Samsung reportedly not alone in cheating Android benchmarks

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Samsung has come under fire this week for allegedly inflating the benchmark scores for the Galaxy Note 3 among other Android devices, but -- shocker -- the company is not alone in enhancing scores. AnandTech just published a report that shows ASUS, HTC and other companies using the same "benchmark detect" function to artificially bump up the numbers. According to the site, virtually all OEMs run a CPU optimization on at least one of their devices, save for Apple, Google's Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 and Motorola's latest crop of phones. Dishonesty aside, though, what's the big to-do about these inflated scores? AnandTech found that companies notched less than a 10-percent performance boost in AnTuTu and Vellamo. And when's the last time you based your smartphone purchase on benchmark scores alone, anyway?

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Via: 9 to 5 Google

Source: AnandTech

Samsung builds a social networking app around S Pen doodles

PENUP app from Samsung lets you flaunt your S Pen doodles

For those who actually unsheathe the S Pen from their Samsung device from time to time (unlike yours truly), there's now away to flaunt your stylus-ing prowess in public. The company has just launched PEN.UP, a social networking app dedicated to digital artwork from suitably-equipped Galaxy devices. Like any good sharing app, you can set up a personal feed containing your own sketches, group them thematically and follow and like others. For those who think drawing is a competitive sport, there's even a hall of of fame where members can vie for champion artist honors. So, if you're looking to get your S Pen on (and have a supported device), hit the source.

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Via: Android Community

Source: Google Play

Samsung reportedly boosting Galaxy Note 3 benchmark performance by 20 percent

Samsung reportedly boosting Galaxy Note 3 benchmarks by up to 20 percent

Samsung drew criticism for inflating the benchmark scores of Exynos devices earlier in the year, but the company appears undaunted; it's reportedly boosting test numbers for other hardware as well. Ars Technica has discovered that the Snapdragon 800-based Galaxy Note 3 (and possibly the new Note 10.1) includes code that runs all CPU cores at full speed during certain benchmarks. The tweak gives the smartphone a minimum 20 percent higher score in any affected app, or enough to claim an artificially large advantage over an LG G2 using a similar chip. There may also be a graphics boost, Ars says. We've asked Samsung for its take on the findings. Whether or not the company responds, we don't envy its position -- it's hard to form an alliance devoted to accurate mobile benchmarking when you're accused of doctoring results.

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Source: Ars Technica

Daily Roundup: Galaxy Note 3 review, Kindle Paperwhite review, McAfee’s NSA-proofing Decentral device and more!

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of September 23rd, 2013

Mobile Miscellany week of September 23rd, 2013

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a new LTE phone to Boost Mobile, hints of consolidation between Sprint and T-Mobile, and lastly, hints of what we might see at Nokia's upcoming 'innovation reinvented' event. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of September 23rd, 2013.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear now on sale in the UK

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If you've been looking to get your hands on Samsung's new Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear, boom, they're here. The company has kicked off another of its world tours to announce availability of its 5.7-inch smartphone and new smartwatch in 58 countries. In the UK, an unlocked Galaxy Note 3 will set you back £649 but it's also available on nearly all of the major carriers (we're still waiting to hear from Three) -- starting at around £30 on a traditional contract, or free if you decide to sign up to a new early-upgrader tariff. The Galaxy Gear retails at £299, but Samsung thinks you could use a £100 discount if you bundle it with an unlocked Galaxy Note 3, for a total cost of £848. Customers in the US, Canada and Japan, however, will have to wait 'til October -- though pre-orders are already open.

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Source: Phones4U, O2

Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch for Sprint: ships October 4th with ‘unlimited data for life’

Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch for Sprint ships October 4th with 'unlimited data for life'

As has become the norm, Sprint's primary differentiator is its "unlimited data for life" policy affixed to new flagships. Granted, the carrier isn't promising that the amount it charges for said data will remain the same for life, but at least you'll have the option to pony up for it. Following the footsteps of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, Sprint has announced that its version of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear watch will arrive on shelves October 4th. The former will cost $349.99 on a two-year contract (a full $50 more than most of its rivals), while the latter will go for $299.99 outright. Outside of being compatible with Sprint's LTE airwaves and including a bit of carrier-branded bloatware, the handset itself will be the same one that we've previewed extensively.

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Source: Sprint

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 goes up for pre-order September 18th on T-Mobile

Get your giant hands ready, T-Mobile subscribers. The Un-Carrier announced this morning that the latest version of Samsung's phamed phablet will be going up for pre-order September 18th. Pick it up through the Simple Choice Plan, and the 5.7-inch handset'll run you $199 down plus $21 a month for 24 months. As noted earlier, the Note 3 will be hitting T-Mob's stores and site on October 2nd, along with the $299 Galaxy Gear Smartwatch.

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Source: T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 reaches the FCC with AT&T- and Sprint-compatible bands

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 reaches the FCC with AT&T- and Sprint-compatible bands

We've seen a few international Galaxy Note 3 models pass through the FCC for approval; now, it's time for two American versions. The first variant, the SM-N900A, has just cleared the US agency with support for AT&T's GSM, HSPA and LTE frequencies -- most likely, it's a peek at what we'll see on October 1st. A second model, the SM-N900R4, appears destined for LTE-capable CDMA carriers such as Sprint, US Cellular and numerous regional US providers. While there are no surprises in the FCC filings, it's evident that Samsung's giant Android smartphone will soon be ubiquitous in the States.

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Source: FCC (1), (2)

Samsung’s 38 million Galaxy Note sales show that large phones are here to stay

Samsung marks 38 million Galaxy Notes sold to date that's a lot of giant phones

Remember when Samsung's big-screened Galaxy Note line was considered niche? Those days are long gone. JK Shin now says that the company has sold more than 38 million Note smartphones since the original launched in late 2011. That's 28 million more than Samsung reported a year ago; for context, Nokia has sold a total of 27.3 million Lumia smartphones as of its latest earnings report. Not surprisingly, Shin sees a bright future ahead for the Galaxy Note 3. He expects Samsung to sell over 10 million units of the third-generation handset, and history suggests that the tech giant could easily reach that goal despite an abundance of competition.

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Source: ETNews