Nash Tee Tech Vlog: Galaxy S3

Showing posts with label Galaxy S3. Show all posts

A recent leak stated that current Samsung flagship devices, namely the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3, will be the first to get Android 4.4 KitKat from the roster of smart devices the Korean giant manufactures. Both are reported to get the update as early as January 2014. Owners of former flagships, such as the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II, need not fret as they will also get it in March or April 2014.

Image by GSMArena

Android 4.4 KitKat improves on the UI performance of the devices running it through Project Svelte. Once updated, the Samsung flagship are expected to run smoother, with better multi-tasking, and improved RAM management.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

Samsung has recently posted an infographic on its social media assets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ about the milestones it has achieved this year. And yes, it cannot be denied that 2013 is Samsung's year. Check out the infographic below:

Image by Samsung

Kudos to Samsung!

Til then...

xoxo Nash

After Samsung rolled out the official Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update to the current Galaxy S4 flagship, it has now started rolling it out to its former flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. It started in Ireland and will go global in the weeks to come. The software update weighs in at a hefty 932MB.

Image by GSMArena

Below is a thorough changelog for the 4.3 update:

GALAXY GEAR Support
TRIM Support (faster UI)
ANT+ Support
Core UI elements get the new TouchWiz look
New Samsung Keyboard
GPU drivers have been updated
New Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
New Display modes: Adapt Display and Professional Photo
Daydream
Driving mode
Actionable notifications
Move-to-SD-card feature
New Camera mode : Sound and Shot
New Additions in Notification Center
Tabbed Settings UI
Implementation of Voice controls
New Samsung Apps: Calculator, Clock, Contacts, Gallery, Music
Full screen Samsung apps
New S-Voice

This firmware upgrade gives the Galaxy S III added functionality but doesn't make it at par with the current Galaxy S4 flagship. To get the update, check via OTA or Samsung Kies.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

It doesn't come as a surprise that Samsung is already working on a software update for its previous flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. SamMobile has managed to get their hands on the upcoming software update, which will upgrade the Galaxy S III's current Android Jelly Bean 4.1 to Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2. As expected, it will give the Korean giant's former flagship phone tons of new features.

Image by GSMArena

With Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 updated, the Galaxy S III is expected to get expanded notifications using a two finger swipe that reveals additional options, lockscreen widgets and Daydream support. On top of that, Samsung has also added several features that were introduced on the Galaxy S4, such as a new lockscreen animation, improved notification screen with additional shortcut buttons, new Settings app UI, improved S Voice white background option in the Gallery app, display color profile settings, and so much more. Learn more about the upcoming update on the YouTube video below:

Samsung is still working on the said software update but it is expected to start rolling out in June 2013. Are you excited to get this update as well?

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

With the launch of the Nokia Lumia 928, a teaser page has been published on the site with a video that demonstrates the video recording quality difference between the Lumia 928, the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III.

Image by GSMArena

The video is shot on the ‘The Hurricane’ roller coaster in New York through two Lumia 928, one recording the roller coster going around the tracks and one that is on the roller coaster itself. The video then goes on to show comparisons with the other two phones, by freezing the frames at convenient points.

Admittedly, the 928′s video looks the best of the lot. Also, it’s a video made by the phone’s manufacturer. But comparisons aside, the video from the Lumia 928 does look pretty good even in such low light conditions.

It's kinda off that Nokia compared it's unreleased flagship to a Samsung Galaxy S III, which has been released over a year ago.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

According to a Samsung insider, the following Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets will surely get Android 5.0 Lollipop:

GT-I9300 – Galaxy S III
GT-I9305 – Galaxy S III LTE
GT-I9500 – Galaxy S 4
GT-I9505 – Galaxy S 4 LTE
GT-N5100 – Galaxy Note 8.0
GT-N5105 – Galaxy Note 8.0 LTE
GT-N5110 – Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi
GT-N7100 – Galaxy Note II
GT-N7105 – Galaxy Note II LTE
GT-N8000 – Galaxy Note 10.1
GT-N8005 – Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE
GT-N8010 – Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi

Image by Gizmodo

However, not all Samsung Galaxy owners will be happy with the news as some previous Galaxy models will end with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. These include:

GT-I9080 – Galaxy Grand
GT-I9082 – Galaxy Grand DUOS
GT-I8160 – Galaxy Ace 2
GT-I8190 – Galaxy S III mini
GT-I8530 – Galaxy Beam
GT-I8730 – Galaxy Express
GT-I9070 – Galaxy S Advance
GT-I9100 – Galaxy S II
GT-I9105 – Galaxy S II Plus
GT-I9260 – Galaxy Premier
GT-N7000 – Galaxy Note
GT-S6310 – Galaxy Young
GT-S6312 – Galaxy Young DUOS
GT-S6810 – Galaxy Fame
GT-S7710 – Galaxy X Cover 2

Image by AndroidAuthority.com

To be fair with Samsung, some of these models have gotten several Android updates already. Other smartphone manufacturers out there do not even update their phones with the latest version of the OS. So let's see how true this inside information will be in the coming months.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

According to IDC, smart connected device shipments went up 29.1% in 2012. Smart connected devices include smartphones, tablets, desktop PC, notebooks, netbooks, and ultrabooks. Unsurprisingly, 60% of the 1.2 billion units shipped last year were smartphones.

Image by Engadget

As mentioned, over 1.2 billion units of smart connected devices were shipped last year, marking a 29.1% increase from 2011. Tablets and smartphones drove the boost by carving out 70% percent of the total market share, while PCs and notebook/netbook/ultrabook shipments sank by 4.1 and 3.4 percent, respectively. Sammy came out on top with smart connected devices in 2012 as a whole with a 20.8% market share, beating Apple by 2.6 percent. That would be a total of 250 million units shipped for Samsung and 218.7 million units shipped for Apple. Samsung managed to ship the most number of smartphones while Apple was the leader in tablet shipments.

Image by Engadget

Lenovo finished in third place with a 6.5% marketshare, thanks to its notebook sales, while HP and Dell ranked 4th and 5th with 4.8% and 3.2%, respectively. According to IDC, Apple could have been a distant runner-up to Samsung but thanks to the high demand for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini that the Cupertino company managed to lessen the gap.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

We all know that Samsung paved the way for Android's success. Almost every high-end Samsung mobile phone became a hit. It's no surprise that of the Top 10 Android devices, 8 of those were from Samsung.

Samsung's outgoing flagship smartphone Galaxy S3 topped the list, closely followed by its predecessor, the Galaxy S2. Rounding out the Top 3 is the midrange smartphone, Galaxy Ace. Other Android devices that made it to the Top 10 are Samsung's very own phablets, the Galaxy Note and its successor, the Galaxy Note 2. Entry-level smartphone Galaxy Y made it to the Top 6. Only two other Android smartphone makers entered the list. One was Amazon's best-selling tablet, the Kindle Fire and Motorola's DROID RAZR. According to the report, Samsung controls a whopping 47% of the total Android market share.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

Most Samsung Galaxy S III users just received their Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update just last month but Samsung is not yet finished with its streak of updates for its beloved flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S III is yet again to receive another firmware upgrade this coming December 2012. Samsung may be thinking of giving it as a Christmas gift to Galaxy S III users. No less than the killer features of Samsung's next-generation phablet, the Galaxy Note 2, will be added to the roster of features of the Galaxy S III.

Image by IBTimes

This includes the following:

Multi-Window View
Smart Rotation
Page Buddy
Customizable Notification Panel
Continuous Input in Samsung Keyboard (Similar to Swipe)
Paper Artist App
New Gallery App

Image by GSMArena.com

All I can say is that I can't wait for this any longer. The quad-core processor of the Galaxy S III will definitely be able to showcase its power again and will make it way ahead of its competition. I just hope that Samsung will also give its flagship smartphone the Android 4.2 update so that the Galaxy S III will have other cool features that the Nexus 4 has.

Image by SamMobile

Til then...

xoxo Nash

The original Galaxy Note is one of the best mobile devices that money can buy and until now, it remains to be one of the most capable Android devices out there (though it's already showing signs of aging). With the Galaxy Note, Samsung has successfully created a new category of mobile devices, which fits somewhere between smartphones and tablets, which tech geeks fondly call a phablet. Admit it, Dell did not succeed in creating this new category of mobile devices with its Streak phablets. And to give the original Galaxy Note more credit, it also has successfully brought back to life the "stylus," which was supposedly killed by Apple when the first iPhone was launched. And the only way that Samsung could pay homage to its highly successful phablet is by giving it a successor, the Galaxy Note II.

Image by Samsung

The Galaxy Note II looks very much like the Galaxy S III but on steroids. It's also available in two colors, at least for now: Marble White and Titanium Gray. While its length has increased a bit, it has gotten sexier at only 9.4mm thin. And because it is on steroids, it has become a tad heavier at 183 grams. Like the Galaxy S III, it is made of hyperglazed plastic, which is arguably a cheap material for a high-end phone. But hey, plastic means lightness...and that means portability. On front of the device, you will see the 5.5-inch screen, capacitive touch control buttons, the home button, the earpiece, the HD front-facing camera, and the proximity and ambient light sensors. At the back of it, you'll see the loudspeaker, the 8-MP camera, and the LED flash. On top, you'll find the 3.5mm jack for your headset and a microphone. Below, you'll find the S-Pen, the microUSB port, and another microphone. On the left side are the volume rockers, and on the right side is the power/sleep button. Sadly, like the Galaxy S III, it does not have a dedicated shutter key for the camera.

Image by Samsung

Let's move on the screen. The Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD capacitive touchscreen with good viewing angles and sunlight legibility, which is a tad bigger than that of its predecessor. Like most recent high-end Samsung mobile devices, the multi-touch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which makes it resistant to scratches. The screen resolution is 720 x 1280 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch (which is a bit less than that of its predecessor). Luckily, it does not make use of a PenTile matrix (like the Galaxy S III) and uses a full RGB matrix, which makes the screen look fine, crisp, and vivid.

Image by Samsung

Now we have the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS! The Galaxy Note II is the first Samsung mobile device to ship with Google's latest OS, Jelly Bean (topped by Samsung's own TouchWiz UI of course). While there's not much difference between Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, you will notice that the Galaxy Note II has one of the smoothest transitions among all Android devices. You will seldom (or not at all) experience lag when flicking through panes, windows, or pages. As for the CPU that powers the Galaxy Note II's software, it is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Cortex-A9 quad-core Exynos 4412 by Samsung. This is basically the same as the one used on the Galaxy S III but it has been overclocked. Like the Galaxy S III, it also uses a Mali-400MP GPU. It is now available in 16GB/32GB/64GB configurations with a whopping 2 GB of RAM. That's a lot of memory, storage, and processing power indeed, making the Galaxy Note II a force to be reckoned with. The phablet is also equipped with a lot of sensors: proximity, gyro, ambient light, accelerometer, compass, barometer. It also has GPS and Stereo FM Radio with RDS.

Image by Engadget

What about the Galaxy Note II's camera? Yes, it is equipped with basically the same camera module used in the Galaxy S III. The main camera is capable of shooting 8-MP stills and 1080p FullHD videos. The camera is also accompanied by a very powerful (sometimes blinding) LED flash that can be used in low-light conditions. It also has auto-focus, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, panorama, burst shot, etc. This camera module used by Samsung is one of the best camera modules by the company to date. Photos are super clear and videos are breath-taking. It is good to note that the Galaxy Note II's built-in video player also supports every major video format out there so there is no need for conversion. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera of the Note II has been downgraded from 2-MP to 1.9-MP but it's nothing to worry about as you'll only use it for video calls and vanity snapshots.

Image by Engadget

When it comes to its telephony and messaging features. It supports regular calls, video calls, SMS, EMS, MMS...basically every mode of communication you can think of. You can also change the font face and font size for a customized look. For file transfers, you can do it via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC (Android Beam), and USB. It also supports Wi-Fi Hotspot and Tethering. For data connection, it is compatible with almost every data network from GPRS to 3G to LTE. It also has deep Facebook and Twitter integration as well. Did I mention that it has a lot of accessibility features as well?

Image by Engadget

As far as applications are concerned, virtually any application made for Android can be installed in the Galaxy Note II. With its 2 GB RAM and expandable memory (up to 64GB), it can accommodate all your applications, music files, videos, documents, and whatnots. The Google Play Store has a lot of apps for you, with many of them free! Sadly, you cannot transfer apps from phone memory to SD card without rooting the smartphone. Oh you can also create and edit MS Office documents right out-of-the-box. When it comes to Internet browsing, the Galaxy Note II has got everything covered. You can bookmark sites. You can save pages for later use. You can side-load Flash Player and play Flash videos (which iOS devices cannot do). You can basically do anything you want when it comes to browsing. The zooming and panning also work well. You can also play Flash-based games on your browser!

Image by Samsung

The Galaxy Note II also has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Let's start with the S Pen, which is a modified and glorified stylus. The S Pen can do what Samsung calls as Air View. It is basically a convenient and quick way to browse your pictures without having to open any folders. Then we have the Popup Note, which take directions, phone numbers, and other information conveniently while on a call with a double-click of the S Pen. It also features Quick Command, which enables sending an email, calling or sending a text message to your friend, sharing the meeting location and so many other things easily. Then there is the Easy Clip: click, trace, clip, and send. That’s all it takes to include what you want in email, messenger, S Note, and Scrapbook. Like the Galaxy S III, some of these new features are useful and others are plain gimmicky. The Galaxy Note II also has the S-Voice, which is a Siri-like assistant but sadly it's not as useful as one would want it to be. It also features Popup Play, which enables you to watch videos and do other tasks at the same time. Other cool features are the Smart Stay and Direct Call. The former enables your phone to detect your eyes so that the screen won't turn off while you are still looking at it. The latter enables you to call directly anyone from your phone by just putting it on your ears. It also has a lot of motion and gesture-based tricks.

Image by Samsung

To wrap up, I believe that the Samsung Galaxy Note II is in a league of its own...and its very few competitors have no match against it. Having an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at launch basically puts it ahead of the competition, which may include flagship smartphones. The only cons that I could think of is its bulk. Let's face it. Not everyone wants a smartphone as big as this or a tablet as small as this. But other than that I think it's a great device. If you can afford it, go ahead and buy it. You will not regret it. Until the competition comes up with a product that poses a real threat against the Galaxy Note II, the Galaxy Note II will continue to be the best-selling phablet in the whole universe.

Image by Samsung

My rating for the Samsung Galaxy Note II is 9.5 out of 10.

For the complete specs of this phablet, please visit this link.

For a review of the Samsung Galaxy S III, please click here.

Note: Samsung did not pay me for this review.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

Last time, we saw the Apple iPhone 5 competed with the Samsung Galaxy S III for the ultimate drop test. Now, it is time to weigh in their bigger relatives to see who's the sturdiest of them all.

It's the Google Nexus 7 versus the Apple iPad mini. Two great 7-inch-something tablets but only one will win. Are you ready?

Warning: These videos are not for the squeamish. Lol.

Both devices were dropped three times and one of them stopped working already.

Yes, the Apple tablet wins yet again. The touchscreen of the Google Nexus 7 stopped working after the second drop. Congratulations to the iPad mini! Great build quality indeed.

Guys, please don't drop your precious devices, whether it's Android-powered or iOS. Extra care must be practiced all the time.

Note: This is just a random drop test and is not some well-calculated, scientific test. Video courtesy of Android Authority.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

We have seen the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, the iPad, an Olympus camera, and the Wii get crushed by Blendtec's seemingly powerful blender. And because it's time for Tom to get a new smartphone, he has to decide which between the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III he should get. Definitely, he will decide based on the sturdiness of the phone. Will he get the fastest-selling smartphone ever, which is the iPhone 5? Will he choose Android's best-selling smartphone, which is the Samsung Galaxy S III? Will he buy both? Or will he choose neither and grab something else?

The only way for you to find out is to watch the YouTube video below.

Was your guess correct? If you've been watching his previous videos, you'd already know which product will emerge victorious.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

Three weeks since Android 4.1 Jelly Bean first started seeding on Samsung Galaxy S III devices in Europe, the much anticipated update has finally arrived in the Philippines. And I'll waste no time to give you a blow-by-blow review of Android's latest for Samsung's greatest.

Image by Phandroid

According to GSMArena.com, which happens to be my favorite tech blog and review site, the new features of the Samsung Galaxy S III running on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean are the following:

Project Butter - smoother UI animations with higher frame rate
Google Now
Blocking mode
Offline voice typing support
Better notification area with expandable notifications
Two different homescreen modes
Pop-up play window is now resizable
Smoother and faster web browser
New in-call features - boost loudness and turn on/off noise cancellation
Video recording pause/resume functionality
Enhanced brightness control
Easier widgets management
Reorganized Settings menu

But I'll add some more features, which were not mentioned above. These include:

Ability to customize Messaging app with background photos
New app folder layout
More free RAM storage
Improved Music Player interface (including the widget)
New apps such as Voice Search and Help
Refreshed icons and widgets
Bigger keyboard for easier typing
Retained support for Adobe Flash Player

We all know that Samsung's flagship smartphone already has one of the smoothest UI animations among Android devices but with Project Butter under Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it has just gotten better. No lags. Higher frame rate. Snappier. It just feels so right, perfect, and definitely high-end.

Image by Recombu

Some of the changes that I did like include Google Now. This is Android's answer to iOS's Siri. This is also a better version of Samsung's own S-Voice. With Google Now, you can either type or talk to it and the app will give you a reply. However, if there's no immediate answer to your question, Google Now will simply initiate a Google web search. Google Now is activated with a press-and-hold of the menu button.

Image by Widefide

Another new feature that comes in handy is the Easy Mode, which brings a few new widgets with larger buttons, as well as your favorite contacts, favorite apps and a keypad on your home screen. This should allow you to use your Galaxy S III with everything on your home screen and avoid dealing with complicated menus.

Image by Huzoorbux

Then we also have the Blocking Mode, which is similar to iOS's Do Not Disturb feature. If turned on, the Blocking Mode will mute incoming calls, sound and LED notifications, as well as alarms. Like DND, it also has an exception list where you can add some contacts that won't be affected by its restrictions.

Image by Shimworld

As mentioned earlier, there are many other changes to the smartphone and it's always exciting to discover them yourself. Also, with the Jelly Bean update, the Galaxy S III is said to have a longer web browsing time, same talk time duration, and a little shorter video playback time. But these are nothing to be worried about. Below is GSMArena's Galaxy S III Official Jelly Bean ROM hands-on video:

While most of the updates/upgrades Samsung did for the Galaxy S III were incremental, they definitely contribute a lot to overall user experience. It's like you're using a new smartphone again. Everything is just so fast, vivid, and responsive. That my friend is the new and improved Samsung Galaxy S III.

Do check out my original Galaxy S III product review here.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

Remember the Galaxy S III ad Samsung has come up to deride the iPhone 5? Well, it didn't take long before Apple fans hit back at Samsung. And yes, even Nokia fans joined the frenzy.

In Apple's version of the advertisement, the copy reads: "Don't settle for cheap plastic." This is a downright insult to the Galaxy S III's design and construction, which is mainly built with hyper-glazed plastic. While using a plastic material enables NFC (which the iPhone 5 does not have due to its aluminum and glass body) and makes the smartphone significantly lighter, it doesn't do much for the Galaxy S III's looks. This is not to say that hardened plastic is not a good material. It's just that plastic doesn't look right for a high-end flagship phone like the Galaxy S III. Take a look at the Nokia Lumia 900 or perhaps its elegantly designed Android cousin, the HTC One X (which is made of aluminum). Then again, the looks is not the Galaxy S III's selling point. It's beyond looks. With the Galaxy S III, we are talking about quad-core processors, more horsepower, higher capacity battery, expandable storage, and whatnot...So you see, it's about the specs.

Image by GSMArena

In the ad above, you will see how Apple fans removed "NFC" and other features of the Galaxy S III and populated the iPhone 5's column with its other notable features that Samsung seemed to have forgotten. This goes without saying that the omission of specific features from both phones was a calculated move from both Samsung and Apple fans for marketing purposes to show that their product is superior to the other. It must be noted though that there are some wrong information with regard to the listed specifications of the iPhone 5. For one, it doesn't have a quad-core CPU. But other than that, information stated above about the iPhone 5 is accurate. So, it does have these extra features to brag about. But in the end, if it's just about having the most number of features, I think the Galaxy S III will win, no question about it.

Image by GSMArena

Not allowing their favorite smartphone brand to be easily outdone by the iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia fans came up with their own version of Samsung's ad. This time, it's iPhone 5 versus the yet-to-be-released Nokia Lumia 920. Based on the ad's copy, which reads: "Flyweight contender, meet the heavyweight champion," the iPhone 5 seems to face a tough competition from the Nokia Lumia 920. While the latter hasn't been released on the market yet, it definitely looks promising. And while the Lumia 920 can't match the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S III (in terms of sheer number), it will surely give the iPhone 5 (and Galaxy S III as well) a run for its money.

How about you guys? Do you agree with these mock-up iPhone 5 and Lumia 920 ads? Tell me your thoughts.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

The iPhone 5 has just been released in 9 or 10 countries last September 21. As expected, the lines were long...kilometers long to be exact (Not kidding!). The waiting list for online orders is pegged at 3 to 4 weeks already. And, of course, the launching will not be complete without the anti-Apple rallyists.

While most fanatics are still waiting for their precious iGadget to arrive, a lucky few have managed to get their hands on the world's most coveted smartphone. Some disassembled the device immediately to carefully examine its entrails. Others tested the phone's processing power in online benchmarks, which proved that the iPhone 5 is indeed a computing powerhouse. Several peeps are already reselling these iDevices online (via the gray market) with a super-inflated price tag.

But one person stood out as he opted to test the iPhone 5's sturdiness (with its new aluminum and glass casing) by dropping it intentionally together with Samsung's flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III. So which do you think of the two smartphones will win? As you may know, the iPhone 4S had gone through the same drop test together with the Galaxy S III and the former emerged victorious as the latter's screen got crushed that you could no longer used the touchscreen. Will the iPhone 5 share the fate of its predecessor or will it be outdone by Samsung's best-selling smartphone this time?

Check out this video below:

As you can see, both smartphones managed to survive the 3 feet and 4 feet drop! But only one emerged victorious in the 5-foot, 6-inch drop test! Which phone was it? Wait a minute...wait for it! wait! You bet it's the iPhone 5! Perhaps, the new aluminum casing really helped it survive such a high drop.

While this drop test is not scientific in any way, this video shows us how NOT to drop our dearly beloved smartphones in certain ways. Of course, damage to the phone depends on the point of impact, which cannot be controlled with this kind of test. By the way, my heart just got crushed seeing both devices fall to the floor, shattering like an expensive piece of item. It's like indiscriminately burning a bag of dollars or probably Godzilla eating your new Porsche. In any case, it hurts...so bad.

So, there you have it guys! I'm sure you enjoyed watching the video. Please tell me your thoughts on the Comment Section below.

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Til then...

xoxo Nash

Once again, it's that time of the year when Samsung takes another shot at Apple after the latter has released the iPhone 5. Not to be outdone by the American company, South Korea-based Samsung has come up with an advertisement that not only shows how far more advanced the Galaxy S III is over the new iPhone but also adds insult to injury by adding a copy that reads: "It doesn't take a genius." Surely, it doesn't take a genius to know their differences and the Galaxy S III's purported advantages but is it all just about specs?

It's been weeks since Apple won over Samsung in a high profile patent infringement case in the US, which cost the latter more than a billion dollars. It seems that Samsung is not bowing down to Apple easily without giving another fight... and yet again guns at Apple's most amazing iPhone yet. Take a look at the ad below and tell me what you think of it.

Image by CNET

From the ad above, you can see that Samsung has listed the specs of its Galaxy S III opposite the specs of the iPhone 5. Clearly, based on the ad, the Galaxy S III is far superior than the iPhone, or is it really the case? I'll try to be as fair as possible. (Note: I own a Galaxy S III and a slew of Apple products.)

The iPhone 5 has been announced last September 12 (or 13 if you live in the other side of the world). Netizens and experts have weighed in on whether or not the iPhone's latest iteration is an innovation.
Well, regardless if you see it as an innovation or more of an evolution, the iPhone 5 is here and it is not going anywhere. Join me for an overview of the iPhone 5, which I made especially for ordinary netizens like you.

Image by Apple

Let's take a look on what it looks like and how different it is (or not) from the iPhone 4S. First off, it doesn't look radically different from its predecessor. It still has this iPhone 4/4S body with rounded edges - thus maintaining its iconic look. It looks awkwardly long or maybe because its longer chassis hasn't grown on me yet. But if you take a closer look, you'll notice that the materials used have changed. The back chassis is now two-tone - a mixture of aluminum and perhaps glass. Also at the back, you can find a microphone in between the camera and the LED flash. On the front part, the front-facing camera has been moved to the center and the phone's bezel looks thinner. Underneath, you'll find the loudspeaker, the all-new Lightning port, and another microphone. The 3.5mm jack for your headset has also been transferred underneath the phone. Perhaps the best view of the iPhone 5 is when you look at it from the side. It looks so sleek. Not much has changed with the volume rocker and sleep/mute button though. And finally, on top, you can find the power button. Overall, the iPhone 5 is said to be lighter and sturdier than its predecessor. Design-wise, it's more of an evolution to me, after all, I don't see the need to change its already iconic body. But it does still look awkwardly long to me. I don't know why. Oh, one more thing, it will be available in black/slate and white/silver colors.

Image by Apple

When it comes to features, the iPhone 5 is jam-packed, and with that I mean it's loaded with a lot of features (albeit not groundbreaking). Now with a 4-inch screen, the iPhone 5 is still able to maintain its 326 pixels per inch density - meaning it still fits the Retina moniker. Native iPhone apps have also been redesigned to fit the smartphone's slightly bigger screen. However, I do think that a 4-inch screen is considered small by today's standards. I'm not saying that it has to be as big as that of the Samsung Galaxy S III or that of the HTC One X, but I think the screen should be somewhere between 4.3 and 4.5 inches. This is just my opinion. You are free to disagree. Anyway, the screen still looks sharp and pictures look crisp, which make me wonder how its refreshed iSight camera performs.

Image by Apple

The iPhone 5 is equipped with an 8-megapixel iSight camera, same with that of the iPhone 4S. It records 1080p Full HD videos as well. So nothing new here so far. The change is with the internals. The iPhone 5 touts a faster photo capture, improved noise reduction, and better low-light performance. Its camera is also protected by Sapphire Crystal, which is sturdier than glass and more resistant to scratches. (By the way, the iPhone 5's screen is also protected by an oleophobic anti-fingerprint coating and glass from Corning.) Aside from the iPhone's usual touch focus and HDR camera capabilities, it is now capable of shooting panoramas as well. While Panorama is not new to smartphones, iPhone 5's implementation is arguably better than others as it lets you come up with a 25-megapixel by-product. The actual capabilities of the camera and video recorder still remain to be seen but I'm sure it will not disappoint as the iPhone 4S has one of the best smartphones cameras to date, and now we are talking about the iPhone 5.

Image by Apple

Other changes in the latest iPhone is its chip, which is the A6 chip manufactured by Apple, which is said to be twice as fast in processing data and graphics compared to the A5 chip of the iPhone 4S. While Apple decided to stay mum on the iPhone 5's number of cores, I think it is safe to say that it is dual-core as all LTE-capable phones at the moment only work on two cores. (I'm really excited about LTE, I hope LTE data plans will not be too expensive though.) Again, for performance, you have to see it for yourself or try testing it through online benchmarks. As for the browser, the music and video player, and other built-in apps, you can expect them to work as fine or maybe more fluid than they did before. The Apple smartphone still lacks Adobe Flash support but hey, even Android Jelly Bean smartphones don't have it either. And as they all say, HTML5 is the future. There is also no expandable memory for the iPhone 5 so better buy the 32GB or 64GB version than be sorry for buying the entry-level 16GB. I'm also assuming that it has 1GB of RAM like the new iPad (or iPad 3 for some).

Image by Apple

What most people did not expect is that the new iPhone also comes with new accessories such as the EarPods, which replaces Apple's classic white earphones. It also sports a new Lightning connector, which replaces the old 30-pin connector. Mind you, it is reversible. Going back to the EarPods, I actually like its design as I've never seen something like it before. I really hope that this new Apple earphone does not disappoint (in terms of performance) and will not wither after a year's usage. As for the Lightning connector and dock, it's more of Apple's preference for smaller and much simpler technology.

Image by Apple

Aside from the above mentioned improvements and add-ons, the iPhone 5 will run on the iOS 6 platform, which has better Siri functionality, the Passbook app, better Maps and navigation, better iCloud integration, Facebook and Twitter integration, better Game Center and App Store, AirPlay, AirPrint, and whatnot! Please also don't forget that the iPhone 5 is still a phone with telephony and messaging features. It also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Internet hotspot and tethering features, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity sensor, and so on. The only thing that made me disappointed with regard to the new OS is the lack of a native YouTube app. So does that mean I have to go to the browser and type in www.youtube.com to watch videos? Hell no!

Image by Apple

When it comes to availability, it will be available for pre-order on September 21 in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It will be available in 22 more countries on September 28, which are all European countries, save for New Zealand. And yes, it will officially hit the Philippine shores (and 100 more countries) in December 2012, just in time for Christmas.

Image by Engadget

All in all, I think a lot of new and good things have come together to make the iPhone 5 the most amazing iPhone yet. I'm not saying it's the best out there as its flagship Android competitors are better-equipped. The iPhone 5 is not a perfect smartphone either, but is there one? I'm sure a lot of people were left underwhelmed after every feature of it has been announced. Perhaps, they have hoped for too much such as wireless charging (which is actually convenient except that it would be hard to use the phone while charging it) and NFC (which has little or no use outside first-world countries). Then again, the iPhone 5 has its pros and cons and while it lacks some features, it certainly makes up for it through constant software updates from Apple and a more cohesive app market and ecosystem. And did I mention that Apple products have this certain charm that other brands do not possess?

That's about it. Clearly, the iPhone 5 is the smartphone everybody loves to hate. So do you love or hate the new Apple smartphone? Are you going to buy it? Will you stick with your iPhone 4S or your beloved Android or maybe Windows Phone? Regardless of which smartphone you choose, it all boils down to personal preference. Choose what will make you productive or entertained the most!

Stay tuned for my review on the new iPod touch, the new iPod nano, the iPad mini, and iOS 6.

Images above taken from Apple's website unless stated otherwise.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

There are a lot of applications (that are free and for a fee) in both the Apple App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android). What many of you may not know is that some of these apps become FREE for a limited time. So what are you waiting for? Go to your favorite app store now and get them while they're hot!

For iOS (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad), apps FREE for a limited time include:

1. Temple Run: BRAVE

Gameplay is essentially the same as the original Temple Run. The only difference would be the main character (Merida), her equipped bow-and-arrow for shooting targets, and Mordu the bear (the one who chases her). Coins can still be collected while running, which could then be used to buy power-ups and whatnot. If you don't feel like running, then you could just purchase the coins from the app itself as an in-app purchase. Temple Run: BRAVE is based on the animated film BRAVE by Disney and Pixar.

This will surely be your new favorite running game on your iOS device.

Price: ~~$0.99~~ FREE

DOWNLOAD

2. Smart Office 2

You can use this app to view, edit, and create Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. Controls are clever and user interface is neat. Plus, there's no other app like this on the App Store, which is available for free.

View, edit, create MS Office files anywhere you go!

Price: $9.99 (Update: Unfortunately, it is no longer FREE)

DOWNLOAD FOR A FEE

For Samsung Galaxy S III, through the Samsung App Market, apps FREE for a limited time include:

1. Asphalt 7: Heat

This is a much-improved version of its predecessor Asphalt 6, which was my then favorite car-racing game on my iPad. Asphalt 7 brings a lot of graphics improvements and more cars to choose from.

Race to the finish line with Asphalt 7: Heat

PRICE: ~~$0.99~~ FREE

DOWNLOAD

2. Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation

This is the best, most realistic smartphone FPS series with higher intensity and an apocalyptic battle for the freedom of the United States, for one or more players.

A First-Person Shooter Game

PRICE: ~~$6.99~~ FREE

DOWNLOAD

3. Shadowgun: The Left Over

Shadowgun puts you into the role of John Slade, the galaxy's most infamous bounty hunter. Your mission is to hunt down Dr. Edgar Simon, maniacal genius and leader of his own mutant army, using state-of-the-art weaponry, ships, and the assistance of S.A.R.A. Shadowgun combines intense tactical combat with 3rd person action.

Get it while it's free!

PRICE: ~~$4.99~~ FREE

DOWNLOAD

NOTE: The Samsung Galaxy S III apps mentioned above take a lot of space. 2 of them are more than 1GB each. So be wary if you have low internal memory.

That's it guys!

Til then...

xoxo Nash

I've had my Samsung Galaxy S III with me for almost 4 months already. Yes, I was one of those few people who got it the first week it has become available in the country - June 2012 to be exact. I got mine from Globe so that the carrier could shoulder its hefty price tag. I believe it still retails at PhP32,990 in Samsung Stores. With almost 4 months of usage, I believe that I'll be able to give a competent review of Samsung's latest flagship. My review will not be too technical nor geeky. I want it to be understood by regular netizens like you and me.

First off is the box. I got mine in Marble White because that was the only available color at that time. Not that it matters since it's actually my preferred color. The box is white like the color of the phone. It comes with the Galaxy S III unit, AC charger, USB cable, white in-ear earphones, and some leaflets. I had Globe (which is my network - it really sucks by the way) cut my regular SIM into a micro-SIM so that it would fit my new phone. The phone came with 16GB internal memory (12GB user-accessible) and of course, expandable up to 64GB microSDHC. The Galaxy S III is also available in 32GB and 64GB models. Other colors include Pebble Blue, Red, Black, Brown, and Gray. Basically, the package has it all covered, or at the very least, the important ones.

This is the white Galaxy S III box given to me by Globe Telecom.

As for the externals, the phone is made of plastic, which is a cheap material for a high-end phone. But don't get me wrong, it looks sleek and feels very solid. The case is hyperglazed and the screen is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass 2, which makes it resistant against scratches. But overall, there's nothing really spectacular with its design to write home about.

Box contents with the original Flip Cover I bought from Samsung. Note: The Flip Cover is not part of the package.

The first time I turned on the smartphone, I was amazed by the vividness of its Super AMOLED HD screen and great viewing angles. The brightness of the phone was so-so as I've seen brighter screens from other phones. ~~(Let's not go to the PenTile Matrix thingy as most will not understand it).~~ It runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich out-of-the-box. It supports Adobe Flash Player (which has already been taken out of the Google Play Store and will not come pre-installed with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean) and HMTL5. It has access to the Google Play Store, Samsung's App Market, and several other app marketplaces.

This is the home screen. You can see from the above icon that I took a screenshot.

The cool thing about it is its interface which is very refreshing compared to older Galaxy models. Samsung did a great job with its TouchWiz interface. The transitions are smooth. I seldom experience lag. It also comes pre-installed with beautiful wallpapers (including live ones). The device came installed with lots of bloatware from Google, although most are useful. Good thing is that you can place them in folders so that they don't mess up on your screen. You can also hide apps!

When it comes to its telephony and messaging features. It supports regular calls, video calls, SMS, EMS, MMS...basically every mode of communication you can think of. You can also change the font face and font size for a customized look. Mine was already changed. For file transfers, you can do it via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and USB. It also supports Wi-Fi Hotspot and Tethering. It has deep Facebook and Twitter integration as well.

These are my main apps. I also changed the system font.

How about its 8MP camera? Well, it's among the best there is out there... Samsung has managed to come up with camera optics and software that is at a par with those of Apple, HTC, and Sony. The resolution is pretty good. The details are fine. It also has a very strong LED flash for low-light photography. Other features include HDR, Burst Mode, Face Detection, etc. It's also able to capture videos in 720p HD and 1080p FullHD quality. The video frame-rate is surprisingly good with no lags or doubled frames. Also, the phone's built-in video player supports almost every major video format so no need for video conversion.

As far as applications are concerned, virtually any application made for Android can be installed in the Galaxy S III. It has 1GB RAM and expandable memory to accommodate all your applications, music files, videos, documents, and whatnots. It also has a dedicated graphics card for games and applications which graphics-intense. The Google Play Store has a lot of apps for you, with many of them free! Sadly, you cannot transfer apps from phone memory to SD card without rooting the smartphone. I don't know why Samsung disabled this Android feature.

Actual picture of my phone taken by my Mac's Facetime camera.

The Galaxy S III also has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Some are useful and others are plain gimmicky. First off is the S-Voice, which is a Siri-like assistant but sadly it's not as useful as one would want it to be. It also features Pop-Up Play, which enables you to watch videos and do other tasks at the same time. This feature also showcases how powerful the quad-core processor of the Galaxy S III is. Other cool features are Smart Stay and Direct Call. The former enables your phone to detect your eyes so that the screen won't turn off while you are still looking at it. The latter enables you to call directly anyone from your phone by just putting it on your ears. It also has a lot of motion and gesture-based tricks. Not to mention it now has an LED indicator light, similar to BlackBerry, which shows the status of your phone- whether you missed a call, someone texted you, you're running out of battery, and whatnot.

This is Pop-Up Play. This is a video of Nicki Minaj's Starships playing while on the home screen.

When it comes to its Internet and browsing features, everything is covered. You can bookmark sites. You can save pages for later use. You can play Flash videos (which the iPhone cannot do). You can basically do anything you want when it comes to browsing. The zooming and panning also work well. You can play Flash-based games too on your browser!

Regarding battery life, the phone's battery will last for more than a day of normal usage. Turn the Internet on, then you'll need your charger beside you. The Galaxy S III can actually endure hours of talktime, playing music and videos, texting, and whatnot. Just to be sure, always carry your charger and/or car charger with you.

All in all, I think the Samsung Galaxy S III is the smartphone to beat. But we'll see about that when the iPhone 5 gets released. The Galaxy S III is also set to receive its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update in a few weeks, which will make it an even better smartphone. The only cons that I could think of is that file management is kind of tedious and it also takes a lot of hard work to put apps in certain folders. But other than that I think it's a great phone. If you can afford it, go ahead and buy it. You will not regret it, I promise. But if you want to stick with your iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia Lumia, or another Android smartphone, that's not a problem. To each his own. Suit yourself.

These are my folders. I bet you see...G.

I will have another review for the Galaxy S III when Android 4.1 Jelly Bean gets released. I'll also review accessories made for the Galaxy S III as well as apps for this powerhouse Android smartphone.

My rating for the Samsung Galaxy S III is 9.5 out of 10.

For the complete specs of this smartphone, please visit this link.

Note: Screenshots were taken from my phone. Samsung did not pay me for this review. I bought this smartphone with my own money.

Til then...

xoxo Nash

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