First Android 5.0 Lollipop updates should hit the Galaxy S5 in December

Android 5.0 Lollipop is coming to the Galaxy S5, and we’ve already given our readers an exclusive look at an early version running on the device. We had already said that the Galaxy S5 would be receiving the Lollipop update sometime in late November or early December, and now we have new info from our sources that says the Android 5.0 update will go live for the Galaxy S5 in December. We weren’t given a time frame though, and you should also keep in mind that it could be a month or so from the start of the initial rollout before the device gets the update in all regions.

For those unaware, Android 5.0 Lollipop is the biggest update to the OS since Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It brings a new design philosophy Google has dubbed Material Design, and as we saw in the early Android 5.0 build, Samsung is making changes to TouchWiz to match Google’s new design UX. Android 5.0 also brings a ton of new features, such as lockscreen notifications, multi-user support for phones, support for 64-bit processor, file sharing through Android Beam (a feature that has been present on Samsung devices for quite some time), and lots more. It will also offer increased performance with a switch to the new ART runtime, and better battery life through an overhaul of how Android handles background tasks.

If you haven’t already, check out Android 5.0 on the Galaxy S5 in the video below.

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Samsung launches Galaxy Core Max with 4.8″ qHD Super AMOLED display in China

Samsung might have finally started showing some restraint when it comes to bloating its software, but the company is yet to apply the same restraint to their habit of launching new phones every other day. Samsung has launched a new budget smartphone in China, called the Galaxy Core Max. The Core Max carries model number SM-G5108Q – Samsung hasn’t mentioned the name of the processor that powers it (only that it’s a 1.2GHz quad-core unit), but as we saw in a leaked benchmark for the SM-G510, the phone could be powered by the Snapdragon 410, which is a 64-bit processor that is also expected to be in the upcoming Galaxy A3.

The Galaxy Core Max runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat, so it’s not like it can use the 64-bit processor to its full potential, but it would still be interesting to see what chip is inside the device. As for the other specs, those include a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display of qHD (540×960) resolution, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of built-in storage and a microSD slot, dual SIM slots, and a 2,200mAh battery. The phone’s design is quite similar to other Samsung phones, though the loudspeaker grille on the back is a bit different than what we’ve seen before, and, dare we say, more attractive than the usual speaker grille.

The phone also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera – that and other specs of the device make it quite similar to the Galaxy A3, though these aren’t the same phones since the Galaxy A series comes with model numbers starting with SM-A***. There are no details on the pricing and availability of the Galaxy Core Max, but you can expect it to be launched in markets outside China in the near future.

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Is Samsung hinting at a quick update to Android Lollipop for the Galaxy Note 4?

That the Galaxy Note 4 will get an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, and will be among the first Samsung phones to do so, is something that’s set in stone. But could Samsung be working on updating the Note 4 to Lollipop much faster than it has pushed out major updates in the past? The company has tweeted about the Galaxy Note 4′s Quad HD display, and the tweet shows an image of lollipops on the phone’s screen. Now, Samsung could simply have used this image because of the excitement around Android 5.0 at the moment (thanks to its very recent official announcement), but it could also be a hint that the update will arrive sooner rather than later.

We exclusively revealed earlier that Samsung is aiming for a late November/early December release for the update, and the company is already testing the latest version of the OS on the Galaxy S5, something we gave you a peek at recently. Samsung’s tweet is a good indication that that time frame could indeed be correct, though as always, we would caution against getting too excited, especially given how major an update Android Lollipop is.

What do you think? Is that tweet just a marketing gimmick, or could be hinting at something we will all await impatiently over the next couple of months?

Anyway you look at it, the #GALAXYNote4 Quad HD Super AMOLED display is pretty sweet. #NoteTheDifference http://ift.tt/1yf1tm3

— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) October 21, 2014

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Samsung explains the Galaxy Note 4′s accessibility features

Samsung has always been big on offering accessibility features on its smartphones (well, not that it doesn’t apply for basically every type of feature the company loves cramming into its phones), and the Galaxy Note 4, being a flagship devices, naturally brings along a ton of such features. Today, Samsung is offering a look at all the accessibility functions on its latest flagship through its blog. The Galaxy Note 4 comes with quite a few useful ones, such as a doorbell detector for notifying users on the sound of a doorbell (useful for those with hearing impairments), and an Image Reader feature for offering a voice guide for an image’s details and to guide users into taking better pictures.

There are quite a few other options, many of which were present on the Galaxy Note 3 and other Galaxy devices as well. Head over to the source link to get more info on the accessibility features on the Galaxy Note 4, and let us know if you’re planning to buy Samsung’s best phablet yet!

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Did Google just hint at a Google Play Edition Galaxy S5?

It looks like Samsung and Google might be collaborating on a Google Play Edition Galaxy S5. Today, Google made Android 5.0 Lollipop, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Play official, and with that, it also updated the android.com homepage, and we have found something on the homepage which is really striking. It’s an image of all current Nexus devices and Google Play Edition devices, however, that image features three pictures of a Galaxy S5 running a pure build of Android Lollipop. Now this could be a mistake on Google’s end, or Samsung may soon be launching a Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S5.

Source: Android.com

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 officially launched in India for Rs. 58,300

Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Note 4 in India today, at an event in the country’s capital of New Delhi. The phablet has been priced at a whopping Rs. 58,300 (approx. $950), though the device should actually be available for less since that’s the maximum retail price. Breaking its usual tradition, Samsung has launched the Snapdragon-powered variant of the Galaxy Note 4 in India instead of the Exynos model. This will likely make prospective consumers in the country happy, as Samsung’s use of Exynos CPUs for its flagships in India has been a point of contention for many, especially since the company often demos the Snapdragon variant of the device in stores while selling the Exynos variant.

Samsung has also tied up with carrier Vodafone to offer 2GB of free 3G data for two months to users that aren’t already using its data plans, though those that are will still get 1GB of data. As revealed earlier, the Galaxy Note 4 will go up for sale in local stores and at online retailers from October 17th. Samsung is already taking pre-orders, though as we’ve often pointed out, the company doesn’t offer a refund of the pre-order amount if you cancel your order, so be sure you really want the phone before putting down your money for one.

The Galaxy Note 4 features a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) Super AMOLED display, an octa-core Exynos 5433 chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera, 32/64GB of expandable internal storage, a 3,220 mAh battery, and Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It also comes with the traditional S Pen stylus, and is the first Galaxy Note smartphone to feature a metallic body.

Don’t forget to check out our hands-on of the Galaxy Note 4, and let us know if you intend to pick one up this week.

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Samsung Sweden says you can win a Galaxy Alpha if you can ‘pick it up’ at a store

“What would you do if a phone suddenly starts to ring in the store?” If your answer to that question is “I’ll pick it up,” then you might have a chance to win a Galaxy Alpha. Samsung Sweden has kicked off a new promotion that will let people by answering a call on the Galaxy Alpha – this entire week, a Galaxy Alpha will start ringing in selected stores (not just Samsung stores), and those who “pick it up” will have a chance to win it. Samsung will also be offering clues to where the phone might ring next through text messages on the device – it all seems unnecessarily elaborate just so someone can get a free phone, but given how good the Galaxy Alpha is, we’re sure some will be willing to go through the trouble of standing around in stores just to hear a phone ring.

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