Complete guide with tips for Samsung Galaxy S3. Complete guide with tips for Samsung Galaxy S3 Best for Galaxy S 3
In this article we will review the Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300. Samsung Galaxy SIII is a rather sensational model that is in demand despite the fact that it came out quite a long time ago. Let's take a closer look at this smartphone model.
Visual inspection
Packaging and delivery
The packaging of the smartphone, as always, did not surprise us with anything new. As for the delivery set, it is standard. The box includes a standard set: smartphone, headphones (with a set of spare earbuds), USB cable (USB-microUSB), charger and instructions. For those who do not know, I want to say that the battery is not inserted into the phone, but is included separately in the package. 
Design
Having taken this smartphone out of the box, I also did not see anything new, or rather, at least any changes in the design, since the Samsung Galaxy S3 immediately reminded me of another gadget, but not its predecessor Samsung Galaxy S2 - no, but no matter how strange Samsung Galaxy Nexsus. The same shape, the same lines, even the side buttons are the same size and in the same places. I immediately asked myself: why make devices that visually do not carry anything particularly new, except for an internal upgrade.
As for the body, the large screen is impressive, but the fly in the ointment in all this is the back cover of the device, which is made of plastic, and also glossy. And it was precisely this cover that caused a negative impression on me, since with all confidence we can say that in the future, scratches will appear on its surface and become very noticeable. Therefore, initially you will need to buy either a case or a protective film if you want to protect the surface of the cover. The lid itself is thin and bends very much, so it must be removed very carefully.
At the top of the front panel there is a speech speaker in the center, on the right there are two sensors: proximity and light, as well as a front camera. On the back panel, the main video camera is located in the upper center, there is an LED flash to the left of the camera, and a speaker to the right.
Now let's look at the buttons. At the bottom of the front panel, in the center, the device has the same “Home” button. There are 2 touch buttons on both sides of this mechanical button: on the left – calling up the context menu, on the right – the return key. On the left side panel there is a volume rocker. On the right side panel there is a button to turn on the smartphone.
At the top of the smartphone there is a headphone output, shifted to the left, and in the center there is a recess for prying and removing the back cover. An additional microphone is located on the right side of the top panel. On the bottom panel in the center there is a microUSB connector for connecting a charger and for connecting to a computer. To the right of the connector is the main microphone of the gadget.
Impressions from the design
Having made my first visual review of the Samsung Galaxy S3, I was left with mixed impressions. On the one hand, the device is quite large, all the buttons, sensors and speakers are conveniently placed on it - this is pleasing, but the lack of any visual design innovations and the plastic case are depressing. While smartphones from other companies are introducing some new materials, for example, HTC has a polycarbonate body that fits very well in the hand, and the glossy plastic body of the S3 is, let’s say, a thing of the past. Well, again, this is not an acquired taste, I expressed my subjective point of view in this review.
Device test review
Specifications Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300
Before testing the gadget itself, let's go over its characteristics to understand what we will be dealing with. The Samsung Galaxy S3 display measures 4.8 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy S3 processor has 4 cores with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz. The device includes 1 GB of RAM. There are three variations of device models with built-in memory: 16/32/64 GB. There is a slot for microSD memory cards. The main camera is 8 megapixels, includes autofocus, takes photos with a resolution of 3264x2448 pixels, and also records video in FullHD 1080p format at 30 frames per second. Front camera - 1.9 MP. The smartphone only supports MicroSIM cards.
The installed operating system is Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The gadget includes FM radio with RDS and TV output. Standards: GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G. HSPA+ 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbit/s. Technology support: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and GLONAS. Li-ion battery 2100 mAh. As for the dimensions, it has the following dimensions: 136.6 × 70.6 × 8.6 mm. Device weight – 133g.
The average price of a Samsung Galaxy S3 is from 19,000 rubles for a device with 16 GB of memory, from 20,000 rubles for a device with 32 GB of memory.
Overview of Galaxy S3 operation and features
After turning on the device, you are immediately impressed by the large and bright screen, image clarity and good sensor. There is no grain on the screen, that is, the pixels are not visible - it is very good that by increasing the diagonal of the screen, its resolution also improves. In general, it is worth noting the pleasant Android interface and its operation. It is very difficult to convey in words the operation of the device, so you can see it in the video below. Next we will describe the operation of specific functions.
Intelligent anticipation
Samsung boasted on its official website that it has an intelligent standby function. This function, when activated, is capable, according to the manufacturers, of capturing the user’s gaze and if he looks at the smartphone screen, the screen will not turn off and go into standby mode. Personally, I don’t understand why there was such a need to promote this function, especially to include it in the innovations and advantages of the gadget, if it is implemented, to put it mildly, poorly. Even if the function worked, in the end it was temporary and the screen went dark. For the function to work correctly, it is possible that you need to adapt to it, pointing the device at the desired angle - but this is stupid. I welcome the good intentions of introducing this feature as a user, but its implementation is very poor.
Of course, you can’t help but test the S Voice function, which many call a prototype of the famous SIRI. But in my opinion, the comparison with SIRI is clearly not correct. Yes, the similarity of both voice systems is that neither one nor the other has support for the Russian language and it all looks rather strange. We will not touch on SIRI, although we will return to it later, but let’s talk about S Voice, or more precisely the logic of Samsung Corporation.
Russian is spoken in the largest country in the world - Russia, and in addition, it is known and even spoken by many in the countries of the former USSR, which is almost 15 republics. By introducing support for the Russian language with a voice assistant, it would be possible to cover countries with a population that is several times larger than those whose languages are supported by S Voice. It may be difficult for South Korean “luminaries” to comprehend all the versatility of the “great and mighty”, much less implement it, but having a staff of specialists from Russia... but oh well.
After my disappointment from the lack of Russian language support, I was also disappointed by the availability of English. What conclusion did I draw after working with S Voice and asking it a few mundane questions? The device only understands a clearly asked question in English, and preferably without an accent. Therefore, if you speak English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and South Korean perfectly and without an accent, then S Voice will be useful to you. If you only speak Russian or “bad” English and the same other listed languages, then this function is of no use. Although at SIRI I was more successful in speaking “my” English.
Direct call
Another feature that Samsung boasted in the S3 is Direct Call. The function involves automatic dialing of a number that is displayed on the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. For example, you are typing a message or reading a received message from a certain subscriber, if you immediately raise the handset to your ear, then when this function is activated, this subscriber will be automatically dialed. It is impossible to say that this function is useful, since I consider it not particularly necessary, and besides, for this function to work, it is necessary to rehearse the movement that will trigger the sensor.
Smartphone operation
The operation of the smartphone itself gave me extremely positive emotions. His work can be described in one word – “fast”. The device works very quickly, without the slightest pause or hesitation. Launching games is very fast, and the same goes for the game mode itself. I was also pleased with the work with high quality video, without any stutters. Something else I would like to point out is the sound quality, both from the speakers and headphones. A large number of phone settings options, graphics and visualization - Android has done its best in this area. It is impossible not to mention the camera, which can easily replace a home camera and video camera. We will demonstrate visual information on the operation of the phone in a video review.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone
Surely each of you who chooses a new smartphone will want to compare it with its main competitor - the iPhone. Let's compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the existing popular iPhone models.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 4S
First of all, it is necessary to note the difference between the displays; it immediately catches your eye. The screen size in the iPhone is 3.5 inches, while the Samsung Galaxy S3 has 4.8 inches, and the most important thing is that having such a large screen, the Samsung Galaxy S3 boasts a screen resolution of 1280x720 pixels (which falls under HD parameters), compared to the iPhone 4s resolution of 640x960 pixels. Already, based on this, the iPhone 4S is significantly inferior in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S3.
If we compare the technical characteristics, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a 4-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, while the iPhone 4S has only 2 cores with a frequency of 1 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S3 is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, while the “Apple” counterpart has 2 times less - 512 MB.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 5
Now let's compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the iPhone 5. The latest fifth iPhone model includes some improvements in technical specifications, but, nevertheless, it still loses to the Samsung Galaxy S3. The iPhone 5's screen measures 4 inches, compared to 4.8 on the S3. The iPhone 5's screen resolution is 1136x640, the S3's is 1280x720 pixels. As for the processor, the iPhone 5 has 2 cores with a frequency of 1.2 GHz each, compared to 4 cores and a 1.4 GHz clock speed in the Galaxy. In other parameters they are almost the same.
General comparison
It would be wrong to compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 solely on technical characteristics, since they have some nuances, and very significant ones.
Of course, the most significant nuance is that the iPhone does not support memory cards, which means that you are initially limited by the available built-in memory. Some may refer to the fact that they say you can use cloud applications and thereby solve the issue with the memory card, but I will still revive it. It’s one thing when all the information is stored on the phone, and another when this information is stored on a server, to access which you need access to the Internet, and not EDGE, but preferably Wi-Fi or 3G. If your Internet speed is low, then there will be no point in using cloud applications. The issue can be solved by buying an iPhone with 64 GB of memory, but this is several times more expensive than the Galaxy S3.
Also among the advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is the ability to access and replace the battery. For many Internet surfers, it is worth mentioning the presence of a flash player, which is not available on the iPhone. And, of course, the price of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is lower than the current Apple product – iPhone 5, almost 4 thousand less.
The first thing that stands out in favor of the iPhone is the brand, and you can’t argue with that fact. We also cannot fail to note the convenience of updating iOS, which, unfortunately, is not the case with Android. The quality of the applications and the “philosophy” of iOS itself are captivating.
The final choice is yours: it’s either the branded iPhone 5 with its own “philosophy”, or the powerful and cheaper Galaxy S3.
My impression of the Galaxy S3
To sum up the review, in principle, the gadget left me with extremely positive impressions. Among the advantages, I would like to highlight the speed of the device, the large and bright screen, the camera, as well as the overall operation of the device. Among the minuses, I’ll highlight the body, especially the plastic back cover, which, in my opinion, is very inconvenient and looks very sparse, especially for a device that claims to be the first in the field of smartphones. As for the price, after some time the price of the gadget became more or less adequate.
Answering the question, is it worth buying this smartphone model based on the “atomic” parameters of the device? It’s worth it, especially if you want to buy a Samsung device or with Android, or 2 in 1. The smartphone is perfect both as a phone and as a gadget for using Internet services.
Video review Samsung Galaxy S3 video review in Russian
Many experts consider the S III to be a premium mobile device designed to compete with products produced by brands such as Apple. And this is despite the fact that the gadget runs on the Android platform, traditionally perceived as “budget”. Many users are interested in what characteristics and functions of devices running on open-source platforms can compete with the most commercially engaged brands that use expensive proprietary software. Or perhaps it's a hardware issue?
In our article today, we will try to understand due to what characteristics and functions the Galaxy smartphone in its third version is considered so prestigious and desirable, as is commonly believed in the Russian user and expert environment. Let's identify its strongest points and study the specifics of the technologies used in the production of the device.
We will answer simple but important questions. What are the features of the device? What opportunities does it open to users? What do experts say about him? What are the reviews that characterize the Samsung Galaxy S 3?
Standard delivery set
Inside the box, the user will find the device itself, a spare 2100 mAh battery, a cable for connecting to a USB port, a headset, and a charger. Additional accessories for the S 3 - a case, for example - will have to be purchased separately. But there is no problem in finding all this in almost any of the modern online stores where electronics are sold.
Who buys a smartphone
According to marketing experts, the main groups of smartphone users are enthusiasts of expensive and feature-filled mobile equipment, technology lovers, as well as buyers who are inclined to purchase devices with a view to long-term use (over several years).
Samsung Galaxy phones are devices that are distinguished by high quality in terms of assembly, design, and problem solving using mobile applications. Owners of smartphones in this series can be sure that the device will perform its functions flawlessly and correctly.
Market position
Marketing experts call the smartphone one of the leading models of 2012. Direct competitors of the device are products manufactured under the Apple and HTC brands. Experts call the Samsung device a flagship that will remain relevant for quite a long time. A user who bought a Samsung Galaxy S 3 emphasizes his good taste and involvement in the most current market trends by owning the device.
Design
The smartphone is available in several colors. It has a thin body that fits comfortably in the hand.
The dimensions of the device are as follows:
Length: 13.66 cm;
Width: 7.06 cm;
Thickness: 0.86 cm.
The smartphone weighs 133 grams.
At the top of the case there is an audio jack, at the bottom there is a slot for micro-USB. The device's power button is located on the right side of the case. On the left is a key responsible for adjusting the sound volume level. On the front of the case there is the main control button. There is a front video camera and two sensors: lighting and motion (proximity).
Build quality
Experts who tested the phone note that the body parts are made of very high quality. There are no backlashes or gaps. The lid is fixed to the body very securely. The surface of the phone resists scratches quite well. In accordance with how reviews describe the Samsung Galaxy S 3, this thesis of experts is generally confirmed.
Screen
The smartphone display diagonal is 4.8 inches. Screen manufacturing technology - AMOLED. The display resolution is 1280 by 720 pixels. The maximum number of displayed colors is 16 million. The screen belongs to the capacitive class. Experts who tested the device describe the quality of the display as excellent.
Communication options
The smartphone is equipped with several communication modules. Among them is Bluetooth version 4. You can also use Wi-Fi. Experts who tested the wireless data transfer speed were able to record a figure of 12 megabits/sec. You can also connect external devices via the USB port (using it simultaneously charges your smartphone). Using a mini-USB connector and a special cable, you can connect your phone to the HDMI port of your TV. The smartphone supports near-field communication technology (which, in particular, is used in modern cash payment terminals) - NFC.
Using branded S Beam technology developed by Samsung, you can transfer files between this phone and another similar one at very high speed.
Smartphone memory
The smartphone has 16 GB of its own memory, of which about 14 are actually available. Additional memory cards are supported (up to 64 GB).
The phone's RAM is 1 GB. If no applications are running, then its available volume is about 800 MB. Some experts note that smartphones with 2 GB of RAM are supplied to the markets of certain countries.
Performance
The phone has an Exynos processor with four cores (the frequency of each of them is about 1.4 GHz). According to many experts, the firmware installed in the Samsung Galaxy S III in the form of Android 4 is quite productive.
Performance tests have shown that the smartphone is more powerful than many competing solutions. Almost all users who wrote reviews about the Samsung Galaxy S 3 confirm the high speed of the phone.
Voice control
Specialists who tested the phone identified a number of interesting functions. These include the ability of a smartphone to recognize the user’s intention to call the person to whom the SMS message is being written. Once you start typing an SMS, you can bring the device to your ear, after which the recipient’s number will be dialed.
Another notable feature of the phone is called Smart Alert. It is designed to inform the user about the presence of missed calls. As soon as the owner of the phone picks up the device, there are missed calls, causing the device to vibrate.
Other interesting features of the device are facial recognition in photographs, as well as sending images to the phone of the person who is in the frame. There is another interesting option - manually setting the vibration alert rhythm.
The presence of these and many other useful functions, as many experts believe, fully justifies the fact that a device such as the Samsung Galaxy S 3 has a fairly high price. Experts believe that a phone with such a set of options cannot be cheap.
Playing music and radio
The smartphone has the function of recording live radio broadcasts (however, as experts note, it will be available for a limited number of countries). Experts who tested the phone note that the quality of its radio signal reception is higher than that of many analogues.
Melodies can be played by the phone at high volume levels without loss of sound quality. The device has several software equalizers, which allows you to add various effects to the reproduced sound.
Internet
The smartphone has a good, according to experts, built-in browser. It is comfortable to browse websites on it. The browser has support for Flash technology (subject to installation of a separate plugin), which is necessary for correctly viewing a large number of web pages.
If the user wants to install another browser (for example, Google Chrome), then the comfort level of working with the Internet will not decrease. In addition, without any problems, bookmarks from a standard browser are imported into the installed one.
Working with Images
The built-in gallery in your smartphone allows you to display images not only from the storage devices built into the phone, but also from devices on the network. Viewing pictures, as experts note, is very comfortable. There are image editing functions.
GPS navigator
Like many other smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a built-in module for navigation using GPS technology. Experts note that the cards fit on the screen without any problems. The phone supports caching. This function allows popular map services (Google.Maps or Yandex) to save images in the device’s memory, so that they can then be used offline, if necessary.
The phone has excellent compatibility with popular navigation applications (such as Navigon or Sygic).
Text and SMS input
The smartphone has a function for entering text from a virtual keyboard, which supports a large number of languages. There is a convenient option in which words are entered by continuously pressing on the screen (on each letter sequentially).
Owners of smartphones of various brands, including Samsung, require drivers in order to update or. You can get them in various ways.
To be able to work with a smartphone using a PC, you need to install a special program. You can find it on the company’s official website or download it from third-party resources.
Method 1: Smart Switch
In this option, you need to contact the manufacturer and find a link to download the program on their resource. To do this you should:
Method 2: Kies
In the method described above, the official website uses the program for devices that have the latest system updates. However, it often happens that the user may not update the device for some reason, and the described program will not work. The reason for this is that it works with Android OS version 4.3 and higher. The base system on the Galaxy s3 device is version 4.0. It is in this case that you need to resort to another program - also available on the manufacturer’s website. To do this, do the following:
Method 3: Device firmware
If there is a need to flash the device's firmware, you should pay attention to specialized software. A detailed description of the procedure is given in a separate article:
Method 4: Third Party Programs
It is possible that problems arise with connecting the device to the PC. The reason for this is problems with the equipment. This situation can arise when connecting any device, not just a smartphone. In this regard, you need to install drivers on your computer.
To do this, you can use the program, the functionality of which includes the ability to check for problems with connecting third-party equipment, as well as search for missing software.
In addition to the above program, there are other software that are also quite convenient to use, so the user’s choice is not limited.
The world of Android is incredibly unusual, but no less complex and diverse. As we all know, many developers are working daily to release new firmware that is more efficient and more customizable. And it’s very difficult to navigate, because there are simple firmware that offer maximum battery life, and there are others that make it possible to customize Android as much as possible for your needs. It is precisely because of this that we decided to create this article in order to show you all the firmware that can be used daily and is of the greatest interest.
Each firmware presented here has been tested for one week to ensure reliable daily use.
Please note that if after flashing your smartphone constantly reboots or shows the initial logo image without subsequent loading, then this is not the worst thing and if you do the right things, this will not happen to you, or next time the firmware will be successful.
Attention: flashing a smartphone is a risky activity and therefore you are responsible for all your actions. If you end up with a “brick”, it means you did something wrong.
Once you have chosen the firmware version, you can begin to study the instructions, which are available below. But first of all, just in case, have stock firmware for your Galaxy S3 so that you can return to the default settings.
First, let's do a test in the quadrant:
And a short video presentation (you can watch the video after the video, since you are unlikely to understand anything by ear):
Now you can proceed directly to firmware and modifications.
ROM ICS 4.0.4
1.ParanoidAndroid
The image above shows a quick overview of the firmware contents. So, it is obvious that it runs on Android 4.0.4 and aims to combine the capabilities of the best tablets with the best smartphone in the world. In the end, it worked out quite successfully.
Indeed, the 4.8-inch screen of the Galaxy S3, in theory, allows you to experiment and use different menus. Even if at first glance they seem small. This firmware is suitable for those who prefer to work with pure Android without the TouchWiz shell. However, don't be surprised that all the new Samsung products (S Voice, etc.) are present here. And here is the result of the firmware test:
2. RGUI battery friendly
As you can guess from the name of the firmware, it is based on MIUI and is designed for maximum operating time. Even if you use the Galaxy S3 with maximum load, the battery life will still please you. We confirmed this in our tests.
This firmware provides greater configuration options. You can also apply different themes to the system. Icon design, modified themes, transition animations, customization of the notification panel - everything is here. As for the battery life, it really holds a charge for a long time. With normal use of the smartphone, it was able to last 1 day and 14 hours. With intensive use, the battery lasted for 23 hours. The only possible complaint about this firmware is that it looks too much like a jailbroken iPhone for our tastes. Here is the screenshot:
And this is what the main screen looks like. Don't be surprised if you can't find the application menu - it doesn't exist. Basically, everything is copied from the iPhone, when all the icons are collected on one screen.
We go to the settings menu and everything is as usual.
This is the notification menu. There is an advantage here over the previous firmware - we have maximum opportunity for settings as desired. In addition, you should remember that the MIUI firmware has a tool for applying various themes. There are countless themes available that will change your phone every detail in a split second. To complete the presentation of the firmware, let's look at the characteristics.
ROM Jelly Bean 4.1
1. ANDROID REVOLUTION HD 11.0.0
This is a new firmware that runs on the latest Android Jelly Bean. The good thing is that it is becoming more and more stable. We chose it because we need to take the Android 4.1 modification for comparison. And we were not disappointed in it, it is actually reliable.
We think that it is not worth posting screenshots of this firmware, because it completely repeats the design of the official firmware from Samsung. Everything is just as simple, fast and smooth in animation.
If you want to improve the performance of your Galaxy S3, then this firmware is suitable for you. You can download it from here.
2. SUPER NEXUS
The Samsung add-on has its own advantages, which sometimes turn out to be discredited. It's a personal matter to love or hate her.
Thus, this firmware offers a good alternative. Indeed, the new firmware will turn your Galaxy S3 into a real Galaxy Nexus. The OS interface is user-friendly, responds smoothly, and the animation effects are well done. If you want to discover a completely new interface, completely developed by Google, then you can use this mod.
Obviously, this is almost pure Android and therefore there are no applications and options that are in the official Samsung firmware (Pop-up Play, S Voice, etc.).
Here are her screenshots and video:
You can download this firmware from this link.
3.OMEGA V27
OMEGA firmware has been known for a very long time and it has managed to firmly establish itself in the world of developers. Why? Simply because these firmwares are stable and have a wide range of settings. Plus, it's easy to switch from one theme to another. They are based on the main Samsung firmware and therefore the overall appearance of your Galaxy S3 will not change completely.
This is what the Galaxy S3 interface will look like with this firmware:
The firmware is available for download.
Instructions
If you have already chosen the appropriate firmware for your requirements, great. Now we move on to the installation stage.
It's quite simple, but you must follow every step of the instructions unconditionally.
There are 2 options available to you:
1. If you have installed ClockWorkMod on your Galaxy S3.
Then installing the firmware is greatly simplified.
- 1). Download the archive.
- 2). Copy it to the root memory of your smartphone.
- 3). Then launch CWM by pressing three keys in the following order: UP + POWER + HOME.
- 4). Select Install ZIP from SD Card and select the firmware file.
- 5). Make a complete memory wipe: Wipe cache partition / wipe dalvik cache / factory reset.
- 6). Restart your smartphone.
If you did everything correctly, your smartphone should reboot in a few minutes. If this does not happen, then repeat the operation, starting from the second point.
When the phone boots up and starts functioning, you may need to install GAPPS. This is a set of Google applications (Play Store, Gmail, etc.). To install GAPPS, do the same until step 4 and select the GAPPS file.
That's it, Galaxy S3 can celebrate its new birthday.
2. If you haven't installed ClockWorkMod on your Galaxy S3 yet.
Install ClockWorkMod and go to option 1.
For many people, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is the most harmonious smartphone in the world. Even several years after its release, the S3 still pleases many Android fans.
Whether you're a longtime Galaxy S3 fan or just a newbie, we've put together a complete guide with a selection of tips, tricks, features and tweaks for the device to help you get the most out of it.
Contents of the article
Record and save music from FM radio
In our opinion, listening to the radio isn't as popular as it once was, given that you can access streaming music using Spoptify or Google Play Music (among many other services), but it's worth noting that the radio isn't too draining on your battery (provided it doesn't use your mobile data).
If you don't have a ton of songs saved on your microSD card or are wondering how to free up storage space, then radio is a great option. You can even record something from the FM radio and save it to your phone's internal memory.
Lock mode
There's nothing worse than notifications popping up on your phone in the middle of the night while you're trying to fall asleep. The Galaxy S3 has a lock mode - you can enable/disable it by going to the “About device” subsection.
By clicking on the “Block mode” icon, you can determine for yourself what you need to block: incoming calls, notifications, alarm clocks, LED indicators (permanently or for a short period of time). You should also make sure that you can make emergency calls at any time of the day (to do this, use the “Allowed contacts” section).
Face Unlock
Although this is not the most secure way to lock your phone, it is still quite interesting. In the “Settings” section, select the “Screen lock” subsection, then “Screen lock”. When you click on this icon, you will be asked to confirm the selected method of locking the display, after which you will see a list of ways to unlock the phone, as well as indications, which are one of the safest methods.
By following the steps above and holding your phone at eye level (so your face fits within the display rectangle), you can set your phone to recognize your face. However, the phone may fail if used by someone with a similar face to yours, so if you're worried about the contents of your S3, you should use another, more secure locking method.
Simple mode for home screen
If you purchased the Galaxy S3 for the first time and you are a novice user, then you should switch the phone's home screen UI to Simple mode. Thanks to it, you will get larger home screen icons, which will allow you to visually enlarge applications and other functions of your phone.
To switch to this mode, open the “Settings” tab, then go to the “About device” subsection, select “Home screen mode” and select the mode that suits you. After that, click on the “Add” icon. If you feel more comfortable over time, you can return to the previous interface by following the steps above.
Edit videos with Video Player
If you have recorded a video and want to trim it a little, you can do it directly in the video editor, without using a third-party application from the Google Play Store. While playing a video file, press the “Menu” button and select “Trim.” Later, you can choose which parts of the video to trim and which parts to leave.
Video overlay
On the Galaxy S3, multitasking can be done in different ways, such as using the Multi Window. Another way is to watch videos in Video Player in a small window at the top of the home screen, or surf the Internet, chat with friends, etc. To do this, find the video file you would like to watch, then select the icon in the lower right corner. This will launch the video file on your home screen, where you can also perform other tasks at the same time. When you click on a video, an “X” icon will appear and you can use it to close the video file.
Remotely wipe your phone using remote control
The Galaxy S3 may not be new, but it's still a desirable smartphone. If someone steals it, you can locate it and make sure no one can access your personal information: you have the ability to completely delete the data on your phone remotely. To do this (first of all), you must create a Samsung account and define a password - you can enter it on your phone when you start getting to know it for the first time.
If your phone is stolen or lost, go to Find My Phone, where you can locate your phone, lock it, activate its ringer, block future messages or calls, view call history, delete data from your phone, and unlock the display (the last option is very convenient if you suddenly forget the password to lock the display). You can also determine the current location of your lost device and track its movement within 15-minute intervals for 12 hours (though this service is paid).
Get a Samsung Muse device
Do you want to run or ride while listening to music, but don't want to take your smartphone with you? Instead of lugging around your Galaxy S3, get this cool little thing called Muse. Insert it into your phone and it does everything itself: using an additional application available on Google Play, you can transfer music to this device without using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Note that the Muse device is equipped with a built-in sensor, and all commands are executed with a light touch. Its long battery life and reasonable price make it a must-have accessory for your Galaxy S3.
LED indication control
With the Light Flow app, you can take advantage of the Galaxy S3's multi-color front LED indicator. By installing this application, you can assign a specific indicator color to certain types of notifications.
Want the light to turn blue when an email arrives on your phone? What about the color yellow when you receive a text message? It couldn't be easier! This is a really cool way to get noticeable notifications without relying on beeps or vibration.
Turn your phone into a gaming device
You can get many gaming emulators for any Android device, but one of the disadvantages of this is the lack of physical buttons. Sure, we like to play old console games when we feel like it, but we don't have the same flexibility when using a touchscreen as the control unit.
However, if you take a proprietary OTG USB cable, you can connect the controller unit to your device.
Automate your Galaxy S3
This process isn't unique to S3, but it's still quite useful. Using the Tasker application, you can set up automatic mode for all types of actions on your device.
You can enable some cool features in Tasker, such as changing data and connection settings based on time of day and application. If you want to turn off mobile data or Wi-Fi overnight, Tasker will do it automatically. Also, might you want to keep GPS turned off while you have the Google Maps app running? Tasker will do this too.
Treat yourself to a new case
Of course, something like a case won't do much to make your Galaxy S3 competitive with other devices these days, but it will give your phone a new look. With the new materials Motorola has used for its Moto X smartphone, it looks like wood could be a great option too.
To our delight, there are many sellers offering wood-textured cases, and the choice of such cases in a variety of colors is very large.
How to Increase the Battery Life of Your Galaxy S3
One of the best ways to give your Galaxy S3 more attention is to get the most out of its battery. There are many easy ways to customize this smartphone to increase its battery life. Some similar advice can be found on our website or on other websites.
Use the S Beam feature
S Beam is an unusual feature from Sansung for sending files between the company's phones that uses NFC and Wi-Fi simultaneously. Thanks to this, you can transfer large files without problems. Setting up this feature is also easy.
Safe mode on Galaxy S3
When your Android starts in Safe mode (similar to your Windows PC), it creates a safe space where third-party apps don't load. Here you can (among other things) remove apps that are causing problems on your smartphone.
Solving problems related to loss of Wi-Fi signal
Some users have reported that the Wi-Fi signal suddenly drops for no apparent reason. This problem is completely solvable - there are many tips on the Internet on how to improve the Wi-Fi signal on the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Did you know that you can add a news feed to the Galaxy S3 lock screen? This can be done very easily!
Clear system cache
Clearing the system cache can do a lot for your system's performance - making it run faster overall.
Did you know that such a menu even exists? This is a rather neatly hidden feature of your phone, and many phones have it, although it can be accessed in different ways. If you are interested in how you can access such a menu in the Galaxy S3, Google or Yandex will help you.
How to take a screenshot
In principle, you can take a screenshot on the Galaxy S3 using both hardware and software. We won’t talk about this for now - anyone can get acquainted with the necessary information on the Internet.
Factory reset on Galaxy S3
Performing a factory reset is one of the ways in which you can improve the overall system performance of your phone. Before proceeding with such an action, make sure that you do not forget to create a backup copy of all your data, files, photos, applications, etc. You can restore all this on your phone after performing the factory reset steps.
Monitor your mobile data traffic
Not everyone has unlimited internet packages. In reality, most cellular operators (for example, North America) no longer offer these types of Internet packages. One of the main worries that many people are familiar with is the worry about exceeding the limit of the Internet package, so as not to spend extra extra money later.
Luckily, you and others can take advantage of the Galaxy S3 and its ability to customize your internet package limit. If you go through the following scheme: “Settings” > “Data Usage” and check the “Set mobile data limit” box, then you will enable this setting. Having done this, you can adjust the warning level by moving the orange line, and also adjust the limit (which the device will not be able to exceed) by moving the red line. Later, you will have the opportunity to come back here and check how many bytes you have used and which applications have used this data. Very useful!
Don't lock your screen
Have you ever read an article or email on your device and suddenly the screen locks due to your inactivity? Galaxy S3 has another interesting feature called Smart Stay. This feature allows the phone to check whether you are looking at the display before it locks.
To enable this feature, go to Settings, then Display and check the box next to Smart Stay. You can also define a delay time before the screen lock turns on when there is no activity.
Use your voice
If you are a fan of the hands-free way to control your device, then it makes sense to use the S Voice function. This feature is quite handy in situations where you can't pay enough attention to your phone's display but want to issue a quick command.
S Voice can be activated with two presses of the Home button. If you ask “What should I say,” a list of commands supported by S Voice will appear on the display. Examples of some commands for this feature are checking the weather, typing text messages by voice, and turning music on or off. S Voice can also be invoked with the Wake command (meaning you don't have to double-press the Home button), although this method uses a significant amount of battery power.
Get access to daily news
If you're a news junkie, you might want to know the day's top stories before you even get out of bed. With Daily Briefing, your phone tells you about the day's top news headlines, the weather, and anything else that interests you. To do this, select Alarm Types and change it to Briefings.
Blocking your video
By now you probably already know that the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a Pop-Up Play feature that allows you to shrink a video window and drag it anywhere on the display.
But what you probably don't know is that the Galaxy S3 also has a video lock feature that will prevent you from closing a video file if you accidentally touch the display. To unlock the video, you need to press the “On” key.
Use your ears
If you've ever wished that the way you answered calls was a little easier, then you definitely need to check out Motion Control. Using this feature, you can answer calls by simply holding the phone to your head. You can also reject incoming calls by swiping your hand over the display.
Muting music using your palm
When you're listening to music, you can pause the song by covering your phone with your palm. This function can be turned on or off in the “Motions” subsection of the “Settings” section.
Control the camera with your voice
Taking a group photo is usually not very pleasant: the countdown timer always goes either very quickly or very slowly, and you miss the perfect moment of shooting. With the Galaxy S3, all you have to do is say the word “Snapshot” and your phone will take a photo. Of course, you won't look perfect, but it's still better than getting a fuzzy or dull photo.
Setting a custom vibration
Custom ringtones are needed when you want to know who exactly is calling. What about when you need silence? Luckily, the Galaxy S3 allows you to assign custom vibrations to different people, so you can easily know who's calling, even if the phone is on silent.
Screenshots
Many phones can take screenshots with ease, but the Galaxy S3 makes it easier than most. All you have to do is swipe your palm over the display.
Increase volume
If you're having trouble hearing someone on the phone, the Galaxy S3 can help. If your phone's volume is set to maximum, you can increase it further using the icon that appears on your screen next to the phone contact.
Call everyone you know
Double-tap the display next to the headphone jack to scroll through your contacts, email, or mail list. This method can be activated or disabled in the “Movements” section of the “Settings” section.
Setting the connection quality
This is one of the most interesting features on this phone: you can use it to adjust the call quality. This feature can test each of your ears using a set of tones and frequencies to see how you hear them. It then creates a custom EQ pattern for each of your ears, allowing you to hear calls as clearly as possible.
You can use this feature by going to Settings > Audio Call Equalizer Settings > Personal Equalizer.