Google Nexus 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3: In-depth comparison

If you're in the market for a new Android smartphone and you want something truly top of the line then the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Google Nexus 4 are bound to be in your sights. The question is: which is better? We put the Galaxy S3 and Nexus 4 head-to-head in this detailed comparison and try to pick a winner.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has been the relatively undisputed heavyweight champ on the Android scene for half a year now. It is, quite simply, an awesome smartphone. The new challenger emerging is the Google Nexus 4 and it’s looking lean, mean, and dangerous. Manufactured by underdog LG, the Nexus 4 combines impressive specs with an affordable price tag. The question is – does the Nexus 4 have what it takes to steal the title?

Warm up for the main event with an undercard including our Samsung Galaxy S3 review and a detailed Galaxy S3 vs Nexus 4 spec showdown.

The Galaxy S3 has been on the market for a while now and you can get it from various carriers, although there are some slight differences between versions. The Nexus 4 comes in two flavors – 8GB or 16GB – and it went on sale November 13.

Display quality

Let’s open the bout with the first thing that strikes you about both devices: the screen. The Galaxy S3 has been lauded and derided for having a huge display. At 4.8 inches, the screen size was criticized by some for making the phone too large to handle comfortably. Consumers clearly didn’t agree with the critics because sales have been impressive and there’s a clear trend towards bigger displays in the market generally now. The Nexus 4 has a slightly smaller display at 4.7 inches.

The fact the Nexus 4 has a slightly higher resolution and a smaller screen than the Galaxy S3, means that the pixel density is greater. The Nexus 4 should be sharper. The displays also use different technology. The Nexus 4 display is IPS LCD and the Galaxy S3 is Super AMOLED (if you want to know what that means check out AMOLED vs LCD). Both displays have great color reproduction and good viewing angles and they both have Gorilla Glass 2 protection. The Galaxy S3 might edge it on better viewability in sunlight and that extra size, but the Nexus 4 display is sharper.

Winner: Draw

Design and feel

Neither Samsung nor LG are famed for high quality construction when it comes to smartphones. The Nexus 4 has a rounded form factor and is made of plastic with glass front and back and a chrome style rim. When the light catches the back you’ll see an eye-catching hologram design. It’s a premium look and feel not generally associated with LG, but it is indicative of the company’s push towards the top end of the Android market.

The Galaxy S3 is also rounded with a slightly textured pattern on the border which carries round onto the plastic frame and polycarbonate back cover. There is a single Home button on the front, while the Nexus 4 has no physical buttons on the front. Despite claims that the plastic feels cheap it is very durable and it obviously helps to keep the weight down.

In terms of size the Galaxy S3 is slightly bigger in height and width, but it is also slightly slimmer and it weighs a touch less. Ports and buttons are virtually identical, including right side placement for the power button, which helps you reach it more easily on larger form factor smartphones.

Winner: Draw

User interface and platform

As a Google release the Nexus 4 is vanilla Android and it sports version 4.2 which offers a handful of slight improvements over 4.1, but is still classed as Jelly Bean. There’s a new Quick Settings screen, widget support on the lock screen, improved Google Now, and Voice Search, among a few other new bits and pieces in version 4.2.

The Galaxy S3 launched with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but the Jelly Bean 4.1 update has rolled out to many devices already. It also has Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, which has already added some features such as a Quick Settings menu in the Notifications bar.

There isn’t a huge difference in usability, but the latest version of Android is always the best. The 4.1 update for the Galaxy S3 brought a very noticeable improvement in speed and performance, alongside great features like expanded Notifications and Google Now. An S3 with Android 4.0 and TouchWiz is definitely behind the Nexus 4 with vanilla Android 4.2.

Winner: Nexus 4

Processor and RAM

Both devices have quad-core processors. The Galaxy S3 has a 1.4GHz Exynos 4412 and the Nexus 4 is sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz. The Nexus 4 has 2GB of RAM, which outperforms the 1GB of RAM in the European and international versions of the S3. The U.S. version of the Galaxy S3 matches the Nexus 4′s 2GB of RAM but lags behind with a dual-core processor.

Winner: Nexus 4

Storage

The Nexus 4 comes in 8GB and 16GB versions and in typical Nexus-style there is no microSD slot. You’ll need a screwdriver if you want to open it. The Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB varieties and you can expand by a further 64GB thanks to the microSD slot which you can get to by removing the back cover. There is no contest here.

Winner: Galaxy S3

Cameras

When it comes to the main camera, both devices have excellent 8-megapixel rear-facing cameras that can record 1080p video at 30 fps. They also both have the usual LED flash, face detection, and a host of other features. Android 4.2 brings a cool new Photo Sphere feature for panoramas to the Nexus 4, but the Galaxy S3 camera app has some nifty features, too.

It’s easier to separate the two phones on the front-facing camera because the Galaxy S3 has a 1.9-megapixel camera and the Nexus 4 has a 1.3-megapixel camera. Do many people really care about the front-facing camera? For those that do, the S3 wins out.

Winner: Galaxy S3

Battery

Both phones have batteries rated at 2,100mAh. The Galaxy S3 battery is removable while the Nexus 4 battery isn’t, but few people will carry around a second battery anyway. We’ll need to wait for more extensive hands-on testing to see if there’s any real difference in actual use, but . It’s probably worth mentioning that the Nexus 4 does support wireless charging and has a nifty Wireless Charging Orb accessory, although you do have to buy it separately.

Winner: Draw

Connectivity

You’ve got NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA, and everything else you would expect to find on both smartphones. The widely noted difference is that the Nexus 4 doesn’t support 4G LTE. It’s debatable how much that matters, because HSPA+ can be very fast, but if you live in the right area then LTE is the fastest mobile network connection you can have right now so it was a surprising omission.

Winner – Galaxy S3

Price

This is where some of the losses above for the Nexus 4 can be cancelled out because it is significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S3. It is basically $300 for the unlocked 8GB Nexus 4 or $350 for the 16GB version. That compares to around $600 for an unlocked 16GB Galaxy S3.

On contract you can get the Nexus 4 for $200 while the Galaxy S3 is closer to $300.

Winner – Nexus 4

Overall Winner: Nexus 4

If we add up the scores it actually turns out to be a tie with 3 wins apiece and 3 draws, but hopping off the fence we’ll give this one to the Nexus 4 because it manages to offer more value for your money. The wins that the Nexus 4 racked up will probably be more important to most people – it’s faster, it has the latest version of Android, and it’s cheaper. However, if you’re on a carrier with a robust 4G LTE network, or you heavily value storage or the quality of your front-facing camera, the Galaxy S3 may be the phone for you.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/in-depth-comparison-google-nexus-4-vs-galaxy-s3/

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LG Nexus 4's wireless charging pad looks futuristic in leaked image

Charger of the future? (credit: Phone Arena)

The LG Nexus 4 may be an even more poorly-kept secret than even Apple's iPad mini was, and that's saying something.

But one of the earliest LG Nexus 4 rumors, which surfaced in early October just a day after the LG Nexus phone was first outed, claimed that the Jelly Bean handset would support wireless charging right out of the box.

Now, we may have proof of such a feature.

On Friday, an image supposedly showing what the LG Nexus 4's wireless charging pad will look like was leaked to the internet by an "anonymous tipster."

The charger of the future

Wireless charging seems on the cusp of industry-wide adoption, with high-profile devices like the Nokia Lumia 920 and now the LG Nexus 4 apparently jumping eagerly on board.

Friday's leaked image shows a disc-shaped platform with a curved base and a rubbery-looking top surface with "nexus" etched into it.

PhoneArena, the original recipient of the image, pointed out that the supposed charging pad sort of resembles Google's Nexus Q media-streaming orb, which itself resembles some alien artifact from the Assassin's Creed video games.

It could be the real deal - or it could be a fake mock-up made by someone with too much free time.

Only the official LG Nexus 4 announcement, believed to be arriving at an Android event Monday, will tell for sure.

The wireless charging competition

However the LG Nexus 4's wireless charging accessory winds up, it'll face stiff competition in the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820's options.

Three varieties of wireless charging accessories for Nokia's Windows Phone 8 handsets are currently available for pre-order: the plate, the stand and the "Fatboy pillow."

All three options will be available in colors to match the Lumia phones themselves, including red, yellow, blue, white and black.

According to the latest reports, though, the LG Nexus 4 will only be available in black or white, so the Nokia phones may well have the advantage - aesthetically, at least.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lg-nexus-4s-wireless-charging-pad-looks-futuristic-in-leaked-image-1107769

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Google’s “Playground is open” event: What will be revealed October 29

Google always seems to have something up its sleeve, but at least some of its cards are already turned. The company's October 29 event looks like it will reveal a refresh to the Nexus 7, a 10-inch tablet, the LG Nexus 4, and a new installment of the Android OS.

The month of October appears to be “steal your competitor’s spotlight” month, with almost every major mobile company participating in press conference one-upmanship. Trying to get the last word in before the month closes is Google, with an unveil that is scheduled for the same day as Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 event. Google is tagging its event with the phrase, “the playground is open,” and will likely have a lot of hands on available for attendees. October 29 will be a busy day, so here’s a cheat sheet of what to expect from the search engine turned major mobile player.

Nexus 7

As many expected, the Nexus 7 will be one of the stars of the show with a 32GB model.  It appears that may not be the only change to the internals on seven inch tablet, as a 32GB with HSPA+ (3G) support is expected by some sources. This likely won’t be the Asus manufactured $100 model that was previously rumored, but the Nexus has been a leader in the budget-friendly tablet category.

10-inch Samsung-made Tablet

Hiding behind the internal alias of Codename Manta is a 10″ tablet manufactured by Samsung. This project has been the source of rumors for the past month, and it looks as though it may be confirmed at the October 29 event. According to sources reported on by The Next Web, the taller tablet will feature 300 pixels per inch spread across a 2560 x 1600 resolution display. The third generation iPad has 264ppi by comparison. The 10-inch device is also said to come running Android 4.2.

LG Nexus 4

 While the handset has been cycling around the rumor mill for the Google event, it appears the LG Nexus 4 has RSVPed. The smartphone will be made by LG and will run with a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor. That, along with 2GB RAM, will power the 4.7 inch device and its 1280×768 display. The device will also sport a 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and 16GB of on-board storage. The Nexus 4, like the 10-inch Samsung tablet, is believed to run Android 4.2.

Android 4.2

The operating system formally know as Key Lime Pie will likely retain the Jelly Bean title of Android 4.1. The OS appears as though it will go at iOS 6 head on by including a panoramic camera feature with support for both vertical and horizontal settings. It will also aim to surpass its competitor with a feature called “content in the center,” which will allow for Play Store access from a widget. Tablet Sharing will also be introduced, essentially creating profiles for tablets that are used by multiple people. 

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/googles-playground-is-open-event-what-will-be-revealed-october-29/

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Ambitious 50M sales target for Sony Xperia reportedly revealed

Does Sony have something huge up its sleeve?

Sony has set itself some sky-high sales targets for next year, according to reports, furthering speculation that the company has something big up its sleeve.

CENS.com has posted figures, unconfirmed by Sony, stating that the Japanese giant intends to sell 50 million smartphones during the 2014 financial year.

That's the twelve month period commencing in March 2013.

For the likes of Apple and Samsung, that figure would be no big deal, but for Sony it would represent 50 per cent year-on-year growth compared with the 33 million sales it expects to achieve in fiscal year 2013.

This prospective upturn in demand would be enough to catapult Sony Mobile from the manufacturer with the seventh biggest share into third place, behind the Apple and Samsung juggernaut.

Great Odin's haven?

So what could be the catalyst that propels Sony Mobile from a middle-of-the-pack manufacturer directly onto the smartphone podium?

Could it be the Sony Xperia Odin? During the last week it has emerged that that this rumoured - and ominously-codenamed - handset may be the successor to the Xperia S and Xperia T smartphones that impressed in 2012.

Rumoured specs for the Odin include a 5-inch Full HD 1080p display, a Qualcomm S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Android Jelly Bean and 4G LTE connectivity.

While those features, combined with Sony's acclaimed design language, would certainly be enough to put Odin up there with other high-powered Android devices, could it inspire a mad dash for Xperia products?

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ambitious-50m-sales-target-for-sony-xperia-reportedly-revealed-1105133

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Photos of Sony Nexus X leak, will the LG Nexus 4 have competition?

The LG-made Nexus phone is a given but in the end, there might be something in that rumor that multiple manufacturers will be offering Nexus phones. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2 rumors fizzled out, but now there are two good looking photos of a Sony-made Nexus phone.

Judging by the title of the two photos uploaded to Picasa, it's called Sony Nexus X. While the pics might be fakes, they are at least very realistic-looking fakes.

Unlike the LG design, the front of the Sony Nexus doesn’t look like the current Galaxy Nexus, going for a traditional rectangular Xperia design. The photo of the back also suggests an arc curve, another trademark Xperia design element.

Sony Nexus X

The screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio (again, unlike the LG Nexus, which goes for 16:10) and there are only on-screen buttons. There's no Sony logo on the front, just like there's no LG logo on the front of the LG Nexus phone or a Samsung logo on the current Galaxy Nexus.

On the back there's a camera of unknown resolution (the options are 8MP or 13MP) with LED flash and there are also a standard microUSB port and pogo pins visible on the side.

There's not much else we can tell from these photos (taken with a Galaxy Nexus by the way, to keep things meta), but we can look at the rumored specs for the Sony C650X 'Odin' and C660X 'Yuga' for inspiration.

Thanks to Francis for the tip!

Source | Via (in Japanese)

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/photos_of_sony_nexus_x_leak_will_the_lg_nexus_4_have_competition-news-4948.php

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Apple Maps uses 80% less data than Google Maps

Have we finally found a good point?

At last, here's something good to say about Apple Maps. According to analysis by data experts Onavo, Apple's in-house Maps app uses 80 per cent less data than Google Maps.

That's right, it's around five times more efficient.

That's because Apple Maps uses vector graphics, and so doesn't have to download map images again every time you adjust the view. The result? Less data consumed.

Of course Google Maps does have an offline mode as well, which isn't taken into account here. But still, it's some good news for anyone who bought an iPhone 5.

"On Google Maps, the average data loaded from the cellular network for each step was 1.3MB," Onavo says. "Apple Maps came in at 271KB - that's approximately 80 per cent less data!

"On some actions, such as zooming in to see a particular intersection, Apple Maps' efficiency edged close to 7x."

In Satellite View, Apple Maps uses around half as much data as Google Maps, Onavo found.

Mapology

CEO Tim Cook posted a letter to customers on the Apple website last week apologising for the failure of Apple Maps. He even recommended anyone using iOS 6 try alternative navigation aids like Nokia Maps, Microsoft's Bing, or Google Maps.

Apple Maps confused owners of iPhone 5s by putting entire towns in the wrong place, moving Heathrow Airport next to Hyde Park, and giving bridges and buildings a Dali-esque makeover.

As a result, just 4 per cent of iOS 6 users are sticking with it. In his open letter, Cook said Apple is working hard to improve Apple Maps.

Via BGR

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/apple-maps-uses-80-less-data-than-google-maps-1101501

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Sony Xperia T available from Three UK for £29 on a contract

The Sony Xperia T is a great looking flagship, although its rather high initial pricetag puts it at something of a disadvantage compared to some certain quad-core offerings (the T itself offers a dual-core Krait CPU).

Fortunately, Three UK is willing to sell you the smartphone for just £29 if you are willing to sign a £30/month Ultimate Internet 500 contract.

There's also a Pay As You Go offer, which comes with a heftier £399 initial fee plus an additional £15 for unlimited data, 300 any-network minutes, and 3,000 texts for 30 days.

"The Bond Phone," as the Xperia T is also known as in the UK, features some impressive build quality and Three is also throwing in two Xperia SmartTags for NFC connectivity, which were not present in the retail package of our review unit. Speaking of our review, you can find it here.

Note that the Bond Phone edition is only available from O2.

Source | Via

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_t_available_from_three_uk_for_399-news-4872.php

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Hacker brings Google Maps app to iOS 6

Something's off about Las Vegas (credit: theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com)

Apple's misfiring Maps app has prompted one hacker to conjure a way to restore the banished Google Maps app to iOS 6.

Ryan Petrich, who specialises in jailbreaking iPhones, has figured out a way to bypass Maps and install the tried-and-tested Google Maps app from iOS 5.1 on an iOS 6-updated iPhone 3GS.

The hack, which requires a jailbroken iPhone, is "still crashy and cannot be distributed to the public yet, but it mostly works" according to Petrich, who posted the video below on Sunday.

iPhone 5 patience

Apple has pleaded for patience regarding its Maps app and said it will improve as more smartphone and tablet owners make use of the service.

Multiple reports, including TechRadar's iOS 6 review, has shown that Maps currently suffers from inaccurate location data, a distinct lack of detail compared to Google Maps, and sometimes displays poorly rendered maps.

Reports on Monday claimed that Apple is even attempting to poach Google Maps staff in order to accelerate the necessary improvements, although that remains unconfirmed by the company.

Whether looking for a publicly available jailbreak or practicing the patience needed to weather Apple's current Maps debacle, iPhone 5 owners may want to hang onto their paper maps for a little while longer.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/hacker-brings-google-maps-app-to-ios-6-1099379

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