Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE variant receives Android 4.3 update

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was the first non-Nexus device in the market to run Android 4.3, and it seems company’s flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be the next device to run the OS version.

Sammobile reports that Samsung Galaxy S4’s LTE variant (GT-I9595) is receiving the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. The site suggests that the first country to receive the update is Germany and mentions that the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy S4 is being rolled out in phases, which means that other countries and device will receive the update soon.

The S4’s Android 4.3 update is reportedly available both OTA (over the air) and via the company’s Kies software. Notably, the update will bring Galaxy Gear support to the Galaxy S4, making it the second device to sport that functionality, as previously announced by Samsung.

The site detailed changelog for the update, listing OpenGL 3.0 support; Samsung’s Wallet app comes with the update; improved RAM management; improved display colour reproduction which will reportedly make display look sharper than before; improved TouchWiz launcher; Samsung’s new keyboard; new Samsung’s default Browser; new camera firmware and minor tweaks in the UI for contacts, flashlight widget and dialog box apps. However, the report does not reveal the availability of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) variant which is available in India.

Recently, a report indicated that Samsung was planning an Android 4.3 update for its top of the line smartphones soon.

The report also claimed the devices getting the Android 4.4 update were the 2013 flagship, the Galaxy S4 in October while the 2012 flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S III was expected to get the new Android update by October end or even November. He report further revealed that the Galaxy Note II would also be getting the taste of the new Jelly Bean iteration, but that would only be by the end of November, or early December.

Prior to this, while announcing the Galaxy Gear smartwatch at IFA, the South Korean major revealed that the compatibility for the Gear smartwatch would be extended to the Galaxy S4 ad the Galaxy S III with a software update that would be seeded to consumers in October.

Android 4.3 update - Rolling out to HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play editions

Google released the next iteration of Android operating system dubbed as version 4.3 Jelly Bean with the launch of its next generation Nexus tablets last month. The update was first rolled out to Nexus devices, with word that the Google Play editions would be next in line.

AnandTech claims both the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4 from Google Play are currently receiving OTA (over-the-air) update notifications. For the Samsung Galaxy S4 the update is around 150MB and for HTC One it's 180 MB.

The update lands in immediately after both HTC and Samsung released the Android 4.3 kernel sources online, according to the site. The Android 4.3 update for both devices have been developed by the OEMs and have no changes to the user-interface.

When Google announced the Google Play Edition devices, it promised quick updates on the device and a complete stock Android experience. With this update the Google Play Editions of Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One joins the list of devices running Android 4.3 that only included Nexus devices until now.

The Android 4.3 update comes with some new features like restricted profiles which enables users to restrict app usage and content consumption on an Android device, dialpad autocomplete that adds the autocomplete feature in the dialpad suggesting contact names or phone numbers when users start keying-in something, keyboard and input which now comes with an upgraded algorithm for tap-typing recognition that makes text input easier while chatting via messages or even while composing emails and new camera UI that offers a new updated Camera app that features a new arch based menu which makes it easier to control and switch camera settings.

Samsung launches S4 zoom in India, Galaxy S4 mini

Just a day after Micromax launched its new flagship Canvas 4 phablet in India, Samsung has rolled out two smartphones in the country. Both new handsets - Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy S4 zoom are variants of the South Korean company's top-end device Galaxy S4, launched earlier this year.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 mini in May with a 4.3-inch SuperAMOLED screen having 960x540p resolution and pixel density of 256ppi. It is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). This smartphone has been priced at Rs 27,990 in the Indian smartphone market.

The phone has 8GB internal storage, 1.5GB RAM and microSD support up to 64GB. On the back of the phone is an 8MP camera with LED flash, while a 1.9MP unit is on the front panel. Connectivity options in the smartphone are 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, NFC and infrared.

Unveiled in June, Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom, priced at Rs 29,990, boasts of better camera than the original Galaxy S4. It features a 16MP rear camera with 10X optical zoom with xenon flash on the back. This new phone's camera boasts of optical image stabilization as well as 24mm wide lens and can record 1080p videos at 30fps.

The all-new Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom also has a 4.3-inch SuperAMOLED screen with 960x540p resolution with 256ppi pixel density. The device is powered by Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and runs on a dual-core 1.5GHz processor. It has 8GB internal storage, 1.5GB RAM and supports microSD cards with capacities up to 32GB.

Connectivity suite of this smartphone has features2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, infrared and microUSB 2.0. This handset has a 2,330mAh battery and features a 1.9MP front camera. At 208gram, it is heavier that the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note II and Nokia Lumia 920.

Both the phones come with a free flip cover, 2GB free data on 3G network and interest-free EMI option for six months.