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Samsung will 'definitely' bring some Galaxy S4 features to Galaxy S III

Samsung will 'definitely' bring some Galaxy S4 features to Galaxy S III

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Samsung Galaxy S III white (STOCK)
Samsung Galaxy S III white (STOCK)

In addition to new hardware features — like a 5-inch, 1080p display — much of what separates the Galaxy S4 from its predecessor are software features. Naturally, owners of the Galaxy S III are wondering if they'll be able to get some of the features via a software update, and it sounds like Samsung is planning to do just that. In an interview with PC Mag, Samsung VP of Product Planning Nick DiCarlo said "anything that we can do that's not dependent on hardware like infrared, we'll definitely bring to all the flagship devices."

Other than that, there's a scant amount of information, but we can hazard a guess at which features will not make it to the Galaxy S III. "Air View," which senses when your finger is hovering above the screen, requires hardware that isn't built into the S III. The same goes for the smart TV remote app, which depends on a built-in IR blaster, and the S Health fitness tracker app, which uses a built-in pedometer. Camera features and the improved eye tracking functionality in the S4 are likely candidates to make it over to the Galaxy S III, however. Also, considering Dicarlo's use of the phrase "flagship devices," it's possible the Note II will also see a software update. We're following up with Samsung now to see if we can get any more details.