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Tag: Galaxy S III

  • Samsung Makes Its Smartphones Easy To Use For First Timers

    Samsung Makes Its Smartphones Easy To Use For First Timers

    While a majority of Americans now owning smartphones, it’s hard to think that there are still people out there who have never used one in their life. There still are, however, and many of them don’t want to upgrade out of fear. They’re scared of change and think it’s going to be more complex than what they currently have. Well, Samsung is here to put an end to that.

    Starting with the Galaxy S3, Samsung has created a new mode for their smartphones called Easy mode. As the name suggests, it changes the phone’s UI to be more welcoming and familiar to first time smartphone users while preparing them for the standard interactions we have with our smartphones everyday.

    To learn more, check out Samsung’s latest video:

    Interestingly enough, easy mode can also double as a smartphone UI for the vision impaired. It’s a common complaint among smartphone users with vision problems that the text and icons are too small. Easy mode makes everything bigger so users are better able to read them.

    Easy mode is available on all current Galaxy S and Note smartphones. You can find it the My Device section under Settings. If you need more instructions, check out Samsung’s help page.

    Image via SAMSUNGMOBILEUK/YouTube

  • Magna Carta Holy Grail: Jay-Z’s New Album Coming to Galaxy Phones

    Magna Carta Holy Grail: Jay-Z’s New Album Coming to Galaxy Phones

    Since making a name for himself in rap, Jay-Z has gone on to become one of the most successful entertainers in history, making millions as a producer, investor, and, most recently, a sports agent. That doesn’t mean he’s given up on his musical aspirations, however.

    Jay-Z this week announced his latest album, titled Magna Carta Holy Grail. The rap star revealed the release date of the album in a post to his Twitter account:

    That isn’t quite the whole story, though.

    Jay-Z has partnered with Samsung to offer the album for free to owners of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones. A mobile app will be released in the Google Play store on June 24th. The first million Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note II users to download the app will receive Magna Carta Holy Grail for free on July 4th. The album’s worldwide release date is July 7th.

  • Your Old Galaxy S III May Soon Look More Like A Galaxy S4

    Samsung has another hit with the Galaxy S4, but not everybody buys the latest and greatest mobile devices. Some people are perfectly content with buying last year’s Galaxy S III. Luckily, they won’t have to be jealous of the Galaxy S4 for much longer as many of the same features will soon be added to the S III via software update.

    SamMobile got its hands on the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S III and found that it contains many of the software features introduced with the Galaxy S 4. Unfortunately, that means many of the new features of the S4 that are dependent on hardware won’t be making it over. Despite that, there’s still some good stuff in store for those who are deciding to hold onto their Galaxy S III.

    Here’s the list of new additions courtesy of SamMobile:

  • New S4 Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, two Unlock effects (Ripple and Light), improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
  • New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
  • Daydream
  • Driving mode
  • Actionable notifications
  • New Additions in Notification Center
  • Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the S4)
  • Addition of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
  • Gallery modes have white background (When changing gallery modes to 3D the background changes to white)
  • Full screen Samsung apps
  • New S-Voice (from S4)
  • New smart switch widget

    • If you’re more of a visual kind of person, SamMobile has also released a video walkthrough of the new Galaxy S III firmware:

    On a final note, you can grab the firmware here if you can’t wait for Samsung to release it. The leaked 4.2.2 update is still an early build, however, so amateurs may want to wait for Samsung to release the official update later this year.

  • T-Mobile Drops The Contract In Favor Of A Simple Choice

    It’s been hinted at for a while that T-Mobile would be moving away from the traditional two-year contract business model. Now the company has fully unveiled its new plan – dubbed Simple Choice – at its UnCarrier event.

    So, what can you expect from T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice plan? It’s actually very similar to how two-year contract plans work, just minus the contract. The consumer still gets a subsidized phone while paying a monthly fee. The only difference is that the remaining cost of the phone is paid off in small payments that are added onto your monthly bill. Once the phone is paid off, the fee comes off your monthly bill.

    As for the pricing, the Simple Choice plan is very reasonable. For a single line, consumers get unlimited talk/text plus 500MB of data for $50 per month. For $10 more, consumers can upgrade to 2GB a month. At $20 more, consumers get unlimited 4G. Those on the 500MB or 2GB plans won’t have to worry about overage fees, however, as T-Mobile will only drop you down to 2G speeds if you go over.

    For those with families, T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan charges $30 extra for a second line and $10 more for each extra line.

    Of course, a plan is only as good as the phones being offered by the carrier. T-Mobile has that covered as the company offers very attractive prices for flagship devices like the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note 2. The carrier also plans to offer the Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One when those become available later this one.

    On a final note, T-Mobile will finally offer the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 starting April 12. Apple’s latest flagship device will only be $99, plus $20 more a month for two years.

    T-Mobile still has a long way to go before it can take on heavyweights like Verizon and AT&T, but this move will hopefully push the U.S.-based carriers to drop contracts in favor of more consumer friendly plans like T-Mobile’s Simple Choice.

  • iPhone 5 Took Over The World In Q4 2012

    iPhone 5 Took Over The World In Q4 2012

    A recent analysis of the smartphone market in 2012 found that Android dominated with over two-thirds of total smartphone shipments. The wide variety of Android devices ensures that the mobile OS ends up in the hands of more people. Another analysis, however, has found that Apple is still king when you take individual smartphone model shipments into account.

    According to numbers released by Strategy Analytics this morning, the firm estimates that the iPhone 5 was king of individual smartphone shipments and marketshare in the fourth quarter. The firm estimates that the iPhone 5 sold 27.4 million units in the fourth quarter for 12.6 percent of the market. The iPhone 4S came in second with 17.4 million units for 8 percent of the market.

    It wasn’t just purely an Apple game as Samsung’s Galaxy S3 came in third place with 15.4 million units shipped in the fourth quarter for 7.1 percent of the market. What’s interesting is that the Galaxy S3 was beating out both the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5 in the third quarter, but lost out to both in the fourth quarter. In fact, both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S saw growth while the Galaxy S3 saw a decline.

    So, why is the Galaxy S3 starting to see decreased demand? Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, says that the S3’s global demand has peaked:

    “Apple’s iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S together accounted for 1 in 5 of all smartphones shipped worldwide in Q4 2012. This was an impressive performance, given the iPhone portfolio’s premium pricing. We estimate Samsung’s Galaxy S3 was the world’s third best-selling smartphone model and it shipped 15.4 million units globally, capturing 7 percent share in the fourth quarter of 2012. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 has long proven wildly popular with consumers and operators across North America, Europe and Asia. However, global demand for the Galaxy S3 appears to have peaked and Samsung will surely be keen to introduce its rumored Galaxy S4 upgrade in the coming weeks to fight back against Apple’s popular iPhone range.”

    The iPhone 5 and 4S certainly benefitted from the holiday shopping season in quarter four, but Neil Shah, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, thinks Apple’s success can be attributed to a few other factors as well. For one, he cites “generous operator subsidies” as one reason for the devices’ combined success, but also the fact that the iPhone is available in more places around the world compared to Samsung’s flagship product.

    It’s worth nothing that Apple’s dominance is a phase and Samsung is poised to take back the lead when it introduces the Galaxy S4 in a few months. Some reports peg it for a March reveal and an April launch. Apple will then undoubtedly release the iPhone 5S later this year. The device will push Apple to the top yet again. It’s all part of the cyclical nature of popular consumer technology.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Top 40 Million

    Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Top 40 Million

    It’s official – the Galaxy S III is a real competitor to the iPhone. Samsung revealed this weekend that it has sold more than 40 million Galaxy S III smartphones. That’s as many units of the Galaxy S II that have sold in the nearly two years it has been available. The original Galaxy S only managed 24 million units sold. In total, the three Galaxy S smartphones Samsung has released have sold more than 100 million units.

    This news comes just as Apple is reportedly cutting orders for iPhone 5 components. Although the iPhone 5 was another a fast-selling record-breaker for the company, it appears that the anticipated demand for the device hasn’t materialized. The announcement has led to another drop in Apple’s stock price, which has been falling since the release of the latest iPhone.

    Samsung’s stock, on the other hand, has been steadily increasing since the release of the Galaxy S III. The Korean company’s latest announcement included the fact that average daily sales of their flagship Android smartphone are currently 190,000. Samsung has effectively taken over the high-end Android smartphone market, causing companies such as HTC to falter.

    Rumors are currently putting the release of the iPhone 5S (or whatever it will be called) and the Galaxy S IV will be released at the beginning of this summer. With the competition finally heating up, 2013 looks to be another transformative year for smartphone markets.

    (via BGR)

  • Samsung Announces The Galaxy Grand

    Samsung Announces The Galaxy Grand

    It’s rare to see a new product announcement this late in the year, but Samsung apparently likes to defy convention. This morning, the company unveiled its latest smartphone – the Galaxy Grand.

    You would be forgiven if you thought the Galaxy Grand was the Galaxy S III. In fact, there’s very little that sets the two devices apart. In terms of hardware, the Galaxy Grand sports a 5-inch screen while the Galaxy S III featured a 4.8-inch screen. It also has a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor compared to the S III’s 1.4 GHz quad-core processor.

    The main difference between the two phones, however, is that the Galaxy Grand will come in two variants – dual SIM and single SIM. The availability of dual SIM makes the phone’s purpose clear – this is an enterprise phone. The dual SIM will be greatly appreciated by travelers and regular users, but the enterprise market is clearly in Samsung’s sights.

    In terms of software, the phone comes equipped with Android 4.1.2, and a variety of Samsung software that users of other Samsung mobile devices should be familiar with. It ships with Direct Call, Smart Alert, Popup Video, S Voice and AllShare Play.

    You can check out a more detailed look of the new device below:

    Samsung Announces The Galaxy Grand

    As for release date, price or availability, Samsung is remaining quiet for now. We can probably expect the phone early next year. In fact, we’ll probably see more of it and others at CES early next year.

  • Samsung May Have Ruined Christmas with an Ad Referencing a Mrs. Claus Sex Tape

    Samsung May Have Ruined Christmas with an Ad Referencing a Mrs. Claus Sex Tape

    A few months ago Samsung released a 30-second ad for the Galaxy S III called “Work Trip,” which promoted the NFC-beaming of information from phone-to-phone with a little joke about a NSFW tape made by a wife for her traveling husband.

    “I also made you a video,” says the wife before bumping phones with her departing husband. “But you probably shouldn’t watch it on the plane.”

    Ow ow, right? Here’s that ad, for reference.

    But now, Samsung has taken it too far with a Christmas-themed version of that ad that involves another, more famous couple. In the following ad, dubbed “Santa’s Work Trip,” Mrs. Claus informs Santa that she also made him a video that calls for discretion. Ah come on, Samsung.

    Never has the phrase “coming down your chimney” sounded so wrong. And to sell a phone. For shame.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Finally Gets Jelly Bean on Verizon

    Samsung Galaxy S III Finally Gets Jelly Bean on Verizon

    Verizon Wireless today announced that its customers with Samsung’s Galaxy S III smartphone will finally get an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The update will be pushed out to subscribers starting on December 14.

    In additions to the testing and extra software placed into the update by Samsung, U.S. carriers take weeks or months to tailor operating system updates. The delays have gotten better over the past year, but Verizon customers are still just now getting an upgrade that debuted with the Nexus 7 back in mid-July. In fact, Google already released the next version of Android, 4.2, back at the end of October.

    Verizon stated that the upgrade to Jelly Bean makes the Galaxy S III on their network “Global Ready.” The device will also become ISIS-ready with the software update, for people in Austin and Salt Lake City to take advantage of. Verizon also highlighted Jelly Bean features such as upgraded notifications, Google Now, and enhanced camera capabilities.

    Verizon is the last major U.S. carrier to upgrade the Galaxy S III, after Samsung announced Jelly Bean’s availability for the device on October 17. Sprint was the first carrier to provide the update to its customers, rolling it out on October 25. T-Mobile came next on November 14. AT&T took nearly as long as Verizon, waiting until December 4 to roll out a non-over-the-air version that required Kies.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Upgrade Further Detailed, Big CES Announcement Teased

    Samsung Galaxy S III Upgrade Further Detailed, Big CES Announcement Teased

    Last week, Samsung announced that their flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, will soon be getting a “Premium Suite” software upgrade. The Korean tech company detailed around half of the upgrade’s features in a video, leaving the rest to be laid out this week.

    The Premium Suite will also include the Paper Artist photo editing app, left/right sound balance, a setup wizard for accessibility options, face detection accessibility features for the camera app, and an ‘easy mode” that makes the smartphone interface resemble a feature phone. Several new camera features will be added as well, including low light photo capabilities and a “best face” feature that allows different faces from five different pictures to be chosen for each person in a picture.

    Though Samsung’s Premium Suite software doesn’t add anything essential to the smartphone experience, it does show that the company is focusing heavily on software. In the past, there have been rumors that Samsung might forsake Android and develop its own operating system. That would certainly be an announcement worthy of a big reveal at CES.

    Samsung teased such an announcement this week with a very vague video that only foretells “something new” the company will be announcing at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. While rumors that the announcement will concern the (unbreakable) Galaxy S IV have been debunked, it certainly could be a new mobile OS or a new type of “smart” device altogether.

  • Samsung Galaxy Camera Heads To Verizon

    Samsung Galaxy Camera Heads To Verizon

    The Galaxy Camera is one of the more interesting Android devices to come out this year, but it’s been exclusive to AT&T since its launch on November 16. Now folks on Verizon are getting their own Galaxy Camera with an added bonus – 4G LTE.

    The Verge reports that a 4G LTE Galaxy Camera suddenly showed up on Samsung’s Web site without warning. The page appears to be a placeholder for now as it contains no price or launch date confirmation. AT&T’s Galaxy Camera retailed for $499, but only had 3G connectivity. It’s unknown if the added 4G LTE connectivity will add onto the price or not.

    For those who are still unaware of Samsung’s new camera, the Galaxy Camera is a point-and-shoot digital camera combined with the power of the company’s flagship Galaxy S III smartphone. The device is equipped with a 4.8-inch HD touch screen and a 21x optical zoom. On the software side of things, it comes with Google’s first Jelly Bean release – Android 4.1.

    While we have no official price or launch date, it would be safe to assume that the Galaxy Camera will hit Verizon before the end of the year. A few more big holiday shopping weekends are coming up, and Verizon won’t want to miss out on the potential sales that such a device could bring to the carrier. If it does miss the holiday season, I’d wager that an early January launch is in the books.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III to Get Premium Suite Upgrade

    Samsung Galaxy S III to Get Premium Suite Upgrade

    If the popularity of Google’s Nexus devices is any indication, Android users really are looking for a pure Android experience. An experience without all the (mostly useless or niche-case) “features” added by manufacturers and carriers to make their phones unique. Still, Samsung has been focusing heavily on software for its Android devices.

    Toaday, Samsung released the first preview of what it is calling the “Premium Suite Upgrade” for the Galaxy S III. The device only just got access to the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade on all U.S. carriers this week, nearly five months after the mobile OS launched. Expect significant delays with the Premium Suite as well, as carriers take their time testing the software with their networks.

    The Premium Suite Upgrade will include several software features. Page Buddy is a contextual program that will launch applications or change settings when certain conditions are met, such as docking the smartphone. Contextual menus and tags will also be added, automating the phone’s capabilities even more. Mulit-window capabilities similar to those on Samsung’s tablets have also been added, which is perhaps the most useful feature of the update, and the Galaxy S III’s screen is just big enough to make it work. NFC auto-sharing over S-Beam and a Facebook Lock Ticker have been added, as well as a “Reader Mode” that reformats websites for larger text an easier sharing.

  • AT&T Galaxy S III Finally Gets Jelly Bean

    AT&T Galaxy S III Finally Gets Jelly Bean

    It’s been a long time coming, but the Galaxy S III is finally getting its Jelly Bean update across most carriers. Sprint was the first US-based carrier to deliver the update. The other major carriers were left out, but it looks like the update is finally coming around starting with AT&T.

    Samsung announced that the Jelly Bean update for the AT&T Galaxy S III is now available via Kies. There is no OTA update so you’ll have to connect the device to your Mac or PC to get the update. Aside from the update to Jelly Bean, the Galaxy S III will also be getting the following features and improvements:

  • Home screen mode is added.
  • Blocking mode is added.
  • Swype is added
  • Music Hub is added.
  • Setting menu is modified.
  • Quick panel UI is updated.
  • Facebook support is updated.

    • It’s also noted that any custom APNs will be deleted during the update. You can easily reconfigure any custom APNs after the update by selecting the Access Point Names option under Mobile Networks.

    If you have yet to grab Kies, you can get it here. Just install the software and sync your device with it to grab the update.

    Unfortunately, the Verizon Galaxy S III still does not have the update. Droid-Life reports that currents rumors peg the update as coming on December 14, but it’s still a rumor until Verizon or Samsung spill the beans. In any case, it should be out before the end of the year.

  • Samsung Galaxy S IV Could Be Out By May 2013

    Samsung Galaxy S IV Could Be Out By May 2013

    Mobile technology is moving at breakneck speeds. The Galaxy S III that you just bought for a family member this holiday season will be obsolete by May of next year if rumors are to be believed.

    GSM Nation reports that sources close to Samsung say that the company will announce the newest Galaxy smartphone in April, and launch in May. That would put it one year after the launch of the Galaxy S III and a months before the rumored launch of the iPhone 6.

    We may know a potential release date, but will the Galaxy S IV improve greatly upon the already great Galaxy S III? According to rumors, the S IV will be similar in design to the S III, but feature more powerful specs and a larger screen.

    The current rumors suggest that the Galaxy S IV will sport a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080. GSM Nation notes that this would put it above the iPhone 5’s current retina display resolution of 640×1136.

    Such a large display will require quite a bit of power, and the S IV will reportedly have that and then some. The rumors suggest that Samsung will be utilizing its own Exynos 5450 quad-core CPU. It will be clocked at 2.0GHz for a sizable jump over the Galaxy S III’s 1.4GHz quad-core CPU.

    The final rumor suggests that the Galaxy S IV will be equipped with a 13MP camera. It will be a noticeable improvement over the 8MP camera in the S III.

    As expected, Samsung isn’t saying anything just yet. The company is most likely going to use CES or Mobile World Congress as a platform to hint at the device with an official reveal coming a few months later.

  • Samsung Stress Tests Its Phones With Robot Butts

    Samsung Stress Tests Its Phones With Robot Butts

    Every new smartphone and tablet must go through a YouTube stress test. It’s somewhat of an unwritten rule of the Internet. The drop test is by far the most popular, but others put smartphones through some rather creative trials. Hammering a nail into some wood with a Lumia 900 is pretty cool, but it’s got nothing on Samsung’s own stress tests.

    Yesterday, Samsung uploaded a video that showed off the various stress tests the company puts each new device through before shipping. The device of choice this time around is the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the tests the company puts it through are pretty rough.

    As you can see, Samsung puts its devices through far more tests than any YouTube stress test could ever think of. I’ve never seen a test involving a 100 kg person sitting on the device, but we don’t have to now because Samsung has that covered withs its artificial butt test.

    The other tests are equally strenuous and downright mean. Granted, the testers aren’t throwing the device against a concrete slab, but that’s outside of normal use. With that being said, I’m still trying to figure out how a smartphone being blasted with high pressure water falls under normal use.

  • Here’s All The New Jelly Bean Features Coming To The Galaxy S III

    Here’s All The New Jelly Bean Features Coming To The Galaxy S III

    We’ve known for a while that Samsung is working with carriers to get Galaxy S III owners the Jelly Bean upgrade sooner rather than later. In fact, Sprint has already pushed out the upgrade on its network. If you’re not on Sprint, you might be waiting a while as it’s been awfully quiet on the AT&T and Verizon front.

    While you wait, Samsung has prepared a few new videos that show off the new features that Jelly Bean brings to the Galaxy S III. Sure, you all know what Jelly Bean is capable of, but it’s something else to see it in action on the device. The Galaxy S III already was one of the best Android devices on the market, and Jelly Bean just makes it that much sweeter.

    Alongside the updates from Google, Samsung is adding its own flourishes to the Galaxy S III in the Jelly Bean upgrade. These updates haven’t gotten as much press because only Sprint owners can play around with them, but they’re pretty nice. Have a look at all the new Samsung-specific features hitting the Galaxy S III in the near future.

    As Samsung notes, the above videos are representative of the Galaxy S III that’s currently available in South Korea. A few of the Samsung specific features aren’t mentioned in the Sprint press release, like the improved app folders, but it’s not a cause for concern. The beauty of Android lies in its openness, which means somebody will fill in the blanks left by Samsung with a custom ROM or other software additions.

  • Samsung Galaxy Camera Launches In US On November 16

    Samsung Galaxy Camera Launches In US On November 16

    The Galaxy Camera, Samsung’s attempt at merging the Android OS with a high-end digital camera, was announced for AT&T back in early October. Since then, the device has launched in the UK, but there was still no word of a US release until today.

    Samsung and AT&T announced today that the Galaxy Camera will launch in the US on November 16. Based on the UK’s pricing, I assumed that the Galaxy Camera would cost $399 at launch. I was a little off as the official price will be $499. As it turns out, however, the camera will only cost $399 if you take advantage of a special offer that AT&T is running this holiday season.

    “By connecting the Samsung Galaxy Camera through the AT&T wireless network, users can instantly share photos, giving family and friends a glimpse into their favorite holiday moments,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, AT&T Emerging Devices. “Customers will receive $100 off the purchase of the new Samsung Galaxy Camera when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, making the Samsung Galaxy Camera the perfect gift this holiday season.”

    Like all other mobile devices, the pressing question is how much the data plan costs. Using AT&T’s new Mobile Share plan, consumers can pay $10 to share between 1GB and 20GB across all of their devices. For just the Galaxy Camera alone, it will be $15 for 250MB, $30 for 3GB, and $50 for 5GB. You could also save yourself money and trouble by just sticking with the built-in Wi-Fi instead of using mobile data.

    In the US, AT&T is offering Galaxy Camera customers 5GB of free storage with its AT&T Locker service. It’s not much, but it’s something. The camera itself features 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded by up to 32GB via microSD.

    Nowhere in the press release does it mention the Galaxy Camera being an exclusive to AT&T. The camera should be available through your carrier of choice in the future. We’ll let you know if, and when, it makes the jump to other carriers.

  • Samsung Has Sold 30 Million Galaxy S IIIs

    Samsung Has Sold 30 Million Galaxy S IIIs

    Samsung today announced that it has sold 30 million units of its flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III. The smartphone was released 150 days ago in Europe. This isn’t quite an Apple-level number (almost 30 million iPhone 5s have been sold in its first month of availability), but it is a huge milestone for the Korean device manufacturer and puts Apple on notice, especially considering that loyalty to the iPhone brand is beginning to wane.

    “The Galaxy S III continues to be a runaway favorite with customers around the world,” said J.K. Shin, head of IT & Mobile Communications at Samsung. “Meeting this sales milestone in five months sets another record for Samsung, and we are extremely proud and yet motivated to continue to provide our customers with products that they love. On behalf of Samsung Mobile, I appreciate millions of customers around the world that have chosen the samsung Galaxy S III.”

    30 million Galaxy S III sales triples the number of units Samsung sold of the device’s predecessor, the Galaxy S II. In addition to its Galaxy S III sales, Samsung announced last week that it had sold 3 million Galaxy Note II smartphones during that device’s first month of availability.

    (photo courtesy Samsung)

  • Galaxy S III Mini Hits The UK On November 8

    Galaxy S III Mini Hits The UK On November 8

    Samsung has found incredible success with the Galaxy S III. Even Apple’s best attempts at routing Samsung with patent lawsuits only served to increase sales of the Android device. Now Samsung is almost ready to move into phase two of its master plan – release a smaller version of its most popular handset at a more affordable price.

    Samsung announced today that the Galaxy S III Mini will be coming to the UK on November 8. There’s still no word yet on a US release, but the wait shouldn’t be that much longer. Samsung also neglected to mention a price for the handset despite it launching next week.

    “Our latest addition to the Galaxy portfolio, the Galaxy S III Mini brings the high performance, intuitive ease-of-use and nature-inspired design of the Galaxy S III in a new elegant yet compact form. Following the massive success and popularity of the Galaxy S III and all its features, we are confident customers will enjoy the Galaxy SIII Mini when it hits the shelves on the 8th November.”

    The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini isn’t exactly like its bigger brother. Samsung had to make some sacrifices to bring the size and price down. As its name suggests, the S III Mini features a 4-inch display that’s powered by a relatively weaker 1GHz dual-core processor. The phone is also only available in 8GB and 16GB varieties.

    In good news, the phone will come equipped with Jelly Bean right out of the gate. Galaxy S III owners are still waiting for their update, unless they’re with Sprint. The device will also give users a free 50GB Dropbox account for two years to make up for the loss in internal storage.

    The mini craze is just getting started with the iPad Mini and Galaxy S III Mini both expected to do solid business this holiday season. If both devices end up being a success, will we see more Mini devices flood the market? I’m in favor of the iPhone Mini – an iPhone in the body of a iPod Nano. It would be hilariously brilliant.

  • Samsung Brings The Galaxy Premier To The Ukraine

    Samsung Brings The Galaxy Premier To The Ukraine

    Samsung has been busy with the launch of the Galaxy Note II, and its continued support for the popular Galaxy S III. That doesn’t mean the company is done releasing new phones this year though. It was revealed that the company is set to release a new phone in the Galaxy series, but it might not make it to the US.

    Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Premier for availability in November 2012 for the Ukraine. There’s no word yet on if the device will make it to the US, but it could prove to be popular among those looking for the Galaxy S III experience without the high price.

    For a cheaper phone, the Galaxy Premier is no slouch. The phone features a 4.65-inch display with a resolution of 1280×720. As for the processor, it features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and Android 4.1. It also features a 8MP rear camera and a 1.9MP front camera.

    As for price, Samsung said that the Galaxy Premier would set Ukrainians back 5,555 UAH, or $680 USD. The unlocked Galaxy S III goes for $699 in the US. The Galaxy Premier would probably go for a bit less after exchange rates, and it would be a lot less under contract.

    Earlier this month, Samsung announced the Galaxy S III Mini as another cheaper option for consumers. If both devices end up coming to the US, the Galaxy Premier would be the better choice. Both devices will be cheaper, but the Galaxy Premier is far closer in specs to the Galaxy S III.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • Sprint Pushes Jelly Bean Update To Galaxy S III Today

    Sprint Pushes Jelly Bean Update To Galaxy S III Today

    Samsung announced a while back that Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) would be coming to Galaxy S III devices in the US at some point in the near future. Many expected it to take a few months as Samsung left the scheduling in the hands of carriers. In surprisingly good news, at least one US carrier has been able to get the update out in a timely fashion.

    Sprint announced today that they are the first US carrier to offer Jelly Bean to Galaxy S III owners. Android 4.1 will be available today as an OTA update. A user’s Galaxy S III will notify them when the update is available for download.

    Jelly Bean brings a number of enhancements to the Android platform that Galaxy S III owners are sure to be pleased with. The most important new feature is Google Now which provides up to the second information updates on traffic conditions, public transportation schedules and more. Other improvements include expandable notifications, Android beam and resizable widgets.

    Samsung is also packing in a number of new features into the phone with the update as well. The camera is receiving the most notable improvements with new filters including warm vintage, cold vintage, black and white, sepia, color highlights and many more to fulfill your innate artistic desires.

    The other notable addition is easy mode. It provides a simplified user experience for those who are new to the Android operating system or just aren’t very good at navigating modern UIs.

    There’s no word yet on when the update will hit Galaxy S III devices on other carriers. T-Mobile may be next as they’re pretty good about getting updates out in a timely manner. I wouldn’t count on an update from AT&T or Verizon in the near future though. Having said that, an update in the next few weeks from all the carriers would be greatly appreciated.