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Galaxy S3 Premium Suite Update Still MIA in U.S.

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In December, Samsung pushed out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update to owners of the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S3. Now, nearly three months later, the update’s Premium Suite of features has yet to make its way to owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 in the United States.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.2 Update Leaks.

All the way back on December 5th, Samsung started to push the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.1.2 update to owners of the international variant of the device, known as the GT-I9300. Many incremental updates to Android are smaller, addressing bug fixes and the like but Samsung made the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update something special.

U.S. Galaxy S3 owners are still waiting for Android 4.1.2.

U.S. Galaxy S3 owners are still waiting for Android 4.1.2.

With Android 4.1.2, Samsung brought a Premium Suite of software to the Galaxy S3 including the heralded Samsung Galaxy Note 2 feature, Multi-Window View, which allows Galaxy S3 owners to split the display into two halves running two separate applications.

That’s not all either. Here is a full list of the features that come with the Premium Suite update for the Galaxy S3:

  • Page Buddy – When a user plugs in headphones the Galaxy S III will bring up a page with the music player.
  • Contextual Menu – When looking at apps, sort by most frequently used apps.
  • Contextual Tag – Tag the weather, date and place a photo is taken right after snapping it.
  • Multi Window – Use two apps at once, just like on the Galaxy Note 2, to enjoy multiple apps at once.
  • Auto Share Shot Pairing with NFC – Quickly share photos with Auto Shot Share to other Galaxy S III and S-Beam devices.
  • Reader Mode – Control the text size of the web browser and tap on a page to share.
  • Facebook Lock Ticker – View a Facebook News Feed on the Galaxy S III lock screen.

Those features can be seen in the video below.

  • Paper Artist – Turn your photos into a pop-artist sketch.
  • Low Light Camera Shot – Take better photos in low light without the flash.
  • Best Face – Take multiple photos of a group and pick the best face for each person in the group. See how Best Face works.
  • Easy Mode – Sets five most often used widgets on the home screen to make using a smartphone simpler for new users.
  • Sound Balance – Adjust the sound between left or right in headphones.
  • Setup Wizard – View an accessibility menu after turning the phone on.
  • Easy Snap – The Galaxy S III tells you how many faces it finds in a photo.

These features are a part of the new “Easy Mode” for the Galaxy S3 which are in place to help beginners get a handle over their phone. They can be seen in the video below.

However, while owners of many Galaxy S3 variants around the world have been using the Premium Suite and its features for many weeks now, owners of the Galaxy S3 in the U.S. haven’t seen any sign of an impending release. In fact, a recent leak made things even more confusing than they already were.

Longer Wait Possible

Earlier this month, the Verizon Galaxy S3 Android 4.2 update leaked out for those brave enough to install it. That update includes many new features, some of which are the improvements of Android 4.2 including:

  • Improved Ripple effect on Lockscreen
  • Lockscreen Widgets
  • Daydream
  • New Additions in Notification Center
  • Improved Notifications
  • Voice Command

While this isn’t confirmation, it could be that Verizon, and perhaps the other carriers as well, are looking to update their devices straight to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean rather than updating them to Android 4.1.2 with the Premium Suite of features.

We saw Android 4.1.2 leak for the Verizon Galaxy S3 at the beginning of the month but that update did not have the Premium Suite on board. We also saw Sprint roll out Android 4.1.2 recently without the Premium Suite.

So it could be that the Premium Suite rolls out with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or perhaps, not at all. We can’t be sure right now. We have heard that Android 4.2 will be rolling out to the Galaxy S3 after the Galaxy S4 arrives and rumors suggest that the Galaxy S4 won’t touch down in the U.S. until May.

That means that Galaxy S3 owners in the U.S. could be in for a long wait.

Wait Continues

Whatever the case may be, U.S. Galaxy S3 owners who have been craving the Premium Suite since December want to see the update arrive sooner rather than later. And thus far, all five of the Galaxy S3’s major carriers have been mum on the topic. And Android 4.1.2 seemingly may not come with the Premium Suite of features.

As we’ve said before, we heard that January 25th was a key date in the update’s time line, and it’s possibly the date that Samsung delivered features to U.S. carriers.  If true, it would mean that they’ve been working on the update for a month or so.

Will the features roll out with Android 4.2 instead?

Will the features roll out with Android 4.2 instead? Doubt it.

This uncertainty is certainly frustrating to owners of the Galaxy S3 on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon and we’re hopeful that one, or all of them, makes a move soon.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. nik

    02/27/2013 at 5:05 pm

    i just got mine on Sprint not its 4.1.2 build JZ054K.L

    • Adam Mills

      02/27/2013 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks. Sprint’s Android 4.1.2 update did not come with Premium Suite but it has indeed rolled out. Fixed the title to reflect that.

      • metro galaxy s3 owner

        03/02/2013 at 6:13 am

        Metro pcs started rolling out the jellybean 4.1.2 on march 1st foe galaxy s3 owners. Check there facebook!!! We got it!!!!

      • Ryzrbld

        03/03/2013 at 8:32 pm

        Yea they left out some of the more important features, especially the Multi window option

  2. nik

    02/27/2013 at 5:06 pm

    i just got mine on Sprint now its 4.1.2 build JZ054K.L

  3. Sean

    02/27/2013 at 11:45 pm

    I have also got that. Thank you for informing us frnd.

  4. tony

    02/28/2013 at 2:29 am

    i got the 4.1.2 but no multi window or page buddy? is this everyone?

    • Dan

      03/02/2013 at 6:15 am

      My S3 updated to 4.1.2 just this morning, but no multi window option or anything else exciting.. is this a Sprint thing ? Or no one in US getting the added features?

      • Mr. Marsh

        03/02/2013 at 1:33 pm

        My wife got it a bit ago but I didn’t (SALTY!!) but no multi-window function!!! ?BASTARDS!!

  5. larry

    02/28/2013 at 6:52 am

    Just sprint lol

  6. Daniel black

    02/28/2013 at 3:27 pm

    Why can’t someone get someone to get someone to specify a date?

  7. roboli

    02/28/2013 at 7:14 pm

    I am a converted iPhone user and love the s3. But I tell you I am quite frustrated at the lengthy wait for this update. It almost makes me want to to go back to iPhone if these are the types of wait times we are to expect from samsung. I check daily for any sign of the update. Is there any viable reason why it is taking so long to get it in the US?

  8. Felisha aka Fefe (@AtomicAmaryllis)

    03/01/2013 at 7:41 am

    I believe that we are not going to get any of the features until March 14 when the new Galaxy S IV will be released to show the new features and 4 weeks mostly after when they will start pushing it out to us. The want people to get the phone for a reason. Who doesn’t want the update more than us.

  9. David

    03/01/2013 at 11:17 am

    If the US carriers would stop trying to push all of their worthless bloatware (nobody uses it) we could get the updates as they come out. It is dissapointing that the US is falling behind in technology. Most of the time these phones are ‘dumbed down’ (for lack of a better word) before they reach us anyway. Just my two cents.

  10. Anthony

    03/01/2013 at 3:26 pm

    Make me want to root and flash a rom sometime just to have the latest updates and not wait…

  11. metro galaxy s3 owner

    03/02/2013 at 6:10 am

    I have a metropcs galaxy s3… we have the jellybean 4.1.2!!! Came out 3/1.

    • Mr. Marsh

      03/02/2013 at 1:28 pm

      Hey my wife just got the jb 4.1.2 but no multi-window option! Did u guys get it @metropcs?

    • natural

      05/25/2013 at 8:41 pm

      But no multi windows or anythig

    • natural

      05/25/2013 at 8:43 pm

      No multi window or buddy share none of the options

  12. Frank Gregory II

    03/03/2013 at 10:15 am

    I too am disappointed that the premium suite was not included in mine. It sucks for this to have happened after such a long wait. I still love my s3 however and hope that a jelly bean up date comes for my Optimus G comes soon as well.

  13. Bryan

    03/05/2013 at 5:18 pm

    Just got JB update for US MetroPCS Galaxy S3. No Premium Suite.

  14. Mike

    03/26/2013 at 5:50 am

    Got update through metropcs earlier this month with some features. ..
    Fb lock ticker
    Auto shot pairing with nfc
    Low light camera shot
    Best face
    Easy mode

  15. JB

    05/17/2013 at 8:59 pm

    Still no updates! It’s all about money with these carriers! They won’t give S3 owners the update because they want to sell the devices with the new software first and lock you into a new contract. Greedy bastards!

  16. Galaxy

    05/20/2013 at 8:09 pm

    Sprint and T-Mobile got Premium suite

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