s3

Samsung's Galaxy S3 to get Premium Suite upgrade

Samsung's Galaxy S3 is getting the company's Premium Suite upgrade pack.

Samsung launched a video today showing just some of the features coming to its flagship handset. The upgrade, which was previously announced for the Galaxy Note 10.1, adds a new featured called Page Buddy that predicts what the users want to do based on their actions. So, if the Galaxy S3 owner plugs in earphones, the software will load the music player.

A contextual menu feature is also available in the Premium Suite upgrade, allowing users to see their most frequently used apps, rather than an … Read more

Apple ought to supersize the iPhone. Here's why

With the iPhone 5 now moving off the constrained supply list, the rumor mill is turning its attention to what is said to be the next iPhone iteration, the 5S. The forum iPhone5parts.net published alleged images of an iPhone 5S, noting screws in the assembly in different positions from the iPhone 5.

If Apple follows its previous history of "S" upgrades, like the iPhone 4S, a 5S will launch in the spring, housed in the same chassis as the iPhone 5 but with improved innards. Apple CEO Tim Cook and his lieutenants will tout faster processors … Read more

Android 4.1 reaches Samsung Galaxy S3 on AT&T

Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean, is now spilling out for AT&T customers with Samsung Galaxy S3 phones.

As of today, AT&T subscribers can update their phones using Samsung's Kies software. This method requires users to download the new Android flavor onto their computers and then apply the update to their phones through a sync.

Users can update their phones by following the steps provided on AT&T's Jelly Bean upgrade page. AT&T will not offer the update over the air, so Kies is the only way to get Jelly Bean … Read more

Does size matter? iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Galaxy Note 2

Size matters to some smartphone consumers.

While Apple may have already sold millions of iPhone 5 smartphones since its launch in September, not every iPhone fan is thrilled with the new design of the device. And some say the iPhone 5 falls short of expectations, especially in the size department.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I help one such reader decide if it's worth the hassle of switching from Apple iOS to Google Android for a bigger smartphone. And I provide some insight into which Samsung Android phone is right for him. Also in this Ask Maggie, I … Read more

Election, iPhone 5 top Yahoo's list of 2012's popular searches

The iPhone 5 couldn't quite edge out the election to be No. 1 on Yahoo's list of most-searched terms for 2012. But it came pretty close.

Yahoo today released its data for the most-searched terms in 2012. The lists include information on "obsessions" (viral sensations), memes, gadgets, Olympians, sports teams, songs/music lyrics, TV comedies, "what is" searches, how-to searches, recipes, and several others.

At the top of the list of terms most searched overall, unsurprisingly, was "election," followed by iPhone 5. Rounding out the top five were Kim Kardashian, Kate Upton, … Read more

Samsung to ship more than 60M smartphones in Q4, says analyst

Samsung should enjoy a profitable quarter if one analyst's smartphone projections are on the money.

The company is expected to ship 61.5 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, said UBS analyst Nicolas Gaudois, as reported by the Yonhap News agency. That number would prove a 5 percent gain over the 58 million estimated shipments for the third quarter.

And the figure could grow as high as 63 million, the analyst forecast, depending on how many units are actually sold to consumers. The gain in shipments will be triggered in large part by the Galaxy Note 2, which Samsung … Read more

How to buy a cell phone as a gift

Cell phones can make fantastic holiday gifts, but purchasing one for someone other than yourself is more complicated than shopping for other gadgets. Unlike a laptop or a shiny new camera, a cell phone requires a service plan to use any voice or data features (otherwise you wind up with a very expensive paperweight). In most cases, you won't even be able to leave the store or complete your online order until you get that angle set up. And beyond just being an additional expense, that service may require a long-term commitment.

There's no reason to stress, though, … Read more

Sony to take aim at iPhone, Galaxy S3 in upcoming 'flagship' handset

Sony's mobile division is gunning for Apple and Samsung, one of its executives claims.

In an interview with Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) published yesterday, Sony Mobile sales and marketing head Dennis Van Schie said his company is planning to announce a "flagship model that can [compete] with Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S3."

Van Schie wouldn't say what his company has planned for the device, but he did confirm that it will be running Android. In the interview, he told FTD that Sony is "watching closely" the development of Microsoft's Windows … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S3 to get MultiView, Smart Rotation

Samsung Galaxy S3 users may soon see their handset acting more like its bigger brother, the Galaxy Note 2.

That's because according to the SamMobile blog, the Galaxy S3 will soon receive Samsung's MultiView feature as part of a coming 4.1.2 update.

In addition to Multi-View, which lets the user run and view two applications at the same time, the update allegedly includes a customizable notification panel, a new gallery app, the continuous input keyboard, and Smart Rotation (where display adjusts to angle of view).

It's unclear how far along Samsung is at this stage, … Read more