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 to fix Galaxy S3 search function removal mistake

 

 

Samsung has admitted it made a mistake in releasing a software update that removed a search function from international versions of its flagship smartphone.

The "stability update" disabled the Galaxy S3's ability to search the web, contacts, apps and other on-device material through a single interface.

The move had been thought to be linked to Apple's claim that the innovation infringed one of its US patents.

Samsung said a fix was imminent.

"The most recent software upgrade for the Galaxy S3 in the UK included the inadvertent removal of the universal search function," it said in a statement.

"Samsung will provide the correct software upgrade within the next few days."

Patent dispute

Users who downloaded the update had not been warned that it would remove the advanced search function when the software was installed on GT-i9300 (S3) models available in the UK and other places outside the US.

It appears the firm meant only to prevent some US models from being able to use a Google-powered search tool to show information sourced from within the phone's memory in its results.

Apple has claimed the technology infringed its patent to a unified search interface which it uses in its Siri app to collate results from a range of sources.

The iPhone maker has launched a lawsuit over the matter in the US and had briefly secured a sales ban of another Samsung handset - the Galaxy Nexus - on the basis that the inclusion of the feature threatened "irreparable harm".

A Washington-based court will review the case on 20 August.

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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Gadget of the year 2011

 

Gadget of the year 2011

 

2011 has been a fantastic year when it comes to new gadgets, with some truly epic technology making an appearance for the first time. From the Samsung Galaxy S II, to the Apple iPhone 4S, we’ve been rounding up the very best toys for our Gadget of the Year 2011 poll. Read on to find out more.

We’ve seen thousands of great announcements in the past 11 months, and it’s now time to vote on the best. We’ve gathered ten of the greatest devices from the past year – check out all the videos below, and vote to have your say in the Gadget of the Year 2011.

Nintendo 3DS With 3D technology making a bigger splash than any other year, Nintendo chose 2011 to launch its new Nintendo 3DS games console. With the ability to play games in 3D, it’s a great bit of kit.

OnLive With OnLive, there’s no need to own a gaming console, no need to spend money on a gaming PC, and you’ll be able to play some fantastic new titles online, via your TV, at great prices.

Apple iPhone 4S The Apple iPhone 4S may be evolution rather than revolution, but it boasts some great new features. We’re particularly fond of Siri, and it really is the more comprehensive and easy to use voice recognition software yet.

Virgin Media TiVo Finally, a TV on demand service that can take on the might of Sky+. Sure, it doesn’t offer quite the same choice when it comes to live TV, but the electronic programming guide is more comprehensive, you can record an extra channel simultaneously, and it has a better choice of programmes to watch on demand.

Sony HDR-TD10E With 3D TVs now making a widespread appearance on the market, the Sony HDR-TD10E lets you take full advantage, with this tiny camera recording high-definition video in 3D.

Samsung Galaxy S II The Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the first smartphones to truly compete with the Apple iPhone 4, and in many ways it’s the better handset. Can it win your vote for Gadget of the Year 2011, however?

Apple iPad 2 Apple revolutionised the tablet market with the iPad, and the Apple iPad 2 has taken things a step further. Smaller, lighter, faster, it’s still the best all-round tablet on the market, although devices like the Asus EeePad Transformer come close.

Samsung 8000 Series 3D TV Samsung offers a fantastic range of high-definition TVs, and the Samsung 8000 series is no exception. This stylish choice offers both high-definition and 3D, so it will still be up to date for years to come.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin has become an iconic gadget over the past couple of years, with the latest version – the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air – offering an additional handy feature – the ability to stream music from your iPhone without needing to dock it.

Nike+ Sports Watch powered by TomTom Work off any Christmas excess with the Nike+ Sports Watch, which uses TomTom technology to work out exactly what you’re up to and how many calories you’re burning. Check out the video to find out more.

Gadget News & Features

 

Over ten million Samsung Galaxy S II smartphones sold!

 

It may have taken Android several years to catch and overtake iOS in terms of sales, but it looks like being a little while yet before a single handset can outsell the Apple iPhone. Samsung looks by far the most likely, however, and has just celebrated the sale of over ten million Galaxy S II smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is one of our favourite smartphones of the moment, boasting en…

5 best high-end smartphones! by The Gadget Show's The Gadget Show

The past year has seen some amazingly good smartphones go on sale, with faster components, better specs, more impressive build quality and bigger screens than ever before. Which one is better for you, however? Choosing the right one can be a bit of a minefield, which is why we’ve been looking at the very best smartphones currently on sale.

We’ve put together a list of five of the best handsets, and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree that all of the phones below are truly special. We’ve also tried to cover a broad range of operating systems – so if you don’t like one, simply move onto the next handset.

Samsung Galaxy S IIArguably the most capable smartphone on the planet, the Galaxy S II is an incredible piece of kit. The huge screen is pin sharp and offers great colours, and high-end features like dual-core processing make it easy to multi-task on the move.

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcThe Arc is similar to the Galaxy S II in many ways, including the huge screen, thin design and Android operating system. The Arc manages without a dual-core processor, but it’s still blisteringly fast in daily use, helped by Sony Ericsson keeping the Android OS refreshing free of resource-intensive skins. We also love the design of the arc, with a super thin bezel around the display making it one of the smallest 4-inch smartphones.

Apple iPhone 4Although it’s been on sale for longer than its rivals, the Apple iPhone 4 still has a lot to offer. The iPhone’s screen has a higher resolution than any of its rivals – although smartphones like the Galaxy S II and Arc are sharp enough that it doesn’t really matter – and it still comes out on top when it comes to quality.

Nokia N9The Nokia N9 will never be a commercial success – unlike its rivals – as Nokia has no official plans to sell it in this country or the US. You’ll still be able to get hold of one via resellers like Expansys, however, and it’s well worth a look. The cutting-edge operating system may be lacking in apps, but it’s wonderfully easy to use, and the N9 features arguably the best phone camera yet.

HTC SensationThe Sensation may lack the wow-factor of handsets like the Arc or iPhone 4, but it’s incredibly capable and is a joy to use. It features a dual-core processor – like the Galaxy S II – and it makes light work of the Android OS and HTC Sense user interface. Quality is also impressive, making this handset well worth the money.