Now that spring break is (sadly) over, we have to return from our hideaways and get back into the routine. When you are out for a week, you can miss a lot, especially in the fast-paced technology realm. There were a few topics that caught my attention while everyone was checking in at the beach and catching some rays. One of the big topics was the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a remote control feature. But is it the device to buy? Screenshot by Courtland JeffreyThe Galaxy S4, which I somewhat overviewed in one of my earlier posts, was unveiled (in a rather showy manner) back on March 14. This device will easily become a hit like its predecessors, with a 5” 1080p display, either a quad–core or octa–core processor (depending on which market you are buying from), a 13–megapixel camera and much more.
But one of the features really stood out to me and that was the IR, or infrared, LED that allows for your phone to be a remote control. I have been wondering for months why phone companies have not incorporated this sort of feature into smartphones, since they are with us all the time. Apple and Google both have remote options on their devices, but they are only compatible with their television counterparts (Apple TV or Google TV). There are many other features, like the Samsung Smart Pause (which pauses the video when you look away from the screen) and other intuitive features. Units will be available at the end of April, and the preorders are already coming in for this device that is not too unique on physical design, but rather unique on software.
This announcement spurred a few friends to contact me, asking if that was the phone to invest in this season. I'm usually able to give my decisive opinion, but I ended up being really wishy washy about what they should get. The release of the Galaxy S4 brought up another topic: the time to invest in a new phone.
It isn't now, that's for sure. Even if your contract ends soon, the pickings for a new smartphone are slim. Yes, there are good devices like the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S4, but this is off season. While there is no defined season, it seems that the summer and winter are the times to buy a new phone that is cutting edge. Samsung announced (and is releasing) their feature phone ahead of the typical launch time to leave a mark on consumers, beating out the iPhone 5s and Google's next Nexus phone. Probably a good move for Samsung, but bad for buyers. You don't have many choices and if you wait to see what the other companies have to offer, this device grows older. The only conclusion I could draw for my friends is to hold off on preordering the S4 and once it is available for sale, look into what rumors are stirring for the other devices and make your decision then.
If you have any comments or questions, email me at cejeffre@asu.edu and follow me on Twitter @Court_Jeffrey. Enjoy!
