Rogers Samsung Galaxy S4 to receive Android 4.4 KitKat tomorrow

While it might not be the first to an upgrade to Android 4.4, the Samsung Galaxy S4 gaining Android 4.4 KitKat will certainly be a significant contributor to increasing the number of Android users on the latest OS. Tomorrow Rogers' version will, according to the Rogers OS upgrade page, getting an upgrade to KitKat. Rogers' OS upgrade page has been pretty spot on in the past so we expect the upgrade to roll out as promised.

While we can't confirm it, Samsung has traditionally been able to synchronously roll out the updates to their devices and we expect the S4 to get the same treatment. If you have an S4 keep an eye out for the update tomorrow and let us know how it goes.

Samsung announces list of devices to recieve Android 4.4 KitKat

Android 4.4 has been rolling out in a pretty impressive fashion compared to previous major Android iterations especially when it comes to carrier branded devices. The Motorola and HTC flagships are on Android 4.4 KitKat, the Moto G and soon HTC One Mini will also be graced with the latest of Android, so it was only expected that Samsung tip its hand as to which devices it plans to upgrade. To our surprise it's quite a list.

• Galaxy Note 3
• Galaxy Note II
• Galaxy S4
• Galaxy S4 mini
• Galaxy S4 Active
• Galaxy S4 zoom
• Galaxy S III
• Galaxy S III mini
• Galaxy Mega
• Galaxy Light
• Galaxy Note 8.0
• Galaxy Tab 3
• Galaxy Note 10.1
• Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition

We were very surprised to see the S III mini in the list and we are glad to see so many devices included. While this list is provided by Samsung USA, its expected the the same Canadian devices be upgrade as well (unless we have a situation like with the HTC One X)

Nevertheless we hope to see these updates rollout very soon. If your device is on this list, you can rest pretty sure that you will get Android 4.4 KitKat.

Rogers Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3 to get Android 4.4 KitKat "Soon"

With HTC pushing out Android 4.4 KitKat to the HTC One, you'd expect Samsung to have a response for their co-flagships the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 and it looks like that is going to be the case as according to the Rogers OS upgrade page, they will be receiving Android 4.4 "Soon".

While it is a vague window we suspect that this should be sooner rather than later given the rollout of KitKat to S4s and Note 3s globally. While this news is directly related to Rogers we wouldn't be surprised if this will coincide with a Canada wide rollout of Android's latest version to all carriers that sell the S4 and Note 3.

Leaked Android 4.4 Firmware for Samsung Galaxy S4 surfaces

Looks like the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be joining the Note 3 in the KitKat party soon as SamMobile has gotten their hands on a leaked Android 4.4.2 Test firmware. According to SamMobile, the official update is still about a month or so away, but in their time with the Test Build it seems to be decently stable.

Changes include the translucent KitKat style notification pane with white icons, camera shortcut on the lockscreen, improved benchmark scores and tweaks to the default keyboard.

Of course, given that the Canadian version is slightly different to the I9505 version that this leaked firmware was made for, it won't work on the Canadian version. So I'd advise against installing the ROM.

In any case, good news for S4 owners looking forward to Android 4.4 KitKat.

Canadian Samsung Galaxy S III, S4, S4 Mini and Note II getting upgrade to Android Jelly Bean 4.3

While the Galaxy Gear was something of an exclusive to Galaxy Note 3 users it looks like the update to bring compatibility to the S III, S4, S4 Mini and Note II is now rolling out to Canadians. With this update users can expect all the improvements that Android 4.3 brings like Bluetooth Low Energy Support, which the Galaxy Gear requires and fstrim support to keep internal flash memory optimized. In addition the update also adds the following features:

• Added new feature (KNOX for consumer, etc)
• Compatibility with Galaxy Gear
• S Pen enhancements (For Note II)
• Improved performance (Graphics, Multimedia, Bluetooth, etc)
• Improved the user interface and stability
• User interface adjustment (Icon change, etc)
• Security Enhancements

If you have one of the the aforementioned device make sure to check out your system settings menu for the latest update.

Samsung Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini from Bell to get upgrade to Android 4.3 November 23rd and brings compatibility with Galaxy Gear

Looks like Galaxy S4 and S4 mini owners are in for a pleasant surprise this Saturday as MobileSyrup has received information pertaining an upgrade to be pushed out to Bell customers. It looks like Android 4.3 will be pushed out to Bell Galaxy S4 and S4 mini this Saturday and brings with it compatibility with the Galaxy Gear which as of the writing of this article is only compatible with the Note 3 and Note 10.1 (2013).

While this info only concerns the Bell S4 and S4 Mini, we hope it means that a 4.3 update is also hitting other carrier versions shortly.

Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II will get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade this November

You might remember earlier this month we posted an article stating that the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II would be in line for Android 4.3 to provide compatibility with the upcoming Galaxy Gear. It looks like the rollout will happen in November. According to MobileSyrup, Paul Brannan, Samsung Canada’s Vice President Enterprise Business Division, stated that the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II would likely come in November.

This does fall in line with the fact that the Galaxy Gear would be released in early October.

Bell to release the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

According to information obtained by MobileSyrup, it looks like Bell will be a carrier for the diminutive version of the popular Samsung flagship. The Galaxy S4 Mini should be hitting shelves in early October so that means an official announcement from Bell as well as any other carriers interested in bringing in the S4 Mini will probably happen within the next few days.

As a reminder of the spec the Galaxy S4 Mini is equipped with a 4.3-inch qHD 960x540 resolution SuperAMOLED display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 we suspect), 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage that can be supplemented by microSD card, 8MP camera, 1900mAh battery, LTE capabilities (where applicable) and powered by the relatively recent version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II in line for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean upgrade this october

With the announcement of their new smartwatch the Galaxy Gear, it seems like Samsung has given themselves a self imposed hard deadline with which to release Android 4.3. The Galaxy Gear syncs to Galaxy smartphones via Low Power Bluetooth 4.0. This is only supported in Android 4.3 as of now, meaning that for the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note II to be able to support the Galaxy Gear they will need the update in addition to the software needed by Galaxy Gear.

This being said, while we do hope it is true, it remains to be seen if carrier testing will get in the way of a widespread rollout to coincide with the Galaxy Gear release in Canada not to mention that Galaxy Gear doesn't have a solid Canadian launch date yet.

More info as it come in.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

The smartphone world has changed drastically over the past four years and Samsung has been an integral player in that change. The Galaxy S series of smartphone has been instrumental in the proliferation of Android. Last year's model, the Galaxy S III has sold a staggering 50+ million handsets and with such success everyone wondered how Samsung was going to follow up their best handset ever. In our short time with the Galaxy S4 at the Canadian launch party, it was clear that this year's Galaxy S was going to going to be a minor iteration over last year's model, but with mounting competition from Sony and HTC as well as the upcoming iPhone, will it be enough? We see if Samsung does the Galaxy S brand justice in our review of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom officially announced

As per the leaked images posted last week, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is now official. Samsung unceremoniously outed the flagship variant on the official press page. Specs are about in line with what was leaked as the press release reveals: a 4.3 qHD (960x540) display, 1.5GHz Dual Core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 2330mAh battery, LTE connectivity and powered by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean but most importantly are the camera specs which is a 16MP camera with 10x optical Zoom and Xenon flash.

We aren't exactly sure where the product fits but we guess it somewhere between the Galaxy Camera and Galaxy S4. No word on Canadian availability yet but color us surprised if this doesn't his Canadian shelves in some form. Check out Press Images after the break.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom leaked

SamMobile has leaked yet another variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 Zoom is the the latest in the expansion of the S4 brand. Somewhat similar to the Galaxy Camera, the Zoom is more on the side of the a phone than a camera but is certainly better equipped than the cameras of competing phone.

With a rumoured 16 megapixel camera with optical Zoom this is certainly one of the most promising looking cameras on a phone. The rest of the specs are very close to the Galaxy S4 Mini, 1.6GHz dual-core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 we suspect), 8GB of internal storage that can be supplemented by microSD card. June 20th is the expected announcement day.

Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy S4 Active

After weeks of going through the rumor mills the Galaxy S4 Active is now official. This more rugged version of the Galaxy S4 is packing most of specs and features of the regular Galaxy S4 but with a few downgrades. For one, the 13MP camera has been downgraded to a 8MP sensor and the other change is the switch from the AMOLED 1080p panel to an LCD 1080p panel which we assume is for improved battery life at max brightness (outdoors). Lastly it looks like the buttons are all hardware buttons.

While the 8MP shooter is a slight downgrade, it comes with features that allows for better pictures under water. Speaking of which, the S4 Active is IP67 rated, which means it's completely dust proof and submergeable under water one meter for up to 30 minutes. The S4 Active will be coming in Urban Grey, Dive Blue and Orange Flare.

Unfortunately, there is no word if its coming to Canada. More pics after the break.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is now official

Android Phones have gotten larger and larger over the past few years. Even the vaunted iPhone bucked its long standing stance behind their 3.5 inch display by going with a 4 inch display. This has left a bit of a void for mid sized Android phones. Most that are in the 4 inch range have come with disappointing specs. Today Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and at first glance it looks like it bucks the trend of lackluster specifications.

The Galaxy S4 Mini is equipped with a 4.3-inch qHD 960x540 resolution SuperAMOLED display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 we suspect), 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage that can be supplemented by microSD card, 8MP camera, 1900mAh battery, LTE capabilities (where applicable) and powered by the latest version of Android version 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Aside from the (potentially problematic) 8GB of internal storage, and the lower resolution 4.3 inch qHD display, this seems like a smaller Galaxy SIII which in itself a good thing.

We don't have any idea if/when this is coming to Canada but we have a sneaking suspicion that LTE capabilities is a dead giveaway for this coming to Canada.

[Google I/O 2013] Samsung Galaxy S4 with Stock Android announced (Update: U.S. Only)

Colour us surprised, as rumours of a stock Android version of the Galaxy S4 to be made available were swirling, we weren't at all convinced, especially given that Google has given out a skinned device like the HTC EVO 4G in the past (with Sense UI and all).

Hugo Barra mentioned that the Stock Galaxy S4 would come with an unlocked bootloader, LTE support for T-Mobile and AT&T and a Nexus experience at the tough to stomach cost of $649 (probably $659 for Canadians) which is a far cry from the more affordable and arguably better value in the Nexus 4.

According to MobileSyrup, the Stock Android equipped Galaxy S4 will only be made available to US customers. We hope this somehow changes in the future.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Hands-On Preview

Last Thursday was the Canada wide Samsung Galaxy S4 launch party held in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The three parties were held at exactly the same time coupled with live acts in each city and a holographic performance by Feist. Samsung courteously invited us to the launch event to check out the new flagship. While it wasn't enough time to get a good grasp of all the new features of the Samsung flagship, we still want to be able to give you guys a hands-on preview.

Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available from WIND and Mobilicity on May 3rd

While Samsung did announce the availability of the Galaxy S4 on April 27th, this was for pre-orders exclusively and that full rollout wouldn't occur till a bit later. We now know that AWS carriers WIND and Mobilicity will be launching the Galaxy S4 on May 3rd. We expect that Videotron as well as the big 3 to follow suite.

Samsung Galaxy S4 to launch April 27th in Canada

Great news for people looking forward to the Canadian launch of the Galaxy S4 as Samsung has announced via their official twitter account that the Galaxy S4 will be available to Canadians next week on April 27th. They also advice interested parties to pre-order with their carrier of choice to ensure getting their device as soon as it's available.

As a reminder here are the specs of the Galaxy S4, 1.9GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 600 Qualcomm processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5 inch Full HD 1080p Super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 at 441 DPI, 16/32/64GB storage configurations with microSD expansion, 13MP Rear facing camera, 2MP front facing camera, NFC, a 2600mAh battery and LTE connectivity.

Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy S4, headed to just about every carrier in Canada

After month of speculation, rumors and supposed leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is now official. The new Samsung flagship will be sporting 1.9GHz Quad-core Qualcomm processor (Snapdragon 600 we presume), 2GB of RAM, a 5 inch Full HD 1080p Super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 at 441 DPI, 16/32/64GB storage configurations with microSD expansion, 13MP Rear facing camera, 2MP front facing camera, NFC, a 2600mAh battery and LTE connectivity.

New features for the camera include, Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call
Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, 360 Photo, Cinema Photo, Eraser, Night, Best Photo, Best Face,
Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports.

Other features include; Group Play, Story Album, S Translator, Optical Reader, Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON, S Travel (Trip Advisor), S Voice Drive, S Health, Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound, Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly capabilities), Safety Assistance, Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring and of course Knox as well as a slew of other features.

According to information given to us from Samsung, the Galaxy S4 will launch on almost every single carrier in Canada including; Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Wind Mobile, Mobilicity, Videotron, Fido, Virgin Mobile, Koodo, SaskTel and Eastlink.

We don't have any official word on release dates or prices, but we expect a Q2 launch not too long after the expected end of April worldwide launch.

Check out the official press release and press images after the break.

Samsung will unveil the Samsung Galaxy S IV on March 14th

On the eve of HTC's most important day in 2013, its only expected that their greatest rival try to steal their thunder. Rumors have emerged that Samsung will be unveiling their next generation flagship March 14th. Source tell The Verge that the Galaxy S IV will not be a monster in terms of specs but will rather focus on software features. With this kinda of info we suspect that the SGSIV will be an iterative update to the ubiquitous Galaxy S III. This could however all be a red herring as we saw with Samsung's efforts to keep the Galaxy S III secret this time last year.