Last night Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S4 ( IV) in New York. Launching their new flagship product in a city seen to be something of a strong hold for their competitor (Apple) is a sign of how personal the battle has become between the companies.
Samsung in my opinion is the new Apple. Yes, I said it. (In the interest of disclosure I use an iPhone 5 as my daily digital passport). The point is, Samsung has created products that their users love and every new product (especially their cellphones and smart TV’s) contains a significant step forward from the previous model of the respective device. Samsung is also the only business that has realised that marketing their products on scale (not seen in any industry) is the way to buy customer attention. It is all good if you market your products well, but the products then need to be great. It also helps when you have a competitor who is seen as market leader (Apple) and is also driving innovation internally. The competitive battle between Apple and Samsung is ensuring that the customers are getting devices they love.
The Samsung Galaxy S IV is a step forward from the S III. It contains many software upgrades, a better camera, a bigger battery in terms of mAh size and it sports a bigger screen. Will the bigger battery ensure that the S IV has the best battery life for a smartphone with a 5” screen?
The S IV is thinner and lighter in comparison to the S III and thus will fit more comfortably in the hands of users globally. The Galaxy S IV will be rolled out in 155 countries.
The Samsung Galaxy S IV also contains some new software innovations. Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause and Air View will ensure that you spend the minimum effort but will ensure an optimal experience.
‘Samsung Smart Pause’ enables you to control the screen by where you look. When you are watching a video, the video pauses when you look away then it starts right up again when you are back.
‘Samsung Smart Scroll’ allows you to scroll the browser or emails up and down without touching the screen. It recognizes your face looking at the screen and movement of your wrist and then scroll the pages up or down accordingly.
‘Air View’ allows users to hover with their fingers to preview the content of an email, S Planner, image gallery or video without having to open it. You can even see a magnified view on the internet browser, or a phone number saved in the speed dial on the keypad.
With ‘Air Gesture’, you can change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of your hand.
The Samsung Galaxy S IV puts the pressure back on Apple to produce a better product when they unveil the next iPhone. Samsung has disrupted the disruptor. Samsung has not disclosed when the Galaxy S IV will be available in South Africa.
