How To Get Galaxy S4 S View Feature On Any Android Device Right Now

If you’ve ever used a Samsung Galaxy device, more specifically a Galaxy S4 in this case, then you’re probably aware of S View. If your device supports a flip-style magnetic cover, then you can get that very same feature on your Android device right now.

In case you’re wondering what S View is, then a little education is in order. S View lets you peak into your device’s notifications through a little window opening in your Galaxy device’s magnetic flip cover. A very handy feature, considering it saves you a load of time and hassle to get the relevant information in a snap.

Now, thanks to a handy app, which comes from a developer over at XDA-Developers, named S View, you can get that very same feature on your device.

The inspiration of the app comes from Galaxy S4’s S View feature, which means that it covers most of the important aspects of S View, feature-wise.

So, what do you get when you install S View on your Android device? First up, it gives you a small window on your lock screen through which you can easily view your notifications, provided that your flip cover has a small opening on it to view them. Secondly, it shows you the called ID when a call is coming through, and of course lets you receive or reject calls from the small window as well. Apart from that, you get the usual bells and whistles, such as date, time, now playing music title etc.

The app is very feature rich and is the closest thing you’ll get to the real thing offered by Samsung on their Galaxy range of devices. But, of course, it does have a few issues. As we mentioned before, your device must have native support for a magnetic flip cover. And, you’ll need a window opening in your device’s flip cover. You can achieve that by cutting through a window yourself using a blade or a pair of scissors, which directly equates to damaging your cover for good. If you’re fine with that sort of thing, then this app is gold for you.

You can download the app from the links provided below. It comes in two flavors, one is free and the Pro version costs 2 bucks. Be sure to give the free version a shot first, if you’re satisfied with the set of features, then decide on getting the Pro version to unlock the complete set of features.

(Download: S View / S View Pro on the Play Store)

Galaxy Note 3 Features Outlined In A 6 Minute Official Video

\Samsung announced the latest version of its largest smartphone at IFA yesterday, and the Galaxy Note 3 is sure to be popular amongst both those that want to carry a mini-tablet around 24/7 and anyone who tends to turn into a big green superhero when they’re mad. If you happen to fit snugly into either of those categories, then the chances are you’re already we clued up on what the third generation of Galaxy Note can offer you, but if you’re on the fence then you’ll be on the lookout for all the information you can get.

Luckily, finding information on the Galaxy Note 3 and all that it entails isn’t exactly difficult. Even if you didn’t catch the live stream or our coverage of Samsung’s big unveiling at IFA yesterday, then you can watch a 6-minute video that Samsung released today with the aim of getting its message across. That message, it seems, is that the Note can handle just about anything you throw at it.

Initially kicking off in an Apple-esque fashion, the video shows the Galaxy Note 3 in all its glory, running through the vital statistics and doing its best to show off the more striking aspects of the design. Chief amongst those is that 5.7-inch display, and with good reason. If displays are your bag, then they don’t get much larger than this without losing the ability to make phone calls.

Once the specifications are out of the way though, Samsung sets about showing some situations in which the Galaxy Note 3 can prove to be invaluable, at least in the eyes of its maker. Taking notes on the go using the new and improved S Pen is predictably something that Samsung is trying to hype, just as it did with the previous two generations of the Note. We’re not huge fans of writing on a smartphone, but to each their own.

The video is well worth a watch even if you have just  a passing interest in Samsung’s latest effort, and if you’re even remotely interested in buying one then we’d argue it’s a must-see.

And oh, while you’re at it, the Galaxy Gear smartwatch which was unveiled by Samsung alongside the Galaxy Note 3 is also worth checking out.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch: Features, Price, Release Date

Whether smartwatches are going to be a real growth market or something of a damp squib remains to be seen, but that isn’t stopping Samsung from jumping into the arena with both feet. By announcing the Galaxy Gear at today’s IFA briefing in Berlin, Samsung has not just launched a new product, but it’s also managed to pip Apple to market. With the iPhone maker repeatedly tipped to have a smartwatch of its own in the works, getting there first could be a major coup for Samsung.

Of course, if you’re an iPhone user already then you’re not going to be buying a Galaxy Gear, because the new device is only compatible with Samsung’s own Galaxy range of devices, with the Galaxy S4, S3 and Note 2 set to get software updates to add the required software at some point in the next few weeks. If you’re currently in the market for a new high-end smartphone though, and are deciding between the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5S for example, the Galaxy Gear may just have a part to play in that decision. At launch though, Galaxy Gear will be only compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 and the new Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014).

Features

Packing a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 320×320, the watch isn’t small, but it certainly looks svelte enough from what we’ve seen of it. Any smaller and we’d argue that it wouldn’t be big enough to be useful, and any bigger and we’d worry that it would be too obvious, or just get in the way. Until we’ve had one on our own wrists though, we’re just kinda guessing – but the videos of the device floating around the internet certainly give us cause to be optimistic about its proportions.

Built into the Gear’s strap is a 1.9-megapixel camera and a speaker. The device can record 10-seconds of HD video, or take still snaps should you so wish. The speaker is obviously there for making hands-free calls, but we’re not sure we’d be able to do that without feeling like an idiot. Still, they said the same about mobile phones thirty years ago, so we’ll reserve judgment on that.

Galaxy Gear has apps too, up to 10 at the same time. The apps can be installed using your Galaxy Note phablet or tablet. And it comes in a plethora of colors too, in case you’re looking for options.

Wondering about battery? Things aren’t looking that good here. The Galaxy Gear goes one full day on a single charge under regular usage circumstances.

Price

Of course, the biggest question surrounding the whole smartwatch market is whether anyone will actually buy one, and that’s where the price comes into play. Samsung will be asking for a dollar shy of $300 when the device goes on sale in a matter of weeks. We’d like to see what apps are built for this thing before we decide whether that’s too much, but if the email we just received from Pocket is anything to go by, apps will be forthcoming. It’s not cheap, but then neither is that $600 smartphone or $500 tablet you’re using, either.

Release Date

Galaxy Gear will be available on September 25th in 149 countries. And worldwide in October.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Announced: Features, Price, Release Date

Samsung has just announced the new and improved iteration of the Galaxy Note series, the third revision of its massive Android based phablet. The redesigned device will now feature a 5.7 inch screen (as compared to the 5.3” version of Note 2), and sports a faux-leather back while being a shade lighter at 168g. Details to follow.

The improvements in Galaxy Note 3 are marginally more than what Note 2 had to offer, and Samsung is hoping to attract buyers through a slew of software improvements that will make the phablet experience better, whilst making the device more catchy and glamorous. Let’s break it down feature by feature.

Features

Hardware

On the hardware front, Note 3 looks and feels pretty similar to its early two predecessors, although the faux-leather back adds a completely different feel to the device. The display size has been increased to 5.7”, featuring a full HD Super AMOLED display (that’s 1080p in case you’re wondering) and is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core processor. The on-board RAM has been increased to a whopping 3GB DDR3 variant, while the camera unit now packs 13-megapixels to keep up with the modern day smartphones. The front facing camera is of the 2-megapixel variety, which we’ve said on many occasions, is more than enough for video calls / chats.

The device this time is thinner, packing at a mere 8.3mm, which is a feat considering the powerful innards. Weight, too, has seen a slight reduction, now lying at 168g to feel lighter in your pocket. The device will come in 32GB and 64GB storage modules, alongside microSD expansion slot. And as you’d expect from any Note series device from Samsung, it does have the S Pen.

On the wireless front, the Galaxy Note 3 features CAT4 wireless technology, with support for more wireless bands than ever before.

To keep things ticking for a while, the Note 3 features a massive 3,200mAh battery.

Now, here comes the awesome part regarding the camera: it records 4K video. Though the screen is only 1080p, but if you have a few extra thousand dollars to spare on an Ultra HD TV, then you’re future proof with the Note 3.

Software

This is the division that has seen the largest improvement. Samsung has brought in some really cool Note-exclusive apps that would make the whole smartphone experience much better. First in the line is Air Command, which basically pulls up a menu as soon as the stylus is removed from its housing. The same menu also activates when the digitized stylus is hovering above the screen and the button is clicked. This Air Command menu lets you pull up dedicated features like Scrapbook, S Finder, Pen Window etc.

Next up is Action Memos, which is basically Samsung’s way of killing the on-screen keyboard, and for good. These turn any scribbled text into actionable items, allowing you to, say, write a number and call it directly from the Action Memo. Then there’s My Magazine, which is Samsung’s version of Flipboard and HTC BlinkFeed combined, allowing a news aggregation method that’s both slick and neat.

Improved further is the Note 3’s ability to operate more apps in multi-window mode, including maps and browser. This goes up even a notch further by allowing you to run multiple instances of the same app side by side. Pen Window is the icing on the cake in this area, allowing you to literally draw on screen a particular area where a floating app would be confined. Neat, isn’t it?

The best part of the whole software package is Samsung KNOX, which is basically a new security protection provided by Samsung. KNOX is a suite of apps that allow you to not only run apps in an isolated “container” environment (say hello to all those suspicious games), but also advanced malware protection thanks to Lookout being bundled in the package. The Find My Mobile feature has also been improved, with better user authentication and remote tracking, alongside others.

Galaxy Note 3 features Android 4.3 right out of the box, hence you can rest assured that your device would be running the latest and greatest version of Android at the point of purchase.

Release Date

Galaxy Note 3 will be made available September 27 in 149 countries as a preliminary launch (that’s a lot, isn’t it!), followed by a worldwide availability in October. In the US, official carrier partners will include AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular.

Price

As of this writing, pricing details are not available. But Note 3 is expected to cost on the same lines as the current Note 2. We will update as soon as we hear more on pricing.

Samsung To Begin Shipping Antivirus App As Standard On Its Android Phones

The debate over the security of Android devices has been going on for a long time now. More than just an argument that comes up when Apple and Samsung fanboys are duking it out on forums, the security issue facing Google’s mobile operating system is either very real or overblown depending on which expert you talk to. Google’s own security security engineer Adrian Ludwig says that there is no significant risk posed to Android devices, but then he would say that wouldn’t he?

The concern amongst users is a very real one though, which is why something happened that we never thought we would see – antivirus apps are starting to become popular on smartphones. In particular, Lookout appears to be the standard for many, and it seems Samsung has taken notice.

In a deal that is expected to be announced later today, Samsung will begin shipping the Lookout Antivirus as part of its own Knox suite of security apps for the enterprise. If you’re a corporate IT manager, then getting the boss to let Samsung phones onto the network just got a little easier.

Lookout normally offers two tiers of features. The first, which is free, offers basic features. A paid-for premium version adds cloud antivirus scanning of email attachments and web browsing. Lookout has confirmed that it is this premium version that will be shipping as part of Samsung’s Knox setup.

Security on mobile devices is something that crops up every few months, usually after a new Android exploit has been found that allows hackers to gain access to data. This move by Samsung not only shows that the company is serious about making its handsets attractive to the enterprise, but also proves that the issue of malware on Android phones is a very real one no matter what Google says.

We can’t help but wonder whether Google will soon focus on cutting out such security concerns at the operating system level rather than relying on third parties to do it for them. With Android’s activation numbers growing all the time, it will only become a bigger and bigger target as time goes on.

Just ask any Windows user and they’ll tell you what it’s like.

Galaxy Note 12.2 Press Render Leaks Ahead Of Announcement

Samsung has never been afraid to push the boundaries in the mobile industry, particularly when it comes to display size, and with the Galaxy Note 3 set to pack a panel in excess of 5.5 inches, a leaked render of the alleged Galaxy Note 12.2 – which was originally thought of as a12-inch tablet PC – has just been spotted in the wild. With numerous vendors said to be preparing larger tablets as we get to what can be very much described as the "hardware end" of the tech calendar, we expect the Korean company to be in amongst the announcements, and although the Galaxy Note 12.2 is still very much at the rumor stage, the shots present a very elegant, naturally large device.

The Note 3, along with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, will no doubt be two of Samsung’s biggest exports as we close in on this year’s IFA trade show in Berlin. Having said that, we’re not accustomed to seeing one or two products manifest from Samsung at a time, and with Windows 8.1 also on the horizon, we expect a plethora of new hardware from the industry’s power releaser.

Last year, the trend was very much in bringing smaller, circa 7-inch slates to the consumer market, and while plenty of prospective tablet owners still seek this compact form factor, the popularity of so-called "phablet" smartphones suggest there will also be a market for the super-sized slab.

The Galaxy Note 12.2 will apparently carry the model number SM-P900, although aside from that and the new render, precious little else is currently known of the device. With the "Note" moniker, we can presume it will probably rock an S Pen, and with such a large display, some reports have suggested a resolution of 2560×1600, which would certainly be sharp.

IFA, which will be the centerpiece of the early fall announcements, commences this week, and will hopefully put to bed at least some of the many rumors currently doing the rounds. Although it may seem rather far-fetched given the lack of information we have at this moment, it may well be that Samsung plans to unveil the Galaxy Note 12.2 at some point this week.

Whatever the case, we’ll keep you informed on all of IFA’s major stories and announcements, more specifically Samsung Unpacked 2013, so stay tuned!

(Source: AndroidCommunity)

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Details And Images Leak Out Ahead Of September 4th Event

If the smartphone was the biggest growth market in technology over the last five years, then wearable technology is quite possibly going to be in the same boat from this point forward, especially if all the rumored devices do actually see the light of day.

The first of the so-called smartwatches to really get anyone’s attention beyond a few Kickstarter projects like Pebble is the Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Gear. Expected to be announced next Wednesday, September 4th, at Samsung Unpacked 2013 event at IFA, the Galaxy Gear is Samsung’s preemptive strike at its current nemesis, Apple. The Cupertino outfit is widely tipped to be beavering away behind closed doors, aiming to make an iWatch a reality as soon as early next year. If someone wants to get into the market before then, they could potentially have things sewn up before that even happens.

Which brings us back to Samsung’s Galaxy Gear. Even though it’s not yet announced,VentureBeat’s Christina Farr has apparently had some hands-on time with one of the company’s prototype devices thanks to an anonymous source. Photos are hard to come by, but there are images taken from what was apparently a promotional video for the device – and they show what seems to be an oversized watch-type device with the familiar Samsung logo. No great surprise there, then.

The Galaxy Gear has a 3-inch square screen that seems to be just big enough to be too big. It’s got WiFi built in, which means that it doesn’t need to be paired with a smartphone in order to function, which may come as a surprise to some. It’ll also potentially force the price of the shipping product a little too far North for some people, but we’ll have to wait and see on that.

Camera-wise, there’s a 4-megapixel shooter built into the strap, so if you want to go around taking photos with your wrist then you should be good to go.

From the information provided by Farr, it certainly appears that Samsung is set to cater for the health market with its Galaxy Gear device. Health monitoring and tracking seem to be the order of the day, with the device able to monitor heart rates and movement in a similar way to existing wrist-worn devices.

One potential worry is the claimed 10+ hours of battery life. It’s not clear whether that number is standby time or actually usage time, but if the thing needs charging 10 hours after it is taken off charge, then it’s arguably dead in the water. Hopefully that’s the kind of answer we’ll get in a few days.

If Samsung and Apple really are set to move their smartphone war to the wrist, we could see some real innovation over the coming years, and we do like a spot of innovation here atRedmond Pie.

You may also like to check out:

• Alleged Screenshots Of Samsung’s Galaxy Smart Watch Leaked [IMAGES]

Alleged Screenshots Of Samsung’s Galaxy Smart Watch Leaked [IMAGES]

Although the notion of Samsung joining the growing list of big-name companies purportedly delving into the smart watch market is not exactly news, yesterday, it was revealed that such a device could debut alongside the Galaxy S IV, whenever that may be. As a follow on from that story, SlashGear has caught wind of a few screenshots floating about a Korean message board which, it is claimed, offer an insight into the supposed smart watch, which is naturally being dubbed the ‘Galaxy Watch’.

The talk of Apple releasing an ‘iWatch’ has been around for as long as any Cupertino rumor one could care to mention, but with the release of the Pebble smart watch creating something of a storm, the murmurings of Apple, Samsung and others joining the Pebble craze has gained a significant amount of traction.

In this latest leak, the device the screenshot has been taken from is called the Samsung Galaxy Altius – Altius being a codename traditionally associated with the Galaxy S IV. It would appear as though the device has some kind of data plan, a 500×500 LCD display, and runs on a variant of Android. The slider indicates the device will likely be a touchscreen, and although this could well be pure fiction, it does, in theory at least, looks like an appealing device.

At this point in time, it really is hard to tell for certain whether Samsung, or indeed Apple, have any plans to release a smart watch device in the near future. A team of as many as 100 individuals are said to be dedicated to the task of bringing such a product to market for Apple, and as we’ve seen increasingly during the last few years, Samsung and Apple tend to copy each other shall we say, release similar products at similar times?

Although I have yet to be well and truly convinced by the idea of a smart watch, most of the products Samsung and Apple have brought to market over the past few years have been undeniable, often unprecedented success stories, so it will be interesting to see these two titans embattled in yet another duel.

Do you like the idea of a Galaxy Watch / iWatch? Share your thoughts via the usual mediums below!

The First Official Galaxy Note 3 Wallpaper Has Now Been Leaked [Download]

If you were to only pay attention to the leaks coming out of Apple and its suppliers right now you’d think that the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C were the only two phones that we are waiting on announcements for, but you’d be wrong. Samsung is also on the verge of bringing a new smartphone to market, and it’s a big one.

Of course, when we say that we don’t just mean that it’s a big release. The Galaxy Note 3 is quite literally a big phone, dwarfing everything that anyone would reasonably want to call a phone. It seems that Samsung’s oversized devices are hugely popular though, and following on from successful Note and Note II releases, the third generation is almost destined to be just as warmly received.

As is now becoming custom for so many of Samsung’s big releases though, we’ve had a new leak that pertains to the latest phone to come out of one of the world’s largest consumer electronics makers. The leak, provided by the prolific @evleaks Twitter account, offers up the first sight of a wallpaper that will ship as standard on the Galaxy Note 3.

Weighing in at a huge 7MB, the download file sits at a resolution of 1920×1920, which points to a Note 3 screen resolution of 1080×1920, something that will no doubt come as no surprise to people that have been following the Note 3 rumors for any length of time.

The file is available to download now thanks to the folks behind @evleaks, so grab it whilst it’s hot if you’re the kinds of person that likes brightly colored, high resolution wallpaper art for their smartphone. We’re not sure it’s our particular brand of gaudy, but we’re sure someone somewhere will like it.

We expect to hear more about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 at the upcoming Samsung Unpacked 2013 event at IFA, so we’ll keep our ears to the ground for something a little more technical than a wallpaper.

We’ll let you know when we hear something!

You may also like to check out:

• Galaxy Note 3 Will Record Videos In 4K Resolution [Report]
• Galaxy Note 3 Specs Confirmed By Samsung’s Website

Screenshots Of Android App For Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Leaked Ahead Of Sept. 4 Event

Samsung is busier than most when it comes to releasing new devices, but while the South Korean company offers dozens of smartphones and tablets, the main topic of conversation right now pertains a supposed smartwatch effort. The Twitter handle @evleaks, famed for getting hold of snaps and information about new products prior to their showcasing, has done it once more with the alleged Galaxy Gear smartwatch, releasing what appears to be a screen capture of the Android interface of the device’s “Galaxy Management” companion app.

Unfortunately, evleaks doesn’t offer a proper glimpse of the wearable tech, something that, with more and more reports offering legitimacy on what was initially perceived as a speculative suggestion, would certainly give us a face to the name. With that said, the leak is still fairly exciting, and given that evleaks tends to offer consistently accurate information, we’re inclined to believe that this will indeed be the Android interface for users pairing their smartphones with Galaxy Gear.

So, what do we have? Well, along with a handy Find My Watch feature allowing you to track the whereabouts of your Galaxy Gear (surely harder to lose than the smartphone itself, I would have thought, but I digress), there’s also an icon for general Settings, Clock, and Help.

In the build-up to the Galaxy Gear, it has been suggested repeatedly that Samsung would not be using the Google Play Store as its main outlet for apps on the product, and the leak sheds even more light on this claim. Because as well as the My Apps icon shown within the UI, there’s also the Samsung Apps section, one that we’d expect it be sufficiently stocked up in time for launch. As the Suwon-based outfit continues to show its software innovation credentials year-in, year-out, it’s little wonder that the company wants a piece of the app store pie, and although the current range sees many downloads already, the Galaxy Gear could be the catalyst for a more meaningful push.

Speculation of the Galaxy Gear retaining only ten hours of battery mightn’t have gone down too well with prospective consumers, but until Samsung comes through with the official announcement, we’ll be reserving judgment, while also hoping that it retains juice a little better than some are projecting.

The Galaxy Gear is expected to be announced at the Samsung Unpacked 2013 event alongside the Galaxy Note 3 on September. Mark your calendars, we’ll bring you the updates as soon as they unfold!

(source: evleaks (Twitter))

How To Fully Optimize Android Devices For Speedy Performance And Extended Battery Life [VIDEO]

Although smartphones are getting progressively better in all departments including power, performance and battery life, one must still take care in order to maximize the lifespan and so general daily operations are carried out without hitch. After all, technology is still far from perfect at times, and if you’re in ownership of a mobile device, you will have encountered dwindling battery life and performance at some point. But with an app like Super Optimize for Android, you can keep your device in good health for as long as possible, and if your device is currently struggling to cope with the daily grind, this one is for you.

Whether you’re running out of storage space, or your device just feels a little lethargic and in need of a belated Spring Clean, Super Optimize for Android has the tool set required to get your smartphone or tablet firing on all cylinders once more. Set in a Holo-eseque interface, it’s very easy to navigate through the various options, and once you have applied the tweaks, your device should be left feeling a lot slicker and ready for action.

You can readily check which apps are commanding the most juice, and if you don’t see the app as entirely necessary, you can simply strike them off. Although we all have a rough idea of which apps drain battery the quickest, you may be surprised about some lurking apps silently siphoning off those precious droplets, so the battery management aspect of the app is incredibly useful.

You can also easily uninstall apps, a process that also allows you to remove those space-hogging temporary files. From a privacy aspect, Super Optimize also allows you to clear away your call history, email search history and message drafts, meaning you can remove, for good, your personal data if need be.

With a neat, intuitive interface and a multitude of options, Super Optimize is the easy way to free up space and fine-tune your device in general. Grab it via the link below – it is free, after all – and be sure to leave your comments below.

(Download: Super Optimize for Android on the Play Store)

Make sure to check out our Android Apps gallery to explore more apps for your Android device.

Galaxy Note 3 Will Record Videos In 4K Resolution [Report]

September is shaping up to be an increasingly exciting time for the mobile technology industry. Apple is widely expected to announce at least two new iPhones along with iOS 7 next month, but there is also a huge amount of excitement surrounding the September 4th Samsung Unpacked 2013 event, that promises to bring a number of announcements. One of those products that will make an appearance is the third-generation Galaxy Note and today’s fresh new report suggests that video and music lovers will be in for a treat when this one hits the market.

The latest Galaxy Note 3 rumor steps away from the internal specs of the device and focuses more on the potential video and audio based abilities of Samsung’s latest phablet. The Note itself has always been thought of a highly powerful piece of kit that is perfect for those individuals who love nothing more than consuming visual media. The large, high-definition display has always made video playback and flicking through image galleries an absolute pleasure. If true, the Note 3 could enhance that experience by offering 4K resolution video capture that will truly push the device to a new, albeit seemingly unnecessary level.

The bump in video recording abilities would mean that the third-generation Note would be capable of capturing video at 3840×2160 resolution, equivalent to more than 8 million pixels. The speculative suggestions don’t stop there either. Audio enthusiasts are also set to made extremely happy with the introduction of 24-bit/192KHz music playback. It’s highly unlikely that any user would ever complain about an upgrade in audio performance, but the addition of 4K video recording could potentially raise a few eyebrows amongst those who feel it’s entirely unnecessary at this stage.

The emergence of Ultra HD 4K TV sets will likely mean that a number of device manufacturers will start adding this capability into their handsets in the future. However, at the moment, the storage capacity on the device and the low display resolution in comparison suggests Samsung could be going for a buzzword selling point rather than an actual integral feature. Still, if it turns out to be accurate then it certainly paves the way for inclusion in future devices.

Until we witness the unveiling of the device at the Unpacked event next week, we will keep an open mind about what Samsung have in store for us with the Note 3.

(via: SamMobile)

Samsung Teases BBM For Galaxy Devices [VIDEO]

BlackBerry’s free mobile messaging tool has proven to be an extremely popular IM platform in the past, but dwindling BlackBerry device popularity has ensured that usage has significantly dropped recently. BlackBerry has a lot of work to do to pull back its brand, and it seems like it could all start with the release of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Samsung Galaxy devices.

The partnership between BlackBerry and Samsung became evident earlier in August when the two companies began a joint promotional campaign to generate awareness about BBM for Android. Previously, it was only possible for users to freely communicate with one another through BBM if both parties had a compatible BlackBerry handset or tablet. The adoption of the software for Android and the early stage partnership with South Korean based Samsung should guarantee a significant 

increase in the BBM user base.

The plans don’t end there for the future of BlackBerry Messenger. The struggling company is poised to bring the service to the iOS platform as well as offering full support for additional Android devices. Before we all go get excited, it is worth noting that the messaging tool for Galaxy based devices will have an initial launch that is limited to African based device owners. We can only speculate that BlackBerry Messenger is still a highly popular communication tool in African countries 

and therefore more likely to be adopted at a higher rate on Android hardware. 

Although, some corners are scratching their heads as to why BlackBerry is investing time and resources into expanding BBM to other platforms, it does make a lot of sense. The rise in popularity of Android and iOS devices has made it easy to write off BlackBerry and assume that no-one actually uses their hardware anymore. In reality, the brand is actually extremely strong in a lot of countries and adding additional support for other OSes can only increase that strength. Still, it remains to be seen whether or not BBM for iOS and Android can compete with 

flourishing cross-platform apps such as WhatsApp.