A look back at Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup

Earlier this week, Samsung officially announced the Galaxy S10 (and S10+), the company's latest and greatest Android flagship. Somewhat obviously, the S10 is also the tenth-generation Galaxy S, which means it's been ten years since the very first Gal...

Samsung Galaxy S5 to Come with 2K Display


Samsung is said to be working on a high-end premium version of its latest Galaxy S5 smart phone. The rumored upcoming high resolution version of Galaxy S5 is widely called Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime....

Samsung Galaxy S5 Users Can Now Login to PayPal with Their Fingerprint

PayPal Biometrics

PayPal announced at MWC 2014 that it will offer biometric authentication on Samsung Galaxy S5 and the smartwatches made by the South Korean company, but it only officially launched this feature just now.

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung told the world that the fingerprint scanner would be accessible by developers, and the proof that that is just rolling before our eyes now, as PayPal announced that it launches biometric authentication for Samsung’s flagship smartphone. On one hand, this represents a quicker way of accessing the app, while on the other hand, it adds a bit to the overall safety of the authentication process, as fingerprints are not that easy to replicate. Or are they? Leaving Chaos Club’s method aside, I’ve watched plenty of movies in which biometric authentication is bypassed by removing the needed part from the… OK, I think I’ve said enough!

The ability to login to PayPal using nothing but the fingerprint is available as of today in 25 countries. In addition, PayPal announced the launch of a mobile app specifically tailored for Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Fit. While this app won’t allow people to make any transactions, they will at least be able to see their balance. Obviously, payment notifications will also be available, as they are featured on the smartphone version. On top of that, local business offers will be displayed on the smartwatch’s screen if any of them are available.

PayPal’s biometric authentication is something new both for e-payment processors, so this company definitely has the head start in this field. They even went the extra mile and offered to help people get rid of their old devices in the favor of the Galaxy S5. How? Well, in case you don’t know or remember, PayPal is owned by eBay who happens to be the largest auction site on Earth. What simpler way to say your non-fingerprint-scanner smartphone goodbye than to put it up for auction?

The introduction of this new technology enables people to make payments using only their fingertips, regardless if they’re done in PayPal’s mobile app or on websites or apps that accept PayPal as a payment method. I’d love to see this thing extended to all the countries where PayPal is used, and not only in the 25 privileged ones.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Order Ahead and Pay at Table mobile services that PayPal introduced last month, and the Photo Checking feature of the PayPal app for Android.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Has a Built In Baby Crying Detector in Case Your Ears Are Broken

Any new parent develops the ability to hear a baby cry no matter what they are doing. You could be cutting tile with a 50hp saw while a jet taxies in the background and if the baby cries, you hear them. Once the second kid rolls around you don’t even get up when the baby pukes on you. A new feature has turned up on the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone that helps parent hear their baby that could be useful if you have any hearing issues.

gs5magnify

The feature is called the Baby Crying Detector and for it to work, you’ll also need a Galaxy Gear smartwatch. With the S5 and the Gear synced, you leave the phone within one meter of the baby. When the baby cries, the phone will vibrate and send an alert to the Gear watch. That way you know the baby is awake.

Samsung wisely warns you not to use this feature in lieu of actually watching your baby. I can’t think of too many parents these days that can be away from their smartphone games and social apps like Facebook long enough to leave the phone in the baby’s room.

[via Soyacincau]

The All New HTC One M8 is Official and Already Available

pr-2014-03-25

Spring is never slow for smartphone launches.  With the Galaxy S5 coming soon, the next biggest competitor from HTC hits the ground running.

After delayed launches for their last two major smartphones, HTC isn’t pulling any punches.  CEO Peter Chou walked on stage at the launch event for the HTC One M8 and announced that HTC doesn’t “do gimmicks.”  He said they want to give their customers a “pure, beautiful, straightforward, and an everyday great experience.”

The All New HTC One M8 is at the very least a valiant effort to be all that and more.  Chou boasted that last year’s One  ”was named the best smartphone at MWC,” which he found funny, because the device was almost a year old at the time.  That bodes well for a new HTC One that finds ways to improve (at least marginally) in all areas.

Peter Chou is clearly proud of the metal construction of the HTC One line, especially with the new HTC One M8.  Last year, HTC accomplished something amazing when they constructed a phone that was comprised of 70% metal.  This year’s phone pushes the design even further and its materials are comprised of 90% metal.

HTC’s Lead Designer, Jonah Becker, explained that HTC is “passionate about design” and that they “design for exceptional people who think for themselves.”  That passion really shows with the One M8, which is almost entirely milled out of a solid block of aluminum, Chou said the One M8 is ”Just like a premium watch or fine jewelry,” drawing a contrast against “competitor’s” phones, which are mainly produced from plastic materials.  Those weren’t the only shots across Samsung’s bow, though.  When Jason Mackenzie–president of HTC America–took the stage, he also emphasized the new and improved design and said it was ”It’s so much better than throwing a few dimples on the back” in a jab at the new Samsung Galaxy S5 design.

There’s more to the HTC One M8 than the physical design, though.  The rest of the hardware got a boost as well. The processor on the M8 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, which is basically an over-clocked and precisely optimized version of the Snapdragon 800.  The 801 on the M8 is quad core and clocks in at 2.3 GHz.  The phone also sports 2GB of RAM.

The screen is 5″, slightly larger than last year, but still provides 1080p resolution.  The increase in screen size means the pixel density will be slightly less, but it will take a keen eye to be aware of any difference. The phone will be available in 16 and 32GB models, but also returns SD card support up to 128GB.  Many power-users are dependent on SD cards, but Android has been moving away from providing SD cards as they are a flawed solution to most storage needs.

Last year’s HTC One made a big effort to abandon the megapixel arms race and opt for a larger image sensor over cramming more pixels into that sensor.  Not everyone was a fan of the resulting ultra-pixel camera, but the consensus was generally positive. This year’s HTC One M8 doesn’t do much to improve the resolution complaints lodged by some people, but attempts to make up for it with vastly improved camera experience and some fancy new features, the most prominent of which comes from the addition of a second camera sensor.

The new 2nd camera sensor serves to capture depth of field, which allows focus adjustments to be made after the shot is take, but also powers their new “Foregrounder” tool, which allows special shading and color effects to be added exclusively to the background of a photo, while leaving the foreground intact.

The camera app has also been drastically simplified and now allows granular controls over many different camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and etc.  Even better, you can save custom configurations to easily return to the settings later if you have a favorite setup.

 One of the biggest standouts from the 2013 HTC One was Boomsound.  Never before had a smartphone produced the volume or quality of sound that the dual front facing speakers of the HTC One could.  That is still the case today, but HTC is still at it, despite the sale of their portion of Beats Audio. Due to improved engineering and deeper speaker chambers, the HTC One M8 Boomsound is 25% louder and also has improved bass and audio quality.  That makes the phone loud enough that many may keep the volume at the halfway setting unless they are showing a youtube video to a room full of people.

Last year’s Sense 5.0 and the updated Sense 5.5 for the HTC One family went a long way to pare down some of the intrusions into Android and simplified and flattened the interface while adding some key features.  Sense 6.0, or as HTC calls it “Sixth Sense,” is even smarter.

The custom content curator, Blinkfeed, now has over 1,000 content partners and 5.7 million active users.  Updates to Blinkfeed will prioritize social posts with more activity, such as Facebook likes, and allow updates from apps like Foursquare or Fitbit to display updates right in with the rest of your feed.

Other software improvements include updates to the Sense TV app bring an even more interactive television experience.  The original HTC one had an IR port and TV guide integration, but the One M8 goes even further, with social integration and other second screen additions for various TV shows or sporting events.

The quick access features in Sense have been made even quicker, as the screen can now be turned on and off through a double tap, similar to the LG G2, but you can also access specific apps directly from the screen off position using various gestures.  The phone will even automatically answer calls by you raising it to your ear.

HTC has also broken off several components of Sense 6 into separate apps, so that updates can now be provided via Google Play, similar to the way Android is updated via Google Play Services, so now you can have many of the newest Sense updates without waiting for your carrier to push a firmware update.

Battery life has been increased by around 40% due to a larger battery and some software improvements.  Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC promises a plethora of battery settings that can stretch the battery life even further, depending on circumstances.

The only accessory announced is the Dot View case.  Reminiscine of the classic Lite-Brite toy, the Dot View case provides super low resolution access to some of the most basic data such as notifications, battery life, and time without having to power on the phone.

As rumored, HTC made a bold move by making the HTC One available almost immediately after the announcement and it can be ordered now from the websites of most major North American carriers and several european retailers.  HTC is wasting no time in getting the One M8 into the hands of drooling customers with the largest product rollout in HTC History.  By the end of April, HTC has committed to releasing phones for over 230 carriers in over 100 countries.

It remains to be seen how well the phone will catch on, but HTC has done just about everything possible to make the phone desirable and available, so we’ll have to wait and see if that translates into sales success.

Source: Engadget

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter

Read more on Walyou, The Quantified and Augmented SelfGoogle Gives the Smartwatch its Blessing With Android Wear

Samsung Brings the Features of Galaxy S5 to Other Smartphones via an App

Samsung Galaxy S5 UI App

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Experience app is supposed to show people what they are missing by not buying the South Korean company’s latest flagship smartphone.

There will always be skeptics when a new product is launched, especially in the ever-changing world of mobile devices. In terms of hardware, there are changes from year to year, some more dramatic than others, but what most people are concerned about when a new flagship smartphone gets released is the software. This is the aspect that makes the difference between one manufacturer and another, and as proof of that stand the proprietary apps that get ported to other versions of Android and even to the devices of other manufacturers.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Experience is a smartphone app with a very self-explanatory name that leaves very little to be guessed. Basically, after installing this app on an Android smartphone, you can pretend that you use an SGS5, the only things that will remind you that you don’t being the smaller display with a smaller resolution and a smaller pixel density, the slower CPU and GPU, the lower amount of RAM, the lack of a heartbeat sensor and fingerprint security, and so on. You get it, you can only play with the UI of the Galaxy S5 and with some of the proprietary features that make this smartphone that special.

In a few words, what Samsung is doing with this app is a great marketing campaign. The company manages to provide an illusion that will furthermore lure new customers in, provided that they have the money necessary for buying the S5. However, Samsung would most probably be happy even if a small percentage of the users of Galaxy S5 Experience become Galaxy S5 owners.

Among the Samsung apps that can be tested within the Galaxy S5 Experience app, one that’s meant to spark a lot of interest is Ultra Power Save Mode. According to the manufacturer, this app is capable of tripling the battery life of S5 over S4. While by simply running the Experience app people won’t be able to see the effects, they’ll learn what the app looks like and what parameters it modifies in order to achieve that performance.

Anyone wanting to experience how the Galaxy S5 looks like should head over to Google Play Store and download the app for free.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the

New Rumors Suggest HTC One Early Availability

all-new-htc-one-m8-dummy-4

It seems like HTC can’t ever get a break, with their most recent product launches delayed by weeks, but this year we may see a bolder, more timely HTC launch.

The last two HTC flagship phone launches have been plagued by delays. The HTC One X and HTC EVO LTE were both delayed in 2012 due to patent squabbles with Apple, then the HTC One was delayed in 2013 due to camera production issues.

Both of these delays struck a nasty blow not only to HTC’s sales numbers, but also to customer faith in the brand. HTCs Spring launch is usually squared off against the newest Samsung phone launch, so the slightest delay is disastrous as Samsung is waiting for impatient customers with open arms.

Apple has typically been the best example of successful product launch, with most of their iPhone and iPad launches running like clockwork. Apple will hold an event to announce and show off their newest gadget, then pre-orders will start a week later, and the phone ships the week after that. Apple fans know that that they never have to wait long once the phone is announced, and Apple’s numbers reflect that confidence.

Recent news suggest HTC may by trying to set a new standard for device launches by having the All New HTC One available within minutes of the launch announcement on March 25th.

The only known retailer to make this announcement is Carphone Warehouse, but such a statement suggests there will be stock available for sale the day of, so there shouldn’t be anything stopping other retailers from having similar availability.

Such a bold launch strategy would help HTCs sales in leaps and bounds, especially considering their device will be announced and available for consumer purchase before Samsung even gets a chance to make the Galaxy S5 available for pre-order.

The availability is still not confirmed, though, with other vendors suggesting the phone will be available a few weeks later.  A mid April launch could mean that the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S5 may have the same launch weekend, which could be tough with the way Samsung’s marketing budget dwarf’s HTCs.

Either way, if HTC can have a quicker product turnaround this year and avoid taking the hit from yet another delay, they may yet sell a phone or two.

Source: BGR

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter

Read more on Walyou, HTC Teases Boomsound Improvements for All New HTC OneOne More Advantage to Buying HTC

Samsung Galaxy S5 Official Hands-on-Video Released


Samsung has introduced its all-new Galaxy S5 smartphone at the MWC 2014 last month along with new Gear wearables (smart watches and fitness bands).  Samsung has also unveiled Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo...

Samsung Galaxy S5 is Official and Coming Soon

GALAXY S5_Combi-578-80

It’s that time of year again.  Mobile World Congress comes to a close and we are in the beginning of Android flagship phone season.

GALAXY S5_Combi-578-80

Samsung is first out the gate with the announcement of the Galaxy S5, the long awaited—much rumored—flagship smartphone for Samsung.  Although the device won’t be available for consumers until April 11th, many reviewers were able to get a first look at the Samsung Unpacked 5 event.

There arent many surprises with the phone this year, which is both good and bad as many of Samsung’s previous phones have been packed full of surprise new “features,” which many consider unnecessary and bloated, but at the same time, everyone does want to see technology leap forward when new devices are launched.

The device appears to be a design improvement, after the last two iterations have been nearly indistinguishable with a casual glance.  The back cover favors a pock marked soft touch plastic over the high gloss plastic of previous models.  This will go a long way to giving the device a more “premium feel” in hand.  The phone is launching in Black, White, Blue, and Gold, but don’t be surprised to see additional colors (and carrier exclusives) offered later this year.  The edges of the phone are still wrapped by a “chromed plastic” accent, which typically doesn’t look so good towards the end of a two year contract, but it will definitely be shiny out of the box.

GalaxyS5_500_portrait

The front of the phone doesn’t vary from its predecessor much, other than being a little more squared off in the corners.  It sports a 5.1” 1080P Super AMOLED display, which is nearly identical to the screen found on the S4, but any significant improvement there wouldn’t be noticeable by most human eyes anyway.

Samsung has also finally brought itself more in-line with the Android guidelines by forgoing the capacitive menu button, so the front of the phone now sports a physical home button (now a calling card for the Galaxy S brand) with capacitive back and multi-tasking buttons on the right and left, respectively.   The home button has a finger print scanner built in as well.  Early reports suggest functionality of the scanner leaves much to be desired, but with over a month before the official device launch, any judgment should be reserved for a few weeks.

The insides are an expected step forward, with a 2.5GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM.   Previous iterations have launched several models, such as the octa-core Galaxy S4 last year, but it looks like there will only be one variant this year, likely because of better LTE support in newer chipsets, so one set of hardware can support a much broader range of cellular infrastructures.

The Battery has been upgraded to a 2,800mAh battery, which will provides a little more juice than the Galaxy S4’s 2,600mAh battery.  Combined with software improvements, the battery promises 20% more battery life, or double battery life if the new “Ultra Power Saving Mode” is activated.

galaxys5-2040-8_verge_super_wide

Samsung’s camera technology has always been right there at the front of the pack and the Galaxy S5 keeps that trend, with a 16MP camera sensor that supports 4K video capture and real-time HDR processing to better handle varying light conditions.  The camera interface is greatly scaled back and any after effects—including a new post photo selective refocusing feature—can now be applied at any time (instead of being designated strictly prior to shooting) so the new camera features should be more accessible to all owners, not just the more technically inclined.

The phone will launch with Android 4.4 KitKat with Samsung’s mostly unchanged TouchWiz interface.  The overly colorful and cartoony elements appear to have been flattened some and it looks a little more modern, but any rumors of a drastically scaled back version of the software were greatly exaggerated.

One new feature not seen on any other phone is a heart rate monitor built into the back of the phone next to the camera flash.  This goes hand-in-hand with Samsung’s S Health app and a pedometer and exercise tracker.  This duplicates a lot of featuers available through current fitness trackers (including Samsung’s own Gear Fit), so it remains to be seen how actively these features will be used.

samsung-galaxy-s5-mwc-2014-24_610x458

All in all, the Galaxy S5 is a much more polished smartphone when compared to its predecessors, but doesn’t bring much to the table that will get many people to upgrade out of their Galaxy S4.  All the Galaxy S III (yes, they used to use roman numerals previous to the S4) owners just coming out of contract will be happy to upgrade to an S5, but may decide to go with an S4 pending a price announcement by Samsung.

The Galaxy S5 will be available April 11th for most major carriers.  We will be sure to keep you updated with any major new developments.

Source: BGR, CNET, The Verge

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter

Read more on Walyou, Samsung’s Galaxy Gear May Not Need Android AnymoreSamsung Gear Fit Is the Fitness Tracker You Didn’t Know You Needed

Samsung Announces Galaxy S5 Launching April 11

Samsung Galaxy S5Samsung announced the release of the Galaxy S5 on Monday at the Unpacked 5 conference in Barcelona. According to the announcement, the much anticipated S5 will be available to the public in the US beginning April 11, but the initial release of pricing or what colors will be available, were not specified.

In this release, Samsung appears to have focused on improving more of the practical, day-to-day functionality’s of the device instead of adding any new bleeding edge features. Some of those include improvements to the phone’s camera, processing speed and most importantly batter life. The S5 will support up to 24 hours of standby time, 10 hours of web browsing or 12 hours of video playback (both on LTE, of course). The company did add a finger print scanner and a heart rate monitor which puts the device in line with the growing future of wearable technologies.

Some expected colors, as pictured here, include blue, gold, black and silver. Answers to pricing and original release colors, as well as release dates to other countries will have to wait.

Washington Post