Samsung announces Galaxy S3 Mini smartphone

 

 

Samsung has unveiled a smaller version of its Galaxy S3 smartphone, reducing the screen size by 0.8 of an inch to 4 inches, bringing it in line with Apple's iPhone 5.

The handset runs on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google's Android operating system.

Samsung has not yet shared details of when the device will go on sale.

The announcement comes at a time Apple are expected to launch a 7-inch iPad, although that has yet to be confirmed.

The Galaxy S3 Mini, details of which had been widely leaked prior to Thursday's announcement, comes just six months after the launch of the well-received larger model.

The Mini has a five megapixel camera on its rear, with a lower quality VGA camera on its front.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 faces shipping delays for some models

 

Customers who pre-ordered Samsung's new top-end smartphone face weeks of delays in receiving their handsets.

The South Korean firm signalled that it had faced issues in manufacturing blue models of the Galaxy S3.

Vodafone added that it had also been advised of "shipping delays" to the 32GB version of the white version of the handset.

Available devices went on sale in the UK and 27 other European and Middle Eastern countries earlier.

"Samsung's Galaxy S3 Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material," said a statement from the electronics company.

"In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality Galaxy S3 to customers, a short supply of [the] Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next two to three weeks."

Vodafone - which has an exclusive deal to distribute white 32GB models in the UK for four weeks - noted that it might take up to that period for customers to receive the delayed models.

It added that "all customers who have pre-ordered the marble white 16GB version... should expect to receive their new phone on the UK launch date".

O2, Everything Everywhere and Three also confirmed their customers would be affected by the "shortage of blue" models.

Positive reviews

The Android-based phone is expected to prove highly popular. It features a 4.8 inch (12.2cm) screen, a "natural language user interface" and can track users' eye movements to ensure the screen does not dim while they are looking at it.

The success of its predecessor, the Galaxy S2, helped Samsung overtake Nokia as the world's best-selling phone maker, according to the research firm Strategy Analytics.

Reviews have compared the device favourably with Apple's smaller-screened iPhone.

The Verge declared it a "a technological triumph", although Engadget suggested that HTC's One X had a superior user-interface and design.

Samsung has said it expects the S3 to outsell the S2. It is scheduled for release in 145 countries by July.

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Samsung Galaxy v Apple iPhone - the smartphone duopoly

 

The excitement has been mounting for weeks. Fans have speculated about the precise specifications of the device, the company behind it has been doing everything it can to preserve the mystery and build up the anticipation. Yes, Samsung has learned quite a lot from Apple about the art of hype.

I've been to several major gadget launches - the original iPhone, Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox Kinect - and last night's unveiling of the Galaxy S3 smartphone in London's Earl's Court may well have been the most over the top and extravagant yet. In the cavernous halls where everyone from Pink Floyd to Madonna has strutted their stuff, thousands gathered to see a rectangular slab of plastic and metal.

Why? Because only one smartphone has challenged - perhaps surpassed - the iPhone in terms of sales, technology and consumer appeal. And the latest version will undoubtedly set the standard for Apple and the rest of the industry to try to match.

For all the extravagant talk of a device which allows you to "live the life extraordinary", the latest Galaxy looks at first sight like any other modern touchscreen phone. It does have a bigger sharper screen than its predecessor, and some clever touches. There's a voice recognition function which seemed in the demo to do everything that Apple's Siri does and more, there's eye-tracking technology which means that the phone goes to sleep when you stop looking at it, and there's NFC (Near Field Communication) built in, allowing users to simply tap each other's phones to share content.

But at its heart is the latest Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Android operating system - and that's on plenty of other impressive phones from the likes of HTC, LG and Sony. Why the new Galaxy matters is that the previous models have established it in consumer minds as the number one Android phone - and in this business, it's increasingly apparent that the winner takes all.

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5FWD - Best 5 affordable smartphones!

The Nokia 500 is the latest in a long line of affordable smartphones, avoiding the huge screens and high prices of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S II or LG Optimus 3D. Buying a new handset is a bit of a minefield though, so we’ve been looking at the best affordable handsets currently on sale. Read on to see the cream of the crop.

Nokia 500The Nokia 500 is the latest addition to the entry-level smartphone market, bringing a fast 1GHz processor with it. One of the key benefits it offers over Android devices like the HTC Wildfire is an impressive battery life, although it’s Symbian Anna operating system isn’t quite so fluid or customisable.

HTC WildfireThe HTC Wildfire is one of the best affordable handsets on the market. It offers all the same functionality as high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy S II, thanks to it’s Android operating system, but it also comes in a smaller and more pocked-sized design.

Sony Ericsson Xperia MiniSony Ericsson has come a long way since it switched to Android as a smartphone operating system. The Xperia Mini is a great example of this, and is one of the smallest and neatest touchscreen handsets currently on sale. With a 2.55-inch touchscreen, it truly stands out from the crowd.

Samsung Galaxy GioAnother budget Android handset, the Samsung Gio features a compact 3.2-inch touchscreen display. With features including 3G/HSDPA, Wi-Fi and an 800MHz processor, you’ll be able to browse the web at speed, and it’s a great budget handset for mobile entertainment.

LG Optimus One P500A smartphone in the mould of the HTC Wildfire, the LG Optimus One P500 offers a compact and stylish entry to smartphone ownership. It runs Android 2.2, has a 600MHz processor, and other features include turn-by-turn navigation via Google Maps
Best 5 affordable smartphones!