It's been just a couple weeks since we saw the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with AT&T's brand of LTE on board swing through the FCC, and today it's official. AT&T will carry the Galaxy Note 8.0. With LTE. "In the coming weeks."

No word on an exact date, or pricing.

Basic specs stand as have have for the version we previously reviewed, with a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos 4410 CPU with 2GB of RAM. It ships with Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) running Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. Also included is support for 802.11 a/b/g/n (in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz modes) Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and a sensor package consisting of a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a compass.

Be sure to swing by our Galaxy Note 8.0 review for the full rundown.

Source: AT&T

The Moga Power Bluetooth controller was unveiled last week, and here at E3 2013 we got some time to try out their latest prototype. It isn't working just yet, but it was still a nice chance to highlight some of the major feature changes. The main addition is a full-sized USB port which allows your mobile device to sup from the Moga Power's local battery. 

Connectivity, battery life noted as issues for some in MD3 update

Verizon has confirmed in a statement to Android Central that the Android 4.1.2 update for the Galaxy S3 has been halted, and a fix is in the works following a number of complaints over connectivity and battery life. The VRBMD3 update, heralded as a "major" release that brought a bit of functionality seen in more recent releases -- multi-window and multi-screen, to name two -- sparked a number of threads in our Galaxy S3 forums of folks experiencing issues, and word of a fix started trickling out last week.

Here's the official word from Verizon:

A software update was recently pushed to the Samsung Galaxy S III, and while a majority of customers downloaded and installed the update successfully, a small number were negatively impacted. As a result the software update push has been postponed as a precaution for customers. We will notify them when a new software update is available for download. 

So, everybody hang tight for an update, which hopefully will come sooner rather than later.

Mini HTC One reportedly due 'by August'

The evidence that HTC is working on an HTC One "mini" is growing, with fresh reports from Bloomberg seemingly confirming the rumored specs, and offering a tentative launch window. The publication says it's heard through two insider sources that the miniature HTC One will come with a 4.3-inch screen of lower resolution than the original. In addition, a "less powerful" Qualcomm CPU is said to be onboard.

As for release dates, Bloomberg says the new handset will go on sale "by August," meaning we could have a few weeks to wait before the device becomes official.

Earlier rumors have pointed to the "M4," as it's codenamed, shipping with an "Ultrapixel" camera, like the HTC One, and a screen resolution of 1280x720. Leaked photos have revealed a design almost identical to the 4.7-inch One. If the rumors are accurate, it'd compare favorably against the Galaxy S4 Mini, due to go on sale in July.

Source: Bloomberg

Vodafone UK has just launched a new smartphone for the budget-conscious, and it's available for just £50 on PAYG with no subscription. The Vodafone Smart Mini packs vanilla Android (Jelly Bean) UI onto a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480) display, running on a 1GHz single-core MediaTek CPU. That's backed up by 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. Around the back there's a 2-megapixel camera. 

So the Vodafone Smart Mini isn't going to win any awards for cutting-edge technology, but it is impressive that you can pick up a fully functional (if basic) smartphone for a tenth of the cost of the latest high-enders. The Smart Mini will be available from Vodafone.co.uk later today in black and white, with a pink version to follow.

Let’s call the ‘Zoom’ what it really is -- a Galaxy Camera Mini

This morning Samsung announced a phone with a camera strapped to the back of it. The Galaxy S4 Zoom, as it’s called, combines the guts of a Galaxy S4 Mini with the body of a point-and-shoot camera, complete with 16-megapixel sensor and 10X optical zoom lens. The main benefit, besides the high megapixel count, is that you’ll be able to take zoomed-in photos that don’t look like crap. That's because you’ll no longer be relying on the software-based digital zoom used by regular phone cameras.

But why is Samsung stitching a gigantic, hulking camera assembly to the back of a phone? And how does the Zoom relate to the company’s other Android-powered imaging device, the Galaxy Camera? Let’s take a closer look.

Finally bridging the gap between point-and-shoot cameras and smart phones

Rather than waiting for a big launch event scheduled for later this month, Samsung has decided to roll out everything we need to know about the Galaxy S4 Zoom with a simple press release. Much as we thought, the S4 Zoom is the next step to bridge the gap between the previous Galaxy Camera and the current crop of Galaxy S4 devices. From a camera perspective, the S4 Zoom has a 16MP sensor with 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, a xenon flash, 4fps burst mode (with auto focus) and ISO support up to 3200. From the phone side, it looks to be closer to the internals of the recently announced Galaxy S4 Mini.

We're looking at a 4.3-inch qHD (540x960) AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage (with SDXC support), a 2330mAh battery and all of the requisite sensors you'd want or need. Yes, this is a phone, with everything you'd expect for a functioning phone. Samsung lists support for all major 2G, 3G and LTE bands, with "up to 6 different band sets" depending on the market. On the software side, it looks to be a typical build of Android 4.2 with Samsung's software customizations just as you'd find on its recent high-end phones.

Stick around after the break where we have compiled the full set of press images for the device.

Source: Samsung

Several new markets across the U.S. will be seeing new or expanding AT&T LTE network coverage starting today, bringing faster network performance all around. Users in the following cities with LTE-enabled devices and accounts should see the network go live:

• Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona
• Quad Cities and Sterling, Illinois
• El Dorado-Magnolia, Arkansas
• Southern New Jersey Shore Points
• Brookings, South Dakota
• Watertown, South Dakota
• Dayton, Ohio
• Camden, Arkansas
• Astoria, Oregon
• Duluth-Superior, Minnesota

Additionally, AT&T is expanding its LTE coverage in the following three markets today as well: Salinas, Calif., East-Central Miss., and Reno, Nev.

Verizon is set to roll out the latest iteration of its Casio-made rugged smart phones soon if new images are to be believed. A press render shown off by perpetual device leaker evleaks shows an extremely rugged and bold-looking device that follows right in the footsteps of the original Casio G'zOne. The new design seems to take on even more rubber, metal and exposed screws -- with no shortage of black and red Verizon branding. We don't know much in the way of specs, but the new Commando will of course support Verizon's LTE network, something that it's predecessor didn't have. The screen gives us a look at a moderately skinned ICS or Jelly Bean interface, with four capacitive keys as well. We can expect this one to hit stores quietly in the coming months.

Source: @evleaks