Mohammed Alshoaiby Saudi Gazette RIYADH – Samsung officially unveiled its latest smartphone and personal companion, the Galaxy S4, at a ceremony in Faisaliah on Monday. The Android-based Galaxy S4 is the predecessor of Samsung's Galaxy S3, the latter selling in excess of 50 million units worldwide, according to Android Authority, an online news site dedicated to Android devices. Park Jae Cheon, General Manager of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. in the Kingdom, said: “We are committed to innovation and we are always out there listening to our customers' needs and expectations around the world.”
Cheon said the S4 is a merger of the latest innovations in hardware and the most advanced Samsung software, describing the device as a “life companion.” “At Samsung, we'll never stop pursuing innovation conceived by people, so we can inspire them in return.” “The Galaxy S4 is brought to you to exceed all sorts of expectations.” The device is part of the next generation of smart phones running on Google's open-source Android platform, toting a thinner and slimmer design along with a large and vibrant 5” HD screen built on Samsung's Super AMOLED technology. The device runs on Android Jelly Bean —version 4.2.2 — and features the largest processor on a phone yet, with a 1.6GHz Octa-Core, or eight-core, processor, compared to the Galaxy S3's Quad-Core processor. The battery could last a full day of exhaustive use, according to Android Authority's benchmark tests. The Galaxy S4's TouchWiz UI has also been redesigned to accommodate to the new, larger screen. The camera has been upgraded to a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, while the front-facing camera is at 2-megapixels, introducing a dual camera function that integrates both cameras' use into one photo. Other innovations to the camera's design include a “best photo” mode that eliminates unwanted background distractions from a photo, as well as voice-on-photo, where users can record a short voice clip to accompany any photo. Furthermore, the device is one of the first “hands-free” smart phones on the market, allowing users to swipe through photos with hand gestures that don't require them to touch the screen, while the front-facing camera also tracks eye-movement and scrolls down through a body of text depending on where the user is looking at the screen. A press statement from the company said "the Galaxy S4 will bring you closer to what matters in life, redefining the way you live and maximizing your fulfillment of life. This sleek and innovative smartphone makes every moment of life very meaningful; understanding the value of relationships and enabling true connections with friends and family." Samsung believes in the importance of an effortless user experience, designing the Galaxy S4 "to make your life easy and hassle-free; empowering your life and helping take care of your well-being" The Galaxy S4 is being officially distributed at various outlets in the Kingdom, including Jarir Bookstore, Mobily and STC, at prices that are comparable to the Galaxy S3.
