Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy S 4 hasn’t been as coordinated as the company would like, but it’s making some amends with today’s launch of its flagship phone in Canada. In one fell swoop, most of the larger Canadian carriers are now offering the 16GB model for a typical $200 on a 3-year contract. Bell, Rogers and Telus (as well as their sub-brands) are covering much of the country, while more region-specific carriers like Eastlink and Videotron are also joining in. Carriers like Mobilicity and Wind Mobile aren’t yet included, however, and supplies are known to be tight — we’d ask about stock before making a trip to the local store.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Via: MobileSyrup

Source: Bell, Rogers, Telus

Android-based Dropbox users got a crack at an even more photo-centric interface back in January; it’s now the iOS crowd’s turn to play. Dropbox 2.2 for their platform makes it easier for them to see their photos, organize them into albums and share them with others. The corporate set will also want the update now that it permits the single sign-ons that make Dropbox for Business tick. Version 2.2 isn’t the most dramatic update we’ve seen, but it should go some distance toward pleasing both shutterbugs and the suits.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile

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Source: App Store

The social beer tracking service Untappd is finally available on Windows Phone 8 as a “native” app. The popular check-in platform has long been available on iOS and Android, and it was one of the few must-have titles available on BlackBerry 10 at launch. Finally those whose loyalties lie in Redmond can take advantage of all that Untappd has to offer, and remove the bookmark to the spartan mobile site from their home screen. While the free download is definitely a vast upgrade over using the browser, there is room for improvement on this 1.0 release. Most notably is its non-native appearance and lack of live tile support. In fact, we’re pretty sure the Windows Phone version is simply a port of the Android app. Still, if you enjoy a fine craft brew and like sharing that experience with friends, this should be an indispensable part of your arsenal. Plus, if you look hard enough, you might just find an Engadget editor or two frequenting the virtual stools at the Untappd pub.

Update: It’s been brought to our attention that Untappd was built using the cross-platform development tool PhoneGap. That means that the various versions of the app share much of the same code (primarily HTML5 and JavaScript) which would explain the similarities in appearance.

Filed under: Mobile

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Source: Untappd

Virgin Media doles out many minutes and data to mobile users with its Premiere plan, but it hasn’t had a truly unlimited option for those who don’t want to even think about their calling habits. It’s assuaging those minds today with new VIP tiers that offer unlimited domestic voice, data and text messaging. The exact perks depend on the level of commitment, however. Traditional customers can pay £26 per month (£31 if they’re not already Virgin customers) with promises of unlimited calls to frequently costly 08 numbers. For SIM-only customers, it’s all about the price — while they don’t get the 08 number exception, the £15 they pay per month for otherwise unlimited access is comparatively cheap. The new rates may not always make sense depending on local coverage and a desire for LTE, but we’d at least keep them in mind.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Source: Virgin Media (1), (2)

HTC might be gearing up for a wider audio assault. Just days after the 606w made a pass through China’s TENAA with stereo sound, a 608t cousin has made the agency rounds carrying its own pair of front speakers. If the 608t looks familiar, it should — it’s effectively a spin on the One SV body (or rather, the somewhat similar One ST from China) with both the reworked audio as well as the same navigation layout that first appeared on the One. While we can’t verify rumors that the 608t will step up to Jelly Bean, a quad-core chip and an 8-megapixel rear camera, the TENAA report does show that it will include TD-SCDMA for China Mobile as well as GSM and WiFi. However subtle an upgrade the phone will be, about all that’s left is for HTC to orchestrate a formal launch.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

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Via: Blog of Mobile (translated)

Source: TENAA (translated)