The Samsung Galaxy S III is the next big thing, and as Samsung’s marketing squad won’t let us forget, it’s already here. But another “big thing” in a decidedly smaller package is making its way to center stage as we speak.
We learned just yesterday that it would in fact be called the Galaxy S III Mini and that it came with a 4-inch display, but we knew little else. Reuters suspected it would land in Europe. Little phones are so in right now.
In terms of specs, we’re looking at a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with an 800×480 resolution. Samsung has also opted to use a 1GHZ dual-core chip instead of that quad-core EXYNOS proc, along with throwing 1GB of RAM and an NFC chip under the hood. There’s also a 5-megapixel camera around back (capable of 720p video), and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat.
Perhaps most importantly, the Galaxy S III Mini will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
The little guy will come in 8GB and 16GB flavors, expandable via a microSD slot. And you’ll have a relatively standard 1,500mAh battery.
As you may be inferring, this is most certainly a mid-range device.
Samsung has diluted the Galaxy brand by throwing the word Galaxy on just about everything. But calling this phone a Galaxy S III mini is a step beyond that. The design is the same, sure, but the design is hardly what makes the Galaxy S III great. In fact, it’s one of the flagship’s few shortcomings.
That’s not to say it’s an awful phone. But the screen resolution, in particular, and the lack of LTE connectivity definitely puts a damper on things.
It may look like Samsung is dipping a toe in unknown waters but its long-time partnership with Microsoft is a wet suit of sorts. The Ativ Tab may be the company's first Windows 8 RT tablet but not its first Windows slate.
You may be familiar with the Samsung Series 7, a handful of tablet PCs running the desktop version of Windows 7. These Intel-powered devices are essentially laptops proper (give or take a keyboard) and have understandably been off our radar.
Samsung Ativ Tab official photos-
The Ativ Tab on the other hand is a tablet that we would be interested in - a tablet like them Google and Apple slates. Running the lighter Windows 8 RT, the Ativ Tab is powered by an ARM chipset, like millions of phones and other handheld devices. All prim and proper, just not quite sure about the name. Ativ as in "Vita" read backwards. Yeah, right.
Anyway, it will be up to the Ativ Tab, the Microsoft Surface and probably more Windows-powered slates from the likes of Acer and Asus (why not Nokia) to bring the professed three-horse race over to tablets.
But let's not get carried away fantasizing about a double-edged attack on the iPad - an idea, which Samsung of all makers would most certainly savor - and take a look at the Ativ Tab's highlights instead.
Samsung Ativ Tab at a glance:
Form factor: Tablet
Dimensions: 265.8 x 168.1 x 8.9 mm
Weight: 570g
Display: 16M-color 10.1" PLS LCD HD capacitive touchscreen (1366x768 pixels), 400-nits of brightness
OS: Windows 8 RT, Windows UI
Chipset: 1.5 GHz dual-core Krait CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, Snapdragon S4 Plus APQ8090a chipset, 2GB of RAM
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Channel Bonding, Assisted GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, microHDMI, NFC, USB 2.0 Host
Memory: 32/64GB of inbuilt storage, expandable via a microSD card slot (up to 64GB)
Camera: 5 MP autofocus camera, LED flash with 720p video recording, 1.9MP front-facing camera
Battery: 8,200mAh Li-Ion
Misc: Microsoft Office package, Gyro sensor, accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation, ambient light sensor, DivX/XviD support, TV-out (adapter required), USB host Proprietary 13-pin connector for keyboard dock, Capacitive Sylus (optional)
Specs-wise there's nothing particularly impressive about the Samsung Ativ Tab. It's less powerful than even some of the smartphones out there, we've seen better screens, more apps, voice call support, and probably superior media capabilities elsewhere.
Samsung Ativ Tab live photos
But the Ativ Tab has other strengths, the Office package and seamless compatibility with your home or office PC being one of the highlights. It has expandable storage too, which not all tablets guarantee - the Surface for one hasn't got a card slot. An optional keyboard and a stylus are other points in favor. Now, let's start exploring the Samsung Ativ Tab.
If you're a UK resident and want to get a flashier Galaxy S III but can't be bothered with tedious long-lasting contracts you could get the Garnet Red version in UK now for £429.99.
The Samsung Galaxy S III Garnet Red international availability was announced in August alongside the Amber Brown, Sapphire Black and Titanium Grey variants. Originally an AT&T exclusive it's now available on UK shores as well.
You can order the device from Expansys's website and expect the device to arrive between 3 and 5 business days or opt for the express delivery for an additional 7 pounds.
Carphone Warehouse is also offering the red Galaxy S III and we expect more sellers to follow suit in the next few days.
Here is a concept phone that I have totally fallen in love with. Name the features and it’s all in there. Flexible screen, projector, camera…ah the works! One of those designs where you let the pictures do the talking…so go ahead and hit the jump!
UPDATE: This project was made in class for SAMSUNG TALENT PROGRAM (STP)* at Hongik University, Engineering Department and it is just a concept phone.
*SAMSUNG TALENT PROGRAM (STP) is cooperative track between SAMSUNG and Hongik Univ – Engineering Dept.
Introducing Nexus 7, the new tablet from Google. Nexus 7 is a full-fledged Android tablet that’s designed to go where you go. With a stunning 7” display, powerful quad-core processor and all day battery life, Nexus 7 was built to bring you the best of Google in a slim, portable package that fits perfectly in your hand. Available in 8 GB or 16 GB
Content and applications subject to regional availability.
The LG Optimus Vu 2 has been announced in Korea as the awkwardly-sized successor to the rather confusing Optimus Vu.
Why so strange? The Optimus Vu 2 sports that same 5-inch, 4:3 aspect ratio display as the original, which makes the phone rather wide and difficult to hold in one hand.
There's a 1.5GHz dual-core processor in the Optimus Vu 2 and, while the chip is a newer model than found in the original, it hasn't gained a boost in speed but RAM has been doubled to 2GB.
Minor updates
The battery has been given a bump up to 2,150mAh and it ships with Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Gingerbread, while the 8MP rear camera and 4G connectivity remain.
The body of the Optimus Vu 2 has been trimmed down to 132.2 x 85.6 mm and weighs in at 159g, but at 9.4 mm in depth it's actually porkier than the 8.5mm Vu.
There's currently no word on the LG Optimus Vu 2 release date and there's no gaurentee it will make it to the UK, whereas the States has a better chance after seeing the Vu arrive under the moniker LG Intuition earlier this month.
If you're over in Korea, and have gorilla sized hands, you'll be able to pick up an Optimus Vu 2 for 966,900 won (around £530/$860).
Leaked photos and specs reportedly showing the Samsung Galaxy Music smartphone have appeared online.
The details were picked up by Telekom Presse and claim there will be two new handsets unveiled in Frankfurt, Germany next month – the Samsung Galaxy Music and Samsung Galaxy Music DUOS (dual-SIM).
Both handsets apparently feature less than appealing 3-inch LCD displays, 850MHz single-core processors, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 3MP rear camera, front snapper,Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and dual front facing speakers.
Music to your ears?
According to the leak both handsets will receive an update to Android 4.1in the future, although it's not clear what markets these phones are destined for.
Alongside this leak there have been other murmurings in the industry that Samsung is indeed looking to produce a music-focussed Galaxy smartphone, with a Sammy Mobile source apparently "confirming" this.
The Samsung Galaxy Music phone release date is set for October 11, or so the leaked information says, so we'll keep an eye on this to see if anything comes to fruition.
Multiscreen: Real multitasking on the portable 10.1” screen
Now, you can do 2 things at the same time as you usually do on the PC. For example, what if you want to see the actor’s profile while watching a movie? What if you find a nice restaurant which you want to scrap on the Note? Just use the 'Multiscreen' button and open the internet browser or the S Note. You don’t need to stop the movie or the browser to surf the web or to make a note. Also to scrap the image, just capture and drag it to the S Note.
Embedded S Pen: Real Pen-like feeling for natural writing experience
Precise and versatile, the S Pen enables you to get a premium experience for note-taking, sketching, drawing and other forms of creative expression.
S Note: The easy-to-use creation tool
7 Templates to express life’s every detail Make your own story with the S Note templates. S Note makes your note-taking, creation rich and neat.
Visualize your ideas better by turning squiggly shapes into neat organized figures. The Shape Match will automatically correct the lines and shapes.
Formula Match
It easily recognizes complicated formulas. It identifies handwritten texts and converts them into digital texts. You can also find detailed, visual solution of the required formula.
Adobe® Photoshop® Touch: Give photos the magic touch
Now, everyone can create dazzling multi-layered images, apply professional effects and share them on Facebook and other platforms – all from the convenience of your own touchscreen tablet.
Allshare Play & Cast – Seamless Sharing
Connect to other tablets, laptops or TVs to share documents, multimedia contents and do a lot more anytime, anywhere.
Learning Hub
Create your own learning schedules, take tests, even edit and publish content.
Video Hub
Buy or rent movies and TV shows.
S Planner
Manage your schedule with ease.
Fast & Powerful
You will enjoy the best performance from a fast and powerful 1.4 GHz quad core processor that delivers the most seamless, enjoyable mobile experience. Everything from navigating UI to multitasking to web surfing is made faster and easier. So, get ready to share multimedia on the go without giving it a second thought.
HSPA+ 21 & Wi-Fi Channel Bonding
Experience mobile multimedia without any restraint or delay with impressively fast transmission speed that allows you to get your files quickly. HSDPA+ is three times faster, thereby reducing your wait time to a third, thus providing you with a never before multimedia experience. Wi-Fi Channel Bonding also boosts wireless data transmission rates by efficiently using two bonded channels instead of one so that you can access web-based contents such as movie downloads, music files and games in half the usual time. Wait less, enjoy sooner -- it's as simple as that.
Best Multimedia Experience on a Large Screen
1080p Full HD Playback on a larger screen promises to strengthen your viewing experience. Whether you're watching downloaded videos, catching the latest viral sensation on YouTube or live streaming, you'll be able to see everything in bright, crystal clear high definition imagery. Cross-platform compatibility with multi codec means you'll never be frustrated by blocked or incompatible file, thus offering you a seamless mobile experience.
UPDATED Will it be theThenew iPad 3has been out for just a four months, but there are already murmurs surrounding the next iPad release.
Details are thin on the ground regarding iPad 4 specifications and features, but this hasn't stopped new iPad rumours cropping up from various sources.
We've put together what we know so far below. Don't forget to keep checking back for the latest the iPad 4 rumours.
iPad 4 release date: October 2012
There have been reports that Apple will launch two new tablets during 2012: the iPad 3 in March, which turned out to be the new iPad, and then the iPad 4 in October.
The news came via Digitimes which says this information was confirmed by a Taiwanese component manufacturer. The source goes on to say that the iPad 4 will come with killer applications and beefed up hardware to take on various tablets scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2012.
iPad 4 release date: March 2013
That said, Apple does like its uniform, annual releases so don't be surprised if we the iPad 4 release date is actually March 2013, 12 months from the launch of the new iPad.
This release schedule would give the new iPad time to flourish in the market and then slowly move out of the spotlight come Christmas as various Windows and Android powered tablets are released.
This "down-time" for Apple will fuel frenzied iPad 4 rumours as fans start dreaming about what the next generation could offer, culminating in another super-hyped event next March.
iPad 4 features
Little is known about the features and specifications for the new iPad, butsources quoted by iLounge claim it'll be a modest upgrade, with a slimmer body, smaller dock connector and internal improvements to reduce the heat which is produced by the third-gen new iPad.
A rumour that we reported on 26 September 2012 claims that the iPad 4 will feature a wider 16:9 screen (the current iPad is 4:3). Industry analyst Paul Mueller told the Examiner: "I have talked to at least three people close to Apple who say that there are new iPad prototypes that have a 16:9 aspect ratio."
Is the iPad 4 the iPad Mini?
There is speculation that Apple's next tablet could in fact be the iPad Mini.
Currently Apple's new iPad dominates the high-end tablet market, leaving the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire and budget Android devices to swoop in and meet the needs of the more frugal shopper.
It's thought that Apple won't want to miss out on this low-end market, which has led to rumours that we may see the iPad Mini break cover in October - possibly sporting an 8-inch or 7.85-inch screen and sub £200 price tag.
On 31 July, sources quoted by iLounge claimed that the iPad Mini would launch in November with its own debut event, rather than fighting for attention with the iPhone 5.
On 9 July, we reported that Japanese blog Macotakara had cited an unknown source, claiming the new iPad Mini would be a very svelte 7.2mm thick, and come with 3G functionality, with production starting in September, and on 5 August, some supposed iPad Mini case pictures appeared on Chinese blog Sina Weibo.
The same report from Macotakara said that the iPad 4 price (assuming that the iPad 4 is the iPad Mini) would be in the region of $250-$350 (around £160-£230).
On 16 July, we reported that the The New York Times, which claimed to have spoken to sources "with knowledge of the project", put the iPad Mini price at "significantly less" than the new iPad, which starts at £399. The same report put the iPad Mini screen size at 7.85 inches, a size rumoured by Digitimes back in March.
Two new iPads
In summary, current rumours suggest that we're looking at the iPad Mini in October/November for $250-$350 (£160-£230), and the next full size iPad in March 2013, with a price comparable to the new iPad that's on sale now.
As we gather and analyse more rumours, we've also put together our iPad 4 wishlist...
iPad 4: what we want to see
By Craig Grannell
While we're waiting for new rumours to roll in, we figured it's time to start complaining about the current iPad and outline our demands for the iPad 4.
Despite essentially being a metal-backed pane of glass with a few buttons, a massive battery and a smallish circuit board, we've hardware-oriented wishes for Apple's next-generation device, which we're assuming is probably also going to be called 'the new iPad', or 'the new, new iPad' or perhaps Apple will return to numbering its tablets and we'll get an iPad 4.
1. Thinner, lighter, faster!
The new iPad is (very) slightly thicker than the previous one (although not the original iPad) and (very) slightly heavier. Through a combination of amazing engineering, technical breakthroughs and unicorn tears, we're dreaming of an iPad 4 that would be as light as a Kindle and as thin as something thinner than an iPad 2; we'd also like the iPad 4 to be faster, because we're demanding like that.
2. More storage
The new iPad has a Retina display, providing the potential for pin-sharp graphics, like those on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, but over a much bigger area.
This comes at a cost: app file sizes. For example, the revamped GarageBand is a few hundred MB larger than the previous version. Yet iPads remain available only in 16, 32 and 64GB configurations. Would 128GB in the iPad 4 be too much to ask for?
3. Thunderbolt support
Apple's shift to wireless sync has removed one major reason forThunderbolt, but rumours still abound about the high-speed I/O tech coming to iOS, providing compatibility with a new generation of peripherals. Adaptors could be released for legacy kit, further boosting Apple's coffers.
4. Better keyboard support
Steve Jobs hated the idea of a touchscreen computer, because it's an ergonomic nightmare that rapidly makes an outstretched arm shriek with pain. But this is what an iPad and a Bluetooth keyboard turns into.
To fix this, Apple would just need to make some extra keyboard commands baked into iOS, for example to enable app switching.
5. A truly magical screen
A Retina display? How 2010! What about haptic feedback? OK, so we didn't seriously invest in thoserumours, and a 'morphing' screen gives us T1000 nightmares, but it could be useful for feedback when typing and playing games on the iPad 4. And while Apple's at it, a better oleophobic coating that eradicates fingerprints would be lovely.
6. A smarter Smart Cover
The Smart Cover, or Mr Flappy as we call ours, needs to be smarter. It looks very swish and clever when the iPad wakes. It's also a reasonably good stand. But it's rubbish when you're holding an iPad and the cover's swinging about and then falls to the floor in comedy slapstick style.
7. Battery and charging improvements
Ten hours of usage from the new iPad is impressive, but that's a best-case scenario. Play some games or watch video and that figure will fall. Apple's hampered by technology, but in a year, who knows? An iPad 4 that lasts for a day on a single charge? Wireless charging? We can dream.
8. Improved speakers
If you want a reality check about the quality of the iPad's speaker, use an iPod touch for approximately ten seconds. The iPad will sound like a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin by comparison. But with so many great music, gaming and video apps, better speakers - More power! Stereo! - is nonetheless something we'd love to see (well, hear) on the iPad 4.
9. Near field communication
We're not suggesting Apple should add near field communication (NFC) to the iPad so you can wave it around like a massive glass-and-aluminium wallet. But NFC would enable iPads to be more commonly used for taking payments, and NFC across iOS devices as a whole could provide a boost to this emergent technology.
10. The same form factor (ish)
'Thinner and lighter' was our first wish, but we don't want 'smaller'. A 7-inch iPad? No thanks. iPad apps are designed for a ten-inch screen, and we're sure Apple doesn't want the box to include iMicroscope and iFileDownYourFingertips.
Similarly, people seem obsessed with binning the bezel, but we like it; the bezel enables you to hold your device without accidental touchscreen presses and without covering on-screen content. One of the iPad's greatest aspects has been strong usability, and we'd hate to see anything compromise that.
Let's take a minute and talk about the screen: it's beautiful. We almost feel sad that this isn't the first HD screen we've seen on a mobile phone, as it's kind of lost its lustre since the likes of the Nexus, Note and One X have all managed the same trick – but if you've not seen one before and you compare it to a Galaxy S2, it's worlds apart.
If we think back to just four years ago, when HVGA (320 x 480) resolution screens were the norm on phones and 720p TVs were still the plaything of the bigger spenders, it's incredible to think that pixel count has been shrunk down to fit into your palm.
And that means the 309ppi pixel density is up there with the sharpness of the iPhone 4S, and it makes us realise that while a Retina Display is lovely, 3.5-inch screens just don't cut it any more.
We'll be mightily surprised if the combined popularity of the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S3 don't prompt Apple into a re-tooling of the screen with the iPhone 5, as the contrast ratio, large display and excellent colour reproduction will definitely wow users on the shelves.
It seems Samsung has tweaked the colour balance on the Galaxy S3 as well – things don't look as saturated as before, which will certainly help entice those that previously were against Super AMOLED before due to the harshness of colours.
There is an issue here for those that like to let the phone handle the display management - the auto-brightness level is too low for our eyes. It's like Samsung is trying to protect the battery a little too much here, and we'd rather have a variety of auto-brightness settings like in the internet browser.
This has been overhauled with the new update, giving you a notifications bar option to change the brightness or select auto mode. It's not perfect by a long way - we can't count the amount of times each day we get frustrated with the automatic mode not catching up to the conditions.
When it does work, the brightness is great... but when the brightness drops mid-Temple Run we get hugely frustrated.
It's not too bad in direct sunlight though - the contrast ratio of 3.5:1 Samsung is touting in direct sunlight is just about enough to see what you're doing, and if you're using the camera you can fire the brightness even higher to see what you're snapping.
The same option has been sadly removed from the Video player, so sitting in the sunshine watching Robocop is now no longer a thing to be done with your new Galaxy.
In terms of comparisons to previous iterations of Super AMOLED screens, this is where it gets a little bit technical - we'll try to keep it simple.
The Galaxy S2 packed a Super AMOLED Plus screen, which means that for every pixel, there were three subpixels - red, green and blue. This meant lovely contrast ratios and cleaner whites - this was noticeable close up.
However, in order to facilitate the much higher resolution, Samsung has crammed in fewer sub pixels per pixel, which means a slightly less 'clean' colour close up.
But what does this mean to you, the user? In truth, not a lot. Power efficiency seems to be very similar to that on the original S2 when it comes to firing the screen, and while there might be more of a skew towards green and blue on the colour scale, in practice this simply results in more natural-looking hues.
The sharpness is also technically affected, but with such a high resolution there's very little chance of this affecting the way you get to watch your movies or see the web.
Check out our comparison from Galaxy S to S2 to S3 to see what we mean - close up, the colours are more noticeable on the S3 compared to the S2, but this is unlikely to bother most users.
The Galaxy S3 does have more visible colour sections within each pixel, but only when viewed at very close range. As you can see, the sharpness is much higher.
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