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Tag: Samsung

  • Samsung Nexus 10 Tablet Photos Leaked

    Samsung Nexus 10 Tablet Photos Leaked

    In the current tech climate, it’s a given that no device will stay truly secret until its announcement. This is especially true with Apple, where nearly every detail of their devices is known before they are announced. As Samsung continues to sell smartphones at an incredible rate and consolidate its hold over the Android device market, it too has become the subject of analysts who pour over every aspect of the Chinese manufacturing industry for device rumors.

    Google is expected to announce several Nexus devices at its big event on Monday, October 29. Perhaps the most anticipated of those devices is Samsung’s Nexus 10, a 10-inch tablet reported to be positioned as a rival to Apple’s iPad. Today, BriefMobile posted over a dozen leaked photos of the device.

    In general, the tablet looks like a larger version of the Nexus 7, but it also bears some resemblance to Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Note 10.1. Of course, being a Nexus tablet gives the Nexus 10 an advantage when it comes to software, since it will undoubtedly run a purer version of Android than can be found on many Android devices. In fact, the Nexus 10 is rumored to come with Android 4.2, which hasn’t even been announced yet. Also, Nexus devices have historically been among the first devices to receive operating system upgrades, which can be a frustration for users who wait months (or forever) for Android updates.

    No other details about the device have been released, but a leaked manual for the product that hit the web earlier this week shows the tablet will have front and rear cameras and a Micro HDMI port.

    (Photo via BriefMobile)

  • Apple Acknowledges That Samsung Didn’t Copy The iPad… Kind Of

    Apple Acknowledges That Samsung Didn’t Copy The iPad… Kind Of

    Earlier this year, a UK court ruled that Samsung didn’t infringe upon Apple’s patents in regards to the company’s Galaxy Tab devices. Normally, it would have ended there, but the judge also ruled that Apple must put a notice on its Web site acknowledging that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad. The notice was supposed to go up today and Apple didn’t disappoint.

    If you head over to Apple’s UK Web site, you’ll see a small link at the bottom of the page that says, “Samsung/Apple UK Judgment.” The link takes you to a white page with the following statement:

    On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.

    In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:

    “The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design.”

    “The informed user’s overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.”

    That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.

    However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple’s design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple’s far more popular iPad.

    At this point, Apple is being the bratty kid you knew in first grade. They apologize after being called out for it, but it’s not much of an apology. It’s the kind of passive-agressive stance that’s more funny than anything.

    Apple has hidden away the above statement on its Web site, but the statement is also to be published in newspapers and magazines across the UK. It will be interesting to see if Apple changes its tune in the print version.

    [h/t: iMore]

  • 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.

  • Samsung Nexus 10 Manual Leak Hits The Web [Rumor]

    Samsung Nexus 10 Manual Leak Hits The Web [Rumor]

    One of the more persistent rumors regarding Google’s Android event next week is the existence of a 10-inch tablet from Samsung. Its rumored name is the Nexus 10 and will give the new retina display-equipped iPad a run for its money. The name might not be a rumor anymore thanks to a leak.

    Korean site Seeko recently published two images of what appears to be the user manual for the Nexus 10. The pictures only show the front of the manual and two pages from the inside, but it’s enough to see that Samsung is indeed making what looks to be a 10-inch tablet from Google.

    Samsung Nexus 10 Manual Leaked

    Samsung Nexus 10 Manual Leaked

    It’s important to note that these images can’t be verified. This is still all a rumor at this point as Google has not many any announcements in regards to a new tablet. With that being said, the manual does look legitimate enough.

    It’s a little unfortunate that the latest leak can’t confirm the latest rumors on the device’s specs. It’s rumored to have a massive 2560×1600 display. The device is also rumored to be running the next generation of Android – version 4.2.

    The pictures in the manual make it look like the Nexus 10 will be a Galaxy Tab in Google makeup. It remains to be seen if the innards of the device will be comparable to the Galaxy Tab though. The massive screen resolution suggests that the specs will be similar, if not superior, to that of the Galaxy Tab 2.

    [h/t: The Verge]

  • Samsung Wins Patent Dispute In The Netherlands

    Samsung Wins Patent Dispute In The Netherlands

    It’s looking more and more like Apple only has friends in the US. After Samsung won a patent dispute in Germany, a court in the Netherlands has also found that Samsung didn’t infringe any of the Cupertino giant’s patents.

    A ruling from the Hague court on Wednesday ruled that Samsung did not infringe upon Apple’s patent for multi-touch functions. The patent in question defined how a user can use two fingers at once to control the functions of a touch screen. It’s most widely used in the pinch-to-zoom functionality that Apple claims to have patented.

    Samsung’s latest win continues the company’s string of wins across Europe where various courts have ruled in the South Korean company’s favor. Perhaps the most important, or at least hilarious, ruling so far was one made in the UK courts. The judge ruled that Apple must publish a notice on its Web site and in local newspapers saying that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad’s design.

    Things are looking up for Samsung these days. The sales ban on the company’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Nexus have both been lifted. The Galaxy S III is still doing well, and the company’s Galaxy Note II smartphone is launching in the US today. What could possibly go wrong?

    Well, the verdict is still out on Apple’s request to have several Samsung products banned from sale in the US. The company could very well lose out on potential sales if the sales ban is enacted. For now, however, Samsung can at least revel in the fact that it’s won another patent case.

    [h/t: Reuters]

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II Finally Arrives In America Via T-Mobile

    Samsung Galaxy Note II Finally Arrives In America Via T-Mobile

    Samsung’s Galaxy Note, its interesting phone/tablet hybrid, met with mild success. Now it’s time for its successor to make an impact on the American smartphone market. Too bad it’s launching at a ridiculously high price on one of the smaller US carriers.

    The Galaxy Note II goes on sale today via T-Mobile for $369.99. Of course, that’s only if you subsidize it with a two-year contract. The unlocked price is $649.99. The device will be cheaper on Sprint as it launches tomorrow for $299 under contract on their network. Cult of Android reports that AT&T is just starting to take pre-orders while Verizon is MIA.

    If you have the money to throw at the device, you’ll be getting a pretty fantastic smartphone. The Galaxy Note II’s obvious main selling point is its large screen. It features a 5.5-inch AMOLED HD that blurs the line between smartphones and tablets. It’s powered by a quad-core 1.6GHz processor that runs Android 4.1. It also features 16GB of built-in memory with a MicroSD slot for further expansion.

    Consumers who do decide to go with T-Mobile will get a few exclusive perks. All T-Mobile Galaxy Note II devices will have access to an exclusive racing game. The title of the game is not listed, but free games are always nice. It also features support for T-Mobile’s AllShare Cast Wireless Hub accessory that allows users to stream content including movies and games to any HDMI-capable television.

    The Galaxy Note II is available in two colors – Marble White and Titanium Gray. Either way, you’re sure to be the envy of all your Apple loving friends.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Gets Carbon Footprint Certification In Europe

    Samsung Galaxy S III Gets Carbon Footprint Certification In Europe

    Samsung’s Galaxy S III is a popular device among consumers, but it’s now well respected among the conservationist types across Europe. Just like its predecessor and the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy S III has achieved a carbon footprint certification across Europe.

    Samsung UK announced today that they are the only mobile phone manufacturer to be granted the carbon footprint certification by the UK-based Carbon Trust Certification. The Galaxy S III achieved its lower carbon footprint by implementing a more efficient charger, using fewer raw materials, and reducing emissions during its assembly.

    “At Samsung, our philosophy is to ‘design for humans’ and be ‘inspired by nature’. So by design our products are not just smart and easy to use, they also strive to achieve the highest environmental standards,” said Bill Skeates, Head of Sustainability, Samsung Electronics Europe. “Yes, our customers want to own a great smartphone, but they also want to be responsible consumers, and the Galaxy S III helps them to do both. Measuring the carbon footprint helps us to understand the environmental impact of our mobile phones and identify where we can continue to improve. Samsung aims to calculate the carbon footprint for all of its mobile flagship devices.”

    Samsung began their journey into eco-friendly manufacturing in 2009 with the Green Management Strategy. Since then, the company has developed “innovative solutions for environmentally friendly products.” As such, the company “reviews the production, usage, and end-of-life disposal of its handsets.”

    “The number of mobile devices, like smartphones in use worldwide is growing exponentially, so it’s important that they meet key environmental standards. We are very pleased that Samsung is showing industry leadership here,” said Darran Messem, Managing Director, Certification at the Carbon Trust. “Samsung not only submits its smartphones for independent assessment, but is also taking action to improve the environmental performance of its products.”

    Samsung is expected to announce a new 10-inch tablet alongside Google at an Android event next week. The same eco-friendly manufacturing practices will surely be used in the creation of said device. It could be used as a good company image boost for both Samsung and Google.

  • Samsung Nexus 10 To Feature Android 4.2

    Samsung Nexus 10 To Feature Android 4.2

    The latest Android operating system version is 4.1, otherwise known as Jelly Bean. It was introduced at Google I/O this year, and is now slowly working its way into devices around the world. Rumors indicate that the next version of Android would be called Key Lime Pie or Kandy Cane, but it looks like we’ll be stuck with Jelly Bean for a while longer.

    Google will be announcing a number of Android devices and updates at an event next Monday. There have been numerous rumors regarding what’s going to be on display, but a report from The Next Web reveals all. A source close to Google disclosed that the company will be announcing the Samsung Nexus 10 at the event. This is the rumored 10-inch tablet that Google will be using to take on the regular iPad at its own game with an impressive 2560×1600 display.

    It’s also reported that the Nexus 10 will be equipped with Android 4.2. Everybody thought the next version of Android would be getting a name change, but Google is reportedly sticking with the Jelly Bean name for now. The extra time with Jelly Bean will hopefully convince them that Kandy Cane is an awful name for the next major upgrade.

    In other good news, the leaked LG Nexus 4 will also feature the new Android 4.2 operating system. As for those leaked specs from last week, The Next Web reports that those are correct. It looks like we’ll be getting a powerful phone at a cheap price if the rumored price of $300 sticks.

    It’s great that Google is pushing Android 4.2 on two different devices at once, but what does the new OS offer over previous iterations? According to the report, Android 4.2 will have a new feature called “Content in the center.” In essence, it allows users to access Google Play via a widget.

    The other more interesting feature in 4.2 is “Tablet sharing.” It allows users to create multiple accounts on one device with different apps tied to each account. This is something that Apple and Amazon have still not done, and it’s a welcome addition for tablet owners who want to set up separate accounts for family members. Parental controls can only do so much after all.

    Leaks take some of the fun of anticipation out of events, but it looks like Google is going to have one heck of a show on their hands. Android 4.2 looks to be exciting enough as it is and tablet sharing needs to be a thing across every mobile device. Here’s hoping Google inspires Apple and Amazon to follow.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Upgrades To Jelly Bean On Vodafone

    Samsung Galaxy S III Upgrades To Jelly Bean On Vodafone

    The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the best, and most popular, Android phones on the market. The only downside at this point is that there’s still too many people stuck on Ice Cream Sandwich. Carriers are slowly beginning to upgrade users to Jelly Bean, but the UK is moving much faster in this regard than the US.

    Speaking of the UK, mobile carrier Vodafone has announced that Jelly Bean is now available to subscribers who own a Galaxy S III. According to Pocket-lint, the OTA update has started, but it’s going to be a tiered release. Owners will be notified when the update is available.

    You can upgrade via a PC right now if you just can’t wait. Like always, the upgrade is available through Samsung Kies. This method is available only to subscribers of Vodafone and Three in the UK.

    What about Galaxy S III owners in the US? We still have to wait anywhere between a few weeks and a few months for the update. It will be rolled out in waves across different carriers with each carrier deciding when to send out the upgrade. None of the carriers have thus far announced their plans either.

    Google wants to get everybody caught up to the latest version of Android, but the large number of carriers and devices makes such a task incredibly hard. Couple that with carriers that renege on their promise to bring updates to older phones, and you have an Android ecosystem that can’t get away from the phantom of Android 2.3.

  • Watch the iPhone 5 & the Galaxy S III Blended to a Fine Powder

    Watch the iPhone 5 & the Galaxy S III Blended to a Fine Powder

    You wanted it, and here it is. Blender company Blendtec has been torturing things for a while now through a YouTube video series called “Will it Blend?” Their speciality happens to be throwing tech devices into blenders – because why not? And today, they finally got around to posting a video that showcases the blendability of the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

    Without further ado, here’s the carnage:

    If you liked the slow-motion blending, you can check out the full slowed-down clip below:

    Although the iPhone 5 seemed to blend a bit faster than the Galaxy S3, both ended up as black heaps of smartphone dust by the end. I’m not really sure what that should tell you about either device.

    All that smartphone torture…leaves me hungry for more. If you feel the need for more iPhone 5 pain, you can watch it dropped, shot with a sniper rifle, and tortured by an Android fan.

    [h/t TechCrunch]

  • Sprint Galaxy Note II Coming October 25

    Sprint Galaxy Note II Coming October 25

    Sprint announced today that Samsung‘s Galaxy Note II smartphone will be available on its network beginning October 25. The device will cost $299 with a new or upgraded 2-year service agreement.

    The carrier will have the Galaxy Note II in both of its colors: Marble White or Titanium Grey. It will be the first Sprint smartphone to launch running Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. It is also the carrier’s first device to feature a quad-core processor and have a display over 5 inches.

    For those who don’t know, Samsung’s Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch display and an Exynos 1.6GHz quad-core processor. Also, though the device will come running Jelly Bean, it will also come pre-loaded with Samsung’s proprietary software, such as S-Voice. The Galaxy Note II also has an 8MP rear camera and a 1.9MP front-facing camera.

    The device also comes with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus, which Sprint states is (I kid you not) “longer, thicker, and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip.”

    Of course, Sprint is one of the two U.S. carriers that offers unlimited 4G, and the only carrier that offers unlimited 4G LTE. If your current contract is up, you’re an Android fan, you want to download many things on-the-go, and want the largest smartphone currently available from Samsung, Sprint’s version of the Galaxy Note II is probably the device you’re looking for.

  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus Injunction Lifted by Court

    Samsung Galaxy Nexus Injunction Lifted by Court

    A federal U.S. Appeals Court this week threw out a lower court’s preliminary injunction that Apple won against the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Samsung had requested the injunction be lifted, though sales of the Galaxy Nexus were disrupted for only a week or so back in July of this year. Google was able to quickly modify the software on the phones to get around Apple’s patent claims.

    The injunction is part of a U.S. patent trial in which Apple and Samsung accuse each other of patent violations. Apple recently won a huge victory in a different U.S. patent trial, with Samsung ordered to hand over $1billion to Apple.

    The two continue to battle over patents in U.S. courts, though. Samsung recently added Apple’s new iPhone 5 to the list of Apple devices it says infringe on its wireless technology patents in a trial scheduled to take place in 2014.

    While these lawsuits would seem to be a hinderance to Samsung, the Korean company has actually been steadily capturing more of the smartphone market. Estimates now show that 25% of all smartphones in the U.S. are Samsungs, and the company has been consolidating its dominance of the Android handset market throughout 2012.

    Just this week, Samsung announced a mini version of its flagship Android device, the Galaxy S III. Combine this with rumors of a coming 10-inch Nexus tablet, and Samsung is on the road to becoming Apple’s main competitor in both the 10-inch tablet and smartphone markets.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Officially Announced

    Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Officially Announced

    As expected, Samsung today announced its new Galaxy S III Mini smartphone at an event in Frankfurt, Germany. The new version of the device has a 4-inch screen, scaled-down hardware, and lacks 4G LTE capabilities.

    The 4-inch Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S III is the same size as the recently released iPhone 5 – certainly not a coincidence. Inside, the smartphone has a 1GHZ dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and NFC support. The rear camera is 5MP and the front camera is VGA. The device will come in either 8GB or 16GB versions and supports 3G wireless, though, as mentioned before, not 4G LTE.

    “The GALAXY S III introduced a new concept of smartphone that has proven hugely popular around the world,” said JK Shin, head of IT & Mobile Communications at Samsung. “We’re now delighted to bring its revolutionary design, intuitive usability and intelligence to the GALAXY S III mini in a more compact form. We continue to make every effort to provide extraordinary mobile experiences to meet a wide variety of user needs.”

    The Galaxy S III Mini does come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean already installed (though with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface and the company’s proprietary software, such as S-Voice, pre-installed), so customer’s won’t have to wait for an upgrade the way owners of the original Galaxy S III have had to.

  • Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Coming Tomorrow

    Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Coming Tomorrow

    It turns out the rumors (as they so often are when it comes to the smartphone market) were true: Samsung will release a smaller version of its flagship Galaxy Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III.

    The device will be announced tomorrow at a press event in Frankfurt, Germany. Samsung’s President of Mobile Communications, J.K. Shin, addressed the rumors today in an address to the Korean press. He stated that the Galaxy S III Mini will be a 4-inch version of the original device, and acknowledged that some potential customers don’t want the larger, 4.8-inch original. Specifically, Shin singled out Europe as having demand for the smaller form-factor.

    It’s certainly not a coincidence that the 4-inches is exactly the size of the screen on Apple’s new iPhone 5. Perhaps Samsung believes (or believes that customers believe) Apple when it states that the size of their smartphone is perfect.

    The hardware for the smaller Galaxy S III is rumored to be not too far off from its larger counterpart. Boy Genius Report relates that the 4-inch smartphone is rumored to have a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of ram, and a reduced 800 x 480 screen resolution.

    The smaller package might not mean a smaler price, though. Current rumors put the price of the device at around the same price as the original Galaxy S III.

  • T-Mobile Gets the Galaxy Note II on October 24 [RUMOR]

    T-Mobile Gets the Galaxy Note II on October 24 [RUMOR]

    It’s already known that Samsung will be releasing the Galaxy Note II on every major U.S. carrier, just like it did the Galaxy S III. If history serves a a preview, however, the actual launch date for the extra-large smartphone will be different for every carrier, as will the price and version availability. In other words, it will be a confusing mess.

    Today, the confusion kicks off as TmoNews reports that a leaked photo of a sales preview shows the Galaxy Note II as launching on October 24. The leaked pic also shows that the device will come in gray or white and that it will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean when it ships (with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface running on top of it, no doubt).

    Though this is just a rumor, TmoNews points out that October 24 is the same day that Samsung has teased a big launch event for the Galaxy Note II in New York. Could it be that Samsung has learned from the messy Galaxy S III launch? Have they actually reigned in U.S. carriers, bringing them together for a coordinated, Apple-like product launch?

    The company does expect the Note II to sell over 20 million units, which is as much as the Galaxy S III has sold. Perhaps Samsung has their manufacturing pipelines in overdrive and is ready for a concerted launch effort for their newest (and largest) smartphone.

    (via BGR)

  • Google Is Working With Samsung On A 10-Inch Tablet [Rumor]

    Google Is Working With Samsung On A 10-Inch Tablet [Rumor]

    There were rumors back in June that Google was preparing to launch a 10-inch version of its Nexus 7 tablet. There was little info at the time beyond the size of the display. Thanks to an analyst with NPD, we now know much more.

    Speaking to CNET, an analyst with NPD’s DisplaySearch said that Google would be launching a 10-inch tablet with Samsung in the future. It would be different from the Nexus 7 in that it would be marketed as a high-end device. The Nexus 7 is currently marketed as a cheap alternative to other tablets on the market.

    So what would go into a high-end tablet from Google and Samsung? The analyst says the tablet would sport a 2560×1600 resolution with a PPI of 299. That’s significantly higher than the retina display on the new iPad. As for other specs, we’re still in the dark.

    The Nexus 7 is ostensibly a Google device even though it was manufactured by Asus. Google will not take the same approach with its 10-inch tablet as the company will reportedly co-brand the tablet with Samsung.

    Unfortunately for Motorola, it’s looking more and more like Google just acquired the company for their patents. Google seems to be more interested in producing hardware with other manufacturers instead of its own manufacturing arm in Motorola. It might be for the best as Samsung is now the most trusted and well known name in the Android marketplace.

    In other news, the analyst also confirmed to CNET that Google is indeed working on a $99 tablet. He wouldn’t say who is making the tablet or any specs, but it is indeed coming. Production will start in December, however, which leaves Google out of the lucrative holiday season. It does spare the rumored tablet from the wrath of the iPad Mini which is expected to launch later this month or early next month.

  • Samsung Quarterly Earnings Reach $7.29 Billion

    Samsung Quarterly Earnings Reach $7.29 Billion

    Samsung Electronics today announced its earnings guidance for the third quarter of 2012. The company estimated its revenues to be 52 trillion Korean won ($46.8 billion) and estimated its operating profit at 8.1 trillion won ($7.29 billion). This continues Samsung’s trend of rising revenue and could lure back investors who bailed on the company after it lost to Apple in a much-publicized U.S. patent lawsuit.

    Part of Samsung’s growing success is undoubtedly its success in the growing smartphone market. Its flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, has sold over 20 million units since its debut this spring. A mini version of the Galaxy S III is rumored to be in the works for a launch this holiday season. Samsung expects its new extra-large Android smartphone, the Galaxy Note II, to sell upwards of 20 million as well.

    ComScore, a leading digital metric company, this year has consistently estimated that over a quarter of Americans who have smartphones use a Samsung device.

    Though Samsung was ordered to pay $1 billion to Apple after a jury back in August determined Samsung violated Apple design patents, the Korean company has continued to fight Apple on the legal front. Just this week, Samsung added Apple’s new iPhone 5 smartphone to a patent case set for a 2014 trial. Samsung claims the iPhone 5 and other iPhone models violate wireless technology patents it holds.

  • Galaxy S III Jelly Bean Upgrade ‘Coming Soon’, Says Samsung

    Galaxy S III Jelly Bean Upgrade ‘Coming Soon’, Says Samsung

    It’s Android’s not-so-secret shame. While Apple’s iOS updates tend to upgrade a large portion of their customers to the latest version within a week or two, Android users are at the mercy of their wireless carriers and device manufacturers when it comes to operating system upgrades.

    Carriers and manufacturers have to make sure the restrictions they place on the Android OS are still working in the upgraded version, re-tool the OS to put their “flavor” of user interface on top of everything, and double-check to make sure their bundled-in crapware still runs. So, a majority of Android users are still using pre-Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich versions of the OS on their smartphones, and only a few Android users (mostly Nexus owners) are using the newest version, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

    So, when Samsung stated that its flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, would be getting an upgrade to Jelly Bean sometime in October, users took a skeptical outlook on the possibility.

    Today, the AndroidGuys blog pointed out that Samsung keeps an FAQ page updated with what devices on which carriers are able to upgrade to Jelly Bean. The page currently lists only Nexus devices as being able to upgrade to Android 4.1, as those devices run a relatively pure version of Android. The entries for the Galaxy S III under every major U.S. carrier all say ‘Coming Soon!’.

    So, Galaxy S III owners can now have a place on the internet to check obsessively and point fingers if Samsung misses its October deadline for the upgrade. Of course, they could use that time to do something more productive, such as rooting their device and installing one of the many Android 4.1 mods available for their smartphone. It turns out that Samsung smartphones are some of the easiest to root, and the creator of one of the most popular Android mods, CyanogenMod, was recently hired by Samsung.

    (via BGR)

  • Samsung Might Want To Lose To Apple More Often

    Samsung Might Want To Lose To Apple More Often

    Samsung, at least in the US, has seen a shortage of good news. The company ended August by losing a massive patent lawsuit, and now Apple wants to have some of their devices banned from sale. They aren’t letting a potential $1 billion payout to Apple get to them though. In fact, things are actually looking better than ever for the South Korean-based company.

    Localytics recently looked into the weekly growth of sales for Samsung’s insanely popular Galaxy S III smartphone. Common sense would dictate that Samsung would see a decrease in sales growth as a result of the ruling, but the opposite has proven true. They found that sales growth actually spiked 16 percent after the verdict in the patent trial was announced.

    Once again, common sense would dictate that such a spike is just a coincidence. As it turns out, there’s no coincidence. Samsung saw their next big sales spike only three weeks later after the announcement of the iPhone 5. At that time, sales of the Galaxy S III spiked by 15 percent.

    Samsung Might Want To Lose To Apple More Often

    So, what’s going on? Why is Samsung reaping the benefits from Apple’s supposed wins? Localytics has a theory. They feel that a growing number of users are no longer tied to a particular operating system. They no longer look to iOS as the gold standard. Instead, people will compare the “full package of device, mobile network and available apps.”

    Take that theory, combine it with the increased coverage the Galaxy S III is getting, and you have a recipe for success. People will see the Galaxy S III as a more cost effective version of the iPhone. They also might see Samsung’s device as more forward thinking since it contains many features, like NFC, that Apple left out of the iPhone 5.

    It’s really hard to say what has led to the increase in sales, but it’s definitely tied to Apple. You can’t mention Apple without bringing up Samsung and vice versa. The fact that both companies are constantly brought up in mainstream media only helps to increase awareness. Samsung may have lost its court battle, but it’s definitely winning in sales.

  • Galaxy S III Mini Rumored For Fall Announcement

    Galaxy S III Mini Rumored For Fall Announcement

    Have we come this far? Have Android smartphones become so big that customers are now demanding smaller versions of manufacturers’ flagship Android devices? Or, does Samsung so truly believe that Apple is right about everything design that it takes Apple’s contention that 4″ is the new perfect size for a smartphone as gospel?

    According to a Mobiflip report, invitations to a press event Samsung has mailed to the German tech press this week intimate that “something small will be really big” or that attendees should be “ready for a little sensation.” The invitation also hints that the product is related to Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup of phones. If you look closely, you can see the tell-tale “S” symbol that Samsung uses for its Galaxy S products. The invitation is for a Samsung announcement on October 11th in Frankfurt, Germany.

    Mobiflip speculates that the announcement will be for a “mini” version of Samsung’s Galaxy S III smartphone. This makes a certain amount of sense, as Samsung has recently been marketing the Galaxy S III as the “next big thing” that’s “already here.” The question is, who will the company will be marketing a smaller smartphone to?

    Boy Genius Report states the rumor that the Galaxy S III Mini will have a 4-inch screen – the exact same size as the newly released iPhone 5. After all the patent lawsuits and the $1 billion court case Samsung lost recently, is the Korean company still looking to Apple for design advice? Has Samsung heard complaints about the size of the Galaxy S III, which isn’t even the company’s largest smartphone? Hopefully a few answers will be presented on October 11th.

    (Image courtesy Mobiflip)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales Ban Lifted In United States

    Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales Ban Lifted In United States

    To say that Samsung had a rough August would be a massive understatement. The company lost a major patent battle against Apple to the tune of $1 billion, and now faces the possibility of a sales ban being brought against their devices. That being said, there were a few bright spots with Samsung winning patent battles in foreign courts. Another bright spot emerged just yesterday as the company won back the right to sell one of its more popular products again.

    Ars Technica reports that US District Court Judge Lucy Koh, the judge who has presided over the previous Apple vs Samsung battles, has lifted the sales ban on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. The sales ban was lifted because the jury in last month’s patent trial ruled that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually didn’t infringe on Apple’s design patents. After the ruling, Samsung motioned to have the sales ban lifted, but Judge Koh’s hands were tied as Samsung had already appealed the original sales ban decision to a higher court.

    The US Federal Court of Appeals decided to return jurisdiction to Koh on Friday. Samsung took this as a chance to have the sales ban lifted once and for all. Koh obliged, and lifted the sales ban on Monday. Of course, Apple objected to Koh’s decision to lift the sales ban. The company argued that all post-trial motions should be resolved before the court decides on anything.

    Apple may be angry over the sales ban being lifted, but the company must be livid after Koh decided to also keep the $2.6 million bond Apple posted to ban the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the first place. Samsung may now be entitled to the money if it’s found that the sales ban wrongfully harmed them in some way.

    It’s a small win for Samsung, but an important one. They need this kind of momentum as they go into the next phase of the legal battle. Samsung is now arguing jury misconduct in last month’s decision. The case could go in some very interesting directions, and we’re just getting started. We’ll keep you updated on all the latest events in the latest and biggest legal battle to hit the tech world.