Rumor: new Samsung Galaxy may be modest, skip S III name
updated 09:15 am EDT, Tue April 17, 2012
Samsung Galaxy may face iPhone 4S moment
Android supporters may be dealt a degree of irony at Samsung's May 3 event based on rumors from an uncharacteristic if potentially major source. A UK telecom insider told CNET that the new Galaxy phone would be an "incremental" update, where the quad-core Exynos 4412 and eye tracking would be the highlights of an otherwise safe design. Despite criticisms of Apple using a cosmetically similar design even with major upgrades inside, Samsung would face the same complaint itself.
"It'll be like the iPhone 4S was to the 4," according to the tip.
The eye recognition would reportedly be billed as Human Interaction and, among other things, tell when the owner is looking at the phone and sleep the phone when the owner looks away. This may leave some doubt for the rumor, as it would mean that a quick glance away to talk to someone would lock the phone unless Samsung had a time delay or other method to keep the phone from locking prematurely.
The same contact also warned not to presume that the 2012 Samsung flagship would be called the Galaxy S III. While it was nicknamed Bali in development, it wouldn't use that name or necessarily follow Samsung's expected naming scheme.
A conservative design, if real, would likely be an attempt to avoid disrupting the formula that led to the Galaxy S II being Samsung's most successful smartphone ever. Taking the safe route could be a gamble that Apple won't necessarily try something more radical of its own too soon after the new Galaxy arrives. Many anticipate Apple bringing in 4G LTE and either an A5X variant or an A6, as well as a possible larger screen.
