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The Galaxy S4, in its day, was a pretty capable smartphone. However, with its fourth birthday fast approaching, its update period has long since passed. No matter to T-Mobile, though; the company has just pushed the latest February 2017 security patches to it and the older Galaxy Tab 3... but they're still on Android 4.4 KitKat.
It's okay for updates to be late. We get it. These things take time. But when they do arrive, it's nice for them to bring the latest and greatest.
There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to which carriers release updates for their Android updates first, and once you stray outside of the shallow waters of flagship smartphones, things start to get really inconsistent. For example, AT&T is updating its carrier-specific version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 to 5.1.1 today, at least according to this support page. But at the same time, Sprint's Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 is only just now getting upgraded from Android 4.4 to 5.0. Huh.
Marshmallow is around the corner, but you know the routine by now. Updates take a while to roll out to some devices. Right now Verizon Wireless is pushing Lollipop to the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Note Pro 12.2.
Man, the display on this Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 really makes things look fuzzy. I mean, 1280 by 800 pixels stretched across a 10-inch screen? Gollee!
You could reasonably make the assumption that when Samsung debuted its own media streaming service known intriguingly as Milk Music, it would have released it across its entire catalog of devices. But that's not the way Samsung has decided to pour this beverage. Instead, it's serving things out to a handful of devices at a time.
If you have one of three Samsung devices on Sprint, you might just have an over-the-air update waiting for you in your Settings menu. But don't get too excited: not a one of them brings a new version of Android, or even more than one or two new visible features. The Galaxy S III and Galaxy S5 Sport (AKA the S5 Active) phones and the Galaxy Tab 4 (the 7-inch version) all have tiny additions to their software going out today.
Here's something you don't see every day. American carriers AT&T and Verizon both offer the fourth-generation models of the Galaxy Tab 8.0 and 10.1, and this weekend, they're each updating both versions. That indicates some kind of coordinated effort on the part of Samsung's software engineers... or a remarkable coincidence. In any case, owners should start seeing the over-the-air updates come in today, though some will have to wait a few more days.
AT&T's Samsung tablet lineup is getting a couple of small updates, but it probably won't be all that interesting unless you've got a very specific need for carrier billing or kid-friendly content. The AT&T branded versions of both the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 (good grief, Samsung, your names are a mouthful) are receiving minor updates to their firmware. Neither one boosts the Android software on the tablets (4.4.2), but they do add a few tools.
So you own a Galaxy S4, Tab 4 8.0 LTE, or Avant and have just received an over-the-air update from T-Mobile. What does it do? Regardless of which of the three devices you own, the answer is the same: not much.
T-Mobile is pushing out an over-the-air update that will bump its Galaxy Tab 4 up to Android 4.4.4. This means that people who own this 8.0-inch LTE-enabled tablet will get to run the latest version of their mobile operating system for at least a week before 5.0 starts running out to various devices. Since this is a bugfix release, that's the biggest reason most users will have to look forward to this OTA. Too bad it will be a short-lived one.
Barnes & Noble and Samsung appear to be getting along pretty well, for the two companies have now unveiled their second joint tablet: the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook 10.1. Just like the previous Nook tablet, this is a Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 with some added software tweaks that place emphasis on reading and consuming content from Barnes & Noble. The tablet is available for a launch price of $299 (following a $50 instant rebate), which puts it right in line with the price of the non-Nook version of the slate. Come November 1st, it may jump up to $349.
Alright T-Mobile users, it's time to get flashing, at least if you own an LG G3 or the 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. Team Win has released their custom recovery build for both of the T-Mobile variants of those devices, enabling power users to easily flash modifications and ROMs or backup the existing system. You can grab the T-Mo G3 recovery here, and the Galaxy Tab 4 recovery here.
You'll finally be able to hitch your wagon to the Sprint Spark LTE network in tablet fashion come this Friday. That's when Sprint plans to launch its first tablet with support for tri-band LTE. The device in question is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, and other than the LTE radio, it looks to be the same device you can get now sans mobile data.
Big Red is welcoming two new devices to its stable today: HTC's mid-range One Mini 2 One Remix, and Samsung's 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 4. Both are available on the Verizon website right now, and should be in retail stores today or soon thereafter. The One Remix costs $49.99 on-contract (half of what we expected), or $449.99 without the commitment, which actually isn't bad as far as Verizon phones go. You can pick up the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 for $359.99 with a two-year contract... if you're a sucker. The off-contract price is just $100 more.
The LTE version of the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 is powered by a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and a 4450mAh battery. The 16GB of internal memory combined with a microSD card is certainly usable, and the 3MP rear-facing camera isn't all that big a deal considering that tablets typically don't serve as a person's primary way of snapping shot, but the display is pretty disappointing. The 1280 by 800 resolution is going to look pixelated to someone moving over from a 2013 Nexus 7 (or even the 2012 one, considering that the Tab 4 stretches out the same resolution an extra inch).
An LTE version of Samsung's mediocre 8-inch Galaxy Tab 4 came to Verizon last month, and now one has its eyes set on T-Mobile. Like Verizon, the uncarrier is pushing this tablet as a great piece of hardware for families to share. Considering the low 1280 by 800 display, I could see this as a great device to let junior smear peanut butter all over. But at 24 monthly payments of $16 ($384, over $100 more than the Wi-Fi only model), I may have to object.
Verizon users will soon have the option of buying a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 that's compatible with the carrier's XLTE network. Oh, this isn't just any tablet, though. It's "The Family Tablet," which sounds to me like it should be a terrible ABC Family channel sitcom about a tablet that comes to life and solves a family's problems, or some such nonsense [cue laugh track]. But no, Verizon is simply choosing to stress Android's multi-user mode for some reason.
It's raining LTE-equipped tablets over at AT&T this fine evening, and you can order yourself up one right now. You've got your choice of a standard tablet, one with a stylus, and one with a whole phone in it. We truly live in the future.
Of the Big Four American carriers, AT&T has the best selection of Android tablets available... which, admittedly, isn't saying much. Today their shallow ranks get bolstered by two new Samsung tablets, one in the original Galaxy Tab line (which is now the de facto budget option) and one in the new Pro series. The Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 and the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 will be available on the carrier starting this Friday, June 6th.