Is Android 4.2.2 the end of Android version for Samsung Galaxy SII and Samsung Galaxy Note?

How daring do you feel? We ask this because a list has leaked and it is a very important list for those who are totin' Samsung's mobile devices. According to a Samsung insider, this list names those devices from the Korean manufacturer that will be moving on to Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie). The list also includes those devices who will come to the end of the line with Android 4.2.2. Only 5 devices are moving ahead to Key Lime Pie, although there are a number of different variants of each device. Are you ready? Dim the lights, here we go.

Let's start with those that are moving on to Android 5.0. First, we have the Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy S III LTE (GT-I9300, GT-I9305). No surprise here. Also not a surprise is the inclusion of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE (GT-I9500, GT-I9505). Three variants of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 (GT-N5100) are in line to receive Key Lime Pie including the LTE and Wi-Fi model (GT-N5105, GT-N5110). Also on the list is the Samsung GALAXY Note II (GT-N7100) and the Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE (GT-N7105). Lastly, Android 5.0 is supposedly coming to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi (GT-N8000, GT-N8005, GT-N8010).

Those devices that will be coming to the end of the line with Android 4.2.2 include the Samsung Galaxy S II and Samsung Galaxy S II Plus (GT-I9100, GT-I9105), Samsung Galaxy Grand and Samsung Galaxy Grand DUOS (GT-I9080, GT-I9082), Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (GT-I8160), Samsung Galaxy S III mini,  (GT-I8190), Samsung Galaxy Beam (GT-I8350), Samsung Galaxy Express (GT-I8730), Samsung GALAXY S Advance (GT-I9070), Samsung Galaxy Premier (GT-I9260), Samsung GALAXY Note (GT-N7000), Samsung Galaxy Young and Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS (GT-S6310 and GT-S6312), Samsung Galaxy Fame (GT-S6810) and the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2 (GT-S7710).

Keep in mind that this is a leaked pre-list and is not written in stone. Stranger things have happened than seeing the Samsung Galaxy S II get a last second reprieve.
 

Jelly Bean 4.1 for Droid 4 and 4.2.2 for Galaxy Nexus (Verizon)

After previously being rolled out to selected subscribers in testing within the past few weeks, Verizon has officially begun rolling out the latest Android Jelly Bean updates for the Motorola Droid 4 and the now discontinued Galaxy Nexus, which had previously languished with a four versions old version of the operating system.The roll outs for each update began yesterday and will continue for the next few weeks.

The Droid 4 update pushes the software version to 98.72.18.XT894.Verizon.en.US and features the following updates and changes inline with 4.1:

GOOGLE NOW
Cards appear throughout the day automatically as the personal assistant software uses your search queries to present the most relevant information possible.

VOICE SEARCH NOTIFICATIONS
Android lets you search the web with your voice, and it’s convenient for getting quick answers. It speaks back to you and is powered by the Knowledge Graph, bringing you precise answers and ranked search results. Take action directly from the notifications panel. Send emails, return calls, share photos and more. Notifications are expandable and you can scan multiple emails, see event details or full images and more.

SMART KEYBOARD
More accurate and relevant dictionaries have been implemented. Jelly Bean’s keyboard guesses the next word before you type it and voice typing now works offline without a data connection. Text-to-Speech capabilities have also been improved.

ADDITIONAL JELLY BEAN ENHANCEMENTS
+ Move between Home screens with intuitive graphics and smooth transitions.
+ Enjoy reactive and uniform touch responses.
+ Personalize home screen easily by placing widgets directly on the screen.

Verizon has started to officially roll out Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 for the Galaxy Nexus after months of of relative silence on the issue, and has added more features with the update, such as Photo Sphere support, display mirroring with an MHL compatible dock or cable and Daydream active screensaver support. The update pushes the software version to I515.FK02.

Watch for Apple or Samsung ?

In the never-ending war of one-upsmanship, we have a Bloomberg report that Samsung is also working on its wearable devices line by developing a wristwatch. This confirms rumors from last month about a Samsung watch in the making.

During an interview in Seoul, Korea – Lee Young Hee who is E.V.P of Samsung’s mobile business said “We’ve been preparing the watch product for so long…we are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them.” Hee did not give a glimpse behind the curtain regarding features or pricing. Some attest Samsung’s disclosure about their watch to based on reports that Apple has about 100 product designers working on everything from shape of the glass and housing to map capabilities, bio-sensors, and a complete iOS.

According to rumors coming out of the Cupertino campus, Apple wants to introduce the iWatch (unofficial but makes sense) later this year. If that happens, they can set the market with a price that can capture the initial influx of consumers who may turn out to be loyalists to their platform – outside of the present Apple loyalists of course – for the smart watch. In that regard, Apple would have an advantage on pricing. Then again, if Samsung were to deliver the goods first the advantage could lie with them just as easily as many would be expecting an OS much akin to the  Android platform.

WEARABLE DEVICES

Considering that both Samsung and Apple are fully aware that smartphone sales are slowing down (analysts project growth will slow  to 9.8% by 2017 down from 27% this year) the race for a smart watch is on. Wearable devices are expected to be big business especially if an item like a smart watch can sync with already owned devices such as a tablet or smartphone. The key will be ease of use and style.

A new product line is needed and the first to deliver wins. For now at least.

Samsung Galaxy Camera Wi-Fi Version

Samsung today announced a Wi-Fi version of the Samsung Galaxy Camera will be offered in the coming weeks. Stopping short of giving a price or exact launch time frame, the hardware maker indicates that the camera is the exact same as the 3G/4G model. This means the same Android 4.1 Jelly Bean experience with 21x Super Long Zoom lens and a super-bright 16M BSI CMOS.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2

Samsung has confirmed that it is now updating three of its Android tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and both Wi-Fi models of the Galaxy Tab 2, to the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmware. The update also enhances its S Pen stylus and Premium Suite software features. The Wi-Fi versions of the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2, both the 10.1 -inch screen and 7-inch screen versions, should see improved performance and speed with Android 4.1. Once users update their device through Samsung Kies or navigating to Settings > About tablet > Software update, the following features will be made available:

Cascade View: The feature allows users to freely resize, move and pin selected applications in multiple views, running them simultaneously or while operating the home-screen. This PC-like feature will help users to be more productive, and actually do multiple tasks at one time.

Air View: Allows users to use S Pen to conveniently and quickly preview content without having to open it. This feature allows user to preview video while scrubbing, preview email attachments without opening, preview photos without opening the album, and more.

Quick Command: With Quick Command, the S Pen quickly activates applications and services that are used most often by allowing you to write command shortcuts using customized and preset S Pen strokes.

Enhanced handwriting: Users can quickly and easily send personalized handwritten notes and memos to friends and family via email, as well as hand-write directly into their S Planner

Enhanced S Note: S Note now features additional ready-to-use templates; allows users to add effects to their digital content with Idea Sketch; and enables the insertion of video directly into not only Note templates but also other templates. Users can also launch S Note directly from their home-screen for added convenience.

Easy Clip: Allows users to select and clip content to save, paste or share in seconds.

Photo Note: Add personalized handwritten notes on the back of your photos to help capture the moment.

Paper Artist: Besides enabling users to enliven sketches or content with different color or pencil styles, Paper Artist enables over 30 artistic effects that can be applied to images or media. Users can also draw or write onto the content and share it with others.

A smarter S Pen: The S Pen now allows users to select writing or color modes at the touch of a button, or unlock the home-screen simply by removing the S Pen.

Galaxy S4 Specification ?

It certainly feels like Samsung is taking over the world right now – at least, the Android world. There's no doubt that last year's Galaxy S2 was arguably the phone of the year.

And not in recent times, discounting Apple of course, can we remember the anticipation and expectation of a phone as much as the Galaxy S3.
If you needed a barometer of this, just look at how it was unveiled. Not at MWC like lots of others, but its own event, proving the Galaxy line has reached the level where it can guarantee hoards will come just for an unveiling.

The name was even 'confirmed' at a recent event by a researcher, which means it's coming closer and closer to reality.

But that's last season's device, and we're looking forward to the next level of what to expect in the Galaxy SIV. The trickle of 'sources' talking about this new device is starting to build to a steady stream, so we're on hand to help let you know which whispers have a notion of truth about them - as well as providing our wishlist of what we want Samsung to improve on the new handset.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 screen

The Galaxy S2 had an amazing Super AMOLED Plus display – and boy, was it vibrant. The S3 upped the screen size from 4.3-inches to 4.8-inches and the pixel density went from 217 to 306 to take a run at the iPhone's Retina Display.

But, Samsung also opted for a PenTile approach, to the chagrin of geeks. What does that mean for the end user?

Well, the screen looks great but you can make out pixels if you really, really strain. And some of the vivacity and colour saturation is lost. On the plus side, Samsung reckons the screen will last longer – but we'd rather see a much more S2-like screen with a sharper resolution - and given that's now appeared on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, we're pretty hopeful we'll get it on the Samsung Galaxy S4 too.

Alternatively, there have been a number of rumours that Samsung is going to bring a flexible screen to the Galaxy S4 - but given the Korean brand is already pushing the delivery of such tech back into 2013 for its customers, we think we'll be in Galaxy S5 territory before that happens.

Update: that dream could be closer to reality after the pretty likely screen for the Samsung Galaxy S4 was shown off by Samsung Display at CES 2013, featuring a 4.99-inch screen with a Full HD pixel count and a dizzying 440PPI resolution, which is set to ship in Q1 2013... also known as the perfect time frame for manufacturing the S4.


However, the bad news is that due to reported manufacturing issues these may have been delayed... does that mean the phone will have to be pushed back as well?

A source for the Verge suggests that the flexible display option really is out of the question, with no Galaxy S device sporting the new screen tech in 2013, although it will be shown off as a concept at the Vegas smorgasbord of gadgetry.

There seems a much more likely option in the shape of the 5-inch 1080p screen that could offer up an eye-splitting 441ppi, making it easily the highest res out there. It would probably need to be shrunk down a smidge to fit into the palm, or Samsung could actually just make the phone even closer to the edges of the screen. Dare we dream of an edge-to-edge display like on the 9000 series TVs?

Samsung Galaxy S4 release date

It seems more than likely that Samsung will eschew MWC 2013 once more for the release of its top handset, instead focusing on the launch in May 2013, which we'd really like to see. A recent teaser by Samsung promised something at CES in January, but this is really rather unlikely - although apparently the brand showed off prototypes to key execs from networks and supply chain-ers.
This is for a number of reasons: time to allow the current customers to buy the S3, being able to scoop up all the customers about to come out of contract from the S2 and also not making its fans feel like its throwing out a new flagship phone every three seconds.

However, that didn't stop the rumour mill deciding that the Galaxy S4 launch was set for March 2013, based on something a Samsung 'representative' said to the media. The brand quickly took to Twitter to discredit the rumours, so it looks like the middle of the year launch is still firmly on the cards.

Since then another rumour, of a phone dubbed 'Project J', has emerged, and that's set for an April unveil... so it seems we're looking at a Q2 2013 Samsung Galaxy S4 launch as it stands, which means you'll probably be able to actually hold one in your hands come May, and it will likely be given the model number of GT-I9500, which is leap from GT-I9300 but has been confirmed as likely legit when showing up in firmware versions, as well as on Samsung's official software page.

Another source has written off the chance of the Galaxy S4 appearing at CES 2013 and MWC 2013 - giving the suggestion that an April event is on the cards more weight.

Update:New sources, apparently Samsung's Korean execs themselves, are touting an April Samsung Galaxy S4 release... and it will even come with an S Pen accessory too! However, this seems unlikely given it's only currently used on the Note range, so a boring C Pen upgrade could be all that's on the cards.
Samsung Lebanon has weighed in too, revealing that it's not coming in the next three months: "The Galaxy SIV won't be released before May 2013," the brand said, rather emphatically - despite some sites carrying news that an anonymous exec was claiming March as the release date and the venue for launch was going to be in the US, UK or South Korea.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 specs

There's not a lot around about specs at the moment, but the rumours emanating from the good ol' internet rumour mill are certainly enough to make us excited.

The first is that the S4 will have a quad-core chip, which might sound a little 'last gen' to many. However, it will be based on ARM's A15 architecture, bringing with it a big boost in power for all those resource-intensive tasks we love to do all the time.

But then again, that's not Samsung's way really, is it? We want to see bigger, bangier and faster, so doubling it again to an OCTO-core would be the way to go.

Rather than just making it super powerful though, the eight core innards would split into two groups: A15-spec chips for the big stuff, and A7 when things need to get a little lower power, bringing with it the best of both worlds.

The other big news that we think should be on our wish list is the fact that Samsung's internal storage bods have been hard at work bringing the flash memory down in size and up in speed... so think even thinner phones with higher capacity that can be written to up to 10x faster. We're now looking forward to the S4 even more now.

A quad-core processor looks more likely than an eight core offering after the new Exynos 5440 quad-core chip appeared on Samsung's site, making it a strong contender to feature in the Galaxy S4.

Update: Actually it looks like there really could be an eight core phone coming from the Korean firm, as the Exynos Octa was announced at CES 2013 complete with four big cores and four smaller ones, as part of ARM's big.LITTLE architecture. Eight cores. Mental.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 operating system

What's the good word here? Well, given the time scales involved, we'd fully expect to see the Galaxy S4 running a more mature version of Android 4.2, better known as Android Jelly Bean, as well as the next generation of TouchWiz skin on top.

There are some more daft rumours floating around, namely that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will run off a different operating system called Tizen, simply because Samsung is using it on other phones.

Don't worry, this won't happen...although a variant of the phone could be used as a blueprint for a decent alternative handset.

More likely is Samsung bringing out the Galaxy S4 to coincide with the next version of Android from Google, called Key Lime Pie.

April would be roughly the time we'd start seeing rumours of such things, so it's not unbelievable that you could buy an S4 with a cutting edge OS.
In truth, we've never really seen this happen from the Koreans, so chances are it will be boring old Jelly Bean when your S4 appears in your hands.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 battery

Ok, we admit we always want more. The S2's 1,650mAh was manageable and the S3's 2,100mAh blows that out of the water. But it's still only OK.
You can get by on a day of moderate use but if you use this phone heavily (and we're talking watching TV shows on the morning and evening commute alongside your normal tinkering), this handset will still want a plug in at some point.

Motorola has proven it can be done by whacking a 3,300mAh power pack into the RAZR Maxx which can still be considered a skinny Minnie. Something of that size – along with ICS and Samsung's power management abilities – would really be the icing on the Ice Cream Sandwich.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 camera

What's that? You're bored of an 8MP camera on the Samsung Galaxy S3 since you've seen the likes of the Sony Xperia Z popping up with a 13MP snapper attached?

Well, good news everyone: a picture supposedly captured from the S4 hints at an at least 10MP camera, according a snap shown on Picasa. Remember, EXIF data can be faked though, so there's every chance this amazingly well-framed photo is just the work of a chancer hoping to jump on the S4 bandwagon:

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 design

We've lost count of the amount of people we've shown our device off to who've replied with the words: "Yeah, it's great but looks like a bit of a toy." It's a double-edged sword: the plastic is used to keep this handset nice and light, but does detract from what should be a premium device.

A bit of glass wouldn't go amiss. Android users, say what you like about the iPhone 4/4S (and we know you won't be short of words), but aside from being smash-tastic, the glass really adds that premium and expensive feel that the S3 just doesn't have.

Forget what your mum told you – it's what's on the outside that counts too, so the Samsung Galaxy S4 needs to step it up in the design stakes.
We've now had the first in what we expect to be many leaked shots claiming to be the Samsung Galaxy S4 - and it isn't filling us with a huge amount of confidence as it could quite easily be a mash up between the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 6.3 inch with eight-core processor ?

Reports from Samsung's Korean homeland have claimed that the company is planning an even larger version of its Galaxy Note smartphone-cum-tablet.
According to the Korea Times, the Galaxy Note 3 will have a whopping 6.3-inch display, compared with the already-massive 5.5-inch screen on the popular Galaxy Note 2 phablet.

The report also suggests that the world's leading smartphone manufacturer will use the device to introduce its next-generation eight-core Exynos Octa processor later this year.

The Note 2 packs a quad-core Exynos chip, which is by no means a slouch, but the new unit would provide even more power and, importantly considering the larger screen, enhanced battery life.

 

China-bound

Interesting, the Korea Times report also revealed that Samsung is pitching its processing products to smartphone manufacturers in China, in order to lessen its reliance on Apple.

The company has already reached out to the likes of Huawei and ZTE who're beginning to make strides in the west.

A senior Samsung official is reported to have said at CES: "We have introduced the Exynos 5 Octa to appeal to Chinese clients and diversify our client base in China with better pricing and output commitment."
An unnamed Huawei official confirmed the companies are in talks. He said: "Yes, we were approached by Samsung. If the firm offers favorable conditions, there's no reason to deny the new business."

Samsung is believed to be concerned that its legal squabbles with Apple may result in the company looking elsewhere for the chips that power its iOS gadgets.

Android 4.1 For Galaxy SIII and Rugby Pro

After a quiet roll out via Kies last month, AT&T has started to roll out its Android Jelly Bean update over the air for Galaxy S III owners starting today. The one caveat is that the update is only being pushed out via Wi-Fi and not 3G. In addition, AT&T and Samsung are also pushing out the same update to the Rugby Pro.

With Jelly Bean being pushed out to both phones AT&T is updating both phones 6 months after the initial release of Jelly Bean 4.2, though AT&T’s own testing policies force such a long wait between major updates. Both updates feature the key features of Jelly Bean 4.1 including Google Now, the Project Butter enhancements, and additional fixes for each device for performance and stability.