Tuesday 30 September 2014

Samsung announces the Galaxy Grand Prime with 5MP front camera in India

samsung-galaxy-grand-prime1-feature
The Galaxy Grand Prime recently leaked on a Vietnamese website, and now, Samsung has made the newest variant of its popular Galaxy Grand lineup official in India. The Galaxy Grand Prime holds the crown for being the first Samsung smartphone with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, though it certainly won’t be the last as all of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A smartphoneswill also feature 5MP front cameras. Samsung is touting a feature it calls ‘Groupfie’, a not-so-fancy title for taking selfies with a group of people, thanks to the 85 degree wide-angle lens of the front-facing camera.
Other than the high-resolution front camera, the Galaxy Grand Prime features middling specs as befits the mid-range nature of the Galaxy Grand lineup. It has a 5-inch qHD (540×960) display, a quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a microSD slot, an 8-megapixel rear camera, dual SIM slots, and a 2,600 mAh battery. The phone runs on Android 4.4, with the version of TouchWiz UX that is present on the Galaxy S5, and will be made available for sale sometime in October in white and grey color options.
The price of the Galaxy Grand Prime has been set at Rs. 15,499 (around $250), a price that will make it hard for Samsung to sell the phone in a market like India as the Galaxy Grand Prime will go up against devices like the Xiaomi Mi 3, the new Moto G, and the ASUS ZenFone 5 in the country. All these smartphones feature much better specs at a lower price, though the fact that they are all exclusively sold online should work in Samsung’s favor, as the majority of smartphone sales in India continue to happen offline.
samsung-galaxy-grand-prime1

Google clamping down on Samsung’s control over Android

galaxy-s5-google-play-edition-crop-resized2

Google has always allowed Android manufacturers to make their own customizations to the software that powers their smartphones and tablets but now evidence has surfaced which reveals that the company is tightening requirements for manufacturing partners that want to build Android devices. Confidential documents obtained by The Information show that since Google wants the Android experience to be more consistent across all the different devices available it wants manufacturers to pre-load more of its apps and position them in prominent places.

The report claims that this has been a frequent point of contention “particularly between Google and Samsung.” It goes without saying that Samsung is Google’s biggest hardware partner and it is known for making customizations like TouchWiz and placing its own native apps more prominently as opposed to the apps by Google.
The contract, called Mobile Application Distribution Agreement, will reportedly now require manufacturers to pre-load 20 Google apps on their devices, that’s up from nine back in 2011. The agreement also requires that a Google search widget be available as default on the homescreen apart from icons for Google Play store and a separate Google icon which contains 13 applications such as Chrome, Maps, YouTube, Gmail and others.
If manufacturers have agreed to adhere by this agreement then we should start seeing less customization and more of a consistent experience across different devices as far as Google’s products and services are concerned. Whether or not it will be received positively by customers remains to be seen.

Galaxy Ace Style LTE quietly listed on Samsung Germany website


Samsung Galaxy Ace Style LTE Feature 190 x 140
Samsung has quietly listed on the Galaxy Ace Style LTE on its website in Germany. The device bears a model number SM-G357FZ and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor of an unspecified make, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of ROM along with an ability to expand the storage capacity using a microSD card slot. There’s a 5-megapixel camera at the back with LED flash and 720p HD video recording while the front-facing camera has a resolution of 1.3-megapixels.
The Galaxy Ace Style LTE distinguishes itself from the Galaxy Ace 4 with a grey accent line on its back cover. On the connectivity front, it features 4G LTE (2600/900/800/1800/2100MHz bands), Wi-Fi b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.0, and NFC. The device weighs 126 grams, is 9.1 mm thin and is powered by a 1900 mAh battery. The Galaxy Ace Style LTE is currently available for purchase in Germany for $199.
Samsung Galaxy Ace Style LTE
Via | Source

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 outlasts its rivals in battery life tests

note-4-feature
The Galaxy Note 4 which was revealed earlier this month during IFA 2014, has already been reviewed by Korean website, PlayWare. In the review, the Exynos version of the Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910) has been tested rigorously and put through some varied variety of tests such as peak display brightness calibration, Wi-Fi and screen-on time, video playback, and 3D gaming. According to its battery life tests, the Galaxy Note 4 has managed to outlast its competitors such as the LG G3 and the Apple iPhone 5S. To keep all the devices at a level playing field, their display brightness were set to 230 nits during the tests.
According to the numbers published by the Korean site, the Galaxy Note 4 lasted 8 hours and 30 minutes when displaying pure white image. This is a great feat considering the fact that AMOLED displays consume a lot more energy when compared to conventional LCD displays while displaying white images. In the video playback tests, the Galaxy Note 4 managed to last over 12 hours and during 3D gaming while it lasted for just 3 hours and 30 minutes. The Galaxy Note 4 turned out to be one of the longest lasting smartphones in these battery life and energy efficiency tests.
You should note that the Exynos version of the Galaxy Note 4 will be available in selected markets. Samsung is expected to sell the Snapdragon 805 variant of the device to most of the consumers worldwide, especially in the North American and European markets. We are waiting eagerly to see how the Snapdragon variant of the Galaxy Note 4 performs in its battery life tests.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Video Playback Battery Life Test Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Wi-Fi Web Browsing Battery Life Test
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 3D Gaming Battery Life
Via | Source

Monday 29 September 2014

09-29-2014 Firmware Updates: Galaxy S DUOS 2, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S5 mini, and more

190 sammobile
Samsung has a plethora of phones and tablets in its lineup, and regularly releases firmware updates for various devices. These can include major updates, which bring a newer version of the OS to a particular device, or minor ones that improve performance and stability and fix bugs. Software updates for Samsung devices roll out in various regions every day, and you can find out which firmware updates were pushed out by the company over the weekend through our firmware list.
As usual, you can download each of these firmware from our firmware section (simply enter your device’s model number to view all firmware for that device) in order to update manually, or as a means to return to your phone or tablet’s stock software.
Country (Product Code)ModelModel NameVersionPDA
Afghanistan (AFG)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANH3
Argentina (PSP)SM-G800HGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800HXXU1ANH9
Argentina (TGP)SM-G800HGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800HXXU1ANH9
Australia (XSA)SM-P600GALAXY Note 10.1 Wi-Fi 2014 Edition4.4.2P600XXUCNH3
Australia (XSA)SM-G850Y4.4.4G850YDOU2ANI1
Australia (XSA)GT-S7580LGALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580LDOUBNI1
Baltic (SEB)SM-T310GALAXY Tab3 8.0 Wi-Fi4.4.2T310XXUBNH3
Bangladesh (TML)SM-T111GALAXY Tab3 Lite 7.0 3G4.2.2T111XXUBNI1
Bulgaria (BGL)SM-P600GALAXY Note 10.1 Wi-Fi 2014 Edition4.4.2P600XXUCNH3
Cambodia (CAM)SCH-I679GALAXY Ace 34.3I679KEUANI1
Canada (Bell Mobile) (Black Edition)(BMC)SM-G850W4.4.4G850WVLU1ANI4
Canada (Virgin Mobile) (Black Edition)(VMC)SM-G850W4.4.4G850WVLU1ANI4
Chile (CHO)SM-G850Y4.4.4G850YDOU2ANHB
Chile (Entel PCS) (CHE)SM-G850Y4.4.4G850YDOU2ANHB
China (CHN)SM-T700GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi4.4.2T700ZCU1ANI1
China (CHM)SM-G9008WGALAXY S54.4.2G9008WZMU1ANH3
China (CHN)SM-T800GALAXY Tab S 10.5 Wi-Fi4.4.2T800ZCU1ANI1
China (Anycall) (CTC)SM-N9009GALAXY Note 34.4.2N9009KEU2ENH5
Cyprus (Cytamobile Vodafone) (CYO)GT-S6810PGALAXY Fame4.1.2S6810PXXANH3
Czech Republic (ETL)GT-S6810PGALAXY Fame4.1.2S6810PXXANH3
Ecuador (ECO)SM-G800HGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800HXXU1ANH9
France (XEF)GT-I9515GALAXY S4 VE4.4.2I9515XXU1ANI2
France (XEF)SM-G350GALAXY Core Plus4.2.2G350XXU0ANG4
Germany (DBT)SM-T315GALAXY Tab3 8.0 LTE4.4.2T315XXUBNH3
Germany (DBT)SM-T530GALAXY Tab4 10.1 Wi-Fi4.4.2T530XXU1ANH7
Germany (DBT)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANI1
Germany (DBT)SM-T900GALAXY TabPRO 12.2 Wi-Fi4.4.2T900XXUANI1
Hungary (XEH)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANF2
Hungary (T-mobile) (TMH)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANH1
Hungary (T-mobile) (TMH)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANH2
Hungary (Telenor) (PAN)SM-T535GALAXY Tab4 10.1 4G4.4.2T535XXU1ANH6
Hungary (Telenor) (PAN)SM-G850FGalaxy Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2ANI2
India (INS)SM-G355HGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355HXXU0ANI2
India (INS)SM-G313HGALAXY Ace Style4.4.2G313HDDU0ANH4
India (INU)SM-G313HGALAXY Ace Style4.4.2G313HDDU0ANH4
India (INS)SM-T111GALAXY Tab3 Lite 7.0 3G4.2.2T111XXUBNI1
Indonesia (XSE)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Ireland (O2) (O2I)SM-G130HNGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HNXXU0ANH5
Israel (ILO)SM-G850FGalaxy Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2ANI2
Israel (Cellcom) (CEL)SM-G850FGalaxy Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2ANI2
Italy (ITV)SM-T235GALAXY Tab 4 7.0 LTE4.4.2T235XXU1ANI2
Kenya (KEN)GT-I9082GALAXY Grand DUOS4.2.2I9082XXUBNH2
Korea (KT Corporation) (KTC)SM-G900KGALAXY S54.4.2G900KKTU1ANI2
Korea (SK Telecom) (SKC)SM-N750SGALAXY Note 3 Neo LTE4.4.2N750SKSU1BNI3
Malaysia (XME)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Morocco (MAT) (MAT)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBNH3
Morocco (MWD) (MWD)GT-S7580GALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580XXUBNH3
Morocco (MWD) (MWD)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANH3
Nepal (NPL)SM-T111GALAXY Tab3 Lite 7.0 3G4.2.2T111XXUBNI1
Nepal (NPL)SM-G355HGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355HXXU0ANI2
Netherlands (PHN)SM-T900GALAXY TabPRO 12.2 Wi-Fi4.4.2T900XXUANI1
Netherlands (PHN)GT-S7275RGALAXY Ace 3 LTE4.2.2S7275RXXUANG1
Netherlands (T-Mobile) (TNL)GT-I9505GALAXY S4 LTE4.4.2I9505XXUGNG8
Netherlands (Vodafone) (VDF)SM-G901F4.4.4G901FXXU1ANH6
New Zealand (NZC)SM-P600GALAXY Note 10.1 Wi-Fi 2014 Edition4.4.2P600XXUCNH3
New Zealand (TNZ)GT-S7580LGALAXY Trend Plus4.2.2S7580LDOUBNI1
New Zealand (NZC)GT-I9506GALAXY S4 LTE-A4.4.2I9506XXUCNH4
New Zealand (Vodafone) (VNZ)SM-G850Y4.4.4G850YDOU2ANI1
New Zealand (Vodafone) (VNZ)GT-I9506GALAXY S4 LTE-A4.4.2I9506XXUCNH4
Nigeria (ECT)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANH3
Pakistan (PAK) (PAK)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANH3
Poland (XEO)GT-I9515GALAXY S4 VE4.4.2I9515XXU1ANI2
Puerto Rico (PCT)SM-T231GALAXY Tab 4 7.0 3G4.4.2T231XXU0ANG2
Romania (Orange) (ORO)SM-G130HNGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HNXXU0ANH5
Russia (SER)SM-T535GALAXY Tab4 10.1 4G4.4.2T535XXU1ANH6
Saudi Arabia (ACR)GT-S7582GALAXY S DUOS 24.2.2S7582XXUANH3
Saudi Arabia (KSA)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANGF
Serbia (Telekom) (TSR)SM-N9005GALAXY Note 3 LTE4.4.2N9005XXUGNG1
Singapore (XSP)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Singapore (MM1)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Singapore (SingTel) (SIN)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Singapore (StarHub) (STH)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Slovakia (ORX)SM-G850FGalaxy Alpha4.4.4G850FXXU2ANI2
Slovenia (Si.mobil) (SIM)GT-S6810PGALAXY Fame4.1.2S6810PXXANH3
South Africa (XFE)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANB4
South Africa (XFM) (XFM)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANGF
South East Europe (SEE)SM-P600GALAXY Note 10.1 Wi-Fi 2014 Edition4.4.2P600XXUCNH3
Spain (PHE)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANF2
Spain (Vodafone) (ATL)SM-G901F4.4.4G901FXXU1ANH6
Sri Lanka (SLK)SM-T111GALAXY Tab3 Lite 7.0 3G4.2.2T111XXUBNI1
Switzerland (AUT)SM-T900GALAXY TabPRO 12.2 Wi-Fi4.4.2T900XXUANI1
Switzerland (AUT)SM-G7105GALAXY Grand 2 LTE4.4.2G7105XXUBNI2
Thailand (THL)SM-G130HGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HXXU0ANH6
Ukraine (Kyivstar) (SEK)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XWUANI1
United Arab Emirates (XSI)GT-I9505GALAXY S4 LTE4.4.2I9505XXUGNH8
United Arab Emirates (XSG)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANGF
United Kingdom (BTU)GT-P5110GALAXY Tab 2 10.1 WIFI4.2.2P5110XXDNH2
United Kingdom (BTU)SM-T900GALAXY TabPRO 12.2 Wi-Fi4.4.2T900XXUANI1
United Kingdom (EE) (EVR)SM-G130HNGALAXY Young 2 DUOS4.4.2G130HNXXU0ANH5
United Kingdom (EE) (EVR)SM-T705GALAXY Tab S 8.4 LTE4.4.2T705XXU1ANG2
Unknown (THW)SM-G355MGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355MUBU0ANH5
Unknown (XFN)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANGF
Unknown (VFJ)GT-S7390GALAXY Trend Lite4.1.2S7390XXUANB4
Unknown (MTZ)SM-G800FGALAXY S5 mini4.4.2G800FXXU1ANGF
Unknown (BNG)SM-G355HGALAXY Core 2 DUOS4.4.2G355HXXU0ANI2
Unknown (BNG)SM-T111GALAXY Tab3 Lite 7.0 3G4.2.2
T111XXUBNI1