Tuesday, August 27, 2013

iOS 7 Features: Apple Prepares Updated Bluetooth Profile

As the iOS 7 release date approaches a key component of new iOS 7 features passes certification and external testing, which should help with smartwatch connectivity, iOS 7 controllers and new iOS 7 accessories.
Apple announced iOS 7 along with at least 50 iOS 7 features users will care about back in June at WWDC 2013. At the time Apple outlined a collection of new Bluetooth and wireless features, but did not go into that much detail about what users can expect.
We are still waiting for Apple to announce the rumored iPhone 5S and share all the new iOS 7 features, some of which could be specific to theiPhone 5S.

As the rumored iOS 7 release date approaches a new Bluetooth profile for iOS 7 appeared on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group website. The listing details the iOS 7 Bluetooth protocols which on the surface are just a table of acronyms, but underneath they are key to some of the new exciting iOS 7 features users should expect in late September.
The new iOS 7 Bluetooth profile is ready for an iOS 7 release.
The new iOS 7 Bluetooth profile is ready for an iOS 7 release.
The iOS 7 update Bluetooth certification is listed by Ulrich Amrhein, a Manager of Engineering Program Management at Apple. The new iOS 7 profile was qualified and tested by Andreas Gruenwaldt, who works at 7Layers, a testing firm that specializes in certifying devices and software for networks, wireless technology and specific industries and programs including Apple’s Made for iPhone program.
Additional iOS 7 Bluetooth certification details.
Additional iOS 7 Bluetooth certification details.
It is standard practice for a Bluetooth Qualification Expert to test and list a product in the Bluetooth Qualified Designs database, so this isn’t a sign that Apple is outsourcing iOS 7 in order to avoid a delayed release.

5 Key Bluetooth Enabled iOS 7 Features

Now that we are past the technical details, we can look at the new iOS 7 features made possible by a new Bluetooth profile.

iOS 7 Controller Support

IOS 7 will finally bring native controller support to the iPhone and iPad. Apple is already offering guidance to accessory makers and developers on how to make an iPhone controller for iOS 7, and Bluetooth will play a key role in connectivity for many options.
One of the botton layouts for controllers that iOS 7 will support this fall.
One of the button layouts for controllers that iOS 7 will support this fall.
One of the new features that is present in iOS 7 Bluetooth is the ability to manage Bluetooth accessories from the iPhone or iPad in greater detail, which we could see used as a way to map buttons or perform other setup activities.
During WWDC 2013 an iOS 7 controller from Logitech appeared at a demo, so shoppers may see several iOS 7 controller options arrive soon after the iOS 7 release date.

Air Drop

Air Drop uses WiFi to connect wirelessly to other iPhones and iPads running iOS 7 to share photos and more, but it relies on Bluetooth to find the other devices.
AirDrop simplifies file sharing.
AirDrop simplifies file sharing.
According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group Air Drop uses, “Bluetooth Smart technology to securely discover and connect devices for file sharing.

Better Battery Life for Accessories

The new HID profile, which is one of the changes in this updated profile will bring better battery life to iOS 7 controllers and to iPhone and iPad keyboards.
The ZAGGKeys Cover iPad mini keyboard is slim and offers backlit keys.
The ZAGGKeys Cover iPad mini keyboard is slim and offers backlit keys.
The Bluetooth SIG states, “consumers can expect ultra-power efficient Bluetooth Smart game controllers and keyboards to last years without changing batteries.” All thanks to new Bluetooth profiles.

Smart Door Locks

There are a number of smart iPhone connected door locks on or arriving to the market, and with iOS 7 and new Bluetooth support, we should see improved performance thanks to HID and Alert Notification Services.
The August Smart Lock.
The August Smart Lock.

Better Smartwatch Support

Another key component of the new iOS 7 features is better support for a smartwatch like the Pebble, and possibly the rumored iWatch. The new Apple Notification Center Service lets Bluetooth Smart devices tap into the iPhone notifications for a vastly improved user experience.

The video above shows this in action with an iPhone 5 running iOS 7 and a Pebble smartwatch.

At this point we may not see an iOS 7 beta 7 release ahead of a Gold Master for iOS 7. We look for an iOS 7 GM on September 10th and an iOS 7 release date on September 18th, a few days ahead of the rumored iPhone 5S release date.

Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Apple iPhone 5 will lead handset display manufacturers to a 55% gain in revenue in 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Apple iPhone 5 will lead handset display manufacturers to a 55% gain in revenue in 2013
According to a report by DisplaySearch, demand for higher resolution, larger touchscreens will help handset display manufacturers increase revenues by 55% this year. Part of the increase is coming from the higher average price for smartphone displays along with a 15% increase in the number of panels that will be shipped this year to 1.9 billion units. But the main factor in this increase in revenue is the larger sized screens being used on smartphones.

Hiroshi Hayase, VP of small- to medium-size displays at DisplaySearch, credits the displays used on two popular handsets, the Apple iPhone 5and the Samsung Galaxy S4 for the increase in high-end flat panel displays. The report notes how the AMOLED screen on the Samsung Galaxy S4 is now 5 inches with resolution of 1080 x 1920 with on-cell touch, up from the 4.8 inch 720 x 1280 panel on the Samsung Galaxy S III. By the same token, the increase in the glass from the 3.5 inch 640 x 960 resolution screen on the Apple iPhone 4S to the 4 inch 640 x 1164 (with in-cell touch) on the iPhone 5 has led to a growth in revenue for LTPS TFT LCD manufacturers.

The average selling price of an AMOLED screen has risen from $48.36 in 2012 to $49.37 in 2013. The average selling price of an LTPS TFT LCD screen is $34.57 this year, up from the $26.74 achieved last year. AMOLED screens are expected to grab a 37% market share of the mobile phone display industry this year. LTPS TFT LCD panels are forecast to be right behind with a 36.1% slice of the pie. Low priced, high volume a-Si TFT LCD displays, used in the Chinese handset market, will be third with a 26.5% share according to DisplaySearch.

"The top two brands leading growth in the global smartphone market - Samsung with its Galaxy S4 series and Apple with its iPhone 5 series - continue to increase production volume and market share. The growth in sales for these popular smartphone vendors has led to increased requirements for high-end flat panel displays, including AMOLED used in the Galaxy S4 and LTPS TFT LCD used in the iPhone 5."-Hiroshi Hayase, VP of small- to medium-size displays, DisplaySearch

source: DigiTimes

Alleged iPhone 5C specs sheet points to a 4-inch, dual-core device with 1GB RAM, iOS 7 and Siri support

Alleged iPhone 5C specs sheet points to a 4-inch, dual-core device with 1GB RAM, iOS 7 and Siri support
After months of high-profile leaks surrounding the iPhone 5C, there's no denying that things have reached a state where we've started to approach the whole subject as a little bit of a bore. The plethora of colorful shells that are said to come with Apple's budget iPhone have been a topic of extensive discussion, for if nothing else, they constitute something of a departure from the spirit of premium, high-end products only. And while that's a significant departure from Steve Jobs' legacy, it's quite natural that after a while we all became a little neutral towards the subject, for informative scoops were rare to non-existent, not to mention wildly speculative.

This whole affair has now changed somewhat with today's leak, because while still just as unsanctioned as any prior ones, we finally get our hands on something a bit more specific.

Here are the rumored iPhone 5C specs:

  • Unknown dual-core chipset
  • A 4-inch, 1136x640 display
  • 1GB of RAM, 16/32/64GB of internal storage
  • 8MP shooter at the rear, 1.2MP at the front
  • 124.2x58.4x7.6mm, 106g
  • Will run iOS 7 with Siri (support for English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish)
The list is obviously unconfirmed, and is the work of an insider that has the ear of Dutch SIMOnly Radar. If these turn out to be true, though, then expect the iPhone 5C to be exactly as slim and just as uniform as theiPhone 5 – a tad taller, a bit teeny bit narrower, and a little lighter compared to the 5S. Also interesting is the fact that this new intel contradicts rumors claiming that the iPhone 5C may launch sans Apple's personal assistant.

source: SIMOnly Radar

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Nokia regains leadership of Finnish handset market

Nokia regains leadership of Finnish handset market
Perhaps it isn't that unexpected that Nokia is the top selling mobile phone in Finland. After all, that is the country that hosts the handset manufacturer's headquarters. But Q1 data revealed that Korean OEM Samsung had taken the top spot from Nokia. The latest data for the second quarter from IDC shows Nokia with a 36% share, leading Samsung by 2%. Nokia recaptured the lead by taking business away from Apple. The Cupertino based tech titan saw its market share in the country get cut in half to 7% from 14% during the second quarter.

Finnish operators credited the expansion of the Lumia range in the country for Nokia's strength during the period from April through June. By adding more price points to the Lumia line, Nokia can now cover demand for all economic demographics in Finland. This is pointed out by TeliaSonera’s Communications Director Timo Saxén who notes that Nokia Lumia models now cover the entire range of buyers. 

At the low end, Nokia has the sizzling hot Nokia Lumia 520its top selling phone at the moment. At the high-end is the Nokia Lumia 1020 with its 41MP PureView camera.

Nokia has the largest market share of handset manufacturers in Finland
Nokia has the largest market share of handset manufacturers in Finland

source: IDC, itviikko.fi (translated) via NokiaPowerUser

Samsung Galaxy Note III gets its Bluetooth certification

With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Note III less than two weeks away, Korean manufacturer Korea is working on chopping its "things to do" list down to size. One thing that can be crossed off the list is submitting a request for the phone's Bluetooth certification. Sammy's third-generation phablet received the certification (which we assume is suitable for framing or laminating) on Wednesday.

The model that has just been green lit by Bluetooth is the NTT DoCoMo model (SGH-N075). As we mentioned the other day, the first 4 million units of the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 shoehorned in. Originally, the phablet will be offered in black and white with rumors spreading that a pink variant of the Galaxy Note III will be ready by late October.

The Samsung Galaxy Note III is expected to be unveiled on September 4th at a Samsung Unpacked event in Berlin, prior to the IFA 2013 show. Also expected to be unwrapped is the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

The Samsung Galaxy Note III gets its Bluetooth certification
The Samsung Galaxy Note III gets its Bluetooth certification

source: BluetoothSIG via SamMobile

Picture shows Apple iPhone 5C units getting tested at the factory

Picture shows Apple iPhone 5C units getting tested at the factory
As we get closer to the September 10th introduction of the Apple iPhone 5S and Apple iPhone 5C, we expect to see more pictures like the one below. What you are looking at is a picture allegedly taken directly from Pegatron's facility in Shanghai where the Apple iPhone 5C is being readied for launch. 

The photographer posted the photo on her Sina Weibo account and her profile reveals that she has worked in the QC department at the contract manufacturer since the middle of July. Along with the snapshot came a caption which read, "The low-end iPhone 5C to be launched for Chinese consumers in September doesn't look much different than the Xiaomi Phone 2, right?" If anything else, she has a future in captioning photographs.

The phones in question are said to be at the end of the assembly line where they are getting charged up for testing. If they pass, it's off to be boxed and shipped. Wouldn't you like to just reach in and grab one?

Is this picture showing a us a bunch of plugged-in Apple iPhone 5C units at Pegatron?
Is this picture showing a us a bunch of plugged-in Apple iPhone 5C units at Pegatron?

source: Weibo, NoWhereElse (translated) via Engadget

Verizon HTC One User Guide: Do More With the HTC One

It might have taken more than some users would have liked but after five months of waiting for the opportunity to pick up the HTC One, users on America’s largest mobile carrier, Verizon can now purchase HTC’s latest flagship device.
Here are some tutorials to help you get the most of the PixelSense rear-facing camera, Sense 5 user interface and more. Although there may be a few changes to the Verizon HTC One, none of these changes should alter how to perform any of these tasks in any meaningful way.

Check out our Verizon HTC One user guide to get started with your new HTC One.
Check out our Verizon HTC One user guide to get started with your new HTC One.

How to Remove Objects from Photos on the HTC One

how to remove objects from phootos on the htc one 5
Using HTC One’s Zoe features, users can actually take photos and remove moving objects from them. In this tutorial you’ll learn how to use the HTC One’s built-in software to capture and save memories without the need to edit photos on a personal computer. How to remove objects from Photos on the HTC One

How to Customize BlinkFeed on the HTC One and Sense 5

HTC One Setup - Customize HTC BlinkFeed.
HTC One Setup – Customize HTC BlinkFeed.
The HTC’s most recognizable feature is BlinkFeed, a screen that automatically pulls all the things each user cares about, right to that user’s Home Screen. Here’s how to take charge of BlinkFeed and customize it to be the best smartphone news reader and social aggregator around. How to Customize Blinkfeed on the HTC One and Sense 5

How to Disable BlinkFeed on the HTC One

HTC BlinkFeed offers fast access to news and social networks, and is customizable.
HTC BlinkFeed offers fast access to news and social networks, and is customizable.
Sure, BlinkFeed might be great at doing what it does, but for those users already have RSS feed readers and preferred Twitter clients shouldn’t be forced to look at it. How to Disable BlinkFeed on the HTC One

How to Take a Slow Motion Video on the HTC One

htc-one 12
Your Verizon HTC One doesn’t just come with a long list of picture taking features. You can also use the device to capture video highlights using Sense 5’s Slow motion video options. How to take a Slow Motion Video on the HTC One

How to Use Multitasking on the HTC One

Multitasking on the HTC One
Multitasking on the HTC One
There’s never been a better time to own a HTC One. The device’s speedy processor and generous amounts of RAM almost force users think of it as a PC. Unfortunately, using the device as a mobile power-house comes with one particular challenge: it’s multitasking is hard to discover. Here’s how to use multitasking on the HTC One to quickly switch between apps running in the background. How to Use Multitasking on the HTC One

How to Use Personal Hotspot on the HTC One

HTC One mini
Nothing is more useful than being able to call on the wireless internet connection of a mobile device to get back online in a pinch. The personal hotspot feature on the HTC One, plus the device’s built-in support for LTE data networks makes turning the device into an internet connection for other devices easy and useable. How to Use Personal Hotspot on the HTC One

If you’ve been on the fence about picking up a Verizon HTC One, GottaBeMobile found the device to be one of the best Android smartphones on the market today in our HTC One review. Currently, the device is available with a two-year contract on the carrier for just $199.

How To Use Twitter on Windows Phone

Microsoft’s Windows Phone takes a completely different approach to social media sharing. Instead of including single applications for Twitter and Facebook with each phone, Microsoft integrated social networks intoWindows Phone 8. Because of this users are able to send and share messages from almost any area on Windows Phone. Here’s how to use Twitter on Windows Phone to communicate with your online friends.
By default, Windows Phone will only interface with the Twitter account you added when you first set up your Windows Phone device. Windows Phone 8 itself isn’t able to connect to more than one account at a time.

Reading Messages

Open the People Hub. It’s the double wide tile represented in our screen shot by the pictures of friends on the Start Screen. As each Windows Phone’s Start Screen is configured differently, your People Hub’s tile could be smaller.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (1)
The What’s New area will automatically display the latest social updates from any social media account in one view. To see just your Twitter updates tap All Accounts and select Twitter from the drop down menu
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (4)
Tap any message inside your What’s New feed to reply or retweet it. This view will also showcase entire Twitter conversations on your device. You can also tap the small reply icon to the right of each message to reply to particular messages.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (5)

Composing Twitter Messages

To create a Twitter update, open the Me Hub. By default that hub’s live tile is presented by your Microsoft Account profile photo. In our example, it’s the Live Tile with my face on it to the left. You can swipe to the right to see your latest Twitter notification inside the Me Hub as well.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (6)
Tap Post an Update to send out text updates to your Twitter account alone, or Facebook and LinkedIn as well.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (7)

Tweeting Photos & Videos

Open the Photo Hub or use the Camera app to capture the picture you would like to share. The Photos application has a dynamic tile that changes to showcase the photos that are on your device. In our photo it’s the double wide Live Tile just above Netflix.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (9)
Tap and hold on the picture or video you would like to share. Tap Share from the pop-up menu.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (11)
Select Twitter from the drop down menu.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (12)
Add your message and then tap the Share button.
How to Use Twitter on Windows Phone 8 (13)
Remember, by default Windows Phone will automatically integrate fully with any Twitter account that has been integrated in with the Microsoft Account you added you set up your Windows Phone. As such, it’s best if you only integrate your Windows Phone account with your personal Twitter account.

First iPhone 5S Cases & iPhone 5C Cases Up for Pre-Order

The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C release dates are still about a month out based on our best estimates, but a new pair of iPhone 5S cases and iPhone 5C cases are already up for sale to ship on September 10th.
Given the plethora of photos and leaks, it’s not surprising to see a company offering up iPhone 5C cases already. With the iPhone 5S likely arriving with minimal exterior changes there will be a lot of options come release, but this is one of the first cases we’ve seen bearing the iPhone 5S name.
The new iPhone cases come just a day after Apple Canada’s website included an accessory bearing the iPhone 5S name, seemingly confirming the upcoming name for Apple’s flagship iPhone.

With major money to be made form early adopters that want to put a case on their new iPhone as soon as possible, case makers rush to deliver a collection of new cases for each upcoming phone. These two new case options for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are similar to the TPU cases we see arrive first for many phones.
At this point, cases arriving ahead of a phone’s release is almost as much a right of passage as going through the FCC and showing up on stage with a company executive.

iPhone 5S Cases

A pair of iPhone 5S cases is also available on BoxWave shipping on September 10th for $7.95 and $24.95. These black and pink cases promise protection for the iPhone 5S.
New iPhone 5S cases arrive online.
New iPhone 5S cases arrive online.
The company claims these are designed for the iPhone 5S, but the mock up does not include the larger pill-shaped flash we expect on the iPhone 5S when it arrives.
It is surprising to see a company selling iPhone 5S cases with a pre-order, considering the high likelihood of an iPhone 5S fitting into an iPhone 5 case without much of an issue.

iPhone 5C Cases

The pair of iPhone 5C cases include a see through case and a black “Tuxedo” case, both of which make a lot of sense given the current crop of iPhone 5C rumors.
One of the first iPhone 5S cases arrives.
One of the first iPhone 5S cases arrives.
The iPhone 5C Shell case is a hard plastic case that user can see through. The case retails for $12.95 rom Boxwave and will reportedly ship on September 10th.
The iPhone 5C Tuxedo SuitUp case comes in black, for $7.95 and promises protection from fingerprints. This case is available in black, which is one color that some sources say the iPhone 5C will not come in.
A black iPhone 5C case offers an option to dress up the colorful iPhone 5C.
A black iPhone 5C case offers an option to dress up the colorful iPhone 5C.
BoxWave boasts, “This perfectly tailored design means your Apple iPhone 5C’s camera, flash, speakers, volume controls, and ports all remain uncovered and unhindered.”, on product pages for both of these cases.
Given the plethora of colors that the iPhone 5C should arrive in a clear case is a practical option for users that want to show off the colors. A video showing an alleged iPhone 5C back illustrates a very resilient material so a case may not be needed, but if the iPhone 5C doesn’t come in black users may want a black iPhone 5C case on hand.
Even with the early arrival, users may want to wait to see what options are available when the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C announcements are made.

Apple is reportedly planning an iPhone 5S event for September 10th, where we should see the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on stage for the first time. It looks like Apple could deliver an iPhone 5S release date on September 20th alongside the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C could replace an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S according to some rumors.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Galaxy Note 3 vs. Galaxy S4: What Buyers Can Expect from Samsung

Last year, Samsung announced and released not one but two flagship Galaxy smartphones in the forms of the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2. This year, it will do the same as theSamsung Galaxy Note 3 is posed to join theSamsung Galaxy S4 on shelves. And with the launch within reach, consumers are likely wondering how the Galaxy S4 will stack up with the Galaxy Note 3. Here we offer some possible answers.
In 2011, Samsung offered consumers a glimpse at the future. In the early part of the year, the company announced the Galaxy S2, its former flagship that replaced the original Galaxy S on shelves. Then, later in the year, the company took the stage at IFA in Germany and announced a large screen Galaxy Note, complete with an S Pen stylus and powerful software.

The launch of two big name, heavily marketed smartphones set the tone for the years to come it seems as last year, Samsung introduced not one, but two flagship smartphones in the United States and in countries around the world.
First, it was the Galaxy S3 and later in the year it was the Galaxy Note 2 that took to shelves to help the company battle devices like the iPhone. The Galaxy S3 has since been replaced by the current Galaxy S smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, which arrived on shelves in April. And now, it seems it will be the Galaxy Note 2′s turn to give away to a successor.
Rumors insist that the Galaxy Note 3 will be the topic of conversation at Samsung’s announced September 4th launch event ahead of IFA 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Rumors have also seemingly revealed many of the Galaxy Note 3′s features, giving consumers a pre-launch glimpse at the Galaxy Note 2 successor.
While nothing is set in stone, rumors, history and educated guesses should help us paint a picture about what to expect between the upcoming internal battle between the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is already out on shelves and will be widely available until the Galaxy S5 debuts next year. It will, however, be joined by the Galaxy Note 3 in the near future at which point the two devices will wage an internal battle against each other, while also competing against the numerous competitors on the market.
Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S4 could be challenged by the Galaxy Note 3 as soon as early September with the Galaxy Note 3 thought to be shipping out in early September shortly after its launch date. No specific date has been mentioned but it’s looking like September will be the release month.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch event is on for September 4th.
The Galaxy Note 3 will arrive on September 4th.
The Galaxy S4 launched in the United States at the same time as other regions and given the important of this year’s Galaxy Note release, we don’t expect the United States to lag behind like it did with the Galaxy Note 2.
Expect the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 to be the last variant to arrive on shelves.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S4 came with a design that wasn’t a complete redesign from the Galaxy S3. Instead, the company tweaked the design in several different areas.
First, it added a faux metal band that now stretches around the device to give it a distinct look. Second, it used better feeling plastic than the polycarbonate that it used with the Galaxy S3. Third, the device is a little bit taller due to the increase in screen size. The device is also thinner and lighter than the Galaxy S3 with a 7.9mm frame.
The Galaxy S4 next to the Galaxy Note 2.
The Galaxy S4 next to the Galaxy Note 2.
The Galaxy S4, like the Galaxy S3, also arrived with a removable back which includes a removable battery and a microSD card slot on the side for expanded storage. So what does this all have to do with the Galaxy Note 3?
Well, we still haven’t seen the Galaxy Note 3 itself leak out, meaning, the Galaxy Note 3 design is still a mystery. Rumors suggest that it will be similar to the Galaxy Note 2 in design, and in dimensions, and at this point, that seems logical.
The Galaxy Note 3 could be as slim as the Galaxy S4.
The Galaxy Note 3 could be as slim as the Galaxy S4.
Given the Galaxy S4 design tweaks, we expect the Galaxy Note 3 to have some changes, perhaps it will use the same plastic that the Galaxy S4 does. But overall, don’t expect metal, don’t expect something that is drastically different from the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 2. At the most expect a thin Galaxy Note 3 that has elements of the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4.
And yes, buyers should expect it to have a removable battery and microSD card slot.

Display

Samsung’s Galaxy Note is able to coexist with the Galaxy S series because of its larger display, its S Pen and its unique software. So it’s not surprising that rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 3 display will be larger than the Galaxy S4′s 5-inch display.
Rumors insist that the Galaxy Note 3 will have a display that measure in around 5.7-inches in size. That’s .2-inches bigger than the Galaxy Note 2 display and .5-inches larger than the display on the original Galaxy Note.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 display will jump up to 5.7-inches and to a 1080P resolution according to rumors.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 display will jump up to 5.7-inches and to a 1080P resolution, according to rumors.
Furthermore, the Galaxy Note 3 is expected to have a bump in resolution, moving from 720p HD to 1080p full HD, same as the Galaxy S4 display. This should mean crisp and clear photos, text and video and consumers should expect the two displays to be comparable to each other.  Well, except for the size.

Camera

Samsung finally upgraded the Galaxy S camera with the Galaxy S4′s 13MP sensor and buyers should expect it to do the same with the Galaxy Note 3, possibly with a similar sensor.
Rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 3 could follow the Galaxy S4 and come with a 13MP camera sensor on board. There are rumors that the Galaxy Note 3 could also come with Optical Image Stabilization which would help deliver even better quality video. There has also been talk of 3x Optical Zoom for the camera but that seems less likely at this point.
The Galaxy Note 3 is thought to have a 13MP camera, just like the Galaxy S4.
The Galaxy Note 3 is thought to have a 13MP camera, just like the Galaxy S4.
What this means is that we could perhaps see a Galaxy Note 3 camera armed with a similar sensor and similar camera app, but also include OIS which would offer smoother video. Don’t expect the Galaxy Note 3 camera to blow the Galaxy S4′s out of the park, but it’s looking like it could be marginally better than the one found on the current flagship.

Specs

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be coming with a more powerful processor than the Galaxy S4. While the Galaxy S4 came with a Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor in some areas, it also came with a Exynos 5 Octa processor in others. These are both powerful processors though they will be overshadowed by the CPUs in the Galaxy Note 3.
The device is heavily rumored to have a new Exynos 5 Octa chip, the Exynos 5420, in some areas and a Snapdragon 800 processor on board in others. The U.S. should see the Snapdragon 800 as it saw the Snapdragon 600 with the Galaxy S4.
A Snapdragon 800 could help the device charge faster as well.
A Snapdragon 800 could help the device charge faster as well.
Both processors are upgrades over the chips found inside the Galaxy S4 and they should help to offer enhanced performance when it comes to things like gaming and battery life.
Speaking of batteries, while the Galaxy S4 came with a 2,600 mAh battery, the Galaxy Note 3 is thought to have a 3,450 mAh battery, much bigger than the Galaxy S4′s. Of course, it will need to power the device’s larger screen but given the processor and given what we saw from the Galaxy Note 2 in terms of battery life, buyers can expect the Galaxy Note 3 to either be on par or surpass the Galaxy S4 when it comes to battery life.

Software

Both the Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Note are powered by Android, Google’s operating system. They also both come equipped with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface over the top of Android. It’s what makes them Samsung phones rather than Google phones. And while they share some things in common, there are some big differences that users should expect from the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3.
First, the similarities. We fully expect the Galaxy Note 3 to run Google’s latest version of Android, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, right out of the box. We expect the Galaxy S4 to get Android 4.3 at some point soon, it’s just not clear when. So it could be that the Galaxy Note 3 one ups the Galaxy S4 when it comes to Android versions for a short time.
Consumers should also expect the Galaxy Note 3 to have at least some of the TouchWiz features that arrived with the Galaxy S4. Specifically, we expect the device to have the improvements that came along with the camera application. We expect other features like Smart Scroll and Smart Pause to be on board the Galaxy Note 3 as well.
There will also be major differences due to the Galaxy Note’s S Pen. The Galaxy Note series comes equipped with unique apps that take advantage of the devices bundled stylus including a note taking app called S Note that opens up as soon as the pen is taken out of its holster.
Rumors about the S Pen and its apps have been scarce but with the Galaxy S4 closing the gap with features Air View, a feature that’s on the Galaxy Note 2 but requires an S Pen, we expect the company to really focus on upgrading its arsenal of S Pen features. We should also see some new features arrive as well. Exactly what, we can’t say but don’t expect the software to remain unchanged from the Galaxy Note 2.
With the processing power and 3GB of RAM that will be coming on board the Galaxy Note 3, buyers should expect the company to enhance or add multitasking features. One of the biggest features of the Galaxy Note 2 was Multi-Window View, a feature that allowed users to split the big screen in two to run two different apps at once. The feature is now available on the Galaxy S4.

Carriers

The Note 3 back is likely removable with access to a large battery and a MicroSD card slot.
Samsung is known to release both its flagships on several major carriers.
Both the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note are known for their widespread carrier options. The Galaxy Note wasn’t always available on a bunch of carriers but the Galaxy Note 2 changed that as it followed in the footsteps of the Galaxy S3 and arrived on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless.
The Galaxy S4 mirrored this release and then some as it arrived on a number of smaller carriers as well. Buyers can expect the Galaxy Note 3 to arrive on the five largest carriers in the United States but there is some concern for smaller carriers as the device hasn’t been available on a wide swath of carriers in the past.
At the very least, expect these two to share major carriers in the United States and abroad, giving buyers an assortment of options when the device is finally put up for order.

Price

Historically, the Samsung Galaxy S series is cheaper than the Galaxy Note series, thanks to the larger display and the bundled S Pen. In the past, we’ve seen the Galaxy S emerge at $199.99 on-contract and the Galaxy Note come with price tag that is $100 more expensive.
Buyers can expect the trend to continue this year as the Galaxy S4 arrived with a $199.99 price tag for the base 16GB model and the 32GB variant coming in at $249.99. We still haven’t seen any Galaxy Note 3 price rumors emerge but given that it’s likely coming with a large display that boasts high-resolution, and given the likelihood of an S Pen, $299.99 seems likely.
Of course, there are rumors that the 16GB Galaxy Note 3 will be abolished in favor of a 32GB base model, so at least there’s that. At any rate, the Galaxy S4 will be much cheaper than the Galaxy Note 3 at launch.

 
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