Feb 18
Today Samsung has revealed their plan to update one whole heck of a lot of smartphones to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. They’ve not been entirely specific about when each of these … Continue reading
Dec 17
After a bit of a delay earlier this year, the folks responsible for bringing on software updates to the Samsung Galaxy smartphone universe have re-started the push for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean to the Galaxy S III. This release will bring a number of feature updates and improvements to the hardware and – for some […]
Nov 27
This week there’s word on the expected range of dates for the Android 4.4 KitKat software update for the current and second-most recent set of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Notes. This tip suggests that models GT-I9500, SM-N900, GT-I9300, and SM-N7100 will all be updated to Android 4.4 […]
Sep 23
AT&T Galaxy S III Mini up for pre-order, offers Snapdragon 400 and battery boost
Posted in: Today's ChiliFollowing confirmation last week from AT&T about its upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III Mini plans, the carrier has put the budget smartphone up for pre-order at $0.99 with a two-year contract. With the AT&T version comes some hardware boosts, with the original processor being swapped out for a Snapdragon offering, as well as a larger […]
Sep 04
Today’s Samsung Galaxy Note III Unpacked event was all about their S-Pen touting device and new smartwatch, but we can’t forget about their other flagship devices. The new Note III will hit the streets with the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, no chocolate KitKats here, and for those wondering their previous Galaxy S III and […]
Aug 14
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you’ve come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they’ve found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won’t last long.
Today’s hottest deals include a pair of prime smartphones for sale at Target, with the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and the soon-to-be-supplanted iPhone 5 available with hefty price cuts on contract. Join gdgt and add the gadgets you’re shopping for to your “Want” list. Every time there’s a price cut, you’ll get an email alert!
Jul 26
Having a deal such as the one T-Mobile is running starting this month, one that offers smart devices for “zero down” before charging a certain amount of cash each month should raise red flags for the average consumer. It did for SlashGear, and here we’re going in to take a closer look at a few key devices – and their prices – before and after that discount takes effect. What this means for the consumer is more than just one cost here or there; it’s about clarity.
With T-Mobile’s newest plan, you’ll not simply see the first initial cost of a smartphone cut out, followed by the rest of your purchase taking place the same as it would otherwise. On the contrary – some of these phones have their monthly payment plans increased (that’s for the device, mind you, not the data), while others actually do have JUST the up front cost cut out.
The Samsung Galaxy S III, before this Zero Down plan takes effect, will cost a new customer with T-Mobile $49.99 up front followed by $20 per month for 24 months, this ending up costing $529.99 USD total. With Zero Down in effect, the Galaxy S III costs $0 up front and $22 per month for 24 months, ending up costing $528 USD. A whole dollar and 99 cents savings!
The Galaxy S 4 costs $149 + $20 x 24 or $629.99, this compares to the Zero Down plan cost of $25 per month for 24 months which ends up ringing in at $600 USD. The iPhone 5 (only available in 16GB on this plan) is either $649.99 without the plan or $648 with, and the HTC One will cost you either $649.99 without the plan or $600 with.
Sony’s Xperia Z will cost you $579.99 with the normal $99.99 + $20 x 24 months or, with the Zero Down deal, you’ll get the device for $25 x 24 months = $600. That’s a price increase.
Be sure to check your numbers. The full Zero Down price chart straight from T-Mobile is included below, while T-Mobile’s prices (as highlighted in the Xperia Z image above) are listed plainly on T-Mobile’s site. Add it up!
T-Mobile “Zero Down” deal broken down: initial thrift at what cost? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Jul 03
There’s a software suite out there existing under the name Samsung Smart Switch that, if we didn’t know any better, we’d think was a pitch from Microsoft for Windows Phone. It’s not that smaller sect of the smartphone universe that collection is aimed at, however, it’s Samsung’s implementation of Android – and it’s not a still-burgeoning operating system this campaign is aimed at, it’s one of the most popular lines of smartphones in the history of smartphones.
What you’ve got here is Samsung selling the world on their smartphones with a set of (free) software that makes switching from any smartphone to a Galaxy device easy. As easy as Samsung is able to make it, that is.
While at the moment this software suite works only to bring your previous smartphone experience over to the Samsung Galaxy S 4, and it only works in the USA, it’s a sure-shot for a wider hit once it takes off. And take off it very well might with a launch that works with desktop software for both Windows and Mac from the outset.
*UPDATE: As of July 1st, Samsung Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II are also supported – you can now switch TO them in addition to being able to swtich FROM them.
With the desktop-based transfer software you’re using with Samsung Smart Switch, you’ve got a flow from one smartphone to the other with a series of intuitive steps. The process is essentially the same on both Mac and Windows machines, and you’ll be switching from any of the following brands:
• Apple – iOS 4.2.1 or higher
• BlackBerry – BlackBerry OS 6.0 or higher
• LG – Android Gingerbread or higher
• Nokia – Series version 40 or higher; Symbian version 6.0 or higher
• Samsung – “The data that was backed up from Kies version 2.3.5 or higher”
So if you’ve got an HTC device, at the moment, you’re out of luck. But again: this is only the launch. It would also appear that those wishing to transfer from an older Samsung device are assumed to be familiar with Kies before they hit this process where iOS is simply the most basic of basics.
*NOTE: There’s also a “Smart Switch Mobile” app that makes switching from Galaxy to Galaxy devices extremely simple.
Meanwhile you’ll find Nokia devices to be only those from non-Windows Phone families and LG is ready for Android, BlackBerry for 6.0 and up.
The PC and Mac side of this transfer brings on the trade-over of the following bits and pieces:
• Contacts
• Messages
• Photos
• DRM-free Music
• Alarms
• Wallpapers
• Calendars
• Memos
• Videos (all those captured by your device’s camera, that is)
• Podcasts
• Call logs
• Web bookmarks
The most interesting piece of this equation actually exists in the Android app “Samsung Smart Switch Migration.” This app is different from the Smart Switch Mobile app above, here acting as the final step between the PC and your new Samsung device. With this final step, the user works with “Smart App Matching and Reccomendation.”
This Smart App Matching works with iOS devices at launch, and also – importantly – works with the Google Play app store rather than Samsung’s own app portal. This makes a lot of sense given the more vast collection of apps in the Google Play app store, but it wouldn’t be surprising to eventually – someday – see this switch over to Samsung’s own “Samsung Apps” collection.
Have a peek and let us know how you’re finding the process. Is it as easy as you’d hope it could be? Or is it a bit too taxing to be worth the effort?
BONUS: A bit of an oddity here – when you make the switch you’ll find the wallpaper you were using on your old phone now placed as default on your new phone. Could be cool, could look rather out of place. All up to your perspective.
Samsung Smart Switch aims to be key to competitor defection is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Jun 28
Samsung Jay-Z team-up may only be newest in extended music exclusive series
Posted in: Today's ChiliThis week it’s become apparent that Samsung will continue to bring on the musical connections with their tie-up with South Korean pop-stars CN Blue for a Blue Moon concert event. This event will be live broadcast through Galaxy devices and will, therefor, make clear Samsung’s intent to bring a long series of Galaxy smartphone and
Jun 24
It’s time to get in line, citizens of planet Jay-Z. Samsung has a deal with the artist which allows a total of one million users to get in on the album before it’s official drop: July 4th for those members of the public that wish to participate in the pre-drop hype. What the deal between
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