14 DAY TRIAL // Galaxy S5, the latest flagship Android-based smartphone from South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics, has started to receive a new software update in the United States, on the networks of wireless carriers Verizon and T-Mobile.
These are two different firmware upgrades for the smartphone, each bringing its own set of enhancements to it, it seems.
Verizon’s smartphone will receive updated Caller Name ID, Message+, and Cloud applications, along with a wide range of tweaks and improvements, the available release notes (PDF) reveal.
Following the update, users will see that the 'Search' icon has been removed from Memo when no memo exists, and that favorite 'Contact' information background is now more readable.
Moreover, Visual Voicemail should work even when S-View flip cover is closed, and users will enjoy better connectivity when streaming music.
Samsung Gear Manager will enjoy improved stability following the update, and there are also a series of text alert improvements for select factory-installed car kits available for users.
Additionally, the 'Primary Contacts' label has been replaced with 'Emergency Contacts' in Emergency Mode, and the Power On password is no longer triggered when voice call is completed or after screen dims.
The new software update also adds support for user selectable video application when uploading to YouTube, as well as for closed captioning in Message+. The Emergency Mode feature has been updated, while the Contact Menu stability has been improved.
Galaxy S5 users will also see that Easy Mode Settings now shows images, that a 'Downloaded Apps' field has been added to searchable file types in My Files, and that S Finder now also features Web Search.
T-Mobile’s flavor of Galaxy S5, on the other hand, is receiving VoLTE capabilities as part of the new update, which weighs at only 38.60MB.
“Beginning July 31 the Samsung Galaxy S 5 will have a software update to Android 4.2.2/Baseband G900TUVU1BNG3,” T-Mobile notes on its support website (the Android version is actually 4.4.2).
“Customers already on VoLTE software are being notified of the OTA software update. Customers not on a previously released VoLTE software must manually request the update via Wi-Fi due the file size. A manual update via Samsung Kies is also available. This update provides features and improvements.”
Samsung Galaxy S5 should receive the new firmware update over the air on both wireless carriers. A notification will arrive when it is available for download, but users can also go to Settings > General > About Phone > Software Updates to manually check on its availability.