Samsung removes Galaxy S3 search function

The company has disabled the device's advanced search feature following its patent dispute with Apple.
Once the newly updated version of the software is installed on the Galaxy S3, its function that searches contacts, apps and other on-device material, is no longer available.
The news was first reported by news site Android Central, who added that users of the device were not notified that the update would disable the search feature.
Whilst this change was applied to international versions of the Galaxy S3, it echoes a similar move made within the US.
It is claimed by Apple that the function of the device infringes its patent of the single search interface used by its iPhone and the Siri feature, which it uses when collating search results from a number of sources.
Apple had already succeeded in their attempt to place a temporary sales ban on a different Samsung device, the Galaxy Nexus, after that too was found to be in breach of Apple's patent.

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