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Samsung Galaxy S4 due in February
- ricksta 14y agoThe super short product life cycle of android is making me hesitate to buy one now because it always feel like the next generation is just around the corner.
- Smerity 14y agoThis is commonly referred to as the Osborne effect. Apple have a similar issue when the rumours of the next iPhone start making the rounds. With Apple it's likely less of an issue considering they have an impressive profit margin on their products and a strong lock on their target market. If the recently announced iPhone doesn't sound too impressive the customers are still likely to buy it as they're unlikely to consider other alternatives as an interim. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- netcan 14y agommm. Advantages & disadvantages. As mac user, I feel like they have a strong lock on me. Since product releases are infrequent and I wil own it for 4-5 years, I hesitate when buying a new one (I don't want to start 18 months behind). Androids move fast enough that buying a new one you are guaranteed to find yourself a few months behind within a few months. But, it will only be a few months.
- digitalengineer 14y agoYes, with Apple, arleast you know you've got their 'latest and greatest' for an entire year (and it will take Apple two years to launch a new model). To already see the Galaxy 3 now makes the 2 feel like yesterday's toy. The timing of this news suggests they're trying to attrack iphone buyers, but the overall feeling I get is they envy Apple. (Also because Samsung feels the need to compare their phone with the new iphone).
- mayanksinghal 14y agoActually, a friend bought a S2 a few weeks back. It still works brilliantly!
- tesseractive 14y agoIsn't the Galaxy S2 a year old now? It's yesterday's toy in the same sense that an iPhone 4S is -- it's last year's model.
- bookwormAT 14y agoDon't the Galaxy and the iPhone have a very similar product life cycle (one device each year)?
- clarky07 14y agowell this one is going to be 9 months. i don't know what the time between s2 and s3 was.
- bookwormAT 14y agoAs far as I know, the Galaxy S3 was released somewhere in May last year. If Samsung presents the S4 at MWC in February, the release date will be similar. And the iPhone releases are not always exactly 12 months apart from each other as well, right?
- molmalo 14y agoExactly, they will only show it in February, but most probably, they will start selling it 2/3 months later.
- natrius 14y agoIf you're a Hacker News user who wants an Android phone, you probably shouldn't be buying anything that isn't Nexus-branded. The Galaxy Nexus is great, but there's usually a new Nexus each winter.
- drats 14y agoExactly the hidden issue here is whether you will have the newest version of Android or just be stuck on an old version. People are even still selling ICS capable phones with Android 2.3 today.
- StavrosK 14y agoIsn't the Galaxy Nexus $350 or so right now? It's a steal for a phone this great. I'm in love with mine.
- robbiet480 14y agoI don't get this. The S III has much better specs then the Nexus and with CyanogenMod 10 it runs great. Why is the Nexus so special other then being a AOSP phone? Also, camera sucks I hear
- dkd 14y agoAFAIK, google's update for ICS to JB is only available in Goolge Nexus till now. So Samsung S3/2 will get updates probably a bit later. :)
- robbiet480 14y agoBut again, install CyanogenMod 10 and you have Jelly Bean, pretty much stock. I still don't see the draw
- barrkel 14y ago> install CyanogenMod 10 This bit is the problem. I don't jailbreak a device before I am ready to throw it away. I've seen too many issues with non-official hacks of various sorts. Nothing major; just rough edges.
- voodoomagicman 14y agoIt is interesting to see the different perspective on Apple/Samsung in the korean vs american press.
- frugalmail 14y agoI'm in America, an American, and not Asian. I find what apple is doing repulsive. - They are using highly questionable patents to discourage competition, are ruling their ecosystem like a fascist regime, - forcing you to swallow their whole stack to work with any part of their ecosystem (e.g. you can only build ios apps on mac) - their bundled applications suck (damn the "rainbow wait wheel" - making disposable laptops, ipods, and iphones which is counter to the environment and very anti-consumer but pro apple pocketbook. And all this is especially funny when you look back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8 Although that article is definitely not substantiating their bias it's just a shame that brand marketing here has so clearly pulled the proverbial wool over the American public's eyes.
- yardie 14y agoHome team advantage. Apple gets good reviews in the US (once you ignore the tech blogs), Samsung gets favorable press throughout Asia, and Nokia might having a fighting chance with Windows Phone 8 in Europe. I've seen lots of ads for the N920.
- Nikkau 14y agoThey extend the screen, what a surprise!
- cheald 14y agoMan, what a bunch of copycats! Who do they think they are, making phones with screens larger than 3.5"?
- frugalmail 14y agoDell Streak (Android) had a 5 inch screen and was released in early 2010. You are a perfect example of what strong brand soundbites have done to the public.
- Camillo 14y agoAnd people have been making fun of phonblets for two years. What's your point?
- bergie 14y agoThe press has been making fun of "phablets", but people sure seem to be buying them: http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/3246378/samsung-galaxy-note-sales-10-million-worldwide http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/3246378/samsung-galaxy-not... http://thedroidguy.com/2012/09/samsung-predicts-galaxy-note-ii-sales-to-surpass-20-million/ http://thedroidguy.com/2012/09/samsung-predicts-galaxy-note-...
- Camillo 14y agoWell, we do have an obesity epidemic.
- frugalmail 14y agoSeriously, did you read the parent?
- thechut 14y ago>The S4 will see some external changes but retain its popular rectangular shape with rounded corner concept. Sounds like not only are they not worried of the patent suits but they are going to thumb their nose at them too.
- bmunro 14y ago5 inches seems to be pushing it a bit. I think that the S3 is already at the upper limit for a phone. The 5.3 inches of the galaxy note is way too big for an ordinary phone in my opinion. My 4.65" Galaxy Nexus is a nice size, but I don't want it any bigger. Perhaps they can reduce the size of the bezel to counteract the greater distance you will need to reach.
- pixie_ 14y agoGod speed Samsung.
- clarky07 14y agoAm I the only one that thinks 5 inches is far too big for a phone? I'm not sure how I feel about the 4 inch iPhone 5, but I'm certain I don't want anything that is 5 inches.
- Trezoid 14y agoI want to know how people are fitting them in pockets. 5 inches IS far too big for a phone. That's a tiny tablet, and apparently is quite good at that...
- ok_craig 14y agoDepends on the kind of pants you wear. My Nexus 7 fits in the pockets of my shorts and they're average size. (I tested just to see once. I don't carry it that way. :)
- mike_esspe 14y agoI worried about 4.7 inch display being too big too, but it turned up to be a perfect size for me.
- EwanToo 14y agoA colleague moved from the HTC Desire to Galaxy S3, and was worried 4.8" would be too large, but very rapidly adjusted to it. He's now fairly sure 5" wouldn't feel any different
- netcan 14y agoI think it's hard to determine before you let some people own one & see. I remember when iphones first came out and there was a lot of attention on the size of the phone. Mobile phones started big & awkward & for a long time (10-15 years) size was the number one feature & differentiator. There were no inherent advantages to size. It fits in your car, it fits in your bag, it fits in your pocket, its comfortable in your pocket... It became a habit to think of smaller sleeker phones as advanced. But, they got a lot smaller then they needed to be for us to carry them everywhere. There was just no tradeoff to size (other than price) so we kept going. We (or at least I) carried around walkmans that were much bigger. It would be interesting if the standard size becomes >5". That implies it took us a fairly long time to figure out the optimal size.
- joshuahong100 14y agoThe consternation over the ever increasing phone size will be proven to be the same as that over the omission of a numeric keypad on smartphones.
- brianwillis 14y agoPastebin of this article for anyone that wants to read it without the horrifying tooth repair advert: http://pastebin.com/5HnhXJWz http://pastebin.com/5HnhXJWz
- thetinguy 14y ago>But Samsung has yet to decide whether it will use flexible display technology for the upcoming Galaxy due to production problems encountered by Samsung Display. I see they have yet to decide to whether they will use a flexible display for a product being released in February. Thanks for the press release Korea Times.
- tesseractive 14y agoBeing announced in February, I believe. Availability will be somewhat later, if it follows the Galaxy S3 pattern. If I remember correctly, the original iPhone went from a plastic screen surface to glass a month before the announcement because Steve Jobs was unhappy with it. Hardware specs are always subject to change based on feedback until the company is satisfied with the result.
- 6ren 14y agoThe screen size of the S4 is expected to reach 5-inch from the current 4.8 Bigger isn't necessarily better. The iPhone 5 went with decreased volume and weight. I own neither, but it's an interesting case-study of features vs. benefits - and sales.
- sabret00the 14y ago5 inches is too big. That's phablet territory. Smartphones should be limited to 4.8 and under.
- regularfry 14y agoWhy 4.8?
- molmalo 14y agoMoving from 4.8 to 5 the phone may have the same size, just having the screen closer to the edges, just like Motorola is doing now.
- molmalo 14y agoNow that they mention Samsung's flexible screens... A few relevant links: Samsung's Flexible display evolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k6r2HQY9Ws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k6r2HQY9Ws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEHp15Hoo0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEHp15Hoo0 If they put this in the S4, it will be pretty interesting to have an extremely resistant phone! And of course, if they make a tablet that can be folded this way, that would be awesome!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_ADCTBKVE&t=1m25s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_ADCTBKVE&t=1m25s