Software features
The Galaxy S III sports the latest version of Android’s 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system and has added some new TouchWiz features. These include:
Smart Stay – this uses the phone’s front-facing camera to track your eyes and detect when you’re looking at the display. The idea is that the screen will dim when you’re not looking at it, and get brighter when you are. You can set an interval for the phone to stay on as well. Overall, this feature should help improve battery life.
S Voice – similar to the ‘Siri’ personal assistant found on Apple’s iPhone 4S, this natural language voice recognition system can identify your voice from others, and be used to control your phone for playing music, setting alarms and changing settings, as well as sending texts and email and messages.
Direct Call – when you want to contact someone and have their contact information open on your screen, you can simply hold the phone to your ear and the Galaxy S III will automatically dial the number for you.
Smart Alert – when you miss a call, the Galaxy S III will wait until you pick up your phone to remind you rather than beeping and buzzing when you’re not near your handset. Once you pick it up, the phone will notify you via vibration or LED lights.
S Beam – using the built-in NFC chip, the Galaxy S III can automatically set up an ad hoc WiFi network for sharing files between other compatible Samsung devices. Expanding on Android Beam technology, the Galaxy S III can transfer 1GB movie files in about 3 minutes, or a 10MB music file in 2 seconds, according to Samsung’s tests. There is also a ‘buddy photo share’ function that can simultaneously share photos to other Galaxy S III phone users from your photo library.
AllShare Cast – this enables file sharing with Samsung TVs, tablets and other devices that are AllShare compatible. This allows you to share your screen for collaborating with friends, as well as playing your content to (and from) different devices via WiFi.
PopUp Play – this is similar to the ‘picture in picture’ feature found on televisions where you can watch one channel in a small window while viewing another. Only in this case, the movie or video you’re watching can be displayed in a small window while you’re web surfing, checking your email, or other functions. You can also move the small video window around the screen in case it gets in the way.
When do we get it?
Just a few hours after the Galaxy S III was announced in the UK, Samsung Australia issued this oddly confusing statement: “Samsung Electronics Australia is pleased there is continued interest about our Galaxy range in Australia, but we have no plans to make any announcements at this time”.
The Galaxy S III will be sold in other regions as early as the end of May and it’s difficult to imagine that it won’t be sold in Australia soon – it’s just not clear when this will be. We will keep you updated as news becomes available.
On paper, the feature-packed Galaxy S III looks to be strong competition for the iPhone 4S, not to mention the other Android-based smartphones available today. Is it an iPhone ‘killer’? On features alone it is – perhaps – for now, but Apple may quickly trump it with the iPhone 5, likely due around October. Also, while Samsung and Android offer similar options, Apple’s ecosystem of apps, iCloud and iTunes is still some way in the lead.
Up against the excellent SII, this new Galaxy, however, is considerably more capable and polished, and would be a welcome step up for anyone looking to upgrade. Watch this space for our in-depth comparison, coming soon.
Lets hope it has better battery life
it has a 2100mAh battery which is bigger than most others and bigger than the S II
Woo! sounds awesome! Cant wait for it to come to Australia!
how long until a comparo comes out, it doesn’t sound all that much better than the S II 4g
Is it an iPhone killer??? I do love the Gadget Guys unbridaled devotion to Apple, but I don’t think the iPhone is still on top of the smartphone tree. Do Apple still make iPhones????