Tag Archives: unpackednyc2013

Relive Samsung Unpacked 2013 and the launch of the Galaxy S 4, if you dare (video)

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Relive Samsung Unpacked 2013 and the launch of the Galaxy S 4, if you dare video

Came in late and missed the live festivities as Samsung took the wraps off of its new Galaxy S 4? No problem -- thanks to its livestream on YouTube, you can check out the unedited video stream right now in full, or just skip to your (least) favorite parts. There was a tapdancing kid, a host from a TV show you probably don't watch and a dancing group of bridesmaids. No, seriously, that happened. There was also a new phone, so check out our event hub if you want to get straight to the details, or strap in and experience it all in video form, embedded after the break.

Update: Samsung has posted the edited video on YouTube, so now you can just press play.

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Source: Samsung Mobile (YouTube)

Samsung Galaxy S 4 wireless charging pad and S Health scale hands-on

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 accessories

No phone launch is complete without a few accessories added to the mix. Samsung had a whole bunch to announce alongside its Galaxy S 4, but only a few were on hand to check out up close and personal. We did, however, find a nice surprise hiding under those glossy white table covers -- a wireless charging pad. Yes, it turns out the the GS 4 does in fact have Qi wireless charging capabilities. Provided its available in your region and your carrier chooses to support it. The charging pad itself has a glossy plastic base that matches the phone, but there's a nice rubbery gray top that keeps the handset from sliding around too much while it's juicing up.

We also got to check out the companion wireless scale that looks quite a bit like the Fitbit Aria. Though, with a square LCD and a healthy-sized Samsung logo on it. The scale is just one part of the larger S Health equation which also includes a Jawbone Up-like monitor (S Band), which was sadly nowhere to be found in the demo pit. The scale of course sync with the baked in S Health app over Bluetooth, which makes it quite a bit easier to track how that diet of yours is going. In addition to simply tracking your total poundage, there will be bands for tracking heart rate and the S 4's various sensor can help judge the comfort level of your environment. The requisite glut of photos can be found below in the gallery.

Gallery: Galaxy S 4 accessories hands-on

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung prototype wireless game pad hands-on! (update: video)

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Samsung prototype wireless game pad handson!

We just wrapped up the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and, while the hardware of the phone itself held few surprises, this accessory did. Samsung doesn't have a formal name for it just yet, but this concept device is expected to launch sometime this summer. It's basically a first-party Bluetooth controller with a full complement of face buttons, dual analog sticks, a D-pad and even shoulder buttons on the back. It's powered by dual AAA batteries and connects wirelessly, the phone held in place by an expanding clamp up top that looks plenty big enough to support a Note II (we tried, it fit fine) and maybe even something like the Note 8.0!

Again, no pricing or details at this point, but it certainly felt nicer than your average Bluetooth controller. And, hopefully, that it's made by Samsung means we'll see widespread support.

Gallery: Samsung prototype wireless game pad hands-on

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung demos Smart Scroll, Smart Pause and Air Gesture on Galaxy S 4

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Along with several other new software features demoed at its event in New York today, Samsung showed off a Smart Scroll utility, which lets you page up or down by tilting the Galaxy S 4 in the corresponding direction. The company also demoed Air Gesture, which similarly lets you scroll without putting your fingers to the glass. Finally, a feature called Smart Pause will detect your eye movements to intelligently stop video when your gaze turns away from the screen.

With dramatics fitting of the Radio City Music Hall venue, Sammy gave us a quick look at all these features in action: at a bachelorette party, where Air Gesture lets partiers look at messages without putting down those champagne flutes; on the street, where a woman can check out that guitarist on the corner without missing a second of the latest Engadget Show and -- well, Smart Scroll is straightforward enough to speak for itself. Read more about the Galaxy S 4's software and hardware in our hands-on preview.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Gestures

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 accessories: cases, calorie counting and gamepads

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What's a fancy new smartphone without accessories? Don't ask the Galaxy S 4 -- it's already planning to augment its software tricks with scales, fitness bands and of course, the requisite screen cover. Samsung's latest flagship won't settle for a mere flip cover, however, its S View Cover features a window to the Galaxy S 4's 5-inch Super AMOLED screen, allowing users to peek at the display and even answer calls without exposing their device. There's goodies for the health conscious to buy, too: the jawbone-like S band and a Samsung branded body scale, both of which sync with the device's S Health software. The device even has gamers covered, teasing a prototype gamepad with striking resemblance to the beloved Xbox 360 gamepad. Sammy didn't mention when these accessories would hit the market (or at what price), but we'll keep our ear to the ground for future details.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Accessories

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung’s Knox security solution to launch with Galaxy S 4

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Samsung's Knox security solution to launch with Galaxy S 4

Back at Mobile World Congress, Samsung filled us in about its Knox security suite, and now it's just announced that it'll ship on the Galaxy S 4. In case you need your memory jogged, Knox focuses on providing enterprise security features that let business and personal content coexist on the same handset. Like BlackBerry Balance, the solution cordons off work-related apps, email accounts and the like in secure containers, while keeping personal things without password protection. Though the GS4 will nab Knox first, other Samsung devices are set to receive it as well.

Gallery: Samsung Knox

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 vs. Galaxy S III: what’s changed?

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 vs Galaxy S III what's changed

Okay, okay, we all get it: the Galaxy S 4 looks a lot like last year's model. But there are of course some differences, most notably on the inside, where the phone steps up to an either an Exynos 5 or Snapdragon chip, depending on the region. As is our way, we've combed the spec sheets for both models to see exactly what's changed this time around. So, phone snobs, have at it!

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung unveils the Galaxy S 4’s software tricks: camera modes, Story Album, S Voice Drive and more

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Samsung unveils the Galaxy S 4's software tricks camera modes, Story Album, S Translate and more

Samsung is revealing what Smart software additions the Galaxy S 4 will bring to the table, and they're well beyond what's been rumored. The camera is one of the biggest focuses, borrowing much from the Galaxy Camera: Cinema Photo captures still images with moving backgrounds, a Drama Shot burst mode that creates animated GIFs, an Eraser mode to remove unwanted background subjects, and a Sound & Shot mode that puts audio in the background of still images. A Story Album automatically creates photo albums based on common details such as location and time. And did we mention that it can shoot photos and video from both the front and back cameras at the same time?

That's just the start. AirView now works with your finger, rather than a pen, and is effective right from the lock screen. Adapt Display and Adapt Sound automatically tune the picture and speakers for varying viewing conditions, and WatchOn uses a built-in IR blaster to tune your TV. S Translate, meanwhile, will take both spoken and written words and translate them through several languages, inside of multiple apps. S Voice has been upgraded to S Voice Drive to let drivers get navigation, find points of interest and otherwise interact with the phone without having to take any hands off the wheel. S Health, which Samsung initially mentioned last year, is around to track calories and steps through accessories such as S band, a body scale and a heart rate monitor.

Like to do things that involve more than one person? There's more still. ChatOn has been upgraded to support video chat, and Group Play both allows for sharing songs in a surround mode or playing local multiplayer games -- when it's supported, that is. All told, there's a small deluge of new features that could amount to a lot, even excluding new hands-free elements like Smart Scroll. Check after the break for a quick preview video and the press release.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Smart Features

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 preview: a flagship with some familiar roots

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 preview a flagship with some familiar roots

You say you want a revolution? Too bad, because this Galaxy smartphone update is just that... an update. Samsung's newly unveiled Galaxy S 4 is an incremental step up, an evolution less "inspired by nature" and more by last year's GS III. Don't believe us? Just take a look at the two handsets side by side to see the overtly obvious heritage. Samsung's staying the course with the overall design language, though it's expanded the screen size to five inches -- now powered by a Full HD Super AMOLED display with 441 ppi (and yes, it's still PenTile).

On the inside, it has a processor setup that we're told will be either an Exynos 5 or Snapdragon depending on the region, along with 2GB of RAM, 16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2,600mAh battery. Starting to see the bigger picture here? Samsung had a good thing on its hands with the GS III and it's not willing to compromise much of the tried-and-true with the GS 4. It will launch globally in Q2, with a stateside debut on T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular and Cricket. Until then, join us past the break for our detailed first impressions.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S 4 preview

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S 4 press shots

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 launching on 327 carriers in 155 countries, starting at the end of April

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 launching on 327 carriers in 155 countries, starting at the end of April

Samsung has announced some of its launch partners for the Galaxy S 4 which will include some 327 carriers in 155 countries. According to JK Shin, it will include global LTE roaming, with 3G and LTE models in multiple bands (up to hexa band, according to the slide). Samsung's PR reveals it will be on all four major US carriers, plus US Cellular and Cricket, while European carriers include Deutsche Telecom, EE, H3G, Orange, Telenor, Telia Sonera, Telefonica, and Vodafone.

Update: AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint have all issued official statements to along with the launch which are included after the break. Look below for links to early registration for launch details from Samsung and the various carriers.

Update 2: Mobile Syrup has obtained a list of confirmed Canadian carriers which includes Bell, Eastlink, Fido, Koodo, Mobilicity, Rogers, SaskTel, TELUS, Videotron, Virgin Mobile and Wind Mobile.

Check out our event hub for all the action from Samsung's Galaxy S 4 event.

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Source: T-Mobile, AT&T, Samsung