Samsung smartphone users have reported their handsets have crashed, frozen or even developed battery problems after downloading the latest software update.

The 4.3.3 update was supposed to provide support for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, the HomeSync function, and various graphics, performance and multimedia improvements.

However, dozens of users said they had suffered a range of problems with their Galaxy S3.

According to posts on Samsung UK's Facebook page, the S3 is the model most affected, but there have been a handful of users who have also reported problems with the S4.

One of the users, James Coughlin, wrote on the page: "Ive always praised Samsung never had any huge issues until 3 days ago.

"My s3 battery is useless and the when you press the home button it takes up to 30 secs to wake the screen up.

"And as for my s4 it crashed just tryin to upload 4.3. Not impressed at all I might have second thoughts about getting the note3."

Mathew Yates wrote: "Have to say that your jellybean 4.3 update for the galaxy s3 has completely ruined my phone. Thanks alot samsung. Brilliant work!"

Some of the users report having problems making and receiving SMS text messages while others say the phone takes a long time to come out of sleep mode or has a shorter battery life.

Others said they have had to remove the battery multiple times before the phone works without any problems.

Wayne Jones said: "5+ battery pulls to get my s3 back working after this disastrous 4.3 update. How can a company the size of Samsung release an update like this?

"If I did this in my job , id get the sack. Oh and my battery goes down faster than my bank balance , which I thought was impossible. One unhappy Samsung customer."

Samsung replied to everyone who has complained on the Facebook page with the same message.

It wrote: "We appreciate your patience while we work on this. As soon as we have further information, we’ll update you through our social and service channels. Thank you for bearing with us."

A number of technology blogs reported that Samsung had suspended the rollout of the update and was investigating the problems.

A spokeswoman for Samsung said: "As we are currently investigating the reported issues with Galaxy S3 4.3 Jelly Bean update, the upgrading service has been temporarily suspended.

"We are committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience, and will ensure to resume the upgrading service at the earliest possibility."

Samsung's Galaxy Round was the first handset to feature a curved display


Samsung is reportedly building a mobile phone with a three-sided display that allows messages to be read at an angle.

The company, which launched the world's first curved phone screen, the Galaxy Round, last month, is said to be working on an upgrade to its Youm series of flexible OLED screens.

The handset could go on sale in the second half of next year, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Samsung showed off its flexible Youm displays at CES 2013 As well as displaying text and email messages, the phone's wraparound screen could potentially display share prices and notifications.

It is unclear whether the handset would form part of Samsung's popular S or Note series, or launch as a new line altogether, the report claimed.

The race to release innovative products first is fierce.

LG's G FLex is expected to launch in Europe early next year Just weeks after Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Round, LG's G Flex smartphone, which features a vertical curve in contrast to the Round's horizontal arc, went on sale in South Korea.

Neither device can be bent or folded, with manufacturers restricted by rigid components, such as the battery.

Apple, which last month unveiled a slimmed-down version version of its iPad tablet with a 9.7-inch Retina screen, is said to be working on a larger iPhone with a screen that curves down at its edges.

Download link for firmware: http://adf.ly/ZDuXV
Download link for Odin: http://adf.ly/ZDuco

Model: GT-I9300
Country: Ireland (works in most other countries)
Version: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Build date: 26 October
Product code: VDI
PDA: I9300XXUGMJ9
CSC: I9300VFGGMJ5
MODEM: I9300BUUGMJ3   

The Android 4.3 I9300XXUGMJ9 Jelly Bean is available as OTA update and also live on Samsung Kies server. Those Galaxy S3 users who are staying outside Ireland and failed to update their devices using either of the official methods for being region specific, may follow our step-by-step guide to install the same manually.

iTechKnow reminds its readers that it will not be held liable for any damage to the device. Users are also advised to verify their handsets meet following set of requirements.

Pre-requisites 1) Install USB Driver for Samsung Galaxy S3 to connect the Android device with computer.

2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Press Menu>> Settings>> Applications. From there navigate and click on Development option then check USB Debugging Mode.]  

3) As the tutorial is likely to wipe out all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device is having any custom recoveries such as CWM/TWRP installed then backup data using the recovery.

4) The Galaxy S3 should have battery charge above 80%.

5) The device should be factory unlocked and not locked to a particular carrier.

6) The phone will lose custom ROM with the installation of official firmware. Also, the custom recovery will be replaced by the stock recovery.

7) The device will no longer belong to a rooted version once official firmware is installed.

8) XXUGMJ9 Android 4.3 official firmware works only with Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300. As flashing this on any incorrect variant might brick the device, verify the model number of Galaxy S3 by navigating to Settings>> About device>> Model number. 

Steps to install XXUGMJ9 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on Samsung Galaxy S3 I9300   

Step-1: Download Android 4.3 official firmware for Galaxy S3 to computer
Download link can be found above

Step-2: Extract the downloaded firmware file to get a file I9300XXUGMJ9_I9300VFGGMJ5_I9300BUUGMJ3_HOME.tar.md5 file

Step-3:  Download Odin3 v3.09. Extract Odin zip to get Odin v3.09.exe in it
Download link can be found above

Step-4: Run Odin3 v3.09.exe on computer    

Step-5: Restart the Galaxy S3 in to Download Mode. To do so, first power off the phone and wait for five to six seconds after the display is off. Press and hold Volume Down, Power and Home buttons together until a warning screen appears. Then press the Volume Up button to continue to enter into Download Mode  

Step-6: Connect the phone to computer using USB cable while it is in Download Mode. The successful connection will be indicated by an Added message in Odin and also the one of the ID: COM box will turn blue with the COM port number.  

Note: If the Added message does not appear, try another ISB port located at the back side of the computer. If Odin still fails to recognise the phone then reinstall USB driver. 

Step-7: Click the AP button in Odin and select

I9300XXUGMJ9_I9300VFGGMJ5_I9300BUUGMJ3_HOME.tar.md5 file which was extracted earlier

Step-8:  Under Option section in Odin, verify Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected. Uncheck Re-Partition option  

Step-9: Click the Start button in Odin to begin the installation which will take a few minutes  

Step-10: A PASS message will appear when the flashing is completed and the phone will restart automatically. When the home screen appear, unplug the USB cable form the phone

The Android 4.3 I9300XXUGMJ9 Jelly Bean official firmware should now be installed and running on the Galaxy S3. Navigate to Settings>> About device to verify the new software version of the phone.  

How to fix bootloop issue

If the device encounter any issue such as FC or Bootlooop, with the firmware installation, then boot the phone in recovery mode. Press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together. In recovery mode, perform data wiping task by selecting Wipe data/factory reset. Then reboot the phone by selecting reboot system now. In recovery mode, use Volume keys to scroll between options and Power button to select any option. Performing wiping task will erase all data including internal SD card of the device.

More rumors are cropping up about the 64-bit Exynos processor that Samsung is expected to debut with the Galaxy S5. According to a new report by the Korean media, the 64-bit processor, the first of Samsung’s Exynos 6 series of chipsets, will be accompanied by 4GB of RAM, making use of one of the biggest advantages of 64-bit processing support.

Samsung has already beaten other manufacturers by being the first to use 3GB of RAM (on the Galaxy Note 3), and 4GB of RAM would be the next logical step. Personally, I hope that the Galaxy S5 does have 4GB of RAM, as 3GB of RAM hasn’t exactly provided the boost in multitasking I thought it would on the Note 3, all thanks to all the unnecessary stuff TouchWiz and Samsung’s add-on features keep running in the background, so another gig of RAM would go a long way towards actually showing some advantages of having more memory than normal.

Samsung Electronics, the world's best-selling smartphone maker, is planning to launch handsets with curved displays.

The new devices will have plastic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, the company said at a Galaxy Note 3 launch event in Seoul.

"We plan to introduce a smartphone with a curved display in South Korea in October," said DJ Lee, Samsung's head of strategic marketing for mobile.

But he revealed no further details.

Digital display technology is progressing towards curved, bendy and foldable screens.

In January, Samsung exhibited prototype products with bendy and extendable screens, but doubts remain as to how such technology can be mass-produced cheaply and reliably.

"A curved screen isn't going to radically change the user's experience of a smartphone, but it does help Samsung differentiate itself in a crowded market where most phones are homogenous, flat-screen rectangles," Ben Wood, analyst at research company CCS Insight, told the BBC.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Gear "smartwatch" and Galaxy Note 3 on 4 September "My understanding is that these new phones will form part of Samsung's Active range, so the curved screen is probably to do with making the phone more flexible and rugged," he added.

Curved displays already feature in large-screen TVs, such as those produced by Samsung and its Korean rival, LG Electronics.

On Wednesday, LG launched a 55in (140cm) curved OLED TV in the UK.

Samsung has also been moving into wearable technology, such as its Galaxy Gear wristwatch phone.

Smartphones are now the dominant type of phone, with CCS Insight expecting one billion to be sold in 2013 out of a total of 1.7 billion mobile phones.

Recently there have been many leaks for the very-much anticipated android 4.2.2 firmware for the Samsung Galaxy S3. A few of these have actually been genuine leaks of the testing firmware and are available to download and flash/install on your device.

The latest leaked XXUFME7 android 4.2.2 (with odin) can be downloaded at http://adf.ly/ROAZw.

If you wish to see how to flash this onto your device you can view the video below. This is actually quite simple to do. However, be sure to make a full backup before as this will wipe all of your apps and any data on your internal storage. Also make sure your phone is in download mode before starting to flash the firmware.