Showing posts with label android. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Apple releasing iOS 7: Top 10 things you need to know about the new iPhone and iPad operating system

17 Sep 2013 16:21

In the biggest change to Apple's smartphones and tablets, the system has been rebuilt with a totally different design, created by Brit Sir Jonathan Ive and his team

Apple's iOS 7 operating software for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch becomes available to download tomorrow - bringing a whole new look to the company's mobile devices.

In the biggest change to Apple's smartphones and tablets, the system has been rebuilt with a totally different design, created by Brit Sir Jonathan Ive and his team.

Likely to be launched in the UK towards the end of Wednesday, once Apple's US audience is awake, it will come preloaded on the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models that go on sale this Friday.

Anyone else can download iOS 7 to their device, but before you do, here are 10 things you need to know about iOS 7.

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1. iOS 7 is FREE. You don't need to pay a penny to get it but you may find you need to wait a while in a download queue if you try to access it as soon as it goes live, along with a few million others desperately doing the same.

You can update it directly from your device, there's no need to connect it to a computer.

But it won't work on some older Apple products such as an iPhone 3G, 3GS or the original iPad and it is only compatible with the fifth generation of iPod touch devices onwards.

People walk under an iOS7 sign at the 2013 Apple WWDC at the Moscone Center

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2. The design and layout of iOS 7 is a dramatic departure from what Apple fans have been used to.

It uses a new colour palette, has a flatter look and different fonts, which are meant to give it a 'cleaner' look.

There are also lots of translucent effects and on the 5C, the colour of the device you buy will dictate the colour of the wallpaper and icons.

Jony Ive, says of his creation: "True simplicity is derived from so much more than just the absence of clutter and ornamentation - it's about bringing order to complexity."

New Apple iOS 7 features are displayed on screen during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference

Reuters

3. The new iOS system has been created to take advantage of the 64-bit processor in the latest iPhone 5S.

This provides more power for applications and games. But some older apps may not be able to match up to this and also some older devices may not work so well with any updated apps.

To counter this, it's been reported that Apple is to introduce a pop-up pointing users to older versions of apps that would work better with their specific device.

4. Not updating to iOS 7 right now though, could be a good move.

As well as saving yourself time waiting in a download queue, you could prevent issues with security, compatibility with apps and features not working.

As with previous releases of iOS and any other new software, there can be problems on day one. These are then solved with an update a couple of weeks later.

Often it pays not to jump in with two feet to be among the first who has it, and to wait until the first updated release has ironed out all the issues.

Or until at least wait until you know whether there are problems and what they may be.

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5. iOS 7 is offering 200+ changes to the operating system according to Apple but while many of these will just be minor tweaks, some are much more major and noticeable.

For a start Notification Center can now be accessed with a swipe down even when the phone is locked.

The Control Center can also be opened with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen and contains icons for some of the most-used features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display brightness, calculator, camera and even a torch.

There is also a new Today feature showing a summary of items such as weather, traffic, meetings and events

Apple.com

6. In a bid to prevent iPhones and iPads being stolen, Apple has introduced an extra security feature alongside the new fingerprint reader in the iPhone 5S.

While not everyone will have the luxury of that, they will be able to prevent muggers from turning off the Find My iPhone feature.

In iOS 7 it comes with an Activation Lock, requiring your Apple ID and password before you can turn it off, erase data or re-activate a device after it has been remotely erased.

CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple event in San Francisco

Reuters

7. If you've not yet been sold on Siri then iOS 7 at least gives you a few more reasons to try out the virtual personal assistant hiding inside your device.

For a start it comes with new softer voices - both male and female - and allows you to use your voice to look through Twitter, Wikipedia and the Bing search engine.

Eddy Cue, Apple senior vice president of internet software and services, displays the new iTunes interface

Reuters

8. Additions to the camera in iOS 7 do not include the Burst and Slo Mo modes, which are only found on the iPhone 5S for now.

But you do get new real-time photo effects and a square camera option to add to video, photo and panorama. It's also easier to switch between all four.

Your pictures are all displayed for more intuitively and better organised in the Photos app, showing them based on the time they were taken and the location they were taken at.

There's also a new way to share files and content between iOS 7 devices using AirDrop and a Wi-Fi network, a system already familiar to Mac owners.

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9. Safari web browsing has been improved with a redesigned interfaced for full-screen surfing along with a new smart search field to better recommend options.

And in a big departure that could be one of the most popular, there are new ringtones, alarms, alerts and system sounds so you can try and separate yourself from the millions of others using the same tones.

Reuters

10. iTunes Radio is one of the biggest additions.

It's a free Internet radio service with more than 200 stations but for now will only be available in America.

Popular Apps Near Me in the App Store also now gives you the opportunity to find apps based on your location.

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IOS 7 is here: Review

By Adrian Covert @CNNMoneyTech September 18, 2013: 8:31 AM ET

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The new iOS 7 iPhone software not only has a new look, but Apple successfully addresses many long-standing issues.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Your iPhone is about to get a giant makeover: Apple is pushing out iOS 7 to iPhone users on Wednesday.

The new iPhone operating system is the most substantial update in the software's history. Apple not only added new features and functionality, but the company radically reinvented the six-year old operating system's appearance.

For the most part, Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500)succeeded in making iOS easier on the eyes and simpler to use. Apple trimmed the fat where necessary and added some meat to areas that were lacking.

New look: The most noticeable difference in iOS 7 is the design. Gone are the core apps that look like real-life objects. In their place is a far more modern, streamlined, flatter digital aesthetic.

Apple didn't eliminate depth and texture altogether, but it redefined how it uses those effects. For instance, Apple made some menus and features appear translucent, like a frosted sheet of glass. That not only provides a stylish touch, but it produces a layered effect to help visualize how different parts of an app are linked, and how they are separate.

iPhones 5C and 5S good enough for Apple

You'll notice this everywhere from the home screen icons to the design of the lock screen to the screen that shows up when you receive a call. But the way you use those elements is more or less the same as before.

And there are still touches of the old version of iOS throughout the new iOS 7. For example, the Messages app still uses speech bubbles, and the camera app still uses an on-screen shutter button. But the look of those features has been spruced up as well.

There was a time when Apple had to demonstrate how its flat, glass screen could replace many self-contained gadgets people already owned. So everything had a glassy, textured layer applied to it. The calendar had to look like a paper calendar. The compass had to look like something you'd see in a 16th-century Spanish galleon.

Now that the vast majority of us understand our smartphones, Apple has been able to ditch those visual analogs and become truer to its sleek, modern hardware.

New features: Perhaps the most useful addition to iOS 7 is Control Center. It's your metaphorical junk drawer full of settings, media playback controls, and shortcuts to utility apps, like the clock, camera and calculator. You can now also toggle the LED on and off from control center, functioning as a de facto flashlight. And it's easily accessible: just swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Control Center isn't a revelation: Having quick access to Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is something that's long been on Android. But it's a welcome addition -- and frankly should have already been added to iOS a long time ago.

Siri's functionality has been expanded some. It can now be used to search for Wikipedia and Twitter. That's nice, but it's still no Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) Now, which can tell you to leave home earlier than usual because there's an accident on the freeway.

The new weather app in iOS 7 is more informative than ever, and the App Store can automatically update your apps.

The Photo app has mostly been changed for the better by automatically arranging your photos according to time and place. But the new shared photo streams addition felt incomplete. It allows multiple people to share and comment on photos -- think of it as a remixed version of group MMS. But with so many people already using Apple's iMessage to share photos, it's unclear why people are supposed to use the new feature.

The Notification Center in iOS 7 now has three separate sub-pages, making it feel more bloated and confusing than its previous iteration. For example, if you don't use a calendar, one of the sub-pages is just a completely empty screen.

Question marks: Apple overhauled multitasking in iOS 7, giving apps the ability to fully run in the background. That means apps like Twitter and Facebook will be able to automatically update their feeds without you having to open the app. Apple even promises that iOS 7 will learn which apps you use the most, when you use them, and will make sure they're always updated at that time. But it will be hard to tell how well this feature will work until app makers begin to support it.

Airdrop is Apple's file sharing protocol, allowing iPhone users to share photos, contacts and things like passbook cards with one another. In theory, it is a wonderfully simple way to transfer files. But you can't use it with the Mac version of Airdrop. And the main appeal of Airdrop seems to be photos -- which is confusing since that's what shared photostreams are for. Until there is a critical mass of people running iOS 7, it's hard to gauge how useful Airdrop will be.

Bottom line: Despite a few hiccups in execution, Apple has successfully re-thought iOS for the better.

The biggest achievement of iOS 7 is Apple's willingness to acknowledge that it's immensely successful hardware had gone a bit stale. Apple had the awareness and courage to make some major changes without doing anything so drastic that it risked alienating its user base.

IOS 7 isn't perfect, but it's still as worthy a mobile OS as Google's Android. IOS 7 lays down the foundation for the next five or so years that will allow Apple to keep the iPhone feeling modern and progressive.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie: UPDATE

The Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date, feature list and other rumors surrounding the software are only presumed at the moment. Google still hasn't confirmed the existence of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, but many developers and others invested in the Android community believe that the new operating system could be launched at Google I/O in May 2013. (Photo: developers.google.com / events/io/)

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been unveiled and discovered to be preloaded with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the biggest Android fans are curious about what might possibly be the next big release for the platform. Though smartphones are always a topic of interest among consumers, fans that are already committed to the platform are more interested in the launch date of next iteration of the Android -- unofficially dubbed Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

The Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date, feature list and other rumors surrounding the software are only presumed at the moment. Details about Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie are difficult to predict with any certainty. Google still hasn't confirmed the existence of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, but many developers and others invested in the Android community believe that the new operating system could be launched at Google I/O in May 2013.

Google I/O is known as a common launching point for many new services that the company launches. In the history of the event, Google I/O has been the release event for the Nexus 7 tablet, Google Glass, Nexus Q, Google+ for tablets, the Android Jelly Bean SDK release and many other technical announcements for the Android operating system.

Google I/O stands for "input and output," and "innovation in the open," two broad-sweeping mantras of the convention. The purpose of the developerconference is essentially promote the creation of building enterprise applications and more with Google platforms such as Android, Chrome, Chrome OS and Google Web Toolkit. Google I/O will take place from May 15-17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Whether or not the Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date occurs during Google I/O remains to be seen, but the fact that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was announced at a recent convention bodes well for fans anxiously awaiting the next iteration of the operating system.

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will probably be released with the Motorola X Phone, a smartphone that has been shrouded in secrecy for the last several months. Google hasn't confirmed the Motorola X Phone, either. There isn't much information about the Motorola X Phone available to the public. Still, not everyone has been quiet about the secret project.

"According to [Smarthouse sources], who claim to have spoken with Telstra CTO Hugh Bradlow on the matter, the X Phone will be a 'game changer.' It's supposed to be a 'real breakthrough' that will put pressure on Samsung and Apple, something no one in the smartphone industry has done in a couple of years," reported Kellex of Droid Life, the popular blog dedicated to Android rumors and news.

Though people are interested in the first phone that will run Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, many more are interested in the features and improvements that Google will unveil during the next iteration of Android OS. There are already many new features that have been added to smartphones, such as gesture-control functions, that may become standardized in the next iteration of Android.

Months ago, Android 5.0 Key Lime was rumored to be the launching pad for aGoogle Now widget. A small snapshot of the Google Now widget appeared briefly on a Google support page before it was taken down. By the time it was taken off of the site, many Android fans grabbed snapshots and other copies of the Google Now widget in order to preserve the evidence. Google inevitably rolled out the Google Now widget on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

"...We learned from Android Central that Google is working with the Linux 3.8 kernel, which gives rise to the notion that this kernel might make it into Android 5," reports TechRadar. "One improvement that the 3.8 kernel brings is lowered RAM usage, which would mean a snappier phone with better multitasking."

Android developers have been talking about Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie features in several forums and guessing what features might be included in the next iteration of the operating system. In one of many Android 5.0 feature prediction threads on XDA Developers, user np231 listed the following as his predictions:

1) Profile Management: BB10 has it, Android should offer it too.
2) Video Calling App: I think we actually need this
3) Text Message Sync: This would be very helpful, I use SMSBackup+, but native functionality would be nice.

In addition to user np231 from XDA Developers, many other Android fans suspect that Google will address the messaging problem that has existed over the last few generations of Android. Google has several different messaging services -- Google Talk, Google Messenger, Google Voice and Gmail -- that are hardly integrated and make it difficult for users to manage so many inboxes. Reports about Google's new messaging service have already surfaced on several sites..

"Babble continues Google's trend towards organization by conversation. You can share photos in chat windows just like you would in G+ Messenger, start a Hangout with anyone in your contact list, and the conversations are threaded across all the existing services," reports Russell Holly of Geek.com.

"Moving forward, the individual services will all be pushed onto the single platform, and you'll be able to use the same chat window across all of Google's products with the same features available everywhere. It's not so much releasing a new product as it is pulling together all of the existing products under a single branding," he adds.

In addition to new messaging software, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is rumored to add extra features to the Samsung Galaxy S4. Rumors of new Samsung software called "Samsung Orb" surfaced online prior to the Galaxy S4 release date, but the software wasn't announced alongside the Galaxy S4. There's a chance that Samsung decided to completely trash the software and not release it on any of its phones, but many Android fans would like to think otherwise.

"Samsung Orb could make its way to the Samsung Galaxy S4, only it may arrive with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie rather than in an incremental update or a later update," reports Gotta Be Mobile. "This is not confirmed and it could be that the feature is left off the device altogether in favor of Photo Sphere but until Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie rolls out, we won't know."

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie features that are rumored also included the introduction of performance profiles. Many Android owners complain about the battery life of their devices, and some believe that if consumers were given a better way to manage their battery consumption, they might have a better experience with Android device. Although better power management controls would be a welcome addition to many users, there's a strong chance that users might not want to manage such features and would prefer to keep things automated.

Other Android 5.0 Rumors include a video chatting app that will likely compete with iMessage and small revisions made to existing Google products. Some of the apps that users want revised include Google Calendars, Gmail and the Contacts app in Android. It's still unclear whether Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will keep the same major design elements included in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. If it does, there probably won't be many major design changes to Google serviceapps.

The Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date, features list and rumors circulating the web are difficult to sift through at this point, and that's mainly because reports are mostly wild speculation. Whether or not Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is released at Google I/O remains to be seen, but we can't think of a better location. As for the Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie features, anything is possible at this point. We'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Galaxy S4 Features and what it's missing.

If you're looking for Samsung's new Galaxy S4 to define a novel new era of smartphone greatness, it's time to temper your expectations. The brand-new flagship smartphone, which runs the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, improves hardware significantly and it piles on the features. Compared with the extremely successful Galaxy S3 that came before, it's a firm stride forward rather than a giant a leap, but it raises the bar again for Samsung's competitors. And by super-sizing the screen and packing in so much specialized software, the GS4 sets itself even farther apart from the iPhone.
The Galaxy S4 handset steadily draws from the same design language as the S3, but takes almost every spec to an extreme -- the screen is larger (5 inches), the resolution greater (1080p), the battery capacity higher (2,600mAh), the processor faster (1.9GHz quad-core or 1.6GHz octa-core), and the rear-facing camera stuffed with more megapixels (13, to be exact). But, once you've gone through the features checklist (which also includes lots of internal and external storage space and RAM), it's the software extras that Samsung continues to lean on to keep its phones one step ahead of the competition.
The problem is, based on my brief time with the Galaxy S4, very few of the extensive list of enhancements stood out as a killer, must-have, cannot-possibly-live-without feature. The TV control app that works with the IR blaster is perhaps one exception (the HTC One has this, too), as are a handy translation tool and eye-tracking and gesture capabilities that allow you to pause a video when you stop paying attention and let you hover your finger over an item to preview what it is. Many other software additions are semi-interesting ideas that some power users may enjoy once they've figured them out, but which will hardly convince a prospective buyer to pick the GS4 over, for instance, the HTC One, Nokia Lumia 920, or iPhone 5.

After using the device at a briefing (along with several other journalists), I do think that Samsung has accomplished what it's set out to do in pushing its Galaxy brand forward. Fans will find a familiar, appealing smartphone that's packed with hardware and software features -- albeit more than one person would ever use.

Design and build
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S4 looks like a cookie-cutter copy of the GS3, but larger. It has the same rounded edges and narrow physical home button as its predecessor, but at 7.9mm deep (0.31 inch) and 130g (4.6 ounces), it's also a little lighter and thinner. Part of the slim look and feel is a result of Samsung creating sharper, straighter lines with the phone than the GS3's subtle curves (the Galaxy line is apparently inspired by nature no more).

Samsung's new Galaxy S4 features a 5-inch 1080p HD screen and a slightly slimmer, lighter build than its antecedent.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Standing at 136.6mm tall by 68.9mm wide (5.4 inches by 2.7 inches), the Galaxy S4 fits right in between the GS3 and the Galaxy Note phones. It's large, to be sure -- very large -- but since I've grown used to holding big handsets, it didn't feel overwhelming in my hands. A more dimpled finish on the white version I held reminded me of the Galaxy S2, in contrast to the GS3's silky brushed feel. The GS4 also comes in "Black Mist."

As the rumors and leaks foretold, the GS4 has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen resolution. While it isn't exactly edge-to-edge, the smaller bezel makes the screen feel more expansive. At full brightness, the display's 441ppi pixel density looked rich and crisp, but I'll need to compare it with the BlackBerry Z10, iPhone 5, and others to really get a lock on just how sharp it is. Also, like you'd find in Nokia's Lumia line, the GS4 uses a highly sensitive screen that lets you navigate with long fingernails or even gloves (a must for cold-weather climates.)
Above the display you'll find the usual array of sensors and the 2-megapixel front-facing camera lens. There's no front-facing flash on the GS4 as I would have liked, but that was mostly wishful thinking anyway. Below the screen, you'll find the solitary physical home button, flanked by capacitive menu and back buttons. On the top of the phone is where you'll find the IR blaster, which shoots out infrared light to control your TV directly from the handset.
What I really like about this blaster, other than the accompanying app, is that Samsung promises it works for all televisions, not just Samsung TVs. The app will let you control channels and volume, and also play on-demand content through a partner.

Beneath the back panel sits a 2,600mAh battery and a microSD card slot capable of up to 64GB in expandable storage.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

On the back, there's the 13-megapixel camera, a jump up from the GS3's 8-megapixel lens. Even though the number of megapixels isn't everything, Samsung has had a good track record with images so far. The shooter has an LED flash and records 1080p HD video.
Beneath the back cover, you'll find a microSD card slot that can store up to 64GB in external memory, to go along with the 64GB internal storage. There's also a 2,600mAh battery.

OS and apps
The Galaxy S4 runs none other than Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the most up-to-date version of Android you can get right now. Riding on top of it as usual is Samsung's Touch Wiz overlay, a customized interface that I, for one, think is getting a little long in the tooth. Also, keep in mind that the next Android OS, Key Lime Pie, should appear when Google I/O opens on May 15. That's not far away, so I hope that Samsung and the carriers fast-track the Galaxy S4 for an upgrade.

However, Samsung does use TouchWiz to add a bevy of software enhancements, like gestures, and a beefier notifications tray that offers a ton more toggling options to quickly turn settings on and off. In addition to your usual toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, you'll also see toggles for call-blocking mode and eye-tracking gestures.

A tiny IR blaster on top turns your GS4 into a remote to control your TV.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

To Samsung's credit, several functional tools carry over from the Galaxy Note 2, including the multiview mode that lets you split the screen to interact with two apps, say the browser and notes.
Once again attempting to out-Google Google, Samsung introduces the S Translator tool, embedding it into e-mail, the ChatOn messenger app, and letting it stand as its own tool. Speaking of ChatOn, the Samsung-built chat app adds three-way video calling, screen-sharing, and video calls that make use of both cameras.
I also like the idea of another new collaborative feature, Group Play. As with some of the GS3's photo-sharing features, this one rewards GS4 owners by letting them connect (via NFC or Bluetooth) to other Galaxy S4 devices to share music, photos, documents, and even engage in multiplayer games. For the music aspect, envision a whole room full of people playing the same song from their phones: instant surround sound!
As for Group Play games, Gun Bros 2 and Asphalt 7 have been specifically adapted for the GS4. Samsung will release an SDK for other game developers to jump on board with simultaneous, social game play. Good idea? Sure. But without knowing how practical it is to set up and use, the jury is still out.

The Galaxy S4 interface includes a more extensive set of toggle controls in the drop-down menu.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Although I didn't get a chance to try this next feature during my briefing, I like the idea of an integrated optical reader that can scan QR codes, turn business cards into text, and translate with S Translator. Nothing here is new to smartphones, and OCR (optical character recognition) doesn't always work, but it's good to see this sort of behavior brought to the surface.
Now, when Samsung spots a trend, it pounces. Thus the birth of S Health, a calorie-counter/pedometer in one that uses phone sensors like the accelerometer and barometer to track your steps, jogs, hops, jolts, snacks, and perspiration. Combined with one of its new Samsung-branded fitness wrist bands, Samsung is attempting to replace specialized third-party apps that do these functions already.
The problematic S Voice assistant and S Memo note apps are returning programs, along with settings that automatically adjust screen brightness based on the app you're in. Samsung presents this as a benefit to you, making reading or viewing more comfortable. In the GS3, a dimmer browser window threw me off, and made me think that the screen brightness was severely limited. I assume that, as with the GS3, the GS4 will let you adjust your preferences in various settings menus. The GS4 does the same for audio.
Samsung also announced a new feature for the S4 called Galaxy S Voice Drive. Designed for in-car use, the voice command feature will let drivers use the handset's built-in navigation system as well as make calls, send messages, and check the weather. I didn't have the opportunity to test the feature in a Manhattan hotel conference room, but Samsung says that Voice Drive will start when you get into your car.

Eye-tracking software keeps tabs on where you're looking.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Eye-tracking gestures
Conflicting rumors painted a scenario where you'd scroll the screen with your eyes using eye-tracking software within the GS4.
Turns out, that's somewhat true. Smart Pause and Smart Scroll are two features that build off the Galaxy S3's optional Smart Stay feature, which kept the screen from dimming when you looked at it. In the GS4, tilting the screen up or down while looking at it scrolls you up or down, say if you're reading a CNET story, of course. As a daily commuter with one hand on the phone and one on a hand strap, this could be a more convenient way to catch up with news while on the train or bus.
I really like the idea of Smart Pause, which halts a video you're watching when your eyes dart away, then resumes when you start paying attention again.
Both features worked better in theory than they did in practice, though I should mention that the GS4 I was looking at is (obviously) preproduction running prefinal software. Still, response time was a beat slower than I wanted, taking a little time to pause and resume the video, and scroll the screen. A minor delay makes sense. You wouldn't want to start and stop again every time you're distracted for a second. Instead, the software seems to track longer periods when you're away, like if you stop what you're doing to order a cup of coffee, talk to a friend, or climb a set of stairs.
Air View and gestures
While you can make googly eyes at the GS4, most gestures are still reserved for your fingertips. Hovering features known as Air View make their way from the stylus-centric Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet to the Galaxy S4, but replace the stylus with your digit.

You can control the Galaxy S4 by waving your hand in front of the camera sensor.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Hover your finger and you can preview a video clip or image from the photo gallery, glance at browser tab thumbnails, find your place on a video timeline, and check out an e-mail. You'll also be able to magnify calendar events and get a closer look in speed dial. Flipboard has built a customized app to work with Air View, which lets you hover over a tile to see which articles lie beneath.
In addition to hovering with a fingertip, you can wave or wipe your whole hand in front of the screen (and camera sensor) to navigate around. For example, enable this gesture and you can agitate your palm to pick up the phone or switch songs in a playlist. Steadily sliding your hand back and forth can advance photos in a gallery, or browser tabs. You can also scroll up and down in a list.
The feature was a little jerky and jumpy when I tried it, but it did work. As with eye-tracking, you'll have to wait a half-second to see results.
Cameras and video
If the promise of the GS4's 13-megapixel images doesn't wow you, Samsung is hoping that its refreshed interface and enhanced features will. Perhaps the most out-there is the dual-shot mode, which takes photos and video from both the front- and rear-facing cameras, and combines them into one.
The background shows the capture from your main camera, while the foreground -- whatever you take from the front-facing camera -- lays on top. You can choose to change the window size and shape on top, say a postcard stamp, an oval, or a simple window. You can also swap camera positions so that rear-facing gives you the inset and the front-facing image forms the background. As to why, the answer, like some of Samsung's many features, is more correctly: why not?

The camera interface takes full advantage of the GS4's display.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Even more new modes include Sound & Shot, which takes a picture and captures up to 9 seconds of audio (sounds like HTC's Zoe mode to me), and Drama Shot, which combines all the actions from a burst shot into a single frame. If someone is jumping, for instance, you see all stages of the leap in one shot (P.S. HTC has this, too in the One.)
Then there's Cinema Photo, which lets you animate just one portion of a video and keep the rest static (it creates a GIF), and Eraser mode, which can erase an unwanted person from a shot. The Samsung team and I tried this out five or six times on the demo device I got to hold, but it didn't work; chalk it up to a prerelease software bug.
You'll also find Story Album, which gathers friends into a single photo album. Integration with Trip Advisor lets you add more location-based detail, and you can print any album through self-publishing platform Blurb.

The GS4's new dual-shot mode combines photo and videos from the front-facing camera and rear camera into one frame.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Performance
While the Galaxy S4 will look the same everywhere in the world, it won't necessarily have the same motor under the hood. Your future GS4 handset will either thrum from a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon Fusion Pro processor, or from a 1.6GHz eight-core chipset, Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa silicon.
We'll need to set the two bad boys side by side in the lab to see real-time performance differences, but in the meantime, the Octa-curious can get a load of CNET editor Eric Franklin's Octa 5 benchmarks from Mobile World Congress.
Data speed freaks can rest assured that the Galaxy S4 will support LTE in expected markets (these haven't yet been announced), and LTE roaming will be possible for some geographies (very nice).
As for battery life, the phone has a large, 2,600mAh ticker, but also a larger screen and even more features to compromise performance. Smart Stay and S Voice both drain the battery more quickly, which just means that, as always, potential buyers should adjust their expectations. The more video and games you play, the shorter your life per battery charge. (Read more on battery life here.)
In terms of storage and memory, the Galaxy S4 has 2GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and another 64GB available through the microSD car slot. In today's market, you can't get more than that.
Pricing and availability
If this phone sounds like something you want to get your hands on, you won't have to wait too long. Samsung plans to stagger releases worldwide in April and May. In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Cricket Wireless will all get the Galaxy S4 (along with Sprint MVNO Ting). Samsung hasn't yet shared plans for other countries.
Samsung also hasn't shared pricing yet, since it differs by region and by carrier, but you can expect comparable pricing structures to what you saw in your area for the GS3.

A more sensitive screen means you'll be able to use gloves when operating your phone.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

What's missing?
While the Galaxy S4 hits expectations square on the head, there are still a few small areas that competitors can crow about. As I mentioned, premium build materials are one. After my briefing, it also isn't exactly clear where the Galaxy S4 comes down on wireless charging. When asked, a Samsung representative said that the presence of wireless charging "depends on market requirements," which I read as a soft "yes." This strikes me as a strange feature to skip mentioning, especially since we know that you can rig a Galaxy S3 to wirelessly charge.
How it compares with the competition
The Galaxy S4 is a high-end, fully featured smartphone that's meant for almost everyone. Samsung has made sure to include every salient hardware spec and enough new and interesting software features to hold your attention, if not constant use.
Although the handset's hardware isn't exceptionally beautiful and software isn't particularly inspiring, it has every essential feature and then some. Right now, the best way I can describe it is as the Gap clothing of smartphones. While you may not use or even like every item on display, it's long on basics, represents a certain high standard, and you'll be able to get it anywhere.
Stay tuned for many more details, impressions, photos, and videos in the upcoming hours, weeks, and months.