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Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone - Source: Samsung -
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Samsung's heavily-hyped Galaxy S4 is causing a buzz following its big reveal yesterday.
The S4 is a hot topic on Twitter, has reaped hundreds of thousands of related Google searches and has grabbed front-page newspaper headlines around the world.
Samsung Electronics described its new smartphone, which weighs just 130 grams, as "slimmer yet stronger" at its unveiling in New York yesterday.
Hailed as the "iPhone killer" by experts, reactions to the eye-tracking, language-translating phone are rolling in fast, but they are mixed.
An Associated Press review said "it's hard to point to anything [about the S4] that will set the world on fire".
Despite a number of user interface innovations, "they don't amount to a coherent new way of interacting with the phone," AP said.
Time said the S4 is "just as 'boring' as the iPhone 5".
Time's Jared Newman said compared to the rumours leading up to the show, the Galaxy S4 looks almost identical to its predecessor.
"It's an incremental improvement to what is already one of the most popular phones in the world. It will, without a doubt, sell in great quantities."
He said the Samsung upgrade was "just as dull of an upgrade as the iPhone 5 was, by all the same metrics".
Newman said smartphone development has hit a plateau, and "the launch of the Galaxy S4 reaffirms that boring is reality now".
Despite some less than complimentary reviews the S4 is expected to be a huge seller.
Dr Ray Muzyka tweeted: "Samsung's new Galaxy S4 looks pretty damn awesome. Time to upgrade my remaining non-smartphone to Android, methinks."
"Coveting the #Samsung Galaxy S4," tweeted @candice.
"The Samsung Galaxy is LOADED with the goods," @Johanna_Cho tweeted.
No prices were given at the unveiling, but Samsung said that the
smartphone will be available in the second quarter of the year in
New Zealand from major mobile retailers nationwide.
Earlier this week, Strategy Analytics data showed that Apple was
already falling behind Samsung in the smartphone market.
Key functions:
- The Samsung Galaxy S4 utilises Corning's new Gorilla
Glass
- Samsung 'Smart Pause' enables you to control the screen by where
you look
- Samsung 'Smart Scroll' allows users to scroll the browser or emails up and down without touching the screen
- '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
- Has a 13 megapixel rear camera, and a 'Dual Camera' function that
allows simultaneous use of both the front and rear cameras.
- Samsung says that users can select eight different ways to combine the two photos taken by the front camera and the rear camera.
- 'Dual Video Call' enables users to make and receive a video call with friends and family while showing what you are looking at during the call.
- Its 'Share Music' option allows users to have the same song playing on multiple phones in sync to create the "best party atmosphere".
- it supports HSPA+42 Mbps and 4G LTE.