Samsung Galaxy S III Carrier Preorder And Launch Dates Announced For Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, And US Cellular

Very early this morning we covered the official announcement of the Galaxy S III coming to five US carriers, and now we have some carrier official announcements as well. All of these devices will come with the beautiful 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 8MP camera, and of course, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The hardware looks identical to the global version on the outside, and both the Pebble Blue and Marble White versions are launching on these carriers. We will be sure to keep you posted with reviews and more news as soon as we get our hands on these highly-anticipated devices.

VERIZON

First off is Verizon’s GSIII, which will be the same device that was shown in the press release and will be equipped with 4G LTE. This will be the very first Galaxy device since the original Galaxy S to hit Big Red, due to the carrier missing out on the GSII most likely because of the Galaxy Nexus’s arrival. The Galaxy S III for Verizon will be listed at $199 for the 16GB version, and $249 for the 32GB version. It will arrive in both Pebble Blue and Marble White on launch day. Preorders begin June 6, so get ready to start throwing your cash at Verizon on Wednesday.

T-MOBILE

Next we have T-Mobile’s version of the Galaxy S III, which we saw pictured last week. The GSIII will be hitting T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network with speeds up to 21Mbps, and the same overall hardware specs that will be coming to all US models (other than the LTE radio of course). The preorders for the T-Mobile version have not been opened yet, but T-Mobile will sell the device on June 21.

US CELLULAR

US Cellular will be receiving the Galaxy S III as well, with LTE and the same hardware specs as the above versions. The GSIII will be available in Blue and White, however the 32 GB model will only be available in Marble White. US Cellular will begin preorders for this device on June 12, and have not yet released pricing or release dates. Customers can sign up for email updates on the device’s arrival starting June 5 at US Cellular’s landing page.

SPRINT

Sprint will be the only carrier so far to receive the GSIII with Google Wallet preloaded, which is a pretty big deal. The rest of the US carriers have been late to the Wallet party, with Sprint being very supportive of Google’s services and even incorporating Wallet and Voice to their network. The GSIII will again, have the same specs as the rest of the devices and come with an LTE radio to be compatible with Sprint’s to-be-launched LTE network. The pricing will be the same as Verizon’s–$199 for the 16GB model and $249 for the 32GB model in both Marble White and Pebble Blue. Preorders begin June 5 with the device launching June 21.

Instapaper For Android Hits The Google Play Store

Instapaper has long been a favorite app for iOS users, but today Android users can finally join the club. Instapaper launched in the Google Play Store a few hours ago and since has been downloaded on all of my devices. Instapaper is a competitor to Pocket (formerly ReadItLater), and it has been one of my top needed smartphone services for quite some time.

The purpose behind Instapaper is to save the articles that you would like to read, but just don’t have the time to right when you stumble over them. When something is saved to Instapaper, it is immediately downloaded in a compact, text-only version that is made specifically for your phone or tablet’s screen. This makes having to deal with waiting for web pages to load a thing of the past, as the service downloads your articles in the background and prepares them for later use. You can customize the font style, font size, dark or light themes, and just about anything else you would expect from a reader application. The only downside is the steep $2.99 price tag that may make competing apps such as Pocket seem a little more appetizing. If you have Instapaper for Android, be sure to let us know what you think of the Android version in the comments below, and hit the Play link to give it a try.

Play link

Samsung Galaxy S III Coming To All 5 US Carriers Starting At $199 Beginning In June

Well folks, it’s here. And it’s come in the best way possible. The Galaxy S III is coming to the US, but it’s coming to all of the major US carriers with the exact same price and no outward changes from the global version. The hardware button, the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen–everything is just as it was in the leaked T-Mobile pictures we saw.

The official specs for, again, all models on all carriers is the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen under the safe guard of Gorilla Glass 2.0, a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, and an 8MP all packaged in a slim 8.6mm shell weighing in at only 4.7 ounces. The device will launch in both the Marble White and Pebble Blue versions, meaning the production issues Samsung was facing with the Pebble Blue version must be coming to an end. S-Voice, S-Beam, and all the other features of TouchWiz4 on Android 4.0 are coming along for the ride, and in the end this phone is left virtually unchanged from the global version in every aspect but the processor. Samsung does claim though, that the dual-core version will have the same speed and performance as the quad-core version, without sacrificing any battery life. And of course, we cannot forget the GSIII’s 2100 mAh battery which will be sure to last you all day even on the various LTE networks.

The Samsung Galaxy S III will hit Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular around the same times starting in June. The “exact pricing and dates” will be announced in the coming weeks, with a consistent price starting at $199. We’ll be sure to bring you reviews of this highly anticipated device as soon as we get our hands on a US version.

 

Source: Samsung

Nintendo Announces Official Wii U Gamepad And Pro Controllers

Nintendo’s Wii U has been no secret for a while now, as they gave us a demo last year at E3, however, they have made the infamous Gamepad controller official today during a live-stream. The Nintendo Wii U Gamepad is something completely different from any gaming controller that we have seen in the past, and if you didn’t know any better, you might even think it’s a mobile gaming device due to the on-board touch screen. The controller features a touch screen in the center, with an analog sticks on either side (which is a change from last year’s demo), a d-pad on the left, and the standard four-button layout on the right. The idea behind the new controller is that the touch screen will revolutionize the way that we play video games, and sort of combines handheld gaming and console gaming, two things Nintendo is very successful at.

The Gamepad isn’t just a handheld controller though, it also features motion control, NFC capabilities, and a front-facing camera to top things off. This new controller will likely be the centerpiece of Nintendo’s next-gen gaming efforts. The only problem with that is it may be a little expensive for multiple players at one time, depending on how necessary it is to play. The Gamepad and Wii U will come in black and white iterations, both launching at the same time. Nintendo also announced their Pro controller which is much more similar to traditional gaming controllers, and actually looks similar to the prototype controller originally shown for the Playstation 3. It has two analog sticks, two bumpers and two triggers, a d-pad, and four buttons–pretty standard stuff here, folks. This will also most likely be a little less pricey, and is also probably going to be Nintendo’s way of attracting “hardcore gamers”, who usually would be in favor of a Playstation or Xbox  over a Nintendo console. Both of these will be available at launch with the Wii U.

 

Images Of T-Mobile Galaxy S III Surface, No Major Hardware Changes From Global Version

It was only a matter of time before we started to see something about the US variants of Samsung’s already wildly-popular Galaxy S III, and The Verge has scored a few pictures of what may be the first US GSIII. T-Mobile is the branding that is on the back of the white or blue Galaxy S III, and this device is something of a trend-breaker. In years past, Samsung’s Galaxy series was often altered on its US variants, with each US carrier getting a different look, and also a different name. Sure, the “Galaxy S __” was always still tacked on the end (or beginning) of the device’s name to ensure the branding was present, but other than that we’re used to seeing names like “Epic 4G Touch” or “Skyrocket LTE”.

We’re not sure what this T-Mobile GSIII will be called exactly, but we are noticing that there are very little, if any at all, changes made to this device. In fact, from the pictures shown this model is identical to the global version, save the T-Mobile branding of course. This is also the first time a hardware home button has made it to the States on a Galaxy device, as it is usually removed and replaced by four capacitive touch buttons (or 3 in Ice Cream Sandwich devices). Do we like that the device has stayed the same, though? Personally, I usually favor touch capacitive buttons as opposed to a hardware home button, but I sure don’t like giving up a quad-core processor in my brand new GSIII. Let us know what you think in the comments, and we’ll keep you updated on the T-Mo GSIII’s announcement and launch.

 

Source: The Verge

Google Unveiling “The Next Dimension Of Maps” On June 6

Google Maps has been the king of maps for a while now, due to its stellar service and incredible iOS and Android applications, but things haven’t been looking very good as of late. When Google decided to start charging for its Maps API’s (in high-usage situations) companies like FourSquare dropped it as its maps provider. Other startups and companies began to do so, and before we knew it Apple is about to release their own Google Maps replacement. This isn’t only because Google began to charge, but it’s also because Apple undoubtedly enjoys their independence, especially from Google.

In the midst of all of these issues, however, Google has still kept improving their Maps platform and applications, adding things like indoor maps and directions and integration into Google+. Now they have announced that they will be unveiling “the next dimension of Maps. On June 6 they are holding an event to showcase this, and it is still unknown what exactly the next dimension of maps is. There are possibilities of a literal meaning such as adding a new 3D spin to Google Maps, or it could be something completely unrelated. Either way, we will be covering it every step of the way so be sure to stay tuned for what Google has in store for the Maps service.

 

Source: Google

Cricket Becomes First Carrier To Offer iPhone On Prepaid Plan

As of today, Cricket Communications is the first carrier to offer a pre-paid iPhone plan. The company announced that they will begin offering the iPhone on June 22 with a plan of unlimited voice, text, and data for $55. This plan is, obviously, contract free, so the price of the iPhone will be higher, but users will not be locked in for any amount of time. They will offer the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S, $399 for the 8GB iPhone 4 and $499 for the 16GB iPhone 4S.

Because this is a CDMA network, these devices are not unlocked, and you cannot buy an unlocked version from Apple and use it on Cricket’s network. It must be bought directly from Cricket, and they are currently not offering the iPhone online so you will need to call and order via phone or in-store until they do so. This should be a pretty big deal for any Cricket users trying to find their next high-end smartphone, and it’s another big step for pre-paid carriers in the US. The iPhone has finally started to branch out here in the states after going to Verizon, then spreading to Sprint and trickling down to smaller carriers such as Cricket. We’re still nowhere near the UK when it comes to purchasing any phone and taking it to any network, but it’s nice to see steps in that direction. Be sure to give your Cricket store a call on June 22 to pick up a shiny new iPhone.

Flipboard For Android Branches Out From GSIII And Enters Beta

Flipboard, the ever-popular iOS newsreader, was supposed to be coming to Android via the Galaxy S III. Not a stupid decision on the developers of Flipboard’s part, as the device locked in 9 million preorders. However, the Android community made sure that the Flipboard for Android application was successfully leaked and made available to everyone. And it worked surprisingly well.

The reason Flipboard decided to release their app on one major device was to make sure that it ran perfectly because apps like Flipboard bank on gorgeous visuals. But Flipboard did fine on most people’s phones, and after an OTA update the devs rolled out it ran even better, and I’ve actually been using it on a few of my devices since. Now that the GSIII has (sort of) launched across the globe, Flipboard is even closer to making their app officially available to all Android devices. They are going to publish a very strict beta that will allow users to find any remaining bugs, report them, and help Flipboard get everything nice and polished.

Android fragmentation makes it hard for developers to make sure their apps work the way they are supposed to on all devices, so it’s not uncommon that we see betas, public or private, to help them make sure things are running smoothly. In this case, Flipboard has made a lot of right decisions by keeping users in check with a “beta” tag, and not pushing an “official release” until they know they are ready for one. The Flipboard APK is all over the interwebs right now, but you can grab the official download here (directly from the Flipboard team) if you don’t already have it.

Google-Asus Nexus Tablet Shows Up On Benchmark Result Site

A lot of evidence points to Google working with Asus to bring us the first Nexus tablet. We first heard the idea a few months back, with news that it would be a 7-inch tablet that would finally put the Kindle Fire to bed. Asus has done a stellar job with Android tablets in the past, so it makes sense for Google to choose them as the official hardware manufacturer for the first Nexus tablet. With a 7-inch screen, the Nexus tablet would not be in direct competition with the iPad, which is clearly dominating the tablet market as of right now, so it is smart for Google to put a slightly different spin on things.

The Nexus tablet was rumored to come withe the next version of Android, JellyBean (or whatever Google actually calls it), and RightWare’s Benchmark site has given us even more insight on things. A device called the Google Asus Nexus 7 showed up with results on the site, leading us to believe that this was Google and Asus’s 7-inch Nexus tablet. The device is running JRN51B, which could very well be JellyBean right before our eyes. This falls right in line with Ice Cream Sandwich’s versions, and it would make sense that we start seeing more of this device because of the proposed July release date. Is this sure evidence of a 7-inch Nexus tablet? Not completely, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Source: Android Central

New iPhone Parts Leak, Show That Many Rumors Appear To Be Accurate Including Larger Screen

 

Rumors of the next iPhone (possibly the “iPhone 5) have really been taking off because, well, it’s the iPhone. Not to mention Apple has officially set the schedule and date for their keynote at WWDC, and while the next iPhone probably won’t be released until the fall, we never know for sure with Apple. This is because Apple has a notoriously tight lid kept on all of their developments, and when something goes amuck, like an iPhone 4 getting lose months before launch, you might just have an Apple CEO knocking on your door.

As far as rumors go, a larger screen, a smaller dock connecter, a new aspect ratio, and LTE have all been rumored to be on board in the next iteration of the iPhone. And it would be hard to believe that Apple would skip out on most of these like a larger screen or LTE. Our guess is that they won’t, and now we have some beautiful photos thanks to our friends at 9to5Mac that show what Apple may be planning.

As you can see in the images above, Apple is definitely going with a larger screen for the next iPhone, and the camera is actually placed on top of the earpiece as opposed to next to it. The dock connector is also smaller, and there is plenty of room inside for what we hope will be an LTE radio. In the image below, you can see that a metal plating has been used to give this iPhone what looks like a unibody shell, although we have no details as to what this is actually made of. The frame is as wide as the current iPhones (4 and 4S models of course), but is longer which goes right along with the runors we have been hearing. Sources say that the screen resolution will be 1136 x 640 and that the iPhone will have specially designed software (iOS 6?) to take advantage of all that extra room.

 

Source: 9to5Mac

GameStop Will Begin Selling Android Tablets At 1600 Locations Across The Nation

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about GameStop’s next moves into mobile gaming. It’d be stupid for them, as a company, to not recognize the huge amount of users who are doing their mobile gaming on their smartphones, tablets, and of course, the iPod Touch. This market has grown exponentially as of lately, easily passing the likes of the Nintendo DS and Playstation’s PSP and Vita systems. Tablets are also popular platforms for mobile gaming, whether they be Android or iPads, and GameStop has been on the move to start stocking and selling these products as soon as they can.

After starting to take trade-ins for things like iPods and iPads, GameStop has announced that they are planning to start selling pre-loaded Android tablets in over 1600 stores across the country. These tablets are the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Acer Iconia A100, and the Asus Transformer. All of these devices are very noteworthy for performance, and if I had to recommend someone an Android tablet, it would very likely be one of these three. Evidently GameStop agrees because they have decided to sell them, preloaded with games free of charge, to any customers who would like to take advantage of mobile gaming on a bigger screen.

 

Source: Pocket Gamer

Samsung Galaxy S III Launches Globally, Pebble Blue Version Still Battling Availability Woes

Samsung’s Galaxy S III is easily one of the most hyped phones of the year, and today it has finally become available for purchase (kind of). In 28 countries across the globe (the US not being one of them) the GSIII is can be purchased and put on a mobile carrier, with the sales starting from an official Samsung store in Westfield Stratford City. However, the device can only be sold from this outlet to customers who preordered the device.

The device should be available to more people in the coming days, as more outlets will begin stocking and selling the device. In the UK, there is also a delay of the Pebble Blue version of the phone, with many of the major carriers not expecting the stock of those devices to arrive until June 5th, well after the initial release of the device. Most UK carriers have the Pebble Blue GSIII listed as “out of stock”, with the white version still being available to purchase.

Along with the device itself, Samsung is also launching what they call their all-in-one music service that will be integrated with Galaxy line handsets. The free version allows users to purchase and stream their music, while the paid version will allow unlimited streaming of content and users will be able to upload their own music as well. We will be sure to keep you updated on the launch of the GSIII and when it will be available to everyone, including those of us in the US.

 

Source: Samsung Korea

Samsung Galaxy S III Could Be Hitting T-Mobile Next Month With Galaxy Note Following Soon After

The Samsung Galaxy S III has been one of the most anticipated phones of the year, and the Galaxy Note was one of Samsung’s most successful devices as of late. While the GSIII hasn’t launched yet (and will internationally on May 29 and in the US this summer), the Galaxy Note has been on AT&T for a while now. Lucky for T-Mobile users, both of these devices could be heading to their beloved carrier in the coming months. Our friends at TmoNews have gotten some insight on when these devices could potentially be hitting the network.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB Metallic Blue – June 20th
  • Samsung Galaxy S III 32GB Metallic Blue – June
  • Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB Ceramic White – July 11th
  • Samsung Galaxy Note – July 11th

These dates go hand in hand with what we’ve heard for the timeline of the GSIII launch here in the US, although it doesn’t make sense that they launch the white version in 16 GB only and so long after the Metallic Blue version, especially because of the production issues Samsung has been having with the blue version. However, Samsung told us summer was when these devices would be hitting, and if T-Mobile is getting these devices in June/July other carriers most likely will not be too far behind. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the GSIII launch in the US.

 

Source: TmoNews

Facebook Launches “Facebook Camera” For iPhone, Upload Up To 30 Photos At Once

Eerily close to their acquisition of the hit photo-sharing app, Instagram, Facebook has just launched a new photo-sharing app for iPhone called Facebook Camera. Facebook Camera is what you would expect it to be–an app that allows you to take pictures and add them to Facebook. This may seem simple enough, so much so in fact, that it is unnecessary to have, however, there are a few features that make it much easier to use than the iOS camera or just the Facebook app itself.

Facebook Camera has a completely new UI from what we have come to know in the official app, and it is actually very intuitive and easy-to-use. You can view a very streamlined version of your Facebook news feed that shows all of the photos your friends have uploaded and tagged, and you can also view their profiles (profiles only show pictures as well. When viewing your “me” stream you can scroll through your camera roll and pick the photos you would like to upload. You can add up to 15 effects to each photo, crop them, tag them, and upload up to 30 at a time. This is what sets this app apart from other photo uploading apps. When you have a ton of photos to upload via mobile, Facebook Camera would definitely be the quickest and easiest way to do so, that is, if you use Facebook. You can take pictures directly from the app, however, for some reason you can’t actually delete them. The app did just launch today though, so it’s understandable that they have a few things to work through.

Facebook Camera is a pretty nice app and if used for its strong points, can really be productive to have installed. It is a little strange that they launch this app right after the Instagram acquisition, but that was a pretty out-of-nowhere purchase to begin with, and it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that the team working on Facebook Camera had no idea it was going to happen. Either way, it’s here, so be sure to check it out in the App Store and let us know what you think in the comments.