The Galaxy S5

[Robster3]

Not here. In Ireland if you use the device you can't return unless its defective.

Return policy is only if its returned unopened and unused.

Same in Australia. I cancelled a iPad 4 order with Australia's biggest telco and they sent it anyway, took me 6 months to get them to take it back

People are complaining with the Australian version, you can't change the dock apps and can't turn off the camera shutter noise. A privacy thing.

 

[rockitdog]

Why did Samsung only go with the regular USB connection with a cover that will eventually break off from constant removal for charging the device? They could have cut down wear and tear if they put a magnetic pogo charging port on the S5. And from what I understand, it also charges the device faster than the USB port. I'm aware of the wireless charging backplate covers to be used with Qi but how long does wireless charging take?

I'm going to get the wireless charging back so I don't even have to mess with that little door.

 

[Robster3]

I'm going to get the wireless charging back so I don't even have to mess with that little door.

I would have to, took me 2 or 3 goes to open it in store yesterday.

 

[Fernandez21]

Yes it's been done here

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5s: Hear…: http://youtu.be/_yCD9UdrhG8

Wow, thanks. Kind of amazing that apps using the camera were that close to the dedicated heart rate monitor.

 

[soulreaver99]

Played with the s5 in a tmobile store and it was much faster, responsive and had no lag unlike the att version! Must be the carrier bloatware?

 

[jamezr]

Pictures hiking today

 

[Black Magic]

Pictures hiking today

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Not bad pics at all. I'm assuming you were using the S5? Have you played with the 4K video recording yet? Curious about how much space it takes up per 10 second clip?

 

[jamezr]

Yes it was with the S5. I took 100 picture today while hiking with my wife a son.
TBH...I think the 4K video thing is not ready for prime time yet. It takes up too much space and over heats phones. Phones have no way to disipate heat.

 

[kenypowa]

I've seen an horse flying on YouTube ....

Every "serious" review showed (and criticized) that fingerprint scanner implementation is far from being really usable one handed ...

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According with Ars Technica review, heart monitor is just a gimmick, with an average accuracy of 50% ....

Exactly. Most reviews note the poor accuracy of the fingerprint scanner. It is also obvious the heart rate monitor is a gimmick. Seriously people, taking your own pulse is not that difficult

 

[Black Magic]

Yes it was with the S5. I took 100 picture today while hiking with my wife a son.
TBH...I think the 4K video thing is not ready for prime time yet. It takes up too much space and over heats phones. Phones have no way to disipate heat.

Have you tried it though? As for overheating, doesn't the S5 have all those holes on the back? Figured that was a vent to release heat and take in air.

 

[jamezr]

Have you tried it though? As for overheating, doesn't the S5 have all those holes on the back? Figured that was a vent to release heat and take in air.

No I have not tried it at all. There are no holes in the back.

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Exactly. Most reviews note the poor accuracy of the fingerprint scanner. It is also obvious the heart rate monitor is a gimmick. Seriously people, taking your own pulse is not that difficult

Yes taking your own pulse is not difficult. Having your phone be able to capture it and add it to your workout profile. ....that's beneficial to some.

 

[MRU]

Pictures hiking today

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Stunning scenery but they are all a little over exposed ? Did you try with HDR on to try and balance the high contrast ?

 

[jamezr]

Stunning scenery but they are all a little over exposed ? Did you try with HDR on to try and balance the high contrast ?

I used auto focus on all of then. It was very sunny out if that makes a difference. ...

 

[Robster3]

??

 

[Cyborg21]

Am I the only one who disappointed with GS5?

 

[sumsingwong]

I used auto focus on all of then. It was very sunny out if that makes a difference. ...

Autofocus has nothing to do with exposure. What was the metering set to? There a lot of overexposed areas in those photos which are the white areas. Even on very bright sunny days, the camera should automatically make adjustments and not do that. Does the S5 camera allow you to choose the focus area and exposure area separately?

 

[Shanghaichica]

Apparently the S5 sold quite well on opening day, sales appear to be up on the S4.

Samsung Galaxy S5 reportedly enjoys strong launch-day sales

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-reportedly-enjoys-strong-launch-day-sales

 

[rhinosrcool]

Apparently the S5 sold quite well on opening day, sales appear to be up on the S4.

Samsung Galaxy S5 reportedly enjoys strong launch-day sales

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-reportedly-enjoys-strong-launch-day-sales

Yeah, I'm not surprised. It's a really good phone. People still want new flagships. I think a lot of this has to do with the yearly upgrades most of us got with our earlier iPhones; you get used to it and it's hard to give it up.

As for the above photographs, some adjustment needs to be made to the settings. Hopefully, soon, we will have a lot more photos to look over.

 

[Max(IT)]

Exactly. Most reviews note the poor accuracy of the fingerprint scanner. It is also obvious the heart rate monitor is a gimmick. Seriously people, taking your own pulse is not that difficult

Well, taking heart rate on the go could be useful, for fitness, but this solution isn't applicable.
As implemented in the S5 is just another mark on the spec list for marketing reasons.

Fingerprint scanner is more useful , for online payment, but surely not for phone unlock.

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Yes taking your own pulse is not difficult. Having your phone be able to capture it and add it to your workout profile. ....that's beneficial to some.

Not if it is wrong 50% of the times ...

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Am I the only one who disappointed with GS5?

I linked a review by Ars Technica where they are disappointed too ...
The internal hardware is wonderful, but all the rest is just meh ....

 

[maflynn]

Apparently the S5 sold quite well on opening day, sales appear to be up on the S4.

Samsung Galaxy S5 reportedly enjoys strong launch-day sales

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-reportedly-enjoys-strong-launch-day-sales

Not surprising, Samsung has built up a good reputation for the Galaxy line. The S4 was a great phone, so people were expecting more of the same.

 

[jamezr]

Apparently the S5 sold quite well on opening day, sales appear to be up on the S4.

Samsung Galaxy S5 reportedly enjoys strong launch-day sales

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-reportedly-enjoys-strong-launch-day-sales

I am not surprise the S5 sold well. I think it will be the second besting selling phone next to the iPhone (s)

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Well, taking heart rate on the go could be useful, for fitness, but this solution isn't applicable.
As implemented in the S5 is just another mark on the spec list for marketing reasons.

Fingerprint scanner is more useful , for online payment, but surely not for phone unlock.

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Not if it is wrong 50% of the times ...

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I linked a review by Ars Technica where they are disappointed too ...
The internal hardware is wonderful, but all the rest is just meh ....

I diagree.....it is practical. I can go on a long walk with the wife and log all the details including heart rate into my profile on my phone

 

[The Game 161]

Want to have a look at it in person.. Screen looks fantastic

 

[Shanghaichica]

I am not surprise the S5 sold well. I think it will be the second besting selling phone next to the iPhone (s)

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I diagree.....it is practical. I can go on a long walk with the wife and log all the details including heart rate into my profile on my phone

Whilst there are stand alone apps that can measure your heart rate it's nice to have it inter grated into S-health.

 

[AppleRobert]

Finally got to go hands on in a Vodafone shop; not with the display model as they are all non working replicas, but with the store owners own.

Must say I'm reconsidering my impulse buy after using it.

I like the white version, screen looks great but touchwiz whilst certainly smoother wasn't as fast as my S4 GE. We opened loads of regular apps side by side with each device and my GE was a fraction and I emphasise a fraction quicker every time.

Not keen on the charging port cover; but otherwise its a nice design; but it does feel bigger than the s4 even though its only .1" more


Also got to try out the M8 but only display model; not a working model. I actually wasn't anywhere near as impressed with it as I was when I first saw and picked up the M7. Its nice but not as impressive as I had thought it would be...

So yeah after actually seeing both devices and actually playing with the S5; I'm now thinking I should cancel my S5 order as for me the difference isn't worth a new and contract.

White S5 personally looks much nicer than the black S5 and I prefer the back of the white one; and for me the back actually looks a lot better in person than it appeared in the media....

Conflicted...

Sold my Note 3, did not pull the trigger on the M8 and I am not going anywhere near the S5.

So I remain for now on the sideline for a brandy new flagship. But I have the 5s, Moto G and Nokia Lumia 521 to mess around with, the latter should be fun next week.

 

[Markyboy81]

Yes taking your own pulse is not difficult. Having your phone be able to capture it and add it to your workout profile. ....that's beneficial to some.

I can see the benefits in capturing your pulse but it's not practical to so this while exercising.
I'd be more interested to see how the gear 2 measures heart rate continuously.