Five apps with Feedly support already baked in

Feedly is quickly becoming the fan favorite as a Google Reader replacement. It has offered users a solution to the Reader shutdown months before Google pulls the plug next week. Feedly has also surged to the top due to quickly implementing a functional API that requires minimal tweaking for mobile developers to pickup where they were left hanging by Google's RSS service.

With that said, there are already apps covering the four major mobile operating systems. These developers have worked deligently to bring Feedly support to their applications before the demise of Google Reader on July 1st. Check out the following apps on your favorite OS below with links provided.

 Android:

• Press 

Press is a wonderful reader for Android that is all about the reading experience. It's designed with the purpose of making your news easier to read. Also providing full offline support.
Google Play

• gReader

gReader is a simple, fast and intuitive reader for Android, featuring beautiful themes, podcast support and full offline support.
Google Play

iOS:

• Newsify

Newsify is an awesome reader for iPhone or iPad, with an amazing newspaper-like layout. It supports offline reading including image caching, and the use of multiple feedly accounts.
iTunes

Windows Phone and Windows 8:

• NextGen Reader

Nextgen Reader for Windows 8 and Windows Phone, is a fast, clean and beautiful reader app inspired from Metro UI and packed with powerful features. It's the best way to read your feedly on your Microsoft powered devices.
Windows Phone 8; Windows 8

BlackBerry 10:

• gNewsReader

gNewsReader is an elegant and versatile reader providing full feedly support for BlackBerry devices.
BlackBerry App World

So, there you have it. If you're not impressed with the Android Feedly app, or don't have the option on your platform, there are solutions. This list is growing by the day, but this gives you a brief glimpse of just how easily Feedly has picked up the torch of Google Reader. Let us know in the comments if your favorite Reader app is offering Feedly support.

Source: Feedly

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Tuesdays at the Polls: What's your Google Reader replacement?

In this weekly feature we want to give our readers the opportunity to provide some point-and-click style input on some of the questions we have been pondering. Got a great poll idea? Drop us a note!

In six days, Google will officially close the doors on Reader. Many of us have become dependent on the RSS platform to consume our daily dose of web news, and have scurried to find an appropriate alternative to the service. With less than a week to go, and many worthy options, we want to know where are you headed?

Have you taken to the front-runner in the race with Feedly? Or did Newsblur catch your fancy? Are you using a social network like Twitter or Facebook? Or are you holding out for AOL's new offering, or Digg, to blow you away? Let us know in this weeks poll, and sound off in comments for other options not mentioned we need to check out.

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Tales of a Google Glass Explorer: The Pickup

After being selected to be 1 of 8000 #glassexplorers through the #ifihadglass contest on Twitter/Google+ in March, I finally received my Direct Message on Twitter to purchase Google Glass! The earliest I was able to select at the time I received the DM was July 5th at 4pm.

A day later some slots opened up for Saturday June 22nd, so I immediately switched it to 5pm that day, shaving 2 weeks from my wait time to have Glass in hand... err.. on face. I live 10 miles from Google NYC and Chelsea Market, so I didn't really have to make crazy plans. Although, I did print out a coupon for parking at Icon Parking http://www.iconparkingsystems.com/ for only $15 all day including tax! That is a steal for greater NYC area parking, let alone Manhattan!

Driving into New York City from New Jersey can sometimes be a nightmare getting through one of the Hudson River Crossings, so my wife, 5 year old son, and I left at 3pm for our 5pm appointment. Project Glass was so nice to make an exception for my 5 year old son to attend. Not only was he a minor, but you are only allowed a +1 (veiled google plus reference perhaps?). I DM'ed @projectglass to get the exception, since one of my son's summer vacation plans was to spend a day in New York City.

We actually arrived and parked by 3:40 PM, and enjoyed Chelsea Market.

The Glass pickup is actually across the street from Google's NYC Office at Chelsea Market on the 8th floor. While perusing the stores at Chelsea Market, we ran into some Googlers on break with Glass getting grilled with questions by passersby/tourists. 

Come 5pm we took the elevator to the 8th floor, where we were greeted by the team and a receptionist to check in and get guest badges. 

I was immediately greeted by my Glass Guide Matt, an awesome guy who has had Glass for 7 months!

I had purchased Sky as my color, but still wanted to try Shale in person. We went with my first choice.

Matt beckons to another guide to bring over a Sky colored Glass. We sit down, and I proceed to open up the box.

Very minimalistic packaging and very elegant. Reminded me of the unboxing experience with Apple products. Now it was time to put it on!

Matt proceeds to set me up via a Chrome Pixel, adding glassware through the myglass site to my glass, and pairing my Nexus 4 to the glass for data. I get whitelisted to the Mirror api for some development dabbling. He also adds me to the explorer community. Throughout the Fitting/Training, we go through many of the Glass functions (Pics, Videos, Sharing, Guest Mode, etc.). They are very thorough, answering questions along the way, and never hurrying you. The 45 minutes we spent at the fitting flew by. The Glass team treated my son to some cool videos, brought him and my wife beverages, and even some brownies from Fat Witch Bakery!

Overall the experience was great, but even better was finally receiving my Google Glass. I will have a full review after a week or two with the device. For more pictures, videos, and thoughts on Glass follow me on Twitter @wlassalle  and/or Google+. 

Here is a view from the Glass Loft.

The Snack/Drink Bar at the Glass Loft (Beer, Mimosas, Soda, Water, Brownies, Fruit)

My wife trying on my glass.

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Samsung Launches 3 More Galaxy Tab Devices

Samsung has been announcing a lot of devices lately, and their newest lineup is called the "Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Portfolio."

The Galaxy Tab Portfolio, as it's called, is a lineup of three different tablets, ranging from a 7" tablet, to a 8", and all the way up to the standard 10" tablet.

One thing that makes this portfolio of tablets stand out is some of the awesome features and bonuses it comes with:

• A $10 voucher for the purchase of applications, books, movies and music in Google Play
• One year of free Boingo hotspot service
• Three months free Hulu Plus service
• Two years free DropBox Service with 50GB storage space

One awesome thing is the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 starts at $199, which is pretty cheap for a Samsung tablet.

Preorders start tomorrow, so will you be getting one? Let us know in the comments!

See below for the full press release.

---

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Portfolio Offers Consumers New Variety and Personalized Experiences for Staying Connected

As consumer tablet usage swells, new consumer research shows demand for more choice and Samsung’s new 7”, 8”, and 10.1” tablets deliver

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – June 24, 2013 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today debuted three new tablets as part of the Galaxy Tab 3 family, allowing consumers to choose which tablet suits them best. The 7 inch, 8 inch and 10.1 inch Galaxy tablets offer a range of screen sizes and a suite of experiences built for a broader set of individual and family preferences, making this lineup of tablets ideal for both home and on-the-go uses. The Wi-Fi-enabled Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio will be available in three form factors: Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1., and will be available in the U.S. beginning July 7, with pre-orders starting tomorrow.

“Samsung’s industry-leading smartphones, Note devices and tablets address consumers’ diverse demands and personal preferences,” said Nanda Ramachandran, vice president of emerging business at Samsung Telecommunications America. “The Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio offers consumers more options for tablets that serve as their ultimate smartphone companion, the center of home and on-the-go use, and mobile devices packed with content and services.”

New consumer data* from Forrester Research validates that tablets are quickly becoming a central mobile device for consumers. Specifically, 49 percent of U.S. consumers who own both a mobile phone and tablet prefer the tablet as their primary device to go online. Data from the same Forrester survey further indicates that across 25 types of tablet applications there is no single dominant use of tablets by users. The typical user is more well-defined by their lack of uniformity as evidenced by the fact that they engage in a widely varied mix of five to six different application types in a given month. Only games top the 50 percent threshold for all tablet users – so it is obvious that each consumer is looking for a customized device that fits their personal needs on functionality in addition to size, price, power and connectivity. Whether reading an e-book, engaging on social networks, or allowing the kids to play games, the Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio has something for everyone.

“In addition to providing consumers greater variety in terms of size, form factor, price points and experiences, the Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio will be widely available for purchase from a multitude of retail channels further reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to delivering personal choice to all,” said Travis Merrill, vice president of tablet marketing at Samsung Electronics America.

Familiar Galaxy Experience

The Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio blends the familiar Galaxy family feel in sleek and slim designs with compelling content and services that consumers will want to use in their everyday lives. Created to be the perfect companion to the Galaxy line of smartphones, the Galaxy Tab 3 devices give consumers a seamless transition of content and services between their various Galaxy products. Similar to the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy smartphones, physical home and capacitive buttons are included.

Home Entertainment Hub

The Galaxy Tab 3 has various form factors and light-weight builds, which quickly and easily transition into the center of the home. Research shows that 85% of tablet users watch TV while using their tablet, with 41% of them doing this daily.** For this consumer, each Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio device’s built-in IR blaster turns the tablets into a universal remote and can activate Samsung’s innovative WatchON^TM service. This service recommends TV shows and on-demand content, enabling the tablets to function as the hub of the living room and king of second screen consumption.

Packed with Content

This newest portfolio also makes discovering, accessing and sharing new content, including over 750,000 apps, from the Google Play and Samsung Apps stores even simpler. The Galaxy Tab 3 makes it convenient to stay connected on-the-go, balancing any number of tasks, such as emailing, managing your schedule, social networking, online shopping, reading, playing games and streaming content.

In addition, each of the devices in the Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio will come with a bevy of content value through pre-loaded content and Galaxy Perks available atwww.samsung.com/us/galaxyperks. Specifically, hundreds of dollars’ worth of content, including a $10 voucher for the purchase of applications, books, movies and music in Google Play; one year of free Boingo hotspot service; three months free Hulu Plus service; two years free DropBox Service with 50GB storage space; and more.

The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is aimed at consumers who are in the market to purchase a portable tablet with all the features and reliability they need to stay connected throughout their daily activities. Built for portability, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 allows users to consume and manage content on-the-go. It is compact enough to easily slide into handbags or a jacket pocket so that consumers on-the-go will appreciate its compact size and lightweight design.

The premium Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 product is thin, lightweight, feature-packed and powerful, making it the ideal portable tablet for on-the-go performance. With Samsung’s built-in Reading Mode, the Tab 3 8.0 is the perfect e-reader-sized tablet.

New for the Galaxy Tab family of devices is Samsung’s Multi-Window functionality. Following the popularity of the feature on Note devices, Multi-Window comes to the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. Offering true PC-like multi-tasking, consumers can use two apps side-by-side, with support up to 20 applications, including Polaris Office, Google Chrome and Facebook.

The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 offers a larger HD screen optimized for entertainment – watching movies and playing games. With Samsung’s WatchON TV recommendation service, built-in IR blaster and 10.1-inch screen, the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is the new hub of the living room. As a second screen companion and perfect tablet for viewing content and watching movies, the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 transforms the ultimate content-consumption device.

The latest Galaxy Tab family is also SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise), allowing users to work and play with confidence that their photos, emails and contacts are protected. The portfolio also includes expandable memory up to 64GB through a microSD card.

This newest family comes in two color options – White and a unique Gold Brown. The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1 will be available for purchase from major retailers nationwide on July 7 with pre-sales beginning June 25 at Best Buy/Best Buy Mobile, Amazon, Wal-Mart, h.h. Gregg, Office Depot, Toys ‘R’ Us, P.C. Richard & Son, Fry’s, Newegg, Sears and Samsung.com. The Galaxy Tab 3 portfolio will be priced at $199, $299 and $399, respectively.

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Sony, you have a problem. Microsoft removes DRM and internet requirements for Xbox One

Sony's PS4 had been the fan favorite coming out of E3, due to gamer reactions to many of the new restrictions surrounding the Xbox One. However, it would seem Microsoft has been listening to it's users. The company's President of Interactive Entertainment has released a statement, via the official Xbox Wire blog, that reveals that the company has turned a full 180 on its stance on DRM, and internet, for the new console. The new Xbox One now looks much like the previous model:

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360. 
• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

This removes the two biggest drawbacks from the hardcore gaming community on the new One. You can now play discs in the same fashion as you currently can on the Xbox 360, without having them mapped to your specific hardware. It's also worth a mention, that downloaded games are still not available for sharing, but will be available for download the day of release and have full offline capabilities.

What do you think? Let us know if this changes your opinion of which console will be linked to your TV.

Source: Xbox Wire Official Xbox Blog

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Tuesdays at the Polls: Gamers mount up!

In this weekly feature we want to give our readers the opportunity to provide some point-and-click style input on some of the questions we have been pondering. Got a great poll idea? Drop us a note!

With all the news surrounding the next renditions of both the Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles just around the corner, I wanted to get our readers input on which unit they are leaning towards. Both boxes have their pros and cons. Xbox has had the upper had over the previous generation, and is banking on this with risky moves like dedicated internet access, and lack of second-hand games. Sony is playing on the "true" gamer angle allowing for a much more traditional outlook on the PS4.

Which will you choose? Is gaming all you want, and the PS4 is calling your name? Or do you want the full home, all digital, utopia that Microsoft is striving for with the Xbox One? Let us know in this weeks Tuesdays at the Polls!

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Samsung announces the Galaxy Note 8.0 on AT&T

Today has been a good day for Samsung, first with the announcement of the Galaxy S4 Zoom, and now announcing the Galaxy Note 8.0 on AT&T. See below for the full press release and a video:

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 TABLET PROVIDES ENDLESS WORK, ENTERTAINMENT POSSIBILITIES

AT&T Offers the Largest and Best Portfolio of 4G LTE-Connected Tablets

DALLAS, June 12, 2013 – AT&T, the U.S. leader in 4G LTE-connected tablets, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today the addition of the Samsung Galaxy Note® 8.0 to AT&T’s portfolio of connected products. The 4G LTE-connected Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available exclusively with AT&T in the coming weeks. 

The Galaxy Note 8.0 runs on AT&T 4G LTE, which currently covers more than 200 million people in the U.S.; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014.  In a report by independent testing organization RootMetrics, AT&T's 4G LTE network was called “blazing fast."  The report found AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE*. 

According to Strategy Analytics, tablet sales in the United States will rise from 49.8 million in 2012 to 103.7 million in 2017.  As tablet sales continue to rise, AT&T has cemented itself as the leading tablet provider, offering the widest and best selection of tablets of any U.S. carrier. 

“Demand for 4G LTE-connected tablets is growing, and we’re offering our customers the most choice and the best portfolio.  The Galaxy Note 8.0 is an awesome tablet and flies on 4G LTE,” said Chris Penrose, Senior Vice President – Emerging Devices, AT&T. “We expect customers to be excited about the Galaxy Note 8.0’s versatility that makes its useful for work and entertainment.”

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is the ideal premium tablet for work, play, home, or on the go. Galaxy Note 8.0 also features several new business solutions, including SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise) technology, which ensures a secure work environment even away from the office. With SAFE, Samsung layers extra features on top of native Android to make your tablet more secure and easier for your employer’s IT department to manage. Using Polaris Office, customers can view, create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations – right on their tablet. They can also add handwritten notes and annotate on PowerPoint and Word documents.  

With Multi Window, users can open two different applications side-by-side to perform two tasks at once, such as checking email while drafting notes.  The S Pen™, exclusive on Samsung Note devices, comes integrated in the Note 8.0 and offers precision, control and an unprecedented note taking capability. The S Pen can replicate a mouse and simulate writing or sketching, eliminating the need for a notepad, sketchbook, sticky notes and rolodex contacts. Air View™ allows users to preview emails, calendar events, photos and videos just by hovering over the screen with the S Pen.

Galaxy Note 8.0 includes several entertainment options including WatchON™, a new search and recommendation service which makes finding TV shows and on-demand video content faster, easier and more personalized. WatchON simplifies the process of discovering new content to watch by searching across multiple content sources (such as live TV, YouTube, and streaming video-on-demand sources) to recommend movies and TV shows. For users more interested in reading a book, the new Reading Mode creates a comfortable reading experience in all lighting conditions by optimizing the gorgeous screen to provide perfect illumination and tone. And with the ability to annotate directly with the S pen, all on a size made easy to hold, reading has never been more enjoyable, even on the go. 

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is powered by Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and a 1.6 GHz quad core processor with a 4,600 mAh battery. Customers will experience fast downloads with little lag time helping enhance their ability to move between home screens and apps. The Galaxy Note 8.0 weighs 12 ounces and has an eight inch display, with 189 pixels per inch, which provides users with a vibrant HD quality picture with plenty of room to work. Users can play videos in 1080p resolution, and the 5-megapixel rear facing camera with digital zoom can shoot 720p video, while the 1.3-megapixel front facing camera can handle video chats at 720p resolution. Galaxy Note 8.0 comes with 16GB internal memory and a microSD slot for up to 32GB expandable memory.  Customers also receive 50GB of free storage with AT&T Locker (available via an update), so users can easily store their videos, pictures, and files and access form multiple devices.

* Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Claim is based on a comparison of U.S. national carriers’ average 4G LTE download speeds for Android™ and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. 4G speeds not available everywhere. In 4G LTE coverage areas, talk and surfing data at the same time uses AT&T’s 4G HSPA+ network.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

Samsung, Galaxy S, TouchWiz, S Pen, Samsung Smart Switch, ChatOn, WatchOn, S Voice, Story Album, and Air View are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung SAFE™

Disclaimer of Warranties: TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC, AND THEIR AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS THE “SAMSUNG ENTITIES”) EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, INTEROPERABILITY OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ DEVICES AND SAFE™ APPLICATIONS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SAMSUNG ENTITIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ DEVICES OR SAFE™ APPLICATIONS. In addition, information technology security protection will be affected by features or functionality associated with, among other things the e-mail platform, master data management, and virtual private network solutions selected by the software provider, solution provider or user. Choice of an e-mail, master data management, and virtual private network solution is at the sole discretion of the software provider, solution provider or user and any associated effect on information technology security protection is solely the responsibility of the software provider, solution provider or user. For complete statement of limited warranty, please refer to www.samsung.com/us/safe, available on the web and where Samsung smartphone and Galaxy Tab™ devices are sold.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom announced

We've all wanted a phone with better zooming than the standard digital zoom most phones come with. Well, Samsung has heard our pleas and come up with a solution: The Galaxy S4 Zoom. It boasts a nice 16 Mega-Pixel camera with 10x optical zoom, and it also has OIS (optical image stabilization).

Whether you're the Instagram addict who wants to take a close-up of their food, or you just want to take a picture of an overhead airplane, this phone will get you there!

See below for a slideshow of pictures as well as the full press release.

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S4 zoom – the first smartphone to offer 10x optical zoom, for perfect picture taking

A revolutionary new device that converges the best of a high performance smartphone and camera, the GALAXY S4 zoom delivers the best of both worlds

LONDON, UK – June 12, 2013 –Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom, a powerful new device which combines the stylish heritage of the latest GALAXY S4 smartphone with advanced photographic capabilities.

Part of the GALAXY S4 family, the GALAXY S4 zoom is the realization of Samsung’s mission to create a single device that can fulfill the role of both an industry leading smartphone and a high-end compact camera. Combining 10x Optical Zoom, 16 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor, OIS and Xenon Flash with the very latest Samsung GALAXY S4 technology, the GALAXY S4 zoom sets new standards for perfect mobile photography. It is the ultimate smartphone and camera experience in one, and the only device you’ll ever need.

“The Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom represents yet another step forward in the way Samsung is working to enhance the lives of our customers around the world,” said JK Shin, President and CEO, Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “As communication continues to become increasingly visual in nature, people wish to capture and share their moments in the highest quality possible, but often do not have the space or inclination to carry a dedicated camera for this purpose. The GALAXY S4 zoom changes this forever, combining the industry leading functionality and connectivity of the GALAXY S4 with the high quality photographic experience you’d expect from a compact camera. The result is truly the best of both worlds, without compromise.”

Revolutionary new interface

Do it all and miss nothing thanks to the revolutionary new Zoom Ring, a simple and intuitive way to access the GALAXY S4 zoom’s key features.  When you’re in the middle of a phone call and you see something you absolutely have to share, a quick twist of the Zoom Ring will activate the In-Call Photo Share feature, letting you capture and send an image directly via MMS to whoever you are talking to simply.

For easy camera navigation, the Zoom Ring can be used to activate the Quick Launch and Shortcut features, giving you instant access to multiple camera modes including Auto, Gallery and Smart Mode with a simple twist.

The Zoom Ring also revolutionizes conventional camera zoom controls. Optical zoom control replaces traditional dials and buttons with smooth, easy-to-operate digital controls. Professional-quality accuracy and unprecedented ease of use are just a twist away, making it easy to compose a scene and capture wide-angle shots or tight close-ups.

Capture the best images

When it comes to high quality photography, bigger isn’t always better. The compact GALAXY S4 zoom’s best-in-class 10x Optical Zoom and 16MP BSI CMOS Sensor lets you capture beautiful images from far away or up close and personal, in all light conditions, without having to carry heavy camera gear around with you.  Furthermore, the built-in Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) helps keep the camera perfectly still even when you’re not, reducing blur and stabilizing the image while zoomed in for high-quality photos and video.

Photo Suggest instantly connects you to huge libraries of images taken by fellow photographers, to help you find and compose your best shots anywhere in the world. Photo Suggest can even direct you to the ideal nearby location which will give you the vantage point you need for that perfect photo.

The GALAXY S4 zoom also features Samsung’s popular Smart Mode, so you can stop worrying about settings and start taking professional-quality artistic shots. Simply choose from a series of pre-set modes and the camera will automatically adjust to ensure you capture the best photo possible. Use Drama Shot to merge continuous shots of moving objects into a single composed image, or Action Freeze to instantly capture high-speed action. If you aren’t sure which Smart Mode to select, the Smart Mode Suggest feature can assess the scene for you and provide a short list of the best options for your consideration based on surrounding factors such as light levels, focal length, or face detection, ensuring you always get the best shot you want.

Unlimited entertainment in the palm of your hand

The GALAXY S4 zoom's heritage is evident throughout, from its sleek and stylish design to the powerful, yet intuitive user interface. Running on Android Jelly Bean 4.2, the GALAXY S4 zoom boasts many of the same features as the recently launched GALAXY S4, including Touchwiz, which lets you fully customize various aspects of your device including the lock screen and notification bar, for a truly personal mobile experience.

When you return from your travel adventures, Story Album lets you arrange all of your treasured images and videos into one timeline to share with friends and loved ones. You can also edit images and even order prints directly from the device through a partnership with blurb*. If you’d rather transfer your images to your laptop or tablet for safe keeping, Samsung Link lets you do so quickly and easily with just the touch of a button. Alternatively, you can sync all of your data in your own personal cloud through HomeSync, providing the ultimate peace of mind and ensuring your images and videos are waiting for you whenever you need them.

The GALAXY S4 zoom features the new Samsung Hub, a one-stop destination for all of the latest music, videos, books and games. Search, download and enjoy all of your favorite entertainment at the touch of a button, all directly from your device. When you find that amazing new track or game that you can’t wait to share with your friends, Group Play lets you connect directly with their Samsung devices so you can all listen and play together, without the need for a Wi-Fi AP or cellular signal.

For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom Product Specifications:

Network	LTE	2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 3 100/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets(Dependent on market)
	3G	2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
Display	4.3 inch qHD sAMOLED (960x540) screen
AP	1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor *The selection of AP will be differed by markets
OS	Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera	Main (Rear): 16 Mega pixel with x10 Optical Zoom and enhanced SMART Modes, OIS                         24-240mm, F3.1-F6.3 Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera
	ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Continuous Shot: 4fps MAX with AF Format: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WBMP, BMP, AGIF Xenon Flash, SMART Mode, Expert Mode(P/S/M/C), My Mode
Video	Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark Recording & Playback: Full HD (1920x1080 30p)
Audio	Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, Vorbis(OGG), FLAC, apt-X
Camera Features	SMART Mode(25): Smart mode suggest, Beauty face, Best photo, Continuous shot, Best face, Kids shot, Landscape, Dawn, Snow, Macro, Food, Party/Indoor, Action freeze, Rich tone (HDR), Panorama, Waterfall, Animated photo, Drama, Eraser, Sound & Shot, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, Fireworks, Light trace
Additional Features	Samsung Link, Samsung ChatON
	S Voice, S Translator
	Group Play: Share Music(MP3), Share Picture(JPEG, GIF), Share Document(PDF, PPT), Play Games
	Story Album, Trip Advisor, Paper Artist
Google Mobile Services	Chrome, Downloads, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search, Google Settings, Google Plus, Google Local, Google Play Store, Google Messenger, Google Navigation, Youtube, Google Talk, Voice Search, Google Play Movie & TV, Google Play books, Google Play Music, Google Play Magazine
Connectivity	WiFi a/b/g/n 5GHz NFC,  Bluetooth® 4.0 (LE) A-GPS + GLONASS
Sensor	Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro, RGB Light
Memory	8GB Internal memory (User memory approximately 5GB) + microSD slot (up to 64GB) 1.5GB RAM *User memory space may be less than the total memory space due to system files. User memory may differ by region, carrier, and supporting language, and may change after software upgrade.
Dimension	125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm, 208g (with standard battery)
Battery	2,330mAh

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

* Android, Chrome, Downloads, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search, Google Settings, Google Plus,

Google Local, Google Play Store, Google Messenger, Google Navigation, Youtube, Google Talk, Voice Search, Google Play Movie & TV, Google Play books, Google Play Music and Google Play Magazine are trademarks of Google Inc.

* Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom uses Corning’s new Gorilla® Glass 3 with Native Damage Resistance™. This cover glass, Corning’s newest formulation, enables improved damage and scratch resistance and reduced scratch visibility.

* Blurb, the global creative publishing platform, partners with Samsung to power worldwide book and magazine print production and fulfillment within the GALAXY S4 zoom’s new Story Album application. Users of Story Album will now be able to automatically create professional quality print photo books and magazines quickly and seamlessly from their camera phone images.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com

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Tuesdays at the Polls: Did the iOS 7 redesign impress you?

In this weekly feature we want to give our readers the opportunity to provide some point-and-click style input on some of the questions we have been pondering. Got a great poll idea? Drop us a note!

Apple unveiled their latest version of iOS yesterday at WWDC. Many had been wanting a redesign of the OS that has stayed relatively unchanged over the last few years. Users now have that request with iOS 7 bringing a much lighter, and minimal, design to the operating system. This revamp brings the OS to a new stage that looks familiar, but also very foreign at the same time.

This week's poll question is did this OS upgrade impress you? Emotions around the web thus far seem mixed at best, and I wanted to get the input of our readers. Do you like the new styling, or do you think they went to far? Did they simply make the operating system look to much like existing competitors? Let us know of your yes, or no, in the poll and sound-off in the comments!

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6Sec: A Vine client for Windows Phone now available in private beta

With the recent release of Instance (Instagram for Windows Phone) and apps like Swapchat (a SnapChat client for Windows Phone), it's only fair that we get a Vine client, right?

Vine was actually just released on Android not too long ago, and it now has an unofficial client for Windows Phone! We have not had a lot of time to play around with 6Sec yet, but we will keep you guys updated on it with things we find and on the beta.

Yes, I said beta. 6Sec is in a private beta (which we were able to get into), so we will make sure to keep you guys updated on 6Sec as much as possible!

You might be asking, "What works, and what doesn't?" So far, it seems like this is that list:

• Uploading works (yet not included in this build, as per the developer he needs to "secure the server")

• Commenting

• Viewing

• Registering

• Sign In

• Sharing

See below for a few more pictures, and let us know in the comments what you think of Windows Phone getting all these new apps!

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Tuesdays at the Polls: To be a Nexus or not to be...

Now that Google I/O is behind us, many of us were left wanting for a new Nexus smartphone. The general consensus going into the event was that a new version of Android, and at least one Nexus device, would be unveiled at the conference. We didn't see that happen, but we were introduced to the Samsung Galaxy S4 with a "Nexus User Experience". Since I/O, HTC has also announced the same experience is going to be available for the One series.

The other elephant in the room at I/O was the much rumored Motorola X-Phone. Many think this will be a sanctioned Google device, and shows a glimpse of a future Moto run by Google. It would be easy to connect the dots and say that this phone will be the next Nexus, but now one has to wonder if what makes a Nexus has shifted to an experience, and not a device. Let us know in this week's poll if you think the X-Phone is a Nexus, or just another experience.

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Tech News Roundup for Monday, 6/3/13

In this series we round up the technology-based articles from around the web that have caught our eye in the last week. Have something we should know about? Send us a note!

In Case You Missed It

• Five for Friday: Staff app picks of the week
• HTC One with "Nexus User Experience" confirmed, launching June 26
• Verizon now taking pre-orders for BlackBerry Q10; to ship June 6
• Verizon offers "text-to-donate" relief program for victims of central Oklahoma storms

Weekly Roundup

Here comes the white Nexus 4 on T-Mobile and Google Play [9to5 Google]
After being seen in the wild quite a few times, most people didn't think it was the real thing. Well, Google and T-Mobile have made the white Nexus 4 a sure thing.

Chicago Sun-Times trains reporters to shoot with iPhones after laying off all its photographers [The Verge]
Move over professional photogs; you're not wanted anymore. Make room for the roving mobile phone reporters. Is this for real?

Yahoo eliminates classic Mail, requiring users to agree to Gmail-like email scanning [The Verge]
If you've been using Yahoo! Mail's classic interface, say goodbye on June 3rd, as Yahoo turns off classic, and moves everyone to the new design along with new Terms of Service in tow. Are you going to miss it?

A closer look at what's new in Windows 8.1 [ZDnet]
The Start button is back!

The Moto X phone will be made in the US and is coming this summer, says Motorola [The Verge]
The mysterious Moto X is real according to Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside. He didn't reveal many details but it is supposedly coming in October of this year.

Time to back away from the cookie jar? Introducing nutrition info in search [Official Google Search Blog]
Ever wonder how many calories are in a mango? Well, now you can. Google Search is including nutritional information on over 1000 fruits, vegetables, meats, and meals. Rolling out to the US in the coming days.

Fan TV revealed: is this the set-top box we’ve been waiting for? [The Verge]
Fanhattan co-founder and CEO Gilles BianRosa unveiled Fan TV at the D11 conference. Fan TV combines a streaming media box (ala Apple TV & Roku) and a set-top cable box with cloud DVR. But will it catch on?

Apple announces new $229 16GB iPod touch: 4-inch Retina display, no rear-facing camera [The Verge]
Fans of the smaller 16GB version of the iPod Touch missed out on the newer design of the 32GB and 64GB versions when they were first revealed. Apples makes up for it with a new 16GB version.

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S4 mini: A Powerful, Compact Smartphone [Samsung Official Global Blog]

Samsung reveals a smaller 4.3 in. version of its 5 inch flagship phone. Is this more your size?

A new inbox that puts you back in control [Official GMail Blog]

Have you given the new Gmail inbox a spin? I've become a big fan of it. Click the link for details on how you can flip it on before it begins to roll out.

BlackBerry Q10 arrives at T-Mobile June 5th for $100 down [Engadget]

T-Mobile subscribers and fans of the upcoming BlackBerry Q10 can now own BB's QWERTY BlackBerry 10 smartphone for $100 up front (w/ 2yr plan) or $580 outright.

Facebook Acquisition Talks With Waze Fall Apart [AllThingsD]

Months of negotiations for Facebook to acquire Israel-based social navigation app Waze fell apart on conflicts as to whether or not to relocate the Waze team.

PayPal denies teenager reward for finding website bug [Computer World]

PayPal didn't exactly win hearts with its decision to deny a reward to a 17-years old for finding a vulnerability on its website. Paypal provides an explanation.

Odds and Ends

Have you ever experienced a 17-year Cicada emergence? We had one in my hometown of Chicago a couple of years ago and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Filmmaker Samuel Orr films an incredible time-laps of one of mother nature's creepiest, yet harmless, events. [Mashable]

Return of the Cicadas from motionkicker on Vimeo.

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