IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

Can't get more random than this, folks: in this week's edition of IRL, we have Darren recommending a vacuum cleaner, Dan Cooper continuing his search for a backup phone charger and Jon Fingas putting the Galaxy S III to the test against his beloved HTC One X.

Continue reading IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III

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IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S III gets Quick Tap mobile payments system from Orange and Barclaycard, works with most UK bank accounts

Samsung Galaxy S III to get Quick Tap payments system from Orange and Barclaycard

We've barely heard from Orange's Quick Tap payments system in over a year, but now the UK phone network has decided to dump the underwhelming Tocco Lite and add its mobile payments service to the NFC-capable Galaxy S III. Tying into any British MasterCard, Visa, Debit or credit card, you'll be able to pay up to £20 from your account without the need for PIN entry. New users on Orange SIM-toting Galaxy S IIIs will also pick up a 50 quid bonus when they activate the feature, which kicks off this Wednesday. Check the press release below for all the details.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III gets Quick Tap mobile payments system from Orange and Barclaycard, works with most UK bank accounts

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Samsung Galaxy S III gets Quick Tap mobile payments system from Orange and Barclaycard, works with most UK bank accounts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfson confirms the Samsung Galaxy S III uses its audio chip

Wolfson confirms the Samsung Galaxy S III will use its audio chip

The Galaxy S III was widely tipped to possess a Wolfson digital-to-analog converter for high quality audio output -- a feature not seen in this range since the first Galaxy S. That notion has just been confirmed by the Scottish electronics firm itself, which says its WM1811 Audio Hub has been selected for use in Sammy's flagship. The chip promises "crystal clear voice call quality" and "enriched audio playback for music and video" thanks to its 24-bit hi-fi DAC, active noise reduction circuits and other wizardry. The GS II, meanwhile, used a Yamaha DAC to convert digital data (e.g. in an mp3 file) into an analog signal that could drive a speaker (for example in your headphones), but even if most people couldn't hear the difference, audiophiles have insisted they preferred the sound in the older Galaxy. The only question remaining, which the PR after the break does not expand upon, is whether the Wolfson hardware is found in all variants of the new phone. Check out the More Coverage links for further reading.

Update: Francois Simond (aka Supercurio) tweeted us to say that the US variant of the GS III uses Qualcomm's own WCD9310 for audio, not the Wolfson. Yup, it's that multi-talented Snapdragon S4 again.

Continue reading Wolfson confirms the Samsung Galaxy S III uses its audio chip

Wolfson confirms the Samsung Galaxy S III uses its audio chip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S III manual goes online, teaches you wax-on, wax-off

Samsung Galaxy S III manual goes online, teaches you wax-on, wax-off

As you can imagine, we love nothing more than sitting next to a roaring log fire and diving into a good owners manual. As luck would have it, we'd just finished the last one, and then this lands in our laps. Yes, if you've already decided that you will be treating yourself to Samsung's latest mobile darling, you can start boning up on all those new features, and see the specifications for yourself in black and white. At the very least, you can start getting to grips with those new "use motion" gestures. Our favorite? The "Palm touch" media pause move. Hit the source to find your own fave.

Samsung Galaxy S III manual goes online, teaches you wax-on, wax-off originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Engadget on the Samsung Galaxy S III

Editorial: Engadget on the Samsung Galaxy S III

Was it everything you imagined? The Galaxy S III didn't really slap us silly with hardware spectacle or a particularly brave design and instead plowed into software additions and contextual features. There was plenty to chew over and plenty of discussion followed its big reveal, spilling out over the last few days -- this was a big launch for not only Samsung but Android itself. We've got the six editors who spent time with the device to offer up their own thoughts on this new Android Olympian.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on the Samsung Galaxy S III

Editorial: Engadget on the Samsung Galaxy S III originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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