Liquipel is known for its unique method of waterproofing gadgets that sprays an invisible protective coating over devices and in crevices. However, the company is branching away from that and is launching a new line of products called Skins, which are essentially protective cases that prevent damage from happening due to drops. However, Skins isn’t […]
If you’ve got one of the few smartphones compatible with Facebook Home (the app) here at the launch, you’re in luck! It’s out now, available for download from the Google Play app store and it’s completely free. Devices that can download and use Facebook Home right this minute include the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One X, and HTC One X+ (everyone else is currently out of luck.)
What you’ll be doing to grab Facebook Home is heading to the Google Play app store and searching just that: “Facebook Home.” If you have one of the compatible phones listed above, you’ll see the app immediately and will be able to download and install with ease. When you first head back to your home screen after installing, you’ll be met by a pop-up that asks which launcher you’d like to use.
UPDATE: Facebook Home appears to be temporarily (hopefully) unavailable in the Google Play app store once again – check back soon!
UPDATE 2: Facebook Home is once again up and ready for action – you’ll be able to download it and make it work for some smartphones, but not all! Have a peek at our guide: Why doesn’t Facebook Home work on my phone?
If you choose Facebook Home, you’ll be brought into a brand new Facebook-centric universe, yours for the tapping. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve updated Facebook Messenger and your normal Facebook for Android app too – they all exist together in harmony. Have a peek at today’s “Chat Heads” update for more information on what Messenger brings to the table.
You’ll also want to head back to SlashGear’s full Facebook Home review as well as our review of the HTC First – the first smartphone to hit the market with Facebook Home installed right out of the box. Let us know if you plan on partaking in this lovely Facebook software experience on your Android device today!
Or if you plan on skipping the Facebook Home environment entirely!
Facebook Home delivered to Google Play – available for Android now is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Android 5.0 (rumored to be named Key Lime Pie) hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s already rumored to be coming to the now-last-generation Samsung Galaxy S III, as well as the Galaxy Note II. Furthermore, it’s also said that the Galaxy S II and the original Galaxy Note will eventually be receiving the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update.
It’s said that Samsung will only be updating five of its devices to Android 5.0 when it eventually releases. These devices include the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1, and of course, the new Galaxy S 4. While there’s no definitive release date for Android 5.0, we could see it announced at this year’s Google I/O conference.
As for Android 4.2.2, 15 Samsung devices are on the list to receive the update, all of which will see the updates ending after the 4.2.2 update. The Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S III Mini, Galaxy S II Plus, and the Galaxy Beam are just a few of the handsets that are said to have made the cut for the Jelly Bean update.
Again, this is just rumored for now, and hopefully we’ll actually hear from Samsung after Google I/O as far as upgrading devices to Android 5.0. Samsung is second to Google as far as companies who update the most devices to the latest version of Android. All of the Nexus devices receive updates to the latest Android version, while Samsung follows just behind the search giant.
[via SamMobile]
Android 5.0 reportedly coming to Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The new Galaxy S 4 may have been unveiled last week, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping Samsung and carriers from marketing its current flagship, the Galaxy S III. It’s rumored that a new color option will be available for the device starting in April. Users will be able to pick purple, along with the current pebble blue and marble white options, as well as a few other options exclusive to different carriers.
The leak comes from EVLeaks, which has provided reliable leaks in the past, including renders of the HTC One. This time around, however, we’re given a peek at the classy, brushed purple paint job on the Galaxy S III, which may not cater toward a majority of users, but we have to say it looks rather slick.
However, the purple color option will only be available on the Now Network, meaning that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers won’t be able to get the device in that color. The purple-laden Galaxy S III is said to land sometime in mid-April, which would be just a couple weeks before the launch of the Galaxy S 4.
If or when the purple device ends up getting official, it’ll most likely be priced at $100 after signing a new two-year contract, while Amazon may likely price the phone at next to nothing, considering that the device is reaching its first birthday, which usually spells the end of most smartphones’ life cycle as a flagship product.
[via Gotta Be Mobile]
Samsung Galaxy S III rumored for purple color option in April is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Starting next month, Sprint loyalists will likely be able to get their paws around the Galaxy S 4. Or, if the budget has been a bit tight, a brand new Galaxy S III. The image above has been posted by the typically-reliable evleaks, showing off a heretofore unannounced purple edition of one of Samsung’s cash cows. We aren’t given too many details beyond a proposed April ship date, but one can only expect it to be offered for a song given the imminent arrival of its successor. To date, the GS III has been issued in red, white, grey, brown and black — clearly, the only thing missing is a version that Willy Wonka himself would endorse.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: SammyHub
Source: @evleaks (Twitter)
The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is official, and now that we got our hands on the new device, it’s time to see how it compares to Samsung’s previous Galaxy S handset, the Galaxy S III. Obviously the GALAXY S 4 is an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way, but what exactly has changed here? Let’s take a look.
As for looks, both devices are almost look identical, save for a few changes to the edges. They both have the rounded top and bottom, and the earpiece and home button look very similar. However, the biggest difference cosmetically is the larger 5-inch display on the S 4, while the Galaxy S III is left with a smaller, lower resolution 4.8-inch screen.
However, it’s really the internals that you’ll want to focus on when comparing these two handsets. The GALAXY S 4 runs a quad-core Snapdragon CPU clocked at 1.9GHz (a 1.6GHz Exynos in some regions), while the Galaxy S III touts a Snapdragon S4 dual-core chip clocked at just 1.5GHz. There’s also 2GB of RAM in the S 4, which is the same in the S III. However, the camera is where there’s a big difference: a 13MP sensor in the S 4, while the S III only rocks an 8MP shooter.
Then again, the display is where the GALAXY S 4 really shines when compared to the S III. a 5-inch 1080p display is pretty much unbeatable right now. As for the question of whether or not you should upgrade from the Galaxy S III to the S 4, it certainly doesn’t hurt to do such a thing. There’s definitely faster internals, more features, and that larger screen and camera. However, if you’re still rocking a contract with the S III, don’t worry about having to wait it out. The S 4 will still be here waiting for you when you’re eligible for an upgrade.
There’s also a few new software features in the S 4 as well, including Smart Scroll and Smart Pause, both of which may come in a future Android update for the Galaxy S III, but that’s simply just rumored at this point. Of course, we’ll be taking the GALAXY S 4 and put it through its paces in a full review, but for now, this new device is quite the beast. We’ve already compared it to other new handsets on the market right now, including the iPhone 5 and the HTC One, which was just recently announced last week.
Samsung GALAXY S 4 vs GALAXY S III is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Samsung’s Galaxy S III has sold massive quantities, hitting the 30 million mark back in November 2012. In light of this, the Korean company will be releasing an updated version of the handset, something it has done with other smartphones for smaller markets. The updated version will include, among other things, an HD display.
Samsung doesn’t typically roll out updated versions of its handsets in the US, but given the Galaxy S III’s rampant popularity, it would seem the company wants to take the device as far as it will go. Other handsets that have been revamped include the Galaxy S II Plus and the Galaxy S Advance back in 2012.
The information surfaced on Twitter courtesy of journalist Eldar Murtazin, who dropped a tweet with a few details earlier today and confirmed the Galaxy S III’s impending revamp. Although it isn’t an official statement, Murtazin has posted correct information in the past, including recently that the Galaxy S IV would be launched on March 14th in NYC.
According to a Google translation of the tweet, the refreshed Galaxy S III will feature an updated HD display, although it isn’t definitive if it will be 1080p. The battery will also get a boost to a 2400mAh capacity, and even better will feature wireless charging, something that was supposed to be a regular feature for the handset. The updated handset is said to be slated for arrival after the S IV is unveiled.
[via Android Community]
Samsung Galaxy S III to be updated with wireless charging and HD display is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Galaxy S IV rumors and so-called leaked photos and videos have been spreading. And now Samsung itself is showing off its next phone — albeit in shadowy darkness.
As Samsung gains a whirlwind of attention this week before its big Samsung Galaxy S4 event on the 14th, (one week from today), both the S4 and the Note III have been given some rather impressive unofficial specification sets. The details we’re about to compare are not official and have not been confirmed by Samsung in any way. On the other hand, you can count on most or all of them due to the relatively predictable incremental steps every technology company takes when releasing products in a highly popular brand line.
So you’re planning on deciding between the Samsung Galaxy S IV (or S4, whichever you prefer) and the Samsung Galaxy Note III, yes? They’re going to be exceedingly similar when it comes down to it, their display size and abilities with or without the Samsung S-Pen notwithstanding. So here’s what we’ve got – and remember, all of this is based on tips, leaks, and rumors galore. The details for each of the specifications listed are either listed in the timeline at the end of this post or are brought up with educated guesses on the part of your friends at SlashGear.
Display
Galaxy S4
5-inch display (aka 4.99-inch)
AMOLED
1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
440 PPI
Galaxy Note III
6-inch display (aka 5.9-inch)
AMOLED
1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
376 PPI
Processor Manufacturer
Both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note III will quite likely be using the new Samsung Exynos 5 Octa quad-core processor. Note that there will actually be 8 CPU cores here, but that each of the four main cores will be “backed up”, so to speak, by another core for low power tasks. So just as the NVIDIA Tegra 3 and Tegra 4 have five CPU cores, one of them being a sort of “ninja” core for low power tasks, so too is this new Exynos beast for both the Galaxy S4 and Note III.
It’s also important to note that with the Galaxy Note II the same processor was used for all models while the Galaxy S III had Exynos internationally and Qualcomm Snapdragon inside the USA. Because Samsung has come a bit of a way since all the way back when the Galaxy S III was revealed, there’s a chance they’ll be releasing the Galaxy S4 with the same processor worldwide – we shall see!
Camera Power
A back-facing 13 megapixel camera with advanced photography software can be expected on both the Galaxy S IV and the Galaxy Note III. At the moment there’s no reason to believe that the Galaxy Note III will have anything less than the Galaxy S4, and as in the past, we’re not expecting the Note to out-do the S hero in this respect. The front-facing camera will also likely be the same on both devices at 2 megapixels – with 1080p video capabilities on both sides.
S-Pen Functionality
One of the two big differentiators between the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note III will be the built-in S-Pen that the Note is known for. We’re expecting abilities advanced beyond what we’ve seen on the Note II, but won’t expect the actual hardware to be much different from what we’ve seen on the Galaxy Note 8.0 just this past month at MWC 2013. Have a peek at our hands-on with the Note 8.0 to grab a bit more insight – one of the biggest changes will be the ability to tap the back and menu buttons off-display with the pen – neat!
The big decision you’re going to be making – when it comes down to it again – is how long you’re willing to wait for Samsung’s 2013 vision for the perfect smartphone. You’ve got the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II out on the market already – both of them perfectly capable machines in their own right, but you want to go forth and grab the next big thing. Based on what you see above, expect similar (or identical) features on these devices in the near future when they’re shown off for real – check back a week from now and see how we did!
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Note III specifications battle: very unofficial is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It all started when Terence Eden discovered a bug that allowed someone to briefly access the home screen on a Galaxy Note II. Following the method to take advantage of the bug, another individual named Sean McMillan discovered another method that allows complete access to the handset’s home screen, and not just for the Galaxy Note II. He reportedly tested the method on three Galaxy S III handsets, and it worked on each of them.
The process, when followed correctly, results in not only the user gaining access to the handset’s home screen without correctly entering the lock screen, but it also removes the needs to enter the pattern, PIN, or other lock method in place once the bypass has been successfully used. Because the bug was replicated on more than one type of Samsung handset, it is possible the issue lies with Samsung’s software rather than with the Android OS.
The folks over at ZDNet say they have confirmed the bugs on both the Galaxy S III and Note II. After what they report was tricky timing issues with getting the method just right, they were able to entirely bypass the lock screen on the Galaxy S III, which was running Android 4.1.2. With the Galaxy Note II, they got the initial bug that provides brief access to the home screen to work, but not the latter method.
If you own one of these two devices and would like to give it a try, the bug is pretty simple. Enter “Emergency Call” from the lock screen and open “Emergency Contacts.” From there, press the Home button, then immediately press the Power button. Press the Power button again, and you’ll be taken to the home screen instead of the lock screen.
[via ZD Net]
Samsung Galaxy S III security issue provides lock screen bypass is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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