Samsung Galaxy S III - Unpacked 2012

So, on Thursday I had the fantastic opportunity to join my fellow Mobilers at Unpacked 2012 - the worldwide launch of the Samsung Galaxy S III - in Earl’s Court in London. We met up early for breakfast, and the air was filled with speculative chattering about what this next device might be. We had all seen the supposed leaks, but were unsure how the final handset would turn out. At 12pm we made our way to the exhibition centre, where we were to receive a briefing and demo of the handset, before helping with the press launch later that night.

As the slideshow began, the room fell silent – what would this device have in store for us- would it live up to the speculation that it was ‘the next big thing’? Well, it did!

The Galaxy S III has been ‘designed for humans’, taking its design inspiration from nature; the look and feel of leaves, pebbles and water. This theme runs into the software of the device, as well as the hardware.  It will be available in wither blue or white, and will be launched in the UK on 29 May.


And now to the specs.  The GS3 packs some top-notch hardware –

·         4.8” display with 306ppi

·         8mp camera with burst shot and best photo settings (1.9mp front camera)

·         Exynos 1.4 GHz processor

·         HTP40 WI-FI

·         Bluetooth 4.0

·         Extremely thin bezel with hyperglaze skin back cover, and only 133grams in weight

·         Improved motion features – tap to top, shake, smart stay and direct call

·         Notification light

·         S Voice

·         Face and voice unlock

·         Pop-up play

·         Allshare

The processor ensures a speedy response when browsing and multitasking, and allows for the use of the pop-up play feature. This allows e user to watch video in a pop-up screen, which can easily be repositioned on the display, while browsing the web or composing text.

The 8mp camera produces stunning stills on the 306ppi 4.8” display. The burst shot feature takes 20 photos in quick succession; essential for photographing moving objects. The best photo feature then chooses the best picture based on smile detection, blink and blur. 

Smart stay ensures that the display remains lit without dimming while your eyes are focussed on the screen. As soon as your eyes look away, the screen will dim. This is a handy feature which really comes into its own when reading E-Books or browsing lengthy web articles. The direct call feature is also extremely useful. It allows you to make a call just by lifting the handset to your ear, essential for when another text reply just isn’t suitable.

The face and voice unlock feature builds additional security against the face unlock feature seen in the recent Galaxy Nexus. The GS3 can be unlocked by face and voice only, eliminating the risk of using a photo to unlock.

The Allshare feature allows you to share files with other handsets using 3G or WI-FI, or allows streaming of files from your PC to the handset, even when you are outside the home.

The S Voice feature has been compared to IPhones Siri, but in my opinion this is much slicker. S Voice can recognise 6 languages, including both British and American English, and can be used to command the phone as well as bring up weather or calendar information. In terms of usability, it’s very easy, and I must say, I’m impressed that it can even recognise my Northern Ireland accent, a feat which no handset has ever been able to accomplish. I’ll be glad to be able to use the voice feature on the GS3 without having to put on a rather posh English accent!

Also unveiled at Unpacked 2012 were a range of accessories for the GS3. These included a range of cases, a wireless charging dock, a wireless docking station and an Allshare Cast dongle, which allows the user to use the Allshare function with a non-WI-FI enabled TV. The Samsung Pebble was also on show – a smallMP3 player, somewhat akin to the iPod shuffle, but taking the same natural design as the GS3. This will pack 4GB of storage and is available in the same blue and white colours as the handset.

After the product training, we all set off to the main exhibition hall to show off the features of this fab handset to the world’s media. As soon as they were invited to view the handset, 3000 of the world’s press began hurtling towards us, tripping each other and pushing people aside, to be the first one to get those all-important pictures and videos to showcase to the world. The next couple of hours were spent providing demonstrations of the handsets features, and I was tasked with showing off the Allshare Play function (as you can see in the above video). I absolutely loved it, and wish I could do this every day!


After a very busy few hours of promoting, it was time to leave. As we left we were all presented with a lovely Jo Malone candle, which is now burning in my house and making it smell delightful! This was packed nicely inside a Samsung bag, with a gift tag declaring ‘thanks for being our inspiration’ – what a lovely treat! These were given to all of the media present by some very beautiful ladies, as a reminder of the day Samsung launched the next big thing.

From my experience at Unpacked 2012, I can honestly say that the Samsung Galaxy S III is a very attractive handset. The features and design will ensure that it really is the market leader, and this theory will no doubt be proved when it goes on sale on May 29^th. I’m already waiting to get my hands on one!

My Samsung Christmas wish

On my Christmas list this year is definitely a Samsung Smart TV. I saw these TVs for the first time at Eurogamer, and I was blown away. Aside from the fact that they are stunningly beautiful, the features on these TVs are amazing! They are slim, and look great on a stand or mounted on the wall – the design really is a work of art.

I’m not a big fan of 3d TVs; I think they’re a bit gimmicky and play havoc with my eyes. As such, I’d love to have a 2d smart TV, which allowed me to watch films in stunning clarity, browse the net without having to reach for my laptop, and easily update my social networks from the comfort of my sofa.

Of course, if I had a smart TV, a shiny new Samsung blu-ray player would also be a must. Why watch standard dvds when you can watch amazing HD blu-rays? Coupled with the super crisp clarity of the Smart TV, my viewing experience would be perfect!

The only downside I could see of having a smart TV would be that my boyfriend would be fighting to play Xbox on it. So Santa, if you could bring two, that would be fabulous!

Galaxy Nexus

The new Galaxy Nexus is an aesthetically pleasing handset, with a sleek curved design. It’s slightly thicker and larger than the Galaxy S 2, but still feels nice in the hand. The toughened, scratch-proof glass is very resistant to scrapes and knocks, and would definitely manage to survive in pockets with keys and other items which tend to damage phone screens. Just take a look at Dom’s scratch test to prove it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyLC61JxsJQ

With the new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and speedy processor, there is no doubt that the Nexus can perform quickly, but the stock OS seems bland compared to previous handsets which included Samsung Touch wiz. The menu layouts are easy to understand, though, but just seem to lack some of the lustre found on Samsung’s other Galaxy range of handsets. This could be down to the change in OS, or the fact that the device is a beta model.

For a handset like this at the top of the market, it is disappointing to see only a 5mp camera. I have not been able to properly test this feature, due to some unsightly green marks all across the camera, which prevent the taking of pictures – this is undoubtedly due to the fact that my particular device is a beta, pre-release version.

The screen quality is another slightly disappointing feature of this handset. The difference between the Nexus and the Galaxy S 2 is clear, with the S2 having a far crisper, sharper display. The Nexus screen appears dull, even when on full brightness, and pages appear grey instead of white.

The integration with Google+ is great, as this allows not only Gmail to be linked to the handset, but also Google messenger and your G+ account. The task manager also looks great, but after a weekend of use, I still haven’t managed to figure out how to actually close apps!

The integration of a notification light on the Galaxy Nexus is a definite plus, as it was one feature lacking in the flagship Galaxy S and S2. This does come in extremely handy. However, the Nexus does not have a MicroSD slot, which I personally think is a bit of a let-down – the SD slot allows data to be transferred between handsets, and easily removed without having to connect to PCs to back everything up. This is probably down to Google beginning to move into the Cloud, but it may annoy many consumers, who feel that a card slot is necessary on any handset.

All in all, I was expecting great things from the Galaxy Nexus, but it seems like a step backwards from the Galaxy S 2 instead of a step forwards. Hopefully this will change when I have a chance to see a final retail version, but for now, I think I’ll stick to the GS2.

Samsung Galaxy Note - First Look

Upon opening the box of my new Samsung Galaxy Note, my first thought was ‘wow, it’s huge!’ With a 5.3 inch screen, it’s bigger than any handset currently on the market, but is very thin and light in comparison to the screen size - At only 178 grams, the Note is lighter than many other smartphone devices out there. Although many people have noted that it is difficult to use with one hand, this is probably not something to worry about, as many people tend to use one hand to hold the device and the other to enter text – at least that’s the way I always do it!

As soon as the Note is powered on, the effects of the Super AMOLED screen are clear – a crisp, bright display with sharp colours. As usual, Samsung’s Touchwiz interface makes the layout familiar and easy to use – anyone who has ever used a Samsung Android device will be able to pick this up and use it straight away. With Android 2.3, the OS is slick, and, even better, this device will be getting the latest Ice Cream Sandwich OS very soon! As this is not quite the same size as a tablet, applications can run smoothly and look just as good as they do on a smaller screen like the GSII.

The Galaxy Note packs a speedy 1.4GHz processor, which allows for seamless multitasking without compromising on the speed of the device in any way. This also ensures that applications run without lag, helping to improve the overall user experience. The Note also includes Flash support, allowing for a variety of web based games and videos to be played, which look stunning on the large screen.

The 8mp camera (complete with flash) has a similar quality to that of the Galaxy S II. Photos are clear and sharp, with the ability to edit images as desired. Again, the HD video recording is of good quality, and the front facing 2mp camera allows for video calling or mirror type applications.

However, the coolest feature of the Note has got to be the S –Pen. This allows the Note to be used almost like the PDAs of old – typing and tapping with the pen. However, the difference between this and old-style PDAs is that the Note can also be used by tapping with fingers, like a normal phone handset. The S-Memo feature allows the user to capture screen images, and use the pen to make notes on these, highlight important areas or just draw. I’ve spent so much time this weekend since unboxing the handset just doodling – it’s so easy to use, anyone can produce stunning pieces of art. The S-Pen also makes the larger screen easier to manage, removing the need for awkward figure gesturing on the screen, and it tucks away neatly inside the Note when you’re finished, so no annoying dangly attachments or fear of losing it.

Although the Note may not fit perfectly into my pockets (being a small person, I have small pockets!) it certainly fits in my handbag! Yes, it may be large, but for someone like myself who tends to text and browse more than I make calls, this is not a problem. Web pages look more natural on the 5.3 inch screen, compared to a smaller screen like those found in most other smartphone devices, and are much easier to read and navigate. However, if you are someone who is looking for a phone to make calls, I would stick to the Galaxy S II – I will be keeping mine close by for the few calls I make. All in all, the Galaxy Note is a very attractive device, and although the size may put some people off, the benefits are far greater than any other device I have encountered thus far. Personally I think I will keep this device close by for use in meetings, general doodling and internet browsing, but for calling, I think I’ll stick to something that doesn’t look so ostentatious when sat against my ear!

Eurogamer & WCG

I was lucky enough to be able to attend this year's Eurogamer expo, incorporating the Samsung sponsored World Cyber Games. This was a fantastic opportunity to see and preview upcoming games releases, including Battlefield 3, Call of Duty and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. I also had the chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and to see the White S2 in the flesh (I prefer the black one!).My highlight definitely had to be the Alienware 3D gaming chair – I was useless at it, but it was absolutely fantastic, and the 3D graphics were stunning!

 I started the day by visiting the Samsung stand, where the gamers were beginning to gather. As the London Excel filled up with people, the hype at the WCG stand was clearly visible. Serious gamers sat for hours, battling with each other to become the world champion. And while this was going on, hundreds of people were milling around the Excel, trying out the games and generally enjoying the (extremely geeky) atmosphere. As we walked around, we had the chance to meet R2D2, Darth Vader and various other Star Wars characters, all there to enhance the experience at the Star Wars stand.

 I’ve included the link to my Flickr photoset below, so you can get a feel of the Expo, and the kinds of things that were going on.

 The Expo was a really good experience, and I felt very lucky to be able to experience some unreleased consoles and materials, as well as enjoying some retro games, including GameCube, Atari and Nintendo 64! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niktweed/sets/72157627867339889/

Samsung Galaxy S II vs Apple IPhone 4S

You’ve probably seen a few of this type of review floating about, and may be a bit concerned about bias, so I’m going to attempt to do a simple review, detailing the specs and features of each phone.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S II

APPLE IPHONE 4S

SIZE - 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm WEIGHT - 116 g DISPLAY - Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touch screen, 16M colours                   480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches (~217 ppi pixel density)                  - Gorilla Glass display                  - TouchWiz UI v4.0                  - Multi-touch input method                  - Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate                  - Touch-sensitive controls                  - Proximity sensor for auto turn-off                  - Gyroscope sensor MEMORY - 16GB/32GB storage, 1 GB RAM                     microSD, up to 32GB, 8 GB included CAMERA - 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash                    Geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection,  image stabilization                    1080p video recording, 2mp front camera OS - Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)         Dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos chipset FEATURES - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic                      - TV-out (via MHL A/V link)                      - SNS integration                      - Digital compass                      -  MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player                      - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player                      - Organizer                      - Image/video editor                      - Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)                      - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration                      - Adobe Flash 10.1 support                      - Voice memo/dial/commands                      - Predictive text input (Swype) BATTERY - Standard battery, Li-Ion 1650 mAh TALK - Up to 18 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 40 min (3G) STANDBY - Up to 710 h (2G) / Up to 610 h (3G)

SIZE - 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm WEIGHT - 140 g DISPLAY - LED-backlit IPS TFT, capacitive touch screen, 16M colours                    640 x 960 pixels, 3.5 inches (~330 ppi pixel density)                  - Scratch-resistant oleophobic surface                  - Multi-touch input method                  - Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate                  - Three-axis gyro sensor                  - Proximity sensor for auto turn-off MEMORY - 16/32/64 GB storage, 512 MB RAM CAMERA - 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash                    Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection                    1080p video recording, VGA front camera OS - iOS 5         1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, Apple A5 chipset FEATURES - MicroSIM card support only                     - Scratch-resistant glass back panel                     - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic                     - Siri natural language commands and dictation                     - iCloud cloud service                     - Twitter integration                     - Digital compass                     - Google Maps                     - Audio/video player and editor                     - Image editor                     - Voice command/dial                     - TV-out BATTERY - Standard battery, Li-Po 1432 mAh TALK - Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 8 h (3G) STANDBY - Up to 200 h (2G) / Up to 200 h (3G)

 So, with so many similarities, how are you to decide which handset is the one for you?

 There are those who will remain loyal to Apple, to Samsung, or to the Android platform; those whose opinions will never be changed. However, for those of you who are unsure…

Considering the GS2 was launched over 6 months ago, it does a very good job of running with the IPhone in terms of features and power. Its 1.2GHz processor packs a bigger punch than the 1GHz of the IPhone 4S, and its 1GB ram is superior to Apple’s 512MB.

 The industry preferred Super AMOLED screen quality of the GS2 is sharp, with vivid colours, and the Retina display of the IPhone provides a similarly excellent quality view. With both handsets featuring an 8mp camera, you’re guaranteed excellent picture quality no matter which you choose. However, the front-facing cameras differ, with the IPhone offering a VGA and the S2 packing a 2MP, useful for video calling and various mirror apps.

 Speaking of apps, IOS limits the user to downloading only Apple apps, while the Android market on the S2 is packed with thousands of apps from various developers. However, this can have its downfalls too, as Android apps are not often as rigorously tested as those for Apple devices, but with such an offering, it can be a minor annoyance, as there are often multiple apps which can perform the same function.

 In terms of size, I think this is often a personal choice. Yes, the GS2 is thinner and lighter than the IPhone, but this in no way influences the power and performance of the handsets. There will be those who prefer a larger handset, and those who prefer something a little lighter – these personal preferences will never change.

 On paper, the Samsung Galaxy SII is a superior handset, with greater RAM a faster processor, removable memory, higher quality front facing camera and a longer battery life, but I’ll let you make up your own mind!

 And now, for the vastly opinionated paragraph (just my views people!)!

 Personally, I am an Android lover – always have been. I’ve never owned an Apple device and probably never will, just because I’m not a fan of the OS and don’t particularly like ITunes or the App store (I have used these devices, just never personally owned one). In my opinion, the GS2 is a superior handset, and, as others have said before me, it seems like the IPhone is trying to play catch up in an industry upon which it has lost its grasp. Consumers often resent having to fork out hundreds of pounds for some minor changes to a handset, and want to see a substantial improvement for such a large amount of money. I personally think that Apple are starting to falter, and with such a massive Android dominated industry, with handsets such as the feature-packed GS2, it’s going to be very difficult for them to get back in the game.

Pictures with the Samsung Galaxy S II

This week's mission was to take a series of photos with our Samsung handsets. I decided to take my photos with the Galaxy S II, and base them around the theme of  'a new house'. The photos were taken using the standard camera app, with the features and effects included, without downloading any further applications. Effects used include sepia, greyscale, negative and cartoon.