Galaxy S III

With Samsung’s official unveiling of its next flagship smartphone earlier this month, we are now getting some insight into the Galaxy S III’s battery life courtesy of GSM Arena. The publication took the I9300 Galaxy S III, and its 2100 mAh battery, and put it to the test in a number of benchmarks. The results included: 10 hours and 20 minutes of continuous talk time with the display off; 5 hours and 17 minutes of web browsing; and, over 10 hours of continuous video playback. As you can see from the images of the results above, the S III was just behind Motorola’s Droid Razr Maxx on video playback and talk time. However, web browsing puts it at No. 14 behind competitors thanks to its AMOLED display.

The report explained that with the device’s stand-by endurance rating of 43h, you would “need to charge the monstrous smartphone once every 43 hours if you do an hour of 3G talking, video playback and web browsing per day.”

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Flipboard for Android now unofficially available to all

Jordan Kahn May 9 2012 - 6:00 am PT

We already know Flipboard made its Android début last week with the introduction of Samsung’s new Galaxy S III, but today the app is available to everyone willing to download and install the APK themselves. XDA-developer forum user Valcho uploaded the .apk that he extracted from the Galaxy S III, which means you’re getting the actual app. It should also be easily installed through your device’s Web browser, so you will get to try it before its official release on Google Play. Go over to the XDA forums to grab it now.

Samsung hopes to sell 200 million smartphones during 2012

Jake Smith May 4 2012 - 11:54 am PT

South Korea-based Samsung is aiming to sell a whopping 200 million smartphones this year to grab 24 percent of the global handset market share, Samsung’s J.K. Shin said to MarketWatch. It looks like the company might be on the way to its goal, because it sold an estimated 44.5 million smartphones during Q1 2012. Moreover, with the impressive software and hardware revealed on the Galaxy S III in London yesterday, it could push customers that were waiting for the new device to finally make their purchase. The company will definitely continue to rack-in a ton of sales this year and expect Samsung to report some serious numbers into the summer. Last year, the company had 21.1-percent of the market share, so it would definitely be a pretty impressive feat.

Galaxy S III features picture-in-picture video

Jordan Kahn May 3 2012 - 1:05 pm PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D683O1YeozY&start=108]

Samsung launched its Galaxy S III today with a few new software enhancements including an “S-Voice” feature that many are comparing to the iPhone’s Siri. Another new feature is called “Pop up play.” It allows you to run picture-in-picture video. The feature lets you play video in a smaller window that floats on top of the UI, which allows you to multitask while continuing to watch. You can see Pop up play in the video above at 1:48.

Galaxy S III TV commercial (Video)

Élyse Betters May 3 2012 - 12:24 pm PT

[youtube=http://youtu.be/2lpLGb1WW8E]

Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S III in London and has already posted its first television advertisement for the smartphone on YouTube. A few official images for the device were also included on Facebook—check them out:

Samsung Galaxy S III review round-up

Élyse Betters May 3 2012 - 11:31 am PT

The Samsung Galaxy S III is being unveiled in London right now, but the first hands-on reviews have already hit the web. Check out the first-impressions below, and then head over to 9to5Google’s live gallery to get full coverage of the launch event.

Samsung confirms next Galaxy device to be dubbed the Galaxy S III

Jake Smith Apr 26 2012 - 6:58 pm PT

I feel like we know these already…but then again, there are rumors contradicting it. One of Samsung’s executives dropped word on the company’s Q1 2012 earnings call this evening (via The Verge) that the name of the next Galaxy device is indeed “Galaxy S III.” Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S III at an event in London on May 3 as the successor to the popular Galaxy S II. According to Samsung’s earnings announcement this evening, the Galaxy S II helped lead to strong revenues for the January to March quarter. The company said that the Galaxy S III would see similar sales during the summer.

Samsung confirmed in a press release Wednesday evening that the Galaxy S III would feature the company’s all new 1.4GHz Exynos quad-core processor. Other rumored specs for the device include a 4.6-inch display, 1GB of RAM, 8-megapixel camera, 16GB of storage, and a 2,050mAh battery. It is unclear if Samsung will elect for Galaxy S III or Galaxy S3. I am hoping for the former.

Samsung Galaxy S III to be a minor upgrade, featuring eye tracking technology

Jake Smith Apr 17 2012 - 12:44 pm PT

Samsung revealed its plans on Monday to announce the next handset in the Galaxy lineup on May 3. According to many rumors that have surfaced, the handset that Samsung will reveal is the Galaxy S III, which is the successor to the popular Galaxy S II that saw record sales worldwide. Citing “a source in the UK telecoms industry,” CNET reported that the phone would be a minor upgrade compared to the Galaxy S II; however, it will feature new eye tracking technology. The eye tracking technology will use the device’s front-facing camera to detect if your eyes are looking at the screen or when you are writing text.

As for specs on the device, CNET’s source said the update would be small with just a few speed enhancements. The specs are said to be similar to the HTC One X landing on AT&T in a week. A 1.5GHz processor, 4-inch screen, and 1 GB of RAM is likely for the device, but other rumors claim even higher specs.

As for the name of the device…

To button or not to button: Samsung reportedly keeps button for upcoming Galaxy 3

Élyse Betters Apr 10 2012 - 8:14 am PT

Samsung’s Galaxy S III will feature a home button under the display.

South Korea newspaper Korean Digital Daily (translated) added to the rumor machine today with sources that claim the upcoming smartphone will sport Samsung’s accustomed home button, despite much speculation claiming otherwise.

The Galaxy S III will even boast a five-column icon layout showcased in the Samsung Galaxy Note. This would help the device standout from other Android handsets, and the iPhone, which has maintained a four-column icon layout since its initial 2007 launch.

Rumors: Samsung Galaxy S III enters testing in South Korea, abandons PenTile screen display

Élyse Betters Apr 4 2012 - 9:48 am PT

The rumor mill is grinding away after a Samsung representative announced the Galaxy S III is now in the testing phase, while other reports indicate the device will sport a Galaxy Nexus-like screen without employing PenTile pixel layout.

AsiaE reported the device is undergoing tests in South Korea. The phase typically lasts two months, but the article suggested Samsung wants testing done sooner. Meanwhile, Korean website DDaily said the smartphone’s 4.65-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen will not employ the PenTile pixel layout.

Will Samsung Galaxy S III be the world’s first 1080p smartphone?

Élyse Betters Feb 27 2012 - 10:09 am PT

Details about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S III smartphone seem to emerge left and right, but BGR gave a more specific run down on its version of the flagship device’s spec sheet this morning.

The publication previously said Samsung would launch the smartphone simultaneously around the world. Today, it described the device as having a 1.5GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 2-megapixel front-facing camera with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, 4G LTE, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, Ceramic Case, and (more importantly) a 4.8-inch display in “full HD” with 1080p resolution at a 16:9 aspect.

Of course, there is significant doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S III will be the world’s first 1080p smartphone, because a 720p display on a 4.8 inch screen is already “retina.” Any smaller pixels are undetectable to the human eye—thus wasted pixels and processor to drive them.
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Local store puts Samsung’s Galaxy S III up for pre-order

9to5 Staff Feb 13 2012 - 10:45 am PT

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Call it a cheap attempt to bank on the Samsung Galaxy S III buzz and get some free press ahead of a rumored May announcement, but local seller Kimstore has a pre-order poster for the Samsung Galaxy i9300 (aka the Galaxy S III), according to Yugatech. Interestingly, it even has a specs page on Facebook calling for a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen with a native 720p HD resolution, 3G/4G/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth3.0 networking and a 12-megapixel camera on the back capable of shooting 1080p clips at 30 frames per second and snapping images up to 4,000-by-3, 000 pixels.

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S III will be 7mm thick, arriving in May

9to5 Staff Feb 6 2012 - 8:57 am PT

Pictured above: The Samsung Galaxy S II profile

Samsung’s Galaxy S III smartphone will be 1.49mm slimmer than its predecessor the highly successful Galaxy S II will, a new rumor has it. According to industry sources who spoke to ETNews.com (via BGR), the new flagship phone by Samsung will be just 7mm thick versus the previous model’s 8.49mm profile.

Confirming Samsung’s plans to postpone the expected MWC introduction, the publication is claiming the Galaxy S III will arrive in May, sporting an 8-megapixel back camera and a two-megapixel camera on the front. Other features mentioned in the article include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Samsung’s trademark Super AMOLED Plus display…

New Samsung Android 4.0 device to be unveiled at MWC?

Jordan Kahn Feb 2 2012 - 10:47 am PT

The image above of a mystery Android 4.0 device was posted by @eldarmurtazin (via BGR) with no details other than “Barcelona. Samsung. Press photo leaked.” We are obviously assuming Barcelona is pointing to the Mobile World Congress set to kick off later this month. While we would normally speculate this is Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S III, the company already confirmed that device will not be unveiled at MWC.

The device is clearly an evolution of the Galaxy S II design, and it could possibly be the S III. We will have to wait until Samsung’s press conference at MWC from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Spyshot depicts Samsung Galaxy S III with flexible display

9to5 Staff Feb 2 2012 - 10:24 am PT

We are unsure whether the above spy shot leaked by Ubergizmo is authentic, but we are aware of some promising rumors involving a Galaxy smartphone with a flexible display. Be advised this could simply be an early prototype that might not see the light of day. Moreover, Samsung and Corning teamed for a joint venture in Korea focused on supplying Samsung Mobile Display with the latter’s new Lotus Glass technology said to be more resilient than other glass substrates.

Nevertheless, Samsung did confirm plans to market phones and tablets with flexible displays later this year. Also indicative, the South Korean conglomerate delayed a planned late-February introduction of the Galaxy S III until later this year, allegedly until iPhone demand cools off. Another reasonable explanation for the delay:

Samsung delays Galaxy S III, new launch event scheduled for H1 2012

9to5 Staff Feb 1 2012 - 10:13 am PT

Contrary to the latest rumors, Samsung will not tap the upcoming Mobile World Congress that takes place from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Barcelona, Spain to unveil a successor to the popular Galaxy S II smartphone. Instead, in an Apple-like fashion, the Galaxy S III will be introduced to the world at a dedicated event scheduled for the “first half of the year,” the company told Techradar.

According to the official statement attributed to a Samsung spokesperson:

Samsung is looking forward to introducing and demonstrating exciting new mobile products at Mobile World Congress 2012. The successor to the GALAXY S II smartphone will be unveiled at a separate Samsung-hosted event in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product. Samsung stays committed to providing the best possible mobile experiences for customers around the world.

All told, Samsung is confident that a dedicated event rather than a trade show announcement would better convey the Galaxy S III message. According to PocketNow, the handset should feature Samsung-built Exynos 4412 chip sporting four Cortex-A9 processing cores by fabless semiconductor maker ARM Holdings, each clocked at 1.5GHz. Boasting a 50 percent faster graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the Exynos 4210 is a new piece of silicon that will be manufactured on Samsung’s 32-nanometer fabbing technology. The closest competitor to the Exynos 4412 is a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core chip that should debut in the HTC Zeta smartphone.