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

Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Asus Nexus 7 2 model numbers surface

New information has surfaced online covering the certifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Nexus 7 2 (Supposed Name) in Indonesia, obviously we have to take this lightly until we hear official information, but here is what we know so far.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 certification in Indonesia has popped up with the model number SM-N900, and the next generation Nexus 7 could come with two model numbers, which include the Asus K008 and Asus K009.

Judging on all the rumors to date the Galaxy Note 3 is expected to come boasting a 5.99-inch resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels full HD display, the screen will apparently be different dependant on the country it is released in, and one model could see a Super AMOLED display and another with a Super LCD display. We are not too sure on this because at the end of the day these are all just speculations judged on leaks.
Other specs and features on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could include a quad core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and a Samsung Exynos 5420 processor, the Snapdragon version has been said to be for European and US and the Exynos for other countries. The smartphone could also come with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage versions, 3GB of RAM and a possible 128GB storage option.

On the camera side of things the SGN3 is expected to house a 13MP camera on the rear including optical image stabilization and many other advanced features that can be found on the Samsung Galaxy S4, such as Smart Scroll, Eye Scroll, Eye Pause etc. Hopefully the Galaxy Note 3 will be announced at a dedicated Samsung event on 4th of September (Please ditch the Broadway like unveiling), it will also possibly be seen at the IFA 2013 event from 6th of September.
The apparently named Nexus 7 2 has also been certified in Indonesia, the Asus K008, and Asus K009 being Wi-Fi-only and LTE-ready respective. This could get its announcement by the end of July; this is the hope according to many sources such as Unwired View.
The Next Nexus 7 tablet could come featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, obviously a 7-inch display, which we do not know anything about the resolution. Other specs could include the likes of a 3950-mAh battery; 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front-facing camera, and narrower bezel and come running Android 4.3 operating system.

iPhone 5 hate vs Galaxy S4 love research

The Apple iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 are two of the most popular devices around. The Samsung Galaxy S4 was only recently released, although the iPhone 5 was released almost 10 months ago. We often find that many iOS and Android device users are fiercely loyal to their respective platforms, so today we thought it would be interesting to look at research involving iPhone 5 hate vs. Galaxy S4 love.
We often bring readers specs comparison, and we have done so for these phones on numerous occasions. This comparison is a little different though as it focuses on positivity and negativity surrounding the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4. A recent study from We Are Social looked into four major phone launches, and as well as the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4, asked about the BlackBerry Z10 and Nokia Lumia 920. For the purposes of this article though, we want to concentrate on the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4.
There are some extremely revealing figures from this study, that involved social network data from Twitter, as well as blogs and forums. For example, launch day conversations for the iPhone 5 tallied 1.7 million, while the Galaxy S4 managed far fewer with only 140,000 conversations regarding it. However, when looking at brand comments that had negative connotations, the iPhone 5 stood at 20%, making it the most criticized of the handsets. The Galaxy S4 on the other hand, only received 11%, making it the least complained about handset in the study.
Apple Maps, the new power socket, and the fact that the iPhone 5 looked virtually the same as existing iPhones, made up the majority of the complaints about the phone. Apple might have received fewer complaints if it had provided free adapters for the new power socket, and the innacuracies of Apple Maps was a major topic of conversation among the tech world for some time after the launch. Apple even felt the need to apologize for the frustration caused by its Maps service. As far as the design is concerned, many felt it lacked the ‘wow’ factor, and Apple received criticism for lacking an innovative touch.
Although the above complaints were the major causes of dissatisfaction with the iPhone 5, other concerns included purple discoloration on photos taken with some of the phones, as well as the easily chipped coating of the handset that was referred to as ‘scuffgate.’ There were also complaints about light leakage behind the displays on some white versions of the phone.

The study also looked at discussions on Twitter, blogs, and forums about new and different handset features. The Galaxy S4 managed 56%, while the iPhone 5 only managed 29%. Those brands that were felt not to bring much new to the table received criticism, and the more successful launches were deemed to be for those devices that were the subject of most conversations involving consumers talking about new features. Hence a big win for the Galaxy S4 here, that most consumers seemed to love.
Interestingly, although the iPhone 5 received much more criticism than the Galaxy S4, the research also showed that despite this, Apple maintains the strongest brand loyalty. For conversations involving brand appeal, Apple stands at 42%, while Samsung stands at 20%. Nevertheless, this doesn’t change the fact that the iPhone 5 was still the device most complained about, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 response was much more positive.
We should point out though, that this latest study appears to contradict some earlier research. For example a marketing firm in Korea recently surveyed over 40,000 people and the iPhone came out top, with technical issues concerning only 17%, while 31% reported problems with Samsung phones. iPhone 5 complaints don’t seem to have stopped it selling either, as according to recent figures for the UK, the iPhone is still the most favoured phone.
We’re not expecting it to be too much longer now until the iPhone 5S is unveiled. A release date in September is anticipated and we are likely to hear the official introduction of the next iPhone a week or so before. We have also heard rumors of a budget iPhone that could also release around the same time, and there could be interesting times ahead as Samsung is also expected to introduce the Galaxy Note 3 in September.
From this latest study it appears then, that there’s a lot of hate for the iPhone 5, and comparatively, a lot of love for the Samsung Galaxy S4. However, as these studies often contradict earlier research it can be very difficult to know exactly what the position is, and that’s why we’d like to hear from our readers. Do you have an iPhone 5 or a Samsung Galaxy S4? If so, we’d like to know which device you have and what you think of it? Please send us your comments, as it’s always good to represent a wide range of opinions.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and addition of LTE-A

There’s a massive amount of interest at the moment regarding the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3. This is Samsung’s flagship phablet device, and it’s widely expected that it will be formally introduced at the IFA Berlin event in September. We’ve been keeping readers informed with the latest leaked information, and a new report now talks about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and LTE-A and also seems to confirm some earlier leaked details.
Recently we told of a report saying that the Galaxy Note 3 will have 3GB of RAM, and other leaks so far suggest specs such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor or the Exynos 5 Octa processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and 5.7 to 6-inch display. Samsung has also just introduced an LTE-Advanced version of the Galaxy S4, so this led to speculation that this may also come to the Galaxy Note 3.
A new report discussing phablets and LTE-A strongly suggests that the Galaxy Note 3 WILL come with LTE-A connectivity, and also states that the screen size will be 5.7-inches. We recently told how the Galaxy S4 LTE-A variant is launching in South Korea and will follow to other regions. Although LTE-A networks are not commonplace yet, LTE-A offers a real advancement as it enables double the upload and download speeds of standard LTE.
Interestingly, following the announcement of LTE-A for the Galaxy S4, a report out of Korea said this could also be coming to the iPhone 5S. News that the Galaxy Note 3 also looks set to include LTE-A means that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor seems to be certain for the device. However, we must point out that until Samsung announces the Note 3, we hesitate to call this ‘confirmed’ news.
The report also states that the official unveiling of the Galaxy Note 3 will be at IFA, which also ties in with other rumors we heard recently. We know that many of our readers are avidly waiting for this device to arrive, and of course we’ll continue to keep you informed with further information as we hear it.
Are you eager to hear official news about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? What are your thoughts on the addition of LTE-A connectivity and the growing likelihood that the Snapdragon 800 CPU will be used? Is there any specification or feature in particular that would be a deal breaker for you? Let us know by sending your comments.

Samsung Galaxy S4 battery life, maximising explained

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is another smash-hit for the company and is flying off the shelves in various regions across the world. One of the bonuses with the Galaxy S4 is that it has a removable battery, so if you are a heavy mobile phone user you have the option of swapping batteries if you battery dies on you. However, there are ways to get the best out of your existing battery and today we have a video to show you that explains how to maximize the battery life of your Galaxy S4.
Although users of the Galaxy S4 have the option of carrying a spare battery or extended battery with them, not everybody wants to have to carry one around. It’s handy then to know how to get the very best out of the battery that you have, and that’s where this 5-minute YouTube video comes in.

There are some really helpful tips and tricks available that may not be common knowledge, so it’s worth taking a look and it covers general battery life optimization tips as well as some ideas that are specific for the galaxy S4. The video that we have embedded for you below this story begins with informing us that the amount of widgets on the home screen can really affect your battery life, and so it’s best to run as few as possible.
It also goes into detail about shutting extra features off, and then talks about not using live wallpapers if possible to conserve battery life. It then discusses the power saving mode and goes on to discuss how much power is used by the display. We think this video is a really good resource and offers a really clear explanation on how to maximize the battery life of your Samsung Galaxy S4.
If you have the Samsung Galaxy S4 we’d be interested to find out if you found this video about improving the battery life useful? Let us know by sending your comments using the box below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. HTC One Max with 2 essentials

Two phablet type smartphones will be battling it out at some point this year, and these will be the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and HTC One Max. We know a number of our readers have chosen a brand already, and this might be due to the love for their respected smartphone maker or thanks to an experience they’ve had previously with either brand.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. HTC One Max – the full official specs and release date for both these devices is yet to land, although we have seen a lot of leaks and rumors painting a clear picture of what to expect.
We took a look at these rumors and the expected specification for each phablet in this article, so feel free to take a look at that information if you want to see how the specs stack up in comparison.
HTC One Max needs 2 improvements to compete – today, we wanted to highlight two improvements needed with the HTC One Max to make a much better handset than the HTC One. In our opinion, the HTC One is impressive and stylish but just increasing that smartphone in size wouldn’t be enough to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
The HTC One Max needs to include a removable battery and SD card slot in our opinion. This would be a vast improvement on the lack of removable battery and SD cards on the HTC One.
We are not the only ones thinking this change is essential, and a number of our readers have also voiced an interest in seeing these extra features on the HTC One Max. One commenter stated, “Not having a removable battery and SD card are deal breakers”. Another said, “The only thing stopping me from upgrading to HTC is the lack of SD card expansion and removable battery”.
Do you think a 5.9-inch phone in the form of a HTC One Max would be enough to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3? If not, what specs and features would you like to see on the Max?

iPhone, iPad beats Samsung in customer satisfaction

We are now used to hearing about Apple and Samsung battling it out in various court cases as well as owners of products from the two companies arguing that their handset is better than others, but the iPhone and iPad beats Samsung in customer satisfaction according to reports.
Apple has often toped customer satisfaction surveys in its homeland of the US, but now it has managed to do the same in Samsung’s own back yard, South Korea. The study that was carried out with the help of 44,168 smartphone owners in the country found that Apple achieved 52% in satisfaction compared to Samsung’s 50%.
In third place was LG that received 46% and Apple also beat Samsung and LG in terms of the speed it fixes hardware that has gone wrong. Apple continually wins the JD Powers award and has done so now nine times in a row, but this latest study found that only 17% of iPhone users had a problem within the first year of ownership.
This compares to 31% of Samsung owners and 25% of LG users, and Samsung has constantly come under fire in regards to its build quality of its products and the materials used to produce them. Samsung has always championed the use of polycarbonate as it allows them to build high numbers of units at a quicker pace to get handsets out to more markets sooner.
Battery and charging issues have accounted for 20% of problems experienced by users with other problems affecting the display or physical buttons to cease working, and the Apple iPad has also came top of another survey in the country as well.
Have you had any issues with your Apple or Samsung smartphone?

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Galaxy S4 Active video review

There is such a huge choice of impressive smartphones on the market that it can be difficult to decide on the right device for you. For fans of Samsung Android smartphones it might come down to whether you favor a large display or whether aspects such as waterproofing are important to you. With that in mind we have a video review to share with you today about the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy S4 Active.
Obviously different smartphone factors are important to different consumers. It used to be the case for example, that display sizes were all pretty similar, but the original Galaxy Note started the trend for ‘phablet’ devices with larger displays. The hugely popular Galaxy Note 2 released last year, following its predecessor with an even larger display.
Lately some of the top smartphones have also been followed up with a dust and waterproof variety. Hence the Galaxy S4 Active, which is really a more rugged version of the Galaxy S4 with these qualities. Before you look at the video review below, we’ll give you a brief rundown on some of the key specs of each of the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 Active.
The Galaxy Note 2 has a 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core processor, Mali-400MP graphics, a 5.5-inch display with resolution of 1280 x 720, 2GB of RAM, and 16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). It also has an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, LTE, and a 3100 mAh battery, and it runs the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean operating system, upgradeable to 4.1.2. One of the highlights of the Galaxy Note 2 is the use of the S Pen stylus.
On the other hand the Galaxy S4 Active packs a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, Adreno 320 graphics, a 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD). The S4 Active also carries an 8-megapixel rear camera featuring Aqua Mode, a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter, LTE, and a 2600 mAh battery, and this one runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. A key highlight of this phone is that it is dust and water resistant to IP67 standard.
Obviously we cannot list all of the plentiful specs and features of these phones, but the 11-minute YouTube video of the Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy S4 Active that we have embedded below this story will show you a lot more. It begins with a good look at the designs of both of the phones and shows the S Pen stylus of the Note 2, and goes on to compare factors such as the displays, features, and much more. We won’t give away too much as it may spoil your enjoyment of the video, but the review offers a good look at the key aspects of these phones.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Active are top-notch devices, and if you particularly want a phablet or a waterproof smartphone your choice may be easily made between the two. For others though, the review could help you decide what is most important to you. We’d really like to hear your thoughts on these two phones that both have something different to offer, so do let us have your comments on this.

Galaxy Note 2 pimped to offer massive battery and storage boost

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 remains one of the best smartphones that money can buy despite the fact it has been available for quite a while now and thoughts are turning towards the next model. The battery life on the device has always been highly praised by those that have used the Galaxy Note 2, but today we have a pimped version that offers a massive battery and storage boost.
An XDA Developers forum member has taken to altering their dual SIM Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and has equipped the device with a massive 9,000 mAh battery which compares to the 3,100 mAh unit that comes with the device.
Obviously this would need a replacement rear battery cover and behind this there is another modification to the Galaxy Note 2, which includes a microSD to SD card converter. This has allowed the owner of the smartphone to add a 256GB SD card to the handset, but this does come at a cost though which isn’t just money.
The device is obviously a lot fatter and heavier than when it first started out life and the SD card cost the user $1000, and that isn’t including the battery and all the other components needed to achieve this modification.
It does also spoil the stylish looks of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as it’s not pretty, but if you need almost endless battery life from a single charge along with an enormous amount of storage space this mod may be for you. To see more images or find out how to achieve this yourself click the link above.
Would you do this to your Galaxy Note 2?

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs and design could vary

The anticipation and hype is growing ahead of the launch of the next phablet device from Samsung, and this has brought numerous rumours and speculation about the device. The latest is that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs and design could vary across a number of models.
While we have seen a number of Galaxy S4 handsets released by the company the latest rumour suggests the Galaxy Note 3 will have four variants is slightly different. The differences are claimed to more subtle with a limited edition model sitting at the top of the tree, which will be built from high quality materials along with a 13-megapixel camera and using one of the company’s unbreakable AMOLED displays.
The next model down with use a regular display but otherwise the same while another model will use an LCD display instead of AMOLED. Finally another version will house an 8-megapixel rear facing camera and again use an LCD display.
We have reported previously that Samsung were thinking of using LCD panels in the Galaxy Note 3 and at the time was put down to AMOLED display shortages. The screen sizes are also supposed to vary slightly with 5.7-inch mentioned which we have heard before, and we have also heard previously that the device would feature a 5.9-inch display according to Samsung executives who also mentioned it was coming in September.
There have been worries that Samsung was diluting the Galaxy range especially with all the S4 models that are now available, but maybe the company is looking to provide the Galaxy Note 3 at varying price levels opening up the device to more consumers that wouldn’t normally be able to afford the smartphone.
It has to be remembered though that this has to be taken with a large pinch of salt and could just mean Samsung has a number of prototypes being tested ahead of the Galaxy Note 3 release.
Do you think there is any truth in this rumour?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active UK SIM free price and availability

Samsung has come under a bit of criticism in the last few weeks since it launched a number of different Galaxy S4 handsets, with some complaining that the company was diluting the range. Too many though it gives consumers more choice when looking to purchase a new smartphone, and we now have the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active UK SIM free price and availability.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is pretty similar to the standard version of the Galaxy S4 except it is tougher with dust and waterproofing thrown into the mix, and the fact it only has an 8-megapixel rear facing camera instead of a 13-megapixel unit.
Now though the handset has gone up for sale with some UK retailers with the Carphone Warehouse pricing the device at £529.95 SIM free, and have stock available for immediate delivery to a local store or your home. The retailer also has a feature where you can check to see if your local store has any stock already, which for the nearest one to our office was showing out of stock.
Another retailer Unlocked Mobiles has the device priced at £494.98 with stock available along with free next day delivery being offered. Online retailer Clove has some colours of the device expected in on July 10th and has priced it at £486 including VAT, while Expansys has the grey version available for immediate shipping at £514.99.
Amazon has the device down to be released on August 1st but is asking a whooping £676.27 for the handset but it will surely come down once the retailer receives its stock.
Are you considering getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?

Samsung Galaxy S3 supposedly gets hotter than ever

As modern mobile devices have got more powerful with higher resolution displays we have seen the batteries powering them also getting bigger as they require more juice to keep them going. Now it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is supposedly getting hotter than ever, at least for one user.
The image that you can see on this page is what’s left of a Swiss women’s Samsung Galaxy S3 after it supposedly internally combusted while inside her pocket. She was busy loading a truck when she heard what she describes what sounded like a fire cracker going off.
A few seconds later her clothes were on fire and there was a strong chemical like smell in the air, and the flames then supposedly got higher than her shoulders before her boss then decided to carry her to the bathroom and soak her in water.
She was then taken to hospital and told she had suffered third degree burns to her leg along with some others to her hand, and the handsets battery grew in size by three times and leaked. Now it is not known if she will be contacting Samsung and seeking compensation, but it seems that the rear cover of the device and the battery wasn’t the official Samsung components.
You also have to wonder why it was left so long for the flames to grow that large. Now this won’t be the first time we have heard of the Samsung Galaxy S3 getting hot and melting, as previously an owner reported that his device melted while placed in a car holder only to admit later down the line that he had melted the device trying to dry it out in the microwave.
Just before Christmas we also heard of a BlackBerry Curve 9320 that allegedly caught fire while left on charge, but BlackBerry were never provided with the handset in question for investigation purposes so doubts were raised over the cause.
Do you think this is another fake claim?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and S4 Zoom official India price

We have some news today specifically for our many readers in India, regarding two of the latest Samsung devices. If you’ve been waiting for news on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini or the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom then the prices of these two smartphones has now been officially announced by Samsung India.
These are both variants of the massively popular Samsung Galaxy S4 and should also be very successful. Starting with the Galaxy S4 Mini, this is a smaller version of the Galaxy S4 with some lesser specs. The price of the S4 Mini will be Rs. 27,900, which some people will no doubt feel is rather expensive considering it’s actually more than the older Galaxy S3 is currently priced at.
Specs of the Galaxy S4 Mini include a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 960 x 540, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD). It also totes an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video capture, a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, a 1900 mAh battery, and it runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean skinned with Samsung’s Nature UX 2.0. It’s available in two color options, White Frost or Black Mist.

 

If the mini variety of the Galaxy S4 isn’t for you and you have an interest in photography, then you could well be interested in the Galaxy S4 Zoom. This one will be priced at Rs. 29,900, also more expensive than the Galaxy S3, which still has a lot to offer. The Galaxy S4 Zoom has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 960 x 540, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD).
The highlight of the Galaxy S4 Zoom is undoubtedly the camera set-up. It has a 16-megapixel rear camera with 10x optical zoom, Xenon flash, optical image stabilization, and 1080p video capture, as well as a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. As well as this it has a 2330 mAh battery, and it runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz Nature UX.
Exact release dates for India have not yet been announced by Samsung, but they are expected to arrive later this month or early in August. You may also be interested in our earlier post today showing a video review of the Micromax Canvas 4. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the Galaxy S4 Mini and S4 Zoom pricing for India? Send your comments to let us know.

Galaxy Note 3 model numbers and screen resolution appear

You normally know that we are getting closer to a major smartphone release when the rumour mill kicks into full speed accompanied by various evidence appearing online, and now the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 model numbers and screen resolution confirmation appear on Samsung’s own website.
Samsung has posted UA Prof Files for models SM-N900T and SM-N900A that are believed to be for the Galaxy Note 3, and these User Agent Profile files are actually specification files that can often describe the model, screen size, and other specs ahead of the device going official.
Files such as these are not a necessity but normally when done it is by the handset manufacturer, this time Samsung and is almost confirmation of the device. From the listing it can be clearly seen that the handset is down to have a 1080 x 1920 resolution display of an unknown screen size, and running an ARM processor.
Recent rumours have suggested that the Galaxy Note 3 will feature a 5.7-inch display, which in a way makes more sense over previous rumours considering the company’s history of increasing the size of the display on the previous Note handsets and the flagship Galaxy S range.
It seems though that there are more than two different model numbers for the Galaxy Note 3 as Android Beat did some research on the SM-N900 code, and stumbled upon a website that keeps track of goods that come in and out of India.
There were multiple references to hardware that had different variations of the SM-N900 code that came from South Korea for R&D purposes. This could just mean that Samsung is testing a number of prototypes but it could fit in with a previous rumour that that the company is going to release four different versions of the Galaxy Note 3.

Samsung Galaxy Star expectations review

While Samsung is famous for its high end flagship smartphones the company also has quite a large range of more affordable Android handsets to choose from, and many of these are ideal for consumers who are looking to get their first smartphone. Today we have an expectations review of the Samsung Galaxy Star for you to digest.
There are a number of cheaper Android handsets that are running older versions of the Android firmware, but the Galaxy Star uses Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and can cost less than RS. 5,000. While we are seeing a number of devices that are coming with 5-inch displays this device has a 3-inch TFT display that helps give the device a small pebble like look.
The display was found to be ok with bright and decent colours along with a good touch response, but the biggest positive for the device was its Android JB OS along with the Samsung TouchWiz overlay. This provides access to a number of quality apps and while high end games won’t be compatible with the device others such as Temple Run or Angry Birds will be fine, and it has to be noted that there is no GPS with the phone so navigation apps won’t be available either.
Battery life was found to be average for a handset at this level and the 2-megapixel rear camera takes images good enough to be shared to social networking sites, but low level conditions and videos returned poor results.
The low resolution display became a problem when looking at text and if the handset is pushed hard it begins to struggle, and while apps such as Facebook or Gmail work well but if you start to pinch to zoom on websites it becomes slow and starts to lag.
It can also only handle Wi-Fi and 2G connections and this in itself makes the handset feel slower with apps such as Facebook taking extra time to load up, and while tethering is supported, as the speed is limited to 2G its poor.
In conclusion the Samsung Galaxy Star is one of the better Android smartphones at the price level, but it might be better if you can stretch a little bit further to around RS. 8,000 or you may want to consider the Nokia Asha 501 that we have compared the Galaxy Star with before.

Galaxy Note 3 topped by Moto X for desire, questionable

Two upcoming smartphones that are provoking a lot of interest right now are the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Moto X, formerly known as the Motorola X phone. Android device enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for these phones, and we’ve just spotted a poll with some interesting results so far. It asks which of these smartphones, along with a few others, is the one that people are most excited for. At the moment the Galaxy Note 3 is being topped by the Moto X, and we find that somewhat questionable.
We’ve been keeping readers informed with all of the latest developments on both of these phones, and there have been plenty of leaks and rumors already. We often notice that articles about particular devices sometimes generate more readers’ comments than others, and the devices that bring in the most comments often prove to be most popular when they are finally released.
Although we’ve received plenty of comments from readers about both the Galaxy Note 3 and the Moto X, we have to say that so far the Galaxy Note 3 seems to be the device that is causing the most amount of interest. Therefore we were a little surprised at a poll where the Moto X appears to be the device that people are most excited about.
The poll in question is currently being conducted over on Droid Life and takes into account some of the notable smartphones that are coming up over the next few months. In answer to the question about which phone readers are most excited about, the Moto X is a clear winner so far with 39% of the vote. Quite some way behind is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with 21%, followed by the Droid Ultra or Maxx (11%), HTC One for Verizon (8%), and LG G2 (8%). Meanwhile, 13% have voted for the ‘Other’ category.
The poll is still open so these results could change before it closes. Nevertheless, we were quite startled to see the Moto X, not only leading the vote so far, but also so far ahead of the Galaxy Note 3. Anticipation for both of these phones is really building now, with the Moto X expected to launch any time now, while many expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be revealed at IFA Berlin in September. There’s time for interest in these upcoming smartphones to build even more then, and that’s where we’d like to hear from our readers.
We’d really like to know whether it’s the Galaxy Note 3 or Moto X that most floats your boat? As they are both Android devices, you may of course be interested in both, but which release are you most looking forward to? Are you surprised to see the Moto X so far ahead of the Galaxy Note 3? Let us know with your comments.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active in liquid drop test videos

There was a time when smartphones that were better surviving life’s little mishaps were large and bulky and not the best devices to look at, but more recently leading smartphone manufacturers have been bringing out handsets that are a little more tougher. Today we have the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active in some liquid drop videos.
Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 Active with its waterproofing being one of the handsets biggest selling points, which can survive being placed into water up to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes, but the videos we have for you today are putting the device through its paces in something a little different.
The first video features a big glass boot that is filled with milk and the handset is slowly placed into the liquid before being dropped to the bottom of the glass. The handset obviously continues to work despite being covered in the liquid.
This followed by another video but the glass boot is now filled with Coca Cola and despite the liquid now being more corrosive and gassy the handset survives to see another day. There is another video but this time the liquid is Pepsi, and then we move onto water which is what the handset was designed to withstand in the first place.
The final two videos contain the same glass boot but this time it is filled with beer and the other one contains Red Bull, and it is certainly not advisable to submerge a handset such as this despite its IP rating in liquids other than water.
Check out all six of the videos and tell us what you think about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and the person subjecting their handset to such punishment.