Review: Mophie’s Extended Battery Case For The Galaxy S5
consumer electronics , GalaxyS5 , News , smart phones / October 15, 2014

Mophie, one of the most leading manufacturers of extended battery smartphone cases, recently released a case for the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s flagship smartphone is already touted as being one of the most power-efficient devices on the market, offering an average of 21 hours talk time per single charge. And users can stretch their Galaxy S5’s battery even longer by using its Ultra Power Saving Mode. So, do you really need Mophie’s extended battery case? The Galaxy S5 features a removable 2,850 mAh battery, meaning you can carry a backup if you can’t seem to keep your device charged. When your device runs out of juice, you can simply replace the battery for instant power. There’s no faster or easier way to recharge your device. With that said, Galaxy S5-compatible batteries aren’t cheap, so it’s probably a smarter move to invest in an extended battery case, such as Mophie’s. You might assume that Mophie’s case for the Galaxy S5 features the same 2,850 mAh battery. After all, this is the battery type used in the Galaxy S5, so it would only make sense for Mophie to include it in its case. According to the company’s official product listing, though, it features…

Why Is Samsung Dragging Its Feet With the Galaxy Alpha?
News , smart phones / October 14, 2014

We’ve known about Samsung’s premium smartphone for months now. The device was originally rumored to be named the “Galaxy Prime,” but recent reports suggest it will be called the “Galaxy Alpha.” What we don’t know, however, is when exactly Samsung plans to release it, or why they are taking so long. This year, we’ve seen an influx in smartphones with large screens that teeter on the line of being called a phablet. The Galaxy S5, for instance, boasts an impressive 5.1″ display, and Apple announced that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would feature larger display screens. So, what size screen will Samsung include in its upcoming Galaxy Alpha? According to PhoneArena.com, the Galaxy Alpha will have a slightly smaller 4.7″ Super AMOLED display with 720 by 1280-pixel. What truly makes the Galaxy Alpha stand out from the rest, however, is its physical design. It may have a smaller display screen with a lower pixel resolution, but the overall body design is quiet impressive to say the least. At just 6.7 mm, it’s the thinnest smartphone manufactured by Samsung — even thinner than the Galaxy S5. In addition to its sleek and slim design, the Galaxy Alpha also…

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Sony Xperia Z3
Comparison , GalaxyS5 , smart phones / October 13, 2014

It’s been several months now since Samsung launched its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone. Since that time, it’s won numerous awards and accolades for its cutting-edge hardware and software. With Sony gearing up to release its Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone in the upcoming months, however, some people are wondering if it will trump the Galaxy S5. In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at these two high-end smartphones. Upon viewing the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z3 for the first time, you’ll notice these two devices look strikingly similar. Samsung’s flagship smartphone features a 1920 x 1080 pixel 5.1″ display, while Sony’s flagship smartphone features a  1920 x 1080 pixel 5.2″ display. Technically, the Xperia Z3 is slightly larger, but a tenth of an inch is a nominal difference that most users won’t notice. With that said, The Galaxy S5 features a colorful Super AMOLED display, whereas Sony opted to use a IPS LCD display in its smartphone. Both the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z3 use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz, as well as the same GPU. There’s no clear winner between the two in terms of processing power, as both devices offer some…

Samsung Confirms Android 4.4.4 Update For Sprint Galaxy S5
GalaxyS5 , smart phones , Software / October 8, 2014

It’s been a long time in the making, but Galaxy S5 users on the Sprint network may soon receive the Android 4.4.4 update. Sprint broke the news on more than month ago, but it didn’t specify an exact date for the over-the-air (OTA) rollout. This left thousands of Galaxy S5 users wondering when they would see Android 4.4.4 on their device. Well, it looks like that time is now, as Samsung recently confirmed the upcoming Android update on its website. According to Samsung support page published here, Android build G900PVPU1ANI4 (KitKat) was released on 9/24/2014 for the Sprint Galaxy S5. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every user on the network will receive the update, as it will likely take several weeks for the rollout to complete. With that said, most websites are saying that the Sprint is actively working to release the new Android 4.4.4 update. So if you haven’t received the update, keep checking your Galaxy S5 and you’ll probably see it soon. It’s important to note that 4.4.4 will likely be the final build of Android KitKat. Google released the developer preview version of Android 5.0 L earlier this year, highlighting some major changes to its…

Logitech Launches New Ultra-Rugged Galaxy S5 Case
GalaxyS5 , hardware , News , smart phones / October 7, 2014

Still searching for a durable yet stylish case for your Galaxy S5? Logitech launched a new Logitech Protection [+] (Plus) case earlier this month. While there are dozens if not hundreds of Galaxy S5 cases available on the market, the Protection [+] takes a bold step in a different direction. It offers a unique combination of style, comfort, durability and usability features that simply aren’t found in other cases. To learn more about the new Logitech Protection [+] case and what it has to offer, keep reading. The Logitech Protection [+] lives up to its namesake by delivering more than just your average protective outer shell. Before we go into the special features it offers, however, let’s first talk about the physical design of this innovative new the case. According to the company’s website, the new Protection [+] case is designed withstand drops, bumps and scratches. It’s even tested to exceed the Military Drop Standard (MIL-STD 810G), which is pretty impressive to say the least. The Logitech Protection [+] will protect your Galaxy S5 from drops of 1.2 meters high, and it contains a layer of soft thermoplastic rubber to absorb shocks and blows. But the real beauty of the…

Android L Previewed on The Galaxy S5
GalaxyS5 , News , smart phones / October 6, 2014

Curious to know what Google’s upcoming Android 5.0 L operating system will look like on the Galaxy S5? While it’s still months away from being officially released (we assume), the folks over at SamMobile.com recently published a video which shows Android L running on the Galaxy S5. How were they able to install Android L on the Galaxy S5? SamMobile claims that unnamed “sources” provided the Android L test build for Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Initially, their goal was to make the new firmware available for every Galaxy S5 user on the planet, but this vision was soon shot down once they released just how many bugs and quirks needed fixing. Nonetheless, the preview video gives us fans a sneak peak into the future of the Galaxy S5 and other Android L-compatible devices. Samsung typically drags its feet when it comes to rolling out new Android updates, but there’s a good reason for its procrastination: the Galaxy S5 uses its own TouchWiz UI on top of the standard Android OS. This often creates some compatibility problems which Samsung must fix before releasing new Android updates to the Galaxy S5. In the preview video showing the Galaxy S5 running Android L, however,…

Samsung To Launch Galaxy S5 Mini In July
GalaxyS5 , News , smart phones / October 1, 2014

You might have to wait a little while longer to get your hands on the Galaxy S5 Mini. According to a recent report published by SamMobile, Samsung is preparing to launch the new miniaturized version of its flagship smartphone in July. So if you’ve been patiently waiting to purchase the Galaxy S5 Mini, you may want to choose a different device. Assuming this information is correct, it could take nine months (or longer) before it’s even released. Why is Samsung waiting to release the Galaxy S5 Mini when the device is more than likely already finished? We can only speculate as to why Samsung is waiting to release the Galaxy S5, but one theory is that it’s hoping to capitalize on the Galaxy S5 brand name. Samsung has spent millions of dollars promoting the Galaxy S5, which is apparent if you watch the television or listen to the radio. With the Galaxy S5 brand already known to so many people — both in America and abroad — the Galaxy S5 Mini should sell with little effort. This will allow Samsung to continue selling devices well into 2015, even as demand for the original Galaxy S5 begins to subside. The Galaxy…

How To Speed up Your Samsung Galaxy S5
GalaxyS5 , smart phones , Tips Corner / September 29, 2014

The Galaxy S5 is arguably one of the best all-around smartphones currently on the market. Its quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 2 GB RAM offers blazing-fast speeds that trump similar-priced mobile devices. Of course, this is probably why Samsung has already sold 10 million units worldwide. But what if the current Galaxy S5 speeds aren’t enough to meet your particular needs? Thankfully, there are several steps owners can take to speed up their Galaxy S5 device, one of which is to disable the lock screen animation. Ever notice the rippling water that displays on the Galaxy S5 each time you unlock it? Although visually appealing, these animations consume both memory and processing power, which could be used for other more important tasks. To disable the lock screen animation, access Settings > Lock Screen > Unlock effect > and tap the button labeled “none.” You can also speed up your Galaxy S5 by disabling unwanted and/or unused apps. The truth is that most people have far more apps installed on their device than they actually use. Some of these apps will continue to hog valuable system resources even they aren’t being used.  To disable apps, tap the app drawer…

Which Camera is Better? iPhone 6 or Galaxy S5?
cameras , Comparison , GalaxyS5 , smart phones / September 25, 2014

Given the fact that some 93 million selfies are taken each day (source), the camera is a key selling point with modern-day smartphones. Up until the last 5-10 years, cellphone cameras were sub-part when compared to standalone point-and-click cameras. This has since changed, however, with smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Google Nexus 5, HTC One (M8), and now the Apple iPhone 6 paving the way with cutting-edge cameras integrated directly into the hardware. Now that Apple has unveiled the iPhone 6, many people are wondering how its camera will compare against the Galaxy S5’s. Samsung went the extra mile with the Galaxy S5’s camera, which is apparent from the first time you snap a photo with it. But Apple also improved its camera on the iPhone 6, opting for a higher megapixel resolution and better all-around technology than the previous iPhone 5. So, which one of these cameras comes out on top as the winner? The Galaxy S5 boasts a 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera with LED flash and 1080p video. The previous Galaxy S4 also had a powerful camera, but it was only a 13-megapixel model. Samsung wanted to build and improve on this foundation by using a 16-megapixel instead….

Android 5.0 L Coming Soon To The Galaxy S5
GalaxyS5 , News , smart phones / September 23, 2014

Android 5.0 (dubbed Android L) is expected to be largest and most complex update ever performed on the Google-owned mobile operating system. In fact, the Mountain View company even released a developer preview version of the upcoming OS to help smooth over the transition for developers. We still don’t know which devices will receive the Android 5.0 update, but several credible sources are saying Samsung is planning to roll out Android 5.0 to its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone and Galaxy Note 4 “phablet.” There’s on major hurdle that Samsung most cross in order to use Android 5.0 L on the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4: creating an environment in which the new Android 5.0 L OS is compatible with its own signature TouchWiz user interface. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is a skin that’s applied to the devices’ OS, which could trigger some compatibility problems with the new version of Android is released. Samsung is known for dragging its feet when it comes to providing updates; however, analysts are optimistic that it will provide a timely update to the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 when Android 5.0 L is finally released. Assuming they are able to create a stable, compatible…