Galaxy S4

[McCool71]

Then why would Samsung allow a photo of the back plate gap to be used?

Wow, what dictatorship of a country do you live in? North Korea?

Of course any free press can use whatever photos they take themselves of a review unit without it being approved by the manufacturer. Anything else would be laughable and only accepted by people who are bought.

 

[wxman2003]

These are photos that Cnet has taken themselves of a pre-production unit.

Thank god we are past the times when reviewers are forced by corporations to use pre-approved and photoshopped photos in their first look/hands-on-articles.

Kind of like CBS ordering CNET to rescind it's top rating of the Hopper

 

[onthecouchagain]

Woah, air gesture is pretty awesome. This is pushing technology forward man.

The Verge said it best, if your hands were wet or dirty, you could use this feature.

Plus, it just looks futuristic.

 

[wxman2003]

Wow, what dictatorship of a country do you live in?

Of course any free press can use whatever photos they take themselves of a review unit without it being approved by the manufacturer.

These releases are highly controlled by the manufacturer. Apple does the same. You mess up, and you are not invited back.

 

[onthecouchagain]

The Verge also now calling it a Galaxy SIII S

Gizmodo also had this to say

Then the Verge says:

TICK: GALAXY S III, TOCK: GALAXY S4

So, okay. Nice try.

By the way, why did you not respond to anything I wrote to you before?

Once again:



I want to stress that I'm not too thrilled with the leaks so far and that I currently own no Samsung products.

People that are calling this an Galaxy S3S are just flat out wrong. Do they resemble each other? Yes. Much in the same way the iPhone 5 resembles the iPhones 4/4S. But is it like a Apple S-progression? Clearly no.

Doesn't matter if you personally can't discern the difference. Unless the S4 uses the same exact casing and screen size as the S3, it is not an Apple-S progression.

This is an unbelievably easy concept.

----------



I'm not thrilled with the S4 leaks, either. But opinions withstanding, this is not an S-type release. How can it be if it has a larger screen, and uses a different casing, and has some small redesigns (slight, though, they may be)? The S1 and S2 used similar materials. Are they all S-es of each other?

There will be an upgraded S3. That, you could call a Galaxy S3S type progression, if you'd like. It will be the same exact design, same exact casing, but with upgraded internals (sound familiar??).

But the S4 is not, despite your feelings about it (which, incidentally, mirror my own). If you want to compare, it's much closer to a 4S-to-5 progression. Though, as someone else pointed out, it's somewhere in between. What it clearly isn't, though, is an S-type progression.

 

[quagmire]

And if you read my post, you'll see why there's a perfectly good and legitimate reason to react to the iPhone 5 upgrades in such ways.

So it's legitimate to make fun of the external design of the iPhone 5 because the specs were a minor upgrade? External design has nothing to do with spec updates.....

 

[onthecouchagain]

So it's legitimate to make fun of the external design of the iPhone 5 because the specs were a minor upgrade? External design has nothing to do with spec updates.....

No. No. No.

Read the post again. Really. I'll even help highlight a few key points, but you should really read the whole thing more thoroughly:


There's a reason why people respond to Samsung's [if true] minor S3-to-S4 upgrade differently than they do to Apple's minor upgrades.

Samsung's smartphone lineup is so much more versatile than Apple's. Samsung has a wide range of phones to cover different sizes and price levels, many of them are current generation, and offer different experiences but still remain smartphones.

With Apple, there is only one screen size that is of current generation. The smaller option is over a year old, and there's no larger screen size at all.

Also, just taking their phones at face value, the S3 offers so much more packed into it than the iPhone 5 -- in other words, it truly is hard for Samsung to introduce many hardware changes (and again, they have other lineups to cover other ground in the smartphone world). Apple, on the other hand, intentionally withholds hardware changes (they don't believe wireless charging is worth it, nor in screen size options, nor NFC, nor notification lights, nor expandable memory, etc.).

Likewise, Samsung doesn't recycle their design for two years, as Apple has been doing, and will likely continue to do with the 5S.

So, is the S3-to-S4 upgrade small? Sure -- as small as the 4S-to-5 upgrade, if you want to really compare. But does Samsung take two years to do it? No.


Samsung simply offers a larger profile of devices that cover a range of different needs. Apple doesn't. That's why when Apple releases that one upgraded iPhone, and it doesn't match up to what people want, they are criticized more harshly for it.

Whereas if Samsung releases that one upgraded Galaxy S, and people don't like it, those people can (if they insist on having a Samsung/TouchWiz device) can go to the Note, the S-Mini. It's this wonderful thing called options.

Even if Samsung only offered the Galaxy S as their only smartphone, people would still have a perfectly legitimate reason to react more favorably to their modest upgrades than to Apple's upgrades. And that's because the Galaxy S already has and does so much more than what an iPhone can do. It genuinely is harder for them to keep adding new things each year.

But of course, that isn't even the case.[

 

[2298754]

Then why would Samsung allow a photo of the back plate gap to be used?

They don't have any say in it. Samsung handed them a prototype and they took pictures of it. It was probably used by other journalists.

If you really want to talk poor QC, let's talk about bent or easily scuffed iPhone 5...

 

[MRU]

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-6452_7...xy-s4-vs-iphone-5-htc-one-and-blackberry-z10/

And Engadget carry same specs..


Look at the CPU specs

Processor 1.9GHz, quad-core Snapdragon Fusion Pro; or proprietary 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 5 Octa

Has Samsung lowered the clock speed on the Exynos 5 from the rumoured earlier 1.8ghz to 1.6

 

[2298754]

These releases are highly controlled by the manufacturer. Apple does the same. You mess up, and you are not invited back.

what proof do you have? I'm curious. it's just one picture of a dented S4. I can dig up plenty of scuffed up iPhone pictures and such.

we live in such a dictatorship that everything is controlled on the internet, right?

 

[NT1440]

No. No. No.

Read the post again. Really.

When you talk about using the same casing for "s" updates, you realize that internally most components of the internal case is rearranged right?

Also, I don't get your point about Samsung having its bases covered. Why should apple even care that samsung has lesser level phones out there? the iphone isn't going after low end consumers (other than telecoms selling older models at budget prices). Again, apple has been taking a huge majority of the entire smartphone industry profits since the first iPhone and that has held steady year over year. Why would apple care about also rans when they take the lion's share of THE ENTIRE SMARTPHONE INDUSTRY's PROFITS?

 

[McCool71]

Apple does the same. You mess up, and you are not invited back.

Yep, Apple has a really ugly history when it comes to banning reporters that don't write/speak about their product positively.

That is not the way to treat the press in free countries IMO, but a lot of people applaud this way of thinking obviously even though it hides clear problems with a product from the public. I don't like stuff like that. And neither should anyone that cares about consumer rights.

 

[onthecouchagain]

When you talk about using the same casing for "s" updates, you realize that internally most components of the internal case is rearranged right?

Also, I don't get your point about Samsung having its bases covered. Why should apple even care that samsung has lesser level phones out there? the iphone isn't going after low end consumers (other than telecoms selling older models at budget prices). Again, apple has been taking a huge majority of the entire smartphone industry profits since the first iPhone and that has held steady year over year. Why would apple care about also rans when they take the lion's share of THE ENTIRE SMARTPHONE INDUSTRY's PROFITS?

: face palm :

I'm not asking Apple to care. I'm simply pointing out that it's understandable people respond to Samsung's modest upgrade to the Galaxy S because they can (if they were so inclined) get other Samsung phones if they don't find the Galaxy S upgrade good enough.

Whereas, whatever iPhone Apple puts out is what you get. There are no other options (unless you count going backwards to the 4S, aka last generation's model, a reasonable option). That's why people are harsher on them if they aren't happy with what Apple's released.

Please, for the love of god, read my post more thoroughly. I don't know how else I can explain it better.

 

[quagmire]

No. No. No.

Read the post again. Really. I'll even help highlight a few key points, but you should really read the whole thing more thoroughly:


There's a reason why people respond to Samsung's [if true] minor S3-to-S4 upgrade differently than they do to Apple's minor upgrades.

Samsung's smartphone lineup is so much more versatile than Apple's. Samsung has a wide range of phones to cover different sizes and price levels, many of them are current generation, and offer different experiences but still remain smartphones.

With Apple, there is only one screen size that is of current generation. The smaller option is over a year old, and there's no larger screen size at all.

Also, just taking their phones at face value, the S3 offers so much more packed into it than the iPhone 5 -- in other words, it truly is hard for Samsung to introduce many hardware changes (and again, they have other lineups to cover other ground in the smartphone world). Apple, on the other hand, intentionally withholds hardware changes (they don't believe wireless charging is worth it, nor in screen size options, nor NFC, nor notification lights, nor expandable memory, etc.).

Likewise, Samsung doesn't recycle their design for two years, as Apple has been doing, and will likely continue to do with the 5S.

So, is the S3-to-S4 upgrade small? Sure -- as small as the 4S-to-5 upgrade, if you want to really compare. But does Samsung take two years to do it? No.


Samsung simply offers a larger profile of devices that cover a range of different needs. Apple doesn't. That's why when Apple releases that one upgraded iPhone, and it doesn't match up to what people want, they are criticized more harshly for it.

Whereas if Samsung releases that one upgraded Galaxy S, and people don't like it, those people can (if they insist on having a Samsung/TouchWiz device) can go to the Note, the S-Mini. It's this wonderful thing called options.

Even if Samsung only offered the Galaxy S as their only smartphone, people would still have a perfectly legitimate reason to react more favorably to their modest upgrades than to Apple's upgrades. And that's because the Galaxy S already has and does so much more than what an iPhone can do. It genuinely is harder for them to keep adding new things each year.

But of course, that isn't even the case.[

I read all that.....

And I really think you're reading too much into my comment. I was mocking the people( mostly Android fans) who stated based on the EXTERNAL design ONLY that the iPhone 5 is a thinner iPhone 4/4S........

Because Samsung has other phone lines, updates their phones more often, etc is irrelevant Android fans complained that the exterior design didn't change all that much. I was just mocking those people by saying the same thing about the GS4. I wasn't using it as a serious knock against the GS4.

 

[tbayrgs]

Woah, air gesture is pretty awesome. This is pushing technology forward man.

The Verge said it best, if your hands were wet or dirty, you could use this feature.

Plus, it just looks futuristic.

Cool new feature--sure, but really, truly useful? You have wet or dirty hands--how exactly did you turn it on or select an app, link, button without actually touching it? Come on--the Verge reviewer himself said multiple times that most of the new 'S' features are more gimmicky than useful.

I'm glad Samsung is at least trying to bring something new to their device, just need to actually up the utility factor.

 

[wxman2003]

what proof do you have? I'm curious. it's just one picture of a dented S4. I can dig up plenty of scuffed up iPhone pictures and such.

we live in such a dictatorship that everything is controlled on the internet, right?

You obviously have not read where Apple banned some reporters from attending future release announcements because of their reports. These events are all highly controlled. You have to get an official invitation from Samsung or Apple, etc to attend, and you have to be on their "A" list to get a pre release version to review.

 

[NT1440]

: face palm :

I'm not asking Apple to care. I'm simply pointing out that it's understandable people respond to Samsung's modest upgrade to the Galaxy S because they can (if they were so inclined) get other Samsung phones if they don't find the Galaxy S upgrade good enough.

Whereas, whatever iPhone Apple puts out is what you get. There are no other options (unless you count going backwards to the 4S, aka last generation's model, a reasonable option). That's why people are harsher on them if they aren't happy with what Apple's released.

Please, for the love of god, read my post more thoroughly. I don't know how else I can explain it better.

Your whole premise is that somehow people are locked into one platform or the other. If people aren't happy with an iphone update there is always a choice to switch phones. Unless of course you artificially limit their options to just other iOS devices, but very few people shop that way.

The problem with reading your post thoroughly is its based on false assumptions and choices.

 

[onthecouchagain]

To get back to the S4...

I'm not too thrilled with it. I have a pretty tough decision to make.

It's down to the S4, iPhone 5, or the HTC One. Xperia Z isn't coming to the US, and I'm not willing to throw down the money for the import. Besides, the XZ is a distant fourth.

Argh. Decisions, decisions.

As of now, the order looks like this:

1) S4 / iPh5 - slight edge to the S4
2) HTC One - still worried about real life battery results...

 

[NT1440]

You obviously have not read where Apple banned some reporters from attending future release announcements because of their reports. These events are all highly controlled. You have to get an official invitation from Samsung or Apple, etc to attend, and you have to be on their "A" list to get a pre released version to review.

You mean banning Gizmodo for the whole stolen iphone 4 thing? I haven't heard of another incident that was based off just a bad review or unflattering picture, link?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Your whole premise is that somehow people are locked into one platform or the other. If people aren't happy with an iphone update there is always a choice to switch phones. Unless of course you artificially limit their options to just other iOS devices, but very few people shop that way.

The problem with reading your post thoroughly is its based on false assumptions and choices.

... amazing.

No. I'm not making any sort of statement about whether people are locked into a company or not.

Apple offers one phone. That one phone will draw the burden of all the criticisms.

Samsung offers multitudes of phones. The criticism is spread more thinly because Samsung offers this thing called options.

This will be the last time I explain it to you. If you don't get it, you don't get it.

 

[McCool71]

the Verge reviewer himself said multiple times that most of the new 'S' features are more gimmicky than useful.

I agree that most of these features won't be used by the vast majority of users, but some will.

The Smart Stay (keeps the screen on while you look at it - and works quite well except in the dark) is something that they introduced with the S3 that I like a lot. A lot of people think it is a gimmick, I find it quite useful instead of having to tap the screen every 30 seconds (or whatever you sett the timeout to be) to keep it alive.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Cool new feature--sure, but really, truly useful? You have wet or dirty hands--how exactly did you turn it on or select an app, link, button without actually touching it? Come on--the Verge reviewer himself said multiple times that most of the new 'S' features are more gimmicky than useful.

I'm glad Samsung is at least trying to bring something new to their device, just need to actually up the utility factor.

Yeah, it's gimmicky. And sure, there are growing pains.

But there's no denying it's new. Whether it's useful or not, it's pushing the technology, and you have to give respect to ANYONE who does that. Apple or Samsung.

----------

I read all that.....

And I really think you're reading too much into my comment. I was mocking the people( mostly Android fans) who stated based on the EXTERNAL design ONLY that the iPhone 5 is a thinner iPhone 4/4S........

Because Samsung has other phone lines, updates their phones more often, etc is irrelevant Android fans complained that the exterior design didn't change all that much. I was just mocking those people by saying the same thing about the GS4. I wasn't using it as a serious knock against the GS4.

Fair enough.

 

[NT1440]

... amazing.

No. I'm not making any sort of statement about whether people are locked into a company or not.

Apple offers one phone. That one phone will draw the burden of all the criticisms.

Samsung offers multitudes of phones. The criticism is spread more thinly because Samsung offers this thing called options.

This will be the last time I explain it to you. If you don't get it, you don't get it.

Flagship.

The criticism of a flagship doesn't roll off just because a vender offers other phones. It doesn't get diverted, the flagship will get the full force of criticism.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Flagship.

The criticism of a flagship doesn't roll off just because a vender offers other phones. It doesn't get diverted, the flagship will get the full force of criticism.

: cough : Note : cough :

 

[tbayrgs]

To get back to the S4...

I'm not too thrilled with it. I have a pretty tough decision to make.

It's down to the S4, iPhone 5, or the HTC One. Xperia Z isn't coming to the US, and I'm not willing to throw down the money for the import. Besides, the XZ is a distant fourth.

Argh. Decisions, decisions.

As of now, the order looks like this:

1) S4 / iPh5 - slight edge to the S4
2) HTC One - still worried about real life battery results...

I'll agree in that right now there is no ideal device that matches my needs--closest thing I've found is the Note 2 and based on the what I've read/seen about the One, S4, and Xperia Z, I'm staying with the Note 2. Bummer to because the One looked sooo good on paper and in photos.

IIRC, I thought you really liked your Galaxy Nexus. Why not pick up a used one (probably fairly cheap) to use for a bit to see what else is on the horizon in the coming months?