Samsung announces Galaxy S IV: slimmer, 5-inch display, smart scroll

Updated 10:24 p.m. ET

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S IV smartphone on Thursday at an event in New York City.

This is the fourth update of the electronic giant's flagship smartphone.

Samsung's president and head of communications took to the stage to make the announcement, highlighting the top features of the device.

The Samsung Galaxy S IV features smart scroll and pause, a feature that detects motion to either scroll or pause. While it was rumored that the phone would detect eyeball movements, it seems more like an article scrolls because of the tilting motion. It does detect when a user's face while watching a video and pauses play when then a person looks away. The Galaxy S IV also features air view, which was described as a touchless interface.

The Galaxy S IV is super thin and light, with a 7.9-millimeter thick body and weighs 130 grams. The device's camera rear-facing camera is 13 megapixels, with the front-facing camera at 2 megapixels.A new feature utilizes a dual camera that can take a front- and rear-facing camera simultaneously.

Samsung also revealed features that creates work and personal profiles on the same device, utilizes cloud syncing and multi-language voice translator. A new S band and scale syncs with the Galaxy S IV for health tracking.

Samsung launched the original Galaxy S in March 2010. The smartphone is widely considered to be one of Apple iPhone's biggest competitors. The most recent iteration of the mobile phone, the Galaxy S III, was released in May 2012.

In January, Samsung reported that over 100 million Galaxy S smartphones have sold worldwide.

The Samsung Galaxy S IV will go on sale in April.

[AgeGarb]

Other than all the other software upgrades, i personally like the camera and 1080p upgrade. Now I can hook up GS4 to my HDTV and watch 1080p videos without limiting the resolution to 720p with GS3.

[MerrellOBrian64]

I love my S3 and won't be going to S4 until it's "Free". Nevertheless, I am totally happy with a free market and competition. Let those who prefer Apple run with it. I'm just damn glad I don't have to settle for HTC anymore. I HATED the Verizon HTC Incredible (POS) 2! What a piece of absolute garbage. Had two of them and both couldn't get GPS after a month.
Now, with the Samsung, does anyone have a recommendation for voice commands software? The Google Search Voice kinda sucks!

[AgeGarb]

GS4's S Voice Drive is getting good reviews so far... hopefully they will update that to GS3 for you :)

[dudley58]

doobiedotoo says: LMAO - the Apple phones suck. I have a Galaxy 3. The guy who works in the office next door has the latest Iphone. Have the time he can't get a signal while I always can. Also, he dropped the phone on the sidewalk and it shattered one month after he bought it. Cost him over $200 to get it repaired. I dropped my Galaxy 3 two weeks ago in almost the same spot 2 weeks ago (in front of our building,) and there wasn't a scratch - worked PERFECTLY afterwards. Apple is running scared......

Maybe the guy in the office next door should have invested in an otterbox. I am the biggest clutz ever and I have dropped my iPhone 5 several times (once on CONCRETE) without a bit of damage. Have you ever owned an iPhone? I have owned a galaxy - the Android OS is awkward compared to ios6. The Samsung is the poor man's iPhone wannabe.....

[dodgefan67]

LOL the poor mans iphone wannabe? you do realize the galaxy line costs just as much as the iphone right. besides the android OS is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than ios of any version. ios is so bland and your device looks like every other single iphone or ipod or ipad on the planet. the iphone is the dumb mans version of the galaxy.

[nic1234567-2009]

The Samsung Galaxy is not a poor man's iPhone wannabe. I switch from an iPhone to the Galaxy 3 last year and I really do love the GS3's in-hand feel, which is comfortable despite its larger size. As for the Android OS, there's nothing awkward about. The interface is extremely intrusive. Also Android allows you to employ widgets to take on the task of real-time updates. This allows for a fair amount of customization when it comes to getting your mail/weather/calendar updates from your home screen in a quick manner, I find it are quite useful.

[shonedrexler]

This Samsung lark makes me laugh. If these Galaxy phones get any bigger
you'll need a wheel barrrow to transport them. sort of takes away the
'mobile' part of it.
long live the Apple iPhone - now that IS a SMART phone!!! http://qr.net/earncashdaily

[dudley58]

SHONE - exactly right! The HUGE Samsung is just another throwaway Android device. I LOVE my iPhone 5, the smartest phone on the planet.

[AgeGarb]

Herp Derp...
Samsung didn't increase the size of the phone to make a larger display; they minimized the bezel. GS4 has the same dimensional sizes (also thinner) as GS3.

[shonedrexler]

This Samsung lark makes me laugh. If these Galaxy phones get any bigger
you'll need a wheel barrrow to transport them. sort of takes away the
'mobile' part of it.
long live the Apple iPhone - now that IS a SMART phone!!! http://qr.net/earncashdaily

[oldoc44]

Hey, this is great! A better and newer way to sext and BS all day!

[sawmillworker1963]

Apple days as # 1 are numbered. Already have a new desktop computer that can't be upgraded
And can't play DVDs unless you buy a attachment and the screen is glued to the frame.

[OneUpper]

Good riddance. Its about time a competitor (Samsung) stepped in and leveled the playing field. Nothing annoys me more than a company (Apple) creating products to purposefully limit the choices and support their consumers receive. Its a dirty business tactic and Samsung is doing what Apple never did; giving the consumer a product that is filled to the brim with features and more importantly full control.

[javajoe1313]

Are these new phones like the new cars that just look the same in shape and size like the preivous year model and the only difference is they look newer and shinier?

[you_MAY_be_right]

Definitely NOT.

The features on the S IV are really a step-up in technology.

Say bye-bye to the iPhone 5S.

[bobnjersey]

[The features on the S IV are really a step-up in technology.]
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oh yea ... you mean that 'scale' integration feature?


[It does detect when a user's face while watching a video and pauses play when then a person looks away.]
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who 'looks away' from their device for any reason at all? a more useful feature would be to detect the car that's about to run you down as you're crossing the street while glued to your 5 inch screen. hope they have a camera for that.

[hitechito12]

Ya this is true, There is a no dramatic change, but again, not trying to start like everyone else.

http://www.hitechito.com/technology/mobile-technologies/iphone-development/iphone-application-development.php

[walt9800]

" ... can take a front- and rear-facing camera simultaneously."

"A new S band and scale syncs with the Galaxy S IV for health tracking."

Is there an editor in the house?