Samsung has packed loads of features into the new Galaxy S4. With it’s beautiful display, who wouldn’t want to occasionally save a screenshot from their device? As simple as it may sound, there are actually two screen capture methods in the Galaxy S4. One method is a bit more conventional to most Android users, while the other will be more familiar with users of previous Galaxy devices. Take a moment to watch our video tutorial to get a quick demo of both!
Bootloaders in general had a tough day today – or should I say the security departments behind them. Dan Rosenberg went ahead and published “Loki,” his tool for helping developers flash custom kernels and recoveries on the Galaxy S4 variants of Verizon and AT&T. It’s not a full bootloader unlock tool (“bootloader itself is untouched”) like we saw with a handful of Motorola devices, but it is a positive sign for the dev crowd. There isn’t a tool that can be used to do anything at this time – you’ll instead have to wait for your favorite ROM dev to use Loki in their next release.
On a related note, the long-standing S-OFF battle for the DROID DNA has apparently come to an end. Devs beaups and Fuses posted the image below, which is a DNA with S-OFF that was not acquired by using JTAG or any of the other unattainable methods previously mentioned over the last few months. They haven’t released their method yet, so we are all waiting in limbo for the magic to be presented. Congrats, though, DNA owners.
Yahoo! announced a massive overhaul for photo sharing service Flickr last night as you were tucked up in bed. The search company has completely changed the user interface of the Flickr website, as well as the storage and bandwidth limits for free accounts. There’s no such thing as unlimited anymore, as Flickr now grants 1TB of photo storage to everyone by default.
Microsoft finds itself in a somewhat unique place in the electronics industry, with products in both the smartphone and console gaming spheres. Sure, Sony hits both those notes, but there’s a big difference between manufacturing smartphones and having direct control over a smartphone platform. In theory, that should lead to some fantastically tight integration between Windows Phone and the Xbox 360, and we really have seen some nice features, like SmartGlass. Where are things headed from here, though? While he was pretty tight-lipped, Microsoft senior marketing manager Greg Sullivan did have a little bit to say about the company’s direction as it gears-up for the release of the next-gen Xbox One.
Speaking with PCMag, Sullivan was clear that he was limited as to what he was allowed to disclose, but made it clear: “[that] doesn’t mean there’s nothing that’s being worked on.” In lieu of delving into specifics about just what sort focus Microsoft would place on making Windows Phone 8 (and future releases) work alongside the Xbox One, Sullivan offered, “the general idea of an increased seamlessness and integration across these elements is a goal.”
He also suggests that Windows Phone is already evidence of a “great cross-divisional collaboration” and that things are only going to get better along that line from here on out.
Starting as early as today, AT&T Mobility is opening up its networks to provide pre-paid users under its GoPhone brand with more access and choice. The wireless company will be offering not only the iPhone access to GoPhone plans, but will also open up its 4G HSPA+ and LTE network to GoPhone users for faster data speeds while on a prepaid voice and data plan. An official announcement is still forthcoming, but Engadget and Mac Rumors are both reporting the early news.
The carrier says that Visual Voicemail access will also be supported for Windows Phone 7.5 or newer phones, Apple 3GS or newer devices with at least iOS 6.0, or compatible Android handsets.
To partake in the new GoPhone plans, which start at $ 25 and go as high as $ 65 per month for pre-paid subscribers, AT&T says you must “must own an iPhone/HSPA+/LTE device, or purchase a device in store at the no-commitment price for use with new 4G/LTE GoPhone service.”
HTC First took yet another critical hit today. The UK carrier EE (the merged Orange and T-Mobile) has confirmed it won’t launch the HTC First in Britain and the pre-orders won’t be fulfilled.
This strike on the HTC First comes shortly after rumors that AT&T will discontinue the Facebook mid-ranger due to low sales.
Today HTC exec claimed the company has shipped 5 million One flagships globally, but that’s probably the only good news we heard recently about the Taiwanese manufacturer. It was good to hear HTC has dealt with the production hiccups, but HTC has already been shaken with the departure of its VP of Global Communications, Chief Product Officer and Asia’s CEO. The HTC First failure isn’t helping either.
HTC is still in trouble, but we hope the company will do better next couple of months. It managed to double the HTC One production and it solved it legal troubles with Nokia, so here is hoping.
Earlier today, Samsung confirmed to launch new colours for the Galaxy S4 and AT&T has now announced the exclusive Aurora Red version of Samsung’s fastest selling smartphone. Starting May 24, consumers will be able to pre-order the device from AT&T’s website and will be available in-stores from June 14 for $ 199.99 (16GB).
Except for the paint job, everything else is the same. To rehash, Galaxy S4 comes with a 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED display, 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB RAM, LTE support, 13MP camera, 2MP front-facing camera, IR Blaster, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and microSD card slot.
The Black Mist and White Frost versions are readily available while the Blue Arctic Galaxy S4 currently sells only in Japan.
The carrier says that Visual Voicemail access will also be supported for Windows Phone 7.5 or newer phones, Apple 3GS or newer devices with at least iOS 6.0, or compatible Android handsets.
