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Samsung Galaxy S7 already shipping ahead of mid March availibility

http://www.neowin.net/news/samsung-galaxy-s7-already-shipping-ahead-of-mid-march-availibility

According to at least two users on Reddit, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and edge variant have already started shipping, well ahead of the announced 'mid March' date originally announced just over a week ago. The first, hailing from the US, announced that the device, from carrier T-Mobile, was already shipped, and provided a snapshot from a UPS shipping email as proof, while the second Reddit usersaid that his edge had already arrived "from a Finnish carrier" and provided an unboxing which you .

With these two users receiving the handsets earlier than expected from both sides of the Atlantic, it's likely others will also start seeing the arrival of their preorders this week.

Have you preordered the Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge and received a shipping confirmation? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Euro Tech Talk & Reddit (1) (2) via Slash Gear

 
Samsung Galaxy series Android 6 Marhsmallow update roadmap: here is when you can expect it

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sams...oadmap-here-is-when-you-can-expect-it_id78910

Samsung has already started updating its Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge phones to Android 6 Marshmallow with the new and improved version of TouchWiz on top of that, but if you have some other Samsung phone, chances are that you don't know when and whether it will get updated.
We have now obtained information from a source familiar with Samsung's plans about the company's dates for the Android 6 Marshmallow update.
Good news is that all of last year's top Samsung phones should get updated to Android 6 by the end of March 2016, while last year's top Samsung phones will get updated in April and May. Samsung is even planning to update the Galaxy Alpha, a device released in late 2014, with the update for it coming in June 2016.

Here is the full list of top-priority Samsung phones due for update soon:
Next on line are devices that are not considered flagships, but will still get the Android 6 update. The list only mentions one such phone, but the list is likely a bit longer than that:
With the Galaxy A7 (2016) listed for update, it's reasonable to expect the Galaxy A5 (2016), and other mid-rangers to get updated to Android 6 this summer.
 
Galaxy S7 edge more popular than S7, both tipped to break preorder record

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Gala...-both-tipped-to-break-preorder-record_id78920

According to one uncorroborated report by Eldar Murtazin, the guy that tipped the big batteries and larger camera sensor pixels of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the preorder numbers for both handsets are through the roof everywhere, including in his native Russia.
While the handsets are expected to shatter Samsung's preorder records for the Galaxy S line, the kicker is that he claims Galaxy S7 edge indeed has an edge over its more compact sibling. In fact, the insiders split the sales numbers as 64% in favor of the S7 edge, and 36% ordering the 5.1" Galaxy S7.
We can't say we are surprised, as our own poll numbers on the day that both handsets were announced indicated the same thing - nearly 69% of our 1467 respondents gave their preference for the Galaxy S7 edge, as you can see below. Can you guess what color is the most popular in preorders? Yep, the Black Onyx, as usual, so it's neat that Samsung made this one with transitioning color hues that go from deep black to grey, depending on how the light reflects from the surface.
 
Samsung's free Gear VR offer with Galaxy S7 and S7 edge purchase goes live

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsungs-free-gear-vr-offer-galaxy-s7-and-s7-edge-purchase-goes-live

As promised a few weeks ago, Samsung has started offering people in the U.S. who purchase aGalaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge a free Gear VR headset. (Or, in some instances, the Gear S2 smartwatch.)

The offer is for people who pre-ordered or ordered those phones from between Feb. 23 through March 18. Those folks have under March 31 to submit their Offer Claim Form and valid purchase receipt. along with the phone's IMEI and Wi-Fi MAC address, at the Gear VR offer site. The offer also includes six free games that are worth about $50 in total, in addition to the $99 Gear VR. The headset will be mailed out in between four to six weeks.
 
Google to boost Nexus 5X performance in new update

http://www.neowin.net/news/google-to-boost-nexus-5x-performance-in-new-update

Slated to start rolling out today, Google promises performance improvements to the Nexus 5X in a new over-the-air (OTA) update. A Nexus Community Manager posted on reddit to make the announcement, saying the company had listened to public feedback about the Nexus 5X.

The manager said the update identifies the following issues, and also includes the monthly security update due for March:

  • General slow/sluggish performance
  • DND next alarm disappearing issue
  • Bluetooth/WiFi improvements
  • Carrier-specific bug fixes
Our own review of the Nexus 5X pointed to occasional stuttering throughout a variety of apps, despite the overall impressive speed of the device. It's not clear if the improvements to "general slow/sluggish performance" will specifically address this issues.

Looking more broadly, this new update appears to be part of a wider strategy from Google to draw customers toward its Nexus line of phones. Just this week Google aggressively dropped the price of the Nexus 5X through its own cellular carrier Project Fi in the U.S. and in late January it dropped the RRP of both the Nexus 5X and 6P.

Source: Reddit via The Verge
 
Galaxy S7 and S7 edge prices, release, and payments on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Gala...s-on-Verizon-AT-T-T-Mobile-and-Sprint_id78664


Samsung had only a few days gap between the unveiling of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edgeon February 21st, and its appearance in the carrier stores of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and U.S. Cellular on February 26th for a preview, which is a pretty commendable achievement. Despite the official launch date being March 11th, the first units were shipped out shortly after preorders started, and the phones were in the hands of some users by the end of February - strike two for logistics.
That's all fine and dandy, but how much will these two puppies net you, what colors, promos and memory versions your carrier will offer? Well, the US would only get the 32 GB version of the phone, at least through the official channels, this much is certain. If you are curious about the colors, you can have the Galaxy S7 versions in Black Onyx or Gold Platinum, while the Galaxy S7 edge will color your day with three hues - the same Black Onyx and Gold Platinum, but also a Silver Titanium version added for a good measure. Check out the rest of the pricing details by carrier below.

Verizon
Availability: launch date March 11th


Prices: ~$672 (Galaxy S7), ~$792 (Galaxy S7 edge), $28/month (S7), or $33/month (S7 edge) for 24 months

Bonuses: free Gear S2 or Gear VR and 6 games gratis for those who order by March 18

AT&T
Availability: launch date March 11th

Prices: ~$699 (Galaxy S7), ~$799 (Galaxy S7 edge)
On AT&T Next 24, the carrier's 30-month installment plan, the monthly payment for the 32 GB version of Galaxy S7 starts at $23.17, while the 32 GB Galaxy S7 edge will net you $26.50 a month. Both phones will be available in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum colors, while Galaxy S7 edge could also be bought in Silver Titanium. That's roughly $695 and $795, respectively. While AT&T doesn't yet list the price to purchase the handsets outright, though we'd wager to guess it will be rounded to $699 and $799, or thereabouts.

Bonuses: besides a free Gear VR and 6 games gratis ($150 value) for those who preorder by March 18th, there will be a DIRECTV collaboration on the S7 and S7 edge. If you are a DIRECTV subscriber, you can now watch live TV and movies on yoursmartphone. The handsets' Quick Remote function will allow your phone to serve as a remote control pause, rewind, and fast forward on your TV at home, or control the DIRECTV app with Samsung’s S-Voice virtual assistant.
BOGO offer! Get a second Galaxy S7 for free - must be using a new line with AT&T Next 24, which is AT&T's 30-month installment plan. Both phones must be added to a qualifieddata plan like Mobile Share Value. The latter will cost you as low as $70 a month for two phones. After three bill cycles or less, you will receive as much as a $695 credit spread out over the 30 months of the Next 24 Plan. Those funds are used to reimburse you for laying out the cost of the second Galaxy S7. If you decide to go with the Galaxy S7 edge instead, you will be responsible for the difference between the cost of that model and the $695 reimbursement from AT&T.

Don't let splashes slow you down. Introducing the @SamsungMobileUS #GalaxyS7 to AT&T https://t.co/eDHNVeIjG7https://t.co/v18zl9Cqvw

— AT&T (ATT) 21 ????????, 2016
T-Mobile

Availability: launch date March 11th
Prices: $669.99 (Galaxy S7), $779.99 (Galaxy S7 edge)
A 32GB Galaxy S7 in Black Onyx or Gold Platinum will set you back $0 upfront if you want to pay on 24 installments, instead of getting the phone outright. That will be 23 installments of $27.92, and a 24th one that's $27.83. The S7 edge can be yours for 23 x $32.50, and a 24th installment of $32.49. Team Magenta has S7 edge units in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Gold Platinum.
Bonuses: free Gear VR and 6 games gratis for those who order by March 18, plus one year of free Netflix subscription (that's $250 value in total bonuses!)
BOGO offer! Pick one Samsung Galaxy S7 for $0 down or one Galaxy S7 edge for $59.99 down, then get a second one for free after rebate. Anyone who has purchased during pre-order will also be able to get the BOGO offer. Unlike AT&T, T-Mobile will reimburse you for the full amount of the S7 edge if you choose to buy two of them, and give you a prepaid debit card instead of $23 dollar monthly bill credits over 30 months.

Sprint
Availability: launch date March 11th
Prices: ~$649 (Galaxy S7), ~$749 (Galaxy S7 edge)
Sprint is starting a special upgrade program for the S7 and S7 edge, called Galaxy Forever, in analogy with its iPhone Forever kit. Those who subscribe to the program, will be able to grab a Galaxy S7 beginning March 11th, pay 12 installments on the new Galaxy Forever Sprint Lease, return the phone at the end of the period, and grab the Galaxy S8, or whatever new Samsung releases next year at that time. Here's the pricing scoop:
Galaxy Forever: upgrade to the latest Galaxy smartphone after 12 monthly lease payments
Samsung Galaxy S7 - $25.99 per month for 24 months with upgrade available after 12 payments, get a second one for $12.99 per month for 24 months after a $13.00 service credit and with upgrade available after 12 payments;
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge – $30.50 per month for 24 months with upgrade available after 12 payments, get a second one for just $15.25 per month for 24 months after $15.25 service credit and with upgrade available after 12 payments.

Installment Billing: own the phone after 24 monthly payments

Samsung Galaxy S7 - $27.09 per month for 24 months, get a second one for just $13.54 per month for 24 months after a $13.55 service credit;

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge – $31.25 per month for 24 months, get a second one for just $15.62 per month for 24 months after a $15.63 service credit.
Bonuses: a second S7 or S7 edge at half price when you pay on installments! A free Gear VR plus 6 free games for orders by March 18
 
Android N will use less data and let you block spammers

http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/9/11186768/android-n-data-saver-call-blocking

Google just announced that a preview of its next version of Android, known as "N" for now, is now available for developers. The preview is packed with new features, including split-screen multitasking and new notification management, but there are other, smaller features that might be just as appreciated. Listed in Google's developer documentationare a new Data Saver mode and the ability to block incoming calls and messages on a system level.

The Data Saver feature is described by Google as "a new system service that helps reduce cellular data use by apps, whether roaming, near the end of the billing cycle, or on a small prepaid data pack." When enabled, "the system blocks background data usage and signals apps to use less data in the foreground wherever possible — such as by limiting bit rate for streaming, reducing image quality, deferring optimistic precaching, and so on." It will be possible to whitelist apps to prevent them from being affected by the Data Saver mode.
 
Android N is now available as a Developer Preview

http://www.androidcentral.com/android-n-now-available-developer-preview

There's no waiting for Google I/O this year, the Android N Developer Preview is available right now.

Google's Developer Preview program has been a great way to get the important parts of the next version of Android out into the world early, so developers can prepare their apps for whatever Android does next. In the past, this new version of Android is announced — and early code released — at Google I/O alongside some sessions that make it easier for developers to hit the ground running. This year Google has decided to release the next Developer Preview before I/O, so developers are able to get familiar with the system before the conference.

You know what that means. Android N is here in Developer Preview form. It's time to flash partially broken images to Nexus phones and tablets to see what we can expect when it is officially available to everyone.

There are a handful of interesting visual changes in this Developer Preview, but it's important to remember that nothing is ever set in stone with these images. Google has added and removed features during this Developer Preview period in the past, and there's no reason to think they won't do so again. That having been said, it looks like a big focus in Android N is going to be further tweaking the notification system in Android. Bundled notifications will stop any one app from filling your tray with icons, and the tray itself has been adjusted so quick settings are available on the first swipe down instead of the second. This means faster access to things like Wifi and Do not disturb toggles, and a cleaner overall interface.
 
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 makes it a design leader

http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/15/11221814/samsung-galaxy-s7-design-leader

When Nokia’s cellphone star faded, it was Samsung that stepped into the role of the world’s biggest phone vendor while others took over the mantle of being design leaders. The most copied designs today still come from Apple, but now that Samsung has introduced the superb Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, that’s about to change in a significant way. The world’s biggest manufacturer of phones is now also one of its best designers.

It was in the wake of the poorly received Galaxy S5 in 2014 that Samsung started showing a real commitment to improved industrial design. By the middle of that year, the Korean company had launched the handsome but expensive Galaxy Alpha, which was to provide the outline for a fundamental reform of its entire smartphone portfolio. What’s remarkable is that Samsung had the humility and the diligence to indeed change its ways. That distinguishes it from Sony, which has been talking about reorganizing its mobile division for longer than competitors like Xiaomi have existed, and from HTC, which still clings to its Sense software like an ineffective security blanket. It’s also the difference between Samsung and Nokia: the Finnish company’s prior success made it slow to let goof its Symbian legacy and embrace things like capacitive touchscreens, whereas Samsung has mercilessly scythed away its failed experiments.


SAMSUNG SAID IT WOULD CHANGE, AND IT DID

Where the Galaxy S6 was good, the Galaxy S7 is great. The first iteration of the present design sacrificed waterproofing and storage flexibility, which the new generation restores. All phone companies talk about heeding user feedback, but Samsung is actually doing it. People decried the lack of a memory card slot in the S6 series and the sharpness of the Edge’s back, so Samsung fixed both. This is as responsive and adaptable as any market leader has ever been. Instead of smugly reciting its hundreds of millions of annual smartphone sales, Samsung’s mobile division has addressed people’s pain points and ushered in innovations that are entirely its own. Plus it’s refined and polished every facet of its hardware to an unprecedented degree.

 
Sony launches PlayStation Video app on Android

http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/16/11243442/playstation-video-app-android-launch-sony


Sony has launched a new PlayStation Video app for Android that allows PS4, PS3, and Vita owners to stream films and TV shows obtained from the PlayStation Store to their smartphones and tablets. New episodes and movies can also be bought inside the app, software that marks the first time Android users can watch their purchases and rentals away from one of Sony's consoles, Xperia phones, or via a small selection of Sony smart TVs.

While the app's already scored good reviews from Android users, there's one missing feature that some are complaining about: PlayStation Vue. Sony made its subscription service available across the US earlier this week — albeit without live shows from the biggest four TV networks — after a lengthy trial period, but so far it's only made a dedicated app available on iOS and Amazon's Fire TV. There is a section for Vue in the new Android app, but it's unclear whether it's a promotional area or if it can be used to sign up for and stream the service; on the Nexus 5X we tested the app on, the Vue page was mostly broken. Android owners with a Vue subscription may be feeling left out, but they could always take solace in the fact that the new PlayStation Video app is exclusive to their platform, meaning people with both Apple phones and large libraries of movies bought from the PlayStation Store are in a similar situation.
 
Samsung begins rolling out Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow to Galaxy S5

http://www.neowin.net/news/samsung-begins-rolling-out-android-601-marshmallow-to-galaxy-s5

Over four months after Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released, Samsung finally began upgrading its devices in February, starting with its Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, along with the Galaxy Note 5 in some markets.

Now, Marshmallow is starting to trickle down to some of Samsung's older devices too. As SamMobilereports, the company has begun upgrading the Galaxy S5, its 2014 flagship phone, with Android 6.0.1.

So far, the update is available only in South Korea, specifically for model number SM-G900L on the LG Uplus network. But now that the rollout has begun for that version of the device, it should soon make its way to other variants of the Galaxy S5 in other markets too.

Meanwhile, Google has already rolled out its first Developer Preview of the next version of the OS, known as Android N, which will be released later this year - although given the notoriously slow pace at which Samsung updates its devices, it's probably best not to expect its arrival on older Galaxys anytime soon.

Source: SamMobile
 
[QUOTE="Poke, post: 3858528, member: 1310"Meanwhile, Google has already rolled out its first Developer Preview of the next version of the OS, known as Android N, which will be released later this year - although given the notoriously slow pace at which Samsung updates its devices, it's probably best not to expect its arrival on older Galaxys anytime soon.

Source: SamMobile[/QUOTE]

There have been rumors that Samsung will pass on Marshmallow for S5 devices and instead upgrade directly to N. Or more likely, Verizon S5s will never get any upgrade. :(
 
Bronxiniowa said:
[QUOTE="Poke, post: 3858528, member: 1310"Meanwhile, Google has already rolled out its first Developer Preview of the next version of the OS, known as Android N, which will be released later this year - although given the notoriously slow pace at which Samsung updates its devices, it's probably best not to expect its arrival on older Galaxys anytime soon.

Source: SamMobile
Click to expand...

There have been rumors that Samsung will pass on Marshmallow for S5 devices and instead upgrade directly to N. Or more likely, Verizon S5s will never get any upgrade. :([/QUOTE]

Yeah don't see that happening since Marshmallow is still new and just really getting pushed out. So you should be getting Marshmallow anytime so keep checking Verizon always been a little slow to release updates compared to Sprint and some of the other carriers.
 
Samsung accidentally reveals the Galaxy S7 Active

http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/28/samsung-galaxy-s7-active-app-leak/

A Samsung app has leaked the existence of a new smartphone from the company, the Galaxy S7 Active. The previously unknown phone appears in a long list of supported devices in the Google Play listing for the Samsung Level app, spotted by SamMobile.

The Active range of Galaxy phones was born out of necessity. It first appeared in 2013 as a waterproof, ruggedized version of the company's then-flagship Galaxy S4. Each iteration of the "S" line since has been accompanied by an Active variant.

Problem is, Samsung added one of the Active range's main draws -- water and dust resistance -- to its regular Galaxy S7. Assuming the S7 Active actually exists, Samsung will need to focus its marketing on the rugged casing, or perhaps shoot for an increased IP rating for shock or water resistance.

Another selling point of previous Active models was increased battery capacity (the S6 Active had a 3,500mAh battery in place of the regular S6's 2,800mAh). It's likely Samsung will offer longer battery life with the S7 Active, but endurance is much less of a problem with the S7 than with previous models. The final difference between the devices -- apart from overall bulk -- will probably be hardware buttons: the Active range has traditionally had three hard buttons below its screen, rather than one hard and two capacitive.

We've reached out to Samsung for comment on the S7 Active, but don't expect the company to confirm the device's existence until it's ready to do so.
 
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