A new rumor says a stock Android version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will debut during the Google I/O Conference keynote address today.
"While Samsung's phone is an incredible piece of hardware, many users find themselves less than pleased with Samsung's version of Android. To resolve this once and for all, we've learned that a pure AOSP (Android Open Source Project) version of the Galaxy S4 is being prepped for launch and will be unveiled during the I/O keynote," Geek.com writes. "The Galaxy S4 GE will feature stock Android inside Samsung's familiar plastic casing. According our sources on hand at Google I/O, this Google Edition phone is a collaboration between Samsung and Google to address a growing group of users that prefer stock Android on something other than a Nexus."
No sources are named, but if true, this could be the best version of the Galaxy S4 available. Samsung's TouchWiz interface isn't bad, but it's never been lauded for its design.
The same sources say the Galaxy S4 GE will be available on T-Mobile, though there's no word on pricing or whether other carriers will get a crack at it, nor on which company will actually be selling the phone -- Samsung, Google or both.
We'll all need to tune in to the keynote at noon EDT to find out.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 1.6GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor or a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor (depending on country), 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch 1920x1080 Full HD AMOLED display at 441 ppi, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video, a 2-megapixel front facing camera, internal storage between 16 and 64GB, an SD card slot that can accommodate an additional 64GB, a polycarbonate body, Smart Pause and floating touch tech and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
Check back for the latest info on the Galaxy S4 as it becomes available.