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Dec

US Cellular's Samsung Galaxy SIII To Receive Update To 4.1 Jelly Bean Starting Friday, December 21 [Updated]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy S III, Jelly Bean 4.1, News, US Cellular

Update: Right on time, it looks like US Cellular's 4.1.1 update for the Galaxy SIII is available to users, and their software page has been updated to reflect the SIII's new firmware (which, for those curious, carries base band version R53OUVXALK5).

Samsung Updates also has the SIII's latest firmware available for download here. For instructions on updating your SIII, just hit the US Cellular link at the bottom of this post.

Original Story: If you're a US Cellular customer toting around a Galaxy SIII, you can expect to get your hands on Samsung's TouchWiz-coated Jelly Bean update for the device starting this Friday, December 21.

Dec

Verizon's Galaxy Camera Will Go On Sale For $550 On Dec. 13th, Shared Data Plan For $5 Per Month Promo Price

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Galaxy Camera, News, Verizon Wireless

AT&T has already launched its version of the Galaxy Camera, so now it's Verizon's turn. Arriving in both white and black options, the nation's largest carrier will be offering the high tech point and shoot for $550 without a contract. This is a little bit steeper than AT&T's $500, but to make up for it, the carrier is allowing customers to add this device to their existing shared data plans for $5/month. Not a bad deal.

When Liam reviewed it a while back, he decided it was a good camera, but didn't live up to the price. The even higher tag here might dissuade some customers, however, it's worth noting that if you're the target market for this kind of device and you land this promotional plan (that's only available for an unspecified limited time), you'll make up the extra $50 within the first year.

Oct

T-Mobile Set To Carry Google's Nexus 4 And 3G Nexus 7 As Premier Launch Partner

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, T-Mobile

In addition to the absolute mania of incoming announcements we saw from Google today, there was one interesting carrier-related development for the Nexus line – T-Mobile, the US' fourth largest carrier, announced that it would be carrying Google's LG-built Nexus 4 and ASUS-built 3G Nexus 7 as a "premier launch partner" starting this November. In fact, users can already sign up for more info at T-Mobile's website.

Oct

Google Partners With Warner Music Group For Play Music, Promises To Bring The Service (With Song Matching) To Europe November 13

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

Within the deluge of exciting announcements made today in lieu of its New York event, Google announced that it has partnered with Warner Music Group to explode the Play Store's music selection, bringing the media giant's full music catalog to listeners all over the world. This means that Google is now partnered "with all of the major record labels globally," along with many independent labels and all the major US magazine publishers, which is nothing if not good news for consumers.

Google also announced that Play Music will be coming to Europe. Starting November 13, listeners in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain will not only be able to begin listening and buying from the Play Store, but will enjoy the free 20,000 song upload other listeners use to get their personal library connected with their Google account.

Oct

LG Exec Says Nexus 4 Will Be Announced On October 29th, Available In Indian Markets Late November

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Rumors

We've heard plenty of rumors, and at this point, we have no reason to doubt that there will be an LG Nexus phone appearing at Google's Android event on October 29th. Now, courtesy of LG's head of Mobile Product Planning at an Optimus Vu launch event in New Delhi, we have an idea of when the phone might roll out. If Indian market availability is any indication, that is. Speaking to IBN Live (an Indian news organization of which CNN owns a 26% share), the exec had this to say:

"Google will unveil the LG Nexus on October 29 and the phone will be available in the Indian markets by the end of November."

The former part of the quote we already knew of course, though at least this is some confirmation from the horse's mouth.

Sep

Google Play Movies Come To Korea – Enjoy Hundreds Of Titles From Korea And Hollywood

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

One of the most common questions users have regarding Google's various content offerings is "Why isn't it available in [insert any number of countries here]?" Google has been working to change that, offering more and more of the Play Store's non-app content abroad. In that spirit, today it announced that Google Play Movies is now available in Korea (where we saw Eric Schmidt having some Gangnam style fun earlier this week).

We’re adding movies to Google Play in Korea, including films from Korean studios & Hollywood. Get started with Avengers:goo.gl/4Alrd

— Google Play (@Googleplay) September 28, 2012

According to the announcement, Korea's Play Movies includes "hundreds of full-length feature films from some local Korean studios and Hollywood." The post goes on to invite users to start their movie enjoyment with The Avengers.

Aug

Nexus 7 Now Available From The Play Store In France, Germany, And Spain

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 7

Good news, everyone! Everyone's favorite Android tablet is finally becoming available in more European countries. Today, the seven inch slate started showing up via Google's online storefront in France, Germany, and Spain. The price will be €199 for the 8GB model and €249 for the 16GB. Of course, once you count for the conversion rates, this means our friends across the pond will be paying a bit more than US customers do. This isn't an uncommon practice for foreign releases, but it still means the tablet will be a little more expensive overseas.

Unfortunately, that's not the only downside.

Jul

16GB Nexus 7 Is Now Listed As "Coming Soon" On The Play Store, Likely Backordered Into The Next Century

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Nexus 7

The Nexus 7, everyone's newest favorite tablet, has already had more than its share of problems shipping from the Play Store. Today, the new shenanigans are that the 16GB model is currently unavailable from the Play Store at all. The best Google has to offer is a "coming soon" button that offers to let customers sign up to be informed when the device comes back in stock.

The 16GB model, so far, has been particularly hard to find from Google, and particularly easy in retail locations. The best we can assume is that Google allotted more 16GB models to be shipped out for retail shipment, since the margins are higher on the 16GB model.

Jul

AT&T Announces The Galaxy S III Will Arrive In Stores On July 6th, Still No Word On That Sexy Red Device

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in AT&T, Galaxy S III, News

The wait is nearly over for the Galaxy S III if you're on AT&T. The big blue ball has just announced that Samsung's newest flagship will be available for same-day purchases starting July 6th in all of its stores nationwide. The company isn't sharing specifics on whether that will include only the blue and white versions of the phone, or if we'll also see AT&T's exclusive red version of the device. If we had to bet on it, we'd say the red version will still be a little way's off.

The device will also be available for overnight shipping on July 6th, so if you're keen to order online, you'll be covered as well.

Jun

Samsung Confirms No Delay On The U.S. Pebble Blue Galaxy S III, Says No Change Made To Its Appearance

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Galaxy S III, News

While the Galaxy S III has been one of the biggest device launches this year, the so-called pebble blue version of the device has seen some production problems, and shortages in shipments have made the darker version something of a rarity. Today, multiple Samsung reps we reached out to have confirmed that the pebble blue version will be on track for US arrivals with no delays and that, contrary to reports circling the web this morning, no changes have been made to its appearance.

Of course, the rest of the web has some disagreement about that. For starters, official T-Mobile PR, as well as some store fronts have started using the language "metallic blue" to refer to the blue version, instead of "pebble blue", which has been the standard moniker since day one.