In today’s smartphone world, the Samsung Galaxy S III is still one of the more powerful devices currently available in the market today. The handset boasts of an impressive resume of fire-breathing components under the hood and brings an even more impressive set of capabilities to the table. Because of this, the popularity of the current Samsung flagship device shot off the charts with sales figures of the handset hitting the 40 million mark in just several months since getting released in the market during the latter parts of May last year.

In fact, not even the loss of the Korean electronics giant to Apple in their high-profile patent trial or the release of the iPhone 5 and other high-end flagship devices from other manufacturers dampened the enthusiasm of the smartphone-buying public for the handset. However, there will come a time when a more powerful, more capable superphone from Samsung will come along and force the Samsung Galaxy S III out the door and head to retirement.

With the Samsung Galaxy S III already in the shelves for almost 8 months now, talk about its possible successor has been getting more than its fair share of digital ink these days. In fact, we just heard from a reliable source that the Korean smartphone and tablet manufacturer is planning to hold an “Unpacked” event in the US this March to unveil the successor of the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Our source also whispered that the “Unpacked” event will be held on March 22 and the Samsung Galaxy S IV (if indeed it will be called THAT) is scheduled for a launch sometime in April. Another bit of info we got from our source is the supposed colorways of the upcoming Samsung flagship device. Our source also whispered that the handset will initially be released in black and a white colorway but we are willing to bet the farm that more color options for the upcoming Samsung superphone will become available in due time.

Again, let us remind you that these are still unconfirmed reports and should be taken with a pinch of salt while we are still waiting for the official word from the Korean electronics giant. The arrival of its successor may finally dampen some of the enthusiasm for the Samsung Galaxy S III but for not, the handset is still the best piece of smartphone technology you can get your hands on.

The Samsung Galaxy S III is already running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for its operating system and this is powered by the handset’s QualComm MSM8960 SnapDragon chipset. This SoC brings into play a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor working in conjunction with the handset’s 2GB of RAM in delivering the required computing power for the handset’s flawless performance. The handset can be had in a 16GB or a 32GB version in terms of storage but this can still be expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot of the Samsung Galaxy S III. In terms of its display, the Samsung Galaxy S III sports a massive 4.8-inch SuperAMOLED HDpanel with a 1280 x 720 resolution while its camera department features a main 8MP shooter at its back panel and 1.9MP video call and self-portrait snapper at its front bezel.

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Droid Razr Maxx HD: In today’s smartphone world, most handsets currently available in the market are full touchscreen devices with big-ass displays and lots of connectivity options in their innards. This is a good thing because a massive screen real estate makes a handset ideal for multimedia consumption such as watching videos, playing games or browsing the web. In addition to that, the connectivity options offered by the smartphones of today give a user the capability to get online anytime, anywhere.

However, there is also a downside to this. A nice big display such as those found in high-end devices or connectivity options such as LTE are truly a drain and strain on the battery life of a handset and more and more users today find themselves plugging their handsets to a wall outlet for charging at the end of each day for use on the morrow. However, if you happen to have battery life on top of your list whenever choosing the next handset for your mobile weapon of choice, you can never go wrong with the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD.

The Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD released by Verizon in US shores last year boasts of a massive 3300 mAh power pack in its chassis which gives the handset an unprecedented battery life unlike what we’ve seen in the past. This is the claim to fame of the handset and is one of the reasons for its popularity. With that massive power pack, a user of the handset can be assured that there is plenty of juice left on the battery pack of the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD for use on the morrow.

However, that is not the only good thing about the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD as of the moment. Given the fact that it is the flagship device of Motorola, it can only be expected that the handset comes with a premium price tag attached to its retail package. However, Verizon currently has a deal that will let you get your hands on the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD at a much cheaper price point. In fact, Big Red has already given its authorized resellers the green light to give the handset a price drop but you still have to sign a new two-year service agreement with the carrier if you want to take advantage of the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD at its heavily discounted price.

As for the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD, the handset has its circuitry built around a QualComm MSM8960 SnapDragon chipset where a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor works in conjunction with a full gigabyte of RAM to deliver the computing power required for its flawless performance. Storage space on the handset comes up to 32GB but this can still be expanded using the microSD card slot of the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD. As for its display, the handset comes with a 4.7-inch SuperAMOLED panel with a 1280 x 720 resolution while its camera department features a rear 8MP shooter and a front 1.3MP snapper.

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Samsung’s latest foray into this category is the “Galaxy Fonblet” that comes with a 5.8-inch wide screen. This is an upgraded version of the Samsung Galaxy Player 5.8, a media player with the same design available only in South Korea. Another rumored upcoming phone by Samsung is the third generation Galaxy Note, which will have a 6.3-inch display! According to Gizmag blogger, Will Shanklin, these products are a manifestation of Samsung’s plan to fill every possible size gap in the mobile market, starting with a regular smartphone going all the way up to the largest tablet.

Blurring of categories is not unusual in the mobile market. In fact, the smartphone, which used to be called the “Pocket PC,” comes from the idea that all the functions of a computer should be available on the go. Now, the advent of wide screens has allowed some functions that a regular smartphone does not have. A similar movement is seen in laptops, wherein a laptop screen can be twisted and turned to become a touchscreen. Therefore, you laptop moonlights as a large tablet (A Laplet?).

Just like Samsung, many of the world’s leading tech companies have tried to recreate hardware categories to give users better functionality. Chinese maker Huawei’s 6-inch Ascend Mate is an example. Apple, however, has been assertively against this trend, claiming that it will not work in the future. The world’s most highly valued company has always chosen to “Think Different” and preached the same path to its consumers. Will that direction allow Samsung to dominate a space that Apple leaves untouched? Is “Think Big” really more important than thinking different? It’s really hard to imagine popular demand for a phone that doesn’t fit in most people’s pockets, but the way forward will only become clear after these new phones hit the markets.

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The possibility of two new iPhones this year is in line with Apple’s (rumored) decision to switch to a bi-annual cycle from their current annual one. This is because competitors like Samsung are being a lot more aggressive in their updates and Apple’s investors are concerned about the falling share prices. There is some negative sentiment in the market about America’s once favorite stock and conversation is being steered towards Samsung’s takeover of the No. 1 spot. Thus, Apple would be wise to cut down its gross margins a little and present a more affordable iPhone. Misek terms this a concentrated low-cost, not a “cheap” one (as cheap would imply compromise in the quality of raw materials).

Some features that the new iPhone is likely to have include a wider body, Near Field Communication (already available in Samsung GS), 128GB internal memory, IGZO and super HD camera. The cheap iPhone is expected to be equipped with 4-inch non-Retina display polycarbonate case minus LTE. The two prototypes are very much on the table for consideration, says Misek, and production will start in March. The first release can be in June or July, followed by a big release in the third quarter of 2013. Exciting, exciting!

While Apple rumors have often missed the mark in the past, they do have an impact on stakeholders. Consumers usually reduce demand for the current iPhone when a new one is in the making. Apple would also welcome some positive encouragement from other stakeholders right now, as reports indicate that the Cupertino, CA based giant has slashed orders by half in the coming months. Misek predicts that Apple’s 2^nd quarter sales will be 44 million, which is above the 40 million assumed by the rest of the market.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note II is currently one of the best handsets you can get your hands on in the smartphone market. This is not surprising at all given the fact that the components the second generation Samsung phablet has under the hood are at par (and some are even better) with what the Samsung Galaxy S III, the current flagship device of Samsung, has in its internals. Because of this, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is currently dominating the phablet category of the smartphone competition just like its predecessor did the same during its heydays.

However, regardless of how powerful the innards of a certain smartphone is, regardless if it is a flagship device of its manufacturer, no smartphone is ever perfect and it will always be susceptible to bugs and issues that will one way or the other hamper its performance – the Samsung Galaxy Note II included. This seems to be the case with the recent reports that the Exynos chipset of the phablet is susceptible to a security flaw that exploited the kernel used in the chipset itself.

Samsung however was quick to get on top of the situation and confirmed that it is already aware of the issue and is already taking steps to ensure that this security hole gets plugged as soon as possible. In fact, the Korean smartphone and tablet manufacturer has already started rolling out an update designed to get this security flaw taken care of as early as last week and this time around, it is the turn of the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy Note II to get a taste of this update.

This software update is expected to crank up the baseband version of the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II to I605VRALL4 and its build number to JRO03C.I605VRALL4. According to the support site of Big Red, this software update for the I605VRALL4 consists of an Android Security Patch for additional security on the handset. Due to the nature of this update, it is highly advisable that this be downloaded and installed as soon as it becomes available on your Samsung Galaxy Note II.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the handset reached official status when it was unveiled back in August of last year but the phablet waited until September before it finally made its debut in the shelves of Big Red. Under the hood, the phablet is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for its operating system and this draws power from its Exynos 4412 chipset which comes with a quad-core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a staggering 2GB of RAM. The handset can be had in a 16GB and 32GB model in terms of storage space but this can still be expanded by making use of the Samsung Galaxy Note II’s dedicated microSD card slot. The display of the Samsung Galaxy Note II is still its standout feature and this is a massive 5.5-inch SuperAMOLED HD panel with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels while its camera department features a rear 8Mp shooter and a front 1.9MP snapper.

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When talking about the Windows Phone ecosystem in today’s smartphone world, there are only two dominant manufacturers which released their respective devices in the market a couple of months back – Nokia and HTC. This is a bit ironic though because even before the two OEMs took the stage to introduce their respective WP8-powered handsets in September, Korean electronics giant Samsung has already beaten them to the punch because it already unveiled the Samsung ATIV S, the world’s first Windows Phone 8-powered handset, back in August.

What is even more ironic however is that until now, the entries of Samsung to the smartphone competition in the Windows Phone platform are still nowhere to be found which is said to be the reason as to why Nokia and HTC are having all the fun in the Windows Phone competition. Its flagship device, the Samsung ATIV S is still elusive as ever and would have given both the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X a serious run for their money had it been available in the market.

However, word on the street is that those waiting for the Windows Phone 8-powered handsets from the Korean smartphone and tablet manufacturer to hit US shelves will not have to wait much longer. As it stands, the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, the Korean manufacturer’s mid-range offering for the platform is about to make its debut in the shelves of Verizon.

The information comes from one of our reliable sources who whispered that the Samsung ATIV Odyssey is slated to get launched on January 24. What lent further credence to this nugget of information is the fact that the 24th falls on a Thursday which happens to be a common day for handsets to finally hit the shelves of corporate stores.

As for the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, we’ve known about the existence of the handset for quite some time now although the handset only recently reached official status when it was announced this January. Hopefully, the rumors of the handset’s January 24 availability will pan out so Windows Phone fanboys can have more options aside from those being offered by Nokia and HTC.

The dimensions of the Samsung ATIV Odyssey come up to 122.4 x 63.8 x 10.9 mm and it tips the scales at a very lightweight 125 grams. Under the hood, the Samsung ATIV Odyssey already runs Windows Phone 8 for its operating system, and this draws power from the handset’s dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor which in turn works in conjunction with a full gigabyte of RAM to deliver the computing muscle required by the device. The storage space onboard the handset comes up to only 8GB but this is still expandable using the microSD card slot of the Samsung ATIV Odyssey. As for its display, the smartphone sports a 4.0-inch SuperAMOLED panel with a  480 x 800 resolution while its camera department features a rear 5MP shooter and a front 1.2MP video call and self-portrait snapper.

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Ever since the Android operating system version 1.5 was released in 2009 and named Cupcake, significant follow-up Android OS updates have delivered the sweet tasting name of a desert or candy. The most current Android OS is Jelly Bean 4.2, but these exciting Motorola rumors include a possible launch of a currently unnamed handset to offer Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. As mentioned above, the Google I/O conference this year kicks off in May, and in the past the company has used this much-anticipated Google get-together to make official announcements about products, hardware and software.

All we know about the super smartphone is it will purportedly offer a large 5.0 inch display and introduce Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie to the smartphone marketplace. There are also hints of a possible Nexus smartphone or tablet release as well. The past few weeks have seen reports across the Blogosphere discussing a new Nexus 5 smartphone manufactured by LG, which would be an upgrade from the LG Nexus 4, but as usual, Google would not confirm nor deny anything.

There ware also rumors regarding the name of the new smartphone, and Motorola X has appeared out of nowhere as a likely moniker. The rumors have gone so far as to discuss access to the new Moto X, revealing that it will likely not be exclusive to the Verizon Wireless network. This is a stark departure from the Motorola Droid lineup, which is sold exclusively at Verizon. Handsets like the large screen, high resolution Motorola Razr MAXX HD can only be purchased running on the 4G LTE system on Verizon in the US.

That handset delivers a large 4.7 inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1,280 pixels. However, the 5.0 inch Moto X smartphone screen is rumored to offer a 1,080P true HD display. Sources have recently claimed that the new Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie handset will deliver improvements that Motorola has been working on regarding their software experience and improved user interface. There was no information available at the time of this release regarding the possible launch of the rumored Motorola X smartphone.

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And while 5.55 inches may seem like a mammoth display to most people, Samsung has done a great job of keeping the Galaxy Note II phablet as small, compact and light as possible. The original Galaxy Note delivered the term phablet (part phone, part tablet) to the mobile marketplace, and it seems that Samsung is ready to take credit for adding another piece of vocabulary to the smartphone lexicon.

Announcements at the end of 2012 from the South Korean smartphone manufacturer predicted a busy year of smartphone releases with large screens, and it did not take long for substantiated rumors to confirm those announcements. The Samsung oriented blog SamMobile cited “insider information” they have been given concerning 4 brand-new handsets the company will release in 2013. Obviously, the Galaxy S IV and brand-new Galaxy Note are slated to hit in 2013, but neither of those announcements comes as a surprise.

However, Samsung will be releasing the Galaxy Fonblet (yep, it sounds awkward and silly to us as well) 5.8 GT-I9152 this year, as well as a follow-up to the 2011 Galaxy X Cover, dubbed the Galaxy X Cover 2 GT-S7710. The Galaxy Phonblet (obviously a marriage of the words phone and tablet) will deliver the Android Jelly Bean operating system out-of-the-box and offer dual-SIM capabilities as well. The handset is expected to initially release in Pure White only, and is rumored to offer superior upgrades to the current Galaxy Player 5.8 that is currently offered only in Korea.

The X Cover 2 GT-S7710 is said to launch in two color versions, Titan Gray and Black/Red. Pricing and availability information is currently unknown, but with Mobile World Congress 2013 (MWC) in Barcelona right around the corner, Samsung could make an announcement at that time. The Galaxy X Cover 2 will run Android Jelly Bean version 4.1 or 4.2, and launch in a dustproof and waterproof body. That handset will also offer a 5.0 megapixel video camera, 4.0 inch WVGA display, 4.0 GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot.

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Samsung Galaxy series took its own sweet time to rise to the top. The first version of the phone went largely unnoticed while Apple’s iPhone was a megastar since the day it hit the market. The first lineup of the Galaxy S, which had four different versions, never boasted of the mythical, overdramatic release that the iPhone commanded, and there was never any market frenzy surrounding it. The Galaxy S II and Galaxy S III changed the game for Samsung, and catapulted it to the limelight as Apple’s counterparts disappointed.

Kevin Packingham, chief product officer for Samsung’s U.S. mobile division claims that Galaxy S III sales increased right after the release of the new iPhone last year. Today, Samsung Galaxy devices are the most widely purchased on all four carriers and the series dominates in terms of global market share, with a much better appeal in emerging markets.

However, looking closely at the numbers reveals that Apple never gave up its throne. In spite of all the bad news, the iPhone outsold the Galaxy S portfolio by a wide margin. According to a cumulative sales report by Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt, sales of the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 easily beat those of the Galaxy S III and Note. Apple’s sales stood at 219 million, significantly higher than Samsung’s 131 million.

This shows that the market impression of the companies may be misleading, and while Samsung’s devices have truly made a mark in mobile technology, they are yet to achieve the No. 1 spot. According to reports from Apple, the iPhone 5 was the fastest-selling phone till date, even though reviewers have expressed contrary opinions.

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LG Nexus 4

Available on T-Mobile, the Nexus 4 offers all the elegance of a premium-priced phone and the attractive looks of a glass design. Supported by a 1.5 GHz quadcore Snapdragon CPU, the Nexus 4 is a powerful device that is meant for users that want to do too many things at once, with tremendous ease. It is also likely to be first in line for any updates from Google.

Samsung Galaxy S3

The phone responsible for dethroning the iPhone now comes equipped with Android 4.1. Of late, analysts were claiming that the Galaxy S3 is approaching maturity, so the new OS hopes to extend its business potential. A phone impregnated with cutting-edge specifications, the GS3 comes with an 8-megapixel camera and is available on almost all U.S. carriers. Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S III.

HTC Droid DNA

Widely seen as one of the best Droid phones available on Verizon, the Droid DNA impresses with sleek design, peerless speed and a 1.5GHz quadcore Snapdragon S4 Pro processor to enable high quality gaming and efficient multitasking. This popular phablet features a 5-inch super LCD3 with Gorilla Glass 2 and an overall exceptional multimedia experience. Learn more about the HTC Droid DNA here.

HTC One X+

Just as good as the flagship HTC device that preceded it, the HTC One X+ boasts of a robust quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which allows it to run relentlessly for all your multiple purposes. It comes with a 4.7 inch LCD screen and a massive 64GB of storage. The AT&T LTE 4G data service and the phone’s great camera together mean that you have a complete package in the One X+. Learn more about the HTC One X+ here.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD

This handset has been in the market for a few months now, but the Jelly Bean update just gives it a whole new life. The Razr Maxx HD has surpassed every other phone in terms of battery life with a monster 3,300 mAh battery which can keep it going for two days on moderate to heavy use. Other features include a 4.7-inch AMOLED screen and dual-core processor. Learn more about the Droid Razr Maxx HD here.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

One of the pioneers among the Jelly Bean grenade, this 5.5-inch wide phone runs on the strapping quad-core Exynos processor. It comes with a stylus and is available on all mobile carriers. Also packaged are a set of custom Samsung apps designed to allow you to make full use of the massive display real estate on offer. Get more information about the popular Galaxy Note II here.

article from: Mobile Bloom