Samsung Galaxy S3 runs Ice Cream Sandwich in, er, fake pic

A supposed leaked photo of a new Samsung phone running Ice Cream Sandwich has emerged, causing a torrent of speculation about what the mobile giant will be showing off at Mobile World Congress, but it's likely that the image is a fake and the speculation is pure nonsense.

The photo above came courtesy of industry insider Eldar Murtazin, who posted it on his Twitter page claiming it to be a leaked press shot from an upcoming launch at MWC. While Murtazin has an enviable track record with leaks, we're definitely calling shenanigans on this picture.

Zoomed-in shots over at Android Community highlight the jagged edges that indicate a poor Photoshop job. It also argues that the ICS screen is inconsistent with the shots we've already seen and that the phone is apparently using the stock Android ICS buttons, which is very unlike Samsung.

It also shows this 'new' phone against the official press shot of the white Samsung Galaxy S2, which frankly looks identical, except for the screenshot pasted over the top and the altered buttons.

Although we reckon this photo is about as real as the doubloons we found in Luke's desk, that hasn't stopped the rumour mill from grinding out its excited phone flour. Samsung has said it won't be showing off the Galaxy S3 at Mobile World Congress so many have argued this new phone may be the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus we've been hearing about.

We are hoping to see a beefed-up Galaxy S2 running Ice Cream Sandwich, however, and it probably wouldn't look too different from this. The Galaxy S3 is going to land sometime soon after MWC at Samsung's own event. Are we excited? You bet.

What do you think to this picture? Is it really a Samsung phone or is it total hokum? Let us know in the comments below or over on our totally-real-not-at-all-Photoshopped Facebook page.