Galaxy S III = iPhone?

[cosus]

Seems the phone has received rave reviews and been called a real iPhone alternative and contender and not just the best of a pile of rubbish. Now the success of the Samsung phone could be attributed to the timing of release, iPhone in fall, Google's offerings god knows when and I guess Windows 8 in the fall as well. There is still more to this than just sales. Samsung has a uniform phone across all networks, as in they don't have the crap that telcos put on phones. Either this is a sign that telcos see their software as a detriment, or Samsung has made a phone that gave them the same leverage as Apple. Then again, I doubt telcos want the iPhone and Apple to have too much influence and by introducing a contender on the same level, telcos get increased power.

Now Apple has already sued Samsung for the Siri-a-like and I doubt that will go far. What's left is either an all out patent war or Apple updating a phone just a few months off from release. It's not like Apple hasn't updated a phone just a month before release, but if the Samsung phone is as good as they say, I'd like Apple to take the challenge and put that Korean super conglomerate in its place!

[torifile]

What rave reviews are you talking about? I've heard it's mediocre at best.

[hmurchison]

What rave reviews are you talking about? I've heard it's mediocre at best.

Depends on who you talk to. From the advertisements I see a phone with a huge screen and a bunch of
features that i'd never use (local photo sharing....didn't Color's failure educate?)

At this point I think we've reached a point where most most of the hardware features are in place.
Gyros, Accelerometer, Compass etc.

Cameras have improved and are basically killing the low end Point-n-shoot market. It's not pretty much
coming down to software.

I'm not even expecting the next iPhone to be a drastic departure. I think for the next couple of years hardware
advances are going to be in display, faster yet power efficient cores and embracing more advance LTE.

[cosus]

Reuters on supply issues with the Galaxy. (http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/26/us-samsung-galaxy-supply-idINBRE85P0AH20120626)

OT: One Galaxy actually exploded. (http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/22/samsung-galaxy-idINDEE85L07S20120622)

Finally read a few reviews myself (this link being the first). (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jun/21/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-review?newsfeed=true) I have to conclude, that with all their criticisms over the phone, I have no idea how they rate them so well, seems like an average of 4/5 points looking on a google search. Sure I'm bias, but these reviewers are just as bias in their conclusions. As far as I can tell, the phone diverges from the Googleverse in order for Samsung to create its own little ecosystem (but unlike Apple, Samsung can include fridges too), from media to cloud sharing, from its OS skin to Android rules of consistency or whatnot. Its strengths seem to be battery life and a large screen in default condition. Even with a 1.4Ghz processor and a gigabyte of RAM it still seems to have scrolling issue and typing lag. Or even the standard browser's issue of being at times unusable due to image/text size even when dealing with mobile sites, though I'd hope that a patch would resolve that issue.

If Samsung is trying to play Apple's game, as far as I can tell, they're way off until they really dedicate themselves to aesthetics and the user experience. Unfortunately, using Android as a platform for that today, doesn't make it likely. Though still, weird defection from Google Play, I use an iPhone and I love Google Play (iPhone ran out of space). It seems in many ways they are imitating Apple, but as flattering as that is, it's not the way to go when trying to beat or compete with your so called nemesis. I think the Sony CEO said it perfectly, "The iPod is a product that Sony should have made."

I Like the idea of a nearly 5" screen, but how easy is it to hold and use with one hand? When it comes to pocket space, how wide our our wallets anyway? Wait, I'm the only one who keeps their wallet on their front pocket here aren't I?

Though it's a real shame how sales can't be translated into stock success. I suppose the supply issue could be a contributing factor to that or that they're one of those Asian super conglomerates that really should have ceased after WW2. Analyst predict that the 10million units in July might be a pipe dream considering that the Galaxy's competition might not be the iPhone, but cut priced Android products. (http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/samsung-earnings-forecast-idINDEE85O02E20120625)

Still, what am I missing that these reviewers and Samsung is seeing in the Galaxy, am I such a zombie that I can't even admit to competition existing?

[Kraetos]

Still, what am I missing that these reviewers and Samsung is seeing in the Galaxy, am I such a zombie that I can't even admit to competition existing?

I doubt you're missing anything, it's just that the internet Apple-hating crowd is so desperate for something to "beat" iPhone that they'll heap praise on the top of the line Android phone every time there's a new one, mainly because it isn't iPhone.

[Mugge]

I've seen one in the wild and I initially mistook it for a Galaxy Note. That's how big 4.8" is.

[pscates2.0]

I doubt you're missing anything, it's just that the internet Apple-hating crowd is so desperate for something to "beat" iPhone that they'll heap praise on the top of the line Android phone every time there's a new one, mainly because it isn't iPhone.

Exactly.

And hmurchison nails it. People basing their wants and purchase decisions strictly on hardware (bigger this, faster that, etc.) are the world's biggest point-missers, IMO. Phones, computers, etc. Whatever. They'll constantly chase their tail, and throw money left and right, for this MHz, that megapixel, this GB, that display, this camera, this cellular connection, etc.

But if you're piling all that on top of a shitball, hair-pulling OS (desktop or mobile, take your pick), I don't really see the point. Any "gains" in hardware specs are probably more than offset by the stuff you're going to deal with on the other (more important) side.

Let's face it...all this stuff is just a box. Some companies make theirs a little nicer and prettier than others. A lot nicer and prettier. And some have a little faster this, and a little bigger that. But, at the end of the day, the box (hardware) comes in a distant second to what truly matters.

And if you don't see that, then you're not wired up right. :p

Give me iOS on a Mattel Speak-n-Say over your latest over-hyped "iPhone killer" that places like Gizmodo and The Verge spend entirely too much time whacking off to.