WHILE we all know what cell-phones are, we don’t always know how to differentiate them from smartphones. Here’s how:

Smartphones have a mobile operating system; it’s like a small computer that can also place and receive calls. Though there’s no standard industry definition for a smartphone, the simplest way to tell it apart from a cell-phone is to determine whether or not the device has a mobile operating system.

A mobile operating system is much like what’s powering your personal computer (PC) at home or at work. In the mobile world, though, software go by different names. While cell-phones don’t have operating systems at all, smartphones can be powered by:
•    Windows Mobile
•    iPhone Operating System
•    Google’s Android
•    Symbian Operating System

The iPhone OS comes from other operating systems that are related to Unix. Palm’s WebOS and Google’s Android are built on top of Linux. Smartphones can typically view and sometimes edit documents (i.e. from Microsoft Office). Cell- phones cannot.

While many cell-phones now have full QWERTYkeyboards, this is a basic requirement for smartphones. The keyboard is much like your computer’s keyboard. On a mobile phone, it can come in the form of hardware (i.e., a physical but small keyboard) or software (i.e. tapping digital keys on a touch-screen such as with the iPhone 3G).

Cell-phones can typically send and receive text, picture and video messaging. Many cell-phones can email, too. Smartphones, though, typically go a step further by syncing with the email server of your personal or corporate provider.

IBM designed the first smartphone in 1992. It was called ‘Simon’. The smartphone was presented that year as a concept device in Las Vegas at the computer industry trade show known as COMDEX.

The first cell-phone, on the other hand, was demonstrated 19 years before the first smartphone. The Motorola handset was created in April, 1973.
One of the latest smartphones taking over the market is the Samsung Galaxy SIII
It has taken the world by storm, beating all other Android Smartphones; it’s one of the most rapidly selling phones right now. The Samsung Galaxy SIII promises to understand you, to share what’s in your heart, to keep track of loved ones, to see your best side, to share the warmth of future and to wait till you’re asleep. In short, it’s designed for humans beings!
SIII comes with a 4.8-inch HD screen, redefining phone visualization and touch screens. With its Super technology that enhances visual colours, making them appear brighter and more vivid, Galaxy SIII is available in two colours: Pebble blue and marble white, which are both attractive and give out a shine.
This Smartphone is more sleek and light, weighing just about 133g. There’s just one issue with the Galaxy SIII’s physical appeal: And that’s the plastic back. It gives the phone its light weight, but also makes the phone appear cheaper. Watch yuh back!
The Samsung Galaxy SIII comes with different internal storage options of 16GB to 64GB. Samsung doesn’t just stop there with its internal storage! The phone has its own microSD slot for consumers trying to achieve more internal storage! This gives consumers who love movies and songs the advantage of keeping their favourite media with them at all times. Evidently, the days of minimum storage is numbered with this smartphone.
SIII4 Quad processor, a 32nm chip with a clock speed of 1.4 GHz, makes it tremendously fast. The fast core-processor means that there are minimal chances of the phone getting stuck, or being victim to forced stopping. And neither will background applications and data cause problems in the phone’s performance.
Enough of the aesthetic appeal! Let’s talk about its other variables! The SIII is adorned with a 1.9 megapixel front camera and an 8megapixel rear camera along with LED flashlights
To make Samsung Galaxy more promising, Android’s 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has been used as the basic operating software. SIII and its new rival HTC One X are both using Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 as operating systems, but SIII is also utilizing TouchWiz user interface overlay; this gives users seven different home-screens and the freedom to personalize them with application shortcuts or widgets.
Samsung Galaxy comes with its inbuilt S-Voice, Samsung’s voice recognition system. This helps users unlock their Samsung Galaxy SIII, and do basic tasks such as sending text messages or setting reminders.
Galaxy SIII’s battery is quite remarkable as well; it lasts up to two days before needing charging, and also has the usual power saving mode installed in it.
Altogether, we can safely say that the Samsung SIII has surpassed its previous models, and promises users a lot. There are some drawbacks, of course, since the phone’s OS has all the problems that come with Android (third-party malware apps and Android spy software). Yet, the rapid performance and HD screen, increased battery power, performance and memory will make it a favourite among  media lovers, as well as for consumers looking for something new and technologically innovative and lasting. So, when are you getting your cellie? Ooops! I mean smartphone. Whatever you decide on, don’t overdo it!