Galaxy Note 7R receives Bluetooth certification

Samsung will soon release the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 in select markets. The company confirmed back in March that it was going to release the Galaxy Note 7R but it hasn’t said precisely when it’s going to do that. The handset has received some certifications and requires some more before it can be released.

The Galaxy Note 7R has now received its Bluetooth certification. The filing for the handset is live on the Bluetooth SIG’s website. It shows that the Galaxy Note 7R bearing model number SM-N935F has now been certified. This was another one of those certifications that are absolutely required before the handset can be launched.

Samsung is yet to confirm the markets where it’s going to release the Galaxy Note 7. The company has confirmed previously that this handset won’t be released in the United States. It may only be offered in South Korea initially and may also be released in China at some point in the future.

The company hasn’t confirmed how much it’s going to charge for this handset as well but reports suggest that it may cost 700,000 won or $620 in South Korea. Expect more information about the Galaxy Note 7R to come up in the next couple of days.

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Dual-SIM variant of Samsung Galaxy S8+ with Exynos chipset goes on sale in the US

Samsung had launched the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ in the US last month through all the major carriers. These were the Snapdragon variants with single SIM card slots. Now, factory unlocked variant of the Galaxy S8+ with the Exynos 8895 chipset and a dual-SIM card slot is available for purchase in the US.

The Galaxy S8+ (SM-G955FD) can be purchased through eBay in the US for $804.99. It’s the EMEA version of the smartphone, which is region locked to the Americas, but you can easily unlock it by accepting or placing a five-minute call in any other country. The smartphone is currently available in Maple Gold and Midnight Black.

The device is also available for purchase through carrier’s monthly plans as well, if you don’t want to spend too much in one go. However, please note that the device will work only on GSM networks, so it won’t support CDMA carriers like Boost, Cricket, Sprint, and Verizon.

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Samsung Chromebook Pro now available for pre-order from Amazon

Samsung unveiled the Chromebook Plus and the Chromebook Pro at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 in January. It worked on the Chromebook Pro with Google so that it could have support for Android apps, a digitized pen as well as a 360-degree rotating touchscreen display. The Chromebook Plus was made available for purchase soon after launch but customers have had to wait for a very long time to get their hands on the Chromebook Pro.

It was reported last week that the Chromebook Pro’s release was getting delayed due to problems with Android app compatibility. Even though the laptop was “Designed for Google Play,” Android apps weren’t working properly on it. Google thus needed extra time to ensure that Android apps worked properly.

At that time, a spokesperson for Samsung said that the Chromebook Pro will be released “later this spring.” While that might have suggested a longer wait time, those who’ve been waiting for it will be delighted to know that they can now pre-order the Samsung Chromebook Pro.

Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Samsung Chromebook Pro. You’ll have to pay $549.99 for this device. Place a pre-order now and the laptop will eventually make its way to you after it’s released on May 28.

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Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 requires more certifications before it can be released

After weeks of rumors, Samsung confirmed in March that it was going to launch a refurbished version of the Galaxy Note 7. The ill-fated flagship had to be discontinued last year after a battery defect caused units to catch fire. Samsung tried to fix the issue by switching battery suppliers but that didn’t work.

The company has millions of Galaxy Note 7 units in warehouses. These units were recalled from customers who were quick to purchase the Galaxy Note 7 after it was released. To limit the environmental impact of getting rid of so many devices, Samsung will sell some as refurbished units in select markets.

South Korea is likely going to be the first market where the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 will be released. However, before Samsung can sell it there, a certification is required from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards and the National Radio Research Agency.

According to a report, Samsung has not yet filed applications for the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 to be examined by both agencies. “If Samsung makes such a request, we plan to examine and verify the safety of the device by putting users’ safety as the top priority,” said a representative of the National Radio Research Agency.

The refurbished Galaxy Note 7 will have the same specifications as the original device save for the fact that it will have a smaller 3,200mAh battery. It’s expected to cost 700,000 won or $620 in South Korea.

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Android 7.0 Nougat hits the Galaxy A5 (2016) in India

The Galaxy A5 (2016) is the first non-flagship Galaxy phone to receive Nougat; the rollout started with Russia, and it has now expanded to the Indian market. It could be available in other markets already, so if you have received the update on your A5 (2016), do let us know in the comments section.

With Samsung aiming for consistency in software across its range of devices, the Nougat update for the A series devices brings the new user interface that runs on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Performance and battery life should get a boost, and we will be taking a closer look at what the latest version of Android brings to the Galaxy A lineup in the near future. For now, check out the video below that shows Nougat in action on the Galaxy A5 (2016).

If you’re in India, go into the Settings » About Device menu to download Nougat. Don’t see it yet? It can take time for updates to reach everyone, so be sure to keep checking from time to time.

Thanks, ikps_sidhu!

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Samsung sides with FTC in lawsuit against Qualcomm

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm earlier this year over what it believes to be the chipmaker’s anti-competitive behavior. Qualcomm feels that there are no solid grounds for the case and has thus requested the court to dismiss the agency’s case. The FTC is now trying to establish before the court that there solid grounds for this case to proceed on.

Samsung has a complex relationship with Qualcomm. It is one of Qualcomm’s largest customers as it uses the chipmaker’s chips in its smartphones. Qualcomm is also Samsung’s client as the latter manufactures its Snapdragon 835 flagship processor.

Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Samsung from filing arguments in support of the FTC’s case. Samsung says that Qualcomm prevents fair competition against it by relying on its patents that cover the fundamentals of modern phones. The company adds that its in-house chip division is unfairly held back because Qualcomm is unwilling to license its technology.

“Despite having requested a license from Qualcomm, Samsung cannot sell licensed Exynos chipsets to non-Samsung entities because Qualcomm has refused to license Samsung to make and sell licensed chipsets,” the company says in a filing.

Qualcomm has not commented on Samsung’s filing. The Korean company isn’t the only one that’s backing the FTC. Even Intel has filed arguments in support of the FTC’s case against Qualcomm.

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AT&T starts selling the Galaxy J3 (2017)

The second largest mobile carrier in the United States has made no fuss of the fact that it’s now selling the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017). It succeeds the equally low-end Galaxy J3 from last year. It makes sense why AT&T didn’t bother making an announcement. The Galaxy J3 is the entry-level handset in Samsung’s budget lineup. Those who want a handset in this price tag are likely to gravitate to it on their own.

AT&T customers can now purchase the Galaxy J3 (2017) from the carrier. It was initially believed that the handset would be called Galaxy Express Prime 2 when it hits AT&T but we now know that’s not the case.

Since this is the entry-level model in a budget lineup, the specs are nothing to write home about. It has an Exynos 7570 processor and 1.5GB of RAM. It also features a 5-inch Super AMOLED 1280×720 pixel resolution display. The Galaxy J3 (2017) has 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and runs Android 7.0 Nougat.

AT&T customers can purchase the Galaxy J3 (2017) from the carrier’s website. It costs $179.99 at full retail or $6 per month for 30 months on AT&T’s installment plan. It’s available online and through most AT&T retail stores across the United States.

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Samsung may launch the Galaxy J7 Max in India soon

If a new leak is to be believed, Samsung is going to launch another mid-range smartphone in India soon. The company apparently has a new device called the Galaxy J7 Max in the pipeline. The leak suggests that it’s going to be positioned in the mid-range segment of the market against popular options from rivals Oppo and Vivo who have already carved considerable space for themselves in India’s smartphone market.

The Galaxy J7 Max’s specs may include a 5.7-inch Full HD TFT display with a 1.6GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6757V processor, 4GB RAM and 32GB of storage. It may also feature a 13-megapixel rear camera with flash and f/1.7 aperture as well as a 13-megapixel camera with flash and f/1.9 aperture on the front.

Samsung’s upcoming mid-range smartphone for India will run on Android 7.0 Nougat and will even have support for Samsung Pay Mini. According to the report, the company is going to launch this handset in the second week of June. No word as yet whether the Galaxy J7 Max is going to be released in other markets.

Since it’s a mid-range smartphone, it won’t be too pricey, those who would like to pick one up can expect the price to be between $250-$300.

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