Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.2.2 update leaks

News Paul Briden 09:50, 21 May 2013

A leaked build of the Samsung Galaxy S3's Android 4.2.2 update shows off new features and Galaxy S4 interface

Samsung’s Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S3 has leaked showing new UI elements from the company’s TouchWiz overlay.

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The update introduces standard Android 4.2 capabilities including the expanded notifications and support for lockscreen widgets. On the TouchWiz side of things, Samsung is introducing the Galaxy S4’s new lock-screen interface, notifications menu and quick setting controls.

The drop-down notifications screen now features a tiled layout with many toggle controls for things like NFC, Smart Stay, S Beam and Wi-Fi while the interface for the Settings menu has been tweaked in-line with the Galaxy S4’s ‘paginated’ layout.

According to SamMobile, Samsung is still finalising the update and plans to push it to Galaxy S3s in June. Its seems likely the update will rollout around the same time Samsung launches several new Galaxy S4 models, including the Galaxy S4 Active, Galaxy S4 Mini and the rumoured Galaxy S4 Zoom.

It’s interesting that Samsung hasn’t included some of the Galaxy S4’s new functionality. For example, Air View, Air Gesture, Smart Scroll, Smart Pause and Smart Rotation are all missing from the quick shortcuts. All these are said to use the phone’s front camera, though admittedly the Galaxy S3 isn’t quite as fully stocked on other sensor types as the Galaxy S4.

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There is also the argument that Samsung needs to keep the Galaxy S4 distinctive, but the counter to this is that the company has retroactively updated older phones with new software features before, plus the Galaxy S4’s camera, processor and display all give it its own distinction without the software features.