Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Update Spotted

Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Update Spotted

It appears that at least one carrier is planning to release the still unannounced Samsung Galaxy S5Android 4.4.4 KitKat update in the coming days adding even more mystery to a situation that already includes a scheduled Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat release at one carrier.

In June, Google rolled out two brand new Android 4.4 KitKat updates aimed at tackling Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems. Android 4.4.3 KitKat first landed in the beginning of June and it delivered a number of big time bug fixes and cosmetic changes to the dialer and the People application found inside the Android operating system. A few days later, Android 4.4.4 KitKat touched down and delivered a crucial security fix.

Since then, we’ve seen manufacturers roll out Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates with the Android 4.4.4 fix on board and Android 4.4.4 updates with the Android 4.4.3 bug fixes on board. And while some manufacturers have been delivering updates to older devices, Samsung, the world’s largest Android manufacturer, has remained relatively silent.

The Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.4 KitKat and Android 4.4.3 KitKat situation has gotten interesting over the past month. It started when Vodafone Australia revealed a plan to roll out a Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update. Shortly after that, Samsung announced the all new Galaxy Alpha with Android 4.4.4 KitKat on board. And then recently, we saw the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update for the Galaxy S5 LTE-A emerge ahead of its arrival.

Today, we’ve spotted another Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update, this one at Australian carrier Optus, a carrier known for releasing Android update information well ahead of time. The carrier says that a Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update has been approved and that Samsung will release it in the coming days.

The carrier does not offer any specific release details nor does it reveal what’s on board this supposed Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update. It only suggests that it’s coming at some point in the near future. It’s important to note that the carrier does make the distinction between different versions of Android 4.4 KitKat so this does not appear to be a typo.

This Galaxy S5 update extremely interesting given Vodafone Australia’s current plans and given that we simply haven’t seen any other carriers confirm a Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat for arrival. Again, Optus is typically ahead of the curve when it comes to announcements so it’s possible that we’re still a little ways away from its arrival.

If the Galaxy S5 does get Android 4.4.4 KitKat, it won’t be the only Galaxy device running Google’s new software. The new Samsung Galaxy Alpha, set to arrive in September, will be running it out of the box and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to run either Android 4.4.3 KitKat or Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Both updates have been spotted in benchmarks for the upcoming flagship though it’s not clear which it will run.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launch date is set for September 3rd and it’s there that we could potentially hear more about Android 4.4.3 KitKat or Android 4.4.4 KitKat for older phones. In the past, Samsung has used the stage to announce its software upgrade plans. Last year, for instance, it announced its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean plans during its Galaxy Note 3 announcement.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat and Android 4.4.3 KitKat aren't the only Android updates Samsung is neglecting. The company still hasn't revealed any details about the Android L update, the Android 4.4 KitKat replacement that’s rumored to be coming out sometime later this year. Android L is available in beta form right now but the popular update still doesn't have a concrete release date.

Samsung typically offers two years of software support which means that phones like the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 3 should all get Android L updates down the road.

iPhone 5s Sale Offers Up to $200 Off at Verizon

iPhone 5s Sale Offers Up to $200 Off at Verizon

While it probably isn’t a sign that the carrier is making room for the iPhone 6release, Verizon is discounting a handful of flagship smartphones, including the iPhone 5s, knocking 50% off the price tag.

The original promotion actually began earlier last month and was supposed to end at the end of July, but it seems the carrier is extending the sale for a while longer.

During this iPhone 5s sale, you can pick up the device for as low as $99 after signing a new two-year contract, with the iPhone 5c priced at $49 after signing a contract as well. The iPhone 4s is still free on contract (in other words, you can’t really cut half off of something that’s already free).

Furthermore, you can grab the 64GB iPhone 5s for just $199, which is $200 off of the normal $399 price tag. You can also grab the 32GB version for $149 after signing a two-year contract.

Other smartphones that are worth taking a gander at during Verizon’s half-off deal include the new LG G3, which you can buy for $99 after signing a two-year contract, and Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is also on sale for $99, as is the HTC One M8.

We’ve definitely seen a fair share of iPhone deals this year, but they’ve teetered off recently as we’ve entered into the summer months. However, this latest Verizon deal is kicking things back into high gear as we prepare for the launch of the iPhone 6 later in the fall.

Samsung Galaxy S3: KitKat Update Android 4.4 Further Delayed

Samsung Galaxy S3: KitKat Update Android 4.4 Further Delayed

Even though some Samsung Galaxy S3 carrier variants in the United States and Canada have received the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update, most users around the world haven’t seen it yet. There’s actually been a new response about this topic, but it doesn’t seem like good (or bad) news.

We saw Samsung push the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for the Galaxy S3 to all four carriers in the United States back in May. We even see the KitKat update head north and land at a few carriers up there. Most of the rest of the world however, has yet to see any sign of KitKat for their 4G Galaxy S3 (GT-I9305). We’ve even looked at some carriers’ software update schedules and none of them have given us any indication that an update is coming soon. Those carriers even have update schedules posted that go through September.

Many Galaxy S3 users still waiting for the KitKat update

A customer in the Vodafone Spain forums asked about this update and they were actually given an answer in the thread. Alberto from Vodafone Spain tells the customer that “they have not officially confirmed or denied the KitKat update for the Galaxy S3″. They continued for a little while and then said “for now, the latest version available for the Galaxy S3 is Android 4.3″.

You can take this as a piece of good or bad information. It’s great that Samsung hasn’t shut the door completely on the S3 (yet). This means there is a possibility that the update is currently being worked on and that it will be released soon. Then again, this doesn’t tell us anything that we haven’t heard already. We already knew that there wasn’t any new information out there. We have to give Vodafone Spain some credit though. They could have easily just ignored this question, but they stood up and talked to their customers about it.

This is really all we want as a Smartphone customer. We want our carriers and our Smartphone manufacturers to talk to us and tell us what is going on. All of this silence from Samsung is only going to cause idle speculation and false hope. Even if Samsung told us that it would be 6+ months until we saw an Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for the Galaxy S3, at least it would be something. As much as Samsung thinks this silence is better for them than disappointing news, it’s only going to cause some grief between those of us that are looking for information about the Android update.

It’s going to cause those customers to think long and hard about whether or not the sacrifice of Android updates (and transparency) are more important than the customizations of TouchWiz. Sooner or later, stock Android (and even an OEM skin like Motorola’s or HTC’s) will catch up to where TouchWiz is today. Let’s just hope that Android optimizations stay on track and it doesn’t get as bloated (performance-wise) as TouchWiz is right now. If not, then the casual Android customer will continue to give Samsung their money.

iPhone 6 Release Rumors Heating Up at Carrier Stores

iPhone 6 Release Rumors Heating Up at Carrier Stores

While the iPhone 6 has yet to actually be officially announced, plenty of rumors suggest that Apple will reveal the new device next month, and it seems that carrier stores are preparing ahead of time.

Reddit user spoonie3372 happens to work at a Sprint preferred retailer and posted an image of the iPhone 6 showing up in the store’s inventory. Both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models appear in the list that the employee snapped a photo of.

Unfortunately, the context of the image is rather scarce. We’re not sure what store it is, nor do we know what the drop-down list in the image is referring to, although the employee says that he was making a simple accessory order when he stumbled upon the iPhone 6 appearance.

Most of the comments in the Reddit thread are mixed, with some people saying that it’s simply just a placeholder until the real thing is announced, but a user who claims to work at Sprint’s corporate offices says that they don’t make placeholders and are not relying on rumors, suggesting that Sprint knows some information that we don’t, which wouldn’t really be all that surprising.

Unfortunately, we were hoping the image would show us the storage sizes for the iPhone 6, considering that it’s rumored that a 128GB iPhone 6 could be in the works.

iPhone users have been wanting a 128GB version for quite a while, ever since Apple first introduced the fourth-generation iPad with 128GB. However, most likely due to obvious size constraints, 128GB of storage in an iPhone hasn’t been possible.

With the iPhone 6 rumored to be larger in size thanks to bigger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens, it may now be possible for an iPhone to come equipped with 128GB of storage. However, a past rumor suggests that the 128GB version may only come to the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 in order to convince more users to spend a bit more cash and get the bigger screen.

Plus, it’s said that the 128GB exclusive on the 5.5-inch model would help differentiate the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models even more, considering that the only difference that we’ve seen so far between the two devices is screen size.

If this turns out to be true, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will get the lauded 128GB of storage, while the 4.7-inch model could still be stuck at a 64GB maximum.

It would certainly make sense for Apple to get rid of the 16GB option for the iPad and just go with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, but we think the iPhone is a device that still needs a 16GB option in order for the company to offer an inexpensive subsidized device for budget-minded consumers.

Essentially, a 128GB iPhone 6 would be the end-all model for many users, officially making extra storage accessories obsolete. Of course, the price of a 128GB iPhone 6 will be something that many users will take into account, as it certainly won’t be cheap by any means, but if users need that kind of storage, the extra price will most likely be worth it.

In any case, Apple will most likely announce the iPhone 6 on September 9, with a public launch rumored for September 19. These dates are completely based off rumors, but it seems many reputable sources agree upon these dates, so we’re going with it for the time being, but it’s not carved in stone.

The new device will see a complete design overhaul, ditching the squared-off edges for a more rounded design that’s much similar to the iPad Air and iPad mini, making the entire iOS device lineup uniform as far as design is concerned.