samsung

In new S4 ad, Samsung replaces iPhone jokes with a fart joke

You can never go wrong with babies.

Well, except in the case of those people who should never have one.

It seems, therefore, that someone at Samsung has decided -- now that the company has reached the America-centric stage of its Galaxy S4 launch -- not to tread on sexual toes.

You might remember that the company likes to begin its American phase with an ad or two suggesting the iPhone is but an attractive doorstop. This Samsung did a few weeks ago with its pool party ad -- the one with the clueless iPhone-owning parents.

So now it's time to step into familial, non-critical territory.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 gets new 8- and 10.1-inch models

Samsung has released the details for an 8-inch and a 10.1-inch tablet joining the popular Galaxy Tab series, along with the 7-inch model currently available.

In an announcement Monday, the South Korean firm unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 models in the new sizes.

The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 is possibly a response to the popular iPad Mini and Google Nexus 7. The tablet is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 1280x800-pixel HD screen, and runs on Android 4.2, otherwise known as Jelly Bean. The 8-inch model also sports two cameras, the front shooting at … Read more

Tim Cook: What, me worry?

For the last few years, Tim Cook has masterfully steered Apple through a difficult transition period following the death of Steve Jobs. Apple's products continued to define their categories, sales set new records, the stock spent a short time above $700, and the company has managed to garner the majority of industry profit for smartphones and tablets.

But Cook is now facing his biggest challenge since taking over as CEO, for a number of reasons, including "What have you done for me lately." But he doesn't seem to be too worried about the competition or the … Read more

Android now owns half of China's smartphone market

Android has upped its lead in the growing Chinese smartphone market.

Google's mobile OS reached a milestone at the end of the first quarter as it gobbled up a 51.4 percent slice of all smartphones owned in China, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech said on Friday. That figure showed a gain of 2.8 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012.

Among all Android vendors, Samsung proved the fastest growing with a 15.2 percent share among Chinese smartphone owners. And Kantar expects more growth on the way.

"Samsung has recently launched the Galaxy S4, selling over 10 million … Read more

Size up the Galaxy S4 Mini in this new video spot

Consumers can catch Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini up close in a new video posted by U.K. mobile carrier Three.

The video starts off by showing the Mini in the hand of Brendan Arndt, the device portfolio manager for Three. Arndt's grasp of the phone shows that many people will likely find it easier to hold than they do the full-sized S4. The next clip displays the Mini along with its bigger brother and the upcoming Galaxy Mega to contrast the sizes of all three.

With a screen of just 4.3 inches, the Mini seems quite compact … Read more

For Galaxy Tab, odd Samsung-Intel partnership emerges

Samsung is putting an Intel chip in an Android Galaxy Tab. That's unusual.

As CNET reported back on May 20, Samsung is slated to disclose -- either privately or publicly -- the next Intel-based Galaxy tablet at Computex, which starts June 4. It will run Android 4.2.2 and sport a 1,280 x 800 display.

What's odd is that Samsung is a chipmaking giant in its own right and considered an Intel rival in Android mobile devices. For example, its Exynos series of chips power the Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy tablets.

But it may have good … Read more

Episode 39: Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 the right phone for you?

The Samsung Galaxy S4 brings a lot of tech to the table. From eye-tracking and gesture control, to its built-in translator and ability to act as a TV remote, the phone is cutting-edge in a plethora of ways. That being said, in today's highly saturated smartphone market, does the S4 have what it takes to be the best? And if it does, is it enough to get people to switch or upgrade with so many good options out there? With these questions in mind, we dished the S4 out to three people, both iOS and Android users, to let … Read more

Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini is a 'decaf' Galaxy S4 (first impressions)

If Samsung's Galaxy S4 is more phone than you think you need, the electronics giant has just offered up the smaller, more midrange -- and surely cheaper -- Galaxy S4 Mini.

Like a decaffeinated beverage, Samsung is hoping to give its lighter smartphone much of the same GS4 taste with just a little less oomph. Although the Mini has stepped-down specs compared to its flagship family, like a lower-resolution screen and an 8-megapixel camera instead of a 13-megapixel shooter, it's no slouch when it comes to the Galaxy S4's core features, like a built-in TV remote control. … Read more

Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the GS4

Following the success of its flagship handset, the Galaxy S4, Samsung announced that it will launch a smaller version of the device in the U.S. and U.K. Aptly named the Galaxy S4 Mini, the manufacturer will release 4G, 3G, and 3G dual-SIM models.

While pricing and carrier information remain unknown, a few key specs were released. As you can see from the chart below, not only is the new device physically smaller, it also has some less powerful hardware features.

For example, it has an 8-megapixel camera (compared with the GS4's 13-megapixel), a dual-core CPU, and a … Read more

Apple patent application eyes eye-tracking technology

Apple may be aiming to challenge Samsung over eye-tracking technology.,

An Apple patent application, dubbed "Electronic Devices With Gaze Detection Capabilities," was published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The application describes a feature in which your mobile device reacts to the movement of your head or eyes.

Turn your head or eyes away from the device, and the screen dims. Look back at the device, and the screen returns to life. Looking away could also put the entire device in standby mode, meaning certain functions are powered down to preserve battery power. In yet … Read more