AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S5 gets Android 5.0 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S5 users on AT&T are now being treated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, or so says this handy support page on AT&T’s website. It’s largely the same Lollipop goodness you’ll find on Samsung’s other phones already fortunate enough to receive upgrades, but in case you haven’t been keeping up here’s what you can expect:

 

• Songs, photos, apps, and even recent searches from one Android device can be immediately enjoyed across all of your Android devices.


• New User Interface look and feel, more fluid motions


• Priority mode to only allow certain notifications to get through


• Battery saving features and remaining time left to charge or deplete indicators


• Smart Lock to secure phone or tablet by pairing it with a trusted device like a wearable or car


• Most frequently used settings available with just two swipes down from the top screen

The update is a big one at 1.4GB, so you’ll want to hop onto WiFi and charge your battery to pull it down. When you’re ready for it all you’ll need to do is head to Settings > About Device > Software Update > Check For Updates. You’ll be looking for build LRX21T.G900AUCU3BOC4. Go ahead and check for it and let us know how you’re liking it once you have it installed!

 

AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini launches March 20th for $99 on-contract

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini might not be able to match the internal prowess of the bigger original it’s based on, but for on contract (.30 per month on Next 24, .88 per month on Next 18 or .48 per month on Next 12) it might become a very decent option among AT&T’s lineup. The device launches March 20th, the carrier has announced.

Here’s what you’re getting for that bit of coin:

• Display: 4.5-inch 720p


• Rear Camera: 8MP


• Front Camera: 2MP


• Voice Calling: HD Voice capable


• Dimensions: 5.16 x 2.55 x 0.36-inches


• Weight: 4.23 ounces


• Operating System: Android 4.4.4 KitKat


• Processor: 1.4GHz Quad-core


• Memory: 16GB internal storage, supporting up to 128GB with external microSD card


• Battery Life: Up to 20 hours of talk time and up to 10 days standby time

Not as great of a value as something like the 2nd gen Moto E due soon, but the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini has more than enough to hold its own if you absolutely must have a Samsung device. The device will be available both in-store and online, so stop into an AT&T store to check it out before buying if you’re curious about its look and feel before committing to it.

[via AT&T]

AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is also getting Android 5.0 Lollipop today

After Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners on AT&T were treated to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop earlier today, it appears Galaxy Note 3 owners are also joining in on the fun. We’ve received reports of the Galaxy Note 3 also receiving Lollipop under build number LRX21V.N900AUCUEOC1. Just like on the Galaxy Note 4, the update weighs in at around 1GB, so it’s pretty hefty. Makes sense too given this is one of the biggest firmware updates to happen to Android in quite some time.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Software Update Includes:

• Songs, photos, apps, and even recent searches from one Android device can be immediately enjoyed across all of your Android devices.


• New User Interface look and feel, more fluid motions


• Priority mode to only allow certain notifications to get through


• Battery saving features and remaining time left to charge or deplete indicators


• Smart Lock to secure phone or tablet by pairing it with a trusted device like a wearable or car


• Most frequently used settings available with just two swipes down from the top screen

Since the update just started rolling out in phases, it may take a little bit longer before it reaches your device. If you don’t feel like waiting for the update to ping you, you can jump into your Settings app and select the General tab, then scroll down to About device > Software updates > > and Check for updates to pull it manually (once it becomes available, of course).

[AT&T]

Thanks, ZP15!

AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is now getting Android 5.0 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners on AT&T are waking up to a very nice treat today. The company has announced that the upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop has started rolling out. It’s 1.2GB in size, and WiFi is a requirement to download it over-the-air. You’ll be looking for build LRX22C.N910AUCU1COC2, and this changelog doesn’t make it sound like much is changing:

• Android 5.0 (Lollipop)


• Service additions:
  
  
  
  • Find My Mobile
  
  
  • Reactivation lock
  
  
  
  


• Stability improvements

That said, you already know about all the goodness Android 5.0 Lollipop brings on its own so just get excited. Head to Settings > About Device > Software Updates to check for it right away.

[via AT&T]

AT&T’s HTC One M9 now receiving camera improving update

It was barely a day before the HTC One M9 officially launched here in the US that HTC delivered a software update to drastically improve its camera. It was the update that some European models had been enjoying for weeks, with reports of much better picture quality across the board. When we originally received our One M9, the camera was damn near broken, struggling to take a steady or clear shot in anything but the brightest lighting conditions. But the update made a world of difference, as our own Rob Jackson was able to show you in his before and after shots.

The update was only initially available for the T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon models, with the AT&T version said to have already entered into the final testing phase. It’s been a little over a week since then, and now it appears AT&T is officially ready to push out the update. One M9 owners on AT&T should keep an eye out for software version 1.32.502.31 rolling out now. According to HTC, the update addresses 3 major issues:

• Camera improvements


• Thermal improvements


• Various bug fixes and improvements

Reports of overheating issues may have been exaggerated, but it’s nice to see HTC taking them seriously. If you haven’t been prompted yet for the update on your device, you can manually check for it by going into your Settings app > AT&T Software Update > Check for updates > Download the update. You can check the status of the download which will be displayed in your notification pull down. Once the update has been downloaded, tap “System update” to get up and running with software version 1.32.502.31 .

Keep in mind the phone will reboot several times during the update and HTC recommends that if you’re connected to a USB charger during this process, you don’t remove until after the update has finished and you’re back at your lock screen.

 

AT&T’s LG Escape 2 is a curved smartphone with decent specs for $180

AT&T has a new budget phone that doesn’t look that bad on paper. It’s the LG Escape 2, a 0 curved smartphone with a curved 4.7-inch 720p display. You’re also getting an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 1 megapixel front camera, a 1.2GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 410 64-bit chipset, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage with microSD slot, 4G LTE, 2,100mAh battery and more. It’ll be running Android 5.0 Lollipop with LG’s custom user experience out of the box.

It obviously won’t match the might of something like the LG G4 at its low price point, but if you’re not interested in paying boatloads for that sort of smartphone this certainly doesn’t seem to be a bad option. You can get it at full retail price, $.99 on a two-year deal, or per month for 30 months on AT&T Next 24. Head here to order one.

AT&T’s Nexus 6 now getting Android 5.1.1

AT&T’s Nexus 6 is receiving a nice upgrade today. The company has started rolling out Android 5.1.1, the latest stable version of our beloved operating system.

The update isn’t known to bring any huge changes aside from some of the maintenance stuff going on under-the-hood, but it should lead to overall improved system stability and performance. The update will also correctly disable Smart Lock when using EAS password policies.

It’s build LMY47Z, baseband MDM9625_104446.01.02.101R, and an 81MB download that should go down smoothly over 4G LTE or WiFi. Be sure to charge your battery a bit before attempting to pull it down, and enjoy the stable Android experience that you deserve.

[via AT&T]