Apple said revenue from the iPhone jumped 28 percent during the crucial holiday shopping season. The results arrived with an unusual level of anticipation, even for a company as high-profile as Apple, because of anxiety among some investors about Apple's ability to sustain its growth and create new hit products. Apple's stock has lost about a quarter of its value since September, erasing more than $170 billion of its market value.

Apple said its net income for its fiscal first quarter ending Dec. 29 was $13.1 billion, or $13.81 a share, compared with $13.1 billion, or $13.87 a share, in the same period a year earlier.

The company's revenue was $54.5 billion, up from $46.33 billion a year ago.

Shares of Apple fell almost 10% in after-hours trading.

Sourc: Reuters

If this is what they meant with curved and smart, then Apple may finally be coming up with a new smart iWatch concept (and many can't wait until they confirm this news!). Speculators have created prototypes of what could Apple possibly be working on and a few interesting ones have come out.

The Guardian's The Observer published a cool-looking picture of what a "smart iWatch" would look like. Fashion folks might just love this bangle smart watch that these talented speculators have created.

Others hypothesize that it will feature iOS, Retina display, "a curved glass" design, a front-facing camera and all the works. It is also highly likely to be capable of syncing with other iOS devices, so there.

With all the hype and the things that come out of these speculations, it must be something really big and worth waiting for. If these speculations will turn out to be real, then it might be the start of another tech war with other providers-but involving smart watches this time, instead of smart phones.

Source: Guardian

For months, news about Apple's decline has been rife, even to the point of affecting the price of its stock. However, statistics show a different tune because Apple has steadily grown since December, even when new Android handsets were announced.

Last February, Apple posted a 3.95% growth since December last year, while Android remained static for the same period. Apple continues to dominate the US market and was up 1% from December last year, while it lags behind Android and two others in Asia.

Furthermore, Android users have yet to receive their fresh batch of Android phones this year, namely, Samsung Galaxy S 4, HTC One, LG Optimus G Pro, and the Sony Xperia Z. Too much competition for a single phone but looks like Apple can manage if it keeps posting slow but steady growth on key markets. It needs to improve a lot in the Asian market where Android is the leading OS. The good news for Apple is that they posted a 2% growth even in the Asian market and Android did not.

Give or take a few months and the scale may tip in favor of Android, then back to Apple again when the iPhone 5 finally gets introduced.

Source: statcounter

Apple may now be thinking to finally introduce other phones in the market after a long sabbatical in producing new devices aside from the iPhone and iPad to capture people's interest. Also, the trend among other equally or even more successful OEMs is to launch a line-up of smartphones for the low-, mid- and high-end markets, something that does not still sit well with Apple.

With Samsung capturing a portion of Apple's niche with the introduction of their latest flagship smartphone, the Cupertino Company will surely feel the brunt of their decision to keep just one high-end smartphone and intentionally not capture lower- and middle-range markets.

Personally, I think that Apple will do well if it leaves its snotty image and it might just be what they need to improve their stock's value. Also, introducing the iPad Mini was more than an admission that they do need to address this particular market and that they may be feeling the need to introduce lower-end devices as well. Let's hope that Apple gets its wits together and that some executives swallow their pride for the sake of many.

Source: Fool.com

Although Samsung is currently the leader in device shipments last year and the first quarter of this year, its nearest competitor, Apple, is not so far behind. In fact, it has posted strong sales on the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini, despite lower demands on its newest iPhone.

The Cupertino Company shipped a total of 20.3% of its devices in the last quarter of 2012, whereas Samsung reportedly shipped 21.2%. The increase in the shipment was attributed to the introduction of the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini, which are still selling quite well at present.

These figures will surely set new records when the Samsung Galaxy S IV has also been launched and sold in the market. The Korean Company is making sure that their shipment percentage will take a big leap once their flagship phone starts selling in the market.

Source: IDC

Jimmy Kimmel's show likes to humor the ordinary user's ignorance from time to time and show it for everyone to see. Just like the show did last year when the iPhone 5 was unveiled - asking people on the street if they like the new iPhone when they actually got to try an iPhone 4.

This year Jimmy Kimmel's show decided to step things up and inquired people how they feel about the iPhone 5s while handing them an, wait for it, iPad mini.

If these people really are random people off of the street, and not paid actors, we can understand not being aware of what would set apart the new iPhone from the last, but to believe that an iPad mini is an iPhone takes a special kind of ignorance about technology.

Source:phonearena

Android and iOS combined accounted for a whopping 96.3% of all smartphone shipments worldwide in 2014. Android is on the top with 81.5% of the market, where iOS lacks behind with 14.8% only.

2014 Market Share

Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team, said - "Many of the same drivers were in play for Android and iOS to tighten their grip on the market, A combination of strong end-user demand, refreshed product portfolios, and the availability of low-cost devices particularly for Android drove volumes higher."

It's expected that Google's own OS will continue growing with more Android-powered device are released into the markets (Smartphones, Tablets, TVs, Smartwatches, Gaming consoles... etc).

Via

Mo Cheng

Editor

YouMobile

LG has just announced plans to roll out android 4.0 Jelly Bean update to the Optimus G globally this month. According to a press release today by LG. The first country to receive the upgrade will be Singapore "at the end of January," then slowly work their way through the other countries with LTE networks.

Back in November, the Optimus G landed in the states, along with Canada, Korea and Japan. Since then LG has sold over 1 million units. That number still lags when comparing against the 10 million Galaxy Note 2s sold or the 2 million iPhone 5 pre-orders seen in 24 hours, but it's still a phone worthy of a global stage.

There's no official date on when Canada will get graced with Jelly Bean, but you can bank on it hitting Rogers, Bell, TELUS and SaskTel with the promised Q2 timing.

Press Release:

SEOUL, Jan. 22, 2013 - The Optimus G, LG's most premium and powerful 4G LTE smartphone, will begin its global roll-out into over 50 countries this month. The Optimus G has already been launched in the United States, Canada, Korea and Japan to very favorable reviews and LG is aiming to build on the excitement already generated to launch the device in other LTE markets.

"As 4G LTE availability expands on a global scale, we will leverage our strong LTE technology and expertise to offer consumers the best 4G experience through our devices," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "With the latest Jelly Bean OS and improved software, Optimus G will make a strong case for the title of ultimate premium 4G LTE smartphone."

Since the launch of Optimus G last September, the smartphone has been enthusiastically received by audiences as one of the most advanced 4G LTE devices currently available. Optimus G has been receiving accolades from consumers and industry thought leaders alike for its powerful performance and thoughtful user experience. Optimus G's unrivaled power originates from its innovative hardware design which includes Qualcomm's advanced Snapdragon^TM S4 Pro Quad-Core processor. The device also delivers blazing fast data transfer speeds using today's 4G LTE telecommunication network.

"LG's long history of LTE know-how is evident in the DNA of the Optimus G," said Dr. Park. "As such, we hope consumers will take a deep, hard look at Optimus G when deciding which smartphone will give them the best 4G experience."

The Optimus G will be available starting at the end of January in Singapore followed by other markets worldwide offering 4G LTE service.

The LG Optimus G Pro, announced by NTT Docomo of Japan and spotted by Engadget, has a large 5-inch screen with full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080)That gives the display a pixel density of 440 pixels per inch, the same as the HTC Droid DNA. 

The phone is slightly thicker than the non-pro version with only 0.4 inch thin, it will likely to accommodate the larger battery, which holds 3,000 mAh of juice. The processor is a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core design, and it runs Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean." It will be equipped to connect with NTT Docomo's LTE network, and Wi-Fi tethering supports up to eight devices.

LG Optimus G Pro Spec List

• 5-inch 1080p HD display
• Quad-core Snapdragin S4 Pro Processor (clocked at 1.7GHz)
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 32GB of Storage
• MicroSD card slot for external storage
• 2GB of RAM
• 3,000mAh Battery
• 4G LTE Support (NTT DoCoMo)
• 13-Megapixel Camera

Source: engadget

As you might already guessted, another rumor on the Galaxy S4. This time is by Enuri, a popular korean site.

According to the rumor, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 might be the first handset in the series to launch with an S Pen and the accompanying functionality as Samsung is allegedly looking to unite its Note series with the flagship Galaxy S4. This would be a big change for Samsung and is allegedly confirmed by a quote from a Samsung official.

PhoneArena is hearing more confirmations that the Galaxy S4 will indeed come with a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, something that almost seems like a fact judging by what the competition is bringing.  Moreover, new Samsung Android flagship will run on Jelly Bean and be powered by a quad-core Exynos 5440 chip manufactured using 28nm high-K metal gate technology, with an energy-efficient A7 processor for basic tasks paired with A15 for more intense loads.

Other details about the upcoming Galaxy S IV are a 13-megapixel rear auto-focus camera and slightly thicker, 9.2mm body, a development that would make it very Note-like. What do you guys think? Is S Pen-equipped S IV is a good idea?

Samsung Galaxy S IV will launch in April according to the rumor.

Source: PhoneArena and Enuri

Samsung giving away a FREE flip cover for your Galaxy Note 2 or Galaxy S 3 ($40 value, from their store), as well as 6 tectile NFC stickers ($15 value)!

Click link below and enable the App (protip, select "Only Me" for who can see this activity): 

https://www.facebook.com/SamsungMobileUSA

Revisit link above, select your device and then register your device. You should get an email for the free flip cover and 6 tectile NFC stickers.

You will also get a 50% off coupon for your TOTAL order (up to 10 items) at their website! (great for the allshare dongle or Samsung's proprietary MHL adapters)

Ways to obtain your IMEI/HEX #:

• Dial *#06# in your dialer (must be the stock samsung one)
• Go to settings, about phone, then status
• Remove the back cover and battery, the IMEI is under the battery, on the phone
• The IMEI # is also on the products' box

Be quick, this is a $55 value if you bought those two things from their store, it will go fast!:

Offer valid, while supplies last, through January 31, 2013. Limited to the first 12,100 eligible Galaxy SIII owners and first 12,100 Galaxy Note II owners who are legal residents of the 50 US & DC, 18 or older. Void where prohibited

Thanks SlickDeals

Samsung will soon release a firmware update to address some Galaxy S III's sudden failure motherboards, which some users complained the phones are unusable when that happens.

Samsung did not explain the exact cause of the sudden failure of the motherboards also referred to as' sudden death '. Just said that it's aware of the defect.

"The good news is It only happens to a very limited number of Galaxy S III models with 16GB memory," said spokeswoman Anne ter Braak. The cause lies in Samsung in a firmware bug, which 'can be easily solved by a firmware update.

Compared to the millions of Galaxy S3 handset sold, the number experiencing the issue is minuscule, likely not enough to cause Samsung to revamp their hardware build. But if you have experienced a similar issue, know you are not alone. So let's not everyone freak out. The world isn't ending and your Galaxy S3 will be just fine.

An exact schedule for the update is not available yet, but according to Ter Braak will be rolled out as soon as possible.

Samsung has officially announced additional cooler colors for the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the name of these new colors are "amber brown" or "ruby wine", given how much success Samsung is having with the 5.5 inch phablet, it's a no brainer to add additional colors.

The S Pen will also get a matching paint job and will take the total number of colour options for the Galaxy Note II to four.

The new colors will be available to South Korean consumers sometimenext week.

Not really big news, but we want to let you know that Samsung is coming out with a tweaked version of the Galaxy S III mini, that adds in support for Samsung's S Beam system, pairing NFC and WiFi-Direct for speedy data transfers, Samsung says a 10MB music file can be shuttled over in around two seconds. U.K. is bound to be among the first markets to get the upgraded variant.

Other than that, no other hardware alterations have been done to the device. The Samsung Galaxy S III mini with NFC packs the same dual-core processor running at 1GHz and a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with WVGA resolution, a 5-megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video and a front-facing cam for video chats. Android 4.1 comes pre-loaded on the device.

source: slashgear

According to Digitimes, Samsung plans to launch 7-inch,  8-inch and 10.1-inch tablets as well as a series of ultrabooks in 2013 following its success gained with sales of smartphones.

The 7-inch and 10.1-inch tablets are both set to appear in retail channels in the first half of 2013 to avoid directly competing against any Apple devices that are estimated to come out in the second half of the year.  In addition to the 7-inch model with a US$149-199 price range, Samsung is also considering an 8-inch device with a price range between US$249-299 to fill the gap between its 7-inch tablet and entry-level iPad mini, which is priced at around US$329.

Samsung is estimated to have shipped 15 million tablets in 2012 and is aiming to ship 40 million units in 2013.

Samsung after such a fine year with cellular devices is now working upon some fascinating accessories too. One of them is Exynos 5 octa processor; Samsung hasn't yet launched it but is teasing people with its pictures over twitter. The processor works upon 8 small and big powerful cores divided into two groups, one group is active at a time. 4 cores belong to Cortex-A15 and 4 to Cortex-A7. Cortex-A7 is smaller core in relation to A15 cores.

A7 cores are really efficient in terms of energy saving, although they are not as powerful as A-15 cores but are enough to run any device smoothly. A7-cores are only 13% less in terms of size in with A-15 cores. The shifting time between these two groups of cores is about 30-50 minutes. More details, could be unveiled at the launch of the phone, till then we can only rely on twitter pictures and rumors.

Somewhere in the wild, PhoneArena got a couple of photos of an internal raffle doc at a New Zealand mobile retailer that states all those who won a prize will also be given a Samsung Galaxy S IV handset.   According to PhoneArena, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S IV in April. 

What we've already know about the Samsung Galaxy IV:

• Code Name: Altius
• Model Number: GT-I9500
• Colours: Black / White
• Battery Capacity: 2600 mAh
• Special: Wireless Charging Kit
• Exynos 5 Octa (8-Core) CPU
• 4.99″ Super AMOLED Full HD Resolution Display
• 2GB of RAM
• 13 Megapixel Rear facing Camera capable of shooting 1080p Full HD Videos at 30FPS
• 2 Megapixel front facing camera capable of shooting 720p HD Videos
• Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean

Rumors confirmed that the Galaxy S4 smartphone could be released in April. yesterday's article, we also included two photos of "an internal raffle doc at a New Zealand mobile retailer," saying that all the winners of a prize would be awarded with a Samsung Galaxy S4 handset.

SamMobile has reported that in a bid to have more control on updates and sales, and to know exactly how many devices has been sold in all countries, Samsung is planning to start the new update service.

"Samsung's plan is to stop the retailers that are shipping, for example, French-based software devices to The Netherlands. Samsung won't give devices updates if you bought a phone outside your home country," the report has said.

"This could mean retailers need to pay more for devices and the prices could go higher. Also, customers could have to wait longer on their new devices. So far we can conclude from our information that Samsung will start to test this way but no longer by notification trough OTA (over-the-air)," according to SamMobile.

What does this all mean for Samsung, retailer and customer?

Samsung

• - Control of updates in each country. (faster way of updates)
• - Exact sales numbers.
• - Could bring the price up / down if needed or cancel device that do not sell well.

• - Retailer must ship country based devices otherwise customer isn't able to update.
• - Retailer shop price could be more expensive.

• - Delay in new device.
• - Customer isn't able to update their device outside the country of origin.
• - Price can be higher.

While there have been media reports that Samsung's Galaxy smartphone is outselling Apple's iPhone, new research by Dr. Esam Alwagait, Dean of King Saud University's Deanship of e-Transactions and Communications, and Basit Shahzad, a Deanship researcher, provides key insights into the reason for Samsung's growth.

"According to our research, while Apple is more popular in English-speaking countries, Samsung predominates elsewhere, particularly in Asia and Africa," said Dr. Alwagait.

He said the research suggests Samsung's smartphone may be seen as more user friendly by non-English speakers.

Some highlights of their findings include:

• Samsung smartphones are universally more popular;
• Android operating systems are more popular than Apple's iOS;
• Apple followers are more likely to live in an English-speaking country than Samsung followers;
• English is the primary language of choice for both sets of followers, though Samsung is more popular where English is not the primary language;
• Considering the continental review, Samsung is significantly more popular in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe, while Apple is more popular in Australia;
• While Samsung is overwhelmingly more popular in Asian and African countries, it has a relatively small lead over Apple in Europe
• Based on Klout scores - a measure of a user's influence across his or her social network; Apple followers are more influential and more popular than Samsung followers. However, the sheer volume of Samsung followers suggests this could be a growing factor.

Source: enews.ksu.edu

Three UK has formally launched the "Ultrafast" Galaxy S III smartphone. The phone is easily distinguished from its HSPA+ sibling because of the simple fact that it features full DC-HSDPA and LTE capabilities.

Users of the device will be treated to even faster data speeds when using the device compared to those using plain ol' 3G. Besides from the faster modems- the device will be like other typical Galaxy S III models by coming in Marble White and Pebble Blue colors, feature a quad-core processor and an awesome 8MP camera.

The device will cost a pretty penny as it will run customers about £34 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan and for £36 a month with an upfront cost of £29. Conversely, customers can go for the Pay As You Go for £449.99 plus a top up and go for one of the many unlimited plans

Press Release:

08 Feb 2013 16:00

Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast - available now on Three.



Enjoy the ultimate mobile internet experience with the Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast on our Ultrafast network. Now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores from the 12th February.

Inspired by nature and designed for humans, this beautifully crafted phone has a large 4.8-inch, HD Super AMOLED display which fits more of the content people love on one screen.

It comes in Marble White and Pebble Blue, is loaded with smart features and even knows when you're looking at it so the screen doesn't turn off. By vibrating, the Galaxy S III Ultrafast lets you know when you have missed a message or call, and you can call your friends by simply moving the phone towards your ear. A simple voice command is enough to wake the phone from the lock screen.

Boasting a quad-core processor, it comes with a large battery capacity to match so there's less worry about the device unexpectedly powering down while enjoying HD clips on your commute home. The intuitive smartphone also includes an 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash as well as a 1.9 megapixel front camera for video calls with friends and family.

Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, "Following the phenomenal success of the Samsung Galaxy S III last year, we're pleased to now offer the Ultrafast ready Galaxy S III. Built with the technology to work on our advanced network* you'll be able to enjoy the ultimate mobile internet experience on Three.

The Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast is available for £34 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan and for £36 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on The One Plan both with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges and All-You-Can-Eat data - giving you the latest technology with no price premium.

The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £449.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

Key features

• Ultra brilliant meets Ultrafast - compatible with Three's Ultrafast network
• Large 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720)
• Super-fast 1.4 GHz quad-core processor
• 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash
• Large 2100mAh battery
• 1.9 megapixel front camera with BSI
• Full HD video recording, playback and image capture
• Up to 16GB internal memory
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Operating System
• NFC
• Notification light
• * Three's Ultrafast network, currently supported by DC-HSDPA technology, already covers 55% of the UK population with an initial focus on 50 towns and cities. It will reach 80% population coverage by the end of March.

For more information contact:
Gabriela Raison
e: Gabriela.Raison@3-monkeys.co.uk

Three Consumer PR Team
t:020 7009 3142
e: Three@3-monkeys.co.uk

Sprint users will definitely be glad to receive firmware updates for their Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S III smartphones. These separate updates are expected to improve phone security and offer a few bug fixes.

Updating your Galaxy S III will also ensure better voicemail application and calendar syncing. The new firmware, by the L719VPMA6 update will also now be able to support 3-digit text messaging.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 2 will have better phone security once updated using the L900VPAMA7, which deters circumvention of Exynos security.

Updates for notifications may not be seen right away but you can always check manually. There are also plenty of forums and news will certainly come out if Sprint already releases firmware update packages for these two units over the air. But it definitely won't be too long until they come out.

Galaxy Note 2 | Galaxy S3

We all know this will come sooner than later, as big as the enterprise mobile market is, Samsung is currently still lacking to gain any traction in terms of market share in the enterprise arena, but Mobile World Congress seems to be a great time and place for Samsung to make any type of announcements related to enterprise market for mobile.

According to the Boston-based brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton, it said this morning morning that Samsung plans to unveil a new enterprise platform at the Mobile World Congress trade show later this month that will compete with BlackBerry's next-generation BlackBerry 10 operating system.

Currently no much other details were provided, but the news definitely give downside to BlackBerry considering its reliance on the enterprise market. BlackBerry shares were trading down more than 3% on the news.

source: BGR

According to a South Korean Media Site, Samsung Electronics adopted the Qualcomm Snapdragon Chipset instead of Exynos 5 Octa for upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 handset.

The reason behind avoiding Exynos 5 Octa Chipsets is the power consumption to heat generation control, that is why samsung has adopted the Qualcomm Snapdragon Chipset for upcoming flagship Samsung Galaxy S4.

The results of Qualcomm Chipsets are promising as it scored more than 12000 points on the quadrant standard benchmark and its main advantage is that it comes with baseband radio that covers most of the world's networks.

The adoption of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset in Samsung Galaxy SIV has been also proved in leaked benchmarks. The news also confirmed that Samsung Galaxy SIV will comes only in Single variant, so there will be no international variant with Exynos 5 Octa chipsets.

Samsung Galaxy SIV Confirmed Specifications:

• 4.9 inch Full HD Super Amoled Display
• 1.9Ghz Quad Core APQ8064T Qualcomm Snapdragon 600/800 Processor 
• 2GB RAM
• 64GB Flash Memory
• 13.1 Mpx Camera
• Suppors Wireless Charging
• Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean

source: dt.co.kr

Samsung Epic 4G users can now upgrade their old devices to the latest Android 4.2, using CyanogenMod 10.1 for the device. This was a popular and the first Galaxy phone among many from 2 years ago and developers just refuse to retire it. However, take note that nightlies are not the same as typical drivers and a few users may be affected by some bugs, but nothing that will prevent it from running smoothly on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.

Before flashing, always back up your data and download the CM 10.1 for the device, so you can enjoy the new features and capabilities that the latest Jelly Bean brings such as lock-screening of widgets and other system and network additions. "Epic" is truly the operative word and judging from the fan-base that this phone has created, it remains to be one of Samsung's greatest phones.

Download Link: cyanogenmod

'

Looks like Samsung Galaxy S IV will be the "2013 Smartphone of the Year" with its Exynos Octa CPU and a 544MP PowerVR SGX GPU. These were unwittingly or purposefully revealed by someone who performed benchmarking through Antutu. All other fantastic specifications include 2GB memory, almost 5 inches Full HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 and running on Android 4.2 JB.

Furthemore, the Samsung Galaxy S IV supports all kinds of networks including LTE, which means that the company will only have one variant of this powerhouse device, since LTE connectivity is already included among the supported networks.

The Galaxy S IV will be officially launched on March 14th and this "leak" definitely tops them all. Please don't let this be a hoax! Also, is it safe to say that we've already seen the best kept secrets of the S IV or are they just starting yet?

The New York Times reporting today that Samsung's next generation Galaxy phone will let users use their eyes to scroll through text, according to a person who has tried the new phone. Samsung wouldn't confirm the report but it did file for a trademark in Europe under the name "eye scroll. "

Samsung has scheduled a press conference on March 14 in New York to announce its new Galaxy S IV smartphone. The South Korea-based company currently leads the smartphone market globally but Apple's iPhone 5 overtook Samsung's Galaxy S3 to become the world's best-selling iPhone in the fourth quarter, according to Strategy Analytics.

Samsung's next big smartphone, to be introduced this month, will have a strong focus on software. A person who has tried the phone, called the Galaxy S IV, described one feature as particularly new and exciting: Eye scrolling.

The phone will track a user's eyes to determine where to scroll, said a Samsung employee who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media. For example, when users read articles and their eyes reach the bottom of the page, the software will automatically scroll down to reveal the next paragraphs of text.

The source would not explain what technology was being used to track eye movements, nor did he say whether the feature would be demonstrated at the Galaxy S IV press conference, which will be held in New York on March 14. The Samsung employee said that over all, the software features of the new phone outweighed the importance of the hardware.

Indeed, Samsung in January filed for a trademark in Europe for the name "Eye Scroll" (No. 011510674). It filed for the "Samsung Eye Scroll" trademark in the United States in February, where it described the service as "Computer application software having a feature of sensing eye movements and scrolling displays of mobile devices, namely, mobile phones, smartphones and tablet computers according to eye movements; digital cameras; mobile telephones; smartphones; tablet computers."

Samsung has also filed for the trademark "Eye Pause," without describing what the feature does.

In an interview, Kevin Packingham, Samsung's chief product officer, declined to share details about Samsung's next phone. But he said he disagreed that the new hardware would be insignificant compared with the software, and over all, "It's an amazing phone."

Eye tracking systems have been in development for a while. Samsung's current flagship phone, the Galaxy S III, already has a feature that watches you. The feature, Smart Stay, uses its front-facing camera to know to keep the screen lit up when a person is looking at it instead of dimming it automatically.

Tobii, a technology company that received $21 million in funding from Intel last year, has been working on a technique that uses infrared sensors to track precise eye movements.

Samsung's Galaxy S III has been the company's best-selling phone, so the release of its next flagship phone has been highly anticipated

https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/samsungs-new-smartphone-will-track-eyes-to-scroll-pages/

SamMobile compiled some of the improvements and enhancements on the Galaxy S III that the Android 4.1.2 update has brought about. These new features were mostly lifted from the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which is another one of Samsung's front runners in terms of specs and followers.

Some of the additions to the Galaxy S III are multi-tasking capabilities, page buddy, optimized and better integration with tablets and other smartphones. Also, with the new update, you can customize the notification panel and just how cute is the rotating screen display? The Smart rotation adjusts to your angle of vision.

The global update for the Galaxy S III is also nearing its completion with only a few carriers from some countries remaining. Update your SIII now and enjoy new applications and capabilities using Jelly Bean.

Some of the Enhancements in the new update:

• - Android 4.1.2 - JZO54K
• - Multi-View (Multi-Windows Multitasking, same as in Note II)
• - Page Buddy
• - New Gallery App (Same as in Note II)
• - Notification Panel (Notification Panel can now be customized)
• - Brightness Slider in Notification Panel Can Now Be Disabled
• - Smart Rotation (Screen Display adjusts to your angle of sightings)
• - Continues Input in Samsung Keyboard (Like Swipe or Android 4.2 Keyboard)
• - Paper Artist App
• - Group Cast App

Samsung still needs to update countries/carriers to Android 4.1.2 listed below:

• Algeria - TMC
• Bangladesh - TML
• Belgium / Luxemburg - PRO
• Brazil (Claro) - ZTA
• Brazil (TIM) - ZTM
• Brazil (VIVO) - ZVV
• Germany - MBC
• Nepal - NPL
• Panama (Cable & Wireless) - PCW
• Slovakia - TMS
• South Africa - XFA
• South Africa (Vodafone) - XFV
• Sri Lanka - SLK Uruguay - UFU

Source: Sammobile

It's almost the end of the first quarter of 2013 but it feels like the bell of this year's ultimate smartphone battle has yet to be rung. On one corner, we have the HTC One which was announced last February. Indeed, the HTC One made a grand entrance with features like a new "ultrapixel" camera technology, a high grade aluminum body, 1.7 GHz quad core processor, and 4.7 inch 1080p screen display. With these features, The HTC One definitely deserves the spotlight.

On the other hand, we have Samsung Galaxy S IV stealing the spotlight. This device will officially be launched in Times Square on March 14th, a few more days to go from now. Leaks of the technical specifications of this device have been out on the internet for quite some time now. The features include a new PHOLED display screen, an eye tracking software, and a dual quad core processor which is essentially eight cores all in all.

Both devices are worthy to be pitted against each other. But the question is will the S IV, the current Android flagship of Samsung, perform and reach the expectations laid out before it or will HTC One, the underdog, deliver a more powerful punch strong enough to take the round once more?

Jun Dong-soo, a Samsung executive believes that Microsoft Vista is better than the latest version, Windows 8 and that Microsoft has failed to create an OS that will attract the market back to buying PCs. It is largely said that PC sales have suffered greatly because people tend to purchase tablets and smartphones instead.

According to the International data Corporation, the projected growth of PC sales for 2013 is only about 1.3%. Although it may look disappointing, Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, thinks that this is normal and that people have perfectly taken to Windows 8 on their tablets.

Samsung makes this statement in the wake of cutting production because of falling memory chips sales. Furthermore, Jun Dong-soo observes that demand for Windows 8 is dreary and calls the latest Windows OS a less-competitive platform.

Source: cnet

Another anticipated device from Samsung aside from the Galaxy S 4 is the upcoming Galaxy Note 3. This device is popular among people who love smartphones that have bigger screens. According to SamMobile, the company will replace its popular AMOLED display with a high quality LCD made by Sharp. It can be recalled that Samsung acquired a stake in the company and is now banking on the components that are produced by Sharp.

The main reason for the switch is because the S-Pen might be better off with the LCD screen. Furthermore, it is said that the panels produced by Sharp are said to be the best. Other than that, a possible reason for the use of LCD display, instead of AMOLED could be because Samsung needs to concentrate production of panels for the Galaxy S 4. Whatever the reason, if it makes the device perform better, then it's all good.

Samsung Galaxy S 3 has not been forgotten by the number one smartphone maker, even if the much-awaited Galaxy S 4 is already coming in the picture in less than a couple of days. On the contrary, the S 3 will receive a boost from the company with improved battery and even wireless charging capability.

Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S 3 display will also be improved. With the recent price slash and additional colors to choose from, the S 3 is not going to lose its steam and take the backseat after all. People are still going to want to own this cool Samsung device at a lower price that not even Apple can beat!

Also, there is no need to worry about it not being upgraded because it will remain one of the most popular Samsung smartphones ever, next to S 4, we believe, that is if the company does reach 100M unit sales for its new flagship device.

Source: Twitter

According to Eldar Murtazin, the Samsung Galaxy S III remains to be quite the popular smartphone in terms of Samsung sales because instead of being left out post-S 4 launch, it will actually receive upgrades and updates.

Samsung is said to be improving the S III, giving it a more powerful battery than the original and a better display screen. No additional information as to how they will make the screen "better," but judging from the way it sounds, it's all good. In addition, the new S III will also have wireless charging capability.

For now, it is safe to say that this will be the Galaxy S III Plus, based on Samsung's penchant for reissuing their old flagships with better specs. Another good news is that the S III will apparently have a better price, which will help reach to a bigger range of customers.

Source

An added functionality for those who love their Galaxy S IV AND their latest Samsung 85-in Ultra HD OLED TV is its built-in remote control capability. Furthermore, aside from the built-in feature, plenty of applications are already in Google Play for use with other phones that also have this feature. The difference with the S IV is that it does not need an application to work with supported televisions.

Samsung first used this technology on the Galaxy Note 8.0, which was called the Samsung Video discovery. With the S 4, it has been optimized for the device and the Korean company even renamed it to ‘WatchOn'. Other non-Galaxy S IV fans may think that all of these "new" features that are found on the just-launched smartphone are spinoffs of originals or have already been introduced by other manufacturers before but Samsung stands by on its conviction that the company developed these from scratch.

Sometime before the Samsung Galaxy S 4 was introduced last March 14th, an earlier rumor came up about the Orb, which is a photo application that offers users plenty of special effects and features for use in sharing. Furthermore, prior to release, the S 4 was initially reported to feature the Orb but didn't, when it came out last week.

According to insiders, the Orb will eventually appear on the Galaxy S 4 when the Android 5.0 comes out. No official word yet about the date and the release as such, but we are almost sure that the 5.0 will indeed already come out in the near future.

If we are lucky, then maybe with the way that Android is coming up with a new version every May or July (Froyo, Honeycomb and Jelly Bean all came out mid-year), then it might be safe to expect the Android 5.0 to be rolled out in roughly 2-3 months. Here's to hoping Android 5.0 will come out soon!

Source: sammobile

Sprint, also the the Now network will begin offering Galaxy S4 on April 27th for the price of $249.99 with a two-year contract agreement.  However, if you're willing to cancel your current provider and carry your phone number to Sprint, you will get additional $100 credit, bringing the price down to $150. You'll be able to pre-order the device directly from Sprint beginning tomorrow.

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), Galaxy S 4 is powered by Android^TM 4.2.2, Jelly Bean, boasts a brilliant 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED^TM touchscreen, 1.9GHz quad-core processor and access to the Sprint 4G LTE network. It also offers Multi Window, which allows the use of two apps side-by-side.

Galaxy S 4 is the perfect device for vividly capturing life's most important moments by featuring dual cameras: a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front-facing camera with a Dual Camera function allowing simultaneous use of both cameras. Galaxy S 4 is loaded with several innovative capabilities:

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  • Drama Shot captures a progressive event, like a baby's first steps or a basketball player's slam dunk, in one frame
  • Eraser Shot removes unwanted objects or people from an otherwise perfect picture
  • Live Filters allow an individual to see how a picture will look - on both the camera and camcorder - before the photo is taken
  • Story Album^TM compiles photos with location and weather information to create the most comprehensive and personalized memory book

Galaxy S 4 adds new touchless navigation with innovative features that detect face, voice and motions to enable screen control.

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  • Air View^TM lets the user preview emails, photos in the gallery, or even the stories in Flipboard by hovering a finger over the screen.
  • Smart Pause pauses a video by looking away from the screen.
  • Air Gesture allows the user to answer a call or skip to the next song by waving their hand in front of the screen.
  • Galaxy S 4 also features Polaris® Office to get work done using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from almost anywhere.

Source: Sprint Press Release

The developers are advised to get ready because Samsung on the company's open source repository has started unleashing onslaught of kernel source of Galaxy S4. It has done so beginning with the unlocked phone editions (GT-I9505 and GT-I9500) and some other variant (SGH-I337M) which is targeted to Virgin Mobile Canada. In case you may not be are, the difference between GT-19505 and GT-19500 is the chipset.19500 is the Galaxy S4 edition which is Exynos Octa-powered but there is not official date of release which is attached to it. 19505 is the variant of Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 which will be available for purchase in most of the major markets of the world before end of the month. SGH-I337M is the version of Virgin Mobile Canada.

For those in the United States, there will not benefit from any of these developments because all S4 carrier branded versions in America have their unique and separate releases of kernel source and all will run different builds of software.

Link:  GT-I9500, GT-I9505, SGH-337M

What's the best way to get to know Samsung products if not to try them out in person? Samsung Experience shops officially open today in New York Square and expect to see Experience Shops across the country in the following months. Samsung CEO JK Shin formally opened the shop along with Best Buy CEO Huber Joly and Bruno Mars will make sure the guests and spectators are entertained.

Some 1,400 Experience Shops are going to be launched in the next few months and Samsung is truly doing all it can to make sure the public knows its products. In addition, this will be a good opportunity to add to the "overwhelming demand" for Samsung Galaxy S 4 before it will be formally launched in most carriers in May, unless, of course, if your carrier is US Cellular. If reports are true that their S 4 launch will carry on as scheduled, then how come all other carriers can't do the same?