Samsung has launched the fourth generation Galaxy S, the Galaxy S 4. Among other things, the Galaxy S 4 smartphone bypasses the need for ‘touch’ by being able to detect your face/voice/motions, and comes with a dual camera feature that allows both the front and rear cameras to be used simultaneously.

JK Shin (President and Head, IT & Mobile Communications, Samsung): All the innovative features of GALAXY S 4 were developed based on the insights and needs we found from our consumers all around the world. At Samsung we’ll never stop pursuing innovation conceived by people, so we can inspire them in return. 

Lets look at the Galaxy S4 features now. We begin with the features that are more or less new to smartphones altogether..

Controlling the phone with eye/face movements

The Galaxy S 4 can detect your face, voice and motions to enable screen control with no need for finger touch activation, but there is more. The phones know where you are looking, and ‘Samsung Smart Pause’ enables you to control the screen, by just looking away. For example, when you are watching a video, the video pauses when you look away, and starts right up again when you are back.

You can also scroll the browser or emails up and down without touching the screen. The Galaxy S 4 recognizes your face looking at the screen, and movement of your wrist ,and then scrolls the pages up or down accordingly.

‘Air View’ allows you to hover your fingers to preview the content of an email, S Planner, image gallery or video without having to open it. You can even see a magnified view on the Internet browser, or a phone number saved in the speed dial on the keypad. You can also change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of your hand.

Camera

The Galaxy S 4 has a ‘Dual Camera’ function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras.  You can select 8 different ways to combine the two photos taken by the front camera and the rear camera. The ‘Dual Video Call’ function enables you to make and receive a video call where you can show what you are looking at to people at the end of the call.

The device is also equipped with 12 shooting modes, including ‘Drama Shot,’ which allows you to see all the action in one continuous time-lapse, and ‘Sound & Shot,’ which stores sound and voice together as the picture is taken.

And now for some of the usual, plain Neapolitan stuff..

You can activate commands via voice control for optimization when driving. Once connected with a car Bluetooth, the phone automatically turns into driving mode converting text to speech

You can share music, photos, documents and games with those around you without a Wi-Fi AP or cellular signal.  Using the ‘Share Music’ option lets users have the same song playing on multiple phones.

The Galaxy S 4 comes with the ‘S Translator’ tool which provides instant translation both from speech to text and text to speech.

‘Samsung Optical Reader’ automatically recognizes text, a business card or QR code information, and provides functions such as translation, call, text message and search.  

The Galaxy S 4 comes with health and well-being monitoring, using the new ‘S Health’ software. The combination of sensors built within the device systematically and automatically monitors your health and surroundings.

‘Samsung Adapt Display’ provides an optimal viewing experience, customized for each type of application, and ‘Samsung Adapt Sound’ offers an optimal level and type of sound, personalized for each user.

Last but not the least..

The Galaxy S 4 has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display. It comes with a 5-inch large screen, made of Corning’s new Gorilla Glass 3.

The Galaxy S 4 supports HSPA+42 Mbps and 4G LTE. The LTE version supports up to 6 different band sets. TDD/FDD LTE Dual Mode version will be introduced later this year, says Samsung.

Samsung GALAXY S 4 Product Specifications

• Network  
  • 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
  • 3G (HSPA+ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
  • 4G (LTE Cat 3 100/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)          
• Display –  5 inch Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display, 441 ppi
• AP – 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor
• OS – Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Camera
  • Main(Rear): 13 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS

  • Sub (Front): 2 Mega pixel camera, Full HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
•  Video – Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark, HEVC Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
• Connectivity
  • WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80)
  • GPS / GLONASS
  • NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE)
  • IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
• Sensor – Accelerometer, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Gesture    
• Memory – 16/ 32/ 64 GB User memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB) 2GB RAM        
• Dimension – 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, 130g         
• Battery – 2,600 mAh                   

Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be available from Q2 globally including US, partnering with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, as well as US Cellular and Cricket.

The Galaxy S4 will be available in black and white at launch, with more colors coming later.