Samsung - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

May

Cricket's Samsung Galaxy S4 Is Coming June 7th For $600, Or $54.99 Plus Payments

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Cricket Wireless, Galaxy S4, News, Samsung

Cricket Wireless wants you to know that they'll have the Samsung Galaxy S4, just like the big boys. They just don't have it yet. In a press release issued today, Cricket revealed its own special version of the Galaxy S4 (which is exactly like all the other LTE Galaxy S4 models), and it will be available to customers in-store, online, and at authorized resellers on June 7th. The cost for Cricket's unsubsidized phone is a wallet-searing $599.99, but those who are short on green can put $54.99 down and pay it off over a couple of years.

Cricket's S4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, not Samsung's own Exynos octa-core, thanks to its LTE chipset requirement.

May

Chainfire Releases Modified CF-Auto-Root And SuperSU For Qualcomm Versions Of The Galaxy S4

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy S4, News, Samsung

In case you hadn't heard, Samsung is making a little extra effort to secure the Galaxy S4 via tougher software kernels, which aren't susceptible to some of the more common root methods from previous Galaxy models. But where there's a will, there's a way, and noted Android developer/modder Chainfire has found a way around the security on the stock kernel for the Galaxy S4 i9505 - that's the Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered LTE variant, and the model sold for AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States.

This root exploit works via a newly-modified version of the CF-Auto-Root tool and the popular SuperSU permission manager app.

May

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Caught On Video With Slower Snapdragon CPU And 8MP Camera

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy S4 Active, News, Samsung

The ruggedized Galaxy S4 Active is real. It's been spotted on camera before, not to mention in various less dramatic leaks. The folks at MobileTechReview got their hands on one, and it looks pretty close to finished, assuming that they don't already have a production model. In the video below, you can see the tougher red chassis (probably water and dust-resistant to some degree) and physical navigation buttons, as previously featured on Samsung's Rugby models.

What's new in the video is confirmation about the guts of the S4 Active. While the Bosnian-localized unit makes it hard to verify, the narrator mentions a Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, notably less powerful than either the standard Exynos 5 octa-core or Snapdragon 600 featured on the standard Galaxy S4.

May

[Giveaway] Win One Of Two Galaxy S4 i9500s Or Two HTC Ones From BitDefender And Android Police

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Contests / Giveaways, Galaxy S4, One

Have you ever wondered just how private your data is? How protected your personal info is? For all you know, apps could be running off sharing your phone number, contact log, and device ID to third parties. Or even worse, they could be doing so over an unencrypted connection. I shudder at the very thought.

Fortunately, BitDefender has a new app called Clueful that aims to show users what their apps are really doing behind the scenes and how private their data is. It gives each device a Privacy Score based on the currently-installed apps, along with a simple breakdown of potential risks in three different categories: high, moderate, and low.

May

Galaxy S III LTE Shows Up On T-Mobile's Site, Leaked Doc Suggests June 5th Launch Date

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S III LTE, Galaxy S III Mini, Leaks, News, T-Mobile

Ah, T-Mobile's illusive Galaxy S III LTE. We've known it was coming for months now, and the long-overdue device has now silently showed up on T-Mo's website sporting a $70 down payment. Unfortunately, there's no release date in sight, but a leaked internal document obtained by TmoNews shows June 5th as the official launch date, suggesting that the 'add to cart' option here is merely a pre-order option.

May

Samsung Releases Kernel Source For Its Galaxy Mega 6.3 (I9205) Ahead Of Launch

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, Galaxy Mega 6.3, News, Samsung

Since their announcement last month, we haven't heard too much about the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 (barring rumors of a delayed release). That doesn't mean Samsung plans on breaking its pattern of timely (or early, depending on your perspective) kernel source code releases. Keeping with form, Samsung has released kernel source for the 6.3" Mega's I9205 (LTE) variant.

There's no sign of the Mega's I9200 version (or the Mega 5.8) just yet, but given Samsung's track record, we can expect it any time now. In the meantime, those of you wishing to scoop up a handful of brand new kernel source need only hit the link below.

May

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Shows Its Rough And Rugged Façade In New Leak

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S4, Leaks, News

Throughout the history of the modern smartphone, those who wanted something that could take a beating but keep going were left with one option: buy a device with at least year-old specs. For some reason, manufacturers just couldn't get behind the idea of releasing an ultra-ruggedized device with cutting-edge specs. That has slowly started to change as of late with devices like the Sony Xperia Z, and now Samsung is looking to join the party and with a rough-and-rugged device featuring top-tier specs.

This is, of course, the rumored Galaxy S4 Active. Bearing more than just Samsung's flagship namesake, the Active appears to also share the powerhouse device's spec list point-for-point, which includes a 5-inch 1080p display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.

May

Android 4.2.2 ROM Leaked For The International Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4 Goodies Contained Within

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Android OS, Galaxy S III, Jelly Bean 4.2, News, Samsung

Good morning, Galaxy S III users. Want to start off your week with a spiffy new software build? Then the folks at SamMobile are happy to oblige. They've got their hot hands on a leaked build of the Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) update for the S III, packing the standard Jelly Bean 4.2 upgrades and more than a few features back-ported from the newer Galaxy S4. The flashable ROM posted to the site isn't exactly official - it's cobbled together from dumped files - but flashing it via Samsung's Odin software won't void your warranty.

Some of the features already spotted in the leaked ROM include the lockscreen, driving mode, Voice Controls, an updated Settings app, gallery, S-Voice, new screen modes, and a bunch of other software and visual tweaks from the TouchWiz build first seen on the Galaxy S4, as well as a host of new settings and the Smart Watch widget.

May

Samsung Launches Smart App Challenge 2013 For The Galaxy S4 And Chord SDK: $800,000 In Total Prizes, $200,000 For First Place

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Development, Galaxy S4, News, Samsung

Well hi-diddly ho there, aspiring app developer! Has the life of a recent CompSci grad got you down? Does the world of independent mobile app programming leave something to be desired in the area of, say, ostentatious sports cars and penthouse apartments? Samsung would like to help you out with their Smart App Challenge 2013. A cool $800,000 has been reserved for the makers of ten winning apps, with 200,000 American greenbacks going to the top entrant. But don't start up your IDE just yet.

In order to qualify for any of the prizes, the apps will need to take advantage of the Chord SDK, Samsung's multi-device connection and syncing system built on the ZeroMQ library.

May

[Deal Alert] Amazon Offering AT&T HTC One And Sprint Galaxy S4 For $129.99

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Deals, Galaxy S4, HTC, News, One, Samsung

Now that the big spring phone releases are out of the way, you can make an informed decision on any pending purchases. The HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 both have their strong points, and you can get a solid deal on both of them, provided you're flexible on carriers. Amazon has both currently listed for $129.99 with a 2-year contract.

The HTC One in question is the 32GB AT&T variant, and it's usually $199.99 (last on sale for $150). A $70 savings on a fairly new device is great, and it's impressive what HTC has done with its new flagship phone.