Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung had initially promised that it would roll out the Android 4.3 update for Galaxy S3 by the end of October, however it didn’t. Even though the company missed the deadline it set itself, there hasn’t been that big of a delay. Samsung today started to roll out Android 4.3 for Galaxy S3. Since its a staged roll out, not all countries will receive it at once. Furthermore, carrier approval of said update might take additional time. One thing is for sure though, now, Samsung has finally got the ball rolling on Android 4.3 for Galaxy S3 owners.

As of this writing, the update has only been released in Ireland. Its actually the same XXUGMJ9 build that was leaked yesterday for the Galaxy S3 I9300. The update is without a doubt a big deal, seeing as how Galaxy S3 owners will jump straight from Android 4.1.2 to Android 4.3, bypassing Android 4.2 altogether. The new firmware obviously comes with a lot of improvements and changes compared to the existing firmware. Among the various changes, Samsung also adds support for its Galaxy Gear smartwatch through this update. The theme is now much similar to that of the Galaxy S4, and there’s a new S-Voice as well, also from this year’s flagship. People who have carried branded versions of the Galaxy S3, particularly in the U.S., will have to wait a little longer to get the update on their devices. When it ultimately becomes available, the update will be offered for download over-the-air.

Android 4.3 Update For Galaxy S3 Being Rolled Out original content from Ubergizmo.

Just one day after it started rolling out Android 4.3 for Galaxy S4, Sprint today rolled out Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update build GJ04. Earlier this week a document was leaked online which listed release dates for the update on the four major carriers, so far the release of Android 4.3 for various Samsung devices has taken place according to that timetable. Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update from Sprint comes on the day when Android 4.4 has been announced, and it has been confirmed that this particular smartphone is not going to be compatible with it.

This isn’t a major update, barring the fact that it bumps up the core OS version to Android 4.3, which brings features such as TRIM support, improved typing, auto-complete in phone dialer, opt-in always-on Wi-Fi location scanning and several other minute improvements. Sprint will be rolling out the update over-the-air, so you should receive a notification on your device if you haven’t already. Since the roll out happens in stages, don’t worry if a notification isn’t immediately sent over to your device. The roll out usually takes a few days to be complete. The impatient lot can manually check for updates through the Settings app, by going to the About phone menu followed by System updates.

Sprint Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 Update Build GJ04 Released original content from Ubergizmo.

Samsung confirmed earlier today that the much awaited Android 4.3 update for U.S. variants of the Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 will be rolled out starting today. Just yesterday we saw a leaked document hint at Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 release on October 28th, which is today. It appears that Verizon may indeed roll out the update later today, Samsung has already gone live with the changelog so its only a matter of time before the update is pushed out over-the-air, barring any last minute issues.

The Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update build VRUEMJ7 is going to bump up the core OS to Android 4.3 and enable Band 4 LTE. It is also finally going to bring support for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch to the Galaxy S4. Support for Samsung KNOX is also going to be added through this update. It appears that Verizon is leading the charge this time around with regards to OS update. Sprint is expected to roll out Android 4.3 on October 30th, followed by AT&T and T-Mobile on 13th and 18th of November respectively. Though as yet, Verizon hasn’t released a confirmation that the update is indeed coming today. So just sit back and keep your fingers crossed, hopefully an OTA update notification will drop shortly.

Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Update Build VRUEMJ7 Might Roll Out Today original content from Ubergizmo.

Samsung has first mover advantage in the smartwatch space, launching its Galaxy Gear wearable last month. However the mobile companion device only worked if you also picked up Samsung’s just released Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy Note 10.1. Which means the vast majority of Samsung’s existing user-base are currently denied the chance to indulge their smartwatch-owning fantasies unless they also upgraded their main phone or bought a new tablet. But not for much longer.

Samsung has announced the Gear will become compatible with a swathe of its existing handsets via two updates: the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, and a separate update due to start rolling out globally at the end of this month.

The list of devices that will add Gear compatibility is the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Note 2 (via the 4.3 update). Samsung said it will also extend Galaxy Gear compatibility to “other Galaxy devices” – specifically saying this will include the Galaxy S4 Mini, S4 Active, Mega 5.8, Mega 6.3, and Galaxy S4 Zoom – via a separate update (which suggests those devices aren’t getting Android 4.3. Or not yet, anyway).

One caveat: Android updates are a notoriously fragmented affair, with carriers acting as gatekeepers to hold back the rollout progress of each update. So it may take a considerable time for the Gear update to be successfully pushed out to all carrier combinations across all markets. “Software update schedules for each device will vary by country and carrier,” is how Samsung couches that caveat in its press release.

As well as enabling S4, S3 and Note 2 owners to buy and hook up a Gear, the v4.3 update will add easier text input, updated graphics and multimedia on the Android side, plus Samsung’s Knox security offering, Smart Switch, HomeSync and Group Play 2.5.

Once these existing device owners have successfully updated, and if they then choose to shell out $299 for the Gear add-on, they can expect to be able to make and answer calls on the smartwatch, and view incoming messages and notifications.

The Gear also has a 1.9MP camera attached to the wristband for taking grainy spy shots without reaching for your main cameraphone. It also has a handful of its own apps, such as a pedometer app.

Reviews of the Galaxy Gear have not been too kind, however – so if you’re buying this smartwatch, you are effectively using your own money to volunteer to be a beta tester for an alpha product.

The Android 4.3 update for HTC One has slowly but surely made its way to the U.S. Last month HTC started rolling out the update first in Taiwan, following it up with the roll out for international variants and then for various countries in Europe. The company had previously said that the update would be released in the U.S. before September 30th, but it slightly missed that deadline. The first carrier to roll out the update for its HTC One was Sprint, which went through in the first week of October. A tweet from HTC America President Jason Mackenzie reveals that T-Mobile HTC One Android 4.3 update is going to be rolled out mid next week.

Only a few days ago AT&T rolled out the Android 4.3 updatez for its HTC One. If everything goes as planned and no unexpected issues pop up at the last minute, then T-Mobile subscribers holding on to their HTC flagships will be receiving the update over the next week. The update brings new widgets for the lock screen, quick settings panel in notification bar, numeric battery levels and improvements for the HTC One’s Ultrapixel rear camera. Users will be notified when the update is available for their devices, the update will be downloaded on the device itself over-the-air.

T-Mobile HTC One Android 4.3 Update Release Slated For Next Week original content from Ubergizmo.