After so much hype, rumous and speculation, the Samsung Galaxy S III is finally here and most of the rumours are surprisingly true. Major specs for the latest and greatest from the Korean technology powerhouse include Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display packing a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. Unlike its predecessor the Galaxy S II, the Galaxy S III uses a PenTile AMOLED display without the “Plus” moniker which is similar to the Galaxy Nexus. However with a higher resolution and density of 306ppi, the shortcomings should be negligible.

And as the rumours predicted, the Galaxy S III also packs an 8MP main camera with a backlit sensor and is capable of shooting 1080p videos. The camera also features “Zero Shutter Lag” and burst mode capabilities. In burst mode, the Galaxy S III can shoot up to 20 frames in a single shot at a reported 3.3FPS. As comparison, the HTC One X shoots up to 99 frames at 4FPS. It comes with a “Best Shot” feature where it automatically selects the best picture from a series of eight shots taken in a burst.

Speaking of cameras, the front unit is a 1.9MP shooter capable of shooting 720p videos and is utilized extensively with Samsung’s Smart Stay technology where the camera tracks the user’s eye to determine if the screen is required to be switched on or not. If the user averts his attention from the screen, the front camera is able to detect that and the Galaxy S III will go to sleep mode. This is an elegant solution as opposed to the preset timed intervals currently being used by other smartphones.

In terms of dimensions, nothing groundbreaking here with the Galaxy S III measures 136.6mm tall, 70.6mm wide, 8.6mm thin and weighs 133g. Compared to the Galaxy S II, the new model is 0.11mm thicker and 17 grams heavier. Similarly, Samsung has chosen to stay with the tried and tested plastic as the primary construction material for the Galaxy S III. There’s no fancy ceramics as purported in the rumours. Curiously also, Samsung has opted to go with a more traditional two-piece design ncorporating a removable battery (a rather large 2,100 mAh unit) and memory card slot as opposed to the current trend of a single-piece polycarbonate chassis widely used by its competitors.

If we can be honest, the design of the Galaxy S III looks rather ordinary compared to what the competitors are putting out. This is probably mainly because, it looks almost like the Galaxy Nexus, and while the white colour option will probably popular, the blue hue may not be as well received as perhaps a black or dark grey tone.

There are no surprises in the processor department either with Samsung earlier confirming that the Galaxy S III will be showcasing it’s latest quad-core Exynos processor running at 1.4GHz mated to a 1GB RAM. There are three internal storage options for the Galaxy S III – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Apart from microSD expansion, Samsung is also bundling a rather generous 50GB of DropBox storage for 2 years. Powering the device is a relatively large 2,100mAh battery. In case you’re wondering, the Galaxy S III will support 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity.

As you can see, hardware is not the Galaxy S III’s trump card, instead most of the device’s innovation lie in the fascinating software customizations that places emphasis on what Samsung calls “natural interaction”.

As mentioned earlier there is the “Smart Stay” technology that uses the front-facing camera to track your eyes ensuring that the screen is always switched on while you’re looking at it. In addition to that Samsung has the developed its most advanced voice command application to-date. The feature is called “S Voice” and it is customizable to recognize a host of commands at any time including the ability to activate the camera or snooze the alarm simply by saying the assigned voice commands.

Voice recognition is also being used as an added security feature to enhance the standard Face Unlock feature available in ICS. So instead of just showing your face to the phone to unlock it, the Galaxy S III adds a voice layer as an added security feature requiring you to say a command before the phone can be unlocked.

There is also the “S Beam” feature which takes the built-in “Android Beam” NFC capability of ICS and expands it functionality to allow large files to be transferred between phones quickly through WiFi. Other smart features include “Pop Up Play” which lets you watch a video anywhere on the screen while continuing to use other apps in the background.

For social, Samsung has added several new features with regards to photos and sharing. After taking a picture, it will automatically pre-tag faces based on your contact list images. If you need to share it, there’s a buddy photo sharing feature that lets you send a copy to those being tagged. To make communication seamless, you are able to make call or text your contacts by simply tapping on the faces that have been tagged.

And that’s pretty much it. In terms of availability, the Galaxy S III will be launched in 145 countries with 296 mobile operators worldwide. The 3G HSPA+ version of the Galaxy S III will be on sale starting from Europe on May 29. Based on recent Samsung device launches, Malaysia Galaxy S III availability should follow closely. It is likely that we are looking at June or as early as end May considering its rivals are able to roll out globally within a short period of time. It is reasonable to expect the Galaxy S III to be priced very competitively with its closes competitor, the HTC One X. So expect a price range of between RM1,900 to RM2,200 for the 16GB or even the 32GB version.

What do we think about the Galaxy S III. In a nutshell: amazing features wrapped around a rather ordinary casing. However, we’ll reserve our final judgment when we get our hands on the device to see if the smart features can really make up for the humdrum exterior. Stay tuned.

To explore the Galaxy S III, head over to their microsite.

Galaxy S III commercial

Galaxy S III official hands-on

Galaxy S III images

UPDATE: Samsung Galaxy S III officially launched. Read more here.

After almost a year of rumours, speculations and guesses, the next Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone is ready to meet the world. The Galaxy S III will be making its global debut in London on May 3 at 1900hrs, in Malaysian time, that will be May 4 at 0200hrs in the morning.

At the moment, most of the major hardware details of the device have been revealed. The Galaxy S III will very likely feature a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD screen with a resolution of 1184×720 pixels. Samsung has confirmed that the it will pack a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos developed in-house by Samsung and its also very likely that the device will also come with 1GB RAM and an 8MP camera.

In terms of specs, the Galaxy S III won’t be a game changer but it’s not what we know about the device that’s making us curious, it’s the many details that we don’t know that has gotten us brimming with anticipation. We’re certainly expecting a lot from Samsung in the software department and the Galaxy S III must produce nothing less than spectacular to live up to the immense hype surrounding its much anticipated launch.

Samsung will be broadcasting the whole event live online at www.thenextgalaxy.com, so make sure you mark your calendars and set your alarm clocks to see for yourselves what innovations the Samsung Galaxy S III will bring and whether it will be enough to give the Apple people at Cupertino sleepless nights.

What are your thoughts? Expecting big things from the next Galaxy?

The Samsung Unpacked event is happening on May 3rd in the UK where the next Galaxy (likely to be called Galaxy S III) will be revealed. The event is at 7:00PM UK time, which is about 2AM this Friday, 4th May.

While we can roughly gauge the design and shape of the upcoming device, a new clue has surfaced in the form of a screen protector. The Galaxy S III is said to be having a 4.8″ screen but with the screen protector compared, it is similar sized as the 4.7″ HTC One X and slightly wider than the 4.3″ Galaxy S II. This gives it a bigger screen without feeling overly bulky which is what we’ve experienced on the Xperia S (4.3″ screen but feels like a 4.0″ phone).

This is it folks. Just less than 48 hours away from the big reveal.

More pics of the screen protector after the break.

Hit the source link for more pics.

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

Click for larger image

The device that you’re looking at is apparently the much anticipated Galaxy S III. Whether it is or not, we can’t be certain at this point but it does look very much like the illustration in the leaked service manual posted earlier.

Whether this is the next Galaxy or not, one thing is for certain, it’s not really much of a looker and it’s certainly a design that we’ve seen before – the Galaxy Nexus.

If this is indeed the upcoming Galaxy smartphone, Samsung’s definitely not going to break new grounds with in terms of design. In terms of hardware, there’s nothing groundbreaking either. With a quad-core processor confirmed for the new Galaxy, Samsung is not the first to arrive at the party and almost all of the flagship Androids released this year is expected to pack a four-core processor and then some.

So what will the next Galaxy bring in terms of innovations? The answer is obvious. The next big thing in mobile devices will be software the features it brings. We’re certainly expecting a lot from Samsung with its new flagship smartphone and a faster processor, a better camera in a thinner body ain’t going to cut it anymore.

It’s going to be interesting to see what innovations Samsung will bring with TouchWhiz. Come May 3, let’s see what Samsung’s got.

[source]

Bits and pieces of the Samsung Galaxy S III are starting to surface as we are just a week away from the May 3rd Unpacked event. This time, Sammobile claims to have a copy of the upcoming Galaxy service manual which reveals a bit more on the specification and design.

The design matches earlier speculation with a less boxy look with more rounded and curved edges. We’re probably looking at a design that’s similar to the HTC One X and the Galaxy Nexus.

The biggest anticipation would be the choice of materials used for the body. Samsung is popularly known for its plasticky body but they have done a good job in making it feel premium with textured design. At the moment, rumours are suggesting new materials like ceramic.

According to the spec sheet, it shows 1.5GHz Quad core although it was announced yesterday that the new Galaxy will be running on a 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad processor. For display, it is written as 4.8″ Super AMOLED MIPI and comes with a 8MP camera with assisted flash. Perhaps just like the prototypes, Samsung is also messing around with unconfirmed draft service manual copies to prevent leaks like this.

Samsung is definitely doing a better job in managing possible leaks this time around. All we can say is stay tuned this coming 3rd May for the official reveal.

[ SOURCE ]

We have yet to see anything that resembles an actual Galaxy S III but already there’s a telco that starts its registration of interest. That telco is Vodafone UK which is the first to commence ROI ahead of the big event happening on May 3rd.

Pretty gutsy of them to do so which means that Samsung has probably secured couple of telco dealings with official availability to follow shortly right after the Unpacked event. With such ambitious move, this could be the fastest device roll out we’ve seen to date. Sony took about 2 months to bring the Xperia S into Malaysia while HTC took slightly more than a month to release its One Series in this region. Being a flagship device, Samsung would have to surpass if not match its rival’s speed in making its devices available.

For Samsung to make the Galaxy available in Malaysia on May 3rd is a tall order but definitely not impossible. With Vodafone’s early reaction and the recent price reduction of the Galaxy Note, we are excited with the thought that Malaysia’s availability could be right around the corner.

[ SOURCE ]

The anticipation is going through the roof. After a teaser site, Samsung released a teaser video that aside from the glaring stab at the Apple crowd, tells you very little about the new Galaxy smartphone. But is the teaser video just another opportunity for Samsung to poke fun at iSheeps?

We don’t think so. We feel that Samsung wants to tell us more about the next Galaxy that it first seems. We analysed the clip and found what we feel are some important clues about the next Galaxy – a device that is shaping up to be the most anticipated Android smartphone ever launched since the Nexus One.

Let’s take a look.

The video begins with a bold statement – “Truly smart technology becomes a natural part of life”. This suggests to us that the next Galaxy will feature a design that places a considerable emphasis on ergonomics as well as technology and features that bring a level of man-machine interaction that is unlike anything the world has ever seen.

What this new level of man-machine interaction is exactly remains to be seen but the earlier rumours of eye-tracking technology are one possibility that comes to mind.

The other strong statement in the teaser is “Where a galaxy fits perfectly into your hand”. This suggests that Samsung will be showcasing a new design approach for the next Galaxy, one that focuses heavily on ergonomics and tactile feel. This relates very closely to the many rumours about the next Galaxy being made out of ceramic. This also suggests that the next Galaxy will feature a design language that is far removed from previous Galaxy devices. Though we don’t think Samsung will use ceramics in the new Galaxy but the device will feel like it was made out of the material.

That’s pretty much what we can gather from the teaser video. Of course none of this is confirmed but after sifting through the many rumours, we feel there are some connections to be made. What remains to be seen now is whether we are right or completely wrong. Thankfully, the wait won’t be long and we’re expecting more details to make its way to the public space as we move closer and closer to the May 3 launch date.

Samsung has started a timer at a special teaser site called tgeltaayehxnx. The scrambed text is actually an anagram for “The Next Galaxy” which makes it obvious what this teaser is for.

While the official Galaxy S III is set to be revealed next Thursday (3rd May), we could be seeing split second glances of the new device like the Galaxy Nexus in its Unpacked teaser video. Hopefully it looks nothing like the prototypes we’ve seen so far.

It’s all happening at 7PM tonight at http://www.tgeltaayehxnx.com.

[ SOURCE ]

With less than 2 weeks to the big Samsung Galaxy S III unpacked event, we are getting more clues and leak photos of the upcoming product.

This time around, a Vietnamese site has managed to grab hold of one of the prototypes and has posted a video on Youtube. He admitted that while the features are likely to be accurate, the overall design would be different on the final product.

The unit that he has comes with a 4.6″ HD Super AMOLED which is smaller than the earlier rumoured 4.8″ screen. In terms of processor, it is reported to be running on Samsung’s Exynos quad core processor clocked at 1.4GHz. Over at the back, you get a 8MP camera with assisted LED flash and a loud speaker next to it. Other specs include an 2,050mAh NFC compatible battery and a screen resolution of 1184×720.

Just like the earlier leaked photo, we believe that Samsung has multiple variance of its upcoming device in different shapes and sizes to avoid possible leaks of the final product. If you would have noticed, the screen sizes have been constantly changing and even the overall shape has been disguised with mock casings.

We don’t blame you if you think the device looks horribly unimpressive but judging from the level of secrecy that Samsung is having, we are expecting something really special on May 3rd.

Head after the break for the hands-on video and photos.

[ SOURCE ]

The next Galaxy or anticipated as the Galaxy S III is a one of the best guarded secrets at the moment. With just 2 weeks away from its May 3rd reveal, we have yet to see a confirmed leak unlike other smart phones we’ve seen before.

Just recently BGR Brasil has released photos which purported is the upcoming Galaxy S III. They have reported that the device is thinner, heavier and comes with a 12MP shooter. Looking at the photo above, it does resemble the earlier leaked i9300 which isn’t the new flagship phone that we’ve been waiting for.

However taking a closer look at the photo above, there’s a difference with the i9300 that we saw earlier. If you noticed, the front of the device seems to be encased in another body. From the looks of it, it does look like a Galaxy Nexus inside. The front home button looks dodgy and we might potentially see a button-less design in the final product.

It appears that Samsung is adding mock design or cases to thwart premature leaks of its upcoming product. A very smart way to prevent sharp shooters of catching it in public while their product guys are doing real life test. If the “additional” case theory is true, the upcoming device could be even thinner and lighter than what was earlier reported. Since Samsung is extremely cautious, it is possible that there are multiple test prototypes and the final product could be extremely different from what we’ve seen so far.

Thanks @override182 for the tip!

[ SOURCE, VIA ]