Samsung's SHV-E170K is a mid-range Galaxy S III variant for Korea Telecom

It's been just a week since we saw the Samsung Galaxy S III unveiled at London's Earl's Court arena, but already the international variants of the device are starting to appear. The first is from Korea Telecom, and comes with the snappy interim title of SHV-E170K. The device, which you'll see over on the left in the photo above, looks like a cross between a Galaxy Player 7.0 and a Galaxy S III (and also bears more than a passing resemblance to this alleged S III leak from back in March.)

It's a bit more angular than the international Galaxy S III, but it's running the same combination of ICS and the TouchWiz "Nature UX" that you'll find on that phone. The SHV-E170K is confirmed to be an LTE-capable handset, but other specs have yet to be officially announced. Based on benchmark results, SammyHub? postulates that it'll carry a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, a 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facer and a 4.3-inch qHD SuperAMOLED screen. Essentially, this is to the Galaxy S III what the HTC One S is to the One X.

No word on whether we'll see this thing outside of Korea, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a HSPA+ version of this thing in the months ahead, as Samsung brings its mid-range portfolio up-to-date.

Source: SammyHub

Samsung finally releases Galaxy S “Value Pack” update in Korea; US customers still in limbo

Back towards the tail-end of 2011, and up into the very beginning of 2012, there was a lot of back and forth on whether or not Samsung would update the original line of Galaxy S devices past Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

We first heard that Samsung would be releasing a “Value Pack,” or Android 4.0-lite, update for the Galaxy S with performance enhancements and certain features from ICS back-ported to Android 2.3. Just a few short days after the initial Value Pack announcement, a spokesperson with Samsung made it clear that no updates were going to be issued for the original Galaxy S.

Apparently that information wasn’t accurate, because Samsung has officially released their Samsung Galaxy S Value Pack update today in Korea.

Available now through Kies 2.0, the Samsung Galaxy S Value Pack update is exactly what it’s always been rumored as: a far cry from Android 4.0, but better than nothing. With the Value Pack update, Galaxy S users in Korea can expect performance enhancements and several features ported over from Android 4.0 like automatic font resizing, the ability to take pictures while filming video and face unlock (which Samsung has added blink detection to, making it somewhat more secure than Google’s version).

US Galaxy S owners may be out of luck on this one. There’s been no word of Samsung’s Value Pack reaching the States anytime soon, and there’s little reason to believe it will. If that situation changes, we’ll be sure to update you.

Any Galaxy S owners out there been waiting for this one? We’d love to know how the Value Pack update is, so be sure to share your experiences in the comments if you have access. We’d also like to know what you think of something like a “Value Pack” update. Is it nice to see Samsung is still working on software for older devices, or is a few back-ported features more like a slap in the face?

Samsung Galaxy S 'value pack' comes to Korea, adds ICS features to Gingerbread

Despite some confusion as to whether it was or wasn't real, the fabled Samsung 'value pack' for original Galaxy S phones (the 'GT-i9000' GSM version, that is) has now started rolling out, beginning in Samsung's native South Korea. The pack attempts to make up for the fact that the OG Galaxy S isn't getting an official Ice Cream Sandwich update by bringing a handful of high-profile ICS features to the current version of Gingerbread. Same goes for the mid-range Galaxy K and Galaxy U.

These include face unlock, the ability to snap photos while recording video, enhanced photo editing features, and improved folder functionality in the Launcher. We're there are some who will settle for nothing less than a full ICS update, but it's nice to see Samsung offering something? to owners of the Galaxy S, which launched in mid-2010 with Android 2.1 Eclair. The good news for anyone still holding out for ICS is that there's a great selection of Android 4.0 custom ROMs available for the phone, if you're willing to root.

No word on anyone outside of Korea getting this update, and we're not holding our breath when it comes to the U.S., where original Galaxy S hardware (and branding) is all over the place.

Source: Samsung Tomorrow; via: Engadget

Motorola Korea steps up customer service by offering remote LogMeIn Rescue assistance

Motorola has amped up their customer service offerings in Korea.  Staring with the Motorola RAZR, customers seeking support will now be able to download LogMeIn ‘Rescue + Mobile for Motorola’ where Motorola representatives will be able to login and remotely control the devices of those needing assistance.

“These smart services will help us provide even better and more personal support to our customers in Korea,” said Chul-Jong Jung, president of Motorola Korea. “We are committed to customer satisfaction, and making sure that people can get support when they need it and where they need it is an important part of that.”

Rather trying to explain how to fix things, logging in remotely allows not only to address the issue faster but the actions are also visible to customer so that if it arise again, they'll know what to do in order to fix it themselves. Want to know more? The full press release is past the break.

Source: Motorola

Ice Cream Sandwich available now for Galaxy S II in Europe and Korea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

It's official -- The Samsung Galaxy S II is getting the Ice Cream Sandwich starting today in parts of Europe and Korea. Folks in Poland, Hungary, Sweden, and Korea should soon see the OTA update they have been waiting for. Samsung also states that the update will roll out in other markets gradually, and to expect ICS for the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II LTE, and Tab 10.1 and 8.9 versions "soon".

Of course for those who have a carrier branded Galaxy S II, "the availability and scheduling of the software update and specific models upgradable to Android 4.0 will vary by market and wireless carriers’ requirements". In other words, we're at the mercy of folks at Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile here in the U.S. Hopefully we'll soon hear something specific. If we do, you all will be the first to know.

Source: Samsung; via @SamsungMobile

March 10 Galaxy S II ICS upgrade date posted in error, says Samsung Korea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Yesterday Samsung's Filipino site published statement announcing that the Galaxy S II would be receiving the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, starting tomorrow, Mar. 10. Since then, Samsung has stepped in via its official Korean Twitter account to say that the article was posted in error, and that any official date will come straight from them.

This isn't the first time a supposedly official date for the long-awaited update has been rescinded. Last week Samsung Israel took to Facebook to announce that the update would land on Mar. 15, and that post has since vanished. With all this talk of updates arriving in the next week or so, though, we're sure Galaxy S II owners won't have too long to wait.

Source: @SamsungTomorrow; via: The Verge

Samsung Galaxy S III to be released next month after it's announced this month, says ZDNet Korea

The Samsung Galaxy S III (or now, apparently, the Galaxy S3) will be released in April, after it's announced in March, says ZDNet Korea, citing marketing sources. Could well happen. Or not. Of course, Samsung has to announce the phone, and then release dates will roll out worldwide as they always do -- slowly and gradually. And those of us here in the United States will have to wait for the carriers to make their own announcements. ZDNet's sources say it'll all revolve around some heavy Summer Olympics marketing, which would make sense.

We'll let you know when we actually see announcement invites or something ... what's that word ... official.

Source: ZDNet Korea