Sizing Up the Samsung Galaxy S3
Published in Le Nouvel Observateur-Challenges
(France) on 8 June 2012
by Marco Mosca (link to
original)
Is the Galaxy S3 from the Korean mega-company the long-awaited killer of the infamous iPhone? The court procedure in the United States led by Apple against Samsung and its new smartphone betrays a certain concern.
With great fanfare Samsung launched its all-new smartphone this May, the Galaxy SIII, which has been directly encroaching on the iPhone 4S's terrain. The largest company worldwide in the mobile phone market before Finnish Nokia, the Korean giant intends to profit greatly from this new device in order to establish its supremacy.
Samsung sold 44.5 million cellphones in the first trimester when Apple "only" sold 35.1 million − a gap which could widen in light of the craze provoked by the Galaxy SIII and the drop in worldwide iPhone sales. Even before it went on sale, the preorders for the Galaxy SIII reached 9 million models in mid-May.
Launched in 28 countries since the end of May, primarily in Europe and the Middle East, it will be available in the United States some time in June and in 145 countries total from now until the end of July.
An Impressive Launching Power
The smartphone flaunts astonishing technical features, a series of new user-friendly and innovative functions and a screen which puts it between the Galaxy Note and the iPhone 4S, to name a few. Among its note-worthy innovations, this latest jewel in the crown of multipurpose cellphones is fitted with facial recognition capability and improved voice commands in the spirit of the iPhone 4S's Siri system.
Apple seems to take the threat that this new gadget represents very seriously. The Cupertino group likewise started new, contested proceedings in the United States against Samsung Electronics to prevent it from being sold. The American firm accused the Korean giant of patent-stealing, one more incident in the squabble that is polarizing the two high-tech giants.
The match is far from being over. The group, with Tim Cook at the helm, must unveil the iPhone 5 in October. According to the latest rumors, the new smartphone from Apple will be slightly smaller than the Galaxy SIII, with a 4-thumb-wide screen. As for the lineup of innovations featured, it will be necessary to wait a bit longer to find out more.
But the match has had an exciting start, with the knowledge that Apple doesn't have room for error after disappointing releases of the iPhone 4S and the iPad 3. Observers are still waiting for the revolution much hyped by its founder, Steve Jobs.
With great fanfare Samsung launched its all-new smartphone this May, the Galaxy SIII, which has been directly encroaching on the iPhone 4S's terrain. The largest company worldwide in the mobile phone market before Finnish Nokia, the Korean giant intends to profit greatly from this new device in order to establish its supremacy.
Samsung sold 44.5 million cellphones in the first trimester when Apple "only" sold 35.1 million − a gap which could widen in light of the craze provoked by the Galaxy SIII and the drop in worldwide iPhone sales. Even before it went on sale, the preorders for the Galaxy SIII reached 9 million models in mid-May.
Launched in 28 countries since the end of May, primarily in Europe and the Middle East, it will be available in the United States some time in June and in 145 countries total from now until the end of July.
An Impressive Launching Power
The smartphone flaunts astonishing technical features, a series of new user-friendly and innovative functions and a screen which puts it between the Galaxy Note and the iPhone 4S, to name a few. Among its note-worthy innovations, this latest jewel in the crown of multipurpose cellphones is fitted with facial recognition capability and improved voice commands in the spirit of the iPhone 4S's Siri system.
Apple seems to take the threat that this new gadget represents very seriously. The Cupertino group likewise started new, contested proceedings in the United States against Samsung Electronics to prevent it from being sold. The American firm accused the Korean giant of patent-stealing, one more incident in the squabble that is polarizing the two high-tech giants.
The match is far from being over. The group, with Tim Cook at the helm, must unveil the iPhone 5 in October. According to the latest rumors, the new smartphone from Apple will be slightly smaller than the Galaxy SIII, with a 4-thumb-wide screen. As for the lineup of innovations featured, it will be necessary to wait a bit longer to find out more.
But the match has had an exciting start, with the knowledge that Apple doesn't have room for error after disappointing releases of the iPhone 4S and the iPad 3. Observers are still waiting for the revolution much hyped by its founder, Steve Jobs.
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