Samsung Galaxy S5 Review

Introduction
For a few years now, Samsung has been the dominant player on the Android smartphone market. Ever since the Galaxy S II, the giant from South Korea has established itself as a relentless alpha that is in no way willing to share the prey with others. Instead, other companies have been left fighting over the leftovers, fighting for survival in this Samsung world.

Such is the market landscape in early 2014, but it seems like we're starting to see the first signs indicating that this unbalanced status quo may be coming to an end. Some of the major Android competitors, like Sony or HTC, for example, are beginning to gain momentum with consistently strong offerings such as the Xperia Z2 and the One (M8), while it feels like the announcement of Samsung's Galaxy S5 earlier this year couldn't really spark the massive media and consumer hysteria that usually accompanies Galaxy S phone launches. Could 2014 really be the beginning of the end for Samsung's Android hegemony? Has the company finally grown weary, to the point that it can no longer keep the comfortable lead it's been enjoying thus far?

Hardly. Enter the Galaxy S5 – Samsung's 'back-to-basics' flagship smartphone, designed to rethink the company's whole concept when it comes to the look, feel and features of its top offering. Sure, the phone's introduction didn't cause a tsunami of enthusiasm, but it seems like the Galaxy S5 is one of those products that actually has to be experienced in order to be rated correctly. Indeed, this time around, Samsung isn't trying to impress users with its traditional 'everything plus the kitchen sink' approach. Instead, the company has tried to pack fewer, but more meaningful goodies – features designed to actually benefit your experience with the phone, not complicate it.

Has the company succeeded in this heavy task? Is there enough to be loved in the Samsung Galaxy S5 for it to preserve its leading position? All of this shall be answered in the following lines!

Design
With its new Glam look, the Galaxy S5 tries to keep the warmth and approachability of Samsung's typical design language, while adding a touch of class.

To be honest, appearance has never been a strong characteristic of Samsung's Android-powered products. As if the company realizes that, the South Koreans have been tweaking and changing the exteriors of their top smartphones with almost every new generation. Last year, the Galaxy S4 launched with a glossy plastic design, but the Note 3 brought forth a different take on that style – a faux leather look for the plastic back cover. That new design language made its way to some of the other phones and tablets of the company, but thankfully, with the Galaxy S5, Samsung is once again looking for that new visual style that would give its flagship phone a much-needed boost in the design department.

Behold, the Glam look! Samsung's new design for the Galaxy S5 ditches the faux leather for a new rubbery plastic finish with a nice, dotted pattern. It's an inviting design with a warm and comfortable feel. Moreover, it's a design that actually looks quite good and eye-catchy, especially in the more expressive blue and gold color variants (besides those, the Galaxy S5 is also available in black and white). In terms of grip, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is pretty decent – it's by no means as slippery as some of its metal competitors (hello, HTC One (M8)).

Size-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has grown quite a bit from the relatively compact footprint that its predecessor had. While the display has only grown by 0.1 inches, the dimensions have increased from 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches (136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm) in the Galaxy S4 to 5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 inches (142 x 72.5 x 8.1) in the GS5. All in all, the phone has become significantly bigger, but it's still comfortable to work with, as it sits nicely in the hand. In terms of weight, the Galaxy S5 tips the scales at 5.11 oz (145 g) – a bit heavier than the 4.59 oz (130 g) of the GS4, but oh well, we guess all the new goodies hiding under the hood are to blame for the bigger dimensions and added heft. Even then, however, the Galaxy S5 remains lighter than some of its top competitors, like the HTC One (M8) (5.64 oz (160 g)), and the Sony Xperia Z2 (5.75 oz (163 g)).

Besides the sizable 5.1" display, the front side of the Samsung Galaxy S5 houses the earpiece and Samsung's logo, positioned near the top edge. Below the screen, there are the physical Home key (doubling as a fingerprint scanner), and the touch-sensitive Multitasking and Back keys. In contrast to most other Android makers out there, Samsung is refraining from using on-screen navigation buttons, leaving the entire 5.1" display available to system and third-party. We actually tend to appreciate this, since we don't like it when there's a thick, black bar taking up precious screen space, as it is on the new Nexus, One and Xperia smartphones. Of course, this benefit will become less important in the future, when more and more applications begin to take advantage of Android 4.4 KitKat's Immersive Mode, but at the current time, having every pixel of your screen available to your content is definitely a good thing. But back to the physical keys and their execution – the home button, as well as the volume rocker and the power/lock key all function really well. They are easy to find by touch alone (the power key could be a bit better in this respect), while they also have that nice, clicky feel, making them pleasant to use.

The volume rocker of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is occupying its traditional place on the left hand side of the phone. The same goes for the power/lock key that's found on the right hand side. The top edge is where you'll find the 3.5 mm headphone jack, as well as the IR blaster, while the bottom side houses the securely covered microUSB 3.0 port.

So, the Galaxy S5 features a microUSB 3.0 port – that's all very cool, but why does it have to be so tightly closed? Well, that's because the Galaxy S5 is water- and dust-resistant! With its IP 67 certification, Samsung's new flagship is completely protected against dust particles, while immersing it in water of up to 1 meter deep, for up to about 30 minutes, shouldn't cause any damage to the phone's internals. The GS5's main rival in this area is the Sony Xperia Z2, which sports IP 58 certification. What this means is that Sony's phone is not as perfectly secure as the GS5 when it comes to dust (although it still has a considerable degree of protection), but it can go deeper than 1 meter of water, and for longer periods at that. Still, we here at PhoneArena want you to know that we are in no way suggesting that you give these features a try! Just enjoy the comfort of knowing that you can safely put your phone on the table, with no danger of it being rendered useless, should you accidentally spill a glass of water (or something else) over it...

The back side of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is where the new, 16 MP camera resides. Naturally, the slightly protruding camera is accompanied by an LED flash, as well as the Samsung logo and the loudspeaker, but there's also something else... Right next to the LED flash is where we find a brand new feature – a dedicated heartrate sensor! Whether it works well and if it's more beneficial than all those apps claiming to detect your heartrate accurately, though, you'll get to know in the software section of the review.

As a whole, we commend Samsung for coming up with the so-called Glam design of the Galaxy S5. It's both a practical and good-looking solution that retains the main virtues of the company's traditional design, while giving a nice boost to the appearance aspect as well. And, when we factor in the added benefit of water- and dust-resistance, the Samsung Galaxy S5 shapes up as a truly-compelling offering from a design standpoint.

Source: phonearena

Sony Xperia Z2 vs Samsung Galaxy S5

Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen, we're now five months into the year, and we can declare the 2014 edition of the flagship derby in full swing. Arriving third on the scene is Sony's refresh of the Xperia Z1 in the Xperia Z2, and despite it being chock-full of promise, the competition is not about to let it have a field day.

Prime among the Z2's rivals is Samsung's equally solid new Galaxy S5. Truth be told, Samsung's new top shelfer has quite a bit going for it. Which is all the more reason to be impressed by the Z2, which seemingly has a leg up on it. At least on paper. Indeed, the flagship Xperia has the slightly more remarkable body and the slightly bigger screen, battery, and pixel count on its camera. Does that necessarily make the Xperia Z2 the slightly better device? Take them eyes off that specs chart and join us in order to find out.

Design
The Z2's rectangular and clear-cut, glass-and-metal body looks nothing like the S5's more-ergonomic, rounded plastic.

Design-wise, Sony and Samsung have taken two differing approaches, and even a cursory glance reveals them. Rectangular in nature, the Xperia Z2 is the bulkier of the two, and is on the heavy side at 163 grams (5.75 oz). In comparison, the 145 gram (5.11 oz) Galaxy S5 is more lightweight, and its rounded form factor makes it the, hands down, more ergonomic device to hold. That said, the S5's all-plastic exterior appears modest next to the glass-and-metal Z2.

A choicer pick of materials may not have necessarily been on the mind of Samsung, but it did borrow a page off Sony's book: IP certification. More specifically, the IP67-rated S5 is now neck-and-neck with the IP58-certified Z2 in what is becoming an increasingly sought-after department. Put in layman's terms, the two otherwise cryptic abbreviations certify the two devices' ability to withstand dust or water ingress. It's worth pointing out that the S5 is completely dust-tight, while the Z2 is the slightly better swimmer. Of course, this back-and-forth didn’t stop there, and the port flaps-cluttered Z2 still is a bit of a sore sight for the eye, whereas the S5 sports the more simplistic, flaps-free frame (save for the microUSB port). The S5 also proves superior as far as navigating the power and volume buttons go – they’re clickier, and not as sticky as with the Z2 – though it does lack the dedicated, two-step shutter key of Sony’s flagship.

Lastly, while the Xperia Z2 opts for on-screen buttons, Samsung’s signature home button and capacitive keys leave the full 5.1-inches of the S5’s AMOLED screen for you to do with as you will. Speaking of displays…

Display
Sony is finally doing it: the Xperia Z2's IPS panel proves a step ahead of the AMOLED panel on the Galaxy S5.

Looking back, both Sony and Samsung have had a shaky record, at least as far as the quality of their displays is concerned. For its part, Sony kept insisting on using inferior TFT panels with poor viewing angles and washed out colors, while Samsung's bet with AMOLEDs has often been criticized for its inaccurate color reproduction and relatively low peak brightness. As almost every other thing in this industry, however, improvements have been made.

Starting with the 5.2-inch, 1080p screen on the Xperia Z2, we finally see Sony thaw and adopt IPS (In-Plane Switching) tech. The panel in question has a very good color temperature of 6909 K (so whites appear white), and peak brightness, at about 460 nits, is also up to speed and allows for outdoors use. At 2.59, gamma isn't as excellent, but that's far from a deal-breaker. Speaking of colors, those are over-saturated on the whole, but overall reproduction is acceptable.

In comparison, the 5.1-inch, 1080p AMOLED display on the S5 is, strictly speaking, a tad inferior. It's got a cold color temperature of 8183 K, and this leads to some notably bluish whites and messed up shades of gray. Peak brightness is also a notch lower, at 442 nits (but still enough for use outside), and gamma, at 2.25 is pretty spot on. As for color reproduction, Samsung's panel offers heavily-saturated and notably incorrect colors.

Source: phonearena

Samsung rebrands Heathrow Airport terminal to tout Galaxy S5

A two-week ad campaign will change the name seen in the signage at the London airport's Terminal 5 to push the S5 to travelers.

Samsung's Galaxy S5

Those of you who visit Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport as of May 19 will notice a new name courtesy of Samsung.

Starting Monday, Terminal 5 will unofficially be redubbed "Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5" in line with a new two-week promotion, Samsung announced on Friday.

The new name will pop up on all signage at the terminal, including the entrance and drop-off locations, the lounges, the gates, and the security area. All 172 digital panels that appear in the terminal, gate rooms, and baggage spots will sport the new name along with images of the Galaxy S5, Samsung explained.

Going a step further, the signage in the airport lounges will lead people to Dixons Travel stores where they can check out the S5 themselves. And for all would-be travelers, the website for Terminal 5 will also showcase the new name.

Arranged with both Heathrow Airport and display-ad company JCDecaux Airport, the campaign marks the first time the UK's biggest airport has allowed a brand name takeover of Terminal 5, according to Samsung.

"We are always looking for ways to maximize brand impact and this activity is testament to that," Russell Taylor, vice president of corporate marketing for Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said in a statement. "The partnership with Heathrow Airport and JCDecaux Airport was a one-off opportunity to push the boundaries like no other brand has been allowed to do before."

A spokesperson for Heathrow told CNET that Terminal 5's name itself hasn't changed, but that Samsung bought advertising inside the terminal that refer to it as "Terminal Galaxy 5S" in a "tongue-in-cheek way."

CNET contacted Samsung for comment and will update the story with any further details.

Source: CNET

Sen. Franken more concerned about Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner than Apple’s Touch ID

U.S. Senator Al Franken, Chairman of the Senate’s Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, has questions about the fingerprint scanner and its functionality in the newly launched Galaxy S5. On Tuesday, he sent Samsung a letter asking for answers on how the technology is supposed to work, and how Samsung is guarding the privacy of Galaxy S5 buyers using it.

Franken has sent the letter after finding out that the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner can easily be hacked with dummy fingerprints picked up from the phone’s screen, just like the iPhone 5s’s Touch ID sensor – Franken also contacted Apple on the matter asking similar questions about its own fingerprint reading tech.

However, Franken says that the Galaxy S5’s implementation of the feature posses additional security risks, as the feature isn’t used solely to unlock the handset.

“The Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner reportedly allows for unlimited authentication attempts without a password prompt, whereas Apple’s Touch ID requires a password after only five failed attempts,” Franken wrote. “Furthermore, while Touch ID can be used only to unlock a device and access certain tightly monitored Apple apps, Galaxy S5 appears to allow any app to use the fingerprint scanner instead of the password. This means that you can use the Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner to send money on PayPal and access your password app; unfortunately it likely means that bad actors who spoof your fingerprints can do that, too. This broader access to the scanner could potentially allow third parties to access sensitive information generated by the technology.”

Franken asked Samsung 13 questions, 12 of which he asked Apple last year. The Senator wants to know how Samsung secures fingerprint data, on top of what it also asked the iPhone maker – whether third parties can access fingerprint data, whether such data can be extracted from the phone, whether fingerprint data is stored on a computer, the cloud or servers, whether third parties or Samsung collect fingerprint data, and what Samsung plans to do with the technology in the future.

Franken wants Samsung to tell him how fingerprint data is categorized when it comes to U.S. privacy and intelligence laws, and whether Samsung can assure users it will protect their fingerprint data and not share it with any other third parties, unless so required by local laws.

“I’m not trying to discourage adoption of fingerprint technology for consumer mobile devices,” Franken concluded. “Rather, my goal is to urge companies to deploy this technology in the most secure manner reasonable — and create a public record around how companies are treating sensitive biometric information.”

Source: BGR

Samsung touts 4 ways the Galaxy S5 is better than the iPhone

Every once in a while, Samsung puts together some promotional videos that somehow manage to avoid bashing Apple a single time. Though it may be rare, it does happen. And when it happens, the videos in question tend to actually focus on explaining some key features of the product Samsung is trying to sell. As crazy as it sounds, sometimes these promos are even more interesting and helpful than Samsung’s dozens upon dozens of Apple-bashing spots.

Four new promotional videos were released by Samsung this week that show off some of the Galaxy S5′s most important and intriguing features. Among them are the S Heath fitness suite, ultra power saving mode, new camera features and the phone’s 5.1-inch full HD display.

All four of these features are fantastic, and all four of them can be made to look appealing without bashing the iPhone a single time.

Does this mean Samsung will stop slapping Apple for good? Of course not — positioning iPhone users as mindless hipster sheep helped make Samsung the smartphone giant it is today. But maybe… just maybe… Samsung will start to focus on its own products a bit more now that it’s the top smartphone maker in the world by a huge margin.

Samsung’s four new Galaxy S5 promo videos are embedded below.