The good news is, these newer TecTile tags are backward-compatible with older Samsung devices that are NFC-enabled, allowing you to use them with your new Galaxy S 4, as well as any other Samsung devices you have lying around, including the Galaxy S III. These tags will allow you to automate a variety of tasks for certain situations, like adjustments to settings and opening up an app with a wave of your phone.

If you’re not all that familiar with TecTiles, they are Samsung-specific NFC stickers that you can program to activate certain phone tasks when the tag and the phone are touched together. You can place these tags all around your house and in your car, which allow you automate tasks, like setting alarms, switching a phone to silent mode, starting up media players, etc.

The downside is that if you’ve invested in the original TecTiles and have upgraded to the Galaxy S 4, you’ll need to grab the newer TecTile 2 tags, which sell for $15 for a pack of five, and are available now online, with availability in stores coming next month.

Currently, the only device that comes with native support for TecTile 2 is the Galaxy S 4, but we’re guessing that future Samsung devices will be utilizing the updated technology as well. As for the advantages of TecTile 2, it seems it’s a bit faster than the previous-generation, with the possibility of extended NFC capabilities, but if you can’t rush out and get new tags now, it won’t hurt you to wait around in order to grab some.

The new phone would even beat out the Galaxy S III, which sold 10 million units in a matter of 54 days, so the Galaxy S 4 would reach that milestone roughly a few weeks ahead of the Galaxy S III. Shin says that the Galaxy S 4 is expected to hit the 10 million mark in less than a month, so be prepared for Samsung to pop open the Champagne bottles once again.

The Galaxy S 4 first became available on April 26, and has since spread like wildfire all over the world. The phone is so hot, in fact, that Google decided to partner up with Samsung on the Galaxy S 4 to release a “Google edition” of the new handset, allowing users to bypass the TouchWiz interface in favor of a stock Android Jelly Bean experience. It’s not a Nexus device, but it could very well be.

Of course, we knew this day would come eventually, so we shouldn’t be extremely surprised that the Galaxy S 4 is hitting 10 million in sales, but we are a little impressed to see it hit that number in such a short amount of time. As for an exact date on when the 10 million mark will hit, Samsung expects to make an announcement on May 24.

In slightly related news, Shin also talked about the upcoming Galaxy Note III, and while he didn’t give away a lot of details on the new device, he says that the phablet-style smartphone will sport a 5.9-inch display, which is right on track with several rumors that we’ve heard in the past that suggested somewhere in the 6-inch range. As for the type of display, it’s rumored that it will come with OLED technology.

VIA: Android Community

SOURCE: Korea Times

This device is, more or less, the equivalent of a hacked Samsung GALAXY S 4 for AT&T/T-Mobile. Inside you’ll find an unlocked system displaying Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean without any additions from any carrier or Samsung itself, coming only with the basics issued by Google.

In this device we’re seeing a unique new chapter in Google history. Where previous to this week, any release of a device with as stripped-down and pure as this one pushed by Google was labeled with a Nexus brand name. Here with the Samsung GALAXY S 4, the company has made clear their acceptance of the dominance of Samsung in the Android device-sphere, keeping the GALAXY branding (as they did with the Galaxy Nexus), this time kicking out the Nexus name altogether.

Barra had presented this device on-stage earlier in the day with the following words:

“We continue to be blown away by the hardware that’s coming out of our partners — the HTC One, and the Samsung Galaxy S4. Like this Galaxy S4. There’s something unique about this S4, that’s not available elsewhere. Take a look at my homescreen.

This version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available directly through Google Play, unlocked for both ATT and T-Mobile with LTE support, 16GB internal storage, bootloader unlocked, and it’ll receive prompt system updates with every new release.” – Hugo Barra

What we’ve seen up close is a pure Google experience that’s as swift or swifter than the original GALAXY S 4 with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. Barra’s device is likely an early build, but we’re expecting the final product to be essentially the same: home button, 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor and all.

And for those of you wondering: no, he doesn’t use any magical super-secret Google-only apps that only the bosses get. Unless, of course, he was using super-secret Android powers to hide them.

You never know!

The device will be available on June 26th for $649 USD without a contract, compatible with T-Mobile USA and AT&T micro SIM cards, 4G LTE and all. Sound like a value proposition to you? This is one of those situations where we’re guessing developers will find the build to be best – it’s going to be difficult for this device, no matter how neat – to compete with the Nexus 4 already up for $299, also without a contract. That’s hard to argue with.

If this turns out to be true, we wouldn’t be too surprised, as flexible displays certainly aren’t ready for the mass market quite yet, and we’re pretty sure that if Samsung wanted to give one of their devices an aluminum shell, it would’ve been the Galaxy S 4. Instead, the company is said to be sticking with its usual slimy-esque plastic.

In fact, the Galaxy Note III is said to have a very similar design to that of the Galaxy S 4, including the new silver band that wraps around the edge of the smartphone. As for other design changes to the new Galaxy Note, it’s said to sport a thinner bezel in order to pack in a larger screen size without making the device bigger, as it’s already quite gargantuan.

As for specs of the Galaxy Note III, we’re possibly looking at an ARM Cortex-A15 octa-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz, as well as version with a Cortex-A7 quad-core chip clocked at 1.9GHz, or an in-house Exynos chip. There’s also said to be a 13MP camera on the back (just like with the Galaxy S 4) with a 2MP front-facer. There’s also expected to be an enormous 6-inch display to make it even larger than the previous Galaxy Note, but we’ll see if that actually happens.

So, it looks like all you have to do to envision what the Galaxy Note III will look like, is to take a look a look at the Galaxy S 4 and imagine it with a screen size that’s roughly an inch larger. Of course, the Galaxy S 4 most likely will cater to most people, but for those that want a larger screen for better productivity, it seems the Galaxy Note III will be your best bet at this point. Check out our full review of the Galaxy S 4 to learn more.

VIA: Unwired View

SOURCE: SamMobile

As most buyers of software and other electronic devices know, just because the box says 16 GB of storage certainly doesn’t mean you actually have that much storage to use. On the 16 GB Galaxy S 4, Samsung installs so much software that roughly half of the storage space available is consumed when the device is turned on for the first time. Samsung maintains that all the software installed on the phone is required to provide the features users expect.

Samsung is reportedly having a change of heart when it comes to its stance on using up so much the storage space on a user’s new smartphone without their permission. Samsung has said in the wake of the BBC Watchdog investigation that it will try to compact the features it adds to the device into a smaller amount of storage space to get more storage for user data and applications.

Samsung also recently announced a version of the Galaxy S 4 during the Google I/O conference that will ship without the Samsung TouchWiz interface. That special Samsung user interface is one of the pieces of software that takes up memory on a new smartphone. One of the big reasons why Watchdog and some consumers are so irritated by Samsung filling up the internal storage with software is because storage space for apps is limited.

The S 4 does have a memory card slot, but users can’t install applications to that memory card. The only content that can be stored on the memory card inside the phone is data like photos and music. Anyone who likes high-end mobile games knows that some come in close to the 1 GB mark and with only 8 GB of storage space not taken up by Samsung software, you can only install a few of those high-end mobile games before you’re out of space for everything.

SOURCE: CNET

“HTC is not currently planning a ‘Nexus Edition’ of the HTC One,” Senior Global Online Communications Manager told us in a statement, when asked if the company had any intention of producing a pure-Android model. So far, the only such device in recent years – running Android but without HTC’s own Sense interface – has been the HTC First, though that is modified with Facebook’s alternative Home launcher.

Speculation about just what HTC might have in the pipeline was quickly stoked just after the Galaxy S 4 Nexus Edition announcement, when one of HTC’s own team seemingly hinted that a similar device might be considered. “So you can pay $649 for a piece of plastic running stock or… You can wait :)” ‘HTC Champion” Jet Leigh took to Twitter to tease.

However, it seems that really was just a tease. Calls for HTC to release its esteemed One hardware but without the Sense 5 it launched with – and with the promise of timely updates to the core, untampered-with Android OS – began as soon as the phone itself was announced.

Samsung’s phone for Google will have the same hardware as the mainstream Galaxy S 4, but will leave aside TouchWiz and the software customizations the South Korean company has developed. Instead, developers – the target market, and likely the only group who will legitimately consider the $649 sticker price – will get an unlocked 16GB phone that also comes with an unlocked bootloader, and one for which Google has committed to prompt Android OS updates.

Whether the appeal of Samsung’s hardware will be enough to distract developers from the considerably cheaper Nexus 4 remains to be seen. The LG-made smartphone has more humble specifications that the Galaxy S 4, but also comes in at around half the price.

This device will be sold straight through Google Play, this implying an unlocked bit of greatness – and indeed that is what it is. The Google Edition of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will cost users a cool $649 USD and will be coming up on the web starting on June 26th. It should be made clear that this device is not branded with the word Nexus, but is essentially that: unlocked, basic Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and updated by Google.

This device works with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor that the normal edition does, and it’ll be coming with essentially the same set of hardware from top to bottom that the normal edition has. This release marks the point at which Google begins selling 3rd-party hardware for Android on their website. Of course you’re able to purchase Chromebooks made by Samsung and Acer direct from Google Play, but this is the first Android to come without Nexus in its name.

Stay tuned as we see how well a relatively expensive device such as this does on the Google Play online store. While the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 7 – and the Nexus 10 to a lesser degree – have been successful in Google Play due to their relatively high value and low price, this GALAXY S 4 might see not quite so easy a time at a price that’s double the Nexus 4. We shall see!

In second place, trailing Samsung by a huge margin, was LG according to the research firm’s figures. LG took 2.5-percent of the overall Android smartphone profit, or $100m, according to the stats, while a similar amount was shared out between all other manufacturers of phones running the platform.

“An efficient supply chain, sleek products and crisp marketing have been among the main drivers of Samsung’s impressive profitability” Strategy Analytics suggests. As for LG, “it currently lacks the volume scale needed to match Samsung’s outsized profits.”

In fact, the analysis firm argues that Samsung probably makes more revenue and profit from Android than Google itself does, and warns that its dominance could pave the way for a skewing in power dynamics as time goes on. Samsung might “request first or exclusive updates” of the Android OS, it’s predicted, gaining a further advantage over its rivals.

Samsung’s smartphone sales this current quarter could well be even more impressive than Q1 2013, since that period did not include the new Galaxy S 4. That only began shipping at the tail-end of April, with Samsung supposedly shipping 4m units before the month was through. Internal predictions are of blasting through the 10m mark by the end of May.

It’s not only smartphones – the only metric these particular figures looked at – that Samsung did well in last quarter. The company’s profits overall climbed 42-percent quarter-on-quarter, with mobile sales in particular driving performance.

That’s not to say the Galaxy S III had been a slow seller. It too had broken new records for Samsung, besting the Galaxy S II’s 55-days-to-3m achievement, itself setting a new milestone over the original Galaxy S. That first handset, back in the days when Samsung was first becoming properly competitive with Apple’s iPhone, took 85 days to ship 3m units.

According to the Samsung executive, the appeal of the Galaxy S 4 isn’t slowing, either. “As of Friday, we have sold more than 6 million units,” they continued, “and we predict that we could break the 10-million mark by as early as the end of this month.”

It’s worth noting that Samsung’s count is not of sales to end-users – those going into their local carrier store and signing a new agreement for the Galaxy S 4 – but of sales to retailers and operators.

That approach to counting has seen the company come in for criticism in the past, with market analysts arguing that Samsung’s figures aren’t directly comparable to, say, Apple’s sales numbers. In contrast, Apple sold 5m iPhone 5 handsets in its opening weekend, keeping its pole position for initial demand ahead of Samsung, at least for the moment.

Nonetheless, it’s a sign that Samsung is undoubtedly the force to be reckoned with in Android. There’s more on the Galaxy S 4 in our full review.

VIA: Unwired View

Nokia is no stranger to the tablet question: even back in April 2011, CEO Stephen Elop was telling slate-hungry press that the company would only wade into the segment when it could bring something “uniquely Nokia” to the form-factor. However, while all has been quiet on that front in the intervening period – not to mention Nokia’s phones topping out at 4.5-inches at most, rather than following the 5+ phablet trend – Weber argues that it doesn’t necessarily mean Nokia hasn’t had a foot in that ecosystem.

“What we said, on the tablet side, is it’s a space we’re eyeing” he explained to us. “I think the reason we bet on Microsoft and Windows is becuase they have a broad ecosystem, across phones, tablets, PCs, even TV, with the same look and feel, same infrastructure, and we believe we can play in that. Whether we have a tablet or not, we can still play in that ecosystem because Windows is the unifying piece of that. So, we’re really excited about what they’re doing on Windows 8, there are some fantastic touch devices coming out … so the ecosystem that Microsoft has allows us to participate, whether we have a tablet or not.”

Still, it looks more than likely that a tablet will be in Nokia’s near future, no matter how coy the company is on admitting that. If the first step to reinvention has been developing a complete, core smartphone range, then fleshing it out with other form-factors and accessories – such as the bluntly-teased ambitions in wearables Harlow and others hinted at back at Mobile World Congress – is the inevitable next step. The important factor, Harlow says, is how usability as it is on Lumia devices today extends to a broader line-up.

“I think the word is experiences. Because as we are investing in experiences in our smartphone range, it’s logical to think that those experiences we would look to take into other types of form-factors, and make them compatible with each other” the smart devices head says. “Obviously what we would want in any portfolio is that there would be some consistency in the experience that consumers have with a Nokia product.”

An outsider might contend that Nokia now has a broad range of phones, a solid portfolio of apps and services, and differentiating hardware features like PureView, and question why scenes like those at the recent Annual General Meeting – at which Elop was harangued for refusing to consider ditching Windows Phone in favor of Android – continue to take place. According to Harlow, that reluctance for people to accept that the Windows Phone strategy was – and is – the best one for Nokia comes down to a broad-strokes misunderstanding about exactly how “open” Android really is.

“[Android] is led by Samsung, and I think you can see the difficulty that others have in standing out from Samsung, even when they have really good devices,” Harlow suggests. “I think first of all it comes down to partnership, and the partnership that we’ve had with Microsoft in terms of bringing new experiences to the platform as well as differentiating experiences, we did not believe we could have that level of partnership with Android. And that’s the key difference.”

As the smart devices chief sees it, Android’s openness is only really beneficial if you’re one company: Samsung. “To a certain degree [Android is open]” she told us. “I think I would characterize the competition in Android as more of a spec race than anything else. And so, there is one partner who is the development partner for any new release of Android, and everyone else comes sometime later. So, it’s open, but that doesn’t make you first, and that doesn’t make you necessarily the most competitive.”

It’s that more granular attitude toward OS – not just the nature of the platform, but how individual roles and relationships within the ecosystem as a whole affect what benefits the platform offers – which Harlow says makes the Microsoft-Nokia deal the best fit. “Partnership and collaboration requires two partners who are motivated to make the partnership work” she concluded. “And that is what we have with Microsoft.”

If there’s a gap remaining, it’s in how Nokia (and its partner) explains those advantages in collaboration, not to mention the fruits for users they engender, against the onslaught of iPhone and Samsung marketing. Both execs acknowledged that Nokia needs to do better at demonstrating its achievements or, as Weber puts it, getting the message right. “We believe in our investment choice on Microsoft,” he points out, “for the simple reason is that they give us the chance to differentiate, to really be able to differentiate.”

Where Apple has elevated the marketing of its iTunes/App Store ecosystem to a fine art, and Google has strength of numbers across flourishing Android installations, Nokia hasn’t quite got the tone right yet. “A lot of these imaging things takes deep partnership with Microsoft,” Weber says. “The second thing is this broad ecosystem: there’s no-one who covers the phone, the tablet, the PC, Xbox, and then what I call these “digital lifestyle services” – search, gaming, mapping, that we bring, all the cloud services – they have the most assets to pull together.”

“So then we say, how do we do that? We have to, one, have a broad portfolo, so this is the first time we’ve really had a portfolio from the low end, to the high end, and everything in between,” Weber listed off. “And then we have to do a great job executing: that’s, how do we work with Microsoft to tell that marketing message above the line; how do we execute at retail, so people see, and touch, and feel the differences between devices?”

That execution will include things like the Nokia low-light boxes, which allow direct comparisons between phone cameras in settings such as retail stores. The pyramidal boxes can adjust the amount of light inside, with a peep hole for your smartphone to snap an image, and be compared to the performance of the PureView alternative, without demanding that retailers physically dim the lights in-store. Nokia is also working on smaller versions, complete with carrier branding, Weber revealed, and says that early indications are that point-of-sale staff are far more likely to recommend Lumia handsets after a small amount of familiarization with the platform and the value-add.

“And so I feel wonderful on the portfolio, I feel really good about our partnerships with operators and customers” he summarized. “Now, it’s how do we go tell that story – how we evangelize the message; how we get people to see, touch, feel the device, the difference – and it’s all the nitty-gritty details. It’s called execution. And it’s really easy to say, and it’s hard to do, but those are the things that are going to matter.”

As a part of Apple’s statement recently filed with the US District Court in California, the company said that the Galaxy S 4 “is an infringing device and accordingly intends to move for leave to add the Galaxy S4 as an infringing product.” The Galaxy S 4 now joins a list of 22 Samsung products that Apple believes are infringing on their patents.

Both sides have over 20 products from each company that they claim infringe on each other’s patents. Samsung has included almost all of Apple’s iOS devices, while Apple has focused on Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup, as well as the Note series of phablet-style smartphones.

Judge Lucy Koh will oversee the upcoming patent trial, as she was the judge during the first patent trial that saw Apple win with a whopping $1.05 billion award. However, that was since cut down by $450 million. However, while it seemed Apple was fine with that for the most part, the company claimed the re-calculation is off by $85 million, and thus, another court case will begin in November to re-calculate the damages.

If you’re slightly confused by all that’s going on between the two companies, you’re most likely not alone. Apple and Samsung have been going at it for a couple years now, and both companies are starting to slowly end their partnerships in the industry. For instance, it’s been rumored for quite some time that Apple is completely dropping Samsung from its manufacturing partners, which would cut ties between the two companies. Of course, Apple wants to develop their own chips anyway, but the separation is probably for the best at this point.

VIA: Phone Arena

SOURCE: US District Court Filing

In the letter, Schneiderman criticized the companies for not doing their part in curbing mobile device theft. He wrote that the companies were too involved with the bottom line to take a step back and “create technology to render stolen devices inoperable and thereby eliminate the expanding black market on which they are sold.”

Schneiderman also brought up a huge accusation in the open letters, questioning whether or not mobile phone companies weren’t helping out with thefts since they benefit from selling replacement devices to users who had their initial device stolen.

Schneiderman is urging all four companies to talk to his office and brief him on their anti-theft efforts, if any. He also wants these companies to help New York and the rest of the country to figure out ways to cut down on device thefts — methods that police officers don’t have control over, such as implementing technology that shuts down a device when it’s detected as stolen and can locate the suspect.

Of course, Apple has a feature called Find My iPhone that allows users to do a number of things when their device gets stolen, and they even use the GPS to track the location of the stolen phone, as well as the suspect who stole it. Of course, it isn’t foolproof, and you can easily wipe the device clean to prevent it being tracked. It’s also a feature that isn’t on by default, which could be a reason that a lot of users don’t have the feature enabled.

In any case, we’re interested to see what Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung have to say in response to Schneiderman’s open letter. As to whether these companies will jump in and do their part to prevent device theft is yet to be seen, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they nonchalantly said, “no thanks.”

VIA: Cult of Mac

SOURCE: New York Attorney General

The big benefit is that it will be significantly faster. That will mean less buffering time for streaming media such as movies and video. It will also mean faster networking for multiple player games and faster downloads for new games and other large files. Samsung says that it expects the maximum transmission speed for 5G mobile networks to reach the “tens of Gbps.”

Samsung says that the speed will be high enough that users will be able to download an ultra high definition movie file “within seconds.” During testing Samsung has been able to demonstrate the ability to achieve transfer speeds of up to 1Gbps over distances of up to 2 km. The technology is currently relying on 28 GHz ultrahigh frequency bandwidths.

Samsung also notes that other companies and institutions around the world have been developing technology that would take advantage of 6 GHz bandwidths. The problem with using those ultra-high-frequency bandwidths, such as a 6 GHz range, according to Samsung is that the transmission range is decreased.

Samsung is currently looking to commercialize be 5G technology is developing by 2020. Samsung isn’t alone in trying to roll out 5G mobile communications technology by 2020. Several international standards unions are working on 5G technology and overall standards to govern the rollout of these networks and the development of technology.

SOURCE: Samsung

While in the past working with screen protectors that are anything thicker than a simple super-thin layer of plastic, it’s been a toss-up whether or not they’d do what they said they would, here Tech21 appears to come through. The final product does appear disperse impact and protect the screen while touch sensitivity remains.

NOTE: As a special experiment / treat, we’re recorded the hands-on of this product’s application process with Google Glass. The photo at the head of this article also comes straight #throughglass, is it were. Take heed – this video also appears in an expanded Google Glass in action review of the wearable technology’s abilities, specifically its camera.

The technology inside this screen protector is what Tech21 describes as their most advanced implementation of display shielding yet. The first layer works to spread the impact force of whatever’s aimed at your device’s screen. The third (closest to the screen) layer is a soft base, further absorbing the impact force of a blow.

The middle layer is the most interesting – or at least the most interestingly titled. Here we’ve got the BulletShield impact protection layer using BASF absorption polymer technology. BASF is also known as “The Chemical Company” and is, not coincidentally, the largest chemical company in the world. This layer provides non-yellowing UV protection with absorption polymer also used in bulletproof glazing.

Thus far this shielding has held up every bit as well as the other Tech21 products we’ve tested, including the orange goo you’ll remember from some months ago. Have a peek at a demo we received at the hands of Tech21′s CEO with a hammer, Tech21 Impactology excellence, and a human hand. You’ll certainly not regret having done so.

Also note that this multi-layer screen protector system is out there in the wild for your pocket in several iterations right this minute. For $29.99 MSRP you’ll find the Tech21 Impact Shield for the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung GALAXY S 4, Apple iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy Note II as well. We’ll keep you updated on the spread of this shield to other devices soon as well – stay tuned!

“Samsung: it claims that its brand new Galaxy phone has an extra-large memory, but what did it forget to mention?” notoriously outspoken Watchdog host Anne Robinson teased at the end of the program on Wednesday this week, while graphics of the Samsung product page highlighting the storage variants were flashed on-screen. Watchdog, which hit UK television in 1980, has a track-record of investigative journalism, which has seen consumer rights complaints taken up and even laws enacted or modified as a result. As UK Mobile Review points out, the show also waded into the iPhone 4 “antennagate” saga back in 2010.

In the case of the Galaxy S 4, Samsung’s problem will likely center on how much available space a new owner has the right to reasonably expect, given the amount of memory listed on the box. All smartphones generally monopolize some of the internal capacity to add in preloaded apps and features, but the extent of the customizations and tweaks Samsung has made to the Galaxy S 4 has seemingly overstepped even those expectations.

Samsung’s argument is that users can opt to expand with a microSD card if they want more capacity, since unlike many other recent flagship devices there’s a memory card slot lurking under the Galaxy S 4′s removable back cover. Up to 64GB cards are supported at present.

Nonetheless, that does have limits of its own: apps can only be installed to the internal storage, not to a microSD card, for instance, which means that the latest generation of big game downloads could find themselves out of room. Samsung also offers 32GB and 64GB versions of the Galaxy S 4, though availability of those models has struggled, versus the more affordable 16GB entry-level handset.

The likely outcome of any investigation is better labeling, with clearer indications of exactly how much space is on offer printed on the box, rather than left as an unpleasant surprise once you turn the phone on and check the settings page. That’s not an issue that will solely affect Samsung, however, and the Galaxy S 4 may simply be the device that broke the camel’s back.

[via Clove]

The handset is a small device with an equally-small 3-inch display with a resolution of 320 x 480. In case that doesn’t tip you off, the rest of the specs are likewise nothing that will jump out at you, including its 800MHz MSM7625A Qualcomm processor and 512MB of RAM. There’s 4GB of internal storage space, as well as a microSD card expansion slot with support for up to 32GB.

One of the specs’ upsides is the addition of Bluetooth, which means users will be able to use wireless headsets when driving or in situations that demand it. The battery is also a decent 1,500mAh, which given the lower-end processor and small screen results in an appreciable standby charge time of 10 days and talk time of 7 hours – assuming the user doesn’t run Bluetooth constantly, which will reduce those numbers.

There’s a single camera around back with a 3-megapixel resolution and 3x digital zoom, as well as a few different image modes and the ability to record video. There’s also GPS. The handset runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and has the cell phone standards of speakerphone, voicemail, and such. There’s no word on when it’ll be available, but we’ll update you when we know more.

[via Phonescoop]

Of course RokForm accessories aren’t made for washing dishes, they’re made for holding and protecting your smartphone. But what we’ve got here in a combination of elements is a way to hold, in this case, a Samsung Galaxy S III aloft above a sink full of dirty dishes playing Netflix while we go about our business. So we’ve got Beavis and Butthead playing on loop while the cups and pans are run through the hands-on action.

With the RokForm v3 Suction Mount we’ve got one piece of the puzzle, and with the Rokbed v3 S3 Case we’ve got the other. RokForm is expanding their line of compatible components with this v3 set, working with devices like the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S right this minute with plans for devices like the GALAXY S 4 on the list. In addition to the Suction Mount, there’s also a friendly list of components that attach with the same multi-clip attachment point you see here.

You’ll be able to attach with a Bike Mount, an Extended Tripod Adapter, Sport Clip, and magnets – amongst others coming up, too. With the Rokbed v3 S3 Case on its own, you’ve got an injection molded polycarbonate frame, “thermoplastic elastomer non-slip grip insert”, a magnet kit, a Rokguard screen protector, and a Remote Mounting System for moist mount – these are basically heavy-duty sticker-backed units that lock in to the back of the case like the Suction Mount does.

So you’ve got the case – you’ll buy that for right around $40 or $45 USD depending on the device you’re working with. Then you’ll want the Suction Mount which will run you another $49 USD. This mount, like the case, is heavy duty. Made with polycarbonate and die cast zinc construction with two angles for movement – 360 degrees of rotation as well as a 210 degree tilt. All we need is one, the one which allows the phone to sit horizontal for superior television show viewing.

This mount has sat attached to a tile above the sink for over a week straight with no end in sight. Of course that’ll happen when you’ve got a 3.4-inch suction cup holding up a device that’s much, much lighter than its full weight capacity. Sound like a winning combination to you? Let us know!

The report comes from Bloomberg, which notes that Apple attorney Mark Lyons says that all of this basically deals with “transparency,” and he argues that Google is beating around the bush with delivering evidence that is requested by either Apple or the court. However, Google lawyers argue that the company was to be kept off of the case in the initial court filing, so they don’t have the same legal rights as Apple or Samsung in this case.

Google is concerned that if they eventually do hand over the source code documents, Apple may discover other information that Google believes Apple isn’t entitled to, which could give the Cupertino-based company further “ideas about how to proceed that they wouldn’t have had” in the first place.

This second patent lawsuit comes after Apple was awarded $1.05 billion payable by Samsung after the court ruled that the Korean company infringed on Apple’s patents. However, that award has since been lowered to $639.4 million, and a new trial is set for November to re-evaluate some of the products involved in the downgraded award.

[via Android Community]

Pre-orders of the AT&T Galaxy S 4 began back in mid-April, with the smartphone shipping from the end of the month. However, at that point only the 16GB version – priced at $199.99, again with a two-year agreement – was on offer.

Although the Galaxy S 4 has a microSD card slot to add to that, some early-adopters have been frustrated to discover quite how much room Samsung’s added-extras take up on the phone. In fact, roughly half of the 16GB phone’s storage is occupied, something the company argues is the price owners pay for things like native TV remote control and other tweaks to Android.

While a microSD card can be used to boost storage for media purposes, apps can’t be installed to it, and so for those wanting to take advantage of the Galaxy S 4′s expansive display for gaming, the 32GB version might be a more sensible buy. There’s more on the new Samsung in our full review.

[via Android Community]

While working with an extended internet connection from your Samsung GALAXY S 4 may not be working straight from your normal menu right this minute, you do have options outside the regular fold. The widget set Extended Controls is one which allows quick-access to your mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, music, and a few other bits and pieces. There’s also the Koush-made USB tether app which makes tethering undetectable by your carrier of choice.

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 has appeared earlier today in the newest CyanogenMod 10.1 release for T-Mobile and has appeared earlier this month for AT&T. This setup allows you internet tethering and mobile hotspot abilities that we’ve not yet gotten the chance to test with this particular bug – but chances are there are good things to be said about the build. If you’re using the AT&T version of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and CyanogenMod 10.1, be sure to let us know if you’re up and running!

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is headed out to – or is already on – each of the major mobile device carriers in the United States right now and is spreading abroad as we speak. Have a peek at our full review of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and let us know if you’re planning on checking one out in the near future!

CyanogenMod 10.1 is the version being pushed to the newest Android devices on the block, this bringing a variant of Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean along with its software features such as Google Now. The CyanogenMod team of developers works to bring a customized system to devices that are rooted, this meaning they’re hacked and able to be modified by 3rd party systems. Android has been notoriously “hackable” since inception, this part of Google’s open source intentions with the mobile software.

The software included in the CyanogenMod build has been influential to many software builds since it first arrived on the scene several years ago, including Google’s own source build. CyanogenMod developers have also been incepted into hardware and software companies across the board in the past several years, their influence seen on devices of all types. Head CyanogenMod man Steve Kondik recently left a job at Samsung, continuing to pursue 3rd party work and the development of the ROM.

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is either available at or is headed to each of the major mobile retailers in the United States and is making its spread abroad here in the Spring of 2013. This device joins the Samsung Galaxy Note II and the rest of the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets family as the brand continues to strengthen with a common “nature” theme in both hardware and software – curved edges have served Samsung well enough that the wave will move forward through the year to the next release as well, without a doubt. Expect the Samsung Galaxy Note III sooner than later!

Not all markets will get the dual-SIM version, however, with a single-SIM model also set to go on sale. Both run Android 4.1 with Samsung’s TouchWiz tweaks, and have a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front.

No LTE, with the Galaxy Core instead making do with up to 5.76Mbps HSPA (900/2100) and quadband GSM/EDGE. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, along with A-GPS and 8GB of internal storage. The dualcore CPU is paired with 1GB of RAM, and there’s a microSD card slot for adding up to 64GB of storage.

Otherwise, it’s the usual Samsung experience, with a removable 1,800 mAh battery in a 129.3 x 67.6 x 8.95 mm, 124g frame. S Voice, Samsung’s Siri-like voice command system, is loaded, and there’s Motion UI and Smart Stay pulled from the more expensive Galaxy S-series devices.

Samsung isn’t saying how much the Galaxy Core will cost, nor where it will go on sale first. The dual-SIM version will drop initially, later this month, and then be followed by the single-SIM in July.

Samsung gave a statement to CNET detailing why their Samsung GALAXY S 4 has such limited storage. It said that around 6.85GB is used up to allow the S 4 to provide a higher resolution display compared to the Samsung Galaxy SIII. The other used data provides the S 4 with its new Smart features, such as smart scroll or smart pause, although some would just call it bloatware.

However, unlike devices like the LG Nexus 4 or the HTC One, the Samsung GALAXY S 4 has a microSD card slot that allows consumers to expand their storage by up to an extra 64GB. This will allow you to store much more music, videos, and photos onto your device. However, one caveat is that you won’t be able to install Android apps onto your microSD card, which can be a bummer considering how some apps take up copious amounts of storage.

While it’s normal for smartphones to have a little less space available than advertised, having only half of the advertised space is outrageous. This lead many consumers to state that Samsung is falsely advertising its flagship smartphone, and that it should have listed the 16GB version as an 8GB version instead. Other consumers aren’t too upset with the limited internal storage because they have the option to expand their storage via microSD card. What are your thoughts on this move? Also, be sure to check out our review of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 to see if it really is the “next big thing.”

[via CNET]

The update should be available now, although AT&T didn’t mention how fast the roll out would be happening. Although, all users can download the update on their PC and install on their Galaxy Note device through Samsung Kies. AT&T didn’t mention anything about being able to receive the update over-the-air, so you’re best bet seems to be to go the manual route.

On a different but still slightly-related note, the Verizon Galaxy Note II also received an update today, receiving a bump up to Android 4.1.2, as well as a handful of updates to apps that now support Samsung’s Multi Window mode, which allows you to split-screen certain apps. The update also includes support for Isis Mobile Wallet, as well as fixes alarm clock issues.

The AT&T Galaxy Note sports a 5.3-inch with a 1280 x 800 resolution, while its successor rocks a larger 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution display. The Galaxy Note rocks a dual-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, while the Galaxy Note II packs in a faster quad-core chip clocked at a quick 1.6GHz.

The approval came sooner than predicted, however, and hot on the heels of BlackBerry 10 being given the green light for DoD usage. Samsung’s win is the first time an Android phone has been approved for this type of high-security functionality, and the South Korean firm says it will continue to hunt government and large enterprise clients in future.

Knox was revealed back at Mobile World Congress, Samsung’s take on the growing issue of smartphone users wanting to take advantage of their handset’s features for both work and personal purposes. Built on top of NSA-developed security features, Knox can encrypt certain portions of data – such as work email and documents – with support for remote management, while leaving personal files like photos and music separate from administrator control.

The promise is that the work side of a mobile user’s life is protected from malware and the like, while the user is free to do what they want with the rest of the phone without it being inspected by their employer or, indeed, the employer being considered liable for whatever sites the employee visits or non-work messages they send. It’s a similar strategy that BlackBerry took with BlackBerry 10, in effect having two distinct environments on the same device, that are pretty much seamless to the end-user.

Initially only the Galaxy S 4 supports Knox, but that will change as Samsung continues to build out the range. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone is also believed to be undergoing DoD security testing, with an answer on governmental use expected in the coming weeks.

“For the Galaxy S 4 16GB model, approximately 6.85GB occupies [the] system part of internal memory, which is 1GB bigger than that of the Galaxy S3, in order to provide high resolution display and more powerful features to our consumers” the company told CNET. “To offer the ultimate mobile experience to our users, Samsung provides [a] microSD slot on Galaxy S 4 for extension of memory.”

Unlike with other high-profile devices, such as Apple’s iPhone 5 and the more recent HTC One, owners of the Galaxy S 4 can choose to buy a cheaper, low-capacity version of the handset upfront and then add on storage at a later point. That’s often a cheaper route than going for a higher-capacity model; a $100 difference between 16GB and 32GB tiers is commonplace.

However, while 64GB microSD cards are broadly available now – with a street price of around $54 – they don’t offer quite the same flexibility as onboard storage. The Galaxy S 4 will use memory cards for keeping multimedia, such as purchased music or photos and videos taken with the smartphone’s camera, but it will not allow applications to be installed to them.

Instead, if you want to install an app, that will have to be to the internal storage, which may prove limiting if you’re a fan of the latest games with high-res graphics to make the most of the Galaxy S 4′s Full HD display. There’s more details in our full Galaxy S 4 review.

Only three months have passed since the last time a similar accident occurred at the plant, which merely got Samsung a slap on the wrist and a measly $1,000 fine. However, that didn’t lead to any major safety improvements in the plant, causing such a leak to strike again, injuring three more workers.

It’s not said how much gas leaked from the pipes, but January’s leak was said to have unleashed up to 10 liters of diluted hydrofluoric acid, which is a colorless poisonous gas that can damage the lungs and bones, as well as affect the nervous system if inhaled — pretty bad stuff that you definitely want to be careful around.

The leak is currently undergoing investigation, so it’s not yet known what Samsung’s punishment will be this time around, but we’re guessing it’ll be a bit more strict than just a $1,000 fine and a slap on the wrist. Officials could fine Samsung big time, knowing that this is the second leak in just three months.

[via Yonhap News]

According to the folks over at The Digital Reader, Samsung’s patent application, which is filed under number 20130104017 in case you want to check it out for yourself, is serious about its page-turning effect, delving into the physics of such a phenomenon for real-world effects in a digital-world medium. In essence, Samsung is going for realism.

Not only that, but the patent also details in both words and images the different effects that would result from the various possible ways one might flip a page, such as from the middle of the outer edge, the bottom corner, the top corner, etc. Each turn will have its own effect, which is again based on the physics of a real-paper page turn and aims to be realistic.

Of course, one can’t help but notice that such a filing follows a similar one from Apple, which now holds a patent on the page turning effect iOS users can see in iBooks. Only time will tell if Samsung is granted its patent, but somewhere in the midst of this one can’t help but be tempted to make a tongue-in-cheek remark on the possible future of page-turning patent wars.

[via The Digital Reader]

But what most people can agree on is that Apple truly understands hardware. For years now, the company has been delivering the most innovative hardware designs in the industry. And its success in the marketplace has largely been a result of that.

Still, I’m suspect of claims that Apple still holds the crown as the world’s best hardware designer. Yes, the company’s products are nice-looking and I’ll freely admit that the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro with Retina Display have rightfully earned Jonathan Ive his place in the spotlight. But when we take the entire industry as a whole, is it not possible for us to accept the idea that maybe – just maybe – Apple’s design cred has been hurt a bit?

Looking at Apple’s products, I’m not all that impressed any more. Although the iPhone 5 came with some design improvements, it’s basically the same device we’ve been seeing for years with a few changes here and there. And since so-called “major” updates only come out every other year, I sit and see nothing that’s so revolutionary that I’d commend the company on design.

Moving to the iPad, I think we can say the same thing. The iPad is certainly nice-looking, but is it really so much better looking than any other device on the market right now? Samsung, Google, and Amazon are all offering tablets that have similar designs, and they’re no less appealing.

But it’s in the notebook space that I think we need to seriously reconsider the idea that Apple is the world’s best hardware designer. Sure, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is nice-looking, but is it really any better than any Ultrabook on the market right now? And when it comes to innovation, who can really take issue with what Lenovo is doing with half-tablet, half-notebook IdeaPad Yoga? It appears that Apple is the company that now likes to stay the course, and it’s allowing other companies to deliver the truly interesting products.

So, I pose this question: has Apple officially lost its credibility as the technology industry’s leading hardware designer? Apple fans will instinctively say that it hasn’t. But perhaps it’s best if we take a step back and evaluate what’s really going on in the marketplace. Apple is by no means a design slouch and its products are good-looking. But can we stop pretending like it’s the only company that truly understands what design is all about?

It might have taken competitors longer to catch up to Apple on design, but catch up they have. And it’s high time we accept that and give credit where it’s due.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon will approve Samsung and Apple devices separately, as it’s said that Samsung devices will be approved for internal email use, while iOS devices will be approved for other “nonclassified communication” methods. This seems that the Pentagon is dealing the approval with slight caution, which is unsurprising since they’ve relied on BlackBerry for so many years.

The Pentagon isn’t a huge market for Apple or Samsung, but the approval could give both Apple and Samsung permission to boast about the security of their two platforms, which in turn could result in more sales for the two companies. And while the Pentagon isn’t pushing out BlackBerry, we could see a drop in BlackBerry devices being used in the Pentagon.

When Samsung announced its GALAXY S 4 smartphone, it also announced a new security platform called Knox, which is made to secure your sensitive work information, but while also keeping your personal life separate and readily available. The Pentagon could be looking at this as a crucial feature in their approval process.

[via Wall Street Journal]

The version of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 you’re seeing here hacked and modded with CyanogenMod is from T-Mobile. The AT&T iteration of the phone was the one seen with an unlocked bootloader earlier today. While one modification is certainly done at a different difficulty level than the other, users can assume that one will be compatible with the other relatively soon.

The original note on the subject of CyanogenMod not working with the GALAXY S 4 seems to have come from a developer who was ill-informed. As it stands, the CyanogenMod team will be bringing the most popular ROM in the world to smartphones using Samsung’s Exynos processor for some time to come, the same being true of those working with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors as well.

The CyanogenMod rom continues to grow in popularity here through 2013 as it reaches version 10.1, this including Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and additional modifications unavailable to the basic build of Google’s mobile operating system. This modification is available to any Android owner whose device is supported and whose willing to unlock their device without fear of being kicked from customer support at their local carrier. Know what you’re getting into before you move forth!

[via Android Community]

Alongside those rumors, SamMobile’s source also says that the Samsung Galaxy Note III will have a 5.99-inch FULL HD Super AMOLED display, not a 6.3-inch display, and the display will feature Samsung’s new diamond pixel structure. The phablet is also rumored to have a 13MP rear-facing camera, have 3GB of RAM, and will run on the “latest version of Android”, which may be Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

The Note III will have Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it will apparently have more “smart” features, more so than whats available for the Samsung GALAXY S 4. It will feature a smaller bezel as well. There is a good chance that the Note III won’t have a flexible display as Samsung doesn’t believe it will have the new technology in time to implement it into the device. It’s also speculated that the Samsung Galaxy Note III will have a very similar design to the S 4.

Nonetheless, we have to take this information with a grain of salt. But if it turns out to be true, we can expect the Note III to be an instant success. Hopefully Samsung launches the Note III in the United States with the Exynos 5 Octa instead of just a Snapdragon 600 or 800 processor. We can most likely expect this device to be announced sometime in August, or in September. Until then, take a peek at our timeline to see some more speculations regarding the device. If you’re interested in Samsung’s other flagship device, the Samsung GALAXY S 4, be sure to check out our review for it here.

[via SamMobile]

On the camera side of things, there’s Samsung’s DRIMe IV engine for processing noise reduction and colors, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second and ISO 100-25600. There’s also a smart mode, for macro and panoramic shots, as well as more gimmicky photography like “best face” and “beauty face” which automatically processes those in-frame to smooth out skin and remove blemishes.

For video, there’s 2D capture in 30fps or 24fps and 3D capture – with the right lens – at 30fps. The NX2000 outputs in MPEG4 AVC/H.264 format with AAC audio, saving to microSDXC card.

On the “smart” side, meanwhile, there’s a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen to control the camera, and integration with social networks for directly squirting off your images over a WiFi connection. WiFi Direct is supported, over WiFi b/g/n, and an onboard email client can be used for more old-fashioned sending of shots. Pair the NX2000 with Samsung’s SMART CAMERA App – a simple matter of tapping it with an NFC-enabled phone – and you can use the software as a remote viewfinder, as well as take advantage of its data connection.

Samsung will offer the NX2000 in three color variants – white, black, and pink – priced at $649.99.

Of the three alleged prototypes, the source says there is one with a design inspired by the GALAXY S 4 flagship handset, another with a completely new design (breath of fresh air and all that), and a third that features a flexible display, which is the one that sounds most intriguing. The prototype that draws its design from the S 4 is featured in the concept above.

Different rumors have been popping up lately regarding the Galaxy Note 3, such as one that hit the Web a few weeks ago claiming the device will sport a new design, which is what one of the three prototypes at Samsung are rumored to have. Specifically, word has it the design will utilize metal in the place of plastic. Such a claim automatically brings one around to thoughts of the HTC One.

The rumored new design and GALAXY S 4-inspired design aside, the third concerning a flexible display design is the most interesting of the three. This seems to match up with a rumor we heard earlier this month that the Note 3 will feature a super-durable plastic display that is harder to crack than current offerings. For now, all remain the stuff of rumors, but if one of them proves to be true, we’ll know in September when it is believed Samsung will launch the device.

[via Gotta Be Mobile]

You’ve probably never heard of Expect Labs, but it’s a company that you should definitely keep your eye on. Intel, Samsung, and Telefonica all have invested in the small startup, and they join the likes of Google who have invested in the company in the past. Specific dollar amounts have not been disclosed as of right now.

The marvel behind Expect Labs’ Siri alternative is that the software constantly listens to and analyzes your conversations as they happen, and if it notices that you’re asking a factual question to a friend (like, “what time does the White Sox game start?”), it’ll pull up relevant information right at that moment without having to search for it.

Of course, it’s surprising why big companies are eyeing this kind of technology. More and more companies are getting into voice control software, and if it could offer something as revolutionary as what Expect Labs is cooking up, it could change the way voice control works. Of course, privacy is a big concern here, especially when the software listens in to your conversations at all times. Nonetheless, Expect Labs is looking to expand its team, and they didn’t go into detail as far as the future of the company, but it seems they have some big plans coming up.

[via TechCrunch]

There, Koh will preside over questions around the damages adjustments on those fourteen products, which she initially cut $450.5m from back in March, The Recorder reports. The hearing will, if Koh has her way, be the final step before Samsung can appeal the decision fully. “Once this is resolved,” she told the firms, “you can take all of it up to the Federal Circuit.”

In the period before then, Apple will have to submit a new expert report on damages – after having found a new damages expert – following which Samsung will have the opportunity to file a rebuttal expert report of its own. Expert discovery is expected to be completed by August 23, with a hearing and a pretrial conference scheduled for October.

“This is going to be Groundhog’s Day,” Judge Koh warned Apple and Samsung, suggesting that “you’re going to be reliving July of 2012.” The judge also refused to accept calls for a full retrial, insisting that the November case would be targeted specifically at damages based on the old information.

Although Samsung will be aiming to further trim its damages bill, it also faces the potential risk of an even higher cost. Just as the amount can be adjusted down, so could the jury decide to grant Apple even more than the $1.05bn originally imposed.

[via AppleInsider; via FOSSPatents]

This tip comes from Chinese device blog MyDrivers where they’ve also gotten word that the device will come with its four A15 cores clockd in at 2.0GHz while its four A7 cores are clocked at 1.2GHz. This makes for a rather interesting system-on-chip combination of eight cores – though you’ll want to read our SlashGear 101: Eynos 5 Octa Processor guide before you decide it’s a whole lot better than the competition. This processor works with big.LITTLE technology to move tasks to one core or the other based on need.

This device is said to be coming to the market with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and 3GB of RAM. That’s the highest amount of RAM to come with a smartphone thus far, competitors having stuck with 2GB for over a year. This device will also be coming with with a microSD card slot the way its predecessors did, this time offering up 64GB of additional space if you have the card to boost it, this along with the 32GB built-in space on the one model being tipped today.

At the head of this article you’ll see this newest generation sitting aside the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Both of these devices are still significantly smaller than the Galaxy Note 8.0 and the Galaxy Note 10.1, both considered tablet-sized.

Users will once again be finding a display size covered by Samsung, the company’s display coverage hitting the vast majority of standard sized from small to large over the past several years in smart devices. With the Samsung Galaxy Note III, users will also, of course, be working with the company’s S-Pen built-in to the device along the back, much as the newest generation offers.

Update: Looks like it’s still too soon to get Note 3 excited – Paul O’Brien points us in the direction of this Note 2 clone which looks to be the device in the image.

T-Mobile is selling the phone for a down payment of $149, but you’ll eventually be paying full price for it, as you’ll be paying 24 payments of $20 per month. This is for the 16GB model in either black or white, and there’s no word on a 32GB model just yet, although it may just be a matter of time before we see it appear.

If you’re looking to get the new phone in-store, you’ll have to wait just a few more days, as T-Mobile won’t have the GALAXY S 4 in physical stores until May 1. Then again you probably won’t see your newly-ordered GALAXY S 4 unit arrive on your doorstep until that time, so either method won’t have you owning the device sooner.

The GALAXY S 4 is Samsung’s successor to the Galaxy S III, and it boasts a 5-inch 1080p display and rocks a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.9GHz in the US version. It also sports 2GB of RAM and has a 13MP camera. It’s arguably the company’s best phone yet, and you can learn more about it in our full review.

While the Samsung GALAXY S 4 brings a reinforced glass face with rounded corners and a flat face, its back casing and rim are made of hard plastic. In the feature video you’re about to see coming from TechSmartt, the GALAXY S 4 is compared to the iPhone 5 for it’s ability to withstand basic drops. You’ll see the GALAXY S 4′s corner suffering some damage through both plastic and glass from a drop a bit higher than 7 feet.

Meanwhile a much more involved set of tests was run by SquareTrade, a company that considers a variety of factors in their breakability tests. Front and back panel design, materials, size, weight, friction quotient, edge construction, and more are considered in SquareTrade’s rankings for device breakability. SquareTrade did series of tests and comparisons between the GALAXY S 4, the Galaxy S III, and the iPhone 5, noting the iPhone to have the least breakable hardware of the bunch.

“Our research and experience shows that even the smallest device characteristics can dramatically affect its breakability: the weight balance of a device can affect the way it spins in free-fall, making it more likely to land on its screen; devices with rubber backs are less likely to slide, and device dimensions can effect how snugly smartphones fit in pant and jeans pockets. The likelihood of damage due to these common scenarios has never been higher.” – Ty Shay, SquareTrade CMO

According to SquareTrade, the iPhone 5 ranked a 5 (halfway between least breakable at 1 and most breakable at 10) due mostly to its palm-sized body, able to be gripped easier than either Samsung device. The GALAXY S 4 ranked a 7, SquareTrade mentioning its larger body and slippery back panel reducing grip-ability significantly. One must remember also that the Samsung Galaxy Note is larger than the GALAXY S 4, and the Galaxy Note II is larger yet.

Details have leaked online about what Samsung has in store for other tablets this year. The leak claims that Samsung has three major new products in the works for 2013. The first the major new products is said to be a Galaxy Tab 8.0. The device is tipped for an eight-inch screen using AMOLED technology with full HD resolution.

The tablet is also claimed to feature a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 Exynos 4412 processor. The rumors don’t point to exactly how much RAM the tablet will have inside, but they do suggest a five-megapixel rear camera. The second of those three rumored products is a Galaxy Tab 11. Clearly, it’s meant to have an 11-inch screen rumored to use a Super PLS TFT panel.

The rumors don’t indicate what resolution is expected for that 11-inch screen, but it is said to use a dual-core ARM Cortex A15 processor, and an 8-megapixel camera. The third product tipped in Samsung’s tablet roadmap is a variant of the Galaxy 11 tablet called the Nexus 11. This device is said to be identical to the Galaxy 11, only using a octo-core Exynos processor from the GALAXY S4. As with any rumor, you have to take these with a grain of salt.

[via Androidbeat]