I am guessing that rooting has to be done with every new Android OS flavor?
Is there a must-have accessory or case to go the S3? Once OB comes out with a Defender version, I would seriously plan on getting one as many times as I drop phones.
To be honest, you don't really need to root your device, sometimes this "bloatware" people complain about isn't really all that bad, most people on this site and forums are Power Users, they love to dabble in the modded world of Android, I must say I am one of them, I'm rooted and ROMed, and most of these ROMs have all forms of "bloatware" removed, but I still find myself going to the Play Store and downloading some of those apps. I recommend just trying the plain Android experience and once you're fully submerged with it then maybe thinking about the rooting option.
I have no idea if they are going to make a case for the S3, I assume they will, and if they do, definitely look out for the Ballistic brand case. I have one for my S2 Epic 4G Touch and I love it, the extra padding on the corners add grip support, which I find very helpful for this larger than average phones. Also look into spare batteries, the battery life of Samsung phones is getting better and better, but it's nice to know if you're going to be away from home for an extended duration that you don't have to worry about carrying a charger with you.
Does the App marketplace screen apps to ensure that they don't harm the S3?
It's actually very rare that apps sneak into the market place that can cause harm to a phone. There are some apps that do annoying things such as push an advertisement into your notification bar, but you can easily just uninstall the app and it goes away. One app I recommend wholeheartedly is
Lookout Security & Antivirus, by Lookout Mobile Security. This app scans all apps you install and will tell you if safe or not. It is free, but there is also a subscription service within it that adds some features like "SafeBrowsing" like a PC's anti-virus that scans sites you travel to, to warn of any sites that could be seen as malicious. It also allows you to track your device if lost or stolen.
Lookout also makes handy apps such as "Ad Network Detector" (Helpful if you can't find which app is push ads to your notification bar), or worst case scenario apps such as "Plan B."
Are these Outlook mail apps free or paid? I may have received un-intentional misinformation or completely misunderstood but the AT&T reps that I have talked to mentioned that the functionality is already present on the S3.
I believe it's on all Android devices, but it could just be Samsung devices. When you get your device, open Settings, go to Accounts and sync, and press "Add Account," when you do this, there should be 3 options. Add Corporate, Add Email, and Add Gmail. If you press "Add Corporate" it allows you to add your Exchange account to your device, although I apologize if these are not the same, I don't have either outlook or exchange.
Of course if you need to find an app for it you can pull one from the Play Store. You'll usually be able to find both Free and Paid apps for almost anything, but Paid apps can sometimes be better and more feature filled. I recommend seeing if a paid app has a less feature filled free version and trying it out, if you like it then maybe investing in the paid version would be a good idea. but be sure to try multiple free versions before deciding which one, if any, that you want to invest in.
I admit that I don't have a lot of tech knowledge and experience much less any true understanding of the Android environment but, with the XDP "borrowing" of the S-Voice, I am starting to question my decision to transition to an Android device. If companies can take parts or all of the Samsung Nature UXI software with no consequences, then how secure are our personal devices? What other than hardware makes these devices different from the competition? How does one maker protect its brand? Modifying the OS is one thing in open software environment is one thing but taking the IP of Samsung and putting it on other Android devices should be grounds for XDP being sued by Samsung. Maybe I am too much of a newb, but is open software an open license to steal intellectual property? It seems if there are a lot of gray areas in the Android world. I come from a world in which there is gray but there is also black and white or right and wrong. It may occur in other OS environments where features are added or created versus competition and could be considered a gray area or borderline plagiarism. No wonder phone brands have to release so many model every year just to keep up. Apple only make one model every year. RIM releases one version of a model like the Bold with possibly different form factors and GSM/non-GSM a year.
It seems that this would be wrongful to Samsung, but it really isn't. Samsung is an Android modder or hacker's best friend. Their devices are the easiest to system and app files from so that custom ROMs and apps can be made from. If Samsung truly didn't want stuff like "S-Voice" or "Pop-up Play" to be moved around and changed a little, they could lock down their devices like HTC and Motorola. Not to mention "S-Voice," although an IP to Samsung, isn't really an original idea of Samsung, it's just a readily available technology that Samsung has integrated into their device with added features to fully navigate your device.
The beauty of Android is that at the deepest core, all devices are the same in the software aspect. The base is Android, and the differentiating factor is the manufacturer's UX (UI, UX, Same difference.), what each manufacturer puts forth in the phone to make it say "Hey I'm a ______ (Htc, Sony, Samsung, LG, Moto, etc.) device is the UX. It's because all these devices are Android based that makes it so that if someone loves the device they own, but wish they could an app feature 'exclusive' to another brand of device, can simply search for an app that works just like it, without them having to give up their beloved device (and a few hundred dollars).
Your personal device is as secure as you let it be, you can lock it, put app protectors and locks on it. You can get things that monitor what other apps do to your device. But ultimately it's you that secures your phone and data. It's easy to just say "ooo, I want this app," and download it without even reading what it can access, but there is a reason you have to hit "Accept & Download," you need to read those permissions an app is given, you need to read reviews to see if other people experience problems with the app, and you need to understand what a permission means an app can do. It seems like this is really just a bunch of stuff that eats away your time, but if you like (love in my, and many other cases) your device, protect it, take the extra five seconds to read why an app needs to know your location, or needs network location. I promise you it is worth it.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram