Samsung Galaxy S4 - Life Companion [OUT NOW]

[McLaren]

Liked what I saw & will definitely want one now. Guessing around mid-April is when the phone carriers will start letting us place orders.

 

[thelvynau]

I just upgraded to the s3 maybe 3 months ago so once this contract is up ill be getting the s4.

 

[gtone339]

Samsung's S View cover lets you peek at your Galaxy S4



Samsung Galaxy S4 health and fitness accessories



S4's features enough to topple the iPhone?

 

[thelvynau]

Samsung's S View cover lets you peek at your Galaxy S4



Samsung Galaxy S4 health and fitness accessories



S4's features enough to topple the iPhone?

That is actually a really great idea.

 

[gtone339]

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Comparing with the competition:

Source

Topples all of the competition.

-----------------------------------

Comparisons between the Galaxy S4 & Galaxy S3:

Source

 

[Moglet]

Topples all of the competition.

It's remarkably close to the HTC One though, and I happen to think that the One is a much better looking bit of kit. Samsung seem to have the edge when it comes to new features (scrolling with your eyes!) but the HTC probably has the better screen and likely a more user friendly layout. I think if I had to choose between these 2 it'd be a very, very tough decision.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I'll probably grab it when my current contract ends in november. No revolution tho, it seems that both Iphone and Samsung are surfing on the trend they launch a year ago. No new design, just a bit changed and a bit more powerfull. I'm also happy that they are going for less plastic, that was my main disapointement with my SII

 

[Finy1]

THE iPhone is better as it has more apps, better camera, better os, faster, better built, retina screen and has proper syncing.

 

[nick09]

THE iPhone is better as it has more apps, better camera, better os, faster, better built, retina screen and has proper syncing.

Really? Say all of that with no proof? How about you buy the S4 and a iPhone 5 and test them side by side with no bias for either side. Then I'll listen.

 

[dice1998]

THE iPhone is better as it has more apps, better camera, better os, faster, better built, retina screen and has proper syncing.

Compared to the SIV? How do you know that the iPhone 5 is better built? The SIV isn't even out yet..

The iPhone 5 retina screen has a resolution of 1136 x 640 @ 326 ppi. The SIV has a 1920x1080 resolution screen @ 440 ppi. (ppi is pretty much useless but just in case some lovewad decides to pull that ppi card out. )

I've never had an issue with "syncing" my android device to my PC if that's what you're trying to get at. I also never had issues with putting music on my phone. or pictures. or videos (if saved in the correct file format that the phone can read) or contacts (via Google sync).

I wouldn't go so far to call iOS a better OS in my opinion. I prefer the openness of android than to iOS. An example of this, and i'm not sure if this feature has been added or not since the Iphone 3GS, custom ringtones for each person so I know who's calling without scrambling to look for my phone to see if it's someone I want to talk to only to find out it's not who I thought it was.

The SIV has a 13MP rear camera, which in my opinion, is beyond overkill as the 8MP camera on the GSII was perfectly capable to go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 5's camera. (refer to my build pics as they're all taken from my GSII).

 

[gtone339]

THE iPhone is better as it has more apps, better camera, better os, faster, better built, retina screen and has proper syncing.

Don't try......

 

[RTSolvalou]

The SIV has a 13MP rear camera, which in my opinion, is beyond overkill as the 8MP camera on the GSII was perfectly capable to go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 5's camera. (refer to my build pics as they're all taken from my GSII).

I agree the S2's camera is great, and seems better than the S3's aswell.

 

[shmogt]

How do people keep hating on the S3 camera? It's awesome. Only time it sucks is low light conditions just like all phones. A truly good phone camera will be good everywhere. Also needs an optical zoom rather than crap digital zoom.

iphone guys I'm sorry but iphone 5 is not even in the same league anymore. I use mine than put it down. My S3 does so much more I'm constantly picking it up. I will say app developers seem to put more time in to apple apps rather than android. They are always just a bit smoother. Iphone works great but if you have owned any iphone you have already experienced all there is. Compare this S4 launch to the iphone 5 launch. They listed features for days plus lots of physical upgrades. Iphone 5 launched their big feature was panoramic camera...

This S4 I am most impressed that it is larger with a larger battery and more physical sensors etc and yet is barely bigger than the S3 plus weighs less. I will be more excited in about a month once people start doing real world reviews. Specs mean nothing if they suck in real life. That's what made the S3 so great because it's specs were all pretty good but they all worked even better in real life.

 

[Omnis]

Proper syncing? My android tablet syncs and updates everything FOR ME. iTunes is the worst.

 

[shmogt]

Proper syncing? My android tablet syncs and updates everything FOR ME. iTunes is the worst.

Ooh this is a point a forgot. The S3 does not work with mac pretty much at all. You have to find very special apps to get it to do what you want and focus of mainly wireless apps. I wonder if the S4 will actually work with mac computers.

 

[thelvynau]

Ooh this is a point a forgot. The S3 does not work with mac pretty much at all. You have to find very special apps to get it to do what you want and focus of mainly wireless apps. I wonder if the S4 will actually work with mac computers.

Based off computers globally arent most computers pcs?

If thats the case not working on a mac wouldnt be a big hit financially.

 

[gtone339]

There is no reason for Samsung to change the Galaxy S design

--------------------------

US Variants of the Galaxy S4 to be powered by Snapdragon 600, International variant to feature Exynos Octa

-------------------------

Galaxy S 4′s pre-registrations outperform the Galaxy S III

-------------------------

Accessories announced by Samsung for the Galaxy S 4

-------------------------

Samsung’s Game Pad accessory hints at a 6.3″ display device

 

[Omnis]

Ooh this is a point a forgot. The S3 does not work with mac pretty much at all. You have to find very special apps to get it to do what you want and focus of mainly wireless apps. I wonder if the S4 will actually work with mac computers.

You don't need a computer to sync anything though. Google takes care of everything for you, and if you want to transfer unreasonably large files you just throw them on any old SD card.

 

[shmogt]

Based off computers globally arent most computers pcs?

If thats the case not working on a mac wouldnt be a big hit financially.

This argument would work if it was the '90s or if a small time company made the phone however this is Samsung. Worlds largest tech company. Make everything from fridges to phones yet can't make a simple apple program. There's just no way. I promise they purposely made it run awful on Mac to take a jab at apple. Just like how apple headphones will not work in their products. However I wonder what they will do this time around.

You don't need a computer to sync anything though. Google takes care of everything for you, and if you want to transfer unreasonably large files you just throw them on any old SD card.

You don't which is why I'm not super complaining however I want to do a full backup just like the iphone can do. That is one thing I miss a lot. Downloading an update could potentially delete everything on your phone and you are screwed. I am really really hoping in android keylime pie google works in some sort of backup feature. Right now there is limited apps and titanium backup which you must be rooted to use. Something that simple like backups should be one of the first things they thought of.

 

[thelvynau]

This argument would work if it was the '90s or if a small time company made the phone however this is Samsung. Worlds largest tech company. Make everything from fridges to phones yet can't make a simple apple program. There's just no way. I promise they purposely made it run awful on Mac to take a jab at apple. Just like how apple headphones will not work in their products. However I wonder what they will do this time around.

You don't which is why I'm not super complaining however I want to do a full backup just like the iphone can do. That is one thing I miss a lot. Downloading an update could potentially delete everything on your phone and you are screwed. I am really really hoping in android keylime pie google works in some sort of backup feature. Right now there is limited apps and titanium backup which you must be rooted to use. Something that simple like backups should be one of the first things they thought of.

Wasn't really an argument more of a question I didnt really know but thanks for the info.

 

[shmogt]

Wasn't really an argument more of a question I didnt really know but thanks for the info.

Lol oh. Ok for information, macs were very rare before but now have a decent market share. They also currently use Intel chips the same as windows so building programs is easier. They are so close internally now that you can actually run a full windows on Mac. No excuse why Samsung can't build a program that works. I plug my phone in and nothing even happens. I don't care what you plug in, even the cheapest Chinese anything and it will still be recognized.

 

[thelvynau]

Lol oh. Ok for information, macs were very rare before but now have a decent market share. They also currently use Intel chips the same as windows so building programs is easier. They are so close internally now that you can actually run a full windows on Mac. No excuse why Samsung can't build a program that works. I plug my phone in and nothing even happens. I don't care what you plug in, even the cheapest Chinese anything and it will still be recognized.

Im going to do some googling on that thanks for letting me know.

In that case it would be a problem for the s4 if it cant be recognised by a mac.

Im sure the iphone comes up on a pc.

 

[gtone339]

Q&A With Samsung's Mobile Chief

WSJ: Samsung is embroiled in a number of patent lawsuits with Apple. Has that changed how you design products?

Mr. J.K Shin: The Galaxy S 4 has features unique to Samsung like [Air Gesture] that detects hand gestures. In the process of developing and making the Galaxy S 4, we have filed around 120 patents related to user interface and software. We've also hired a number of software engineers from India, Russia, China and Europe to develop unique features internally.

 

[shmogt]

Im going to do some googling on that thanks for letting me know.

In that case it would be a problem for the s4 if it cant be recognised by a mac.

Im sure the iphone comes up on a pc.

Iphone works on anything where iTunes can be installed on. Really I have not found it a major problem that I can't hook up my S3 to my mac. Only thing to really transfer over would be music for me and there is an app to do it wirlessly. Android also has mp3 free download apps so you can just download any new songs directly to it. Transferring photos or something I just do with Dropbox. When you buy a S3 they give you 50gb free space to Dropbox for 2yrs which is like probably around $100 savings right there. I wonder if they will have the same deal for the S4? Haven't heard anything about that yet.

 

[thelvynau]

Iphone works on anything where iTunes can be installed on. Really I have not found it a major problem that I can't hook up my S3 to my mac. Only thing to really transfer over would be music for me and there is an app to do it wirlessly. Android also has mp3 free download apps so you can just download any new songs directly to it. Transferring photos or something I just do with Dropbox. When you buy a S3 they give you 50gb free space to Dropbox for 2yrs which is like probably around $100 savings right there. I wonder if they will have the same deal for the S4? Haven't heard anything about that yet.

Ill have to make use of drop box on my s3 as well mind you even if that offer isnt for the s4 ill still get it.

 

[Shaun]

I thought drop box was part of the 4.1.1 upgrade. I know it appeared on my s2 when I installed jellybean on it. I'm probably wrong though.

Cheers Shaun.

 

[thelvynau]

I dont know I had a s1 before this so it didnt update that far have only seen it since upgrading to thevs3.

 

[hogger129]

Looks cool.

I have an iPhone 4S, but honestly, I don't even think I need a smart phone anymore. I don't do anything with it besides texting and calling. I may go back to my Motorola V220. Sure, it was an old phone, but it was built like a rock.

Honestly, if you're thinking about an iPhone, try out both the iPhone and the Galaxy first. A lot of times, the Apple stuff does all the same things, at a higher premium because it says Apple on it.

 

[GranTurismo916]

THE iPhone is better as it has more apps, better camera, better os, faster, better built, retina screen and has proper syncing.

I honestly hate the iPhone. Mostly because most are produced in CHINA.

______________________________
I have an S2. It's a great phone. I use it mostly for gaming though.

 

[hogger129]

I honestly hate the iPhone. Mostly because most are produced in CHINA.

That seems like a silly criticism of the iPhone. I'll bet you own a lot of stuff that is produced in China or other foreign nations where they take advantage of their labor force.

I think a lot of people just hate the iPhone because it's Apple. If you're going to hate it, hate it for the right reasons like that they charge you more money for the same features that a lot of other competing products have.