May 28, 2013 By 7 Comments

What’s the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4?

Samsung galaxy S3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S4 – what’s the difference?

At first glance, there’s not a huge difference between the Samsung galaxy S3 and The S4 – their form factors are incredibly similar; the dimensions of the devices are pretty much the same and they have a similar look about them.

However, if you’re weighing up a purchase between the two, you’ll notice there’s a fair bit of difference in the price tags – £315 + VAT for the S3, £445 + VAT for the S4.

So what generates this difference in price? Is it worth paying the extra for the S4, or should you save a few quid and stick with the still impressive S3?

First of all, here’s a brief run through of the differences between the two. These are discussed in more detail throughout the rest of the article, so keep reading if you want to know more.

Differences S3 vs S4

What’s new in the Samsung Galaxy S4?

  • Larger display, with a higher resolution
  • More built-in features
  • Better camera
  • More processing power
  • Newer version of MHL (TV out), which requires less cables to set up
  • Better battery life
  • Slimmer and lighter design
  • Better accessory range

Read the full differences below or sit back and watch the following video:

Size

Overall the two handsets are pretty much the same size. The main difference is the thickness – the S4 is slightly thinner – but the width and height are pretty much the same. The S4 is also lighter, but marginally so.

Display

Samsung has increased the screen size of the S4 by 0.2” to 4.99”.  It has also reduced the bezel, which is why it’s possible to have a larger screen but smaller dimensions.

While a larger screen gives you more viewing real estate, it also creates a bigger reach from one side of the screen to the other. This can make one-handed use tricky at times. A reduced bezel can also cause you to accidentally touch the screen more frequently, so bigger does not necessarily mean better.

As for screen resolution the S4 definitely comes out the winner. It has full HD (1920 x 1080) and a pixel density of 441 ppi. This really does produce a crisp picture. The S3 isn’t far behind though; it’s got a resolution of 1280 x 720, which is still very impressive when playing back videos. Both handsets user Super AMOLED technology so there’s not much difference to draw in that aspect.

[Read more...]

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May 28, 2013 By 3 Comments

Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charging demo with third party accessory

Samsung hasn’t quite got its wireless charging to market yet, but it shouldn’t be too far off now. We’re expecting the official accessories for the S4 - that’s the wireless charging cover and  wireless charging pad - to arrive in June. That hasn’t stopped third-party manufactures from releasing their own accessories though and we’re now starting to see some demo videos of these emerge.

Below you can see a wireless charging demo for the Samsung Galaxy S4 using third-party accessories. The kit in the demo doesn’t quite fit as well as it could, but with a price tag of around £20/£25 it’s a fair bit cheaper than the official Samsung accessories. This is where a plastic back cover comes in handy, as it should eventually flex enough for you to fit the wireless receiver in without the cover popping off. The S4 charging cover is designed to fit the contours of the S4 more precisely, so it will be a flush fit in comparison.Second video added below showing a good fit with the cover and a demo of NFC working

However, there is another advantage of using a third-party kit in that you can use the receiver with other cases, such as the S View Flip cover. The S4 kit uses a replacement cover rather than a receiver, so this isn’t possible.

If you are buying a third-party wireless charging kit as opposed to the official one, it’s worth noting that the receiver needs to be specific to the S4 (so that the prongs fit correctly) and that the output is strong enough. The kit in the demo has a 15000mA base with a 1000mA receiver. There are lower output kits available, but these may not be enough to provide a good charge as there is usually a power loss of around 30% when it comes to wireless charging. The charger also needs to be of the Qi wireless charging standard.

The uploader of the video, veryannoyingname, has confirmed that the NFC does still work once the wireless charging kit is in place.

veryannoyingname has now added another video that shows a different Qi wireless receiver in use. Here it is:

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May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases

Top Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases

It’s only been available for around a month, but already we’ve got plenty of cases available for the Samsung Galaxy S4.

While we can’t cover every case in such a fashion, we do try provide video demos where possible – it’s nice to be able to see how a cover looks on your device before making a purchase.

Below are some of the videos that we’ve shot for the best Samsung Galaxy S4 cases. There are plenty more videos, but far too many to include all in one post. You can see a definitive list here from our YouTube channel, or if you’re on a product page on the Clove website, you’ll see a video tab if there is indeed a video available for that product.

Please note that there will be fluctuations in stock levels during the lifetime of this blog post. Many of these cases sell out rather quickly once they’ve come into stock, but we will provide updates as best we can if a product is temporarily unavailable.

Samsung Galaxy S4 S View Flip Cover

The S View Flip cover combines nice design work with the sensor technology that’s included with the S4. The Flip Cover attaches to the handset by replacing its back panel, adding minimal bulk.

On the front it has a small window so that you can see the time and important notifications, and it also provides you with the ability to receive or reject calls without opening the case.

The S4 S View Flip Cover is an official Samsung accessory, available in black or white.

[Read more...]

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May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

It is the hidden features that make a phone so great

We can all get taken by the headline specifications and features of a smartphone, but have you ever really considered the smaller, less noticeable but useful features that you actually end up using quite a lot?

I think we sometimes take for granted what is on offer or do not appreciate how some features are on some handsets but not others and the impact they have.

I have mentioned previously on this blog how I actually really liked the ability to talk to the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S3 to take a picture meaning I could continue to hold the phone steady in 2 hands. It is not a make or break feature but one I have got used to using and I would prefer not to lose on any future handset.

With the release of the S4 from Samsung I have switched from the S3, to the S4. Thankfully the camera speech recognition is still there.

What I did use on the S3 is an SMS scheduling app to send messages at a pre-determined time after creation. I realised that I had not re-installed this app on the S4, and was about to when I noticed the following within messaging; Samsung have built in the ability to the S4 to schedule messages.

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This is a fantastic little feature.  It might not be suitable for everyone but for me I was really pleased to see this and it is just testament to thinking about the things and including them as standard.

I didn’t have to install that extra little app I can now manage it all within the standard messaging screen.

Other features on the S4 include the ability to translate a text message and the ability to create an emergency message in times of desperation.

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The S4 is not alone in this, there are other devices from Sony and HTC etc. that all have their own small, unique benefits that make things fun, intuitive or simpler.

The point is, that if you then get used to using such features and switch to a different phone you can easily loose these small things which you become used to and it becomes a frustration to find workarounds or add on apps.

We are all quick to criticise when technology doesn’t do something but do we comment on the things it does right?!

Are there any hidden or less publicised features on your phone that you like or rely upon?

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May 21, 2013 By 1 Comment

Samsung Galaxy Mega coming in July

With a 6.3” display the Galaxy Mega will not appeal to all, but for those of you who are looking for something of this size then we can confirm that we now have a price and an estimated arrival time.

Set to be available in both Black and White, the Mega will be priced at £383.33 excluding VAT or £459.99 including VAT.

First stock of the I9205 16GB model is expected in July, the exact date for which is still to be confirmed.

We now have it available for pre-order on the Clove website, you can put your name down for one by CLICKING HERE.

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May 21, 2013 By 5 Comments

New phone software–download the features we want?

Unless you have been disconnected from the internet over the last few weeks you can not have failed to have noticed that Samsung have taken a serious barrage of comments regarding the memory or lack of usable memory on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Whilst they are not alone in the way they report memory, they are perhaps the biggest culprits for excessive use of the available storage.

I currently have an S4 and after installing all my apps (no games) i have around 600MB left.  Thankfully I stream my music, but I do not have any room for the music to be stored in offline mode Sad smile.

Anyway, this has got me thinking…

Why when Samsung (and equivalents) announce cool features, why can we not download them as individual elements that can be installed at the users discretion?

This way if you wanted only 1 of the 30 features you will use less memory than installing all 30 that come currently pre-installed on the phone.

For example, I do not use S-Voice for anything other than the camera.  I have the other elements turned off, so can I remove these other elements?! It has been documented how you can speed up the home button by turning off S-Voice.  But for me I must have S-Voice on because I want to use it within the camera.

I do not use Smart Screen at all. It is doing no harm in the settings, but it must be eating up some memory.

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There is a very strong argument that you should just opt for stock Android and then customise it with apps.  However this does not appeal to all and I have to say even as a more seasoned Android user, I like some of the Samsung features.

When we consider the wider mass market, your mum who has an Android phone wouldn’t even contemplate some features or adding them onto a stock Android handset. Samsung put them there for convenience thus there is a lot of appeal.

So why not have any of it installed as standard.  Upon initial start-up explain what can be downloaded and then allow users to download the bits they want. Hey presto, everyone gets what they want.

The obvious advantage here would be the ability to customise your phone more than you can now.  Yes, we can turn features on or off, but if you never use some features they sit in the background chewing up memory etc.

However, I think currently there are too many disadvantages from the eyes of the manufacturer.

It isn’t that simple just to add and remove bits of software as it all ties in and is fundamental to the phone in many cases.

There is the potential for even greater fragmentation of devices making it more difficult for support.

Certain great features would be overlooked by the mass market reducing the chance of success for the handset in global sales; but maybe we could reverse the idea and uninstall bits?!

My knowledge is software how it integrates to the hardware not to mention the possibility of the above is limited; but what I do know is many apps can be downloaded and installed onto phones to take a stock feel to a heavily customised and much more powerful solution like a Samsung Galaxy, so it must be nearly possible.

Samsung with their ever-growing size and power, not to mention cash reserves could be the ones to pioneer this approach and satisfy almost all users don’t you think?

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May 17, 2013 By 11 Comments

Samsung may improve user-accessible internal storage of S4

Samsung Galaxy S4

After coming under criticism on BBC Watchdog for its lack of user-accessible internal storage on the Galaxy S4, Samsung has said that it is “reviewing the possibility to secure more memory space through further software optimisation.”

Speaking to CNET, Samsung said it is “committed to listening to our customers and responding to their needs as part of our innovation process.”

Previously Samsung has defended the amount of internal storage that is taken up by the system install and preloaded apps, which equates to around 7GB out of an advertised 16GB, leaving 9GB available to the user. Samsung’s custom Android skin, TouchWiz, comes with a host of new features and this is the reason that so much of the internal storage is already in use out of the box.

It sounds as though Samsung may push an update out at some point that condenses the system files and therefore frees up more space for the user. How much this will equate to is as yet unclear, but needless to say even a small improvement will be welcome.

Via CNET

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May 16, 2013 By 3 Comments

Samsung Galaxy S4 featured on BBC Watchdog last night (VIDEO)

Last week we posted to say that the Samsung Galaxy S4 would be featured on BBC Watchdog regarding its lack of user-accessible internal storage. The show was broadcast last night, a clip of which you can watch in the video below. 

Interestingly Google and Samsung have just announced a Nexus version of the S4. This will run stock Android, meaning it will not have TouchWiz and therefore more user-accessible internal storage. 

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May 15, 2013 By 1 Comment

Samsung S4 S Health/Life Care accessories available to order

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The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been a hot topic of conversation for some time now.  The S4 offers a great deal of functionality which can be further expanded in some areas thanks to accessories.

S Health is part of Samsung’s Life Care ethos and looks to integrate more of the health and fitness elements we may track into our mobile so it is to hand and simple to access.

The main accessories that were announced with the S4 were a set of scales, a heart rate monitor and an S Band, all of which are now available to order from Clove now, all be it first stock is not expected until approximately July.

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The Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) is a real time heart monitor that can be used to help control exercise intensity by controlling your heart rate.

It retails for £64.99 and is available to order HERE.

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Samsung’s Body Scale measures your weight and sends it back to your S4 by Bluetooth logging it in the S Health app.  It can too support up to 4 users.

It retails for £79.99 and is available to order HERE.

 

The S Band is a more fashionable waterproof wrist attachment that contains a 3D sensor to monitor activities and sleep efficiency which is in turn transferred back to the S4 via Bluetooth 4.

It retails for £79.99 and is available for order in Black HERE.

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May 10, 2013 By 6 Comments

Samsung Galaxy S4 to be featured on BBC Watchdog next week

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is due to be featured on BBC Watchdog on Wednesday 15th May. This was first mentioned on Gavin’s Gadgets and the video below has since been uploaded to YouTube.

The video teaser below implies that the show will focus on the handsets memory size.

In the clip the Watchdog host Anne Robinson asks:

“Samsung, it claims its brand new Galaxy phone has an extra large memory, but what did it forget to mention?”

Our guess is that they’ll focus on the lack of availability of the 32GB and 64GB variants and may also cover the amount of internal storage that is taken up by system files and preloaded apps.

The most readily available version of the S4, the 16GB model, only has up to 9.5GB internal storage available to the user from an advertised 16GB.

The BBC Watchdog show will be broadcast on BBC1 at 8PM (GMT) on Wednesday May 15th.

Hat tip UKTechGuy

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