Samsung Galaxy S5 extended batteries now on pre-order from ZeroLemon and Mugen Power

There's no denying that the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a top performer when it comes to battery life. Need proof? Well, we put the phone's 2800mAh cell to the test, and it took a whopping 8 hours and 20 minutes for our custom battery benchmark to drain it entirely. This ranks Samsung's flagship ahead of many high-end competitors, including the iPhone 5s, the HTC One (M8), and the LG G2.

But as stellar as the Galaxy S5's battery life may be, some users might still find its cell's capacity insufficient for their needs. These are the people that ZeroLemon and Mugen Power, two of the better-known makers of extended cell phone batteries, cater to.

Mugen Power is currently offering a 2950mAh lithium-ion battery for the Samsung Galaxy S5 – a cell that should last about 5% longer than a stock one, according to the manufacturer. For those in need of a spare cell for their Galaxy S5, or for an extended battery that does not add any extra bulk to the device, this is an option worth considering. NFC is built into the pack so don't worry about losing the feature once you swap.

ZeroLemon's approach to designing an extended battery for the Galaxy S5 has been quite a bit different. The company has built a pack that can hold 7500mAh of charge, making it more than 2.5 times more capacious than the phone's stock cell. There's a catch, however. The extended battery is so large that it requires you to swap the Galaxy S5's back cover with one provided by ZeroLemon (included in the set). The battery will also make your Galaxy S5 significantly heavier. Another drawback is that you might not be able to use the phone's heart rate monitor as comfortably with all that protruding plastic around it. On the brighter side of things, this replacement back cover doubles as a protective case.

The Mugen Power extended battery for Samsung Galaxy S5 is now on pre-order for $44.50 and it is expected to ship on May 23. As for ZeroLemon's solution, its gargantuan cell can be pre-ordered from Amazon for $49.99 and will ship on May 14.

Extended batteries for the Samsung Galaxy S5

1. Mugen Power extended battery for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Capacity: 1950mAh

 

2. ZeroLemon extended battery for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Capacity: 7500mAh

 

3. ZeroLemon extended battery for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Capacity: 7500mAh

 

source: Mugen Power, ZeroLemon

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime, LG G3, or HTC One M8 Prime - which one you'd rather have?

Have you heard? Samsung and HTC are reportedly getting ready to release two new Android flagship handsets currently known as theGalaxy S5 Prime and One M8 Prime, respectively. While their final and official names may not include the “Prime” part at all, it looks like the two devices have a lot in common anyway. And they also have a lot in common with the LG G3 (allegedly pictured here and here), which should be the first among them to be announced - most probably on May 27. 

It’s said that all three upcoming flagship smartphones will offer Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) displays. The screens of the LG G3 and HTC One M8 Prime supposedly measure 5.5 inches each, while the Galaxy S5 Prime should be a bit smaller, apparently sporting a 5.2-inch display. Other common features may include 3GB of RAM, Qualcomm’sSnapdragon 805 SoC, and metal-clad designs.

Naturally, we’re expecting the three handsets to run the latest version of Android - although their UIs will definitely be different, thanks to each company’s software customization.

We’re curious to know which of the three devices is the one that our readers are looking forward to owning the most. Of course, some have already bought a flagship smartphone this year, while others are certainly waiting for something else. But folks who are not interested can simply skip voting in the poll bellow (though they are free to use the comments section to let us know why they’re not interested in having any of the three handsets).

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Samsung's BYOD-friendly Knox 2.0 suite lands on Galaxy S5

Samsung has made the second version of its Knox data and app security platform available worldwide, but only the new Galaxy S5 can take advantage of the improvements it offers for now.

The popularity of Samsung’s smartphones has opened the door to the enterprise thanks to BYOD (bring-your-own-device) projects, but becoming enterprise-ready and earning the trust of IT departments is a long journey for the company.

The Knox platform uses a security-enhanced version of Android, and creates an isolated “container” that separates work data and apps from personal data.

Knox 2.0 is currently pre-installed on the Galaxy S5, and more devices will receive it via OS upgrades in the coming months, the company said without offering any details. To use Knox, IT departments first have to activate the functionality.

After the long-delayed and underwhelming rollout of Knox 1.0, Samsung still has to prove that it can release high-quality products in a timely manner. An important part of that work is to quickly expand the number of compatible devices.

Some of the new features in the upgraded version are a dedicated app store called Marketplace, cloud-based management, and certificate management functionality that can turn a smartphone into a smartcard.

The platform is also compatible with third party containers, such as Good’s secure container, Fixmo’s SafeZone, and MobileIron’s AppConnect, which are getting the same level of hardware-based protection as Samsung’s own container. The goal is to give IT departments more choice when they implement or augment their BYOD programs, Samsung said.

To separate personal and professional usage on a BYOD smartphone, a new billing feature lets carriers calculate the costs for personal and professional apps, according to Samsung.

Knox 2.0 has been integrated with the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner, as well. But with a group of German researchers tricking it into accepting a mold of a fingerprint instead of a real finger, enterprises have to think carefully about how they use the scanner. Samsung has played down the risks, saying that the scenario used is widely regarded in the industry as posing no critical risk for general consumers.

The cost of Knox 2.0 service will be $3.60 per user and month with discounts for larger volumes, the company said when it launched the upgrade at Mobile World Congress in February.

pcworld.com

One month with the HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy S5

Summary: I have now spent over a month with both devices and neither has compelled me enough to visit my local T-Mobile store to make a purchase. They are both solid phones, but also both lack some things I want in a flagship device.

I have been using both the new HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy S5 with my personal T-Mobile SIM splitting the time in each so I could try to figure out which one I would purchase for myself. After more than a month with these devices, there are still a couple of reasons I haven't yet visited my local store and that means LG, Motorola, and Apple still have a chance to end up in my pocket.

The HTC One (M8) was the first to land in my hands and it is a very impressive piece of hardware with top notch design and construction. The HTC One (M7) was a fabulous device that served as my primary smartphone for a year. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is not as premium feeling as the HTC One, but it brings a much better camera and some more great features that I am enjoying.

(Image: HTC)

Let's break it down into a couple simple lists to share my experiences over the past month. Here is what I like about the HTC One (M8):

• Metal design: HTC does a great job with design and the new One continues that tradition with rock solid construction, beveled edges, curved back, and excellent fit and finish.
• BoomSound speakers: The front facing stereo speakers are better this year than they were last year and I have yet to hear any other device that can match the experience.
• Sense 6 UI: I have always been a fan of Sense and it is even better on the new One. BlinkFeed is even more useful and customizable than before, the device flies when it comes to performance, the widgets are useful, and much more.
• Camera software: Highlight Videos are great ways to share photos and video clips with people, especially when you travel a lot or have young children whose experiences you want to capture and add some context to. The effects and editing tools are also great on the HTC One.
• Ample storage and microSD card: All HTC One devices in the US have 32GB of storage, which is the minimum that all flagship phones should have. HTC also finally brought their microSD support, common on their Japanese line, to the HTC One line so you can capture lots of video and images without worrying about filling up your storage.
• Long battery life: I am a heavy smartphone user and find I can go very long days with the HTC One without charging it up. It is so good that it makes my Moto X look anemic.
• Solid front facing camera: Front facing cameras are useful to capture photos with you in the picture with other people, especially given that handing over the new HTC One to a stranger to take your shot will likely result in your HTC One being dropped. The wide angle 5 megapixel camera takes good photos and is definitely the one to get if you take lots of selfies.

There are also a few things I don't like about the new HTC One (M8), including the following:

• Slippery back and sides: I am extremely careful with my smartphones, but even I have dropped the new HTC One a few times and can almost guarantee that this phone will be dropped due to the slippery skin.
• Camera doesn't capture detail: HTC could have hit it out of the park and I would own my personal One right now if they had bumped the camera up in quality over last year's model. I wanted to see at least 8 megapixels, even if they wanted to stick with their low light ultrapixel strategy. You can capture good photos, but they will not have depth and detail like you can get with most all other flagship smartphones.
• Long phone: I accept that many phones are getting larger today, but the HTC One (M8) feels too long in your hand without any real obvious benefit to the length. It sticks out of my back jeans pocket and I wish it was a bit shorter.

(Image: AT&T)

I just returned from a five day Disneyland vacation and took along the Samsung Galaxy S5 to use as my primary smartphone and it performed admirably. Here are several things I like about the new Galaxy S5.

• Waterproof design: While you do have to keep the bottom microUSB port door closed, going on rides with water splashing and enjoying the pool with the family was a relief knowing the phone was safe from water. It is very convenient to have integrated protection from the elements.
• Solid camera performance: Time and again the Galaxy S5 camera proved to be the best of the bunch while on vacation. I was able to capture excellent quality photos inside buildings, out in the sun, and while walking around the park.
• Vivid display: The HTC One has an excellent LCD display, but the eye-popping colors of the Galaxy S5 are tough to beat. It even performed very well in full sunlight in California.
• Removable battery and microSD card: Very few phones have removable batteries, but it is convenient to go long periods of time without charging and swap out batteries which is one major reason why I wrote that the S5 may be the best current business smartphone.

While the S5 is a nice iteration in the Galaxy line, there are a few things I don't like about it either. These include:

• Limited internal storage: You only get about 9 GB of available internal storage and with KitKat that means you can only install a limited number of apps and games. Every flagship Android device needs to launch with 32GB minimum and if Samsung had launched with this amount of RAM then it is likely I would have already purchased one at T-Mobile.
• Chrome frame: The plastic back doesn't really bug me at all and I understand its presence since you get the ability to swap the battery. It is the ridged chrome frame piece that gives the S5 a bit of a cheap feel and if Samsung could have just put in a little metal band around the device I bet it would have felt a lot more premium.
• TouchWiz UI: TouchWiz has gotten a bit better, but the settings area is terrible with something like 62 icons available to the user. The notifications area is halfway consumed with Samsung stuff that cannot be removed either. I do like seeing some of the Note 3 utilities in the S5, such as Multi-Window and Air View.
• Useless functions: The finger scanner rarely works and the heart rate monitor has limited functionality. Samsung doesn't have to throw everything in one device and should stay focused on what works well.

Both of these phones are excellent choices and some may say that I am being too picky in my cons that are preventing me from purchasing one or the other. However, we know that LG will be announcing their new flagship at the end of the month, Apple will likely announce the next iPhone next month, and Motorola is likely to update the Moto X with something a bit bigger and newer.

If Samsung had a 32GB S5 available on T-Mobile then I would likely have picked one up and if HTC had an improved camera then it would have been my first choice. The 32GB S5 model may actually come to T-Mobile in the future so it is more likely that a Samsung Galaxy S5 will end up in my pocket than a new HTC One (M8).

zdnet.com

Galaxy S5 ‘killer’ confirmed to launch next month

LG on Tuesday confirmed the name of its next Android flagship device, the LG G3, in a press release announcing the company’s “improved first-quarter 2014 results.” The LG G3, expected to be one of the main Galaxy S5 rivals this year, has been featured in plenty of reports and leaks so far, with some of them suggesting the phone will arrive earlier than anticipated.

Its predecessors launched in fall 2012 (Optimus G) and fall 2013 (LG G2), but it looks like LG is eager to bring its next-gen high-end device to market as soon as possible.

LG apparently sees the G3 as a best-selling device, one that would help the company’s bottom line. “Higher revenues are expected in the second quarter with the release of the flagship LG G3 smartphone and wider roll-out of the mass-tier L Series III,” LG said in its announcement.

Furthermore, the company told reporters in South Korea that the phone will be launched by the end of May, according to ZDNet Korea, although a clear release date for the handset isn’t available yet. Pricing details for the G3 aren’t available either.

The company has not revealed what the new smartphone will have to offer, but recent reports indicated the handset would feature a high-resolution QHD (2560 x 1440) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and a main camera with optical image stabilization. Recent image leaks have shown the G3′s home screen and revealed the phone will also have buttons on the back, like its predecessor.

bgr.com

Samsung Galaxy S5 camera bug found; new units coming to market with no problems

Over the weekend, we mentioned an issue that some Verizon owners of the Samsung Galaxy S5 were experiencing when they opened their camera. Instead of being able to use the snapper, a notice popped up saying "Warning: Camera Failed." A factory reset is not going to help with this problem. As we suggested on Saturday, those with a Samsung Galaxy S5 that is affected, should call Samsung at 1-888-987-4357 to arrange an exchange under the warranty. You should also contact Verizon technical support.

On Sunday, Samsung announced that the number of Galaxy S5 units with this problem is "very limited". Even more important for a flagship device that markets its 16MP rear camera heavily, Samsung says that new units tumbling off the assembly line will not have this problem. The Korean manufacturer found that the problem has to do with the ROM component, which stores the information that is necessary for the phone to run the camera.

While it is not related to the camera issue, Samsung warned its investors that profit for the first quarter is going to be lower on a year-over-year basis. This will be the second straight annual decline in profitability for the company.

source: Reuters

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Samsung SM-G750 features a 5.1-inch 720p display, is it really a Galaxy S5 Neo?

The unannounced Samsung SM-G750 that was first discovered last month has a 5.1-inch display - according to a listing found at Zauba, a website that tracks down Indian imports and exports. While such a display should make the SM-G750 similar in size to the Galaxy S5, some of its alleged features are not on par with what the S5 flagship is offering. More exactly, the SM-G750’s screen seemingly has a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. So what we could have here is a Galaxy S5 Neo.

Zauba is listing two versions of the Samsung SM-G750: an SM-G750H and an SM-G750F. A third variant, the SM-G750A (which is believed to be an AT&T-bound model), already has a User Agent profile that’s accessible at Samsung Mobile’s official website. The UA profile confirms the handset’s 720p display, and the fact that it runs Android.

A Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini (SM-G800) is reportedly also in the making. This should sport a 720p display, too, but measuring only 4.5-inches, not 5.1. Of course, these two names - S5 Mini and S5 Neo - aren’t confirmed at the moment. But we assume that it won’t be long until Samsung reveals some official details regarding both the SM-G750 and the SM-G800.

sources: Samsung (.xml file), Zauba via GalaxyClub.nl (translated)

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Samsung Galaxy K zoom to cost less than the Galaxy S5? European prices may start at €499

Samsung announced its brand new Galaxy K zoom this morning, saying that it would start selling it in May. While the company didn’t provide details about the price of the K zoom, we’re all expecting it to be quite expensive. After all, that 20.7MP rear camera with 10x optical zoom can’t possibly come cheap. However, it looks like the new smartphone-camera hybrid will be cheaper than Samsung’s Galaxy S5flagship handset.

According to SamMobile, the Galaxy K zoom will be priced at €499 in the Netherlands. At the moment, an unlocked Galaxy S5 costs at least €600 there (and all over Europe, for that matter). 

 

So perhaps the K zoom will be sold for around $500 when it lands in the US - despite the fact that €499 means around $690 at today’s exchange rates.

Besides having a possibly great camera on the back, the Samsung Galaxy K zoom offers all the features that you’d expect from a good mid-range smartphone, including: a 4.8 inch 720p Super AMOLED display, LTE connectivity, hexa-core Exynos 5 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory, microSD card support, and a 2,430 mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy K zoom will be available in three color versions: black, white, and blue. Is anyone looking forward to buying it?

Samsung Galaxy K zoom

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source: SamMobile

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The Galaxy S5 now has a special bedazzled edition with sparkly crystals

 

When we reviewed Samsung’s next heir to the Galaxy S line, the Galaxy S5, we thought that, while it was held back by some of its software, it was still an excellent smartphone that we would recommend to just about anyone. However, there was one thing that we couldn’t help but notice: it wasn’t blinged out. Sure, it has those dimples, but where are our crystals? Enter Swarovski.

A teaser video posted on YouTube by Samsung Mobile Korea reveals that Samsung will team up with Swarovski to make a “Crystal Collection” edition of the Galaxy S5. The video shows a Galaxy S5 completely covered in Swarovski crystals. The handset will be available in Samsung’s home turf, South Korea, sometime in May. It’s unknown whether Samsung will make the Crystal Collection Galaxy S5 available in other regions.

This is not the first time Samsung has partnered with Swarovski to line its smartphones with the latter company’s crystals. Last year, the same thing was done with both the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3, though the Galaxy S4 was sold as a Crystal Edition versus just selling a blinged-out Galaxy Note 3 battery cover. To provide some context, the crystal-backed Galaxy S4 sold for roughly $630, while the crystal-encrusted Galaxy Note 3 battery cover  retailed for $300 when it launched in New York City.

Samsung and Swarovski even gave the Galaxy S3 Mini the crystal treatment. It’s obvious that Samsung loves to bling out its hardware, and this only continues the trend.

digitaltrends.com

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S5 users run into problems with the camera

Verizon owners with the Samsung Galaxy S5 are running into a major problem with their camera. Even though it works perfectly for the first few days, it eventually starts malfunctioning. Whether you are trying to take a picture for Instagram, or just looking to snap a shot of your cat, the camera refuses to work and reveals a warning message that states: "Warning: Camera Failed."

You can try to restart or factory reset your new Galaxy S5, but it will be to no avail. And at this stage, there appears to be no fix in the works. Your best shot (so to speak) is to bring your Samsung Galaxy S5 back to Verizon, and find a sympathetic ear.

Once word spreads, or the number of such incidences increase, we could expect to see a software update for the device that will fix the camera. And the scary thing is that this is also happening to Verizon customers with the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Are you a Verizon customer with a Samsung Galaxy S5 or another Galaxy S model, and are receiving on-screen notices that the camera has failed? Hit us up with your story by commenting in the box below.

source: XDA, TechRadar

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Use the Samsung Galaxy S5's emergency contact feature

Editor Jessica Dolcourt shows you how to set up an emergency Galaxy S5 tool you'll hopefully never have to use.

There are those features on your phone that you'll probably never use, and then the ones you'll neverwant to use. Such is the case with Safety Assistance, an emergency tool that will alert up to four predetermined contacts when you sound the alarm.

There are those features on your phone that you'll probably never use, and then the ones you'll neverwant to use. Such is the case with Safety Assistance, an emergency tool that will alert up to four predetermined contacts when you sound the alarm.

Here's how it works: In time of need, you would press the power/lock button three times in quick succession. This action sends a series of text messages with your approximate mapped location, a photo from the front and rear-facing cameras, and a short voice recording.

This isn't to replace a call to 911, 999, 000, or other emergency services. Samsung's lengthy disclaimer also states that, since the tool is based on text messaging, it "may not work accurately, continuously, or error-free" depending on network conditions.

Still, for a little peace of mind, Samsung's twist on ICE, or In Case of Emergency, numbers, is easy to set up. Here's how you do it.

1.) Turn it on

Navigate to the Settings menu, then press Quick Settings. Select Safety Assistance from the list of choices, then tap Send help messages, and swipe the toggle to On.

Hop into the settings menu to get started with Safety Assistance.Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

You'll be asked to read through and sign off on a lengthy terms of service that reminds you that this feature won't summon an ambulance, and that also absolves Samsung of personal liability.

2.) Check the boxes

If you want to scale back on the service to keep from inundating your contact with so many texts, you can uncheck the boxes to deselect sending a recording, and photos from the Galaxy S5's two cameras. In that case, triggering the emergency response would send an SOS text with your location.

3.) Set up your contacts

Back out of the help messages window and tap Manage primary contacts to select your emergency recipients. You can have up to four.

You can have up to four contacts on your list. You'll see a notification that the GS5 has sent your SOS.Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

It isn't a good idea to include emergency services here, since most government agencies won't accept texts, or even know who you are in the first place. (This is changing in some places in the US, but isn't widespread by far.)

4.) Test it out

It's worth letting your contacts know that you've added them. I'd also recommend a dry-run test so both sides understand what to expect in the event of the real deal -- may it never occur.

Your recipient sees a series of texts, including a short voice recording, and a map with your coordinates.Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

cnet.com

New York Times pits Galaxy S5 against iPhone 5s, says competition isn’t even close

Last week, we took an in-depth look at Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 smartphone to see how it compared with the HTC One (M8). While the competition was certainly intense, in the end we called HTC’s new flagship phone the best Android smartphone in the world. In terms of sales, however, the M8 will never compete with the Galaxy S5.Even HTC knows that. Apple’s flagship iPhone 5s is the only smartphone that sits at the top of the food chain alongside the Galaxy S5 when it comes to sales, and The New York Times recently pitted these two leading smartphones against each other to see which one should be called the best smartphone in the world.

Interestingly, the newspaper found that the competition wasn’t even close.

“Although it offers no spectacular advances over the previous version, Samsung seems to have done just enough with the S5 to stay ahead of every other Android phone maker,” NYT columnist Farhad Manjoo wrote. “The only plausible competition comes in the form of the HTC One, which, as my colleague Molly Wood wrote, is prettier than the S5 but not as functional. The upshot of all these reviews is that if you’re looking for the best Android phone, Samsung’s is the one to buy.”

He continued, “But that’s not the whole story. While there are probably some people who go out to shop for the best Android phone, I suspect that most people want to know which phone is best of all, whatever operating system it runs. In other words, how does the Galaxy S5 compare to the iPhone 5S, Apple’s six-month-old flagship device and the champion to beat?”

The answer, Manjoo says, is “not very well.”

According to The New York Times, the brand new Galaxy S5 really doesn’t compete on any level with the iPhone 5s, which is nearly seven months old at this point.

“By just about every major measure you’ll care about, from speed to design to ease of use to the quality of its apps, Samsung’s phone ranks behind the iPhone, sometimes far behind,” Manjoo wrote. “If you’re looking for the best phone on the market right now, I’d recommend going with the iPhone 5S.”

Manjoo says the Galaxy S5′s three biggest advantages over the iPhone 5s are slightly longer battery life, water-resistance and the phone’s larger display. The first two are minor advantages according to Manjoo, and the display size discrepancy will reportedly disappear later this year when Apple launches a larger iPhone 6 and an iPhone phablet.

The columnist concludes that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is the best smartphone with a large screen that money can buy right now, and that will continue to be the case for the next few months. But Manjoo says that once Apple launches its larger iPhones, “Samsung’s smartphone ascendance may look a bit uncertain.”

http://bgr.com/

Galaxy S5 draws rush of trade-ins from Samsung phone owners; iPhone users uninterested

New flagship smartphone launches are often accompanied by a rush of users trading in older phone models as they upgrade, and data surrounding which models saw increased trade-in volumes can give us a good idea of where business is coming from as people purchase new phones. If data provided to BGR by Gazelle is any indication, early Galaxy S5 buyers were already Samsung device owners in large part, with a comparably small amount of new business coming over from the iPhone.

According to data from leading gadget trade-in service Gazelle, the volume of used Samsung phones being sold using the company’s site exploded on April 11th, the day Samsung’s Galaxy S5 went on sale at all four nationwide U.S. wireless carriers. The firm’s data shows that Samsung device trade-ins were up 69% over the Galaxy S4′s launch day and 209% over trade-in volumes on the day the Galaxy S III first went on sale in 2012.

In terms of attracting new business from the iPhone camp, however, things didn’t look as impressive.

Gazelle saw iPhone trade-in volumes drop 35% compared to where they were last year on the day the Galaxy S4 launched in the U.S. Interestingly, the Galaxy S4 didn’t even go on sale at all U.S. carriers on the same day last year, so the Galaxy S5 saw fewer trade-ins from a much larger group of potential customers.

Of course, this is just one data point and it doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. We’ll have to wait for usage tracking companies to start releasing mobile traffic share data and other similar statistics for a more comprehensive look at whether or not Samsung’s latest flagship phone might have stolen a good amount of business away from Apple.

As for which older Samsung models users traded in most during the S5′s launch, Gazelle says Verizon’s Galaxy S III and S4 trade-in volumes spiked 114% and 82% during launch weekend, respectively, compared to the prior weekend. AT&T Galaxy S4 trade-ins were up 250% over that same time period, and T-Mobile Galaxy S3 trade-ins ballooned 175% on April 11th compared to the prior day.

http://bgr.com/

White Samsung Galaxy S5 gets price cut in India

When the Samsung Galaxy S5 launched in India, it was priced at 51,990 Rupees without a contract ($860 USD). But on Monday, the HTC One (M8) was released in the same market for a price of 49,990 Rupees ($827 USD). With HTC undercutting Samsung in the battle of flagship devices, at least one Indian retailer has cut the price of the Galaxy S5 by at about 10%.

Now, the white version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is priced under the HTC One (M8) in India at Flipkart. The model is wearing a price tag of 46,450 Rupees ($767 USD). With the HTC One (M8) launching today in the world's third largest smartphone market, cutting the price of the Korean manufacturer's flagship model keeps some of the attention off of the just released HTC flagship.

The discounted white Samsung Galaxy S5 can now be ordered from Flipkart, and it is almost a certainty that the black model will also be discounted. If Indian retailers start cutting the price of the HTC One (M8) over the next few days, we could see a price war between the two models.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 in white, has its price cut in India

source: Flipkart, SamMobile,via BGR

phonearena.com

Samsung reveals 10 hidden features on the Samsung Galaxy S5

Part of the pleasure, or fun, of owning a high-end smartphone is finding out all of the little things that it can do. Samsung, for example, shoehorned some hidden features into the Samsung Galaxy S5. The latest iteration of Sammy's flagship Android phone has been available for a week and some owners of the device might have already discovered some of these hidden goodies. 

First of all, the Samsung Galaxy S5 doesn't come with S-Pen. But why bother with such a high tech writing instrument when a regular low-tech pencil will do the trick. All you need to do is go to the Display Settings and enable the increase touch settings option. Another cool little trick involves the stock music player. While in landscape, tilt the phone to receive a list of tunes that are similar to the one you're listening to.

Got kids? We told you earlier this year about the Kids Mode on the Galaxy S5, which will keep your kids busy with games and animation. This way, junior doesn't accidentally dial your boss, or erase the important documents you've been storing on your handset. After tapping the Kids Mode app from the home screen, you set up an account with a PIN number. You can then decide which applications your kid can and cannot use. Prepare for tantrums!

Private Mode allows you, from the lockscreen, to hide video, pictures or documents from nosy busybodies like your mother-in-law. To access this feature, go to Settings then tap Private Mode. Decide which content you want to hide, click on Menu and then tap 'Move to private.' A lock key will appear which means that the selected content is secure. While not exactly hidden, Toolbox is always ready for you to use to open your favorite apps.You can reach this feature by clicking on Toolbox in the Quick Settings, or by going to Settings and tapping on Toolbox. A white circle with three dots will appear. Drag it over to the Edit button to customize which apps you want to be able to quickly reach. The floating menu will be available on every app and every screen so that youcan quickly open your favorite apps from any screen on the device.

You just saw Bigfoot, or Lindsey Lohan or Eric Schmidt using a BlackBerry and you need to open your camera application quickly. You can add a shortcut to the lock screen so that you can quickly access your snapper. This prevents you from missing the moment by fumbling to open the camera app on your Galaxy S5. Speaking of the camera, there is a setting that will allow you to shoot pictures and create a virtual tour. That comes in handy if you're a broker trying to sell a house.

Don't you hate scrolling through ten zillion contacts to find the number of Ms.Jane Doe? With Priority Senders, you can select the top 25 people you want to connect with the most, and have their names and information displayed on top of the messaging app. Just go the messaging app, tap '+' and add up to 25 contacts. And when you do call Ms. Doe, while talking with her, you can see the latest interactions you've had with her along with a list of her most recent Google+ posts. Simply go to Settings, tap on call and then click on the "Show caller information" check box. Lastly, the Call Notifications Pop-up feature will notify you when you receive a call, while you are using another app. This way, you don't have to stop playing a game just to pick up a call from the aforementioned Ms. Doe. To turn on the feature, go to settings, tap Call, and select Call notification pop-ups check box.

So there you have it, one hidden feature on the Samsung Galaxy S5 for each finger on your hand. Check them out and let us know how useful they are by dropping your comments in the box below.

 

Hidden features on the Samsung Galaxy S5

1. Use a regular pencil to write on your Samsung Galaxy S5 by enabling the increase touch settings option

 

2. While using the stock music app in landscape mode, tilt the phone to receive a list of tunes similar to the one you are listening to

 

3. The Toolbox widget allows you quick access to your favorite apps

 

4. Privacy mode keeps videos, pictures and documents away from roving eyes

 

5. With Kids Mode, junior will have plenty of fun things to do on your phone without getting into your content or apps

 

6. Use the shortcut to access your camera quickly from the lockscreen

 

7. Create a virtual tour using your Galaxy S5

 

8. Shot and more allows you to quickly edit a newly snapped photograph

 

9. With Priority Senders, the top 25 people you communicate with the most are easily reached

 

10. Find out the last time you spoke with a caller by going to settings, selecting call and then tapping 'Show caller information’ check box

 

11. Call notification lets you receive a call while still using an app

 

source: SamsungTomorrow via AndroidAuthority

Samsung has high hopes for the Galaxy S5, reportedly expects to ship 35M in Q2 alone

Samsung has high expectations for the Galaxy S5. The 2014 flagship phone has received widespread acclaim for its stellar display and surprising durability, leading to huge adoption numbers and growing sales predictions from Samsung. The Korea Timesreports that Samsung shipped 1.3 times as many Galaxy S5 units on the first day of sales than it did on the launch day of the S4.

Investors and analysts are impressed with the phone’s performance so far, eliminating any fears they may have had about market saturation or a shift away from Samsung.

“Against earlier expectations, the S5 was well-received by consumers in the global market. We don’t have any plans to advise our big clients to unload their Samsung stock,” said one senior fund manager speaking to The Korea Times.

According to Samsung insiders, the company is expecting to ship 35 million Galaxy S5 units by the end of the second quarter. To put that into perspective, the same source claims that Samsung has shipped 63 million Galaxy S4 units in total since launch last year.

“We believe the mobile phone division performed better than our previous estimates on the back of the strong smartphone and tablet results ― higher units and higher margin ― due to lower marketing spending,” said Mark C. Newman, a senior analyst at Bernstein Research in Hong Kong.

VIA: SAMMOBILE

SOURCE: THE KOREA TIMES

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New study suggests Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is more breakable than the iPhone 5s

The Galaxy S5 can do plenty of things that the iPhone can’t, but even with IP67 certification, Samsung still hasn’t built a more durable phone than the iPhone 5s. TheAssociated Press shares the latest results from SquareTrade’s durability tests, which put the iPhone 5s just half a point ahead of the brand new Galaxy S5. According to SquareTrade, the relative small size of the iPhone 5s gives it an edge over the 5-inch Android phones which have begun flooding the market. An iPhone owner is simply less likely to drop his or her phone.

Although Samsung didn’t topple Apple this generation, the Galaxy S5 did receive a much lower score (where lower is better) than the Galaxy S4. Last year’s Galaxy S4had the high risk score of 7, owing to its poor performance during drops tests and a slippery back panel. Samsung took the back panel criticism to heart, as the new, less stylish band-aid look is admittedly much easier to grip. The improved design coupled with the water and dust resistance of the Galaxy S5 bumped the score down to 6.

Of note, Samsung’s Galaxy S5 has done very well in recent torture tests — it even survived a crazy two-story drop.

The battle between Apple and Samsung rages on, but even as the breakability scores of the iPhone and Galaxy smartphones continue to drop, other Android phone makers have already surpassed the mobile leaders. With a score of 4.5, both the Moto X and the original HTC One outclass the best-selling competition in terms of durability. With a 5.5-inch iPhone rumored to be on the horizon, Apple’s score is likely to rise even further during the next report.

SOURCE: CHRON