OtterBox Defender Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 in Black

In a head-to-head competition to find the best, we're starting a new feature on the Pure Mobile blog. In our accessories battles, we'll be pitting two similar accessories against one another and crowing a victor. This time, it's Samsung accessories in the ring, and two heavyweight Galaxy S3 carrying cases will be slugging it out

Both of our challengers this week are designed to be heavy-duty, ultra durable and protective Galaxy S3 phone cases. Built to take a fair amount of abuse, only one will emerge victorious. Let's get started!

Up first is  a contender that hardly needs an introduction – the OtterBox Defender Case for Galaxy S3. But will it defend its title? Well, things are looking good, as this multilayered, well-engineered accessory is certainly a heavy-hitter.

OtterBox Defender Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 in Black

WIth three protective layers, including high-impact polycarbonate and durable, shock-resisting silicone, as well as a screen protector, the Defender will keep your phone safe from bumps, shocks, drops, dust and scratches. But it's unlikely you'll ever drop it anyhow, since it comes with a convenient holster to keep it in place.

That's a lot of protection in an all-around solid carrying case, so it's no surprise the Defender is one of the leading accessories of its kind for the Galaxy S3. And it's going to be a hard one to beat.

Now onto the challenger, the PureGear Dualtek Case for Galaxy S3. Like the OtterBox Defender, the Dualtek is designed to withstand rough abuse, witha  durable, layered construction that combines strength, toughness and flex.

PureGear Dualtek Extreme Shock Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 in Black

Its 3M E.A.R. Corner Impact Protection controls shock by isolating vibrations, and its screen shield will keep your display safe from dings and scratches. This Galaxy S3 case is also quite slim and sleek, less bulky than the Defender, and provides superior grip that's comfortable in hand.

So who won?

As much as we like to root for the underdog, we'd have to give the champion's title to OtterBox in this case. Sometimes, the leader's just the leader for a reason, and though PureGear's Dulatek case provides a really great level of protection, the ultra-tough and durable thing is just OtterBox's forté. Well done, Defender case, well done!

If you're a true girly girl, or a boy who just happens to love pink, you've probably found that the mostly black and silver world of high-tech gadgets and accessories isn't exactly dominated by your favorite color.

But  if you know where to find them, you can still live la vie en rose with a ton cool accessories for your laptop, tablet and smartphone that would make Barbie – and Ken – proud. Here, we've rounded up our top picks for accessories in fuschia, cotton candy, and every shade of pink in between.

OtterBox Defender Case for iPad 2/3 in Pink and Grey

Don't let the sweet pink accents fool you, OtterBox's Defender Case for iPad 2 and iPad 3 is tough as nails. No, not manicure nails, the other kind.

iSkin Vibes Case for BlackBerry Curve 9360 in Hot Pink

Turn your BlackBerry into a hot pink berry with this flashy iSkin Vibes case for Curve 9360. With its high-gloss pink finish, smartphone protection never looked so good.

iSkin Vibes Case for Samsung Galaxy S III in Pink

How about putting a nice pink flush on your Samsung Galaxy S III? iSkin's Vibes Case is just the thing – easy to put on and take off again, but totally protective, it's simply sweet.

iSkin Solo Case for iPhone 5 in Pink

Oh my god, sparkles! We could go on about the virtues of iSkin's Solo iPhone 5 case, its slim design, its extra grip, the moulded ring around the camera for glare prevention. But we probably had you at glitter.

Sony Smart Watch Band in Pink

Smart Watches are already pretty cool as far as mobile accessories go, but as fashion accessories, they're way cooler when they come in fun colors, like this Pink Sony Smart Watch Strap.

Moshi iGlaze Case for iPhone 5 in Pink

With a beautiful slim design in a powder-pink finish, Moshi's hardshell iGlaze Case for iPhone 5 is both sleek with sweet, for minimalists with a rosy outlook.

iLuv Sweet Cotton Headphones in Pink

The name says it all with iLuv's Sweet Cotton Headphones. They're a fun, feminine and lightweight way to listen to your favorite music on any device. And even the cord is pink!

Toffee Pink Leather Sleeve For MacBook Air

A laptop case to rival your favorite handbag for quality and style, Toffee's Pink Leather Sleeve for MacBook Air is made from high-end pebble grain leather and is perfectly padded for the right protection. Quite simply, it's gorgeous.

XMI X-Mini II Capsule Speaker in Pink

XMI's X-Mini II Capsule Speaker is known as "the world's smallest boom-box" for a reason. It's small enough to toss in your bag but loud enough to bust out for impromptu dance parties. It's adorable in pink but every once in a while, you should use it to blast a couple black metal tracks, if only to mess with people.

No, you don't have to feel bad about having just bought a new case for your Samsung Galaxy S III. In fact, go ahead and get all the accessories you want, because your trusty old S III should be around for some time yet.

Despite what the rumor mill would have you believe, the unveiling of the Galaxy S IV is not imminent. A couple of days ago, we reported that Samsung had released a teaser video, telling us to "get ready" because "the world awaits [...] something new" January 8 to 11, 2013.

Those are of course the dates for the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a huge annual event for the consumer electronics industry, where, in the past, big players in mobile have unveiled new devices and accessories.

Needless to say, Samsung's promise of new and exciting developments started a whole whack load of speculation as to whether or not we might see the smartphone maker unveil a successor to the Galaxy S III – the Galaxy S IV.

Aside from the fact that the teaser video cited the dates of a major event where smartphone makers, including Samsung, have traditionally introduced their new hardware, we actually know that the company is preparing a new handset.

But alas, CNET has confirmed that Samsung will mostly be pushing smart TVs at this year's CES, and that the company most certainly will not be unveiling the Galaxy S IV. So for the time being, owners of the year's best selling smartphone can sit back and enjoy their Galaxy S III, brand new case and all.

With its Premium Suite upgrade, Samsung brings multi-window multitasking to the or Galaxy S III

You may already have received the new Jelly Bean update for your Samsung Galaxy S III, but there may be something even better on the way for your smartphone, reports Slashgear.

Along with their Android software upgrade, Galaxy S III users in Poland, India, the UK, France, Sweden, Italy, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Algeria have also been introduced to something Samsung is calling Premium Suite. The upgrade brings some of Samsung's newer features, designed for the more recent Galaxy Note II, to the Galaxy S III.

That includes features like screen splitting, which allows you to use different apps in separate windows at the same time. Meanwhile, other new features of the Premium Suite upgrade fall in to the "contextual awareness," category, says Slashgear.

The most notable among those is the predictive "Page Buddy" feature, designed to intuit the appropriate response to your actions, like "launching the music player when headphones are plugged in," says Slashgear.

Though the Premium Suite upgrade has so far only been released to Galaxy S III users outside of the North American Continent, there's no reason to assume it won't be heading to the U.S. at some point soon, even if you've already received your Jelly Bean update.

Oh, and as a bit of an aside, Premium Suite is hardly the last trick Samsung's got up its sleeve for the near future. Rather, the company has already been teasing in pictures and video, telling us to "get ready" as "something new" is coming in 2013.

Still from a Samsung teaser video promising "something new" in 2013

The general opinion is that Samsung will reveal their big surprise at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). But though the event has traditionally been a venue for new product launches, Mobile Syrup warns us not the get too excited over the possibility of a new Galaxy device, as "we probably won’t see the Galaxy S IV announced at CES."

Still, as you can imagine, the rumor mill is already turning, big-time.

Christmas is coming faster than you can say "a partridge in a pear tree," and for most of us that means decking our homes, ourselves, and yes, eve our phones, in the colors of the season.

If you love your smartphone as much as you love Santa, we've got a holiday treat in store for you, with a round-up of the 10 coolest red, green and white cases and skins to dress your phone, tablet and laptop this Christmas.

1. Griffin Moxy Python Case for iPhone 5 in Red

This python-patterned iPhone 5 case from Griffin brings together festive and fashion, all in a bright and vibrant cranberry red.

2. iSkin Aura Dragon Case for iPhone 4/4S in Red

This dragon-motif iSkin case for iPhone 4 and 4S isn't just cool for Christmas but it's also a great way to top off 2012, the year of the dragon in Chinese astrology.

3. Incase Neoprene Sleeve Plus for Macbook Pro in Green

Show some holiday style with this green neoprene Macbook Pro sleeve from Incase. The elves would approve.

4. Incase Animal SnapCase for iPhone 4S in White

Not just festive, but a nice seasonal case for the whole of winter, Incase's Animal SnapCase for iPhone comes in a crisp snowy white, for that Siberian tiger look.

5. Moshi iGlaze4 Case for iPhone 4/4S in Red

Christmas style for minimalists: this sleek and simple iPhone case from Moshi comes in a ton of colors, but red is definitely the holiday choice.

6. Otterbox Defender Case for Galaxy S III in Green

Get the protection of Otterbox in a deep, wintery green with this Defender case for the Galaxy S III. Just don't lose it near the tree...

7. Griffin View Twin Shell Case for HTC Evo 3D in Red

Red Christmas sheen in double-layer protection and a kickstand to boot – Griffin's View Twin Shell case is perfect for looking all your holiday pictures and video.

8. iluv Hardshell Diamond Case for Galaxy S III in White

This hardshell case from iLuv has a distinctly wintery look, with its high-gloss diamond-cut angles and pristine white finish, the winter wonderland of Galaxy S III accessories.

9. Otterbox Commuter Case for Galaxy SIII in Green

One of Otterbox's leading models, the Commuter case, takes on a fresh and festive look in this bright green model with black accents.

10. Hard Shell Case for BlackBerry Curve Touch in 9380 in Red

Dress your BlackBerry like a cranberry this Christmas with this sleek red Hard Shell case for BlackBerry Curve Touch.

Samsung's latest "phablet," the Galaxy Note II, is currently only available in Titanium Grey and Marble White

We get it. Smartphones are kind of like cars when it comes to color. Most people aren't going to rush out and get a hot pink or chartreuse model when they can stick with a basic hue like black or silver. And accordingly, smartphone makers tend to play it safe with new devices, usually releasing them in a pretty sober spectrum.

But, just like cars, sometimes we want our cellphones to be a little more distinct and it seems Samsung gets that. The company launched a new line of nature-inspired colors for their Galaxy S III phone back in August, and SamMobile reported today that they'll be doing the same with their latest "phablet," the Galaxy Note II. At the moment the device is only available in Titanium Grey and Marble White.

Samsung's color variants for the Galaxy S III line (L to R): Sapphire Black, Garnet Red, Amber Brown, and Titanium Grey

So far, the Galaxy Note II's new color variants are just a rumor. SamMobile cites an "insider" who says the new device will start rolling out in new hues like Amber Brown, Topaz Blue and Ruby Wine as early as this December or the beginning of 2013.

And while we've already seen the color Samsung calls Amber Brown in their newest Galaxy S III models, the other rumored color names don't match up to anything we've seen from Samsung yet.

In any case, if you've been thinking about getting a Galaxy Note II but haven't done so yet, it might be worthwhile to wait until after the holidays, unless of course you're into basic black and minimalist white.

Blendtec is back with another "Will it Blend?" video, this time pitting the iPhone 5 against the Samsung Galaxy S III

Are you ready for a  ridiculous and nonsensical test which has no merit and which proves absolutely nothing?

Then, the iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III blender test is for you!

While most of us are just trying to get our hands on one of the newest and best smartphones, Blendtec, a maker home and professional blenders is busy pulverizing them.

It's pretty much what it sounds like. With a few of these "Will it Blend?" YouTube videos under his belt already, Blendtec's Tom Dickinson asks the question again, pitting the "the latest," i.e. Apple's iPhone 5, vs. what Samsung "claims to be the greatest," the Galaxy S III.

The iPhone 5 may have a retina display, and the Galaxy S III may have a bigger screen, but which will withstand the blending?

Tom describes both smartphones, highlighting their most attractive features, and then unceremoniously chucks each into its own Blendtec Total blender.

While the iPhone 5 starts shattering pretty early on, the Galaxy S III holds in there for an impressive amount of time, but eventually meets its end in much the same way as the completely obliterated iPhone, in a pile of black powder.

In the end, as the blender lids are removed and toxic-looking black smoke wafts up, we're left having to agree with Tom, who concludes: "I think the real winner is the Blendtec Total blender."

The whole stunt kind of runs opposite to what we do at Pure Mobile. But even though we've got a mission to help people protect their devices, we can't help but get some sort of sick pleasure out of watching this total and utter destruction.

Though we'd have to agree with Blendtec's disclaimer: don't try this at home!

Ashton Kutcher snaps a self-portrait on his new iPhone 5

Not so long ago, when celebrities made an appearance on the red carpet, the talk was of the gorgeous date they had on their arm. But of late, the talk's more likely to be about the new gadget they've got in their hand.

These days, smartphones are celebrities in their own right. And even in paparazzi shots of famous actors and musicians, they often steal the spotlight. So, which devices have the biggest claim to fame, and what A-listers are using them these days?

Pure Mobile took a dive into the glitz, the glamor, and the hardware and found out which smartphones stole the lead roles and which have been given bit parts.

Jessica Alba at the nail salon on her iPhone 4S

BlackBerry and iPhone – in all its incarnations – seem to be the top celeb cellphone choices.

Apple not only claims a VIP user-base including Jessica Alba, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Justin Bieber and many more, it's also among the leaders in smartphone market share period. And it just stands to reason that, if millions of ordinary people are dying for the iPhone 5, celebrities might want one too.

Sure enough, Ashton Kutcher already using one. And Brad Pitt brought his out at Cannes to snap pictures of the event. We can only wonder when pal George Clooney will upgrade from his iPhone 4 so as not to be outdone.

George Clooney at the airport with his iPhone 4 (he's probably upgraded since)

Brad Pitt snapping pictures at Cannes on his iPhone 5

But while Apple's iPhone is a smash hit outside of Hollywood, BlackBerry maker RIM has been steadily slowing its user growth. Still, that doesn't seem to have affected its popularity amongst actors, celebutantes and other popular figures.

Not content with using just an iPhone, Kim Kardashian uses a BlackBerry as well, and sometimes uses both at once. Geez, we didn't know she was even able to formulate two thoughts at the same time!

Equal opportunity texter Kim Kardashian simultaneously uses an iPhone and a Blackberry

Eva Longoria does a walk and talk on her BlackBerry

Eva Longoria also loves her BlackBerry, as do Snoop Dogg (err, Lion), Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake – all three like to Tweet from a BlackBerrys. So, even though BlackBerry has lost some of its regular audience to Apple and Samsung, it's still one of the top two in Tinseltown.

Victoria's Secret models promote the Samsung Galaxy Note in Toronto

It's pretty much the opposite case with Samsung. Though the smartphone maker is perhaps Apple's biggest rival these days, the few results we got when searching for celebrities with Samsung devices – like the Galaxy Note or Galaxy S III – were actually from events held or promoted by Samsung.

Sure Ashley Simpson has been spotted with one, but when's the last time anyone even cared she existed? And the Victoria's Secret models shown with the Galaxy Note (above) were actually hired to promote the device.

Guess whose famous hands are holding this BlackBerry

But who can claim the most famous user? Sure, the word "famous" is subjective, but most would agree that a figure who's known by nearly everyone in nearly every country, has influence on the world stage, and who is important enough to interrupt any T.V. show on any channel whenever he feels like addressing the press would be top choice.

Yep, we're talking about the President. BlackBerry has scored possibly the most illustrious user a smartphone maker could ever hope for with Barack Obama.

But it isn't just that President Obama uses a BlackBerry, he absolutely loves it! He's been described as a BlackBerry addict, and actually fought for the right to keep his "CrackBerry" once in office.

Yes, president Obama has been described as a BlackBerry addict

"They’re going to pry it out of my hands," the New York Times cited him as saying around the time that aides were trying to take it away. He's since been allowed to keep his beloved smartphone, though it had to go through White House encryption standards.

Also, there's little chance that the President could ever be wooed by Apple. The Washington Times reported that, when handed an iPhone by an aide on the campaign trail last month, he looked "befuddled."

Obama seemed unused to the device, saying "Oh, I got to dial it in. Hold on, hold on. I can do this. See, I still have a BlackBerry."

Opower compares the energy used to charge an iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III for an entire year. Image courtesy of Mashable.

If you're a smartphone owner, you're already familiar with the ritual if charging up your device one or more times a day. And the question of how much power you're actually sucking when you do so has probably crossed your mind. It's got to be quite a bit, right?

But a new study from Opower – which Mashable has provided some nice graphics for – may put your mind at ease concerning your electricity bill and your carbon footprint.

The report found that the power used to charge a smartphone throughout an entire year is negligible. According to Opower, it takes just 3.5 kilowatt hours per year (an annual energy cost of about $0.41) to charge up an iPhone 5 from 0% to full, year-round. That's pretty cheap.

The rates were pretty close for the Samsung Galaxy S III, which costs roughly $0.53 a year to charge. Opower says the slight discrepancy is probably due to the fact that the Galaxy's battery is larger.

But, though the impact of charging an individual smartphone is pretty small, Opower reminds us that, collectively, they do eat up a lot of power:

"This year alone, Apple expects to sell 170 million iPhone 5s. Those 170 million smartphones will draw enough electricity to power all of the homes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a year."

Still, Opower predicts that smartphones may help reduce energy consumption over all, since they're now being used in many cases as substitutes for bulkier, more power-hungry devices, like desktop computers and TVs.

Smartphones and tablets, like the iPhone 5, iPhone 4, Galaxy S III, and iPad, use much less power than many other consumer devices. Graphic courtesy of Mashable.

For instance, says Opower, "An iPhone 5 requires 20 times less energy to operate than a typical laptop – and 100 times less energy than a typical 42-inch plasma TV."

“Put simply, says Opower analyst Barry Fischer, "a day spent web-surfing and Facebooking on a smartphone or tablet is a much more energy-efficient day than doing the same on a computer [...] the rise of smartphones, like the iPhone 5, is likely to save energy in American homes as it diverts our time from using far less efficient consumer electronic devices.”

This graphic from Mashable compares the energy used for other consumer electronics relative to the iPhone 5

Samsung has already patched the dirty USSD code that threatened Galaxy S II and Galaxy S III

As far as sheer volume of interest goes, Samsung outdid Apple this week, with more stories flying around about the Galaxy S III than about the iPhone 5.

Top of the list was security. According to most of the top tech sites, Galaxy S III owners might have had a bit of a scare this week. That is, if Samsung hadn't already dealt with the problem before anyone even knew it existed.

Apparently, says Mashable, a vulnerability was discovered in Samsung's Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) that "potentially allowed attackers to remotely wipe the contents of Galaxy S II and III devices," essentially restoring them to factory settings.

This video, of Technical University Berlin researcher Ravi Borgaonkar at a security conference in Argentina, shows how it's done.

Thankfully, Samsung's already come out with a patch, and the company issued a statement to Engadget urging users to update:

“We would like to assure our customers that the recent security issue concerning the GALAXY S III has already been resolved through a software update. We recommend all GALAXY S III customers to download the latest software update, which can be done quickly and easily via the Over-The-Air (OTA) service.”

So, now that your smartphone is safe and sound, how about encrusting it with crystals? If you're nodding your head in agreement, and if you have upwards of £2099 (about $3370 U.S.) to spare, maybe consider upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S III Swarovski Edition?

This crystal-encrusted "Swarovski Edition" Galaxy S III may cost you upward of $3370, but at least the case is free

The device, available from Amosu Couture, is set with 500 Swarovski crystals around the bezel, plus an extra 16 around the home button. Sort of pricey and all, but you do get a free calf leather case.

Now for the really juicy stuff. Hot on the heels of all the rumors surrounding an iPad Mini launch, Samsung's brewing its own big news about something small.

This leaked German invite to a rumored Samsung Galaxy S III Mini launch reads: "So big can be small. And so small can be big."

According to TechCrunch, which cited "a recently released press invitation," Samsung may be unveiling a smaller scale version of the Galaxy S III (the Mini) at a store in Frankfurt, Germany. The invite, written in German and loosely translated as "So big can be small. And so small can be big," is so far the only proof of such an event.

But it's already got Samsung fans more than a little excited, if you'll excuse the pun.