Samsung Galaxy Premier goes through out battery life test, here go the results

The Samsung Galaxy Premier is the latest in the line of Samsung droids to undergo out battery test gauntlet, and the dual-core 1.5 GHz device showed some great battery endurance – especially in regards to video playback.

Lets take a look at how this mini powerhouse performs in other areas as well, including talk time and web browsing.

The Premier features the same 2100 mAh battery found on its older brother, the Samsung Galaxy S III, yet it only has to power half the amount of CPU cores . Understandably, we expected good battery performance, and we weren’t disappointed.

We saw some good talk time figures, with the Galaxy Premier even slightly exceeding its manufacturer-rated talk time.

Talk time

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  21:18
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  20:24
• Motorola RAZR i
  20:07
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  16:57
• LG Optimus G
  15:30
• HTC One X+
  13:31
• Huawei Ascend P1
  12:30
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  12:14
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  11:58
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  11:30
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  11:07
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  11:07
• HTC Desire X
  11:03
• HTC One X (AT&T, LTE)
  10:35
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:20
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  10:15
• HTC One V
  10:00
• Meizu MX 4-core
  10:00
• HTC One X
  9:57
• HTC One S
  9:42
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  9:40
• HTC Sensation XL
  9:30
• Nokia Lumia 710
  9:05
• Motorola Atrix HD
  9:04
• HTC Vivid
  9:02
• HTC Rhyme
  8:48
• Apple iPhone 5
  8:42
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  8:42
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  8:41
• Meizu MX
  8:39
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:35
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  8:28
• Nokia Lumia 800
  8:25
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  8:23
• HTC Desire V
  8:20
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  8:20
• Sony Xperia T
  8:15
• HTC Rezound (LTE)
  8:10
• Samsung Galaxy Note (LTE)
  8:02
• LG Optimus Vu
  7:57
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  7:41
• Apple iPhone 4S
  7:41
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:25
• HTC Evo 4G LTE (LTE)
  7:21
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:14
• Sony Xperia acro S
  7:09
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  7:09
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  6:57
• Nokia N9
  6:57
• HTC Radar
  6:53
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:53
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:52
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T (LTE)
  5:53
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:52
• Sony Xperia P
  5:33
• Nokia 808 PureView
  5:16
• LG Nitro HD (LTE)
  5:16
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  5:10
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:00
• Pantech Burst
  4:46

The Premier comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean preinstalled, which means great web browsing performance out of box. The Premier came in at 6 hours and 40 minutes of browser performance, which is better than what we got for the S III.

Web browsing

• Apple iPhone 5
  9:56
• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  9:12
• Apple iPad mini
  9:05
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  8:48
• HTC One X+
  7:56
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  7:23
• HTC Radar
  7:17
• Motorola RAZR i
  7:06
• Apple iPhone 4S
  6:56
• HTC One V
  6:49
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  6:40
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:40
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:40
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  6:27
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  6:15
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  6:01
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:56
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  5:53
• Pantech Burst
  5:51
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  5:45
• HTC Desire V
  5:44
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  5:41
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  5:34
• Sony Xperia T
  5:33
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  5:33
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  5:28
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  5:24
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  5:23
• HTC Sensation XL
  5:20
• Meizu MX 4-core
  5:19
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  5:17
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:16
• HTC Rezound
  5:16
• HTC Desire X
  5:16
• LG Optimus G
  5:15
• HTC Rhyme
  5:08
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  5:07
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  5:03
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  4:50
• LG Optimus Vu
  4:49
• HTC Vivid
  4:46
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  4:45
• Meizu MX
  4:35
• Nokia N9
  4:33
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  4:24
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  4:20
• HTC One X
  4:18
• Nokia 808 PureView
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 800
  4:07
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  4:05
• HTC One S
  4:03
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  4:02
• LG Nitro HD
  4:00
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  3:59
• Sony Xperia P
  3:59
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:51
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  3:47
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  3:35
• Huawei Ascend P1
  3:23
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  3:01

As we said, video playback is where the Premier really shines. It was able to keep going for just under 13 hours with it, which is better than even some tablets out there. We’re not sure, but perhaps the PowerVR SGX544 GPU on the Premier is more efficient at decompressing video than the Mali-400MP on the Galaxy S III, which it outperformed by almost 3 hours.

Video playback

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  16:35
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  14:17
• Apple iPad mini
  12:51
• Samsung Galaxy Premier
  12:51
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  11:27
• Apple iPhone 5
  10:12
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:01
• Nokia 808 PureView
  9:53
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  9:42
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  9:34
• HTC One S
  9:28
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  9:27
• Apple iPhone 4S
  9:24
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  9:07
• Nokia N9
  8:40
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  8:25
• HTC One X+
  8:11
• Motorola RAZR i
  8:11
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:00
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:55
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  7:52
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  7:45
• Huawei Ascend P1
  7:38
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:33
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  7:30
• LG Optimus G
  7:16
• Meizu MX 4-core
  6:33
• HTC Windows Phone 8X
  6:27
• HTC Desire V
  6:26
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  6:26
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:25
• LG Optimus Vu
  6:23
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  6:21
• HTC Sensation XL
  6:12
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  6:06
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  6:04
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  6:03
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  6:02
• Sony Xperia T
  6:01
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:01
• HTC Vivid
  6:00
• HTC Radar
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 800
  5:52
• HTC Titan II
  5:50
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:47
• HTC One X
  5:45
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  5:44
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:38
• HTC Desire X
  5:38
• Pantech Burst
  5:38
• Meizu MX
  5:27
• HTC Rhyme
  5:23
• HTC One V
  5:20
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  5:18
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  5:09
• HTC Rezound
  5:03
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  4:30
• Sony Xperia P
  4:30
• LG Nitro HD
  4:17
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  3:28
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:27

Finally, standby performance is right on par with what you’d expect from a device with these specifications – it doesn’t seem to be doing too many battery-draining activities while it’s in standby. All of our tests give it a very respectable 51h endurance rating.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

New paint jobs for Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III mini might be coming soon

The Samsung Galaxy S III launched with only two color options but Samsung added new colors over time. Rumor has it that it’s now turn for the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III mini to get new paintjobs.

The Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III mini will get three new color options each and they’re somewhat different (in name at least) from the colors that the Galaxy S III is available in.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II will get Amber Brown, Topaz Blue and Ruby Wine versions in addition to the currently available Titanium Gray, Marble White. The units with new paintjobs will come out in 2013.

The Galaxy S III mini will get Titanium Gray, Garnet Red and Onyx Black colors, the first two of which match color options for the big Galaxy S III. The Galaxy S III has a black version too, but that’s called Sapphire Black and there might or might not be a difference. Anyway, the new colors for the S III mini will be available in December or early next year.

The new versions for the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III mini haven’t been officially confirmed, but if the rumor is true, they will all be showcased at CES next year.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung may debut 4.99-inch, 1080p touchscreen at CES 2013

A new report indicates Samsung may debut a full high definition display suitable for smartphones during CES 2013. Could it be destined for the Galaxy S3's successor, or a new device entirely?

Samsung could be preparing to debut its own smartphone-sized 1080p display during CES 2013, hot on the heels of HTC’s Droid DNA. Full high definition displays are all set to be next year’s must-have new smartphone feature, although their size will see them used on hardware that tips over into smartphone/tablet hybrid territory.

A Korean newspaper claims Samsung has developed a 4.99-inch touchscreen with a 1080p resolution and a pixel density of 441ppi. While the resolution is the same as the Droid DNA’s, the pixel density beats it by one point.

It’s unlikely we’ll see the hardware related to Samsung’s new screen at the show though, as it’s not expected to go into production until later in the first quarter of 2013, which means Samsung could follow LG’s example and only show off the panel itself.

There are two logical, future homes for Samsung’s Full HD screen: The successors to the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. The slightly odd 4.99-inch screen size could mean it’s destined for the Galaxy S4, as by keeping it under 5-inches — even if it is by a ridiculous 0.01 of an inch — it could still (just) be classed as a true smartphone.

There’s also a chance Samsung could introduce a new device which neatly fits in-between the 4.8-inch Galaxy S3 and the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2. An earlier rumor put the Galaxy S4’s announcement for sometime in March, which seemed a little too soon into the S3’s life, however maybe Samsung is planning an event for that time, but it’s for our mystery 1080p phone and not for the S4.

We won’t find out until closer to the time, but provided the talk of a Samsung 1080p screen is correct, we should get to see it in action during CES 2013, which begins on January 8.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Smart Dock shows what it’s capable of with a Galaxy Note II in the front seat

A short while after the launch of the Galaxy Note II, Samsung launched a special dock for the phablet.

Sammy is calling it the Smart Dock and its chock-full of features, which AndroidNZ has shown in a lengthy video.

The Smart Dock features three USB ports, HDMI port with stereo out as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. The phone is docked via its microUSB port, which also charges it.

A trio of USB ports means that you can hook up the Note II to a mouse, keyboard and external storage simultaneously. Obviously, the HDMI is there to connect with an HDTV or a monitor.

And as AndroidNZ has demonstrated the options are limitless. Check out what the Smart Dock is capable of in the video below.

In the US, the Smart Dock is priced at $99.99. EU pricing is not yet detailed.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy Express steams into your local AT&T store, where it’s yours for $100

AT&T has provided more details about the Samsung Galaxy Express, set to be released onto the network next week. Aimed at first-time smartphone owners, it has 4G LTE connectivity and a sensible price tag.

Previously announced in September, AT&T has now provided some more details about the Samsung Galaxy Express, it’s latest mid-range Android smartphone. The network is pushing the Galaxy Express as being suitable for first-time smartphone owners, or those who’re planning to upgrade from a basic device.

It’s making it an attractive proposition too, as it has slapped a $100 price tag on the front, provided you scrawl your signature on the bottom of a two-year contract. For that, you’ll get a curvy, Galaxy Ace 2-alike device that will happily connect to AT&T’s 4G LTE network.

The specification, while not quite up to the standard of the current crop of superphones, is still intriguing, particularly the screen. It measures 4.5-inches, a fairly unusual size, and one that’s shared by devices such as the Nokia Lumia 920, the Motorola Atrix HD and the Huawei Honor 2. It’s a Super AMOLED Plus panel too, meaning it’s the same as that seen on the Galaxy S2, and not the often unfairly maligned PenTile display used on the Galaxy S3.

Inside is a 1.5GHz, dual-core processor of currently unknown parentage, which should see the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system perform well. There’s no information on the amount of RAM, nor any clues on how much internal memory will be found inside the Galaxy Express, although a microSD card slot is present.

A 5-megapixel camera sits on the real panel, and other features include GPS, Bluetooth and a 2,000mAh battery.

Anyone interested in the Galaxy Express will be pleased to know it’s going to be available from AT&T on November 16. It’s also part of an AT&T offer where you’ll get $100 off a second Samsung smartphone when you buy a Galaxy-branded device with a new contract.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple adds Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Galaxy Note 10.1 to Samsung lawsuit

Apple is trying to add Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, and the Galaxy Note 10.1 to yet another patent infringement court case against Samsung in California.

Apple argued yesterday that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet and the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system infringe on its patents and should be added to an existing California lawsuit against Samsung.

Appearing in a federal court in San Jose, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal, Apple’s lawyers sought to expand the lawsuit against Samsung with additional patent infringement claims. This follows Samsung’s attempt to add patent infringement claims against the new iPhone 5 back on October 1.

The judge has not issued a ruling yet.

Most notable among Apple’s claims is the inclusion of Google’s Android 4.1 operating system, also known as Jelly Bean. Apple insisted that the Galaxy Nexus is the only phone with Jelly Bean that it is seeking to add to the patent complaint, for now. The implications of this are serious for Google and it’s the first time that Apple has included the Android platform specifically in its cases against Samsung.

It seems the Cupertino-based company is also now looking to add devices with a stylus, such as the Galaxy Note 10.1, and Apple’s attorney mentioned adding a further 17 devices that could use a stylus, but don’t ship with one.

This case is not scheduled for trial until 2014.

We will find a resolution to the highest profile case so far sooner than that. The jury verdict saw Apple awarded $1.05 billion in damages. As we reported before, Apple is seeking more money while Samsung is claiming juror misconduct. Those arguments will be heard in December and there will also be a decision on Apple’s attempt to get eight Samsung smartphones banned from sale in the U.S.

We’ll keep you posted on all the news about Judge Grewal’s decision and the December hearing as it breaks.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Windows Phone 8X vs. Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 5: spec showdown

The biggest representatives of every operating system go head-to-head-.to head. The iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, and HTC Windows Phone 8X square off in a Spec Showdown. Which phone best meets your needs? Take a look at our comparison and make your call.

Since Apple makes its own products, it’s latest product is the default market leader for iOS. For Android and Windows Phone handsets, however, the field is wide open. The market defines the front runners with their wallets, and there’s the media darlings that manage to snag the hearts of reviewers. The Samsung Galaxy S3 has become Android’s model phone, in part because of an aggressive and enjoyable ad campaign, and because it’s just a darn good handset. With Windows Phone 8 just becoming available, we can’t be certain what the mobile operating system’s chief representative will be. What we can say with confidence, though, is that HTC’s Windows Phone 8X can make quite a case for itself. How do these three heavyweights of the handset world stack up against one another? Take a look at the stat sheet and draw your own conclusions.

Read our full reviews for the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, and HTC Windows Phone 8X for our extended take on each option. 

	iPhone 5	Galaxy S3	Windows Phone 8X
Size	123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 (mm)	136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm)	132.3 x 66.2 x 10.1 (mm)
Weight	112g	133g	130g
Screen	4.0-inch LCD	4.8-inch Super AMOLED	4.3-inch Super LCD 2
Resolution	1136×640 pixels	1280×720 pixels	1280×720 pixels
OS	iOS 6.0.1	Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI	Windows Phone 8
Storage	16/32/64GB	16/32GB	16GB
SD Card Slot	No	Yes	No
Processor	Dual-core A6X	Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US)	Dual-core Snapdragon S4
RAM	1GB	2GB	1GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+	Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+
Camera	Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP	Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP	Front 2MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 3.1
Battery	1440mAh	2100mAh	1800mAh
Charger	Lightning connector	Micro USB	Micro USB
Marketplace	Apple App Store	Google Play Store	Windows Phone Store
Price	$200+	$200+	$100+
Availability	AT&T, Sprint, Verizon	AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon	AT&T, T-Mob, Verizon

What it means: You can sit and compare the processing power and pixel-per-inch count on each device and come to a conclusion about which phone is most technically sound. That said, the biggest and most glaring difference between these three handsets is in one category: the operating system. Apple’s iOS is streamlined and smooth, like everything Apple; Google’s Android OS is in a seemingly constant state of upgrade, but rarely are the changes met with complaints; Windows Phone 8 brings the complete implementation of Live Tiles, and we’ve already started to see that Microsoft may be on to something. The deciding factor may come down to your other devices and computer. If you own a Mac, sticking with the Apple theme may be best for the purposes of continuity. PC users that sprung for Windows 8 should consider snagging the Windows Phone 8X to get the full functionality of the OS. Android devices can work with Mac, Windows, or even Linux, and the NFC features like S Beam make the Galaxy S3 appealing if your friends of co-workers also own the device. Luckily, if you are making your choice from this group, it’s hard to pick wrong.

(Specs by Jeffrey Van Camp)

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs LG Optimus G spec showdown: Longtime rivals duke it out

Samsung is currently enjoying its spot atop the Android market with its Galaxy S3. But no crown is safe from a good challenge, and LG is looking to provide one with the Optimus G. Can sheer power push LG's handset past Samsung's current king?

Samsung’s Galaxy S3 has managed to make itself the go-to phone when people look for an Android handset. Making its way up the sales charts on the back of its gorgeous Super AMOLED display, impressive processing power, and solid reputation of its predecessors, the Galaxy S3 snagged a top spot for Android-powered handsets right out of the gate. In a market marked by tons of competition though, there is someone vying for the throne. LG, Samsung’s South Korean rival, is hoping its Optimus G is capable of doing just that. With 2GB RAM and processor speed that matches the Galaxy S3′s offering and an HD screen of its own with the True HD IPS Plus Display, LG is making quite the case for itself. Take a look at how all the intangibles add up and see which phone best fits your needs.

Read our full reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the LG Optimus G for a more in-depth look at each option.

	Galaxy S3	LG Optimus G
Price	$200/$300 (with contract)	$200/$300 (SIM-free)
Availability	AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon	AT&T, Sprint
OS	Android 4.0.1 Touchwiz UX/US	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Processor	Exynos 4412 (Quad-core)	Snapdragon S4 Pro (Quad-core)
RAM	2GB	2GB
Display	4.8″ Super AMOLED	4.7″ IPS LCD
Resolution	1280×720 pixels	1280×768 pixels
Dimensions (WxDxH)	5.38″ x 2.78″ x 0.34″	5.19″ x 2.71″ x 0.33″
Weight	4.69 oz	5.11 oz
4G LTE	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n (dual-band)	802.11 b/g/n (dual-band)
Rear-facing camera	8 megapixels	13MP Sprint, 8MP on AT&T
Front-facing camera	1.9 megapixels	1.3 megapixels
Video capabilities	1080p recording	1080p recording
Internal storage	16/32GB	32GB Sprint, 16GB AT&T
SD card slot	Yes (up to 64GB)	Yes (up to 64GB)
Max. battery life	11 hours (2100mAh battery)	10 hours (2100mAh battery)

What it means: LG clearly has a contender when it comes to the numbers. But with any boxing match, the tale of the tape only tells so much. You’d be best served taking each phone in hand and playing around with the UI. Both phones run on a modified version of Android 4.0, and those tweaks may be a deciding factor for you in one feels more natural than the other. You may also want to consider your carrier, because the Optimus G base model comes with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, but AT&T has neutered the device and dropped it to a standard 8-megapixel camera. The Optimus G ups the ante on the processor, jumping to a quad-core compared to the Galaxy S3′s dual-core. However, Samsung’s offering has the benefit of a sizable market share and some impressive NFC features that only work if two people have Samsung phones. If sheer power is your biggest sales point, consider the Optimus G, but if features outweigh numbers on your scale, the Galaxy S3 may be the way to go.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Ativ and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 coming to AT&T Nov. 9

Samsung and AT&T announce the Ativ and Galaxy Tab 2 for a November 9 release, bringing new Android and Windows 8 devices to the carrier this week.

If you were planning to buy a tablet this holiday season, rest assured you’ll have plenty of variety to choose from when you head to the stores on Black Friday. Today AT&T has announced two more tablets to hit stores on November 9: The Windows smart PC Samsung Ativ, and latest member of the Android-powered Galaxy family, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. The Samsung Ativ will retail for about $8o0, and the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will cost about $500 — neither of which require a contract for purchase. 

The Samsung Ativ comes as the first of Microsoft’s beefier Windows 8 tablets to hit the market in contrast to its Windows 8 RT tablets released late in October. The tablet features an included clamshell keyboard for high-speed typing when you need it, and a multi-touch display to take full advantage of the Windows 8 UI experience. The device also features an Intel Atom 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 64GB of internal memory, and 2GB of RAM all viewed from a crisp 11.6-inch display. Clocking in at $800, this tablet is a small fortune, but runs the robust Windows 8 OS for a totally mobile and productive experience.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 serves as Samsung’s sequel to their Galaxy Tab 10.1 released back in 2011, and features Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), an external storage slot, and a slightly beefier battery all viewed from a high resolution 10.1-inch screen. At $500, the Galaxy Tab 2 is certainly not the cheapest Android tablet out there, but nonetheless a feature rich one. Read our full DT review on the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for more info.

To encourage new customers, AT&T is offering a promotional discount for those who buy two qualifying Samsung devices this holiday season. With a new 2-year agreement, customers can get an instant $100 discount for buying any Samsung Galaxy Smartphone along with any Samsung smartphone or tablet of equal or lesser value. As Sprint also announces its roll-out of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for November 11, it’s safe to say AT&T is trying to grab some essential territory before the rest of the carriers release their tablets for the forthcoming holiday season. 

The tablet market this holiday season is well inundated with devices of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the iPad Mini to Windows 8 smart PC — the only question is figuring out which one is right for you, and just what the wake of the coming holiday-season tablet war will bring to the market.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S Duos battery tests are complete, results are inside

Dual-SIM phones are still relatively rare and usually limited to the low-end, but the Samsung Galaxy S Duos takes after the Galaxy S III mini in terms of looks (though not in terms of specs, unfortunately).

Dual-SIM phones are usually bought when there are no good plans available – ones that offer enough talk time, texts and data. So, how long can the S Duos last if you need the second SIM for even more talking?

With a time of 8 and a half hours, the Galaxy S Duos manages to outlast its Galaxy Ace Duos cousin, even though it doesn’t have much of an advantage in the battery department – 1500mAh for the S Duos and 1300mAh for the Ace Duos. This is also an hour more than the official specs promise (those are usually conservative).

Talk time

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  21:18
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  20:24
• Motorola RAZR i
  20:07
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  16:57
• LG Optimus G
  15:30
• Huawei Ascend P1
  12:30
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  12:14
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  11:58
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  11:07
• HTC One X (AT&T, LTE)
  10:35
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  11:28
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:20
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  10:15
• HTC One V
  10:00
• Meizu MX 4-core
  10:00
• HTC One X
  9:57
• HTC One S
  9:42
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  9:40
• HTC Sensation XL
  9:30
• Nokia Lumia 710
  9:05
• Motorola Atrix HD
  9:04
• HTC Vivid
  9:02
• HTC Rhyme
  8:48
• Apple iPhone 5
  8:42
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  8:42
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  8:41
• Meizu MX
  8:39
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:35
• Nokia Lumia 800
  8:25
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  8:23
• HTC Desire V
  8:20
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  8:20
• Sony Xperia T
  8:15
• HTC Rezound (LTE)
  8:10
• Samsung Galaxy Note (LTE)
  8:02
• LG Optimus Vu
  7:57
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  7:41
• Apple iPhone 4S
  7:41
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:25
• HTC Evo 4G LTE (LTE)
  7:21
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:14
• Sony Xperia acro S
  7:09
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  7:09
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  6:57
• Nokia N9
  6:57
• HTC Radar
  6:53
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:53
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:52
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T (LTE)
  5:53
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:52
• Sony Xperia P
  5:33
• Nokia 808 PureView
  5:16
• LG Nitro HD (LTE)
  5:16
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  5:10
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:00
• Pantech Burst
  4:46

The web browsing test was done over Wi-Fi and the phone lasted around 5 hours and 20 minutes. It’s a bit better than what the dual-SIM Ace did, which is pretty good considering the Galaxy S Duos has a larger, higher-res screen (4″ vs. 3.5″ and WVGA vs. HVGA).

Web browsing

• Apple iPhone 5
  9:56
• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  9:12
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  8:48
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  7:23
• HTC Radar
  7:17
• Motorola RAZR i
  7:06
• Apple iPhone 4S
  6:56
• HTC One V
  6:49
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:40
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  6:40
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  6:27
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  6:15
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  5:56
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  5:53
• Pantech Burst
  5:51
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  5:45
• HTC Desire V
  5:44
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  5:41
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  5:34
• Sony Xperia T
  5:33
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  5:33
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  5:28
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  5:24
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  5:23
• HTC Sensation XL
  5:20
• Meizu MX 4-core
  5:19
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  5:17
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:16
• HTC Rezound
  5:16
• LG Optimus G
  5:15
• HTC Rhyme
  5:08
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  5:07
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  5:03
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  4:50
• LG Optimus Vu
  4:49
• HTC Vivid
  4:46
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  4:45
• Meizu MX
  4:35
• Nokia N9
  4:33
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  4:24
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  4:20
• HTC One X
  4:18
• Nokia 808 PureView
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  4:10
• Nokia Lumia 800
  4:07
• HTC Titan II (LTE)
  4:05
• HTC One S
  4:03
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  4:02
• LG Nitro HD
  4:00
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  3:59
• Sony Xperia P
  3:59
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:51
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  3:47
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  3:35
• Huawei Ascend P1
  3:23
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  3:01

The video playback time of the S Duos was disappointing at 4 and a half hours, which is two hours less than the Ace and puts the phone towards the bottom of the chart. It’s worse than the performance of the HTC Desire V – another dual-SIM droid with almost identical specs.

Video playback

• Motorola RAZR MAXX (ICS)
  16:35
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  14:17
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  11:27
• Apple iPhone 5
  10:12
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  10:01
• Nokia 808 PureView
  9:53
• Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam
  9:42
• Samsung Rugby Smart I847
  9:34
• HTC One S
  9:28
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III (JB)
  9:27
• Apple iPhone 4S
  9:24
• HTC Evo 4G LTE
  9:07
• Nokia N9
  8:40
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  8:25
• Motorola RAZR i
  8:11
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  8:00
• Samsung i937 Focus S
  7:55
• Samsung Wave 3 S8600
  7:52
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
  7:45
• Huawei Ascend P1
  7:38
• Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
  7:33
• Samsung Galaxy Note LTE
  7:30
• LG Optimus G
  7:16
• Meizu MX 4-core
  6:33
• HTC Desire V
  6:26
• HTC One X (AT&T)
  6:26
• Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos
  6:25
• LG Optimus Vu
  6:23
• Samsung I9103 Galaxy R
  6:21
• HTC Sensation XL
  6:12
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  6:06
• Samsung Captivate Glide
  6:04
• Sony Xperia ion LTE
  6:03
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
  6:02
• Sony Xperia T
  6:01
• Motorola Atrix HD
  6:01
• HTC Vivid
  6:00
• HTC Radar
  5:54
• Nokia Lumia 800
  5:52
• HTC Titan II
  5:50
• BlackBerry Bold 9790
  5:47
• HTC One X
  5:45
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
  5:44
• Sony Xperia acro S
  5:38
• Pantech Burst
  5:38
• Meizu MX
  5:27
• HTC Rhyme
  5:23
• HTC One V
  5:20
• Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
  5:18
• BlackBerry Curve 9380
  5:09
• HTC Rezound
  5:03
• Samsung Galaxy S Duos
  4:30

Sony Xperia P
4:30

• LG Nitro HD
  4:17
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  4:14
• LG Optimus 3D Max P720
  3:28
• Nokia Lumia 710
  3:27

After running the calculations, the endurance rating for the Samsung Galaxy S Duos works out to 43 hours, barely better than what the Ace Duos got, but a bit less than the Desire V score.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung releases more official Galaxy Note II hands-on videos, shares some tips and tricks

There are more than 3 million Galaxy Note II owners out there, and to make sure that they get the full potential out of their phablet, Samsung has launched no less than five new videos showcasing the device’s power.

As you know from our in-depth review of the Note II, it comes with the S Pen, on which Samsung emphasizes a lot in the new hands-on videos of the device.

The videos are quite lengthy too, with a combined running time of a little more than 30 minutes. So, waste no time, get some snacks and enjoy the hands-on videos below.

Spoiler: they can contain some tips and tricks.

Design, Performance & Display

Multitasking

Expression Tools (1)

Expression Tools (2)

More Smart Features

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung sells 3 million Galaxy Note 2 devices while it waits for the competition to catch up,

Samsung has announced that it has sold 3 million Galaxy Note 2 tablet/smartphone hybrid devices, despite it only have been on sale since September. That's a lot of sales for a niche product, so where is its competition?

Samsung must be looking at the latest sales figures for the Galaxy Note 2, which it has just made public, shaking its head and then having a good laugh. It has released a device nobody thought they wanted and critics instantly took against, then went on to sell millions of them. So why is it laughing? Because there still isn’t any competition.

The Galaxy Note 2 went on sale during September in Korea, reached the UK on October 1, and has steadily made its way to the US and other regions around the world since. According to Samsung, in 37 days it has racked up more than 3 million sales.

The original Galaxy Note arrived in September 2011, but didn’t reach 1 million sales until the end of December, so the Note 2‘s performance is impressive going, particularly when you take into account the Note 2 is still a niche device.

But is it so niche that it doesn’t need some competition? Who does Samsung think it is? Apple? Has it really produced an initially derided product that in reality, just caught other manufacturers napping?

Rumors and half-releases

It seems so, as viable alternatives to the Note 2 are few and far between, despite the product line having been on sale for more than a year. There’s the LG Optimus Vu, or the LG Intuition if you buy it from Verizon; but in its infinite wisdom, LG hasn’t bothered to give it a wide release, so its sales are unlikely to impress.

HTC’s bizarrely named J Butterfly phone has a 5-inch, 1080p screen, but it’s only available in Japan, while Panasonic has picked up its 5-inch Eluga Power and taken it home, after it failed to gain any traction in the European market. At least these have seen a release, as phones such as the LG Optimus Vu II, the Oppo Find 5, Lenovo’s S880 and the Thomson X-View 2 are all seemingly in some kind of release date limbo.

Huawei and ZTE have woken up and started talking about their own tablet/smartphone hybrid machines. For Huawei, it will be the Ascend D2 and the rumor is it will be equipped with a quad-core chip and a 720p 5-inch display. ZTE’s Nubia Z5 will have the same specification, but will add a 13-megapixel camera too. Neither are confirmed though, and both are likely to do the rounds in China before possibly going international sometime next year.

There are also a few other rumored devices with 5-inch-plus sized screens coming soon. HTC may adapt the J Butterfly for international release — possibly to be named the Droid DNA and launched on the Verizon network — while the Sony C650X, codename Odin, may arrive next year too, along with a 6-inch screen version codename Yuga. Both of these and the Droid DNA are said to have 5-inch, 1080p screens.

All this gives the Galaxy Note 2 an almost entirely open playing field until well into 2013. How many Note 2 handsets will it have gone on to sell before a true alternative finally goes on sale?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung releases Smart Dock for the Galaxy Note II

Samsung has announced a new accessory for the Galaxy Note II called the Smart Dock. This allows you to plug your phone into the dock and then use it as a makeshift desktop PC or media center.

The Smart Dock uses the microUSB port to interface with your Galaxy Note II. On the back is an HDMI port that will output 1080p video stream to a monitor or a TV. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack for outputting stereo sound. The microUSB port on the back lets you connect the dock to a charger or a computer.

Along the sides are three USB 2.0 ports that allow you to connect external storage devices such as flash drives as well as a keyboard and a mouse.

It will be interesting to see what the interface will look like once you connect the dock to a display and whether the HDMI can output multichannel sound but we’ll have to wait till this thing ships to find out.

The Smart Dock is only compatible with the Galaxy Note II at the moment and will set you back by $99.99.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple carries out the UK court order, posts “Samsung didn’t copy us letter” on its website

Today Apple executed the UK’s High Court order that ruled the company should acknowledge that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad’s design in its Galaxy Tab slates.

Apple posted a link on the UK front page of its website to a “Samsung/Apple UK judgement” page, where it has posted the UK Court of Appeal’s ruling.

Just to refresh your memory, the court order states that the text should be published in a font no smaller than Arial 11 and Apple has done just this.

In the acknowledgement, Apple confirms that Samsung didn’t infringe on its iPad patents and hasn’t copied the tablet’s design in the UK, but also states other courts, like the one in Germany, have ruled the opposite.

Still, we can’t imagine Apple taking much joy in doing what it had to do – the letter may not sound like a sincere apology, but having to post such a thing on its website at all must have hurt quite badly.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S III: The aftermath

So, you’ve read our Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S III comparison, but there’re still some questions you had that left unanswered? Well here is the place to post them – we’ll answer them right here in our blog.

We’ll start with some of those posted in the comments section of the comparison itself. By the way we are considering making this type of articles a regular feature on our blog, so we’d appreciate any feedback you might have on the idea, too.

Unless I’m wrong, iPhone 5 offers USB-OTG as well. Lightning cables to connect USB drives and microSD cards have been shown.

Not quite. The iPhone 5 does have the camera connection kit, which lets you import images from various storages, but that’s not full-featured USB. For example, the Galaxy S III can connect to mice and keyboards. Not to mention that you can access the full file system of any memory cards and thumb drives you connect to it and not just import the images that are stored on them.

How the hell it was a tie in phone and SMS!!!! GSMArena even the web browsing, when SGS3 shines you call it a tie?!

Actually, it’s not – we called the telephony and web browsing chapters in favor of the Galaxy S III. But let’s not let the facts get in the way of a good argument, eh?

Compromising is going nowhere. With this abstract topic, you can make the most phones come in same story. Sorry, but even Canon vs Nikon, even the best warriors, even if they’re both good, just One is the winner. In every fight there is a Winner. Choose one, you made a site, a topic, a blog, you decide. The consumer don’t understands generally like you, that’s up to his choices, he’s…”not so informed” let’s say.

Of course, there’s a winner in every fight, but in this case things aren’t quite so simple. You see the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III are both great smartphones and each has its strengths and weaknesses (actually not weakness, really, just area where they are not the best).

Which smartphone suits you best depends mostly on your usage pattern and even though we’d love nothing better than saying X is better than Y, we just can’t. You see this site is visited by about 1.5 million people daily and each of them has their unique needs and preferences, so how could we say that the iPhone 5 is better because of its build quality or the Galaxy S III is the winner just because it supports more video formats?

One might decide to put a protector case on their expensive new smartphone to protect it from drops (in which case looks hardly matter) or they might not watch video on their smartphone at all (so what’s the use of a great video player?).

What we decided to do instead is compare the two most popular smartphones of the season in various real-life scenarios and call which is better in each of them. You should then decide which of those matter to you and which are irrelevant and pick the best one for your personal needs. You can hate us all you want for it, but we feel that is the right thing to do.

I don’t think you can award any extra points for iMessage, considering the SGS3 comes with not only ChatOn, but Google Talk, a cross platform messaging service that works through your GMail address. It’s got a wider platform base, working on all Android devices, plus any computer that can access GMail (probably iOS too, but I’ve never looked).

First of all, GTalk is available on any device with a browser and that naturally includes the Apple iPhone 5 – all you have to do is go to the GMail website and login to your account. But that’s not really the point here – you can install of kinds of IM clients on either device – Viber, Whatsapp, Skype, you name it.

The thing with iMessage is that it is seamlessly integrated in your messaging app, so sending messages through it doesn’t require you to do anything different from what you would do to send a regular SMS. It’s a nice way of saving you some charges when you are texting your iOS-rocking buddies and that’s why we believe it’s actually a good thing to have.

Is it just me or is GSMArena Becoming a Samsung Fanboy? Example: how does one Tie in Battery Life when iPhone 5 beats the GS3?

Given that the Apple iPhone 5 scored an endurance rating of 51 hours and the Galaxy S III got 50 hours, we couldn’t see this chapter ending in anything but a tie. The 1 hour difference means that if you use the two smartphones as in our testing procedure (an hour of calls, an hour of web browsing and an hour of video playback per day) you’d have just under 2% battery left in you iPhone by the time the Galaxy S III dies. Not exactly a huge difference, is it?

Furthermore, some iPhone users aren’t exactly getting to experience the same kind of longevity we did with our test unit (including Chavis from our team).

I think you guys are biased towards the iPhone on some of those. So… the SGS3 has a micro USB… But the iPhone has a fancy suite that you have to install to download pictures from the camera folder via a cable that costs 30$ so it’s a tie! Wuut?!

No, it’s a tie in the picture browsing department, because the two can import images from all kinds of memory cards with an optional accessory. Also the iPhone 5 has more accurate color reproduction, while the Galaxy S III makes everything livelier.

It’s true that the iPhone 5 camera connection kit costs a fortune, but the official Samsung USB host adapter is hardly going for pennies either.

GSMarena, I’ve been your loyal review reader even before the trend of touchscreen hitting everyone of us. but to be frank, this is by far your WORST review ever. perhaps its because you will not like to hurt the feelings of iPhone naive users, or even afraid the Apple company will not give you anymore products to review in the future by reviewing the TRUTH. only brainless and blind-worshipers of Apple will really think that their god-like Apple thingy is better than S3, or any other flagships (Optimus G, Lumia, One X etc.) as a longtime reader, I felt extremely bad about this one-sided, biased review.

You got us there – it’s the fear of losing our Apple PR connections that motivated us to do the article in the first place. Tim Cook himself called and told us to do it or else he wouldn’t let us purchase the next iPhone from the store (because that’s what we did this time to get a review unit). We were also extremely afraid that we won’t get invited to the Apple press events anymore… Oh, wait…

Smells like apple paid advertising…

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung to bring Multi-Window view to the Galaxy S III in December

Remember the Multi-Window feature that debuted on the Galaxy Note II? As it turns out the Galaxy S III owners might get a chance to join the multitasking action with the upcoming Android 4.1.2 update.

According to SamMobile, the update is coming in December and in addition to the Multi-Window functionality will also bring bug fixes and stability improvements.

For those unfamiliar with the feature, it allows you to have two applications open on the screen at any one time and operate both at the same time. It works great on the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II, but we’ll see how well it’ll work on the Galaxy S III once the update hits the device.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Kanye West bestowed his presence at Samsung Galaxy Note 2 launch party, but will sales boom?

Samsung took a stop in New York City last night to launch the Galaxy Note 2, complete with a performance by Grammy award-winning artist Kanye West.

Like many other tech journalists in New York City, Tuesday was an average day filled with Apple iPad mini announcements, quirky science news about a talking Beluga whale, and some new Windows 8 laptops and tablets. Then, this came in the mail.

Good Afternoon, 

Thank you for RSVPing for the Samsung Galaxy Note II event on Wednesday! We wanted to invite you to stay after the press conference for a special performance by Kanye West.

Although we’ve already reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, our New York staff had planned to attend to event in case anything new is announced. But after this email was sent out, tech media flocked to Moynihan Station in midtown New York to prepare for the long wait for Grammy award-winning artist Kanye West to drop a surprise performance slapped in the middle of the week.

What made Kanye Jesus Walk-ed his way into a Samsung event, or why Samsung chose to feature Yeezy as its special guest for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 World Tour is beyond us, but by 9 p.m., some members of the public also joined the party, filling the room with an energy and noise I hadn’t witnessed from a crowd of bloggers since Steve Jobs passed away. Also in attendance was also some of New York’s finest crew, including fashion editor Nina Garcia, Jersey Shore‘s Pauly D, and the New York Giants star wide receiver, Victor Cruz.

In a quick set that lasted just over an hour, Kanye West performed classics like “Heartless,” “Runaway,” “All of the Lights,” and “Through the Wire,” while bringing in a special guest of his own, 2 Chainz, to accompany a recent hit, “Birthday Song.” The set ended with a new record, “Clique” before West disappeared behind the stage without an encore. While the concert was certainly memorable and intimate (all things considered, the room was pretty small), did the crowd leave with an impression of Samsung and the Galaxy Note 2 in mind, or were they overwhelmed with the presence of the one and only Yeezy? I guess we’ll find out when the phone-meets-tablet hybrid comes available this November.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung releases new Galaxy S III ads in the US

Samsung has released three new ads for the Galaxy S III in the US. After making fun of iPhone buyers ad nauseam in the previous ads, these new ads actually concentrate on the phone itself and its key features.

There are three ads in total, with each one focusing on the big screen, the Music Hub and the S Beam NFC sharing features respectively. The ads are short, to the point and have a good dose of humor, everything that you expect from a great ad. You can find them all below.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple loses appeal in UK court, will have to run adverts saying Samsung didn’t copy the iPad

Earlier this year the High Court in London ruled in favor of Samsung and dismissed the Apple’s claims the Galaxy Tabs copied the iPad’s design. The judge went even further ordering Apple to advertise the court’s decision for a month in various websites.

As expected Apple appealed the court’s decision, but today the Cupertino-based company lost there, too.

The appeal court once again dismissed Apple’s claims and ordered the US company to run the ads and compensate Samsung for the bad publicity.

Apple might decide to appeal in front of the UK Supreme Court, but somehow I really doubt the effort will be worth it.

If you want to know more about the first case, the ruling and the appeal, just hit the source link below.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S III and Apple iPhone 5 square off from the inside of a blender

The rivalry between Apple and Samsung just moved to a whole new dimension, people! The popular YouTube series “Will It Blend” featured the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Apple iPhone 5 side by side to determine which one blends better.

For those of you who have followed this particular channel in the past, there is no need to tell you that it is the $500 Blendtec blender which ends up as the winner. I must however note that the Samsung Galaxy S III appeared to hold its ground against the blades much longer than the iPhone 5. See for yourself in the video below.

What do you think? Would the “Will It Blend” outcome determine which smartphone will you pick?

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com