The Samsung Galaxy SIII release is just around the corner, and what better way to keep the hype going than take a look at some of the official accessories that will be available for this device. Samsung isn’t holding back when it comes to the extras.

We won’t go into too much detail about each accessory, instead we’ll take a look at photos and video presented by the fine folks at MobileFun. Accessories included in this article are the Galaxy S3 C-Pen, Flip Cover, Wi-Fi Display Hub, a few docks and stands, and a soft cover.

 Official Galaxy S3 C-Pen photo and video

Description from MobileFun

The C-Pen is a gorgeous and stunning stylus which not only helps to reduce the amount of fingerprints on the display of your S3, but also can improve your accuracy when typing messages and just using the handset in general.  The rounded end of the stylus makes it extremely easy to use and as it’s made from a soft material won’t damage the display of your S3 in any way.  It’s comfortable and looks just like a ballpoint pen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ruq-XCobiWQ

Galaxy S3 Holder/Charger desk stand photos and video

Description from MobileFun:

Doubling up as both a holder for the S3 and a battery charger, the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 Holder and Battery Charger works as a sleek desk stand that hides your battery away whilst it’s being charger.  It docks your S3 at the most convenient angle for typing, swiping and streaming media and even has an LED status indicator light so that you know when the battery is charged.  This is perfect for use at home or in the office.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Desktop Dock photos and video

Description from MobileFun:

The Desktop Dock simply docks and charges the Galaxy S3, holding it at the best angle for typing, swiping and streaming media.  It’s great for movies too and the volume controls are fully accessible too so you can change the volume whilst watching a movie simply and easily.

Official Galaxy S3 Slim Case photos

Description from MobileFun:

The two newest images to be added are for the Official Samsung Galaxy S3 Slim Case in White and the Official Samsung Galaxy S3 Slim Case in Blue.  The Slim cases offer extremely hard wearing protection without adding any bulk to the S3.  In fact they’re possibly the lightest cases around and offer the same protection as a hard case.  As you’d expect they have  the cut-outs to all the ports and features in order to keep the handset fully functioning at all times too.  They’re sleek, stylish and protective – win all round.

Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi Display Hub photos and video demo

Description from MobileFun:

If HDMI and Wi-Fi displays are you thing then the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi Display Hub is right up your street.  This clever device plugs directly into the HDMI port of your TV and allows you to stream your favourite movies, games and music through your TV.  It’s also great for showing off holiday snaps and videos to your family and friends.

Official Galaxy S3 Flip Cover photos and video

Description from MobileFun:

Like the Chrome Blue Flip Cover, the Ceramic White one replaces the back cover of the S3 in order to provide full screen protection without adding any additional bulk to the handset.  The case offers hard wearing and durable protection, whilst allowing access to all the ports and features of the S3 so that it remains fully functioning when in the case.

Purchase and find more details about these accessories at the MobileFun Blog.

Photos and Video: Official accessories for Samsung Galaxy SIII is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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Quotes from Chris Weber at CTIA last week were published at PCMag.com. According to the article…

“In the meantime, U.S. phone buffs will soon be able to get hold of the PureView 808, Nokia’s 41-megapixel camera phone. While the phone won’t be picked up by a U.S. carrier, it’ll be AT&T-compatible and sold unlocked here, according to Weber.

“We’ll figure out a way to make that available in the U.S. in the next couple of months,” he said.”

We also have quotes from Izzi at Nokia Innovation stating:

Now the Good News, Chris Weber (Nokia US president) wants to make an exception. He was speaking at the ongoing CTIA and he mentioned that the Nokia 808 will be officially available as an unlocked phone (no carrier subsidy) through e-retailers, most likely Amazon.com, Nokia has a partnership with them here to sell their unlocked & unwanted Symbian phones.

Normally, when Nokia officially makes a device available in a country, a 1-year warranty is attached to that. This should leave N8 fanatics in the US pleased as I’m sure they’d like to get their hands on the last Symbian phone. The camera on this puppy is stunning and is a worthy upgrade to the Nokia N8.

Be sure to see photo samples from the Nokia 808 that we posted last month.

Source: PCMag, Via: Nokia Innovation

Nokia 808 PureView coming to US retailers unlocked, most likely with a warranty is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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The Nokia Lumia 900 and the Galaxy Nexus for Verizon. These are two top phones on the largest carriers in the US. Both feature 4G LTE data speeds and both have the latest versions of their operating systems. I have both in my possession right now; and while the Lumia 900 feels better in-hand, the Galaxy Nexus is thinner and lighter.

Price not a factor…

In terms of price, there is no difference. Amazon, which has the lowest prices you’ll find in the US, has deals on the Nokia Lumia 900 (here) and the Galaxy Nexus (here) for $49 with a 2-year contract.

Let’s take a look at the full gallery of photos. Let me know in the comments at the end of the article if you have any questions about either device.

Gallery: Galaxy Nexus vs. Nokia Lumia 900 in photos

As you can see in the photo above, the Galaxy Nexus is only slightly thinner.

Below you can see the back of both phones and there camera areas. Notice the Lumia 900 looks very discrete, with almost nothing on the back (ignore the Nicki Minaj signature). The Galaxy Nexus has a pattern and texture on the back that make it easy to grip, but takes away from the otherwise sleek design. Since the matte finish on the Lumia 900 is easy to grip as well, I prefer it over the Samsung design.

And below we have the displays of both devices. The Galaxy Nexus checks in at 4.65-inch while the Lumia 900 has a 4.3-inch screen.

That image is not a great comparison of the screens. In another article I’ll give you better photos with both phones showing the same image.

See our entire gallery…

Do you have either of these top phones? What are your thoughts and how satisfied are you?

Photos: Nokia Lumia 900 vs. Galaxy Nexus is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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Just got the notification that ICS foe the Galaxy Note is here! twitter.com/blue13x/status…

— Devin Balentina (@blue13x) May 10, 2012

Devin is currently located in the Netherlands. No word on it ICS hitting the AT&T Galaxy Note just yet.

As you can see the update size is 318 megabytes, so you’d be smart to update over WiFi.

What’s new for Ice Cream Sandwich?

Well there’s a whole lot to talk about. Google says,

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is the latest version of the Android platform for phones, tablets, and more. It builds on the things people love most about Android — easy multitasking, rich notifications, customizable home screens, resizable widgets, and deep interactivity — and adds powerful new ways of communicating and sharing.

Learn more about ICS at Android.com.

My Android tablet was recently updated to ICS, and wow what a difference it makes. Be sure to update your Galaxy Note as soon as you get the notification!

Shop: The Galaxy Note is on sale now at Amazon.com.

Galaxy Note owners beginning to receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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It wasn’t such a smooth update for Acer. It took awhile for ICS to hit once they announced it would be available. Users have been reporting it available for a few weeks, while others are just getting it today. Either way, it’s good to see the latest version of Android arrive on this tablet.

I must admit… Android 4.0 has done wonders for my Acer Iconia A500. I was ready to give it up and sell it, but now I’m using it more than ever and extremely impressed by the stability and speed. I got this thing on black friday last year for $200 so it was quite the bargain, especially with its current performance.

Let us know if you still have issues getting ICS on your Acer Iconia A100 or A500.

Shop: The Acer Iconia A100 is under $300 at Amazon.com. It’s one of the best deals you can get on an Ice Cream Sandwich compatible tablet.

Source: Android Central

Acer Iconia A100 owners reporting Ice Cream Sandwich now available is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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At all the recent consumer shows in the US it seems Nokia is trying to make a splash, and this week is no different. Today at CTIA Wireless in New Orleans, Nokia announced a handful of apps for Windows Phone that will initially be exclusive to the Lumia series lineup. This will surely anger Windows Phone users who don’t have a Lumia 900 or 710, and maybe convince them that Nokia is the company to buy from if you like the Windows Phone operating system. Samsung, LG, and HTC are focusing most of their dollars and attention to Android, so you can’t expect the same type of exclusivity from them. Also announced were some updates and new apps that will be available to all Windows Phone users.

According to Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer:

With Nokia Lumia smartphones now available in 48 markets, developers are rapidly recognizing the business opportunities and creating their best work for our consumers.

Windows Phone apps exclusive to Nokia

Let’s take a look at the exclusive titles coming to Nokia Lumia 900, 800, and 710. Keep in mind, eventually these apps will be available for all Windows Phone devices…

(Descriptions below are taken from the press announcement found at the bottom of this article)

PGA TOUR – The PGA TOUR app will be available exclusively to Nokia Lumia owners from June 2012. Developed in partnership with Nokia, the app provides scores and player information and also interactive, augmented coverage of the action from the events on a hole-by-hole basis.

ESPN – The exclusive ESPN Sports Hub will receive a number of updates over current months, bringing greater personalisation options, such as panoramas dedicated to your favourite teams. A Windows Phone version of the ESPN Fantasy Football app will launch exclusively on Lumia this autumn.

PayPal – Nokia and PayPal are working together to create a Windows Phone app to allow secure, fast and easy payments through PayPal wherever you may be.

AOL Entertainment Hub – Exclusive to Nokia Lumia owners for six months from launch, this AOL app brings the cream of AOL’s content to Nokia Lumia owners. That includes the ability to play any of its 55,000 SHOUTcast radio stations, streaming albums with Listening Party. movie trailers and more.

Apps coming to Windows Phone ecosystem

These are apps coming to all Windows Phone users…

Electronic Arts (EA) – EA’s family of games on Windows Phone is to be increased with a bevy of new titles including FIFA, Madden, NBA Jam, Tiger Woods, Mirror’s Edge and Yahtzee.

Rovio – The company is building a dedicated development team to create titles for Nokia Lumia and the wider Windows Phone ecosystem, with the goal of publishing all future Rovio titles – including Angry Birds Space – on the platform as quickly as possible.

Groupon – Groupon is working on an extensive upgrade of its Windows Phone app, bringing a new augmented reality deal-finder function. It will be exclusive to Lumia owners for six months following its launch in Summer 2012.

TripDots – This is a an app that helps motorists optimise their fuel efficiency, awarding achievements as well as cost-savings in a wider social game while maintaining people’s privacy.

TIME – the world’s largest weekly circulation magazine comes to Windows Phone. The app will deliver content from Time.com to mobile making full use of the UI’s possibilities, such as alerts for breaking news, the ability to share news items with your contacts in the People Hub and Live Tiles.

NewsWeek – NewsWeek is creating a Windows Phone version of The Daily Beast, its digital content partner. Designed for consuming the latest news while you’re on the move, the app allows you to access the latest stories in seconds. It also includes access to The Cheat Sheet – a one-stop shop for leading stories across the globe.

TIME – the world’s largest weekly circulation magazine comes to Windows Phone. The app will deliver content from Time.com to mobile making full use of the UI’s possibilities, such as alerts for breaking news, the ability to share news items with your contacts in the People Hub and Live Tiles.

NewsWeek – NewsWeek is creating a Windows Phone version of The Daily Beast, its digital content partner. Designed for consuming the latest news while you’re on the move, the app allows you to access the latest stories in seconds. It also includes access to The Cheat Sheet – a one-stop shop for leading stories across the globe.

That is quite an extensive list. Personally I’m looking forward to trying the PayPal app for Windows Phone and also the updates coming to ESPN. Keep checking back at this site for more details about app availability.

Source: Nokia Conversations

Nokia Lumia exclusive apps, major titles for Windows Phone, Angry Birds Space announced is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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Until now, I haven’t seen many issues of poor quality issues on the Lumia 800 or 900, nor the N9. But here we have a Nokia N9, the first Nokia phone released with the new poly-carbonate material and uni-body design, suffering from a shattered screen with cracks all over it.

This phone belongs to my friend and avid photographer Ms. Jen, who loves to show off her cameraphone photos on Twitter and Flickr. The Nokia N9 is her main device of choice right now, and I was curious to find out how this happened. Turns out it had a short fall (she isn’t very tall) from her hand to the concrete.

@mikemacias I was walking my plate to the trash at my BBQ on Friday & the N9 leaped out of my hand & fell to the concrete. I am not tall.

— Jenifer Hanen (@msjen) May 8, 2012

 

In this case, I attribute the curved glass screen to the damage. Unlike the Lumia 900, the 800 and N9 both have a curved glass screen. It looks beautiful and feels great to touch, but it’s more prone to cracking and shattering. Then again, the iPhone has a flat screen, so who knows. People say that Gorilla Glass is supposed to be the toughest stuff around, but sometimes it just doesn’t matter. The phone probably just landed at the perfect angle to make this happen. I’ve had many Nokia phones over the years that I’ve dropped from much higher and have never seen this kind of damage. And I don’t use any sort of protection either.

In case you haven’t seen it — Nokia ran over their C7 Astound with a 4-tonne van. Have a look…

I’m curious to see if there are other N9 or Lumia 800 owners out there who’ve had this happen to them.

A Nokia N9 and its shattered screen is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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I’ve been using this phone for about a month now and I’m mostly impressed with the large 4.3-inch ClearBlack display, good battery life, and fast Windows Phone operating system. My phone is the black color is beautiful and gets plenty of attention, but you should expect the white version to turn some heads.

Shop: Nokia Lumia 900 white at Amazon.com

Nokia Lumia 900 quick specs

• 4G LTE (limited service areas) or HSPA+ connectivity
• Windows Phone 7.5 OS
• 1.4 GHz Qualcomm single-core processor
• 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display
• 16 GB internal memory
• 8-MP camera + HD 720p video
• GPS navigation
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Personal/corporate e-mail

Source: @AmazonWireless

Best Price: White Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T hits Amazon for $49 is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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I’ll start off my review of the Case-Mate Barely There case for the iPhone 4 and 4S by disclosing that I typically stay away from covering up my phone with any type of case, cover, or protection. I’m one of those weird purists who enjoy using the phone and feeling it as it was originally intended — without added size, weight, and texture.

But this is where this very thin iPhone case succeeds. Just like it’s name, it seems to be barely there.

And we all know the build quality issues that plague the iPhone. A short drop to the floor potentially cracks the phone on the front and/or back. And once that happens your phone looks terrible. If it’s a Nokia or Samsung phone you’ll probably just get away with a small dent or mark. So for iPhone users it is necessary to protect your phone. But let’s try to do it without taking away too much from the original design.

Keep reading to see my thoughts and some photos of the Barely There iPhone case by Case-Mate.

Shop: Case-Mate Barely There Case for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S for $13 at Amazon.com.

Let’s kick things off by talking about the material. This iPhone 4S hard case (also fits the iPhone 4) is made of plastic that only bends slightly if you really try. It’s smooth and the white case matches the white iPhone. So the look and feel of it closely resembles the iPhone in many aspects.

Below you’ll notice the detail put into the shape and fit. This case fits snugly around the iPhone and is cut perfectly to allow access to buttons and ports all around the phone.

As you can see above, the bottom is open to allow the sound from the speakers to flow out cleanly. You also don’t have to worry about working around the case to plug in the charger. This no-hassle design on the bottom of the the case just further justifies the “barely there” name of the product.

The top is also free and clear to insert your headphones or lock the phone without any issues. And of course the back of it has an opening for the camera and LED light. Again, the back is very plain and smooth, just like the iPhone.

Real-world use and durability

For being so thing and made of plastic I’m surprised at how durable the Case-Mate products are. My wife has dropped her iPhone multiple times and the case hasn’t even popped off. It has a few visible scratches when you look at it from certain angles, but nothing that the eye can see with a quick glance. After a hard fall I’ve removed the case to see if the iPhone was damaged underneath and so far there are no injuries to report. She’s had this case on her phone for just about a year now so we’ve had plenty of time to test it out.

At the link below, you can grab this iPhone case for around $13 bucks in a variety of colors.

Shop: You can get the Barely There iPhone Case at Amazon.com in the US or MobileFun in the UK.

Accessory Review: Barely There iPhone Case by Case-Mate is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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It’s not often that we talk about digital cameras here at The Mobile Fanatics, but we know a deal when we see one, and it would be a tragedy if we didn’t share the news with our readers.

Today’s Deal of the Day at Bestbuy.com is the Nikon CoolPix S6200 digital camera for $129.99. The regular price on this is $229 so you’re saving $100 (43%).

Nikon Coolpix S6200 Blue 160-Megapixel Digital Camera – Blue

Nikon 6200 Specificiations

Specs from Bestbuy.com:

• 16.0-megapixel 1/2.3″ CCD image sensor
  Captures high-resolution images up to 4624 x 3464 pixels.
• 10x optical/4x digital zoom
  Through a Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens for precise zooming and accuracy.
• 2.7″ color TFT-LCD monitor
  With 2300K pixels and a wide viewing angle for simple use and a clear display. The 5-level brightness adjustment allows for easy viewing even in bright light.
• HD movie mode
  Allows you to capture video clips in high-definition (720p) with optical zoom and stereo sound. HDMI output for viewing videos on an HDTV.
• Optical image stabilization
  Reduces image blur caused by camera shake and vibration.
• Face detection technology
  Along with smile mode, isolates subjects in-frame and optimizes conditions to take the best pictures of friends and family.
• Scene modes
  Portrait, pet portrait, landscape, sports, night portrait, party/indoor, beach, snow, sunset, dusk/dawn, night landscape, close-up, food, museum, fireworks show, black and white copy, backlight, panorama and scene auto selector.
• Burst mode
  Continuous shooting in full resolution up to 6 shots at approximately 1.2 frames per second.
• White balance modes
  Include auto, preset manual, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent, cloudy and flash for achieving natural tones under different lighting conditions.
• Built-in auto flash
  With red-eye reduction for natural-looking eyes in portraits. Also features fill flash, off and slow sync modes.
• 9-point autofocus
  Also features face priority, center and manual touch (up to 99 focus points).
• Direct printing
  With any PictBridge-enabled printer, so you can connect the camera to a compatible printer and print photos without using a PC. High-speed USB interface for connecting to your computer.
• Memory card slot
  Supports SDXC from 2GB to 64GB, including UHS-I.

Miss this deal? Click here to see the Deal of the Day from Best Buy.

Drop us a tip if you see any great deals to share!

Deal: Nikon CoolPix S6200 16-megapixel digital camera $129 — today only is a post from: The Mobile Fanatics

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