Jelly Bean now available for SIM-free Samsung Galaxy S3

If you own a SIM-free (unlocked) version of the Samsung Galaxy S3, we have good news for you. The Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) update, which is the latest version of Android, has just rolled out S3s that are not locked to any network.

If planning to download the update, beware. The file is a sizable 284.36MB. So if the update is available via OTA (over-the-air) update, make sure you’re not downloading the update via 3G if you’re not on an unlimited data plan. Furthermore, make sure your batteries are fully charged. You don’t want your S3 suddenly dying on you during the update process. If the OTA Jelly Bean update still isn’t available for your phone, you don’t need to wait. All you have to do is plug your phone into your computer and download the update via Kies software.

The update was first rolled out to S3 on three phone networks. The first network operator to roll out the update to their S3 customers is Three, which was last week. O2 and Vodafone both rolled out the update to their S3 owners on Monday. The update is yet to roll out to S3s with Orange and T-Mobile.

We’re not sure why Samsung rolls out updates first to handsets locked to networks. Ordinarily, SIM-free handsets get updates first, since they are free from bloatware.

If you’re looking to download the Jelly Bean update for your S3 via OTA update, hit ‘Settings’ and then hit ‘About Device.’ This will allow you to see if the update is available. Once you see a notification telling you that an update is available, you can go ahead and go through the update process.

Are you happy the Jelly Bean update has now arrived for your SIM-free version of the Samsung Galaxy S3, or are you annoyed that the update was first available for S3s locked to networks? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.

Tags: Android, Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S3 Amber Brown, Samsung Galaxy S3 Garnet Red, Samsung Galaxy S3 Sapphire Black, Samsung Galaxy S3 White, SIM-free, unlocked
Category OS News |

4-inch Samsung Galaxy S3 mini to compete with the iPhone 5

Are you interested in the Samsung Galaxy S3, but find it too big? Is this making you go for the iPhone 5 instead? If this is the case, don’t go to the nearest Apple Store. The Korean tech giant has just announced that it will be releasing a 4-inch version of its flagship, the Galaxy S3 mini.

The Galaxy S3 mini is now available in Germany, so expect it to hit UK shops soon. According to the Korean firm, the screen may be smaller, but this doesn’t mean that it will sport less impressive specs. It hasn’t confirmed the phone’s specs yet, but according to GSM Arena, the phone will sport a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480×800 pixels, a microSD slot, 8 to 16GB of internal memory, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable or recording videos at 720p, a VGA front-facing camera, and a 1GHz dual-core processor under the hood. The site says the mini version of the S3 will ship running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).

Normally, Android smartphones with 4-inch displays tend to sport lower specs, which is why people often go for the iPhone. However, with a smaller version of the S3 sporting good specs, the iPhone 5 will be facing stiff competition. The Galaxy S3 mini may give the iPhone 5 more of a challenge compared to the current flagship the 4.8-inch Galaxy S3.

However, if GSM Arena’s specs are accurate, the S3 mini’s display only offers a resolution of 480×800 pixels. This is nothing compared to the 640×1,136 pixels on the iPhone 5’s retina display. This means better-looking photos, videos, apps, and the web. We can only hope that the S3 mini offers a more competitive price.

Would you be interested in getting your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, or do you still prefer the Apple iPhone 5? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.

Tags: apple, Apple iPhone 5, Apple iPhone 5 16GB, Apple iPhone 5 16GB White, Apple iPhone 5 32GB, Apple iPhone 5 32GB White, Apple iPhone 5 64GB, Apple iPhone 5 64GB White, Galaxy S3 mini, S3 mini, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S3 Amber Brown, Samsung Galaxy S3 Garnet Red, Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE Titanium Grey, Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE White, Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, Samsung Galaxy S3 Sapphire Black, Samsung Galaxy S3 White
Category Phone News |

Experts say iPhone 5’s retina display beats Samsung Galaxy S3 OLED

According to display experts, the retina display on the Apple iPhone 5 beats the display on the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The tests were conducted by DisplayMate Technologies. The new iPhone was given an A in the tests, while the Galaxy S3 was given a respectable B+. Not enough, however, to beat the 4-inch retina display on Apple’s new kit.

DisplayMate says that the screen on the iPhone 5 “is a significant improvement over the display in the iPhone 4”. Compared to the previous iPhone, it offers significantly lower reflection, more image contrast, and enhanced readability in high lighting conditions.

DisplayMate adds that the new iPhone’s display is the best display on a smartphone the company has ever tested.

The Galaxy S3 did not do too well under bright sunlight, due to only half the brightness compared to the display on the new iPhone. One factor is the power restrictions required by OLED displays.

Despite losing to the iPhone 5, DisplayMate still gives the S3’s display a rating of “very good”. The only reason why the new iPhone’s retina display bested its OLED screen is because it is new tech that still needs to be perfected.

DisplayMate says that Samsung has “not bothered to calibrate the colour gamut on any of its OLED displays, so they are wildly inaccurate and produce inaccurate and over-saturated colors”. This means that Apple pays more attention to detail compared to the Korean tech giant.

The verdict: the Apple iPhone 5 is more ideal for viewing things on the display under direct sunlight. Just don’t run the Apple Maps app if you don’t want to ruin the experience.

Would you get your hands on an iPhone 5 because its more ideal for viewing stuff on its retina display under direct sunlight, or do you still think the bigger OLED on the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still better? Share your opinion through a comment on our Facebook page.

Tags: apple, Apple iPhone 5, Apple iPhone 5 16GB, Apple iPhone 5 16GB White, Apple iPhone 5 32GB, Apple iPhone 5 32GB White, Apple iPhone 5 64GB, Apple iPhone 5 64GB White, DisplayMate, Galaxy S3, iPhone 5, OLED, Retina Display, S3, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S3 32GB, Samsung Galaxy S3 Garnet Red, Samsung Galaxy S3 Sapphire Black, Samsung Galaxy S3 White, Samsung Galaxy S3 White 32GB
Category Hardware News |