Samsung - 11/179 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Apr

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Book Cover Review: Very Nice And Too Expensive, Just Like The Tablet Inside

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy Note 8.0, News, Reviews, Samsung

I picked up Samsung's official first-party cover for the Galaxy Note 8.0 shortly after getting the tablet itself, because Samsung's plastic body doesn't inspire confidence, because all tablets scream out for an easy freestanding solution, and (not least) because it was the only option right after release. The case hits all the high points: good protection, a built-in stand, and a magnet to activate the screen's sleep feature. The only major downside, like the tablet itself, is the price.

In many ways, the Galaxy Note 8.0 Book Cover Stand Case is a microcosm of the hardware it protects: nice enough, good at what it's supposed to do, way too expensive, and dreaming of the day it's a phone cover.

Apr

Surprise! AT&T's Galaxy S4 Has A Locked/Non-Unlockable Bootloader

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, Galaxy S4, News

If you bought/plan on buying AT&T's variant of the Galaxy S4, we have some bad news for those of you who like to flash custom ROMs, kernels, and the like: it's locked down tight.

Historically, Samsung devices – up to and including the SIII – have been bootloader-unlocked on AT&T. The Galaxy S4 brings a major change in that respect, as Steve Kondik (Cyanogen) has confirmed that it is indeed locked, in that it "authenticates the recovery and boot images before executing them." In layman's terms, that essentially means that it won't allow any sort of custom recovery or boot image to be flashed and/or run.

Apr

Sprint Galaxy S4 Already Receiving Its First OTA Update (Build L720VPUAMDL)

Posted by David Ruddock in Device Updates, Galaxy S4, Sprint

While Sprint has yet to announce it, an OTA update has begun pushing to its version of the Galaxy S4 (model SPH-L720), build number L720VPUAMDL. The version the device shipped with was L720VPUAMDC. There are no immediately apparent changes in the new build, though I do think the lockscreen animation is a little snappier than it was before. Then again, it's easy for that sort of thing to be placebo.

The update is around 30MB in size, and the fact that it's already pushing out means most customers will probably receive a notification to install it the moment they power on their devices.

Apr

Deal Alert: $50 Off Sprint Galaxy S4 Upgrades On Amazon ($199.99)

Posted by Bertel King, Jr. in Deals, Galaxy S4, News, Sprint

After a short delay, Sprint is now ushering Samsung's highly anticipated successor to the popular Galaxy S III to store shelves, but how much does it cost? New customers can pick up the Galaxy S4 with a two-year contract for $149, but existing customers looking to upgrade must plop down $249 to bring home the same phone. This isn't the best of news for current Sprint customers, but there is now another option available.

As of today, Amazon is allowing existing Sprint customers to upgrade for $50 less. This brings the price of upgrading an existing contract down to levels resembling the price of starting a contract anew.

Apr

Samsung Completely Loses Its Mind With Gangnam Style Parody And Indulgent Design Ads

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Samsung

We should've seen this coming. Really, Samsung, it's our fault. We should've stopped you when you put on that incredibly sexist Broadway show. We didn't. We argued that it was funny and then even enabled you by saying you have better marketing than HTC. We set you up for this. What could we have expected except a Gangnam Style parody that touts the virtues of the Galaxy S4?

The above video of the song...*sigh*...Samsung Style, was taken at a Galaxy S4 launch party in India. The man you see singing on stage is Ranveer Singh, a Bollywood superstar.

Apr

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Review: A Midsize Tablet With A Lot To Love, And A Few Things To Hate

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy Note 8.0, News, Reviews, Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is a strange beast. Sitting more or less between the Note II and the Note 10.1, the Note 8.0 feels like a Frankenstein Android device, mixing elements of both smartphones and tablets. Of course, that's kind of the point: in territories where carriers don't have such a stranglehold on the wireless industry, the Note 8.0 is exactly the giant phone that it looks like. Here in the States, we'll have to make due with an 8-inch WiFi tablet - a mid-sized device for the category, with a premium price.

That said, the price may be the only major downside of the Note 8.0 for some very targeted users.

Apr

[Deal Alert] AT&T Galaxy S4 For $168 ($32 off) From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, Deals, Galaxy S4, News

Didn't pick up AT&T's version of the Galaxy S4 when it hit shelves this weekend? You're a smart one (not to say that those who did pick one up aren't smart, of course), because Amazon Wireless has already knocked the price down to $168. Sure, that's a pretty random amount ($32 off AT&T's price) considering we're used to seeing prices drop in increments of $50, but hey – a deal is a deal, right?

Naturally, you'll have to sign a two-year contractual agreement with AT&T to get the device for that price, but considering you were probably going to do that anyway, it doesn't really make sense to spend more money.

Apr

[Deal Alert] Unlocked Galaxy Note II (Anthracite Gray) Back On eBay Daily Deals For Just $499.99 Shipped

Posted by David Ruddock in Deals, Galaxy Note II

After showing up on eBay Daily Deals a week ago and promptly going out of stock, the Galaxy Note II is back in ~~black~~ Anthracite Gray on eBay Daily Deals once again for just $499.99 shipped.

This particular Note II is the international unlocked GSM model, (meaning no LTE) touting quad-band HSPA+ 3G data connectivity. The upshot is that you can take this Note II pretty much anywhere in the world and it'll work - just toss a SIM in and you're good to go. The lowest price we'd seen before this deal popped up last week was $549 back in November last year, and you've got to admit - $500 for a 5.5" display and quad-core processor isn't exactly outrageous.

Apr

The T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Is Now Available Online With Free Overnight Shipping

Posted by Bertel King, Jr. in Galaxy S4, News, T-Mobile

T-Mobile may be a little late to the party, but there is plenty of love to go around. T-Mobile customers can now find the Galaxy S4 available from the carrier's website for the expected price of $149 with a two-year contract, in white or black. Overnight shipping is available for those who cannot wait any longer, and since T-Mobile is pushing this as a limited-time offer, you might not want to. Supply is limited, and who knows how long you will have to wait if these things sell out.

Those of you who would rather avoid the monthly $20 loan payment that follows the initial cost can buy the phone all at once for $629.

Apr

Samsung Officially Reveals The 7-Inch Galaxy Tab 3 - Budget-Grade Specs In A Giant Smartphone Body

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy Tab 3, News, Samsung

Those of you who didn't appreciate the divisive smartphone style of the Galaxy Note 8.0 might want to avert your eyes right about now. The South Korean company pulled the wraps off of the first entry in the fourth generation of its Galaxy Tab series today, and there's no denying that the 7-inch tablet looks like a gigantic smartphone. The Galaxy Tab 3 will be available worldwide in May in a WiFi version with a 3G variant following in June, though specific markets were not mentioned.

The Galaxy Tab 3 continues Samsung's positioning of the 7-inch size as a budget device, with hardware specs that are barely a bump over the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (P3100 model).