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| Samsung's Galaxy S4 has arrived. |
The introduction of Samsung’s S4 to the maelstrom that is the international smartphone slugfest has seen a lot of coverage in recent days. Is it an iPhone killer? Does it signal a new direction ? Will it factor into further Apple vs.Samsung litigation? Does hardware even matter anymore since it’s the operating systems that are key?
All of these questions make sense to ask when trying to observe Samsung’s market strategy, how it stacks up against competitors and what the smartphone-buying public really wants. That said, the most important thing to learn about is what, exactly, it has to offer. Let’s see what the professional techonomy watchers have to say about it.
BIG Screen
The new S4 has a slightly larger screen than its predecessor, the S3. It’s also an HD screen, with 1080 x 1920 pixels and improved sharpness. According to an in depth review by TechRadar, “the 441ppi pixel density doesn’t match the HTC One, but is more than good enough for the average user.”
On a down note, however, TechRadar found the plastic case of the phone could feel off-putting or cheap to some, compared to other similar phones out there.
Features
The S4 runs on Android 4.2.2.2. Jellybean which is the latest iteration of that OS. Reviewers at product review hub CNET were impressed with certain functions of the device, including multi-view mode that allows users to split the screen between two apps—good for when you’re trying to find a restaurant and check out the subway map to get there (there may be other applications for that feature, but I cannot think of any).
There is also an optical character recognition feature that can turn business cards into text, Voice Drive for accessing features like navigation while driving, and a calorie counter for the health and fitness-conscious.
As expected, Dropbox is integrated, as it was on the S3. Still, nice to have.
Eye Tracking
A rumored feature involving the tracking of a user’s glance is new to the Galaxy S4. Called Smart Pause, the phone monitors your gaze when you’re watching video content and pauses the video when you look away. Another feature allows you to scroll through content by tilting the device up or down.
Camera
The S4 boasts a 13 megapixel back-facing camera, which managed to impress FORBES contributorLarry Magid. One of the more interesting features of the device’s photo capabilities is that it allows the user the option of inserting him or herself into the photo being taken in a small window in the frame of the shot. No more being left out of shots.
Hand Gestures, Finally!
The S4 comes with the ability to read hand gestures, allowing users to control various device functions through pointing, waving, and making swiping motions. Operating through the camera’s camera lense, the feature is a godsend to those for whom advancing one’s finger an extra inch to actually touch the screen is an unacceptable nuisance.
Processor Power
The S4 is a quick little smartphone (little? Err…) and it is the first smartphone to boast an 8-core chip, said Chris Martin of PC Advisor. It consists of four Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 1.6GHz for performance while the remaining four are Cortex-A7s clocked at 1.2GHz and this will be used for less demanding tasks. In terms of memory power, the amount of RAM has been doubled to 2 Gigabytes. The S4 is nothing if not a performer. That engine will come in 16, 32 and 64 gigabyte storage options.
