 The S III is powered by Android , a Linux @-@ based , open source mobile operating system developed by Google and introduced commercially in 2008 . Among other features , the software allows users to maintain customized home screens which can contain shortcuts to applications and widgets for displaying information . Four shortcuts to frequently used applications can be stored on a dock at the bottom of the screen ; the button in the center of the dock opens the application drawer , which displays a menu containing all of the apps installed on the device . A tray accessed by dragging from the top of the screen allows users to view notifications received from other apps , and contains toggle switches for commonly used functions . Pre @-@ loaded apps also provide access to Google 's various services . The S III uses Samsung 's proprietary TouchWiz graphical user interface ( GUI ) . The " Nature " version used by the S III has a more " organic " feel than previous versions , and contains more interactive elements such as a water ripple effect on the lock screen . To complement the TouchWiz interface , and as a response to Apple 's Siri , the phone introduces S Voice , Samsung 's intelligent personal assistant . S Voice can recognize eight languages including English , Korean , Italian and French . Based on Vlingo , S Voice enables the user to verbally control 20 functions such as playing a song , setting the alarm , or activating driving mode ; it relies on Wolfram Alpha for online searches . 
