The new Galaxy S4 is the first Samsung smartphone to boast Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass 3, which promises to be up to three times as scratch resistant as its predecessor. And according to its first scratch test, it does not disappoint — the Galaxy S4’s display is almost impossible to scratch.
The Samsung Galaxy S IV is expected boast a new “floating touch” technology that will allow users to interact with the display without actually touching it. Samsung already offers a similar feature with its Galaxy Note devices and their accompanying S Pens. But the Galaxy S IV will use your finger, rather than a stylus.
Sharp has this morning announced a ¥10.4 billion ($112 million) investment from Samsung that will provide the latter with a 3% stake in the company. It makes Samsung the biggest individual shareholder in the Japanese display maker, and secures its access to Sharp’s LCD panel supplies.
The investment comes at a time when Sharp has been struggling. The company received a $4.4 billion bailout from the banks in October 2012, and its iPad display orders from Apple were recently cut as consumer demand shifted to the smaller iPad mini, which Sharp is not involved with.
Archos has announced that its new FamilyPad 2, the large 13.3-inch tablet that the company unveiled at CES, will be launching “very soon,” priced at €299 (approx. $389). The company confirmed the news in a post on its official Facebook page, but it didn’t say where the device would hit first.
Based on the price tag, however, we’re assuming Europe will see it first.
A number of third-party cases designed to fit the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S IV have been obtained by British accessory retailer MobileFun. Made by a “trusted” Chinese manufacturer, the cases give us an idea of the size and shape of Samsung’s much-anticipated flagship, which looks to be nowhere near as curvy as its predecessor.
