Samsung Galaxy Note 3 alleged user manual reveals specs

We could be only a few weeks away now from the official unveiling of the next phablet device from South Korean manufacturer Samsung. As with any upcoming flagship device we are often treated to various rumours or leaks that can also include images, although these often prove to be fake. Now today an alleged user manual for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 reveals the handsets possible specs.

It may be the time to reach for the salt pot but the image that you can see on this page is supposedly from the user manual from the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and it also shows off some of the handsets specifications.

We have seen plenty of fake images leading up to the launch of the Galaxy S4 but this image is suggesting that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have a screen size of 5.7-inches of the Super AMOLED kind, which does fit in with previous reports.

Other specs are listed as a 13-megapixel rear facing camera paired with a Xenon flash with Full HD video capabilities, but the device is down with two different processor types under the hood. While there is a good chance that this could be the case it is doubtful if it would actually be on a user manual.

Even so it lists the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor along with the in house Exynos 5 Octa, which may have been used on more units of the Galaxy S4 if it wasn’t for the apparent shortages of the component at the handsets launch.

The sketch also shows that the handset is running an unnamed version of Android Jelly Bean, which is likely to be 4.3 JB once the handset is released. Obviously this so called image of a user manual could just be someone spending some time in front of a PC creating it based on all the rumours that have so far emerged about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Do you think this is the real deal?

Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 vs iPhone 5 iOS 7 Beta 3 speed tests

There’s always a lot of excitement in the mobile device world when upgraded operating systems are on the way. Both the Google Android and Apple iOS platforms currently have updates in development, Android 4.3 Jellly Bean and iOS 7 respectively. Today we want to look at some Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 vs. iPhone 5 iOS 7 Beta 3 speed tests.

We’ve been giving readers plenty of information on these two upcoming operating system upgrades so feel free to check out more on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and iOS 7 at the links. We don’t think it will be too much longer until Android 4.3 makes a public release, as it is already available for developer editions of some phones. iOS 7 on the other hand, is due in fall and the iPhone 5S is very likely to release running it.

We have two YouTube videos to show you that give an idea of speed performances of Android 4.3 and iOS 7 beta 3. The first is a 5-minute showing of the Galaxy S4 with Android 4.3 and the iPhone 5 on iOS 7 beta 3 in an Internet speed test comparison. Before the Speedtest it’s expected that the speeds of both will be pretty similar but in the download and upload speed tests the Galaxy S4 on Android 4.3 comes out top. However, we should point out that iOS 7 is still in the beta stages, so you might want to take that into consideration.

The next video is an 11-minute look at the Galaxy S4 with Android 4.3 against the iPhone 5 with iOS 7 beta 3 in a browser speed comparison performance review. It looks at some of the latest additions to iOS 7 before going on to show the Google Chrome and Safari browsers in some detail. The video goes on to compare the performances with most things seeming to load slightly faster on the iPhone 5.

For the full demonstrations and conclusions you can see both of the videos below this story. Are you eagerly waiting for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or iOS 7? Let us know with your comments.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3, deciphering the rumors

We are now used to seeing numerous rumours and speculation leading up to many flagship smartphone releases, which is now not only confined to Apple and any new iPhone model. Sometimes these can prove to be pretty accurate and we are now deciphering the rumours surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The rumour mill has certainly been kicking into overdrive these last few weeks with the Galaxy Note 3 expected to be launch in September with a global release shortly afterwards. Most recently the device received some certification in Indonesia that followed model numbers for four different versions of the device appearing on Samsung’s own website.

This fell in line with previous talk that the company was going to use Super LCD and Super AMOLED displays for the handset, while the screen size has been changing in some of the rumours. Previously some Samsung executives suggested that the Galaxy Note 3 will use a 5.9-inch display, but more recently it has been claimed to actually be 5.7-inch.

The smaller sized display does fit in better with the company’s history with its flagship smartphones, as the Galaxy S4 saw a similar increase in size as did the Galaxy Note 2. It looks certain though that whatever the size it will feature a Full HD resolution screen.

There have long been claims now that the handset will come using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor in the US and Europe, while other areas will use a Samsung Exynos 5420 chip. While the device is also rumoured to have a slimmer form factor there have also been reports of 3GB of RAM under the hood, and the handset is likely to offer some of the software features that made their debut on the Galaxy S4 such as Eye Scroll.

While there may not have been any solid rumours on the matter many Samsung fans would love the option of having dual SIM card support on the Note 3, and the camera specifications are likely to at least match the Galaxy S4.

It seems there is a good chance of the handset being released running the yet to be announced Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software, and while test results have been seen with Android 4.2.2 by the time the Note 3 arrives it will should have the later version of the OS installed.

Whatever Samsung does provide with the Galaxy Note 3 we can expect it to prove to be the most successful device in the series so far.

Are you planning on getting the Samsung Galaxy Note 3?

Samsung Galaxy Star review is not so bad

Although high-end smartphones are always extremely popular, there is still a huge market for more affordable devices, and the Samsung Galaxy Star is a device that could suit many people on a budget. The low-end phone released two months ago, and we’ve taken a look at a Samsung Galaxy Star review that showed it to be not so bad at all, despite its limitations.

Before we get on to the review we’ll just give you a brief summary of the key specs. The Galaxy Star (GT-S5282) has a 1GHz Cortex-A5 single-core processor, 3-inch TFT display with resolution of 320 x 240 and 133 ppi, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage, expandable to 32GB via microSD. It also has a 2-megapixel camera, a 1200 mAh battery, it runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and it’s a 2G phone in the Duos range and uses a microSIM.

A review that was published yesterday looks into the various aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Star, starting with the price of Rs. 5,000, that’s around $85. The design of the phone is similar to others in the Samsung Galaxy lineup with a plastic chassis and curves. On the top you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone port, and to the bottom a microUSB port and loudspeaker. The left-hand side has the volume control, while on the right you’ll see the power/lock key.

The display is pretty-low-spec as you’d expect for a budget device and is described as “nothing to write home about.” Although the text is not very sharp, users do have the option of an ‘increased legibility’ feature that will improve things somewhat. When looking at the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 operating system it’s said to run pretty well, with games running adequately. The phone also has an FM radio app, video player and integrated music player.

Although the camera offers “decent picture quality,” it doesn’t perform well at all in low-light conditions. Users will get video capture at a resolution of 320 x 240 with different camera modes available. The battery seems to cope pretty well as it’s said that users will get around 2 days use with moderate use on a single SIM. You can see a 7-minute video of the review below this story.

Ultimately the battery life is viewed positively, but negative points for the Samsung Galaxy Star are seen as the camera and screen. The Galaxy Star may be a good choice then, for first time smartphone users. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this budget phone. Are you tempted by the Galaxy Star’s price and what it has to offer?

Samsung Galaxy Folder flip phone surprise

There was a time long before the explosion in touchscreen only devices that clamshell mobile phones were extremely popular among consumers, but new devices with such designs are a rarity these days. Today though we have the surprise news of the Samsung Galaxy Folder flip phone.
There will be many that of you that will fondly remember the original Motorola RAZR that was probably one of the most successful flip phones ever released, but the birth of the iPhone in 2007 started the trend that we are now all used to with the touchscreen device.

Now though there are reports that Samsung has a new model in the pipeline that combines the best of both worlds for an Android running flip phone that is called the Galaxy Folder. Claims from the smartphone manufacturer’s home land are claiming that a Samsung executive has confirmed the device and is set for launch next month.

The device will feature a clamshell form factor that is powered by a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with Android on board along with 4G LTE connectivity, and the handset will have a display of unknown size with a resolution of 800 x 480.

There is even a model number of SHV-E400S/K given for the device and it seems the handset will be a midrange device that could create a new niche market for the company. It is not known if the device will have a physical keyboard paired with the display or use two touch screen displays that fold together.

If accurate this handset could give a lot of users something a little different to what is currently available, and could prove hugely popular among some consumers.

Do you like the idea of a clamshell smartphone?

iPhone 5S, Moto X price conflict after Galaxy S4

The Apple iPhone 5S and Motorola Moto X smartphones are both very hotly anticipated devices. A few days ago we discussed Google’s huge advertising budget for the Moto X in a bid to fight off competition from the next iPhone. However, it seems as though the iPhone 5S and Moto X could be the cause of a real price conflict after Samsung’s Galaxy S4.

The huge half a billion dollar advertising budget that Google has planned for the Moto X certainly raised some eyebrows, particularly as it equates to half of Apple’s entire advertising budget covering all of its devices last year. In the same article we also noted that the Moto X would have to fight off competition not only from the iPhone, but also from many other upcoming smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Only yesterday we also told how despite concerns about the slowdown of high-end smartphone sales, the iPhone seems to be countering the trend according to last quarterly sales estimates. This is very promising for the upcoming iPhone 5S, so it seems that Google and Motorola could have a lot to worry about. With the growing heat of competition, it seems that prices of mid and high-end smartphones could increasingly play a determining factor in their success, and we are more likely to see special deals and price reductions.

The Moto X, sometimes known as the Motorola X phone, has a lot riding on it. When it was first rumored it was thought that it would be a top-notch smartphone. However, later leaked specs have revealed something that is distinctly more mid-range, although there still seems to be a huge amount of interest in the phone. Estimations of the price of the Moto X seem to settle somewhere around the $199 mark. but while we wait for the Moto X, Samsung is pursuing vigorous pricing of its flagship Galaxy S4 phone in order to maintain market share.

In some regions the recently released Samsung Galaxy S4 is on sale at a cheaper price than a basic-level iPhone, despite the fact that the latest iPhone is already 9 months old and the Galaxy S4 must have cost more to make. Back in April when the Galaxy S4 first released in Europe the price was around €695, that’s around $895. However, since that time the price has lowered to around €550/$700. Therefore it seems that rather than attempting to gain more profit from its new Galaxy S4 line, Samsung is instead making “statement about price” according to Forbes.

As a comparison, the basic 16GB version of the iPhone 5 is priced in the UK at $529, that’s almost $790, so this means that the much more recent Galaxy S4 is around $90 less expensive than the lowest-cost iPhone 5. In the US the price of the Galaxy S4 is $579 contract-free at T-Mobile or $549 at MetroPCS. Contrast this to the cheapest iPhone 5 from Apple that costs $649 and you’ll get some idea of the relative costs, highlighted even more by the fact that the iPhone 5 is considered ‘old’ when compared to the Galaxy S4.

It does seem then that Samsung is trying to make a point with the current pricing of its flagship device just as Apple is ramping up to launch the iPhone 5S, but of course we shouldn’t forget the widespread rumors that Apple is also just about to introduce a budget iPhone. All of this could be impacting Samsung’s current price strategy, and it will be interesting to see the price points of the iPhone 5S and Moto X when they are finally unveiled. Will Apple also have to look at some aggressive pricing for the iPhone 5S for example?

Samsung looks determined to compete with whatever Apple throws at it in the way of new iPhones this fall, and we shouldn’t forget that the Galaxy Note 3 is also expected to release around the same time, with a September introduction being anticipated. There’s a huge amount of interest in the Galaxy Note 3, so maybe Samsung will stick with a higher pricing level for this device, relying on the S4 variants to maintain and increase market share.
What remains to be seen is whether the iPhone 5S has enough to offer to really take off. Although many consumers are hoping for a big overhaul, the general consensus of opinion in the tech world is that it may be only an incremental upgrade. It will certainly be interesting to see how Samsung and Google fare in the ensuing price war that seems inevitable against the next iPhone.

Do you think Samsung’s current aggressive pricing strategy will see off the competition from the Moto X and iPhone 5S? Has the Moto X got a chance of impacting sales of the next iPhone, considering the money that Google is prepared to spend on advertising? Maybe you think the real winner of the price conflicts will be the consumer? Let us know by sending in your comments.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 summary videos

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 phablet device has recently released and seems likely to appeal to those people who prefer a smartphone with a large display. It will have some stiff competition though from the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, that not only has top-notch specs but is also dust and water proof. Today we’re looking at the Sony Xperia Z Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 in some summary videos.
We’ve written many posts now about the Xperia Z Ultra and also the Galaxy Mega 6.3, so to see much more check them out at the links. Today we have three YouTube videos to share with you, all of which offer comparisons between these two smartphones. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is due in Q3 and to be frank the specs outshine those of the Galaxy Mega 6.3, although of course these are likely to come at a cost. It’s good to see three alternative views of these two phones though, to get an idea of what they each have to offer.
The first video that we have embedded for you below this story is a brief straightforward specs comparison of the two handsets. This will give you a very good starting point before you go on to the remaining videos. It details all of the key specs of each alongside each other, such as processor, display, cameras, storage and more, as well as additional features.
The next video offers a 5-minute look at the Xperia Z Ultra with respect to it being a Galaxy Mega 6.3 competitor. As the Xperia Z Ultra was not available the handset used in the video is actually the Xperia Z. However, it does give a frame of reference as far as the comparison is concerned as the Xperia Z Ultra is very similar to the Xperia Z in design, but instead has a whopping 6.4-ich display.
The last of our three videos is a two-minute look at the Xperia Z Ultra vs. Galaxy Mega 6.3 and gives a good idea of the two handsets and how they differ. It concludes with a list of the advantages of each phone and also asks viewers to vote for their preferred choice. You could be the first person to offer an opinion as nobody seems to have commented yet.
We’ve recently given some details of UK pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and on Three UK it’s priced at £449.99 on PAYG. Pricing for the Xperia Z Ultra is not confirmed yet but the unlocked version is available to pre-order on Clove for £599.99 with first stock expected in September. We hope the videos that you can check out below will help you make a choice if you are considering purchasing one of these two handsets.
Are you interested in either the Sony Xperia Z Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3? Maybe you feel the Xperia Z Ultra is worth waiting for, despite its extra cost? Let us have your comments