galaxy s4

Does Samsung's Galaxy S4 make the iPhone 5 look lame?

With the introduction of the Galaxy S4, Samsung is making Apple's iPhone look like yesterday's hot smartphone. But will that be enough to make Apple respond when it releases its next iPhone?

With a massive marketing campaign, a 5-inch screen, 13-megapixel camera, and a host of new software features on top of Google Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2, the S4 could attract a following at the iPhone's expense, even at a high price (Samsung has not yet revealed pricing). The S4 will also be more widely distributed than the iPhone, with 327 carriers in 55 countries … Read more

HTC: Samsung spent money on marketing, not innovation

After watching Samsung Electronics unveil the Galaxy S4, HTC President Jason MacKenzie was feeling pretty good.

Actually, he felt bad -- but for Samsung.

"I went from laughing to actually feeling embarrassed at some of the acting," MacKenzie told CNET.

Samsung chose a unique way to present the Galaxy S4 and its many new features, staging a number of skits to highlight the phone's new capabilities. The theatrics were appropriate given that the event was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

MacKenzie said he believes his HTC One is still ahead of the competition … Read more

Samsung GS4 launch: Tone-deaf and shockingly sexist

Dear Samsung: What just happened?

In the middle of a red-hot conversation about women in technology, the resurgence of the equal-pay discussion, and Sheryl Sandberg reigniting the very concept of feminism in America, Samsung delivered a Galaxy S4 launch event that served up more '50s-era stereotypes about women than I can count, and packaged them all as campy Broadway caricatures of the most, yes, offensive variety.

To be fair, everyone in Samsung's bizarre, hourlong parade of awkward exchanges, forced laughs, and hammy skits was a stereotype. The kid was lispy, tow-headed, and tap-dancing (the little girl did ballet, of … Read more

Many Galaxy S4 software features will come to S3

If you just bought a Samsung Galaxy S3 and envy some of the new Galaxy S4 features, you may be in luck.

Drew Blackard, director of product planning for Samsung's mobile business in the U.S., told CNET that many software features will make their way to other Samsung devices such as the Galaxy S3 and Note 2.

"Our hope is to bring anything that's not dependent on hardware to other devices," he said.

Blackard didn't have any details about timing for that but suggested it will be sooner rather than later. For prior releases, … Read more

Beyond the Galaxy S4 hype: What now, Samsung?

Is it too much to expect huge changes with each new phone generation? Judging by the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4, the answer is yes.

Galaxy S4 details have only been live for about an hour, but reviews (including CNET's take) are already rolling in. The overall verdict seems to be that the phone is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The hardware design has been updated with the latest and greatest but doesn't look too different. Other features are pretty cool, but it's unclear how useful they'll be.

The questions these early reactions subtly bring up is … Read more

The Galaxy S4's Key Lime Pie problem

The new Galaxy S4 features cutting edge hardware.

Too bad its operating system will be out of date about four weeks after the phone hits store shelves.

Samsung Electronics' latest phone, which will debut in April at the earliest, will run Android 4.2.2, also known as Jelly Bean. It's also the latest version of Android -- for now.

The problem is another version of Android, widely believed to be called Key Lime Pie, will likely make its debut at Google's I/O developer conference in May.

With the first carriers expected to get the Galaxy S4 … Read more

Samsung has an unstoppable hit in Galaxy S4

No, it's not too early to declare the Galaxy S4 a roaring success.

So what if the latest flagship smartphone from Samsung Electronics won't be out for another month (at least)? Or that Samsung hasn't yet released any pricing information? Or that all of its key features had already been leaked in advance? Or that it's not even that different from the Galaxy S3?

The fact is, Samsung will sell boatloads of this phone, and the foundation for its success was laid down awhile ago.

As I explained earlier, Samsung has been relentless when it came … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 keyboard powered by SwiftKey

Samsung's new flagship device has officially been unveiled, and it has a lot of new features packed in. But what many aren't talking about is the device's on-screen keyboard, which, arguably, is one of the most important aspects of its interface.

In an attempt to improve on its previous flagship phone, Samsung has partnered with third-party keyboard maker SwiftKey to have its proprietary technology built into the Galaxy S4 keyboard.

Despite not knowing the extent of the companies' partnership as yet, we think the move looks like a solid one. Samsung gets some ultrapowerful typing technology to … Read more

Galaxy S4 to hit Asia at same time as rest of the world

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will hit Asian markets the same time it arrives in the U.S. and Europe, a Samsung executive told CNET today.

Gregory Lee, CEO of Samsung's operations in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Taiwan, told CNET today that the company plans to roll out the device globally "almost simultaneously."

"We have, over the years, become very good at operations," Lee said. "In the past, we staggered [launches]. These days, we've become very good at rolling out new products around the world."

Samsung today launched the Galaxy S4, the company'… Read more