AT&T’s Galaxy S II gets CM9 nightlies, Galaxy Note and Skyrocket are next

Less than a day after AT&T’s flavor of the Samsung Glaaxy S II got its first leaked Ice Cream Sandwich ROM, the folks at the CyanogenMod team are hard at work incorporating the much-needed software into their modded Android 4.0 builds. AT&T Galaxy S II owners can download nightly builds of CyanogenMod 9 starting now, getting the latest and greatest in customized Android 4.0 straight from the source. Head over to the CyanogenMod Mirror Network to download the latest build; install by flashing in a custom recovery, as usual.

While the CyanogenMod team didn’t say so specifically, it’s more than likely that the updated kernel for ICS on AT&T’s Galaxy S II variant is the reason that the nightly updates have started. Changing around the Android software, even for something as complicated as a brand new version, is often hamstrung by limitations in the kernel if run on an older version. Since AT&T has three different pieces of hardware based on the Galaxy S II, the CM team is also changing the name of the internal build to the AT&T GSII model number, i777.
There’s an extra bonus for other AT&T modders as well. CyanogenMod’s Google + post included some not-so-cryptic language at the end, indicating what’s next for CM9:

 ”You are smart folks, we’re sure we don’t have to hand you a note to figure it out… no sky rocket scientists needed (/bad puns)”

So, yeah, AT&T’s LTE version of the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S II Skyrocket (the Ma Bell name for the Galaxy S II LTE) will both be getting some nightly ROM updates sooner rather than later. The Skyrocket’s got a bona-fide official update already, and the Galaxy Note is getting one soon enough. If the pattern holds, nightly updates for HTC’s Vivid can’t be too far behind. Thanks for all the hard work, CM team =- gt to it, ROM aficionados.

Samsung GT-I9300 coming in May with dual-core and ICS

Another impressive looking Samsung Galaxy smartphone is in the news today. Previously suspected as being the Galaxy S III based on the model number being the GT-I9300, but some new details along with leaked info back in February has us thinking something else. Most likely this device will not be the highly anticipated Galaxy S III and according to Samsung is a mid-range phone.


Based on sources from GSMarena the GT-I9300 was actually listed in Samsung’s order system as the Samsung Galaxy M. If you remember Samsung’s naming change last year, the Galaxy M stands for mid-tier. The specs of this device are nothing short of impressive so if they think this is mid-tier, I can’t wait to see the Galaxy S III.
The GT-I9300 comes with a 1.4 GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4-inch 720p HD AMOLED display, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Previous leaks suggested the GT-I9300 would come with a 1026 x 600 screen resolution so we are still unsure on the actual resolution of this device. Other than the 4-inch screen size all the rest of those specs are on par with, or better than their flagship Galaxy S II that is currently available. According to GSMarena the GT-I9300 will be available in early May and will be shipping with Android 4.0 ICS. Samsung looks to be getting rid of hardware and capacitive buttons with this phone as everything is on-screen. Hopefully the same holds true for the Galaxy S III.
With this phone coming in May does that mean the Galaxy S III will be here before or after? I can’t imagine them releasing this first, but at the same time neither would surprise me. No matter what happens I can’t wait to see what the Galaxy S III comes equipped with since they are calling this impressive phone mid-tier at best.

Android 4.0.4 ICS rolling out for Nexus S, Xoom, and Galaxy Nexus

Whoa! It looks like Google maybe saw a few angry comments around the Android ecosystem about the lack of updates because in one huge massive announcement they just made tons of people happy. The update to Android 4.0.4 ICS is rolling our right now, as we speak to multiple devices. Those include the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (GSM), Nexus S, and the Motorola Xoom WiFi. Looks like Verizon users of the Gnex and Xoom will have to wait a little longer.


Google just made the official announcement over at +Android on Google+ stating that not only are all three of those devices getting the latest version of Android starting today, but that 4.0.4 ICS has also been merged with the AOSP source tree. This means developers like CyanogenMod and everyone else has full access to the official tweaks and changes to version 4.0.4 and can integrate them into their ROM’s.
We are hearing Google has added over 100 improvements, tweaks, and changes to Android 4.0.4 over the previous version 4.0.3 that was only rolled out for a short while. Among those changes we can expect faster screen rotation, better camera support and stability – as well as improved photos, and they’ve added more support for exchange in the email client. That is just a tiny list of the over 100 changes, and while they all wont be noticeable at face value, you can expect this latest version of Android to be even better and faster.
Android 4.0.4 has already been merged to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and we can expect ROM developers to integrate these new features and changes very soon. The updates should be arriving on handsets as we speak, or just wait for your favorite developer to add the new features. I’d be heading to settings > about phone/tablet > and checking for updates if I were you.

Samsung trademarks Galaxy Premier, Grand, and Next names

Samsung is no stranger to trademark filings. We saw four or so new trademarks for Galaxy devices earlier in the month and apparently they are at again before the month ends, and have just trademarked an additional three names. Samsung releases lots of smartphones in the high end range, and everywhere else. Today they’ve branded Galaxy Premier, Galaxy Grand, and Galaxy Next to their name.


Recently they’ve been coming up with some pretty great names if you ask me. Buying a high end quad-core phone called the Samsung Galaxy Premier sounds nice right? I think so! Funny thing here is the Galaxy Next was already released early last year as a very low-end device, so it’s odd to see that name appearing again. It hasn’t stopped them before because Samsung is about to release their second device in April under the same Galaxy Beam name.
Earlier in the month we saw Samsung trademark names such as the Galaxy Stellar and Halo, but you add these new ones to the list and they all sound pretty high end. I can’t imagine a mid-range phone with a single-core processor being called “grand” or “premier” can you? Obviously this is only speculation for now and some of these we might never see reach the market. With top-tier flagship phones like the Galaxy S III on the way soon we could see a few of these actually be used, but for now we’ll just have to wait for Samsung to make their next move.

Latest Report Highlights Samsung Galaxy S III May Feature A 4.6-Inch Super AMOLED Plus HD Display

Another day, another tidbit of Samsung Galaxy S III news. We are aware the device will likely feature impressive specs including a thin form factor and a souped-up quad-core processor, but there have been varying reports of what the actual display will be in the final version of the device. While we’ve heard the device will most likely feature on-screen soft keys, there have been conflicting reports as to what the screen size will be. The speculation of the screen size has gone anywhere from 4.7-inches to a whopping 4.8-inches. While DigiTimes doesn’t have the greatest track record for accuracy, it does report Sammy’s new wundertoy will indeed feature a 4.6-inch screen, which seems to fall in line with other reports in the past.
This 4.6-inch screen would be quite a doozy too. It’s rumored to feature a Super AMOLED Plus HD screen. In addition, the screen will feature a mind-boggling 319 ppi pixel density. Oh and there are added reports the Galaxy S III will be Sammy’s first device with the Super AMOLED Plus HD screen which will feature a true RGB matrix. Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like the Galaxy S III will likely look to raise the bar and standard for the future of Android devices much like how the Galaxy S II has already done and the Galaxy S before that.
Again, this latest rumor coming from DigiTimes may not be completely accurate— but if it is even remotely true (and that’s a big IF), we may be seeing Samsung getting ready for yet another record-breaking year.

Samsung Galaxy Note shipments top 5 million

So many people laughed when they saw the Samsung Galaxy Note had a 5.3-inch screen, but it’s definitely a hit. Just about a month ago, Samsung told us they sold 2 million units with a projection of 10 million for 2012. A little less than 30 days later and they are now reporting that 5 million units are now sold. Looks like 10 million could be an understatement. Overall Samsung doesn’t appear to be slowing down. When looking at their complete lineup, they expect to ship approximately 50 million smartphones this year. Gee, I wonder if the Galaxy S III might play a big part in achieving those numbers?

Samsung Galaxy Note sells 5 million worldwide

It’s not just pachyderms that love the Galaxy Note – the oversized smartphone seems to be a hit with those on two legs as well. Samsung has announced that its Galaxy Note has sold more than five million units worldwide, just five months after its introduction in Europe. As the phone has spread to Asia and North America it’s winning a share of the market that many thought impossible for a device with such an unconventional form factor – and the many millions that Samsung has spent on promotion doesn’t hurt, either.

The hardware merits of the Galaxy Note are impossible to deny: it’s got the largest screen of any smartphone currently on the market, and it uses Samsung’s excellent Super AMOLED panel at a stunning 1280×800 to boot. Add that to a fast dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, 8 megapixel camera and old-school S-Pen stylus, which uses a Wacom active digitizer for greater accuracy and pressure sensitivity. Though the phone launched with Gingerbread, it’ll get an ICS update in the second quarter.  The oversized form factor had been considered something of a gamble (just to compare, the screen on the Note is almost as wide as the iPhone’s is tall) but consumers the world over have responded with enthusiasm.
Samsung seems to have single-handedly created the a niche – sorry, Dell Streak fans, that one doesn’t count. But plenty of companies are ready to step up and fight for the marketshare. Ignoring all of the “normal” smartphones that are reaching into the 4.7-inch screen area, there’s LG’s Optimus Vu, with a 5.0-inch 4:3 screen, and Panasonic’s new ELUGA Power, with a 5.0-inch 720p screen. Neither of these models have hit the market yet, but you can expect a “Galaxy Note killer” from every major manufacturer before the end of 2012.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy Note

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : September 01, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
• Resolution : 800x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 178 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 390 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AMR
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 clears FCC en route to AT&T

The sequel to Samsung’s 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab, being called the Galaxy Tab 2 10 has passed through the FCC again this week and has been given the stamp of approval. Originally the WiFi model hit the FCC a few weeks ago, but today’s model also is rocking some HSPA+ radios aching to AT&T’s network.


I must admit that Samsung really needs to figure out a better naming scheme then calling this thing the Galaxy Tab 2 10 because that is a bit confusing. Maybe if they didn’t offer every size under the sun they’d be able to come up with some clever names here. Either way it is good news to see this clearing the FCC, and with AT&T on board because as of now Samsung hasn’t made any plans clear regarding a US launch. Although we expect the tablet to arrive here in the US sometime here soon.
The Galaxy Tab 2 (both 7 and 10) appear to be rocking the same dual-core Tegra 2 processors, 1GB of RAM, and come with 16 or 32GB of storage. They’ve been slightly redesigned over the original models with the speaker grills front and center to appease the lawyers of Apple. The biggest change here is they are running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, something all the current Galaxy Tab owners are still patiently awaiting. We’ve heard reports that Samsung will be issuing updates in Q2 for most of their latest tablets but still have no solid date to report.
This FCC filing is good news for those stateside hoping to get the new Galaxy Tab models, especially one with 3G/4G HSPA+ connectivity. Until we hear more from Samsung we’ll just be patiently awaiting its arrival.

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Is Available For A Penny And Oh— Has A Leaked ICS Build Available

Amazon Wireless will be selling the AT&T Galaxy S II smartphone for a mere 1¢. That’s right gang— a mere penny for new customers. In addition, Amazon will toss in free 2-day shipping when you score the device. Great deal, right? That means those of you on AT&T who have been looking for a new phone may now have found the best and most inexpensive reason to upgrade.
And what better way to celebrate your new purchase or upgrade than with an immediate software upgrade? Let me explain– we know the ICS update for the Galaxy S II smartphone is out, but it was only a matter of time before variations of the update reached American shores. AT&T recently announced the Galaxy S II smartphone would indeed get Android 4.0 at some point this year, but you can bet both Sammy and/or AT&T have been hard at work developing an AT&T-specific version of the global ICS update in the meantime. Not surprisingly, an early build of the of the update has leaked out in the form of a ROM and is ready for ambitious (or impatient) users to an early taste of that ice cream goodness.
Feeling lucky punks? Hit the source links below to see the specific information on the leaked ICS build and page where you can find the phone for a penny.

Yet more new Galaxy series names trademarked by Samsung

Another day, another batch of Galaxy series names filed for trademark by Samsung. Earlier this month we told you that Samsung had filed for trademarks on Galaxy Thunder, Galaxy Express and Galaxy Accelerate. We haven’t actually seen any phones using these names hit the market yet however you can now add Galaxy Grand, Galaxy Premier and Galaxy Next into the mix too.

In the past Samsung has used these titles for carrier branded variations of flagship devices like the Galaxy S and Galaxy SII, we’ve also seen previous names attached to the budget Galaxy devices so it’s anyone’s guess as to what devices these new names will end up attached to.

It seems that Samsung’s marketing team is steadily working through the alphabet. Think you could do a better job? Leave us your suggestions in the comments below!

New info suggests possible mid-May launch for the Samsung GT-i9300

Okay Android boys and girls, it looks like we have some more leaked info that we’ll tack up on our rumor board. A few days ago we reported that an anonymous user had taken a photo of the supposed GT-i9300, otherwise rumored to be the model number for the highly anticipated Galaxy S III. According to another tipster, the GT-i9300 will be released to the public in mid-May. Unfortunately it won’t be the GS III, but you didn’t expect it was going to be did you? Apparently the name or code-name of the the phone that is scheduled to ship out is listed as the Samsung Galaxy M. Now if you all recall back in August, Samsung had announced a new naming method for their future smartphones and the letter “M” is meant to be for “magical” (mid-tier) devices. So this is not the GS III that fans everywhere are yearning for. One thing is for certain, mid-May is only a month and a half away so we will find out more about the real GS III soon enough

Google Rolls Out Android 4.0.4 to Multiple Devices, Verizon Galaxy Nexus Not Included

It’s a big day for Android fans as Jean-Baptiste Queru (JBQ) has recently announced that Android 4.0.4 is currently being pushed to the Android Open Source Project. According to JBQ, this newest version of Android is full of many goodies, with “a few hundred changes over 4.0.3″ and is the same update that was pushed to the Motorola XOOM tablet recently. One thing to keep in mind, though, as mentioned in Google’s previous statement regarding CDMA devices, “files related to CDMA devices have not been tested in the context of AOSP.” Yes this means that your Verizon Galaxy Nexus won’t see the update as soon as some of the other vanilla Android devices. As JBQ puts it, “I do not know the schedule for deployment to consumer devices, especially in situations that involve additional per-operator customizations done by the device manufacturers and/or in situations that require operator approval prior to deployment”. This could end up being that 4.0.5 update tipper for early April and the VZW Galaxy Nexus could skip 4.0.4 altogether.
As it stands right now, the 4.0.4 update has started rolling out to these devices:

• UMTS/GSM Nexus S
• Xoom WiFi
• HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus

For those of you with a Nexus S you can grab the update right now if you aren’t a fan of waiting for OTA’s but you are going to want to hit up the XDA for further details. You must be on Android 4.0.3, and the 17MB update has been confirmed to work on both the i9023, and i9020-T (T-Mobile’s Nexus S).  Once you receive the update (any device) you can expect  “stability improvements, better camera performance, smoother screen rotation, improved phone number recognition and more.” I imagine we will get the full changelog once the update has been made available for all applicable devices.
Folks with a XOOM Wi-Fi tablet are currently stuck with frequently checking under Settings > About Tablet > System Update, until the OTA is ready for your slate. Or you can grab the leaked soak test we mentioned earlier.

Android 4.0.4 AOSP ROM now available for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus

As you read a little while ago, Android 4.0.4 is being pushed out to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), but the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is left in the dark. We have some good news as Birdman created a stock ROM based on the recent 4.0.4 AOSP build that was just released, and has been specially configured for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. Birdman does note “that the kernel source isn’t getting its 4.0.4 push till later this week. Still – this is 4.0.4 (and 4.0.3 kernels should work on it anyways).” You will also need to get the newest Google apps package and in order to remain rooted you must flash the superuser fix .zip to keep the Superuser app in check. And as always, be sure to complete a Nandroid backup before flashing just in case anything goes awry. If you are ready to get your early 4.0.4 on, head over to the source link and give it a try. For those who do check it out, be a pal and let us know how she runs!

Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) Passes Through FCC

The FCC has just approved the Samsung Galaxy 2 (10.1), bringing it closer to release. This model is the version that supports HSPA+ on bands II and V, meaning it’s compatible with AT&T, though no official U.S. release has been announced yet. The FCC also tested and approved the Galaxy Tab 2′s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.

Android 4.0.4 OTA for the GSM Nexus S now available

Many GSM Samsung Nexus S owners have been patiently waiting to see when Google would push the next update to their devices, and the answer is right now. Android 4.0.4 is currently rolling out to users showing a build of IMM76D. You have a few options when it comes to installing it of course. If you're on a stock device running Android 4.0.3, you can download and install directly from the OTA or use the directions below:
Keep in mind, this is for GSM devices only

• Grab the OTA package here
• Rename it to update.zip.  This isn't needed for the Nexus S bootloader, but it makes things easy, if that's how you prefer them.
• Copy it over to the internal storage on your Nexus S.
• Power off, then hold volume up and power to reboot to the bootloader.
• Using the volume key to navigate, select recovery, then use the power button to confirm
• When you see the warning triangle and arrow, hold the power button and tap volume up.  You'll see a menu.
• From the menu, select "apply update from /sdcard", and choose update.zip from the list.
• Let it do its thing and update your system, radio, and other partitions.  When finished, choose "reboot system now"
• Enjoy!

If you're rooted, there is a Clockwork Mod flashable zip file available for download as well, but again you will have to be on Android 4.0.3 to make use of it as it is not a full OS update. The CWM flashable file is stock, with a insecure boot image with Busybox and Superuser installed, as well as the stock recovery removed.

T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G now available online and in stores

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, the latest Android device to find a home on T-Mobile's "4G" network, is now available online and in stores. For $149 on contract, you'll get 4-inch Super AMOLED display with 480x800 resolution, a dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor clocked at 1.5 Ghz, and both a front and rear-facing camera, all while surfing on HSPA+ speeds of up to 42 Mbps.
We didn't really love it or hate it, largely because of the now-outdated Gingerbread under its hood, but if you're in the market for an affordable device with specs that are difficult to sneeze at, the Blaze 4G might be right up your alley. You can grab yours now through T-Mobile at the source link

Google confirms Android 4.0.4 update on Xoom, GSM Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus

Android 4.0.4 has started rolling out on Wifi-only Motorola Xoom tablets, as well as GSM Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus phones, Google has confirmed. The new version of Android, which has been described as an "incremental update" by Google engineer Jean-Baptiste Queru, is said to include "stability improvements, better camera performance, smoother screen rotation, improved phone number recognition and more."
News of 4.0.4 launching on the Xoom and Nexus S (as well as AOSP) has already broken, but this is the first we've heard about the new version of ICS on the GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus. For what it's worth, none of our Galaxy Nexuses have received the update just yet, but we're sure that'll change in the hours and days ahead.
No word on when this update will be arriving on the Nexus S 4G or Verizon LTE Galaxy Nexus, but Android 4.0.5 has already been tipped for an early April launch on the Verizon Nexus.