latest
Samsung's positively ancient Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 are getting some Android 13 love
The magic of custom ROMs, y'all
Android phones typically last at least two to three years, though these days, most of the best phones come with four years of software updates. But if you're willing to give the custom ROM space a look, phones can last a lot longer. Custom ROMs aren't as popular as they once were, but they can still be a way to breathe new life into an ancient smartphone. If you still have a Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2 — both originally launched in 2012 — kicking around in a drawer somewhere, you might want to dig them out. A decade after their release, they're both getting Android 13 via a custom ROM.
Got an old phone that the manufacturer or carrier has stopped pushing updates to? Chances are, there's a CyanogenMod ROM that will breathe life back into it. This week, CM maintainers have brought CyanogenMod 14.1, which is based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, to the AT&T and T-Mobile versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III, the LTE model of the second-generation Moto E, the Moto X Play, and more.
It's no secret why CyanogenMod is the most popular custom ROM out there; not only does it support a metric crapload of Android devices, but it also keeps them going far past their primes. The latest devices to get support for CM14.1 (Android 7.1 Nougat) nightlies include two variants of the Galaxy S III, the second-generation Moto X, a few Oppo devices, two versions of the HTC One Max, two Xiaomi phones, and more.
CyanogenMod is virtually the best-known custom ROM out there, and for good reason: it brings the newest version of Android to devices that would otherwise have to wait much longer to receive it, or would never receive it at all. This week, quite a few popular devices have received CyanogenMod 14.1, which is based on Android 7.1 Nougat.
While the legal battle between Samsung and Apple has mostly winded down, there are still some legal loose ends that need to be tied up. US District Judge Lucy Koh on Monday ordered a sales ban of several Samsung phones in the US, stemming from a 2014 ruling that found Samsung did infringe on several Apple patented features. You can probably put down your pitchforks, though. The phones included in the ban are ancient and aren't even sold anymore.
Today is a good day to be a Galaxy S III owner. Before the Verizon variant's update even had time to get cold, Cricket's is now fresh out of the oven as well. The OTA brings along the changes from Android 4.2 and 4.3, plus Galaxy Gear support and a lot of UI changes which serve to make the software look and function more like the Galaxy S4's stock ROM.
Samsung KNOX separates data and apps into containers, making it difficult for malware or intruders to gain access or cause damage where they aren't wanted, and it is integrated to a device's hardware and each individual level of the Android framework, making it a full-coverage solution. The software has been available to enterprises for some time now, alleviating concerns that Android isn't secure enough to protect corporate data and communications. KNOX is trusted enough to have been approved for use on the US Department of Defense's networks, and now Samsung is giving access to such security directly to consumers.
Earlier this month, a Samsung Galaxy S3 exploded inside an 18-year-old girl's pants pocket, leaving her with a pretty nasty third-degree burn on her thigh. It really happened, and the burn is real, but Samsung's not responsible. The company has concluded that the battery used in the device was not the original. Scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research in Dubendorf, Laboratory have confirmed Sammy's findings. According to them, the battery was not supplied by Samsung, nor did it come from a company authorized by them.
Phones can explode. It's not a common occurrence, and it is more likely to happen when a device is being misused in some way, but it's still not outside the realm of possibility for a device to harm someone who was using it precisely as intended. An 18-year-old woman in Switzerland was badly burned this week when a Samsung Galaxy S3 exploded in her pants pocket. The incident took place while the woman was at work, and her boss had to tear off her pants in order to help her. Pictures are available, and one's pretty graphic.
[Deal Alert] T-Mobile's Galaxy S4 Is Now Just $99 Down ($50 Discount), Where It Probably Should Have Started
Just over a month since T-Mobile began selling the Galaxy S4, the company is knocking $50 off the price of Samsung's latest flagship handset. Customers
Just over a month since T-Mobile began selling the Galaxy S4, the company is knocking $50 off the price of Samsung's latest flagship handset. Customers can now pick up the phone for $99.99 down along with 24 months of $20 payments. To save you the math, that's an additional $480 over the course of two years. T-Mobile is also selling the phone for the complete upfront price of $579.99, a tad cheaper than buying an unlocked version off Amazon (and with the bonus of LTE). This deal will last from June 12 to July 13, offering a fair bit of time for shoppers to decide if this feature-packed behemoth is the phone for them. Just hit up T-Mobile's site to find the phone in both black and white.
[Updated] The Black Galaxy S III Is Indeed Real, Claims MobileFun.Co.Uk, Coming "In 4-6 Weeks" For £499.95
Well, well well - it looks like the unicorn black Galaxy S III may be real after all, at least according to MobileFun, a popular UK retailer which just
Well, well well - it looks like the unicorn black Galaxy S III may be real after all, at least according to MobileFun, a popular UK retailer which just put it up for pre-order for five hundred quid.
Well folks, it's official. In a press release sent out just moments ago, Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy SIII, easily one of the most anticipated smartphones this year, will be available on five major carriers in the US beginning this month.