samsung

Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the GS4

Following the success of its flagship handset, the Galaxy S4, Samsung announced that it will launch a smaller version of the device in the U.S. and U.K. Aptly named the Galaxy S4 Mini, the manufacturer will release 4G, 3G, and 3G dual-SIM models.

While pricing and carrier information remain unknown, a few key specs were released. As you can see from the chart below, not only is the new device physically smaller, it also has some less powerful hardware features.

For example, it has an 8-megapixel camera (compared with the GS4's 13-megapixel), a dual-core CPU, and a … Read more

Apple patent application eyes eye-tracking technology

Apple may be aiming to challenge Samsung over eye-tracking technology.,

An Apple patent application, dubbed "Electronic Devices With Gaze Detection Capabilities," was published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The application describes a feature in which your mobile device reacts to the movement of your head or eyes.

Turn your head or eyes away from the device, and the screen dims. Look back at the device, and the screen returns to life. Looking away could also put the entire device in standby mode, meaning certain functions are powered down to preserve battery power. In yet … Read more

Galaxy S4 Mini gives Samsung's flagship a smaller sibling

Samsung announced its Galaxy S4 Mini on Thursday, delivering a smaller, lower-end cousin of its hot-selling high-end Android phone with a 4.3-inch screen.

The Korean electronics giant has been steadily pushing smartphone sizes larger, but not everyone is ready for a the 5-inch screen of a Galaxy S4. And the new model will ensure Samsung a place in the market for more cost-conscious buyers, though the company hasn't yet said how much the device will cost or when it will go on sale.

Although the new phone has many of the S4's software features -- tools to … Read more

FCC tips Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with support for AT&T

AT&T may soon offer a 4G LTE variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, if recent FCC documents are to be believed.

Engadget spied the 8.0-inch SGH-I467 tablet wandering the virtual halls of the FCC with support for 850/1900 GSM and LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, and 17. In other words, all the necessary radios to work with AT&T's burgeoning 4G LTE network.

No new details were provided for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, so it's assumed everything else remains the same as the Wi-Fi model. As a reminder, the … Read more

Verizon issues major software update to Samsung Galaxy S3

Verizon Wireless has a rather massive software update ready to issue for the Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone.

Expected to roll out over the next few days, the 129MB file delivers handy features such as multiscreen and multiwindow. Other noteworthy changes include the "Best Shot" camera feature, the ability to bill Google Play apps to a Verizon account, and an option to tag weather, people, and places in photos and video.

Indeed, the software update is not all major improvements and new features; bug fixes and minor tweaks are also found throughout. NFC, for instance, is easier to toggle … Read more

Galaxy S4 Mini may sport dual-core Snapdragon 400 chip

The Galaxy S4 Mini won't be quite as beefy as its bigger brother, at least according to alleged specs leaked online.

Benchmark results reportedly obtained by German blog site All About Samsung show the Mini powered by Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor. Outfitted with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the phone will offer a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display. The Mini will also come with 1.5GB of memory, an 8-megapixel camera in the back, and a 2.1-megapixel camera in the front.

In comparison, Samsung's 5-inch Galaxy S4 is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, … Read more

Samsung to open R&D facility on Nokia's turf, report says

Samsung, which has been fighting an often-forgotten war in the feature phone space against Nokia, has fired a shot over the bow of the Finland-based company.

According to a report on Androidbeat, which includes an invitation claiming to come from Samsung for an event it's holding in Finland, the Galaxy S maker is planning to open a research and development facility in Espoo, Finland, on June 13. And here's the kicker: Espoo is also home to Nokia's headquarters.

The letter Androidbeat reportedly received is signed by Yong-Suk Moon, president of the Samsung R&D Institute UK. … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to debut at June 20 event -- WSJ

Samsung could take the wraps off the Galaxy S4 Mini at a launch event scheduled for Thursday, June 20.

Citing "a person with knowledge of the matter," The Wall Street Journal said today that the S4 Mini will likely be one of several new products taking the stage at next month's event in London. Announcing the event Monday, Samsung highlighted its Galaxy and Ativ lineup but was mum about which devices would be featured. The Ativ line includes PCs and tablets that run Windows 8, as well as smartphones outfitted with Windows Phone 8.

Samsung may have … Read more

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 could offer more advanced camera

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 could see some major enhancements to its onboard camera.

Due out in the second half of 2013, the next Note may sport a 13-megapixel camera with an anti-shake feature designed to capture higher-quality pictures. Citing "industry insiders," Korean site ETNews claims that Samsung's mobile communications team is developing technologies to bring OIS (optical image stabilization) and shutter functions to the Note 3, putting it more on par with traditional digital cameras.

An official from the communications division reportedly told ETNews that "we are pondering various technologies at this stage -- for … Read more

Redditor says Galaxy S3 caught fire, burned his finger

A Reddit poster going by the handle Vizionx1208 says his Galaxy S3 suddenly caught fire recently and burned his finger.

In a post to Reddit on Sunday, the person said that he plugged his Galaxy S3 in to be charged and about an hour later "was awoken by a loud noise and a weird squeaking sound." That he, says, is when all kinds of trouble broke loose.

"So, I woke up, and saw a ton of smoke coming out of my phone -- it also smelled REALLY bad," he wrote. "Half asleep, I jumped out … Read more