Samsung Releases The Jelly Bean Source Code For Verizon Galaxy S III Smartphone

Many of you Verizon Galaxy S III owners are just recently enjoying that awesome Jelly Bean goodness, but there is additional good at hand. Samsung has quietly dropped the latest Jelly Bean source code (version LK3) for Verizon’s popular device– so this brings all of you developers and fiddlers one giant step closer to custom mod glory. Interested parties can find all the juicy deets once they hit the source link below.

source: Samsung Open Source

Run Jelly Bean 4.2.1 on your Kindle Fire

As mentioned in this space before, it never ceases to amaze what the developers over at XDA can cook up. One dev’s latest feat is actually getting Jelly Bean to run on the ‘outdated’ 512MB RAM equipped Amazon Kindle Fire. As with a lot of hacks, there are some features missing (at the time of this writing) such as Swype keyboard, USB camera support, and photo sync.

However, you do get the benefits of Google Now along with a straight port of basically the exact ROM being pushed to Nexus 7 and 10 users. The process itself is very much like flashing other ROMs on other devices, so those that are familiar with it will feel right at home. If you need to brush up on your rooting skills, you can check our guide and dictionary to assist. Click the source link below for the full list of instructions.

source:  XDA

Samsung Pushes Jelly Bean Update To The Korean Variants Of The Galaxy S III Smartphone

News has surfaced that Samsung has (finally) pushed the coveted Jelly Bean update to the Korean variants of the Galaxy S III smartphone. According to the gang at SamMobile, the update is now up for owners of the different Korean versions of the smartphone and can be downloaded via Kies Desktop Software or through OTA. The massive update will bring the Android software version to 4.1.2 and the build to JZO54K, while bringing the usual goodies like Multi-View, Smart Rotation and revamped Notification Panel.

As exciting as this news is— the rest of the world is still waiting for the other versions of the Galaxy S III getting the Jelly Bean update. At least we’re seeing the devices get the update— one step at a time.

source: SamMobile

Google Sound Search now available in Play Store

It looks like Shazam and SoundHound are going to have a little more competition from Google. Google’s Sound Search widget was recently only (officially) available to devices running stock Jelly Bean, which is a pretty narrow slice of devices in the Android ecosystem. It couldn’t really gain much traction against established apps like SoundHound or Shazam because it simply couldn’t get on enough devices. Google fortunately realized this, and today made the Sound Search app available in the Play Store for any device running 4.0 and above.

The Sound Search has a leg up on its competition because it links you to music directly in the Play Store, since it’s all Google-maintained. It also features search history syncing across devices, so you can identify the song when you’re out and then actually download it at home on your tablet. Not bad, right? Hit the break for the download link if you’re interested.

Play Store Download Link

YotaPhone Brings One LCD Screen, One E-Ink Screen On One Device

Is a smartphone that utilizes both a regular LCD screen and an e-ink screen possible? Russian wireless carrier Yota Devices wants to remind you that yes, yes it is possible with its new YotaPhone concept. Under the hood, the smartphone has a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, an LTE chip and a 12-megapixel rear camera. However— the real kicker of the device is its two displays— one on the front, one on the back. The front display holds a 4.3-inch 1,280 x 720 (720P) display, while the rear one can display a full e-ink content. It appears the rear display will be best suited for displaying key information tied to a user’s everyday life like appointments, playlists or other things of that nature.

While the concept is indeed interesting, prospective customers will need to go through quite a wait before the device can get in the palms of their hands. The YotaPhone is expected to go on sale in Q3 2013 in Russia, while other markets internationally will see the device sometime after that. 

OPPO Launches The Find 5 Smartphone: A Premium Device With A 5-Inch Screen

If you’ve been looking to snag yourself a smartphone that’s bigger than normal, but find devices like the DROID DNA or Galaxy Note II don’t quite strike your fancy, then OPPO may just have the device for you. The Chinese giant has launched its latest device called the Find 5– a superphone with you guessed it a 5-inch IPS display with 441ppi that’s the most noteworthy feature of the device. In addition, the Find 5 has additional bells and whistles like a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 chip, 2 gigs of RAM and Jelly Bean. While it’s nearly identical to the DROID DNA specifically– there are some other things about the Find 5 that distinguish it from the competition: the 13MP camera and sound output. The 13MP camera supports full HDR photography unlike other smartphones, while the Find 5 offers full support for both Dolby 3D and Dirac HD sound– giving users a cinema-quality sound wherever they go. Very impressive indeed.

The phone may be attractive, but many of you are thinking that the device must come at a princely sum, right? Well the device is expected to have a premium price, but it’s likely going to be far less expensive than the competition at or around $500 for the US and Chinese markets. Oh and OPPO plans a major launch of the Find 5 sometime in early 2013 across select markets— so it just means you won’t need to wait too long for the next great thing. 

Verizon Formally Announces The Samsung Galaxy Camera With LTE

We were going through our countless emails in the Talk Android inbox and stumbled upon a Verizon announcement of its new toy— the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Though we had already seen a hint here and another one there-– we finally know Big Red’s camera is very much real and on the way. Aside from the built-in LTE radios, this variant of the camera is no different from AT&T’s version. Though Verizon fails to mention which processor is powering the device (we suspect it’s the same Exynos quad-core processor), we do know the device will have a 16-megapixel sensor plus 23mm Samsung lens and 21X optical zoom… and a whole lot of Jelly Bean running the show.

The device will go on sale this Thursday the 13th and run customers a cool $550.00 which is priced a bit higher than the AT&T version, but then again— you do get that awesome Verizon LTE radio. In addition, Verizon is celebrating the announcement of the device by offering a special promotion where customers will be able to add a Galaxy Camera to a “Share Everything” plan for a mere $5 per month, making it an attractive option to share all those precious holiday moments with your families and friends.

So any of you folks giddy or excited yet?

Motorola releases a timetable for Jelly Bean updates on numerous devices

It’s always nice to see companies releasing timetables for upcoming updates, especially as big as Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Here’s a list that Motorola provided:

• RAZR i Jelly Bean update now scheduled for Q1 2013
• Verizon Droid RAZR HD/RAZR MAXX HD still due Jelly Bean update before 2013
• AT&T Atrix HD due Jelly Bean update before 2013
• 3G/LTE Xoom Jelly Bean update delayed to Q1 2013
• Canadian Atrix HD + RAZR HD due to get Jelly Bean in Q1 2013
• Euro RAZR HD Jelly Bean update scheduled for Dec. 2012

While there’s still no word on when 4.2 will be released, it’s good to see they have their eyes set on a 4.1 update. Once these updates begin to officially roll out, we’ll be sure to cover it as soon as they’re live!

source: Motorola Forums

Samsung Galaxy S III To Get Premium Suite Upgrade, Makes The Jelly Bean Update A Whole Lot Tastier

So you own a Galaxy S III, but haven’t gotten that coveted Jelly Bean update yet— but are itching to get an idea of what to look forward to in the imminent update? Well great you’re in luck as Samsung recently posted a video highlighting its Premium Suite upgrade found in a special update. Similar to what is seen on other Samsung devices, Galaxy S III owners who are likely to be due for the update can look forward to items such as Contextual Awareness actions like Page Buddy which allows your Galaxy S III to predict your intentions based off your actions (think of when you plug in your earphones, the device automatically opens the music player) or Enhanced Features like the coveted Multi-Window multitasking feature.

While it is cool to get an idea of what users could potentially look forward to– unfortunately Samsung highlights the Premium Suite “availability and timing will vary depending on the country and mobile carrier”, so it’s uncertain of if most Galaxy S III owners will see the update. However, we’re holding out hope that most (if not all) Galaxy S III users will get to utilize all the cool features. Hit the break to get an idea of what the Premium Suite entails exactly.

source: Samsung Tomorrow

Broadcom Announces New SoC For Budget Devices, Offers Full HSPA+ And Jelly Bean Support

Sure we’ve seen some other chipmakers working on a few budget processors for the masses recently, but other manufacturers seem to have their sights set on the ever-growing budget market as well. And so following its earlier onslaught of mobile processors, Broadcom recently announced its BCM21664T chip, which is a specialized SoC featuring a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, a VideoCore GPU which can support 720P video recording and full 1080P video playback. The chipset is also optimized for
faux-g HSPA+ technology and should be able to haul in downstream speeds of up to 21.1Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 5.8Mbps. Oh and best of all— Broadcom’s new SoC is specially optimized for Jelly Bean— specifically the newest Jelly Bean version. Very exciting news indeed.

Jelly Bean Rollout Beginning For Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-I9300) Smartphone

Fresh off other variants getting some Jelly Bean lovin’, Sammy has begun to push the coveted Android 4.1.2 update to the international variant of the Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone. It is confirmed that the official rollout has begun worldwide, though it’s currently being pushed out in phases— so it’s unclear which GT-I9300 models will get the update first for now. The update will bring the Jelly Bean build to JZO54K and will bring the usual goodies like Google Now, Multi-View capabilities, Smart Rotation and a customizable Notification Panel among other things.

Owners of the unlocked model can check for the update through Kies Desktop software or OTA through their device’s Settings. If it’s not available don’t fret— the update will certainly be here before you know it.

source: SamMobile

Jelly Bean update available for AT&T Galaxy S III via Kies

I know this comes as welcome news this morning for AT&T owners of the Samsung Galaxy S III after reading about the T-Mobile version receiving Jelly Bean in mid-November. It looks multiple users have reported today that you can grab the  Jelly Bean update for the AT&T Galaxy S III via Kies Desktop Software. Give it a shot and let us know if you’re able to grab the update.

source:  Android Central

Gmail 4.2 update now live for non-Nexus devices

Google released an update to the Gmail app in the Play Store, bringing it up to version 4.2. That brings the application up to speed with the version that ships with the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and updated Galaxy Nexus. Some of the improvements include auto-fitting text in emails and pinch-to-zoom within emails. Pinch-to-zoom must be enabled by going into settings and checking Auto-fit messages. They’ve also added some cool new swiping features to archive and delete messages. Those features are only available on Android 4.0 and above, though, so if you’re below that, you’ll still get some performance improvements, but not the new gestures and swiping. Hit the break to get your hands on the update.

Canadian Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphones Starting To Get Jelly Bean Update

Right on cue, the Canadian variant of the Samsung Galaxy S III has begun receiving a heavy scoop of Jelly Bean across the major carriers. The latest update brings the Canadian builds toI747MVLDLK4 and will bring the usual Jelly Bean goodies like Google Now and Project Butter, as well as custom items like a sizable pop-up screen and additional home screen modes. All in all, the official update being launched should make those already awesome devices just a wee bit better.

The update is available now and can be found using Kies Desktop software or if you are the impatient type— you can always go to your Settings and manually grab the update OTA. Happy updating!

source: SamMobile

Smartphone Buyer’s Guide For Budget-Minded Customers: The Best Devices For $99.99 Or Under

It may be the start of the holiday season, but there are always great deals available for prospective smartphone shoppers looking to grab a sweet phone that won’t break the bank. In fact, there used to be the notion that in order to grab a phone under $100 on-contract, you’d have to settle for an outdated or budget-level device. However that notion is no longer the case as customers across all carriers can easily find a decent (if not great) device for a reasonable price. Of course figuring out which device may be a bit difficult, but don’t fret— Talk Android has you covered as we’ve come up with a solid guide with our recommendations of the best devices for under $100 on-contract for your respective wireless carrier. So without further ado, head on past the break to see our picks of the best devices that won’t break the bank.

[Deal] Grab The Samsung Galaxy Camera For $450, A $49 Savings

It’s the holiday season and I’m sure many of you may be in the market for a new camera, right? WellDailySteals.com may have a reason for you to pull out the wallet and fork over the cash for a new camera— a solid one at that. It currently has the Samsung Galaxy Camera listed for a cool $450.00, which is a $49 savings off the original list price. What this deal gets you is a Exynos quad-core CPU powering the device, a 16.3MP resolution, 21x optical zoom, 23mm wide-angle lens and a 4G LTE radio— all powered by a buttery smooth Jelly Bean.

We’ll be sure to post our review of the Galaxy Camera in the coming days which should help you decide whether you should splurge on the deal or not.

source: DailySteals.com

Android 4.2.1 Update Now Ready For The (“Takju”) Galaxy Nexus

We’ve already seen the Android 4.2.1 update being pushed out to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10— but now the venerable Galaxy Nexus smartphone is starting to get some love too. Thanks some keen eyes, we now know the minor Android 4.2.1 update is now available for the takju variant of the Galaxy Nexus. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when the other variants of the Galaxy Nexus will see the update, but the hope is that it will be sooner than later… especially since the latest Android buildis already in the open for all the tinkerers out there.

If you’re on the “takju” variant of the Galaxy Nexus, hit the download link below to grab the update and flash that sucker on your device today. All of you other G-Nex owners just sit tight and be patient for now— your update will be here before you know it.

Download: Android 4.2.1 for takju Galaxy Nexus

Android 4.2.1, AOSP, Google, Jelly Bean, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7

Over the course of the past day, we have seen Google start to rollout an Android update, first to Nexus 10 devices, then to Nexus 4 devices, and most recently to Nexus 7 devices. The OTA update to version 4.2.1 is probably still in the process of propagating to all device owners. In the meantime, the source code has landed in the Android Open Source Project according to Technical Lead Jean-Baptiste M. Queru. Factory images for devices are expected to be available in a few days according to Queru.

The update is small, but packs an important fix in correcting the missing month of December. According to sources, the update also includes support for HID gamepad/joystick devices and some improvements to handling of vibration notifications.

source: Android Building Google Group

Verizon Officially Unleashes HTC DROID DNA Smartphone, Finally Gives Customers Chance To Salivate Over The 1080p Display

Rob Nazarian and I got a chance to see the special device in person during its launch last week and now friends, the time has come for all customers to finally get their hands on what is undoubtedly one of the hottest devices of 2012. Verizon is officially unleashing the HTC DROID DNA in both its stores and online today. The latest entry in Verizon’s DROID line features a quad-core processor, 2 gigs of RAM, Jelly Bean and of course the whopping, but gorgeous 1080p Super LCD3 display. Interested parties can snag the device either from their local Verizon store or order online for $199.99 on-contract or a not-too-bad $599.99 off-contract price.

Be sure to stay with us and be on the lookout for our detailed review of the device, but in the meantime– why not check out our hands-on in order to remind yourself of how awesome this puppy is?

source: Verizon Wireless

Apple and Samsung both allowed to add products to patent lawsuit

Our two favorite legal teams from Samsung and Apple have both been given the green light on adding more products to their newest patent lawsuit. This is the lawsuit that includes the iPhone 5′s LTE and Apple’s addition of the Galaxy Note 10.1, US Galaxy S III, and Jelly Bean, in case you lost track. According to this ruling Samsung and Apple will both be allowed to add those new devices to the patent suit. To clarify, when Apple added Jelly Bean to the lawsuit, that’s limited exclusively to the software on Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus. Although since that is still technically Google software and not Samsung software, I’m just as confused as you are.

This lawsuit is set to take place in 2014 and targets the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, as well as 19 Samsung products. Realistically, neither of these companies will be promoting these same products come 2014, assuming no more products are added over time, but it’s always disappointing to see this constant litigation.

source: Bloomberg