Samsung Galaxy S4 on the launch pad
Excitement is building as we head towards the Galaxy S4 launch day. We are geeks after all and any new handset is an opportunity to take a look at the big features we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Brilliant S4 hardware
Yes of course, there’s a faster processor, more ram (2 gig) and a bigger 5 inch screen running at 1080p, but that’s just for starters.
There are some other big extras which make the Samsung Galaxy S4 the must-have phone.
Infrared Blaster port
What’s really exciting is the inclusion of an Infrared Blaster port that will allow you to control any device with an infrared receiver, like a TV, blu-ray player or another S4.
It turns your Galaxy S4 into a central control device for a range of products, no matter if it’s NFC, Bluetooth, wifi or now infrared. To my mind that’s exciting stuff.
One device to control them all, no more fumbling around to locate the remote in the dark.
The Camera
Another area we are looking forward to with the hardware is the camera that has been given a worthy bump to 13mpx, promising much better low light performance than the Galaxy S3.
Weight Reduction
The weight reduction should be welcome to some although we are a little concerned it will be too light, could be a good idea to invest in a Galaxy S4 case to help add some bulk and protect it just in case of a drop or knock.
Glove touch
At last, is all I can say! No more cold fingers on winter days. The Galaxy S4 will allow you to interact with gloves on. A simple feature but one that is going to be of huge use to most S4 owners.
We love these Galaxy S4 software features
Dual Camera
The ability to add the front and rear cameras to record simultaneously and overlay one on the other in the final render is brilliant and you have to wonder why no one thought of that earlier. You can also do it with pictures allowing the photographer to be included in the picture.
S Translator
This is possibly the best idea ever and while others have had a go at it, Samsung’s implementation in the Galaxy S4 appears to be very well executed. We can’t wait to try out on-the-fly translations… if we can find someone who speaks a language other than English anyway. Still, for anyone who holidays or travels abroad a lot for work, this app could save some embarrassment if you think you’re asking where the toilet is but instead find you’ve accidentally insulted your host!
Story Album
Taking lots of picture is great, organising all those pictures later not so much fun. Story Albums takes the hard work out of it by intelligently grouping images as they are taken, based on your location and other information.
Group Play
Do you have friends who own Samsung Galaxy smartphones? Well, now you can get eight devices together and all play the same track, creating a surround sound system to rival a nightclub. Now what song to play first, Hey Macarena!
Air Gesture
Incredibly, you don’t even have to touch the Galaxy S4 to interact with it. Air Gesture will allow you to complete basic operations or peek at files just by hovering your finger over the screen. This is a by-product of the Gloved interaction but a welcome and time saving addition.
S Health App
Get fit and let your Galaxy S4 help you by tracking your progress and providing updates in real time. Combined with the S Health band I can see I will be shedding a few pounds and putting my S4 to more productive use than sitting on the couch playing Real Racing 3.
What are you looking forward to with the Galaxy S4? Let us know in the comments.
