Sources have found that the 28nm processor is entering test production by the end of the year and the chip will enter mass production in the first quarter of next year. Codenamed ‘Adonis’ after the Greek god of beauty and desire, Samsung is with it said to emphasize the high performance and low-power consumption of the device.

Based on all this rumor, SamMobile speculates that we could see a 2GHz quad-core processor in the S IV.

Now, if the Samsung Galaxy S IV indeed features the Exynos 5450, it will definitely have plenty of processing power.

And if we were to combine this information with earlier whispers about the next Galaxy flagship being a device with a 5-inch 1080p display, we arrive at a pretty radical and aggressive bump up in specs. What do you think, how likely is it and would you buy such a device?

Source :http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S-IV-might-feature-quad-core-Exynos-5450-processor_id36037

Features They Have in Common

Both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X are available for $199.99 at AT&T, both run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich, both have 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processors, they support 4G LTE, and offer a maximum video resolution of 1080p HD. Also, both smartphones can capture images during video recording, both have burst mode, both allow search with voice and voice commands (see difference below), and neither of the two has a dedicated camera button.

Features That Differ

When it comes to user interface, both phones have their own: the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with Samsung TouchWiz UI, while the HTC One X comes with HTC Sense 4. Samsung’s flagship smartphone sports a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, while the HTC One X boasts a 4.7-inch Super LCD. Both have a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

In terms of memory, the Samsung Galaxy S3 boasts 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, and supports microSD, while the HTC One X has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, but no expansion slot. Both smartphones have 8-megapixel rear-facing cameras, but the difference lies in the front-facing camera: the Galaxy S3 has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, while the HTC One X’ front camera has 1.3 megapixels.

Both smartphones support voice command: the Galaxy S3 features Samsung S Voice, while the HTC One X uses Google Voice Actions. As for dimensions and weight, the smartphones are very similar: Samsung’s smartphone measures 5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 inches and weighs 4.7 ounces, while the HTC One X measures 5.3 x 2.75 x 0.36 inches and weighs 4.6 ounces.

Design

The HTC One X is made from a single block of stylish polycarbonate plastic, with an all-white chassis and a good grip, but is slightly thicker than its competitor (0.36-inch vs. 0.34-inch).

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has some winning features over the HTC One X in terms of design. The most notable ones are the microSD card slot and removable battery. The new Galaxy smartphone features a sleek design with smoothly rounded curves, and sports a more premium plastic construction than its predecessor.

Screen

Both smartphones boast massive displays and both have the same 1,280 x 720 resolution, but the Galaxy S3′s 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen delivers more saturated colors, while the HTC One X’ 4.7-inch Super LCD sports more realistic hues. The HTC One X display is also much brighter, and images and text appear crisper.

Performance

Samsung went all out with its third-generation Galaxy smartphone, packing an impressive set of special software and interface enhancements. The S-Beam feature stands out, allowing users to transfer content such as photos and videos between phones simply by bumping them together. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich paired with the 1.5GHz dual-core processor and the whopping 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage deliver a smooth experience.

Meanwhile, the HTC One X can hold its own and has some exciting features to offer as well. It also comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, topped with HTC’s intuitive and powerful Sense 3 user interface, while the 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor allows it to move fast and smoothly. On the other hand, the HTC One X has 1GB of RAM compared to the Galaxy S3′s 2GB, and it supports less gestures and voice controls than its rival.

Camera

Both Android smartphones boast great 8-megapixel main cameras with backlit sensors and both employ Ice Cream Sandwich’s new burst mode feature, but the Galaxy S3′s camera captures clearer and slightly better HD video. The front-facing camera also has a higher resolution than the HTC One X’s front camera (2MP vs. 1.3MP).

And the Winner Is…

Taking all specs and features into account, it’s safe to say that both handsets are excellent, and either one of them would prove exceptionally good. The Samsung Galaxy S3 scores extra points for microSD expansion slot, the option of swapping out batteries, and Samsung S Voice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more elegant and intuitive user interface, HTC’s latest Sense 3 UI may make the difference. Both Android smartphones are brand new, high-end, powerful, and very hot, so in the end it all comes down to personal preference and needs.

Google’s Technical Lead for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), Jean-Baptiste M. Queru (JBQ), announced a short while ago via Google Groups that Android 4.1 is being released to AOSP. According to JBQ, it is available with the name “android-4.1.1_r1” on the jb-dev development branch.

JBQ recommends the creation of new clients to improve sync speed and produce smaller clients. He also indicates in his post that proprietary binaries are ready for the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus. Binaries for the Galaxy S and Xoom are expected to follow shortly and coincide with the timing of their consumer release.

Source

Android and iOS have been in competition for market share for the past few years. More specifically, Android has taken a huge leap into first place recently. However, some still make the argument that market share is only a number. Thanks to a recent poll held by PC Advisor, we can get a better idea of how many people actually favor Android to its competitors (iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and Other).

The numbers clearly show that Android holds first place at a whopping 49%. Windows Phone took an anemic 17% just behind iOS at 26%. Despite this poll, the smartphone market share numbers are actually quite different. Android still holds the highest percent at 50.9%. However, RIM holds 11.4% compared to 6% is the PC Advisor survey. In 3 months RIM dropped a whole 2% in the smartphone market share, even though they were in the midst of releasing new software and possibly new devices.

Nobody really knows where the smartphone market share will go. But there are rumors that Microsoft could overtake the entire market by 2016 and Android could swap places with the Windows phone platform. What do you think? Do RIM, Microsoft and Symbian have a chance competing against Android and iOS? Let us know in the comments below.

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For all those who are eagerly waiting to update an official version of ICS Android 4.0.3 firmware, this one will be the best one of the lot as its not only the official one but also is the most stable ROM firmware of ICS.

In the due course of this article, we will check out not just the detailed tutorial on how to apply this update but also we will check out what are pre requisites you need to follow so as to facilitate
smoother and safer update.

For Korean USERS: We will very soon be coming up with an article which will help you to update with the official version of firmware for your region. So stay tuned to androidadvices.

Rooting Information:

Just in case if your device is rooted, after applying this firmware the rooting access will be revoked.

Applying this firmware doesn’t require your Galaxy S2 to be pre rooted, even the non-rooted phones can be applied with this firmware.

Disclaimer: Neither we, nor developer should be held responsible for any damage happened to your device in the process of following the instructions mentioned in this article. It’s very unlikely that there will be any issues but just in case if at all there are any issues then we are committed to help you in solving the same.

Pre Requisites:

Data like SMS, Contacts, APN Settings and Call Log is very important and in the process of firmware update, the data may get corrupted or may even et erased. So it’s highly important that you backup all the data using the below mentioned data

SMS – Use “SMS Backup & Restore app”, Contacts – Sync with the Gmail application, Call Log – Call Log and Restore Songs, Videos, Files – Copy to internal / External SD Card, APN and MMS Settings – Note down from the path “Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names”

Minimum battery left in the device should be 60% so as to avoid device from getting turned Off in the middle of firmware update. Also, you need to ensure that all the antivirus suites in your phone and PC are completely disabled.

Enable the USB debugging in your Samsung Galaxy S2 GT I9100 phone from the path “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging”. The USB Debugging option should be ticked as shown in the below screen capture. (Phone should be disconnected from computer while enabling the USB Debugging Mode).

Detailed Video Tutorial:

Let’s proceed to the next step where we have summed up a detailed article on how to update Galaxy S2 with Official ICS XXLPQ 4.0.3 Firmware.

Procedure to Update Samsung Galaxy S2 with XXLPQ ICS Android 4.0.3 Firmware:

Download the XXLPQ Official Update Zip Package from here to your computer along with Odin3 v1.83 and once its downloaded, extract the same in your computer.

From extracted files, open the Odin executable file in your computer and turn Off your device so as to enter your device in the Download Mode. Download mode can be entered by pressing Volume down Key, Center button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button after which a green robot will be shown indicating the Download Mode has been entered.

As soon as the device gets into the download mode, connect the same to your computer with the original USB Cable while keeping the Odin opened in your computer after which you will see that the ID : COM section will turn Yellow.

Note: if the ID : COM section doesn’t turn Yellow, you need to check with two things which are mentioned below,

Install the USB Drivers in your computer &
Go to the Path “Settings > Wireless & Network > USB Settings” and ensure that “Samsung KIES” option is ticked before connecting the phone to the computer.

Click on the below mentioned option in Odin by clicking on the corresponding tab which is “PDA”. All the files can be found in the extracted file. Once the above mentioned files are selected, you now need to click on “Start” to start the process of firmware update.

PDA – I9100XXLPQ_I9100OXALPQ_I9100XXLPQ_HOME.tar.md5

Now, re insert the battery and enter the device in the recovery mode. To enter into the recovery mode, press Volume Up Key + OK button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button.

In the recovery mode, select Wipe data/factory reset and also you need to select Wipe Cache partition and then reboot your device by selecting reboot system now with the help of Volume rocker keys.

Note: At any point of time just in case if the process of firmware update gets stopped due to any reason, all you need to do is restart the process from the start by re inserting the battery.

That’s it congratulations, you have now successfully applied the firmware in your SAMSUNG Galaxy S2 GT I9100. Do let us know in the comments section just in case if you face any issues as we will try our level best to sort out the same.

Credits & source

We’ve all been speculating about it for months and at last the Samsung Galaxy S3 is a reality, announced at the Brand’s huge Mobile Unboxed event at Earl’s Court in London.

The successor to the Samsung Galaxy S2, the new handset sports a massive 4.8-inch screen, a quad-core processor and a wide range of other interesting features on board. As the new top-tier Android phone on the block, the S3 is set to go head to head with the likes of the HTC One X, the Sony Xperia S but has it got what it takes to grab the Android crown, and can it turn iPhone 4S fans over to Google’s OS?

We went hands-on with the new phone for a closer look…

Samsung Galaxy S3: Build

With a 4.8-inch screen on board, the S3 isn’t exactly small. Measuring 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm, the S3 is slightly longer, wider and fatter than the S2 (125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49mm), which may prove to bit a little on the large side for some although the extra thickness may actually make the S3 slightly easier to hold and less likely to slip from your hand, particuarly when taking a photo.

At 133g, the S3 is very slightly heavier than the S2, although only be 3g so if we hadn’t have told you, you probably wouldn’t have even noticed.

The slightly rounded design means that the new phone has more in common with the looks of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus than with the S2, although the plastic finish on the back feels more premium than its predecessor.

The S3 has the usual Home button along with Settings and Back touch controls on either side, while the front-facing camera has inexplicably moved from the left to the right of the screen.

The brand takes it’s ‘Inspired by Nature’ theme through to the finishes – you can choose from Marble White and Pebble Blue.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Features

There are plenty of new featues on board, not least the Smart Stay function which uses eye detection to ensure that the screen

doesn’t dim as long as you’re looking at it, which could well be useful, albeit a potential drain on on your precious battery life.

Smart Alert means that the phone will vibrate as soon as you pick it up to let you know that you have a notification, presumably if looking at the notification light is slightly too taxing for you. Not exactly a game-changing feature, but something new, nonetheless.

Another new feature is Smart Call which automatically dials the number you’re looking at as soon as you lift the phone to your ear when you’re in contacts, messages or call log. This sounds like a clever piece of technical wizardy (which is based on proximity sensors and motion detection), but whether it’s useful or not will be down to personal preference.

S Voice is essentially voice-activated control that will give you direct access to functions such as the camera, calls, text, the alarms, weather, calendar and music and it’ll even work when music is playing. What it won’t do is answer you back with pithy retorts, like Apple’s Siri.

You’ll also be able to watch videos in a (very tiny) pop-up screen whlie multitasking in other apps. We’re not entirely sure what this would be useful for, but video conferencing could be the key here.

Social Tag will instantly recognise faces from pics and automatically offer to text the image to the people featured in the image.

All Share PLay enables wireless transfer to all other connected devices while SBEAM will transfer files using an NFC connection, although for bigger files you’ll need to go back to Wi-Fi. And it’ll only work with other Galaxy S3s.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Screen

The gigantic 4.8-inch screen is probably the phone’s most striking feature, and while it’s an inch bigger than that of the HTC One X, it’s not as square so it doesn’t look quite as massive. It’s still quite a leap from the S2′s 4.3-inch screen, while the pixel density has been upped from 218ppi to 306ppi, with a resolution of 720×1280 pixels. Once again the screen uses Super AMOLED technology, to keep the viewing angle as wide as possible.

Even under the artificial lights of the demo room, we could see that the screen was of excellent quality, but we’ve to try out in bright sunshine.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Camera

While many were expecting a 12MP camera to land with the new S3, Samsung has stuck a relatively average, but thoroughly decent, 8MP snapper and it will also shoot and play 1080p. Not much has changed since the previous model in terms of specs, but there are a couple of new features.

The burst mode takes contiunous shots at a rate of 6fps, and from that the camea will pick the best shot based on smile detection, blink detection, contrast and blurring. According to Samsung, the camera has zero shutter lag along with an improved shot-to-shot time.

Face Slideshow will zoom in all the faces within a picture if you’re viewing your pictures in a slideshow. Does anyone view their phone-based photos in a slideshow? We’re not so sure.

You’ll also be able to set up rules for photos to be automatically placed in groups based on faces, contacts or location. There’s also Face Zoom which means that you can tap on a face when lining up a crowd shot and the camera will zoom in automaticlly. The lack of optical zoom means that this is going to be fairly limited, but we look forward to trying it out in the wild.

We can’t help but think that some or these features may be overthinking the problem somewhat. We just want a camera that offers the best quality snaps possible…

Somewhat curiously, the front-facing cam is 1.9MP compared to the S2′s 2MP. While this kind of difference will make absolutely no difference at all in practice, it seems a little strange for the specs to be going down rather than up. However, the good news is that you can shoot video in 720p and also capture stills and the same time that you’re shooting video.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Performance

The quad-core processor certainly seemed to do the trick in the limited time that we had with the phone. There was barely any lag when switching between home screens and firing up apps.

The S3 sports 1GB of RAM (the same as the S2), while the Flash memory is available in 16, 32 and 64 GB versions, improving on the S2′s 16GB offering, while there’s also a micro SD card slot should you wish to expand the memory. There’s also 50GB of free storage for your content on Dropbox for the next years, which is double what HTC is offering on its HTC One X.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Battery

The S3 packs a 2100mah battery, compared to the S2′s 1650mah cell. Obviously we haven’t had our hands on the phone long enough determine exactly how much difference this will actually make, the presence of a more powerful processor (not to mention all the extra features) will certainly require more juice.

Samsung Galaxy S3: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S3 certainly looks impressive, especially thanks to the zippy operation that results from that quad-core chip.

Some will see the new social, voice and notification features as being compelling reasons to buy the phone. Some will see them as an unnecessary drain on the battery and will spend their first few hours with the phone deciding which of the features to deactivate first.

Either way, there’s no denying that the S3 is a powerful phone that could well be a contender for the Best Android Phone crown. We’ll just have to see how it performs when we get one in for testing at T3 Towers…

Samsung Galaxy S3 availability: 30 May

Source

We’ve compiled some of the best Android phones on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon into one list.

It’s been a while since our last roundup of Android phones, but we’ve gathered our favorite phones from all four carriers. All of these devices could be considered high end. At the rate smartphone technology is evolving, we recommend that you don’t buy a phone that doesn’t run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), have a dual-core processor, and a high-resolution screen this holiday season. Believe it or not, a number of these high-end devices carry prices as low as $100. Others cost a bit more, but may be worth the investment.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Screen: 4.65-inch Super AMOLED, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera: 5MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: Sprint, Verizon

Description: The Galaxy Nexus is a Google Experience phone and the first device that runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and it’s compatible with 4G LTE networks, which is very good. It has a completely revamped user interface and is one of the only phones on the market to get updates as they come out. While owners of other Android phones have to wait for months (or never get updates), Nexus owners get updates on time. We’re big fans of the Galaxy Nexus, though its battery life is its one weakness. Sprint buyers will get Google Wallet as well.

HTC One S

Screen: 4.3-inch AMOLED, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 4.0 (ICS) running HTC Sense 4.0
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), .03 (VGA) front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: T-Mobile

Description: If you want the best HTC phone currently on the market, look no further than the One S, it’s a great size that shouldn’t be too small or too big for most users and is one of the fastest (as fast as quad-core phones) and sleekest devices on the market. It also runs Android 4.0, which is great. There just aren’t any big downsides to the One S. It’s like the Amaze with an even better camera, twice the processing speed, a better screen, and decent battery life.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx


Screen: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with NinjaBlur
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP front
Price: $300 with two-year contract
Availability: Verizon

Description: The Droid Razr Maxx doesn’t catch your eye like the original Razr, but it’s a lot thinner and sports the best battery life we’ve seen of any smartphone on the market. Compared to previous Motorola phones, it also has a much-improved screen, and its frame is quite durable as well. The only downsides are Motorola’s weak camera and bland interface. Hopefully, when the Razr gets Android 4.0, it will look a little nicer. Still, with fast LTE speeds, the Razr is one of the best phones on the market.

Samsung Galaxy S II


Screen: 4.5-inch Super AMOLED, 560×940
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with Samsung TouchWiz 4.0
Camera: 8MP rear, 2MP front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Ting.com

Description: The Galaxy S II took its sweet time coming to North America, but it was worth the wait. The phone has now launched on three of the four major U.S. carriers. It doesn’t disappoint in any one area, though its plastic construction may turn off some, though we like how light it is. Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 interface rivals HTC’s Sense as does Samsung’s cameras. AT&T’s Galaxy S II is a bit smaller than Sprint and T-Mobile’s at 4.3 inches and each model looks a bit different, but all three are mostly the same.

Motorola Photon 4G


Screen: 4.3 inches, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with Motorola NinjaBlur
Camera: 8MP rear, .3MP VGA front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: Sprint, Ting.com

Description: As time has wore on, we’ve missed having the Photon in our office. It suffers from a somewhat bland screen and interface, but everything else about it is great. The phone has a kickstand so you can prop it up like a clock, it docks with a ton of Motorola accessories (though they’re expensive), and is one of the most comfortable 4.3-inch phones we’ve held due to its button placement and rounded edges. At $200, it’s a great 4G phone.

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide


Screen: 3.7 inches, 480×800 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core, 768MB RAM, 9GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with HTC Sense 3.0
Camera: 8 MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 0.3MP VGA front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: T-Mobile

Description: If you prefer a QWERTY keyboard, you’ll find no better option than the 4G Slide, which packs almost as powerful a punch as the Amaze 4G. We’ve reviewed this phone and found it to be one of the best phones on T-Mobile. The touchpad is useful as well, though we didn’t use T-Mobile’s MyTouch button very much.

Motorola Droid 4


Screen: 4.0-inch PenTile LCD, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 2.3 with NinjaBlur
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP VGA front
Price: $200 with two-year contract
Availability: Verizon

Description: The Droid 4 is what the Droid 3 should have been. It has the best keyboard on the market, 4G LTE connectivity, decent battery life, and the power of a dual-core processor. Some typical Motorola problems remain, like a weak camera, lame screen, and bland Android UI, but if you want a keybaord, none of this will matter too much.

Source

Beginning from today, Google has started selling unlocked Galaxy Nexus on the Play Store. According to Andy Rubin, The Android Boss, Google has brought back its dead for a while device store. Now, Google will be selling the unlocked version of the Galaxy Nexus directly to consumers. Better yet, Google has also slashed the price by $50. While the same device is available on Amazon for $450, you can get it on Play Store for $399.

On the downside, this offer is only available to [Yes! you guessed it right] customers in US. People from other countries get a “This offer is not available in your country” message. Rubin also added that Google is looking forward to making the device store available to many other countries but He didn’t give any specific dates or timings.

Well, the $399 price tag for an Unlocked Galaxy Nexus is really a great deal and to be honest it is one of the best Android smartphones available on the face of the earth. You can use this phone with any carriers you like and don’t have to worry about signing any contracts.

When Google changed the name Android Market to Google Play Store, many assumed that this is because google wants to unify all their services under one name. Looks like those speculations were right and Google has been trying very hard to bring all its content to the Play Store.

Let us know if you’re interested in getting the unlocked Galaxy Nexus or if you have already purchased one.

Source

Not only did Samsung release update for USA but for Europe too.
If you have 2.3.3 version of Android, you’ll first download 2 packages to upgrade to 2.3.4 and then you’ll be able to download this final update in order to install ICS.

ICS is 214 mb.

Share the news with everyone.

If you needed additional proof that the Galaxy S3 unveiling and launch are, in fact, just around the corner, the latest “strategic” moves from Samsung should once and for all confirm the flagship’s upcoming release. Sammy is currently tying up pretty much all loose ends they had with the Galaxy S2, preparing to release the HD LTE version of the smartphone in Canada and now releasing a much awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update for the unlocked version in the United States.

If you happen to own a non-carrier branded Galaxy S2 in the US of A these days, you should head on to your “Settings” menu right away and check for an update. You will most likely get a sweet, sweet message with an ice cream sandwich flavor and, Just click the “Download” button, and you should have your device refreshed and upgraded in no time.

The 216 MB upgrade package should improve your phone’s performance considerably and will add some cool new features, like Face Unlock, but the TouchWiz experience you are used to should remain pretty much the same.

If the download prompt message is not there when checking the settings menu of your phone, you might need to reboot your Galaxy S2 or try to find a better Internet connection (the update does come over-the-air).

Unfortunately, we have no details about any Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the carrier branded Galaxy S2s in the US, but I personally think you should be on the lookout for some similar news before the S3’s unveiling in two weeks.

Stay tuned on our website to find out when will your Galaxy S2 be officially updated to ICS, or, if you just can’t wait anymore, hit this, this, this or this link to find out how to take your phone to the next OS level, using unofficial ROMs released by generous (and brilliant) developers.

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