Samsung Galaxy S III Search Function Removal Was A Mistake

Samsung accidentally removed an advance search function that allowed users of its Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone to search across the web and phone apps from one place.

Many believed the South Korean electronics giant had removed the feature on purpose as it sought to protect itself from Apple patent claims. Samsung said it was just a mistake and it will return the feature to users soon.

Oops…

“The most recent software upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy S III in the UK included the inadvertent removal of the universal search function,” Samsung said.

“Samsung will provide the correct software upgrade within the next few days.”

Many jumped to the conclusion the removal of the search function was Apple-related as the two are waging a bitter patent war against one another.

It emerged today that a US court is to be told Samsung deleted emails that could have been relevant to one of its patent battles with Apple. That case centres on how much Apple should pay Samsung in royalties, with a trial set to kick off at the end of the month.

This week, Apple won a preliminary, Europe-wide Galaxy Tab 7.7 injunction, following a decision handed down at the Dusseldorf Higher Regional Court.

But things went Samsung’s way earlier in the month, when Apple was told by a UK judge it had to publish ads on its UK website and in several major newspapers informing consumers that the South Korean firm did not copy the design of the iPad.

Are you an iPhone lover? Try our quiz all about the Apple device’s rivals!