Samsung enters in the Guinness World Records for the world’s largest photobook

How big is the largest photobook? According to the Guinness World Records, it’s 5mx6m, features 28,000 photos across 16 pages and has been created by Samsung. To promote the Galaxy S4 zoom in Germany, Samsung attempted to create a world record by creating the world’s largest photobook.

Samsung says they invited Facebook fans to share 10 photos from their lives to be printed in a photo album and in a span of 10 days, they managed to gather around 36,000 photos and created a photobook with 28,000 images.

The photobook is currently being exhibited at Berlin Museum for Communication (Museum für Kommunikation Berlin).

Via

Samsung patents smartphone-connected ‘sports glasses’, Gear Glass incoming?

Earlier this month, not-always-accurate blogger Eldar Murtazin had speculated that Samsung was working on a Google Glass-like product - called Gear Glass - and now, a patent unearthed by The Wall Street Journal lends importance credence to that speculation. The patent shows a pair of glasses with side buttons and a camera on the front, and the description says the glasses can be paired with a smartphone to display information and offer a few controls.

There’s a pair of built-in earphones that would let users listen to music or receive phone calls. However, Samsung’s “smart” glasses don’t seem to be wireless, as a wire is shown connected on both sides in the patent filing, though that will likely change when the product goes through further development and makes an appearance in market.

The Galaxy Gear has already given Samsung a head start in the wearables market, and if they can work fast on these glasses, then they might just get a considerable lead over the competition. Here’s hoping they don’t mess it up.

Samsung releases official Android 4.3 update for Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500)

Samsung promised at its Mobile UNPACKED Episode 2 event that it will start rolling out Galaxy S4 updates in October and we are very pleased that Samsung has kept their promise. As Samsung has just started rolling out Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) update to the Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500).

Samsung is always a bit late with updating its devices to the latest version of Android but always manages to delivers the most bug free and stable software after a ton of R&D. Also, Samsung is the only OEM which gives its older devices the latest version of Android even after completing the usual 18 month update cycle. For example, Samsung provided Galaxy S II users 2 major Android updates (Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean), a device which was released in April of 2011 and initially shipped with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), and finally ended its support in May 2013 (25 Months).

Now let’s talk about the new Android 4.3 update. There are not much visual changes but there are a ton of under the hood improvements and optimisations. The device simply feels much faster than before, and benchmark scores have significantly increased as well. In Antutu Benchmark we used to get a score of 25-26K with Android 4.2.2 and now with Android 4.3 we get around 29-30K. Samsung doesn’t provide an official change log for its updates but after testing a few internal builds and this official one, we can give you folks our own list of changes and improvements we have noticed.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ANDROID 4.3 UPDATE
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- ANT+ Support
- Samsung KNOX Implementation (KNOX bootloader and dedicated application)
- Samsung Wallet comes pre-loaded
- Improved RAM management
- Improved Display colour reproduction (Display looks much sharper than before)
- Improved TouchWiz Launcher (Much less launcher redraws and less lag)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- New Samsung Browser (Full screen by default, new tab interface and more)
- New Reading Mode (Optimises display for reading, used by only a few specific applications)
- New Camera firmware
- Minor UI tweaks (Contacts app, Flashlight Widget, dialog boxes etc)

The software update is being rolled out in phases, so it may not yet be available in your country at the moment but don’t worry it will arrive very soon. If your device is carrier branded then it might take sometime as the update has to get improved by the carrier first and only then Samsung will make it available for your device.

To keep track of the countries and carriers receiving the new Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) update for the Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500), check out our live feed below:

To update your Galaxy S4 to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, connect your device to your computer and use Samsung KIES or simply use Samsung’s OTA service. To download and install the firmware via OTA, go to Settings > More > About Device > Software update > Update.

All new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Firmwares for the Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) are present in ourFirmware Section, as well. You can use our Firmware Section to manually update your device if for some reason you can’t officially update your device via Samsung Kies or via OTA as you might be using a Custom ROM or if your country has not yet received the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update. Also, bookmark this page as we will keep this page up to date with the latest information on countries and carriers releasing the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update.

VIDEO

SCREENSHOTS (From Android 4.3 test firmware)

Samsung GALAXY Note 3 + Gear Official TVC

Samsung GALAXY Note 3 + Gear makes every moment of life easy and amazing.

Showcasing the incredible design of Note 3 + Gear with colorful accessories, and demonstrating useful features including Action Memo, Hands-free Call (Gear), Scrapbook and Multi Window.

Please check out our reviews of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear for more information

Android 4.3 leaks for a bunch of AT&T Samsung devices: Galaxy S3, Note II, S4 and S4 Active

DesignGears, a well-known Android developer, has recently leaked Android 4.3 test firmwares for a bunch of AT&T Samsung devices. That include: AT&T Galaxy S III (SGH-I747), AT&T Galaxy Note II (SGH-I317), AT&T Galaxy S4 (SGH-I337) and AT&T Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-I537). Yesterday, guys over at geek.com got hold of a leaked Best Buy document which revealed that AT&T will officially update the Galaxy S4 in last week of October, Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II in November and Galaxy S4 Active in December.

CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ANDROID 4.3 UPDATE
- Galaxy Gear Support
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- ANT+ Support
- Samsung KNOX Implementation (KNOX bootloader and dedicated application)
- Samsung Wallet comes pre-loaded
- Improved RAM management
- Improved Display colour reproduction (Display looks much sharper than before)
- Improved TouchWiz Launcher (Much less launcher redraws and less lag)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- New Samsung Browser (Full screen by default, new tab interface and more)
- New Reading Mode (Optimises display for reading, used by only a few specific applications)
- New Camera firmware
- Minor UI tweaks (Contacts app, Flashlight Widget, dialog boxes etc)

Keep in mind that these are pre-release firmwares, they are bound to have bugs and stability issues and are no where near final builds. But, if you really can’t wait till the official roll out and want to taste that Android 4.3 goodness then head over to the firmware thread located over at XDA-Developers for your respective device, where you will find the download link, instructions and more.

Device: AT&T Galaxy S III (AT&T-I747)
Firmware: I747UCUEMJ2 (Android 4.3 – JSS15J)
Build Date: October 5, 2013
Download: Firmware Thread

Device: AT&T Galaxy Note II (AT&T-I317)
Firmware: I317UCUBMJ4 (Android 4.3 – JSS15J)
Build Date: October 16, 2013
Download: Firmware Thread

Device: AT&T Galaxy S4 (AT&T-I337)
Firmware: I337UCUEMJ6 (Android 4.3 – JSS15J)
Build Date: October 10, 2013
Download: Firmware Thread

Device: AT&T Galaxy S4 Active (AT&T-I537)
Firmware: I537UCUBMI2 (Android 4.3 – JSS15J)
Build Date: September 10, 2013
Download: Firmware Thread

Brazil ministry sues Samsung over improper working conditions

Brazil’s Ministry of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Samsung for poor working conditions at one of its factories located at Zona Franca de Manaus. Samsung is accused of improper working conditions with many workers working for 10-15 hours a day on foot without break and for almost 27 days in a row. The plant has a strength of 5,600 employees and out of those employees, almost 2,018 have filed requests for removal due to health issues.

Some of the reported injuries are back problems, tendinitis and bursitis, to name a few.

The lawsuit also seeks R$250 million (US$110 million) as part of damages.

Samsung is aware of the lawsuit and has confirmed to work with the authorities for proper investigation and are committed to provide employees with best working environment.