Samsung Galaxy SIII unveiled May 3rd

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by =X=

Both iOS and Android have always had true multitasking ability, they just didn't allow it for 3rd party apps it was reserved for the OS apps. Recently both added a multi-tasking layer: iOS limited what can be multitasked to select services such as playing music(and I forget the others). Android open the gate to anything, the developer however is responsible for making their app multi-tasking. It's a deviation in philosophy form say PC desktop where the OS is responsible for the multitasking. As a result these mobile OS are much better at utilizing resources and conserving battery.

Hey it's the design , you can't snide a sports car because it can't go off-roading?


Implied from my paragraph above it's considered 'poor implantation' (for resource utilization reasons) for a video player to continue playing in the background so most players properly pause the player when focus is lost. As a result most are going to play nice. However if you dig around you should be able to find something that fits you bill.

Below are a few apps you might find useful.

There is a browser that is suppose called Maxthon that allows multiple tabs

Here are two apps that allow one to play Youtube video in the background so you can listen to the audio (QueueTube, pvstar)


=X=

I used Maxthon, but there seems to be a problem with its website identifyer (I set it to desktop, but some websites recognize it as being Android). I know they have tabs, haven't tried if videos keep running in the background in a tab.

Thanks for the youtube tip. Will check that out, perhaps it works for other flash video sites, too.

As for the "poor implementation". That should be more an excuse from the old days with power hungry components and limited RAM. Not to mention that I could do the exact same thing on WM 6.5 running slingplayer in the background without a hitch many years ago.

The right way to do it would be a "true multitasking" switch, which you can set globally or for specific apps or processes. Standard setting would be off, so that most users are not affected.

The current way is a little too "Apple" (i.e.: we know what is best for you).

[afv011]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The current way is a little too "Apple" (i.e.: we know what is best for you).

Not at all, the OS (Android) is not imposing anything on the developers, it's a developer choice to pause all the background services when the app loses focus, or to leave them running. The developer has to make a balanced choice between usability and resource consumption. The best option, for a player, would be a toggle setting that would let you choose whether you want the player to pause when losing focus, or to continue to run in the background.

[afv011]

Live streaming here.

[afv011]

Preview here.

[ScotiaBurrell]

Starts in Europe, followed by Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Super AMOLED display, 4.8-inch

2,100mAh battery

8-megapixel camera

Inspired by water, wind, leaves, and pebbles

eh. will be just another phone in not too long.

Good deals on galaxy nexus now. unlocked $399. New like this not too long ago.

[luismonkey]

It looks like a nice phone though. I want a big screen. I'm tired of a 3.5 screen. Honestly I'd switch soon. I am tempted to also buy the galaxy player or a 7incher. But with so many upcoming acnouncements I don't want to jump the gun. Like the asus google tab. We'll see.

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The logical thing would be to just let the video continue in the background (the user could always pause it himself, if he wanted to), just like in Windows or in WebOS. Only when you switch to take a phone call should there be an automatic pausing of background video.

waste of battery. Videos are to be watched: if you're not watching right now, no point wasting the battery. Have you noticed those "animated wallpapers" freeze when the screen blanks out and begin from the same point when you activate again? Music will play on only because they have no clue if you have the earphones in your ears or not. Once you pull the plug though, it rightfully stops.

That said, you can see multicore is not all that useful directly for mobile users. Multicore is only really useful when you're working on many things that take real processing time. For end users, I can only think of games right now -- and not even the kind of prevalent lightweight fun in mobile like Angry Birds, more like 3D rendering stuff with lots of physics (read explosions and destruction) going on.

I gather voice translation services will soon enough demand lots of local processing available rather than the current model of recording the voice, sending to a server and returning the textual result. That's where multicore will truly help.

[RainingLemur]

Looks really nice. I'm excited for it, that's for sure.

[=X=]

The specs

• Quad-core Samsung Exynos chip @ 1.4 GHz, as previously announced
• HSPA+21 and LTE versions
• 4.8-inch HD SuperAMOLED 720x1280 screen
• 8MP / Front 1.9MP camera (720p video recording)
• 2100mAh battery
• 1GB RAM
• Wifi Channel Bonding
• Bluetooth 4.0(LE)
• Accelerometer, Notification light, Digital compass, Proximity sensor, Gyro, NFC, Barometer
• 1080p video playback
• Various multimedia codecs supported
• MHL/DLNA
• Dimensions: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm
• Weight: 133 grams
• Available in blue and white.

[HansTWN]

Saw the HTC One X yesterday, it looks a lot better than this one. Specs are very similar, and I like the screen better than those SuperAmoled ones.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

waste of battery. Videos are to be watched: if you're not watching right now, no point wasting the battery. Have you noticed those "animated wallpapers" freeze when the screen blanks out and begin from the same point when you activate again? Music will play on only because they have no clue if you have the earphones in your ears or not. Once you pull the plug though, it rightfully stops.

Of course, it is a waste of battery -- but if that is the way I want to do it, shouldn't it be my choice? It makes sense for me, you don't always need to see the action when listening to the news. If the devices and software are capable, it makes no sense not to have the option. Hell, on a tablet you could easily accomodate 2-3 open Windows. As these things get more powerful, we should be able to use them more like real computers.

Perhaps Windows 8 tablets will force everybody to up their game and not just engage in a spec fest for the fun of it.

Steve Jobs started this race to the bottom in dumbing down devices, now the hardware and battery life should have advanced to the point where we can enjoy more "computer" functionality.

[volwrath]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Saw the HTC One X yesterday, it looks a lot better than this one. Specs are very similar, and I like the screen better than those SuperAmoled ones.

I love my super amoled S2... But the s3 won't be super amoled, instead adopting the pentile display of the galaxy nexus.

I don't really understand yor jobs comment, since iPad 3 battery life goes on and on, and one should consider the game upped with this beautiful display. iPad 1 and 2 were good, this beast is great

[HansTWN]

Dumbing down as in 'less able to work like a computer'. Limiting functionality, multi-tasking, no display of several open windows, no resizing of windows, limiting sources of apps and programs running on the devices.

A 'not dumbed down iPad' would be running full Mac OS with provisions to make it more usable on smaller screens and to extend battery life, but with the same basic functionality.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

That should be more an excuse from the old days with power hungry components and limited RAM. Not to mention that I could do the exact same thing on WM 6.5 running slingplayer in the background without a hitch many years ago.

Ah you bring back memories of my WinMo phone. I miss the constant battery pulls (times a day was my min.) Listening to music in the background, while using the device and having my phone miss a call because the mp3/video player would not relinquish resources fast enough. Or having to close down apps when my performance is seriously degraded. But probably what I miss most is not having to carry three batteries so I can make it through the day.... Good times. Android and Apple have ruined it for us.

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The right way to do it would be a "true multitasking" switch, which you can set globally or for specific apps or processes. Standard setting would be off, so that most users are not affected.

I contest that you are wrong here and that you are buying the wrong device for your needs. If you are in need of a multitasking tablet buy a Windows tablet or buy an Android tablet and install Linux on it.

The Android/Apple paradigm is a design that is optimized for battery utilization and primarily a single app use. These OS also come from a phone background where the need to simultaneously multi-task is limited. Also the resource where and still are limited. Also while you might also argue that WebOS and WM allow true multitasking they also limit the no. of apps that can multitasking. Before you say that is still better than Android/Apple I will say this one app can take up all of those tasks(Youtube can take up 3 tasks)

Right now Android is the only mobile OS that allows as many multitasking apps as you wish to run, the only limitation is the devleoper has to decide if he wants to make his app multitask.

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Hell, on a tablet you could easily accomodate 2-3 open Windows. As these things get more powerful, we should be able to use them more like real computers.

Yes I see this coming in the future but it will take some time. Vendors like motorola have already implemented this in there Atrix Docking station, but so far it has been a faliure. Ubuntu is working with vendors so it can come pre isntalled on phones. It will act like an Android OS as a phone but when docked it will launch Ubuntu(Linux) and act as a full fleged OS.

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Perhaps Windows 8 tablets will force everybody to up their game and not just engage in a spec fest for the fun of it.

Well the current rumos are that Windows is going to limit the number of Metro apps to two. For me this is a huge step backwards. How does a full fledged OS limit the number of multitasking apps

[=X=]

Originally Posted by volwrath

I love my super amoled S2... But the s3 won't be super amoled, instead adopting the pentile display of the galaxy nexus.

I don't really understand yor jobs comment, since iPad 3 battery life goes on and on, and one should consider the game upped with this beautiful display. iPad 1 and 2 were good, this beast is great

Actually their All Super AMOLED, Samsung's naming is very confusing.

GS1 = Super AMOLED
GSII = Super AMOLED Plus (The plus means non-pentile)
GSIII = Super AMLOED HD