The Galaxy S5

[2298754]

Why am I not surprised by the huge number of Samsung bash posts by Apple fanboys... how typical.


Anyways back on topic, I think we're finally heading into a time where every generation can't be huge steps forward. Technology isn't evolving fast enough to have all-new devices every year. The XPERIA Z2 is just as similar to the Z as the S4 is to the S5. The new One looks almost identical to the old One, but with updated hardware. Same as the GS5.

 

[Robster3]

Who sells it for $800?

They always start off around the $800 plus in Australia. Its true though they just drop in price to quick the S models anyway. The note 3 hasn't though. Not bashing Samsung nearly bought a Note 3 the other day. If iPhone 6 doesn't impress i will be getting a Note 4, maybe before if they are out.

 

[MRU]

Just saw the settings....

A pure example of everything I have lambasted Samsung about. Every GUI element seems to be designed by completely different teams working off different hymn sheets.

Why invest time making round icons for the settings menu when everything else is squares and non flat design, and then leave apps like Dialer and Messaging still saddled with 2008 square designs....

It frustrates me as I spend all day doing graphic design to see something so mish mashed.

It's like looking at a page of 60 fonts with some clip art thrown on top.

OK rant over... breath MRU...

 

[daveathall]

Why am I not surprised by the huge number of Samsung bash posts by Apple fanboys... how typical.


Anyways back on topic, I think we're finally heading into a time where every generation can't be huge steps forward. Technology isn't evolving fast enough to have all-new devices every year. The XPERIA Z2 is just as similar to the Z as the S4 is to the S5. The new One looks almost identical to the old One, but with updated hardware. Same as the GS5.

I agree with all this post. IMHO, it will be a long time before we see the next "big thing"

 

[F123D]

Well I'm disappointed.. still plastic, same design (a step backwards IMO), unnecessary fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor, no built in wireless charging(?), and the lack of a touchwiz overhaul/update.

If this is what's in store for the Note 4..

 

[Menneisyys2]

It's a struggle for 2 pound $2,299 top of the line pro DSLR lens on a top of the line pro body to resolve 16 megapixels

I'd say it depends. For example, Nokia's 1020 / 808 (41 Mpixel sensor) does resolve around 30-35 true Mpixels (see the ISO 12233 resolution chart results).

That is, it can't just be stated "it's impossible to resolve XX Mpixels with small sensors". It all depends on the engineering and manufacturing quality.

 

[blairh]

Just saw the settings....

A pure example of everything I have lambasted Samsung about. Every GUI element seems to be designed by completely different teams working off different hymn sheets.

Why invest time making round icons for the settings menu when everything else is squares and non flat design, and then leave apps like Dialer and Messaging still saddled with 2008 square designs....

It frustrates me as I spend all day doing graphic design to see something so mish mashed.

It's like looking at a page of 60 fonts with some clip art thrown on top.

OK rant over... breath MRU...

Did Samsung change their terrible phone, messaging, gallery, and note apps? From what I gather, no. I realize you can use 3rd party alternatives, but that's not my gripe. I fully expected a redesigned TouchWiz and it appears they made some changes but not enough.

Honestly maybe I'm in the minority here but I can't believe they made the S5 larger and heavier than the S4. I had the Active and the extra weight and USB flap were two cons IMO.

 

[Menneisyys2]

Guys,

any info on whether the stabilization is electronic (as in the GS4 / Note 3 / all iPhones) or optical (as in the G2 / One / Nokia 1020 / 92x etc.)?

techradar states: "And this is indeed the case. The Samsung Galaxy S5 comes equipped with a 16MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. It shoots 4K at 30fps and there's a whole host of image functionality new in the Galaxy S5. This includes video stabilisation - similar to the LG G2 - HDR and selective focus."

Does this possibly mean it does have the superior OIS and not just an electronic would-be stabilizer, probably not even working in 4K mode (as is the case on the Note3)?

 

[gotluck]

They always start off around the $800 plus in Australia. Its true though they just drop in price to quick the S models anyway. The note 3 hasn't though. Not bashing Samsung nearly bought a Note 3 the other day. If iPhone 6 doesn't impress i will be getting a Note 4, maybe before if they are out.

Ah Australia , yea pricing seems like it gets outrageous over there.

 

[albertfallickwa]

Why am I not surprised by the huge number of Samsung bash posts by Apple fanboys... how typical.


Anyways back on topic, I think we're finally heading into a time where every generation can't be huge steps forward. Technology isn't evolving fast enough to have all-new devices every year. The XPERIA Z2 is just as similar to the Z as the S4 is to the S5. The new One looks almost identical to the old One, but with updated hardware. Same as the GS5.

I am an Android fanboy and yes I would be bashing on it. I think that HTC and LG will have something more innovative arriving later on this year.

 

[gotluck]

Just saw the settings....

A pure example of everything I have lambasted Samsung about. Every GUI element seems to be designed by completely different teams working off different hymn sheets.

Why invest time making round icons for the settings menu when everything else is squares and non flat design, and then leave apps like Dialer and Messaging still saddled with 2008 square designs....

It frustrates me as I spend all day doing graphic design to see something so mish mashed.

It's like looking at a page of 60 fonts with some clip art thrown on top.

OK rant over... breath MRU...

I hear you man, it blows my mind how they can think some of their software choices are an improvement over stock.

I'm thinking no oems are going to learn from moto, don't need to fix what isn't broken.

 

[jamezr]

Why am I not surprised by the huge number of Samsung bash posts by Apple fanboys... how typical.


Anyways back on topic, I think we're finally heading into a time where every generation can't be huge steps forward. Technology isn't evolving fast enough to have all-new devices every year. The XPERIA Z2 is just as similar to the Z as the S4 is to the S5. The new One looks almost identical to the old One, but with updated hardware. Same as the GS5.

Yep...have to agree. Look at the Apple offerings too...
The IP4....IP4s....the IP5...IP5s....no radical changes.......almost the same size and design....
Now Apple has a chance with the IP6 to really shine if they come out with a very new design and not just large IP5 type design.....

 

[Shanghaichica]

Well I'm disappointed.. still plastic, same design (a step backwards IMO), unnecessary fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor, no built in wireless charging(?), and the lack of a touchwiz overhaul/update.

If this is what's in store for the Note 4..

I don't see why it wouldn't have wireless charging when the previous generation did. Maybe they just didn't mention in.

 

[Oohara]

Just saw the settings....

A pure example of everything I have lambasted Samsung about. Every GUI element seems to be designed by completely different teams working off different hymn sheets.

Why invest time making round icons for the settings menu when everything else is squares and non flat design, and then leave apps like Dialer and Messaging still saddled with 2008 square designs....

It frustrates me as I spend all day doing graphic design to see something so mish mashed.

It's like looking at a page of 60 fonts with some clip art thrown on top.

OK rant over... breath MRU...

I agree....frustration continues with seemingly no hope in sight. It kind of defies all common sense. If Samsung want to be the best, how come they don't take UI design seriously? I mean, considering stuff like these basic mistakes you points out, they just can't have a competent design team leader overseeing these things. It is not possible. So what the hell are they doing? And are they not getting tons of negative feedback on the looks of TouchWiz? Or do they just ignore it all?

I mean, not that stock Android is that great either, honestly. With all the different size icons and whatnot. But it is at least leaps and bounds ahead of Samsung's embarrassing concoctions.

I just wish that at least one Android phone pushing OEM would be able to match Apple in terms of design. HTC was getting close - at least with the hardware - with the original One, but they seem to be moving backwards now... But for the UI, nothing is even close to Apple's unity of design language.

Looks wise, Android phone UI:s are at best acceptable IMO. (I still prefer Android but that's for the functionality ) But TouchWiz isn't even that. I say it again: if Samsung were to pump all the cash usually spent on new features and hardware advancements from one whole "flagship phase" into UI design alone - using that cash to hire a really top notch design team to do it - I'm sure that would do more good for their business and brand than anything else.

 

[rockitdog]

Well this is what it boils down to imo. Apple have the same problem. What more can they do?

Apple has at least left it's self some room to grow (pun-intended). I still think that when all is said and done they will also ultimately incorporate NFC technology into the iPhone along with increasing their display size. I'd like to see a true 1080 screen on an iPhone along with a high megapixel count.

Samsung just tries so hard to pack as much technology into their devices vs just focusing on a few things at a time and it ends up coming out either half baked or gimmicky.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I hear you man, it blows my mind how they can think some of their software choices are an improvement over stock.

I'm thinking no oems are going to learn from moto, don't need to fix what isn't broken.

Well isn't that the point of android, having choice. If all devices were nexus devices what would be the point. If you don't like Samsung's touch wiz find another OEM that you do like. Believe it or not some people do prefer skins to stock android.

----------

Apple has at least left it's self some room to grow (pun-intended). I still think that when all is said and done they will also ultimately incorporate NFC technology into the iPhone along with increasing their display size. I'd like to see a true 1080 screen on an iPhone along with a high megapixel count.

Samsung just tries so hard to pack as much technology into their devices vs just focusing on a few things at a time and it ends up coming out either half baked or gimmicky.

But Apple are Apple. They aren't going to give you that customisation, NFC, expandable memory etc. They have their own way of doing things. They can make a bigger screen and bring any kind of HD display to the iphone because they don't even have 720p at the moment. However it isn't going to be revolutionary. You won't see massive leaps forwards every year.

 

[gotluck]

Well isn't that the point of android, having choice. If all devices were nexus devices what would be the point. If you don't like Samsung's touch wiz find another OEM that you do like. Believe it or not some people do prefer skins to stock android.

Well, there is no choice with stock android w/ removable battery and sd card.
Hopefully samsung continues their google edition this year, but that is likely USA only, so most of the world continues to have no choice

 

[El3ctronics]

Samsung Galaxy S5 is an UTTER fail IMO. I'll be sticking with the Nexus 5 for now and waiting anxiously to see what HTC announces in March 25th.

EDIT: and the fact that the new TouchWiz takes up 8 GB of internal memory just shows how bloated Samsung's ROM actually is. It's brutally terrible and they're lucky they have the monster marketing budget that they do. Otherwise, this phone would sell fewer units than the Palm Foleo.

 

[vomhorizon]

I think the biggest blunder samsung made was having their top executives go on record to discuss how the S4 did not perform as they expected and suggesting that it was because it was as a design too similar to the galaxy S III it replaced. The S5 has very little cosmetic difference to either the S4 or the S3, and definitely not functional..The metal ring around the home button serves no purpose and is perhaps the only notable difference between the S4 and totally not required as it is bound to draw comparisons to the same feature around apple's home button (but metal ring around the touch id supposedly has a functional role in the 5s)..the back is still plastic although they have gone from a glossy plastic in the s3/4 to a fake "faux" leather plastic to a perforated plastic (big deal?) appearance..If setting the phone's design apart was a goal for samsung with the flagship S variant, then the S5 fails badly in my books. Specs wise it underperforms the rumours (No QHD 2k display, no 3GB ram) but introduces the unexpected heart monitor (during the keynote they said that we can work out with the band and leave the phone aside, so when exactly are we to check our heart rate using the phone? I suppose for those that do not buy the gear?)

I feel it was the profit margin that dictated the design as going to a metal variant would have upped the cost, which would have required a long sustained high price of the phone, something that flagship samsung devices have not held (they drop in price quickly) traditionally..

 

[Fernandez21]

Yikes, looks like touchwiz has ballooned to 8gb?

http://m.androidcentral.com/galaxy-s5-rom-bit-monster-taking-nearly-8gb-storage

 

[F123D]

I don't see why it wouldn't have wireless charging when the previous generation did. Maybe they just didn't mention in.

Yeah, only if you pay extra to get a wireless back cover to use it. It should be built in and standard at this point.

 

[vomhorizon]

Yikes, looks like touchwiz has ballooned to 8gb?

http://m.androidcentral.com/galaxy-s5-rom-bit-monster-taking-nearly-8gb-storage

Doesn't ios7 come to something like less than 2gb (if i recall correctly)?

 

[Shanghaichica]

I think the biggest blunder samsung made was having their top executives go on record to discuss how the S4 did not perform as they expected and suggesting that it was because it was as a design too similar to the galaxy S III it replaced. The S5 has very little cosmetic difference to either the S4 or the S3, and definitely not functional..The metal ring around the home button serves no purpose and is perhaps the only notable difference between the S4 and totally not required as it is bound to draw comparisons to the same feature around apple's home button (but metal ring around the touch id supposedly has a functional role in the 5s)..the back is still plastic although they have gone from a glossy plastic in the s3/4 to a fake "faux" leather plastic to a perforated plastic (big deal?) appearance..If setting the phone's design apart was a goal for samsung with the flagship S variant, then the S5 fails badly in my books. Specs wise it underperforms the rumours (No QHD 2k display, no 3GB ram) but introduces the unexpected heart monitor (during the keynote they said that we can work out with the band and leave the phone aside, so when exactly are we to check our heart rate using the phone? I suppose for those that do not buy the gear?)

I feel it was the profit margin that dictated the design as going to a metal variant would have upped the cost, which would have required a long sustained high price of the phone, something that flagship samsung devices have not held (they drop in price quickly) traditionally..

So which flagship smartphone announced so far this year has a 2K screen??

 

[Fernandez21]

Doesn't ios7 come to something like less than 2gb (if i recall correctly)?

Not sure, my Nexus shows 26.76gb storage while my iPhone shows 27.5. Both are 32gb models.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yikes, looks like touchwiz has ballooned to 8gb?

http://m.androidcentral.com/galaxy-s5-rom-bit-monster-taking-nearly-8gb-storage

And this is the only thing I will fault them with. They should have made the base storage model 32GB. The 16 GB S4 just wasn't workable for me. The 32 GB base model for the Note 3 was a step in the right direction. I don't understand why they haven't done the same thing for the S5. I do like the fact that it can take a 128 GB micro SD card though.