Samsung is launching its Galaxy S 4 device (better known as the worst kept secret of all time) in New York today at a special event. The event is live streaming via YouTube, but we’re also there covering the action, and will bring you updates live right here as the show progresses.
And that’s about it folks! Thanks for sticking around!
Things are wrapping up very quickly, and now it’s time for some hands-on time. Of course, you should read Jordan’s massive breakdown of the GS4 first: http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/14/samsung-galaxy-s-4-beats-the-best-with-5-inch-1080p-display-1-9ghz-processor-gesture-controls-and-a-q2-2012-release/
And that’s it for Ryan Biden, and the cast of crazies that acted out all those silly scenarios.
Brief bit on accessories — the most interesting is the S View Cover, which has a transparent display that lets users see notifications without unlocking the phone.
Total reports takes that health data and, well, throws in it a report for users to digest.
Ha, looks like the slide jumped ahead earlier than needed. Onward to S Health! — tracks users steps as a pedometer, and can gather info about sleep partners and movement thanks to the S-Band accessory.
Oh, and you can answer a call by swiping your hand in front of the screen. The GS4 will pause videos when users look away, too.
They’re just blowing through app and features right now (with a shout out to Newark, NJ to boot). Swiping hands up and down the screen lets users scroll through content.
And now we’re onto ChatON, Samsung’s messenger app. Dual Camera works for video calls to bring multiple parties into the mix.
And now some dancing and posing, followed by more chatter about GroupPlay — it’s supports multiplayer games, as well as photos.
Group Play — lets users play music onto up to 8 GS4s even without an internet connection.
Sigh, another scene change to Miami. How much did Samsung pay for all this?
And it’s Jeremy again! Things just took an awkward turn here, he doesn’t want to play the MC’s son.
Security time: KNOX (debuted at MWC) locks your device down and keeps it safe from sketchy apps — and separates them into work and personal spaces… just like BlackBerry 10
it has a very Metro-y interface.
Now they’re talking about the Samsung Hub. It takes videos, books, games and it puts them in one marvelous place where you can search and purchase all the content you’re looking for.
You can use your phone with gloves on, they say.
You can also respond to messages with the S Voice. It’s a personal assistant, they say.
A bit more natural sounding than Siri, I have to admit.
They’re talking about S Voice again. You can check your messages, etc. Over. It reads your messages in a robotic voice.
Samsung Smart Switch allows you to transfer everything on your phone to other S4s easily.
There’s like an actual car lying sideways up on stage.
Scene change to: a day in the life of a NYC actor.
The content can also be mirrored on TVs in full HD.
Home Sync is a personal storage device that you keep at home. a TB of space with 8 users.
Another scene change: these folks are in Paris talking about Home Sync (which debuted at MWC).
Users can send hard copy albums from within the app (thanks to Blurb) and they’ll cost between $10 to $30.
Story Album — takes photos from the same place and date and can stick them in an album, easy to upload to Facebook too.
Adapt Display changes display settings based on what users are doing — games, photos, etc.
“Understands 9 languages, and supports text to speech and speech to text.” French, German, Italian, Latin American Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Even translates written words, and features a slew of stored words and sentences so it works without a data connection.
A scene change: they’re in Shanghai now, and a tourist is trying vainly to converse with a local. Now S Translate, well, converts his question to Chinese. The Chinese guy sitting next to me says the pronunciation from S Translate was “perfect.”
And the Eraser camera feature — the GS4 basically makes a composite of multiple shots to remove errant photobombers.
More camera talk. Drama shot: lets users take more than 100 shots in 4 seconds, and select some to be shown in one final shot.
As it turns out Jeremy is a rockin’ little tap dancer. Seriously impressive.
“Patrick” is choosing from different effects for his Dual Camera video. Now they’re recording audio snippets to go along with a still photo. “Like adding another dimension of detail to the visual memory.”
This might just take the cake for special tech event ridiculousness.
Dual camera getting some applause here, and the play goes on.
Talking about dual camera, so Jeremy and his fake dad can both be in the video at the same time.
A little ballerina girl is disappointed in her feckless dad for not having a GS4. Rightfully so, i think.
Oh boy, Samsung’s putting on a stage show now.
And here comes the Broadway connection — we are in Radio City Music Hall after all.
Check out our initial hands-on impressions of the Galaxy S 4 right here: http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/14/samsung-galaxy-s-4-beats-the-best-with-5-inch-1080p-display-1-9ghz-processor-gesture-controls-and-a-q2-2012-release/
Whoa, they’re just blowing through specs right now. Like a 2600 mAh battery.
Infrared LED blaster built in! I remember that from Palm Pilot days, will make for great universal remote apps.
And an IR blaster — lets users control TVs as well. 13 megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel front camera. 2GB of RAM, with 16/32/64GB variants. Also includes the usual slew of sensors in addition to temperature and humidity sensors.
Supports downloads of 100Mbps and uploads of 50Mbps thanks to Category 3 LTE. And of course Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
Talking about the ability to hover over the screen with your finger.
Comes in black mist and white frost — how poetic.
Only 7.9mm thick, but the screen has stretched to 5 inches — unbelievably sharp with pixel density of 441 ppi.
Now it’s time for Ryan Biden, director of product marketing for Samsung Telecom America: “It’s slimmer yet stronger”
And that’s it for JK Shin. Man of few words, apparently.
Hitting 155 countries by the end of April, will have LTE support across all frequencies for global support.
Note — it really is S4, not S IV.
And it’s S4 time!
Here’s the actual device, after that lengthy setup. We’re getting a video to show it off.
S Translator translation service, Group Play for listening on multiple devices to the same thing. S Health gets a mention, as does Samsung Knox.
He’s not going into detail yet, beyond what we’ve already heard. Now talking “Air View,” which is the touchless input we’ve seen from leaks.
Shin is now talking about features of the new phone, dual camera, smart scroll, smart pause.
“We’ve imagined the possibilities, explored new directions and listened to you to understand what a smartphone should provide in our lives.”
“We are always listening to people around the world about what kind of innovation they really want.” That’s what has driven tonight’s big announcement.
Shin acknowledges the rumor mill. Samsung is loving the attention, methinks.
Don’t worry, he’s gone. It’s now time for Samsung President JK Shin to come out for the real stuff.
Will Chase is on stage as MC. He’s a broadway actor, appropriate to the venue.
Oh amazing the kid becomes real! Walks out on stage.
Being treated to a promo video. And there’s that kid with the Pulp Fiction mystery thing.
Plenty of incredibly theatrical music at this one. SAMSUNG (WITH EMOTION)!
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