Sprint was the first carrier in the US to release Android Marshmallow updates for the Galaxy S6 and they did it back in March. Verizon was the next soon afterwards and now we are all waiting for AT&T to follow suit. Once you consider the fact that even T-Mobile has recently updated their Galaxy S6 to Marshmallow, it starts to seem a little lazy on the part of AT&T to still lag behind. Android N is due for an unveiling event later in May and to see major smartphones still running on Android Lollipop just does not feel right.

However, the good news for AT&T customers is that the Android marshmallow update from the carrier is almost on the verge of being released. This news was confirmed after the Galaxy S6 support page was updated with the info. We now know that the soon to be released package will change the version number to G920AUCU3CPC2 and the Android version to 6.0.1 on the S6.

The package will contain latest security patches updated to the last release and various other improvements that we have come to expect from Android M. Google Now on Tap, Doze Mode, improved notifications, customizable app permissions, improved UI and a host of other new features and improvements will surely be a part of this update, when it is released.

Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)

The Galaxy J-series has received an overhaul as the J5 and the J7 was re-launched a few weeks ago in China with new and improved hardware. Starting from April 29, the two smartphones are now also available for purchase in Samsung's own country of origin, South Korea. The 2016 versions of the J5 and J7 will be offered in two colors, black and gold. KT is the only network which has the new J5 and J7 right now. This has been Samsung's strategy with their not-so-popular smartphones for a while now; offer limited color options and make the models available only via a single carrier.

The 2016 variant of the J5 features a 5.2" HD (720p) Super AMOLED display and is powered by a 1.2 GHz chipset with four cores. Backed up by 2GB of RAM, 16GB of in-built storage and a 3,100 mAh battery, the J5 will be running Android M right out of the box. It also sports a 13-megapixel snapper at the back and a 5-megapixel front camera to satisfy selfie demands. The highlight of the 2016 version is its metal design, which holds true for both the J5 (2016) and the J7 (2016).

Other than being powered by a slightly faster quad core processor which is clocked at 1.6 GHz, the new J7 shares the same 2GB RAM, 16 GB in-built memory and 13-megapixel/5-megapixel snappers with the J5. The J7 (2016) does sport a bigger battery (3.300 mAh) and a larger screen (5.5" 720p) though. The overlaying UI will be based on Android M, same as its smaller brother.
After considering that both the smartphones share almost the same hardware, one may wonder if the J7 (2016) is really worth the extra money that it asks for. In our opinion, the J5 (2016) priced at 290,000 won/$254 is probably a better buy than the J7, which is priced at 363,000 won/$318. If you were waiting for something a bit more budget-friendly, the J3 (2016) is also scheduled to be launched in South Korea soon.

Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)

Final results for Samsung's financial standings at the end of the first quarter of 2016 have been revealed and it looks extremely good, especially in a market which is facing a standstill from many aspects. A 12% increase in operating profit along with a 5.7% boost in overall revenue has actually exceeded even Samsung's own optimistic expectations. Samsung's earnings guidance had predicted an operating profit of $5.7 billion/KRW 6.6 trillion and total revenue of $43.3 billion/ KRW 49 trillion for this quarter. The actual figures exceeded those predictions as the total revenue turned out to be $43.46 billion/ KRW 49.78 trillion, while the operating profit at the end of Q1 stands at $5.82 billion/ KRW 6.68 trillion.

In addition to attributing these numbers to the early launch decision and the consequent success of the S7 series, the Korean Electronics giant also mentioned "improved memory product mix, expanded 14nm supply of System LSI products and increased sales of OLED panels." In its mobile business alone, the operating profit has gone up by a whopping 42% in year-on-year comparison, as the number stands at $3.4 billion/ KRW 3.89 trillion. The consolidated revenue of Samsung Mobiles was reported to be $24.12 billion/ KRW 27.60 trillion in Q1 2016, an increase of 6.6% when compared with Q1 2015.

The company also mentioned that they expect smartphone demands to go down as the year progresses, while the market for tablets will continue to diminish even further. When asked about Samsung's plans for the rest of the year, it was mentioned that Samsung "will reinforce its leadership in the premium smartphone segment on the back of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, while continuing to increase volume and improve profitability in the mid-to-low-end segment."

Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)

Recently, Galaxy Note 6 rumors have been flying around a lot. To add to that mix, the latest rumor suggests that the Note 6 could be featuring a curved 5.8-inch Slim RGB panel with 1440p resolution. However, GSM Helpdesk also adds that the curved display is still just a possibility as Samsung has not yet decided whether to use a curved panel or a flat one. One thing that all rumors are suggesting is the fact that whether it is a curved display or a flat one, the Note 6 WILL feature a 5.8-inch screen.

If reports are to be believed then Samsung will only release a single Note device this year, which means that Edge+ or Note Edge models are no longer a part of Samsung's plans for 2016. That single device will supposedly be powered by a huge 4000mAh battery. This would most likely make the Note 6 slightly bigger in certain dimensions than the Note 5, but it should not really be a problem as the super-successful S7 and S7 Edge are also larger than the S6 and S6 Edge. The beautiful design of the two smartphones make the increased size irrelevant. Add to it the superb battery life on these two devices, and you will probably have a hard time finding a single person who is complaining about the slight increase in bulk.

Other features "leaked" in this rumor include the same 12-megapixel camera as the S7 and S7 Edge, 6GB of RAM and Snapdragon 823/Exynos 8890 SoC. We were already aware of these specs as was reported by us earlier, but how much of this actually makes their way to the actual version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 is something that we will have to wait to find out for sure.

Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-jounalist and enthusiast)

Samsung seems to have learned from the mistakes that they had made with the Galaxy note 5, because the Note 6 is all set to see quite a few major changes in its design element. Let's check out the four major changes that the data revealed by GSM Helpdesk seems to indicate.

Curved/Edge Display

After introducing the Note Edge in 2014, Samsung had apparently dropped the idea of building their Note devices with curved displays. However, if the latest leak is to be believed then it is highly likely that the South Korean company may choose to build the Note 6 with an Edge display. The added functionalities that Samsung brings in with their Edge panels are something that will definitely make the Note 6 not just distinctly better to look at, but better to use as well.

6GB of RAM

That is right; the next Note smartphone will allegedly be powered by 6 gigs of RAM. While some may consider this to be overkill, many are of the opinion that it might help to make the RAM-hungry TouchWiz interface much smoother.

4,000 mAh battery

The Note 5 sported a 3,000 mAh battery and while that did give users a decent battery life, this year Samsung is taking it quite a few notches higher by blessing the Note 6 with a 4,000 mAh battery. Although the battery will still most likely be non-user replaceable, the 1,000 mAh increase in power will surely make it more appealing.

A larger display

Samsung has stayed with the 5.7" form factor for a while now, but rumors suggest that it is about to change. Before you start worrying about whether or not this decision will make the device too bulky, consider the fact that the reported 5.8" display will be housed by the next Note without getting any bigger than its predecessor.

We are not yet sure as to the authenticity of these rumors, but rumors have been exceptionally accurate recently, especially when they are about Samsung smartphones. We will just have to wait and see what changes Samsung actually brings in with the Note 6 and also, whether or not those changes are enough to compete with the upcoming iPhone 7 Pro.

Author: Saikat kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)