’s command

When we say the iKettle is hot, we mean really, really hot. So hot that it can effectively boil water at a maximum of 100 degrees. Scorching, right? Hold on, you’re probably thinking, that’s not especially clever, the kettle in my kitchen right now can do that. Yes, but can you order it to boil using your iPhone? We’ll wager you can’t, but the iKettle can!

Experimental Google ART runtime in Android KitKat can bring twice faster app executions

With Android KitKat Google is experimenting on a completely new runtime environment for apps called ART, short for Android Runtime, which is apparently the bee's knees. After a patent spat with Oracle on the Java-based Dalvik runtime that ensnares Android at the moment, Google is obviously determined to create a complete replacement, but that's not the whole story. 

Curvy Samsung Galaxy Round can now be bought in the US, for a price

People sure had high hopes for the curvy Samsung Galaxy Round, though Sammy's new boy made it obvious that a truly flexible experience (straight out of a sci-fi flick) is out of the scope of possibilities it brought to the table. In fact, it would appear that we're still a few years away from that.

Sony Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra might go directly to KitKat in January, Xperia Z, ZR, ZL getting Android 4.3 first

Owners of the flagship Sony Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra will be delighted to learn that their devices might go straight to Android 4.4 KitKat in the end of January/beginning of February timeframe, insiders have indicated.

Samsung confirms a 16 MP ISOCELL camera sensor is on tap for future flagships

Korean media was reporting yesterday that Samsung has ordered more than 180 million 16 MP sensors for its flagship handsets next year, and thanks to the analyst event yesterday we can chalk this one up to the semi-confirmed rumors.

Verizon tries its hand at a $250 7-inch Android tablet with the Ellipsis

We heard about the Verizon Ellipsis 7 through a recent leak, and speculated whether it would bring something different – in the shape of a modular design – to the already overflowing 7-inch Android tablet market. We’ve got our answer today, as Verizon has made the Ellipsis 7 official.
Sadly, it doesn’t have a module for adding 4G LTE, but to make up it simply comes with

Pictures of the HTC M8's back cover leak, reveal mysterious new element

You might recall that before the HTC One received its real name, it had a code name, the M7. Now, pictures allegedly showing the back cover of its successor, the M8, have leaked. This could well be HTC's 2014 flagship phone. Interestingly, there is a mysterious new addition to the design - a round hole right above the camera.

5 cool technologies Samsung Galaxy devices will have before 2015

 

At an analyst meeting in Korea this week, Samsung has revealed some of its plans for the future, specifically centered on mobile. While the focus of the event was to discuss financials, this was the first time it has gathered analysts this way since 2005, so it made the most of the opportunity. Here are five technologies Samsung intends to bring out in the next few years.

Latest comScore report shows iOS, Windows Phone and Samsung were the big winners in Q3

The latest monthly report from comScore has been released and it shows that based on the average monthly figures for the third quarter, iOS and Windows Phone snatched up the market share lost by Android and BlackBerry. The report shows that for the third quarter, iOS was running 40.6% of smartphones in the U.S. used by those 13 and older.

Leaked screenshot reveals November 22nd U.S. release date for Nokia Lumia 1520 and Nokia Lumia 2520

remembering the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. But for others, the date represents the launch of a couple of new Nokia devices in the states. According to the leaked screenshot of an inventory page, the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet on AT&T and the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet for AT&T and Verizon, will both hit the market on Friday, November 22nd. 

Report: Microsoft to team-up developers for Windows Phone and Windows

A published report on Wednesday says that Microsoft is looking to end the segregation that forced Windows Store developers and developers for the Windows Phone Store to take out separate subscriptions to develop applications for both platforms. The report states that for just 1 cent, developers will be able to take part in two-platform app development. After the merger, individuals will be allowed to register as a developer with Microsoft for both the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store for $19 a year and teams will pay $99.

US carriers get ranked by latency, T-Mobile snatches a close win

We spend a lot of time talking about smartphones and the heaps of tech that goes into them, but it's quite rare that we talk about the companies that make the operation of our smartphones possible – carriers. It feels like pretty much nobody likes his carrier, but it's fair to say you and us both are at their mercy, though they do have more than enough motivation to try and keep us happy. That latter one usually involves a high level of cellular coverage, a high-speed network... and a low latency.

Android 4.4 KitKat to run "comfortably" on 512MB RAM devices, here's how

The mere mention of Android 4.4 KitKat is getting dangerously close to inflicting a sense of deja vu, as day after day the new Google OS has been making headlines and going through the press like little else. And while there is a number of new features worth talking about, and even dissecting, the supposed memory optimizations that come with Android 4.4 are what's really buzzing. And it's no wonder, seeing as Google's head of Android, Sundar Pichai, promises that KitKat “can run comfortably on the 512MB of RAM devices that are popular in much of the world”. This is pretty important for the platform, as it means that Google may finally have the answer to what's referred to as 'fragmentation', or in other words: it may finally have the weapon to kill off the Gingerbread man.

Why you should try out Oyster Books, the Netflix for novels

If you’re like Andrew and like to fill your shelves with many leather-bound books to impress your friends, digital books are probably a tough sell. But for fervent readers who just consume as much text as possible, Oyster could be a viable option for the price of less than a book a month. The team behind Oyster knows the difficulty of putting down the hard copy in exchange for your iOS device, and it isn’t out to kill off the bookstore, just provide the best reading experience tablet and phone users have ever had. In that regard, the app hits its mark.

Samsung details plans for 4K phones, own 64-bit processor for 2014-15

Samsung has detailed its plans for the near future and they include even higher resolution phones and the development of its own custom processor core, a move similar to what Apple is doing with the Cyclone processing core in its latest iPhone 5s and iPads. The news come straight from the horse’s mouth from Samsung’s Analyst Day event in Korea.