samsung

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

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, 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 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 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

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

Samsung has succeeded in maintaining its edge on China's smartphone market for the fifth straight quarter in a row. It has also broke its own record by selling more than 10 million smartphones in a single quarter.

The Korean phone maker sold 12.5 million smartphones in China during the first quarter of 2013, according to new data from market research firm Strategy Analytics. This is up 2.2 percent from the last quarter of 2012 and makes up 18.5 percent of China's smartphone market. These numbers were first reported by The Korea Herald.

Coming in second … Read more

Just a few months after unveiling its Galaxy S4 smartphone, Samsung is getting ready to unveil new mobile devices.

The South Korean electronics giant announced Monday that it will hold a press event in London on June 20 that will presumably highlight additions to its Galaxy and Ativ lineups. The terse announcement includes close-up images of three devices, suggesting that at least three new gadgets will be unveiled at next month's event.

Ativ -- Vita spelled backward -- previously applied largely to just the Ativ Smart PC and Smart PC Pro, both Windows 8 tablets, but was recently expanded … Read more

Consumers looking for an iPhone or certain Android phone may want to check out the latest sale at Best Buy come Sunday.

Starting May 26, buyers can save $50 off the price of an iPhone 5, 4S, or 4 with the usual two-year contract through Verizon Wireless, AT&T, or Sprint.

Those interested in an Android phone instead can score deals as well. Starting Sunday, the retailer will chop $50 off the Samsung Galaxy S3, selling the phone for $49 with the standard two-year agreement through AT&T or Sprint. The HTC Droid DNA will sell for $49 … Read more