All about Samsung Galaxy S4

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yeah but the difference between a gimmick and useful functionality isn't just "Does DLeRium like it".

I'm not saying they aren't useful. They're software based features to help give you additional functionality but not increasing hardware functionality. Drama shot uses rapid shots and then stitches them together like a superimposed timelapse. You could do that manually. That's not a feature of the camera hardware. Frames per second on the other hand is.

It's obvious switching camera software will lose you those software enhancements such as , which was why I was asking GS3 CM users what else do they lose? Do they lose high fps shooting? Do they lose image quality? I'm not asking what hipster features they will lose because Samsung packaged 300 more filters and borders and quick crop features.

 

[Oyeve]

Camera still not nearly as good as iPhone 5 though.

You're right, its MUCH better.

 

[poofyhairguy]

My upgrade hits 5/3. I think unless Amazon Wireless/Wal-Mart/etc. has some deal I will wait for my birthday (mid May) so some reviews can come out.

 

[s44]

My upgrade hits 5/3. I think unless Amazon Wireless/Wal-Mart/etc. has some deal I will wait for my birthday (mid May) so some reviews can come out.

Well... (Wally deal)

On a totally different subject, GG3 looks pretty impressive. Tell us again about inferior materials and build quality...

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well... (Wally deal)

Does their website show the reduced price for you? For me they show $198.

 

[dlock13]

Well... (Wally deal)

On a totally different subject, GG3 looks pretty impressive. Tell us again about inferior materials and build quality...

I can pull up videos of the same exact tests on Gorilla Glass 1... These tests prove absolutely nothing at all. Please, pour some sand on that screen and rub it around with your hand.

That right there is the best test you can possibly do. Why? Sand/dirt/dust is always in a pocket. Insert phone in pocket. Pressure from leg + sand in pocket = possible scratch.

I agree that GG3 is better than GG1, but in all honesty, I feel like it's marketing when it comes to scratch resistance and the correct demonstrations when it comes to drop/shatter resistance. GG3 can withstand a lot of pressure so there's a good chance it won't break no matter how many thousand times you drop it. Scratches are destined to happen regardless.

 

[s44]

Does their website show the reduced price for you? For me they show $198.

Ugh, you're right. Looks like the deal got killed already. Sorry.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I can pull up videos of the same exact tests on Gorilla Glass 1... These tests prove absolutely nothing at all. Please, pour some sand on that screen and rub it around with your hand.

That right there is the best test you can possibly do. Why? Sand/dirt/dust is always in a pocket. Insert phone in pocket. Pressure from leg + sand in pocket = possible scratch.

I agree that GG3 is better than GG1, but in all honesty, I feel like it's marketing when it comes to scratch resistance and the correct demonstrations when it comes to drop/shatter resistance. GG3 can withstand a lot of pressure so there's a good chance it won't break no matter how many thousand times you drop it. Scratches are destined to happen regardless.

Yeah, cracking will occur regardless if you drop it wrong and sand is tougher than any glass.

I suppose when they figure out how to do sapphire more cost effectively then we can really go without protectors since it'll be harder than sand.

 

[s44]

I've literally never had a scratch on any screen. The raised lip of a TPU (or any other non-"slim") case protects from pocket friction rather easily.

If manufacturers want to make the phone safe to carry naked, why not add a lip? Guess it doesn't look cool.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Ugh, you're right. Looks like the deal got killed already. Sorry.

That is fine. I really want to wait and make sure the American SGS4 doesn't have some crazy flaw. My Transformer Prime taught me that lesson.

 

[ChronoReverse]

That is fine. I really want to wait and make sure the American SGS4 doesn't have some crazy flaw. My Transformer Prime taught me that lesson.

Yeah, it's probably a good idea wait a few months.

If it were the Eyxnos one, I'd be careful even beyond that when flashing new things. There were lots of terrible gotchas with the past Exynos Samsung phones (things like silent corruption of your flash when you flash an otherwise good kernel, or hard bricking because of a flaw in the recovery that doesn't always show up, etc.).

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I've literally never had a scratch on any screen. The raised lip of a TPU (or any other non-"slim") case protects from pocket friction rather easily.

If manufacturers want to make the phone safe to carry naked, why not add a lip? Guess it doesn't look cool.

How does a raised lip prevent carrying in your pocket from scratching? Sand won't be immune to a raised lip. The raised lip helps you put your phone upside down on your desk if you want and not worry about it. I like the raised lip, but in my pocket my phone isn't resting on a flat surface or anything.

 

[poofyhairguy]

How does a raised lip prevent carrying in your pocket from scratching?

The scratching happens when its a piece of sand stuck between your screen and some other object in your pocket. With the lip there is no way for the sand to get stuck there.

 

[billbobaggins87]

The scratching happens when its a piece of sand stuck between your screen and some other object in your pocket. With the lip there is no way for the sand to get stuck there.

thats only implying that the surface the phone is on is flat surface. my leg isn't, i'm not sure about yours. The lip on the edge of the screen would not protect anything more than 1/32 of an inch inward. maybe i'm wrong though..

 

[Skurge]

thats only implying that the surface the phone is on is flat surface. my leg isn't, i'm not sure about yours. The lip on the edge of the screen would not protect anything more than 1/32 of an inch inward. maybe i'm wrong though..

True,

It will probably make it worse cause dust will collect in the corner,

 

[s44]

Updated info in bold

T-Mo - 4/24 online, 5/1 in store ($150 + $20/m)
Sprint - 4/27 ($250, $150 for new port-ins)
AT&T - 4/23 online, 4/26 or 27 in stores ($200)
Verizon - May -- 23 maybe?

Costco's online store has the Sprint models for $200 even as upgrades... though you may have to wait a week or so after launch. Pretty sure you don't have to be a Costco member to shop phones on their site.

 

[Eureka]

Hot dog! My phone shipped (AT&T)

 

[Imported]

Hot dog! My phone shipped (AT&T)

Wow, that was quick! I was expecting the phone to arrive closer towards May. Maybe I'll have to take a look at one while I'm still in my return period for the HTC One.

 

[jacktesterson]

I went with the Xperia ZL - Sold my Note II

Loving it so far.

 

[s44]

Looks like Brian is battling a fever to get his review done in some timely way.

 

[Dari]

Engadget has posted their review of the GS4. The verdict? A predictable upgrade with half-baked software implementations. What a joke, but at least they're trying. Maybe they should do what Apple does and buy these firms and really integrate their software into their products instead of licensing them. Not even Samsung can afford to spend $12B every year on marketing to keep sales up. And that AMOLED screen. My G-d is it awful. BTW, I'm waiting for that S Ex software. Come on, Samsung, I know you can do it.

 

[lopri]

Looks like Brian is battling a fever to get his review done in some timely way.

It looks quite obvious that he didn't want to write but had no choice. So naturally his interests gravitate towards conspiracy theory over Snapdragon 600 (what that is, he doesn't say) instead of something more useful for consumers.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It looks quite obvious that he didn't want to write but had no choice. So naturally his interests gravitate towards conspiracy theory over Snapdragon 600 (what that is, he doesn't say) instead of something more useful for consumers.

Couldn't it just be that the SGS4's Qualcomms are all coming from Samsung's foundries and are the best yields at those foundries as part of their deal, while other devices like the One has to take a little from Samsung foundries, a little from tsmc foundries, etc and therefore have to have more conservative clocks to make up for inconsistency in supplies?

Or is that WAY too simple?

I haven't finished the front page SGS4 review yet, but by the GPU page I was sold. I have never gotten a "magic" piece of silicon before (no CPU or phone that could overclock like crazy) but dear god I hope my SGS4 is finally that device. That qualcomm GPU with another clock bump could be an absolute monster.

 

[cliftonite]

Engadget has posted their review of the GS4. The verdict? A predictable upgrade with half-baked software implementations. What a joke, but at least they're trying. Maybe they should do what Apple does and buy these firms and really integrate their software into their products instead of licensing them. Not even Samsung can afford to spend $12B every year on marketing to keep sales up. And that AMOLED screen. My G-d is it awful. BTW, I'm waiting for that S Ex software. Come on, Samsung, I know you can do it.

Did you read the article? They liked the screen as did the verge....

 

[Dari]

Did you read the article? They liked the screen as did the verge....

Yep, I read it. My first 5 sentences was regarding the review. The others were my personal opinion.