Hasta La Gadget!

While we already knew that Verizon slipped support for AWS-based LTE into its edition of the Galaxy S 4, it didn’t say how those extra frequencies would come alive. The carrier’s Mike Haberman has just cleared the air(waves): he tells Bloomberg that Samsung’s flagship will get a software update to support AWS bands. Haberman hasn’t said when the patch will arrive, although it’s contingent on the higher-capacity 4G network rolling out in the next few months. The GS4 isn’t likely to be alone, whatever the timing. The Nokia Lumia 928 also supports AWS, and we’ve reached out to learn if and when the higher-tiered Windows Phone will get an upgrade to reach its full potential.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, Nokia, Verizon

Comments

Source: Bloomberg

Telus may be near taking over one of its competitors, but it could soon offer an olive branch to Canadians wanting a choice in budget carriers. MobileSyrup understands that prepaid service PC Mobile (which uses Telus’ network) is going postpaid on June 5th, and introducing smartphones at the same time. The provider will reportedly embrace Koodo-style installment payments, as well as frugal plans that range between $35 and $60. It should also support a range of 3G and 4G phones that mostly line up with Telus’ offerings: an inventory leak shows the higher-end BlackBerry Q10, Nexus 4 and Galaxy S 4 joined by the cheap-as-chips Lumia 520. Although we doubt that PC Mobile’s expansion will completely make up for a shrinking market, we can’t object to a small carrier entering the big leagues.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Comments

Source: MobileSyrup

Motorola is no stranger to launching phones in bolder hues, and it’s not letting up just because Google is at the helm. Case in point: Verizon has started carrying blue versions of the Droid RAZR M and Droid RAZR HD at the same prices (free and $100) as their subdued black and white counterparts. Our known affinity for the color is a bit tempered here, however. Like the pink Droid RAZR M that surfaced a few months back, the color only goes around the edges — both RAZRs are otherwise as black as can be. Still, that little splash of blue may be enough to stand out in a frequently drab world.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Verizon (1), (2)

When few (if any) web browsers do everything well, many of us have more than one client just to cover all the bases. The GO Launcher Dev Team’s just-launched Next Browser for Android tries to solve this in the simplest way possible: it cherry picks features from established rivals. Sharing extensions from Dolphin? Check. Chrome’s frequently visited pages? Check. Speed Dial from Opera? Check. There’s even a Flipboard-style RSS reader. As there’s also bookmark syncing and voice search, Next Browser is theoretically the only client that Android users could want. How well that pastiche works is another matter, but those who’ve been pining for an all-encompassing browser can give the new app a try at the source link.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Google Play, Next Browser

Internationally savvy Chrome desktop users are well acquainted with the translation bar’s ability to quickly make sense of sites using foreign languages. Courtesy of the new Chrome 28 beta for Android, they can take that linguistic power on the road: the translation bar now shows up on mobile when visiting pages in non-native text. The test release also gives tablets the same fullscreen mode that phones have in the stable build, and everyone can see graphs illustrating the data usage savings they get from compression. Those who want to better understand their mobile world just have to swing by the source links to get the latest beta.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Chrome Releases, Google Play