With the Samsung Galaxy S4 unveiling over and done with, we thought we could say goodbye to all those unsubstantiated S4 rumors. Turns out, we were wrong.
Last month, leaked photos published on the Internet showcased a new smartphone feature dubbed the "Samsung Orb." This is reportedly very similar to Android's Photosphere feature, which enables users to take 360-degree panoramic photos. Sounds great, right?
Samsung never mentioned it at all for the Galaxy S4 at its event last week. Since Samsung didn't say it would be doubling back to incorporate Android's Photosphere, that's left some people wondering what to make of the Orb's conspicuous absence.
Apparently, Samsung is waiting until Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie arrives on the scene before deploying its Orb functionality. That's the latest rumor swirling around the online world, courtesy of Sammobile. Considering that Key Lime Pie isn't expected to be revealed until May's Google I/O conference, that would mean that new Galaxy S4 owners could go a month or more before getting the Orb feature. Key Lime Pie is expected to be revealed on between May 15-17, but who knows when the new OS will roll out to existing smartphones.
Samsung is hoping the Galaxy S4's new camera features will lure customers in and away from other competitors who are also touting their picture-taking capabilities. The Nokia Lumia 920 has the PureView lens, while the HTC One's ultrapixels are hoping to render the megapixel argument moot. As for what Samsung is offering, the Galaxy S4 will sport a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, while in the front users will find a 2-megapixel lens. Aside from numbers, the phone also features a Dual Camera mode that lets enables you to use both cameras at the same time, recording both your face and whatever's in front of you.
Samsung seems to be trying to move away from Google's Android OS as much as possible, so it's not too surprising to see it opt against using Photosphere. Either way, none of this information has been confirmed, so we'll let you know when we hear more.
