For function that's also fun, Samsung's number one!

The time has come, not least for us rabid Samsung Galaxy SII lovers, to have a look at the glamorously functional new Samsung Galaxy SIII: the hotly anticipated new superphone from the newly cool Samsung brand. This is the phone that some in the business have dubbed the "iPhone killer". I don't think it will kill anything, rather it will breathe new life into the smartphone segment of the marketplace.

Frankly, after ten minutes of having even the Galaxy SII in my hands, the die was cast. It made the iPhone feel small, and quaintly old-fashioned, instantaneously. The SII combined a gorgeously aesthetic design and uber-cool image, with incredible functionality and  top end-user experience, and that's a tough recipe to beat. All those business executives who had clung to big bad Blackberries, and finally were peer-pressured into buying a dreaded iPhone, suddenly feeling "young" again, now had their dreams of being hip shattered by one of the best brands in the world: Samsung. 

Ironically, the iPhone now dates people. It is clear that the compact design of the iPhone, which was cool or even avant garde back in 2008, or even as recently as 2010, is now a negative. The male hand does not find form and function in the iPhone design: it is too small. Texting and typing has always been a pain for the typical-to-large male hand, hence the appearance of a new breed: the aging executive who thought he was really cool because he bought an iPhone, but he doesn't use it for anything other than as a mobile phone! It's more or less the equivalent of a city-bound business type driving around town in his Ferrari; it's redundant 95% of the time! Mine is bigger than yours, even if it's never used for a fraction of what it is capable of, and all that matters is image. Stereotypical mid-life crisis images, evident even in smartphone usage. Or lack of usage, even. At best, one receives horribly misspelled texts from someone who doesn't care enough to even check what they have typed. Somehow there was a perfect fit between grey hair, a crisp business suit and the Blackberry; the same cannot be said of an iPhone. It's a mismatch! But sadly, Blackberry did not keep up, and lost the niche that they originally dominated. 

Additionally, small screens are now "out" and bigger, clearer screens are "in", further dating the Apple product. They better have something truly innovative and super cool up their sleeves for iPhone5 or they are going to take a beating, especially from Samsung. The Galaxy SIII will simply not be ignored! There's no need to worry, Apple are massively rich and they can afford any number of hits, but their previous dominance in the mobile marketplace has been eroded of late, and will continue to be. 


There is a greed that often comes with dominance, as evidenced by the US Justice Department's ongoing lawsuit against Apple for alleged price-fixing of e-books: the cost to consumers is estimated to be as much as an additional $100 million. Steve Jobs was heavily implicated in that entire story, and if found to be true, it will be a rather sad footnote to a brilliant career. Even while incredibly rich both personally and corporately, there was a sufficient level of outright greed to screw the public out of even more money? It's shameful if it is the case. 

We will have to wait and see what Apple may have up their sleeves with iPhone5. But you know what? If you are in the market right now for a new superphone, I wouldn't wait. Go get a Samsung Galaxy SIII in your hands: feel it, play with it, test it, and wonder at some of the marvellous deals being offered to allow you to leave the store with one in your hands. You will be smiling! Everyone at Evergreen Umbrella who has joined the Samsung side of life has never looked back. We think you will feel the same way. Why? Simply because, with Samsung Galaxy S, your smartphone experience is the best! - Kevin Mc