Themes Thursday: Material Design and Material Dark themes released in the Theme Store today!

Looks like this is the best week for Themes Thursday yet, as we could spot a number of good-looking themes in the Theme Store today. Twelve new themes have been released for the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in the Theme Store this week. Two new Material Design inspired stock Android themes – Material Design and Material Dark – are a part of this week’s package.

Samsung has released these new Material themes, which are designed by Cameron Bunch, after suspending them last week due to copyright issues. If you thought that Material Dark theme would increase your device’s battery life, you would be disappointed. It just uses a combination of darker colors instead of complete black. Apart from those beautiful Material themes, I quite liked Peprico Marine, Weyo, and Blush as well. What themes did you like?

I think that Samsung should offer an option to selectively choose an icon pack instead of forcing icons from the applied theme on us. I’ve realised that a number of themes would look good if they are used with stock Samsung icons. Do you agree with me? Do you think that Theme Store is improving week after week?

Peperico Marine

Drowsy Afternoon

Navy Marine

Flower Shower

Material Design

Material Dark

Weyo

Blush

Winter Memories

The Chic

Basketball

Dinosaur

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1IQ0jk5
via IFTTT

Verizon finally releases Lollipop for the Galaxy Note Edge

Galaxy Note Edge users on Verizon have had to wait for a long time to get Lollipop on their devices and today the carrier is finally sending out this update to them, even though it updated the Galaxy Note 4 to Lollipop in April and around the same time other carriers released Android 5.0 for the Galaxy Note Edge. Software version LRX22C.N915VVRU2BOF2 is now being rolled out to Galaxy Note Edge owners on Verizon.

Verizon outlines some of the improvements and features that this update brings in the official support document, users get a revamped interface with Material Design elements, Android Auto support, an improved notifications experience, floating action button in various applications as well as Galaxy Apps and the Milk Music app from Samsung. The update removes “Blocking mode” and replaces it with the “Do not disturb” mode, removes “Recording mode” from the Camera settings and adds “Slow motion” and “Fast motion” to Camera Mode. Verizon has started rolling out Lollipop for the Galaxy Note Edge just now which means it may take a while for the update to go live for all Verizon subscribers across the United States.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1f12avp
via IFTTT

New Samsung LEVEL U Bluetooth headset launched

Samsung is making another addition today to its LEVEL headset lineup with the new Samsung LEVEL U Bluetooth headset, focusing on a premium sound experience and clear call quality this headset promises a comfortable fit in a stylish design. To improve comfort the headset is fitted with a flexible neck back and soft ear grips with built-in controls for adjusting volume, using features like play, pause or skip all with 10 hours of usage time.

The Samsung LEVEL U Bluetooth headset features two built-in microphones and 12 mm dynamic drivers to provide accurate and clear sound reproduction with deep bass and an overall balanced sound. Users can enjoy quality audio without having to deal with wires as the headset supports Bluetooth 4.1 and the Apt-X Codec. As present on board is Samsung’s noise and echo-reducing technology as well as vibration notifications to alert the user of incoming calls, missed calls, text messages and more.

Samsung LEVEL U Bluetooth headset goes on sale in the United States today for $69.99 through the company’s own website, it’s available in Black Sapphire and White colors.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1HutOeQ
via IFTTT

07-01-2015 Firmware Updates: Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0, Galaxy Grand Prime, and more

Samsung has a plethora of phones and tablets in its lineup, and regularly releases firmware updates for various devices. These can include major updates, which bring a newer version of the OS to a particular device, or minor ones that improve performance and stability and fix bugs. Software updates for Samsung devices roll out in various regions every day, and you can find out which firmware updates were pushed out by the company over the last 24 hours through our firmware list.

As usual, you can download each of these firmware from our firmware section (simply enter your device’s model number to view all firmware for that device) in order to update to a new firmware manually, or as a means to return to your phone or tablet’s stock software.

Country (Product Code)	Model	Model Name	Version	PDA
Argentina (Movistar) (UFN)	GT-I9190	GALAXY S4 mini	4.4.2	I9190UBUCOD1
Australia (XSA)	SM-T530	GALAXY Tab4 10.1 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T530XXU1BOF7
Belgium (Proximus) (Black Edition)(PRO)	GT-I9195	GALAXY S4 mini LTE	4.4.2	I9195XXUCOD3
Brazil (ZTO)	GT-S5283B	GALAXY Star Duos	4.1.2	S5283BVJANH1
Brazil (ZTO)	GT-I9200	GALAXY Mega 6.3	4.4.2	I9200UBUDOC1
Brazil (Claro) (ZTA)	SM-G530H	GALAXY Grand Prime	4.4.4	G530HVCU1AOE1
Canada (XAC)	SM-T350	Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T350XXU1AOF4
Chile (CHO)	SM-T531	GALAXY Tab4 10.1 3G	4.4.2	T531UBU1AOE4
China (China Mobile) (CHM)	SM-G3818	GALAXY Win Pro	4.2.2	G3818ZMUAOF2
China (Open China) (CHC)	SM-G9250	GALAXY S6 Edge	5.0.2	G9250ZCU1AOF8
China (Open China) (CHC)	SM-G9250	GALAXY S6 Edge	5.0.2	G9250ZCU1AOF8
Czech Republic (T-Mobile) (TMZ)	GT-I9300	GALAXY S III	4.3	I9300XXUGOC1
France (XEF)	SM-P550	Galaxy Tab A 9.7 Wi-Fi (Spen	5.0.2	P550XXU1AOE9
France (SFR) (SFR)	SM-A500FU	GALAXY A5	5.0.2	A500FUXXU1BOE6
Germany (O2) (VIA)	SM-N910F	GALAXY Note 4	5.0.1	N910FXXU1BOE5
Germany (O2) (Black Edition)(VIA)	GT-I9515	GALAXY S4 VE	5.0.1	I9515XXU1BOE3
Hungary (XEH)	SM-T550	GALAXY Tab A 9.7 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T550XXU1AOE9
Hungary (VDH) (VDH)	SM-G110H	GALAXY Pocket 2	4.4.2	G110HXXU0AOC3
Israel (ILO)	SM-G925F	GALAXY S6 Edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU2BOFN
Israel (ILO)	SM-G920F	GALAXY S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU2BOFN
Israel (Orange/Partner) (PTR)	SM-N910F	GALAXY Note 4	5.0.1	N910FXXU1BOC5
Japan (DCM)	SC-02F	GALAXY J	4.4.2	SC02FOMUFOF2
Korea (KOO)	SM-T800	GALAXY Tab S 10.5 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T800KXU1BOF2
Nordic countries (NEE)	SM-T700	GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T700XXU1BOF2
Panama (TPA)	GT-I9295	GALAXY S4 Active	5.0.1	I9295VJUDOF1
Panama (TPA)	SM-G920I	GALAXY S6	5.0.2	G920IDVU1AOE3
Panama (TPA)	GT-I9190	GALAXY S4 mini	4.4.2	I9190UBUCOF1
Poland (Play) (PRT)	SM-N910C	GALAXY Note 4	5.0.1	N910CXXU1BOE1
Russia (SER)	SM-G920F	GALAXY S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU2BOFJ
Saudi Arabia (KSA)	SM-G920F	GALAXY S6	5.1.1	G920FXXU2BOFL
Saudi Arabia (KSA)	SM-G925F	GALAXY S6 Edge	5.1.1	G925FXXU2BOFL
Singapore (XSP)	SM-G925I	GALAXY S6 Edge	5.0.2	G925IDVU1BOF7
Slovakia (XSK)	SM-T700	GALAXY Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T700XXU1BOF2
Spain (PHE)	SM-T550	GALAXY Tab A 9.7 Wi-Fi	5.0.2	T550XXU1AOE9
Switzerland (AUT)	SM-T335	GALAXY Tab4 8.0 LTE	5.1.1	T335XXU1BOF8
Trinidad and Tobago (TTT)	SM-N910H	GALAXY Note 4	5.0.1	N910HXXU1BOC5
Unknown (CSP)	SCH-R970X	GALAXY S4	5.0.1	R970XWWUGOF3
Unknown (PNT)	GT-I9190	GALAXY S4 mini	4.4.2	I9190UBUCOD1
Uzbekistan (CAC)	SM-E500F	GALAXY E5	4.4.4	E500FXXU1AOF1

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1dxbYM9
via IFTTT

Samsung details various reliability tests that its notebooks are put through

Samsung makes some of the lightest and thinnest notebooks on the market but that doesn’t mean it skimps on quality or durability, the company wants to reassure customers that its notebooks are made with the best materials and are put through various rigorous tests before they’re brought to market so that Samsung can ensure these notebooks are as light as they are durable.

To safeguard the notebooks against damage from pressure or shock from impacts likely to occur in common use Samsung puts the products through a repeated compression test as well as a torsion test to ensure that the notebooks have ample resistance from twisting or bending of the body. Then there’s the impact test to enhance screen durability from easy damage and the hinge cycling test to guarantee less wear from repeated opening and closing of the notebook. Keyboard life test promises typing accuracy and durance regardless of high repetition of use.

Samsung also puts its notebooks through temperature, humidity chamber and thermal profile tests to increase durability from environmental factors. Last but not least, Samsung’s notebooks are put through an acoustic noise test to ensure quiet and comfortable operation aside from the rather pedestrian drop test just to find out how well the notebook holds up against drops. The company reiterates that all of its devices are subjected to rigorous quality control tests before they’re shipped out to customers so that they can be confident that their devices can withstand the trials and tribulations of daily use.

Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1IsGJif
via IFTTT

Exclusive: Samsung Z3 (SM-Z300H) is indeed the next Tizen phone

We have been hearing rumors that the next Tizen smartphone to be released will be the Samsung Z3, with the company skipping the Z2 for reasons unknown. Now, thanks to our insiders we can confirm that the Z3 will indeed be the next Samsung smartphone running Tizen, with the device to feature model number SM-Z300H_SWA_DD.

There is no word on the phone’s specifications, but we can expect it to fall somewhere in the budget segment, since that is the segment Samsung is currently targeting with Tizen. The Z1 has extremely unimpressive hardware (a dual-core Spreadtrum processor, 512MB of RAM, a 3.2-megapixel rear camera, etc.) but still manages to offer a faster experience than Samsung’s Android phones in the same price range, though it would be great if the Z3 doesn’t follow in its predecessor’s footsteps in this regard.

The Z3 is expected to run Tizen 3.0 out of the box, with the upcoming version of the OS to include new features and a heavy focus on the Internet of Things (IoT). Samsung’s upcoming developer conference in India could be where the Z3 is shown off for the first time, though at this time we have no information on a release date or a time frame for the phone’s announcement.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1dwWp77
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 and Tab A 9.7 get a price cut in the US

Exactly two months after they were launched in the US, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 and Galaxy Tab A 9.7 have received a small yet sizable price cut in the country. The tablets are now available for $200 and $720 respectively, making it a $30 price drop from their launch prices. It’s not a huge decrease by any means, but the new prices are more suitable for the hardware that the two tablets offer.

The specs include a 4:3 display with a resolution of 1024×768 pixels, a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1.5GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 16GB of expandable storage (along with 100GB of free OneDrive storage for two years), and 4,200/6,000 mAh batteries on the 8 and 9.7-inch models. Both tablets run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, with a slew of Microsoft apps pre-loaded.

Anyone interested in buying one of these tablets at the new prices?

Via Source 1 Source 2

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1f0mLA1
via IFTTT

International Galaxy A8 (SM-A800F) cruises through the FCC

The Galaxy A8 has been in the pipeline over at Samsung for quite some time now and it appears that the company is close to launching this device. Many pictures of this handset have been leaked already and just yesterday we even saw a hands on video of sorts coming out of China. We now find that the international variant of the Galaxy A8 carrying model number (SM-A800F) has breezed through the Federal Communications Commission and that’s another major indication that the launch is just around the corner.

We have previously seen the (SM-A800) go through the FCC as well with the standard connectivity options which include dual-band Wi-Fi and LTE. This is shaping up to be Samsung’s thinnest and most feature-packed mid-range smartphone with a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There’s also an all new 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel shooter up front. Galaxy A8 features a touch based fingerprint sensor, 3,050mAh battery and it runs Android 5.1.1 in a frame that’s just 5.9 mm thin. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Via Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1KqCxzA
via IFTTT

Galaxy S6 edge Plus trademark awarded by the USPTO

We know that Samsung is working on a larger version of the Galaxy S6 edge and we have already exclusively confirmed the handset’s specifications, Samsung is yet to officially announce this device but it seems that the announcement may not be that far off. The company wanted to get a trademark for the “Galaxy S6 Edge+” moniker and it has been awarded that by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. According to the filing Samsung had filed for this trademark on June 26, 2015, it was awarded and published on USPTO’s website just yesterday.

This shows that the upcoming Samsung handset is going to be called Galaxy S6 Edge+ when it finally arrives in the near future. Galaxy S6 Edge+ may have a Super AMOLED dual-edge curved display that’s up to 5.7-inch in size with a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor underneath hooked up to 3GB of RAM with 32GB internal storage. 16-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera will also be present on board alongside a 3,000mAh battery. No information about pricing and availability has been leaked up till now so we’ll probably have to wait for Samsung to provide those bits when the official announcement is made.

Via Source

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1HwAD1l
via IFTTT

Android 5.1.1 Lollipop released for the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 LTE

Good news for all the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 LTE owners out there! Samsung has started rolling out Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update for the tablet (SM-T335) in Switzerland, giving it a huge jump from Android 4.4.2 to Android 5.1.1, leaving Android 5.0.2 in the dust.

Of course, this might disappoint users of the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, which was updated to Android 5.0.2 and might be waiting a while before getting 5.1. The Tab 4 8.0 update has the build number T335XXU1BOF8; you can either wait for the OTA to hit your device, or download it from our firmware section and use ODIN to flash it manually. Remember that these updates go out in a phased manner, so it will likely be a few days before everyone in Switzerland receives the OTA, and a few days more for the update to reach other regions.

Firmware Details:

Model	SM-T335
Model name	GALAXY Tab4 8.0 LTE
Country	Switzerland
Version	Android 5.1.1
Changelist	90673209
Build date	Sat, 20 Jun 2015 06:37:21 +0000
Product code	AUT
PDA	T335XXU1BOF8
CSC	T335OXA1BOF8

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1eio6RM
via IFTTT

Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A8 to feature a new 16-megapixel camera sensor

The Galaxy A8 has not been officially announced yet by Samsung, but has already been leaked in a video, showing off all its hardware and software specifications in detail. At a thickness of just 5.4 mm, the Galaxy A8 would be Samsung thinnest smartphone ever, but the company is still offering a 16-megapixel primary camera in such a thin device. How has Samsung managed to achieve it?

It appears that Samsung had to cut some corners to make that happen, and the ISOCELL camera sensor (LSI3P3) used in the Galaxy A8 has a reduced pixel size of 1.0 µm, and an overall thickness of the module is just 5mm. This makes it 23 percent thinner than the camera sensor (Sony IMX240) used in the Galaxy Note 4, and makes it possible to fit it comfortably into a 5.8 mm thin device. It is clear that there will be some downgrade in image quality due to smaller pixel size, but that is to be expected due to the price difference between the likes of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy Note 4, and the Galaxy A8.

The Galaxy A8 features a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display with 386 ppi, a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage space, a 16-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel secondary camera, 4G LTE connectivity, and a 3,050 mAh battery. It will come preloaded with a newer version of TouchWiz (that we saw in the Galaxy S6) running on top of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system.

from SamMobile http://ift.tt/1NuLUOu
via IFTTT