galaxies

Facebook Home launches April 12 on HTC, Samsung phones

Facebook Home will be available for download on April 12, but only on select phones to start with.

Facebook today launched Home, a family of apps and a skin that runs over Android. The company said users will be able to download the user interface from the Google Play store, and that links would be found in its Facebook and messenger apps.

The HTC phones that will initially get access to the app are the upcoming HTC One and the One X and One X+.

On the Samsung side, the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and upcoming Galaxy S4 will … Read more

Samsung takes smartphone battle to the storefront

DALLAS -- Samsung has opened a new front in its battle for smartphone supremacy: the storefront.

The Korean electronics giant plans to set up mini Samsung stores inside all U.S. Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile venues within the next couple of months -- just in time for the Galaxy S4 launch. The "Samsung Experience Shops," which start rolling out Monday, will be in 500 big-box Best Buy stores and all 410 Best Buy Mobile locations by early May. Best Buy's remaining 550 large-format Best Buy stores will feature the shops by early June.

A larger … Read more

AT&T clarifies Galaxy S4 price: Now it starts at $199.99

AT&T clarified the pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S4, adding that it would start as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract.

On its Web site, AT&T notes now that the 16-gigabyte version of the Galaxy S4 will cost $199.99, while the 32GB version will cost $249.99.

The company will begin taking preorders for the phone on April 16. The company hasn't provided a launch date yet.

AT&T previously told CNET that the $249.99 price tag was for the base model of the Galaxy S4.

Still, at $199.99, … Read more

Samsung goes Absolute for mobile security

Samsung has tapped Absolute Software to embed the corporate security solutions provider's patented persistence technology onto its mobile devices -- most notably onto the upcoming Galaxy S4 smartphone.

Headed for Samsung Knox when it debuts this year, Absolute boasted that Samsung's mobile devices will then be the first worldwide to offer "constant, tamper-proof security connection for tracking, wiping, recovery and IT servicing" by including its endpoint security and management software.

For reference, Knox is Samsung's mobile security platform for professional and personal accounts on enhanced versions of Android.

The Vancouver, B.C.-headquartered company said … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S3 price drops precede Galaxy S4 launch

Just as expected, carriers have begun to slash prices on Samsung's Galaxy S3 handset in anticipation of stocking the bigger, fancier Samsung Galaxy S4 successor.

AT&T announced this morning that beginning today, its Galaxy S3 will sell for $99.99 with a two-year contract, an instant $100 reduction. Expect other carriers to follow suit.

Galaxy S4 preorders begin on April 16 for AT&T. The $250 in-contract Galaxy S4 cost makes the Galaxy S3 look like a bargain, a tactic that will help the carrier clear old stock to make room on the shelves for the … Read more

Sprint's Samsung Galaxy S2 scores Jelly Bean update

Sprint today announced an Android 4.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy S2. Yes, you read that right. The flagship smartphone from 2011 is getting a new coat of paint.

As expected, the Android 4.1 software update brings about changes such as Google Now, Project Butter animations, and lock screen widgets. Also included are the requisite richer notifications, smarter keyboard, and improved Google Search.

In addition to the standard Jelly Bean features, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is getting some of the Galaxy S3's more popular options. Details include the Smart Stay eye tracking for keeping the phone awake … Read more

Preorders for Galaxy S4 begin April 16 for U.S. Cellular

Starting April 16, U.S. Cellular customers will be able to preorder Samsung's newest flagship, the Galaxy S4.

The handset is joining the ranks of other Samsung devices under the regional carrier's belt, which includes the previous GS3, the Note 2, the Galaxy Axiom, and the Galaxy Note 10.1.

Currently, users can register with U.S. Cellular to receive a special preorder offer online.

The handset itself officially debuted earlier this month at a New York press conference.

It will have a 13-megapixel camera, run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and feature a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon … Read more

Samsung launching mini stores in Best Buy shops, report says

Samsung may soon be launching mini stores within Best Buy stores, according to a new report, giving the Korean electronics giant some retail heft just in time for the Galaxy S4 launch.

According to Geek.com, certain high-traffic Best Buy locations will soon remove two aisles near their mobile departments to install new Samsung stores. Each section "will be dressed in large Samsung signage and offer custom demo stations for many of Samsung's products," the site said. Employees in each section will receive special training about how to demo Samsung-specific features.

The stores-within-stores will highlight the Galaxy … Read more

Galaxy S4 priced at $249.99 with contract at AT&T

AT&T said today it would begin taking pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S4, which it is pricing at $249.99 with a two-year contract.

Eager customers can place their order starting April 16. AT&T hasn't yet announced when the smartphone would actually hit stores, and a representative declined to provide a specific date.

The $249.99 price tag is slightly higher than the standard flagship phone, which typically retails at $199.99. But Samsung and its carrier partners are hoping that the Galaxy brand, the improved specifications, and the strong buzz behind the product will … Read more