The four pillars of what Samsung hopes to project as the GALAXY S 4′s friendly user experience continues with pillar number 2: Creation and Nurturing of Relationships. To both create and nurture relationships with the people you meet and the people around you daily, you’ll find the GALAXY S 4′s integration of S-Translator to be especially helpful. As the world becomes more “global”, Samsung aims to help you translate what anyone says for your consumption – and help you translate what you say so you can speak with anyone. This translation tool is integrated into Email, ChatON, and in a stand-alone S-Translator app.
ChatON was also re-imagined to add some new ways for you to communicate through quick messaging. You’ll be able to work with three-way video calls, dual camera video calls, the ability to share your screen, and the ability to share what you’re annotating on your screen.
GroupPlay returns with the Samsung GALAXY S 4 to bring on a set of new features for the already awesome collaborative personal network sharing app ecosystem. At launch you’ll find the ability to play songs between GALAXY S 4 device at the same time with Share Music. This new Group Play app also is able to connect your Samsung GALAXY S 4 devices manually or via NFC.
That’s right – here in the newest version of Group Play you’ll find the need for connecting on the same wifi network to be taken away entirely – games like Asphalt 7 and Gun Bros 2 will work between GALAXY S 4 devices even over your mobile network connection. The Samsung-specific connectivity universe is expanding more and more each day!
Have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the Samsung GALAXY S 4 for specifications, hands-on experiences, and the rest of the four pillars of GS4 excellence!
With the Samsung GALAXY S 4, the company is letting the world know that they’re taking an approach that’s meant to make your life better with four key pillars of excellence, the first being an effort to allow you to get “more Enjoyment out of life.” The camera experience will be the first way in which the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will help you get more enjoyment out of life. As Samsung has mentioned, they’ve created a camera experience that’ll allow you, the user, to take as much emotion away with the device as possible. This camera experience was designed to allow you to get as top-notch a photography and video experience as possible as well.
With Dual Shot you’ll be able to work with both the front and back-facing cameras at once. With Samsung’s experience here, you’ll have an array of templates for placement of these photos together in compositions for sharing with friends and family. You’ll also be able to take videos in this manner with Dual Recording – front and back-facing cameras shooting at once with a final product that’s got both videos in one file.
Sound in Shot allows you to capture up to 9 seconds of audio while a still photo is shown. Drama Shot allows you to combine a series of photos together into one final product. Cinema Photo takes a video of a moment you’d like to capture and allows you to highlight the areas on the screen you want to feature while the rest remains static – the result being one moving .gif file.
Story Album allows you to store all your photos into collections with pre-set templates. With Trip Advisor you’ll be able to pull out GPS location data and apply to these albums with ease. With Samsung’s connection with the company known as Blurb, you’ll also be able to easily print these albums for real-world viewing.
Have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the Samsung GALAXY S 4 with news posts and hands-on experiences galore, including the rest of the four key pillars of this smartphone’s user experience!
Samsung’s Galaxy S IV is being unveiled tonight in an event in New York City that’s being streamed to Facebook and Times Square, and live blogged by us, right here on Gadget Lab. For the Korean smartphone maker, the S …
Andy Rubin leaving the Android team was definitely the most shocking news of the day. He was the person who started the entire movement, from mentioning it to Google back in 2004, to releasing the first Android smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, in October 2008. Now Android is the most widely-used mobile operating system today, with over 1.35 million activations a day, and a total of 750 million Android devices being activated altogether.
Rubin wrote a heartfelt letter to all of Android’s partners. He jumps back through the successes of Google’s Android since its inception. He comments on how the Open Handset Alliance, which started with only 34 members, now has over 85 members. The team had worked day and night to develop Android and help it reach its milestones at an incredible pace. He emphasized how even with a small team, they were ambitious and able to release Jelly Bean last year, an update that brought significant improvements to Android’s user experience.
Dear friends,
In November of 2007 we announced the Open Handset Alliance with 34 founding members. Today, I’m grateful to the over 85 OHA members who have helped us build Android and drive innovation at such an incredible pace. The Android ecosystem has seen tremendous growth since the launch of the very first Android device in October 2008. The volume and variety of Android devices exceeds even my most optimistic expectations — over 750 million compatible devices and counting!
At its core, Android has always been about openness — the idea that a thousand brains are better than one. Just as the ecosystem has grown, so has our team at Google. I am incredibly proud of the phenomenal group of people that spend their days (and nights) building the Android platform and services. Just look at last year…a lean yet incredibly ambitious team released Jellybean with Google Now, launched Google Play in many languages and countries and collaborated with several partners to build three new Nexus devices to help drive innovation in the ecosystem.
Today, the success of Android combined with the strength of our management team, gives me the confidence to step away from Android and hand over the reins. Going forward, Sundar Pichai will lead Android, in addition to his existing work with Chrome and Apps. Hiroshi Lockheimer — who many of you already know well — plus the rest of the Android leadership team will work closely with all of our partners to advance Android and prepare the platform for new products and services yet to be imagined.
As for me, I am an entrepreneur at heart and now is the right time for me to start a new chapter within Google. I am amazed by what we have accomplished from those early days (not so long ago!), and remain passionate about the power of a simple idea and a shared goal — an open source platform freely available to everyone — to transform computing for people everywhere.
Thank you for your support,
– andy
Rubin will be succeeded by Sundar Pichai, the Senior VP of Google’s Chrome and Apps division. Pichai went forward with Chrome despite all of the doubts he received for creating yet “another browser”, but now it’s one of the most popular web browsers available. Pichai has big shoes to fill, but if anyone in Google could do it, it’d most likely be him. Rubin is off to work on his next big project at Google, and has not stated what it’s going to be yet.
This week it appears that Verizon has joined the HTC One party with no less than a full release coming on just after the rest of the major carriers in the USA. The big deal here (we’ve confirmed with a person close to the situation) is that Verizon will be releasing the HTC One AS the HTC One. Unlike previous releases with HTC where the product’s name is changed to fit with a Verizon-specific brand (DROID DNA, for example), the HTC One will be released “as is.”
This news is being pushed to us by a trusted source and has been independently confirmed to AllThingsD this afternoon. The release date for this device on the 4G LTE-toting big red carrier will be some time in the months after the release on each of the next three biggest carriers in the USA. That places the release at a time when the Galaxy S4 is already on the market – we’ll know more on that tomorrow night, mind you.
The HTC One has been receiving some rather significant thumbs up across the board thus far with reviews pouring in from the top sites saying they’ve never seen an HTC device quite so excellent before. With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor under the hood, this device is one of – if not THE – most powerful smartphone on the market today, and, as you’ll see in our review when you wish – it’s not just the motor that makes this beast purr.
Have a peek at our timeline of HTC One features and hands-on experiences as you get pumped up for the Verizon version in a few months – or sooner, we might be inclined to hope. You can peek at [our full HTC One review] now and see how this device is set to take on all competitors in the near future. And how it’ll change the way you capture media today!
This morning (less than an hour ago, in fact) the developer conference known as Google I/O 2013 sold its tickets out in what may be record time. According to last year’s record, the big G sold out all of its tickets – regular and academic – in less than 15 minutes, while the year before that it was, once again, “less than an hour.” This year we’ll have to wait for the official clock from Google to get their view on the situation, but by our watch, the event sold out in 45 minutes.
What you’re going to see at this year’s Google I/O is a rather interesting mix of items that – believe it or not – might be a surprise for the most part. Google has over the past year established its ownership of Motorola and may be bringing a Motorola-made Nexus smartphone to the arena. They’ve released two Nexus tablets over the past year, and may by the time of the conference be ready to release upgrades to those tablets – hardware-wise.
Of course by the time the conference pops up (May 15-17th, mind you), we’ll be seeing a new collection of features for Android, likely just a boost to what’s still code-named Jelly Bean. There is a chance, on the other hand, that the next letter in the Android dessert alphabet will be revealed: Key Lime Pie.
Then there’s Google’s Project Glass. Have a peek at our ever-growing Project Glass tag portal for more Glass information than you can handle, and stick around for more as the developer edition of the hardware (aka the Explorer Edition) appears weeks ahead of Google I/O 2013. As the conference has for several years played host to “free” devices for all attendees, we can’t help but cross our fingers for a Glass of our own (even if wishing is hoping against hope.)
Have a peek at our Google I/O tag portal as well and stick to SlashGear like glue until and through then – we’ll be there with bells on!
The latest devices to receive the honor of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean are Sony’s Xperia TL on AT&T and the Xperia J. The carrier announced the news this morning for the Xperia TL, while Sony made their own announcement for the Xperia J. The update obviously come with a handful of new features, including improved notifications and overall bugfixes and speed boosts.
The Xperia TL was first announced back in October of last year, and it’s most known for its role as the official phone of the newest James Bond film Skyfall. As for the Xperia J, it’s a phone that we haven’t heard much about lately. The device was announced at IFA 2012, and its one of Sony’s mid-range devices packing a 4-inch display.
As for the availability of these updates, the Xperia TL should be available right this second to download, while the update for the Xperia J will land within the “coming weeks.” As soon as the update is available for you, you should receive a notification that will allow you to update over-the-air, but some users may have to update through their computers.
The Xperia TL packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, and a 13MP rear-facing camera with a front-facing shooter capable of capturing 720p video. It also has NFC built in, and is covered with a 4.6-inch 720p display powered by the company’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine.
LG’s Optimus L SeriesII family of devices welcomed another member today with the launch of the Optimus L5II. The Dual SIM Optimus L5II will be initially available in Brazil followed by single and Dual SIM models in South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. The core design elements of the Optimus L5II includes Seamless Layout crafted to fit comfortably in the hand, sleek and balanced design with Laser Cut Contour, Radiant Rear Design made of premium materials …
If the diminutive Optimus L3II is too small for you, and the L7II too big, today’s porridge could be just right: LG’s Optimus L5II is now available. Following in the footsteps of L3II, this 4-inch dual-SIM smartphone will make its debut in Brazil, eventually trickling out to unspecified markets in Central / South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The handset’s 1Ghz processor and 512MB of RAM will be powering Jelly Bean of course (Android 4.1.2, specifically), layered in the latest LG UX specific tweaks: Quick Button and Safety Care. The launch of the L Series II’s middle child rounds out the second generation lineup, leaving LG to focus on matching the previous generation’s sales record. Looking for the official details? Read on for the full press release.
With the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with Verizon’s 4G LTE data coverage, both companies put forth their best. With Verizon it’s the 4G LTE you know and love, and with Samsung it’s their largest “Note” device to date, effectively replacing the standard tablet with one that’s got its own S-Pen for futuristic note-taking and artwork galore. This isn’t the first time the Galaxy Note 10.1 has been available in the United States, but it certainly is the first time it’s been pushed with such vigor.
Hardware
As it was back when we showed our Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 wifi-only Review, this tablet is easily Samsung’s best. At this display size, anyway. If you’re looking for an experience that’s top-notch at essentially any other display size, Samsung has you covered there too – from the Galaxy Tab 7.7 to the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and back again, Verizon also has you covered with 4G LTE. With the Galaxy Note 10.1 4G LTE, you’ve got the 10.1-inch display coupled with the quad-core Exynos processor and the S-Pen – not to mention the front-facing speakers.
With the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the company began pushing their speakers to the front of their tablets. This was a good move and generally regarded as such by everyone that likes to listen to the audio from their devices come out towards their face, rather than from the back side of the device straight into their leg. As it was when we reviewed the wifi version of this device: the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the best entertainment station you can buy with a 10.1-inch screen.
There’s a lovely set of accessories you can buy from Samsung that’ll make this experience even better than it is out of the box: the clip-on case/cover is easily the most “must-have” of the bunch. With it you’ll be standing your Note 10.1 upright with ease, making it into an easel whenever you like. After that you’re set – the charger and the S-Pen come with the box, and the S-Pen slides in the back of the device when you’re not using it.
Have a peek at how this device compares in size to the Galaxy Note II as well – you may just want to make a decision between the two. They’re both carried by Verizon, and both have lovely Verizon branding splattered about as well.
Software
The change in software since the first time we had a look at the Galaxy Note 10.1 is ever-so-slight in it’s flip from Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Premium Suite that comes with it. Because Samsung places its own TouchWiz UX user interface for tablets over the top, you’ll not have noticed the change unless you knew what you were looking for. That said, one of the biggest bumps is in the addition of Google Now.
Hands-on with the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
If you place your finger on the Home button and pull up, a Google logo will appear and you’ll be taken to Google Now. This is the interface that all Jelly Bean devices are allowed access to now on Android devices, complete with information for you based on your interests, GPS location, and the environment around you – for weather, that is. Have a peek at our original Google Now hands-on from back when it was launched for a general idea of what it’s all about!
You’ll also be able to work with multi-tasking features such as the pop-up collection of apps at the bottom of your display that appear when you tap the center of your menu bar. Each of these apps is able to open up as a pop-up window or as a section of your display. At the moment this software is generally fun to see work, but doesn’t work at a level where we’d call it mind-blowingly perfect. You’ll be using this multi-window feature for entertainment more than anything.
Benchmarks
Have a peek at a set of benchmarks run in the gallery here and let us know what you think. On the whole, they’re pretty much the same as they were when we had a look at the wifi version of this machine – this makes sense as, other than some of the software and the change over to the new set of radios, you’ve got essentially the same device, processor and everything. It’s basically the same machine when it comes down to it.
Also included there is a set of speed-tests so you can see how fast we’re rolling out here in Saint Paul, Minnesota. You’ll have to judge speeds for yourself wherever you’re situated in the USA for your own perfect score.
Camera
You’ve also got the same camera as we had a peek at before, so the quality there hasn’t changed a bit. This is an OK camera – not fantastic, but certainly better than the first generation of Android tablets and their terrible, terrible attempt at photo action. With this 5 megapixel camera on the back of the device you’ll be hot to trot – there’s a flash back there too if you need.
Wrap-up
With the Galaxy Note 10.1 you’ve got another excellent entry into the Samsung hero line of Note devices. This remains the largest Note-branded smart device on the market, and is now part of the 4G LTE family as well. Samsung continues to be the biggest opponent for the iPad on the market and – if they were both running the same software and we had to decide between the two – we’d have a relatively tough decision on our hands.
But because they aren’t, and because we’re truly lovers of a unique experience, it’s easy to recommend this tablet as one of the most versatile smart devices on the market today. With the S-Pen, fun and entertaining connectivity with the rest of the Samsung Galaxy devices for media and communication, and one of the newest versions of Google’s mobile OS onboard, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is certainly the hottest Android tablet carried by Verizon today. Have a peek and start penning away!
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
