Samsung has finally announced the highly anticipated smartphone of the year ‘Galaxy S3’ at the Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012 event at London, UK. The Samsung GALAXY S III is the new flagship device of Samsung’s widely popular Galaxy series. ‘Designed for humans and inspired by nature’, the GALAXY S III is a smartphone that recognizes your voice, understands your intention, and lets you share a moment instantly and easily.

SGS3 is a smart, sleek and innovative smartphone with enhanced intelligence to make everyday life easier. The device features a big 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display, 8MP camera, a 1.9MP front camera offer users a variety of intelligent camera features and face recognition related options. It is powered by 1.4GHz Quad processor, 1GB RAM and runs on the latest Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. The device carries a whopping 2100mAh battery and still weighs just 133g.

Samsung GALAXY S III Technical Specifications –

Network

• 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
• 3G (HSPA? 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
• 4G (Dependent on market)

Display – 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED (1280×720) display

OS – Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Camera

• Main(Rear): 8 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
• Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera, HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BIS

Video

• Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark
• Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)

Audio – Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC?/eAAC?, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X

Additional Features

• S Beam, Buddy photo share, Share shot
• AllShare Play, AllShare Cast
• Smart stay, Social tag, Group tag, Face zoom, Face slide show
• Direct call, Smart alert, Tap to top, Camera quick access
• Pop up play
• S Voice
• Burst shot & Best photo, Recording snapshot, HDR

Google™ Mobile Services

• Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude
• Google Play Store, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies
• Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk,
• Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads

Connectivity

• WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40
• GPS/GLONASS
• NFC
• Bluetooth® 4.0(LE)

Sensor – Accelerometer, RGB light, Digital compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer

Memory – 16/ 32GB User memory (64GB available soon) ? microSD slot (up to 64GB)

Dimension – 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133g

Battery – 2,100 mAh

Available in Pebble Blue and Marble White at launch, Samsung will introduce a variety of additional color options. The Samsung GALAXY S III will be available from the end of May in Europe before rolling out to other markets globally.

Update – Galaxy S III TV Commercial

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Here is a BIG and stunning news – Google has officially announced that they’d now be selling their flagship device ‘Samsung Galaxy Nexus’ directly from a new Devices section in the Google Play web store. Surprisingly, they’re offering an Unlocked GSM (HSPA+) version of Galaxy Nexus for just $399. Initially available in the U.S., the device comes factory unlocked, without a carrier commitment or contract. That means you can use it on any preferred GSM network, including T-Mobile and AT&T. This is certainly a great news for all those dreaming to buy one of the best Android phone at a cheap price.

Google Mobile Blog says -

Galaxy Nexus by Samsung runs the latest Android software, Ice Cream Sandwich, with Google mobile services, Google Play and new features like Android Beam and Google+ mobile hangouts. It also offers a 4.65” HD Super AMOLED display that’s perfect for watching movies, playing games or reading books on the go.

First available in the U.S., Galaxy Nexus costs $399 and arrives at your door unlocked, without a carrier commitment or contract. You can use it on the GSM network of your choice, including T-Mobile and AT&T. It also comes pre-installed with the Google Wallet app which lets you easily make purchases and redeem offers with a tap of your phone. Best of all, we’ll give you a $10 credit to get you started with your new mobile wallet.

US based people can now quickly and easily purchase an unlocked version of the phone straight from Google play. Don’t miss this mouth-watering deal!

Google Play Link – https://play.google.com/store/devices

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The Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OTA update for Galaxy Nexus (GSM/HSPA+) started rolling out back in late March but only for a handful of users. The OTA update has been pushed to most Galaxy Nexus with product name as ‘yakju’, but still a lot of Google updated Galaxy Nexus haven’t got it as these updates are region specific. It should be noted that devices with yakju product code are updated directly by Google while the non-yakju ones are applicable to receive updates from Samsung which are apparently delayed by a couple of weeks. So, if you cant wait for the Galaxy Nexus OTA Android 4.0.4 update anymore, then you can opt to manually install the update.

See: [Check if your Galaxy Nexus is updated by Google or Samsung?]

Google has officially released the "yakju" factory images for Galaxy Nexus "maguro"  (GSM/HSPA+) which are meant to be flashed manually only on yakju version. However, there is a 100% working trick to Install the official Android 4.0.4 yakju update on yakjuxw version of Galaxy Nexus. This would also change your Galaxy Nexus from yakjuxw to yakju which is indeed good as your device would then be eligible to receive official OTA updates directly from Google and Not Samsung.

Disclaimer: Try this guide at your own risk! We wont be responsible in case your device gets bricked. This may also void your warranty.

NOTE:

1. This process requires to unlock bootloader which will wipe/factory reset your phone.
2. Your phone should have Official Stock firmware running and Not a custom ROM.
3. Your Galaxy Nexus device name should be maguro (See how to check that)
4. This procedure is meant only for GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus.

~ We’re going to perform this entire task using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit, a reliable and easy tool to root, unlock, backup apps + data, and flash .img files on Galaxy Nexus.

Tutorial – Installing Android 4.0.4 Update on Galaxy Nexus (YAKJUXW model)

Step 1 – This is the most crucial step among the entire task. You need to install and configure the ADB and Fastboot drivers on your Windows system. Follow our guide on [Installing ADB & Fastboot Drivers for Galaxy Nexus using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit]

Step 2 – Take a backup of your installed apps (with data) and SD card contents. Check our article, [How to Backup Galaxy Nexus Apps & Data without Rooting]

Step 3 – After you’ve configured the drivers properly and performed a backup, it’s time to unlock the bootloader. Follow our [Guide to Unlock Samsung Galaxy Nexus Bootloader]

Step 4 – Download the below files:

• Download 4.0.4 (IMM76D IMM76I) Official “Yakju” factory Image (Direct Link)

– Extract this .tgz file to your desktop using archive program like WinRAR. Then rename this file and add a .zip extension to it. Extract the file to a folder on your desktop. Then open the folder and extract the file (image-yakju-imm76d.zip) to the same folder.

• Download Fastboot and ADB files (XDA) – Extract the files to the same folder (fastboot-and-adb) on your desktop.

Step 5 – Installing Android 4.0.4 and Flashing the ‘YAKJU’ Firmware

1. Enable USB Debugging on your phone and connect it to computer via USB. (Make sure it is charged.)

2. Open Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit (Run as Administrator), select your device model (CDMA or GSM) and click on ‘List devices’ to verify that the connection is stable. Then select the ‘fastboot-bootloader’ option and click on ‘Reboot Bootloader’.

3. Your phone should now boot into Bootloader mode. Get ready for flashing!

To flash the Image files that you extracted in Step 4, select the ‘Flash (Permanent)’ option from the Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit. Next,

- Click on the System option and select ‘system.img’ file from the folder yakju-imm76d.

- Click on Userdata option and select ‘userdata.img’.

- Click on Boot option and select ‘boot.img’.

- Similarly, click on recovery and select ‘recovery.img’.

4. Erase the cache partition. This has to be done via CMD.

To erase cache, right-click the folder ‘fastboot-and-adb’ while holding down the Shift key. Click on ‘Open command window here’.

A command prompt window will open up. Simply type fastboot.exe and hit enter. Then type fastboot erase cache to wipe the cache.

Reboot – Then type the command fastboot reboot and hit enter. That’s it!

Your device should now boot up normally and present up with the new Android 4.0.4 update and ‘yakju’ firmware that will offer prompt updates directly from Google. You can confirm the product version using the ‘GN updater checker’ app. Restore the backup that you created in step 2 to get back all your installed apps along with their data.

What’s new in 4.0.4 – The latest Android 4.0.4 update for Galaxy Nexus offers stability improvements, better camera performance, smoother screen rotation, improved phone number recognition and more. We also noticed a significant improvement in battery life after upgrading to 4.0.4.

Enjoy the more awesome Ice Cream Sandwich on your GNex now!

P.S. We’ve tried the above tutorial on our Galaxy Nexus and it worked perfectly. Do let us know if you face any issues while going through the described process.

[Thanks XDA Forum]

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Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has a smart feature integrated that allows you to take full backup of your device and then restore the backup when required using Android SDK tools. Wug’s Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit for Samsung Galaxy Nexus makes this task way easier and surprisingly you don’t need to root or unlock bootloader to perform a backup. Also, this toolkit doesn’t requires to have Android SDK installed when on Windows.

Note: This Does NOT backup all of your SD card data such as pictures, music, files, etc. So, it’s your recommended to manually copy the entire SD card contents to your computer. You can move them back to SD card later incase a factory reset is performed. The SMS messages and the call logs will be wiped as well. So take care!

Guide – Backup All Installed Apps and Apps Data on Galaxy Nexus

1. Download Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit and install it on your Windows system.

2. Important - Configure Drivers for your device using the toolkit. Refer to this detailed tutorial and make sure the drivers are setup properly before proceeding ahead.

3. Next, enabled USB Debugging on your device and connect it to computer via USB. Then open the toolkit (Run as Administrator).

4. Open the toolkit. Ensure your device is connected by selecting ‘adb-phone on’ and clicking the ‘List devices’ option. (Refer tutorial)

5. Click on the ‘Backup Apps + Data’ listed under Backup and Restore in the toolkit.

- Specify the location on your computer to save the backup file (.ab).

- A cmd windows will open up. Confirm if you see the adb device listed there.

- Then another command prompt window will open asking if you’d like to include system apps and apps data in your backup.

>> It’s recommended to choose No, which will result in backup of all user installed apps along with their data. This option is preferred as you can restore the backup after installing the latest firmware (when updated manually) or after flashing a custom ROM.

6. A new cmd window will now appear asking if you’re ready to initiate the backup?

- Hold your device in hand and make sure the screen is awake.

7. As you confirm, a Backup screen will appear on your phone.

- You’ll be prompted to enter a password on your device to protect the backup file. (Make sure to remember the set password as it is required to restore the backup file.)

- The backup process will start automatically, you can notice the activity on phone.

- Once the backup is complete it will be stored on your computer in the specified directory. Similarly, you can Restore it anytime using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit. Upon restoration, all apps and their data such as password and settings would be restored.

~ We tried this procedure on Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0.2 and it worked like a charm. The restore process went flawless and all the user apps were intact with data.

Hope you found this guide useful.

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If you own a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and wish to intensely configure your device by rooting and installing custom ROM, then here is an amazing tool specifically for Galaxy Nexus smartphone that you must check out! Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit (by WugFresh) is a free, powerful and feature packed program that makes everything easier than ever. The program works for both Verizon (CDMA) and GSM models. Functionalities include: Unlocking, rooting, relocking, unrooting, Flash/Boot img files, Backup and Restore Apps, Flash Stock firmware, and many other options. It has a nice GUI which is great for novice users as they can perform several tasks easily without going through the uneasy command-line process. Moreover, it doesn’t requires Android SDK to be installed.

Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit includes the relevant USB drivers within the package and has automated driver installation with devcon and pnputil. But you still need to configure the drivers manually which is the most crucial and bit of difficult task in the entire process. Though the program indicates step-by-step instructions to install the drivers but we’re sharing this tutorial to make it more convenient for you. Follow the steps carefully.

STEP 1 – Install Samsung USB Drivers using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit

Open Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit (Run as Administrator), select device model type (CDMA or GSM), and click on ‘Drivers’ option (Device should be unplugged). The driver installation process will start instantly and will be completed automatically. Note: Be patient and let the process finish on its own.

STEP 2 – Driver configuration, a two step manual process:

• Your device has to be configured once when its ON and again when its in BOOTLOADER
• You have to manually configure these drivers through device manager.

Part 1: Configuring your adb drivers

1. Turn your device completely on, enable USB debugging, and connect your device via USB. To enable USB debugging: on your phone, open settings > developer options > check USB debugging.

2. Open device manager: Start > type devmgmt.msc

3. Look for anything that resembles your device: it could say Galaxy, Android device..

• If you can’t figure out which one is your device: Unplug your phone and then replug it while watching device manager.

4. Uninstall this device! Right click the device > Uninstall

5. Now refresh your devices by hitting the "Scan for hardware changes" button.

6. You will now see a new device with a yellow exclamation mark next to it.

7. Now you’ve to install the correct drivers for it.

• Right click the device and choose "Update Driver Software…"
• Now select "Browse my computer for driver software"
• Now in the "Search for driver software in this location:" enter:

C:\Wugs_GnexRootToolkit\data\drivers

• Now Hit enter, agree to the security warning and wait for the driver to configure.
• It could take a few minutes… then tada!

Alternatively, you can do this (this method only works on some computers).

• "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
• Browse for "Samsung Devices" and select Next
• Then choose "SAMSUNG Mobile ADB Device"
• Then select next, wait for it to configure, and tada!

Now Test to make sure the adb drivers are working correctly – Firstly, connect your device via USB and confirm that ‘USB debugging’ is enabled. Then open Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit (Run as Administrator), select ‘adb-phone on’ option in Quick tools and click on ‘List devices’. A command prompt window will appear stating the list of devices attached. If you see an adb device listed as shown below then you’re half done.

Part 2: Configuring your Fastboot drivers

1. Boot your phone into bootloader mode. This can be done directly from within the toolkit, select ‘adb–phone on’ and click on ‘Reboot Bootloader’ option.

OR

When your phone is in completely powered off state, turn it back on by: “Holding both up and down volumes buttons and the power button”.

2. Go to Device Manager. You will now see a device listed as Android 1.0 with a yellow exclamation mark next to it.

3. Install the correct drivers for it.

• Right click the device and choose "Update Driver Software…"
• Now select "Browse my computer for driver software"
• Now in the "Search for driver software in this location:" enter:

C:\Wugs_GnexRootToolkit\data\drivers

• Now Hit enter, agree to the security warning and wait for the driver to configure.

4. You should now see a new device listed in device manager as ‘Samsung Android Phone’ with sub-category as ‘Android ADB Interface’.

5. Now test it – Select ‘fastboot–bootloader’ under Quick tools and click on the ‘Reboot Bootloader’ option. If the device boots into Fastboot mode, then you’re done.

Your drive configuration is complete. This is quite lengthy but is a one time task. Once drivers are setup properly, you can manage your device entirely with this toolkit.

Source: GalaxyNexusForum

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus GSM version comes in several variants and you might not be aware that the source for its OTA updates varies depending on the device version. After going through some credible forums, we noticed different product names of Galaxy Nexus (GSM) such as yakju, yakjuxw, yakjusc, yakjujp, yakjuux, etc. Apparently, it’s said that devices with ‘yakju’ build are Google branded and thus eligible to receive updates directly from Google. Whereas, devices with non-yakju builds (yakjuxw) having brand as Samsung are region/carrier specific and will probably get updates from Samsung. There is no confirmation yet if there is any difference in the updates but it is certain that Google delivers prompt updates while those from Samsung are delayed by a few weeks.

Here’s an easy way to Check the product version of Samsung Galaxy Nexus which can help you easily determine whether your device is updated by Google or Samsung. Simply install the free app ‘GN Official Update Checker’ from Google Play on your Galaxy Nexus. Then run it to check the device product name, yakju or yakjuxw.

If you’re looking for more detailed info than just the product name, then install the app ‘Android System Info’ from Google Play. The app provides a lot of technical information about Hardware, System, Telephony, etc. and has built-in Task Manager, App manager, logs viewer, battery stats and more.

To view the relevant details, open the app and navigate to System tab > BuildInfos. Listed there are the hardware, brand, device, product name, etc.

Stay tuned! We’ll soon be covering more interesting articles on Galaxy Nexus.

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Samsung, the leading manufacturer of multimedia devices and electronics has now launched their official eStore aka online store in India. Certainly, that’s a great step taken by Samsung India considering the operation and potential of e-commerce in India, where online shopping sites are flourishing since last few years. Samsung India online store can be accessed at samsungindiaestore.com where people can buy the products online with ease and can expect a reliable service and customer support.

Samsung eStore (currently in Beta) is serviced and managed by Savex Computers Ltd. The site with a neat interface offers a wide range of multimedia products – Mobiles, Tablets, Laptops, Netbooks and Accessories. The site lists product features, photos and full specifications to make it easier for the buyer to check the relevant details beforehand. You can also compare several products from the same category and filter results as desired. There is a specific ‘Deals’ page listing all the offers out there.

The payment modes available are Credit Card & Debit Card, Net Banking and Cash on Delivery. COD is deemed as one of the best payment option for Indian users as you can simply Pay Cash at the time of delivery. Moreover, Free Shipping is offered on all items and all products are covered by free insurance coverage against theft and damage during transit. Note: Samsungindiaestore doesn’t deliver items internationally.

Buying goods online from Samsung India estore is just like buying them locally (offline) from a Samsung store. The products purchased are covered by a minimum of 1 year manufacturer’s warranty and the supplied accessories (inside the box) have 6 months warranty. There are no extra taxes or hidden costs, price listed on site is the final price.

Verdict: This official eStore from Samsung India is a great initiative that would help a lot of users shop online from their site without concerning about the product genuineness. However, the pricing is a bit of disappointment considering other major e-commerce sites in India (eBay India, Flipkart, Letsbuy) have a competitive and better pricing.

Do share your views if you happen to shop from Samsung’s Online Store.

via [MediaNama]

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Just yesterday, we bought a brand new GSM version of Galaxy Nexus which is currently the best Android smartphone manufactured by Samsung in co-operation with Google. The Galaxy Nexus (dubbed as Nexus Prime) offers a “pure Android” experience and is the first phone to feature the latest platform Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. This amazing feature packed phone is a successor to Google’s previous flagship phones, the Nexus One and Nexus S. It combines the most advanced software from Google and cutting edge hardware from Samsung. So, let’s have a look at the hands-on photos below!

Galaxy NEXUS (GT-I9250) Unboxing Photos -

The Galaxy Nexus is huge! The box measuring 8-inch long itself could scare you out for a moment. FYI, the phone runs on Android 4.0.1 and is powered by a 1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor, boasts a large 4.65” 1280×720 HD Super AMOLED Contour display (curved glass) which looks stunning, 1GB RAM, NFC, Face Unlock, and a lot more.

Accessories include: a micro USB cable, 1750mAH battery, Samsung branded In-Ear stereo headphones with 3.5mm jack and Samsung USB wall charger.

This is a 16GB variant of Galaxy Nexus, the device doesn’t offers expandable storage.

The Galaxy Nexus is amazingly thin and lightweight considering it’s a really big device. Surprisingly, there aren’t any capacitive or physical buttons present to control the device but 3 virtual buttons integrated within its user interface. That’s innovative!

Dimensions - 135.5 mm (5.33 in) Height, 67.94 mm (2.675 in) Width and 8.94 mm (0.352 in) Depth. It weighs 135 g (4.8 oz). (Size may vary for the LTE version)

Color – Titanium Silver

On right hand side, there is a power/standby key and 3 gold dock pins. The left side sports a volume rocker, the top portion is empty and at the bottom side there is a micro USB port, microphone and a 3.5mm audio jack.

GALAXY Nexus features a redesigned camera – 5.0 MP rear facing camera with LED Flash and 1.3 MP front facing camera, which introduces zero-shutter lag, 1080p HD video recording, Single-Motion Panoramic mode, and effects like silly faces and background replacement. The semi-glossy textured back cover provides a good grip to hold on.

3 color Notification LED – Not sure in what circumstances it glows up, Cool though.

Galaxy Nexus vs LG Optimus One – Thickness comparison

Galaxy Nexus vs Optimus One (P500) – Size comparison

>> Check the above images in bigger size on our Google+ Page. (Album Link)

Don’t forget to share your views below.

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