Forum > Information > Esato News Articles > Samsung Galaxy S4 announced

Expectations were high leading up to last week’s Galaxy S 4 unveiling and while no one was blown away by the handset’s design, a number of industry watchers believe Samsung (005930) delivered an impressive device that will carry the company’s momentum forward thanks to intriguing new software features. There are strong opinions on both sides of the argument regarding just how innovative Samsung’s next-generation flagship phone really is, but one recent report suggests the Galaxy S 4 could be the start of shift that sees Samsung “unseat Apple (AAPL) as king of innovation.”

“I think the S Band and the S health monitoring services on the S4 point the way to where smartphones have to go – true lifestyle computing. And why Samsung could unseat Apple as king of innovation,” Forbes contributor Haydn Shaughnessy wrote in a recent column. ”But first there are conditions Samsung will have to meet.”

Shaughnessy wrote that the Galaxy S 4′s gorgeous screen and features like smart scroll and gesture controls will be topics of conversation in the near term, but in the ongoing Samsung vs. Apple rivalry, he sees an Apple weakness that Samsung might be able to capitalize on.

“On [the iPhone's] features page Apple is showcasing the retina display, size and power; on the in-built apps page, Apple is showcasing maps, camera, video, Siri, passbook, and then web functions like email,” he wrote. “Now I don’t want to say these are not so interesting but they are dangerously close to what the competition is now doing as well if not better. What’s missing is a page called services, the things Apple and its devices will do for you, and the support it provides to your lifestyle. Top of most of our lists for lifestyle care is health.”

Samsung now has a head start in the quest to modernize health tracking. Now, in order to achieve real success and steal the innovation crown from Apple, Samsung will have to “summon up the nerve to invest in services the way it invests in components,” Shaughnessy noted.

EA vice president of new platforms Glenn Roland confirmed that editions of the likes of Real Racing 3 and The Simpsons: Tapped Out will land in Google Play on day one, alongside tower defence title Plants vs Zombies and the more sedate likes of Bejeweled Blitz and Tetris Blitz.

Roland said: "We're delighted to be partnered with Samsung to bring some of our fans' favourite mobile gaming titles to the Samsung Galaxy S4 in time for launch.

"The device's higher resolution, larger screen and increased processing power will give our games an opportunity to look even more beautiful for Samsung consumers."

In a sign of Samsung’s intention to play up the S4’s credentials as a gaming device, the phone was launched alongside the Game Pad accessory.

This includes dual analogue sticks, as well as shoulder and action buttons, paving the way for more immersive games and freeing serious gamers from the fiddly touchscreen controls.

On 2013-03-20 15:26:28, RandomCarpet wrote:

But this does not mean Galaxy S4 is more than twice better than Xperia Z or HTC One.
For many people all of the 3 models are almost equally close to being the perfect device in different ways. (All of them have their strengths and weaknesses).

On 2013-03-20 22:36:31, etaab wrote:


You see, i agree with you in some ways, but totally disagree in others.

Is the S4 better than the competition ? i'd say through experience of my S3 and no hands on knowledge of the S4, yes i'd say it is or "will be".

But why ? its simple. Samsung are the only company that not only bring devices to the market which cater for all types of users, the best all round hardware internally, the best package and value for money, simply the better Android phones. They also support and respect their consumers with regular updates of Android and software perks which add functionality.

Rival products are on paper very much the same, but when you step back and look at the bigger picture they're actually really far behind Samsung. Hardware wise, HTC are usually only a little behind Samsung, but their devices just arent a patch on the whole Galaxy S experience. I remember watching last years S3 announcement and in one of the promotional videos before they unveiled the S3 at all, were some user comments of what they expected from the next Galaxy. One of them was something like a friend who comes everywhere with you - and thats what Samsung do. I do more on my S3 than i ever did with Symbian phones im sad to admit, even if i find Android limiting in other ways.

The other manufacturers just cannot get the whole package idea correct, which is why they're paying for it with poor market share and a bleak future.

On 2013-03-20 22:36:31, etaab wrote:


You see, i agree with you in some ways, but totally disagree in others.

Is the S4 better than the competition ? i'd say through experience of my S3 and no hands on knowledge of the S4, yes i'd say it is or "will be".

But why ? its simple. Samsung are the only company that not only bring devices to the market which cater for all types of users, the best all round hardware internally, the best package and value for money, simply the better Android phones. They also support and respect their consumers with regular updates of Android and software perks which add functionality.

Rival products are on paper very much the same, but when you step back and look at the bigger picture they're actually really far behind Samsung. Hardware wise, HTC are usually only a little behind Samsung, but their devices just arent a patch on the whole Galaxy S experience. I remember watching last years S3 announcement and in one of the promotional videos before they unveiled the S3 at all, were some user comments of what they expected from the next Galaxy. One of them was something like a friend who comes everywhere with you - and thats what Samsung do. I do more on my S3 than i ever did with Symbian phones im sad to admit, even if i find Android limiting in other ways.

The other manufacturers just cannot get the whole package idea correct, which is why they're paying for it with poor market share and a bleak future.

You may have noticed that Apple has become a bit more direct when commenting on the competition, recently. For a long time, Apple refused to directly comment or even mention that competition existed, but Apple's head of marketing Phil Schiller was quite direct when commenting on the Samsung Galaxy S 4. And, at least one former Apple exec was not impressed.
The former exec is Jean-Louis Gassée who was the head of the Macintosh team at Apple during the John Sculley years, and started the project that eventually became the Newton. Monsieur Gassée was apparently not impressed with the fearmongering that Schiller did following Samsung's announcement. Monsieur Gassée wrote in a column:

"Attacking competitors, pointing to their weaknesses, and trumpeting one’s achievements is better done by hired media assassins. A company, directly or through a PR firm, engages oft-quoted consultants who provide the required third-party stats, barbs, and encomiums. This isn’t theorizing, I once was a director at a company, one of many, that used such an arrangement to good effect."


Gassée went on to say that Apple was "losing the war of words", and that "others have seized the opportunity to drive the narrative." Quite strong words from a former Apple exec.

On 2013-03-20 22:36:31, etaab wrote:

Samsung are the only company that not only bring devices to the market which cater for all types of users, the best all round hardware internally, the best package and value for money, simply the better Android phones.

On 2013-03-21 21:16:20, daviep wrote:
no exynos 5 for the uk?