Is this the new S5?

[zerogear]

Does anyone know what this part of the preview means?

"although now that Samsung is following Google guidelines regarding read/write permissions, the utility of the microSD slot could be much less than previously expected."

“The WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission must only grant write access to the primary external storage on a device. Apps must not be allowed to write to secondary external storage devices, except in their package-specific directories as allowed by synthesized permissions”

From 4.4, your SD Card is designated as a secondary external storage device, this means, in KitKat, applications will no longer be able to create/modiify/remove files and folders on your external SD Card (without root access). Meaning, if you the apps don't have root access, all management of the SD card must be done on an external device (PC). It still works as storage though.

 

[CakeMonster]

Uhm, so if I want to download my Spotify playlists and favorites of like 30Gb for offline playback, I'm not allowed to put them on the SD card?

 

[zerogear]

Uhm, so if I want to download my Spotify playlists and favorites of like 30Gb for offline playback, I'm not allowed to put them on the SD card?

That seems to be the general consensuses from users who updated their Galaxy S4 and Note 3 to 4.4 yes.

You can, just not from the phone itself.

 

[Sable]

I wanted 3GB RAM.

Why?!

I wanted better resolution.

Why?!

Both those things are pointless in a mobile phone with a 5in screen.

But yeah, completely underwhelmed on both the design and the features. Heart monitor. yay. Fingerprint scanner. yay. :/


So glad I bought an S2 as my first smart phone. Seems I'll NEVER have to upgrade at this rate.

 

[CakeMonster]

That seems to be the general consensuses from users who updated their Galaxy S4 and Note 3 to 4.4 yes.

You can, just not from the phone itself.

So I have to hack the phone in order not to run up mobile data charges... Great

 

[mnewsham]

I'm not really sure what else they could possibly bring, hardware-wise.

Should have waited until 1440p screens were ready, then opted for the Snapdragon 805 over the 801 and thrown in 3GB RAM instead of 2. Lastly I would have liked a larger battery and smaller bezel.

Both those things are pointless in a mobile phone with a 5in screen.

Have you used a phone with either of those things? I highly doubt it, why not reserve judgement for a device that is released with those things, which should be only a few months away.

 

[Skurge]

Galaxy Note still seems like the better phone TBH. It will be hard to top that. Not even the new Sony makes a case for itself against the Note 3.

 

[KeithTalent]

That seems to be the general consensuses from users who updated their Galaxy S4 and Note 3 to 4.4 yes.

You can, just not from the phone itself.

Huh, that is completely idiotic. I have many GBs of my Rdio offline playlist synced to my SD card, this would really cramp my style if this is the case. My Note 3 is still on 4.3 but it keeps bugging me to update. I think I will stay on 4.3 for a while longer.

KT

 

[stlc8tr]

“The WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission must only grant write access to the primary external storage on a device. Apps must not be allowed to write to secondary external storage devices, except in their package-specific directories as allowed by synthesized permissions”

From 4.4, your SD Card is designated as a secondary external storage device, this means, in KitKat, applications will no longer be able to create/modiify/remove files and folders on your external SD Card (without root access). Meaning, if you the apps don't have root access, all management of the SD card must be done on an external device (PC). It still works as storage though.

Yeah, Google basically screwed up SD card support even worse in 4.4.

I have no idea why this was implemented unless they want users to say that SD cards aren't worth the hassle in Android.

Developers aren't too happy about it either.

https://plus.google.com/+TodLiebeck/posts/gjnmuaDM8sn

 

[WelshBloke]

Galaxy Note still seems like the better phone TBH. It will be hard to top that.

Absolutely this. The S5 isn't even that much smaller.
Samsung need to keep a bit more space between their products.

 

[Zaap]

So on the eve of 128GB mSD cards being available Google is working ferverishly to turn the clock back to 2010. Sheesh.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Seems weird Samsung didn't bump the Galaxy S5 up to 3GB of RAM like they have in the Note products. I noticed their competition has, the Xperia Z2 and G Pro 2 both have 3GB. Granted that's a lot of memory and may not be needed by most. But seems weird Samsung is slacking in the specs department on a flagship phone.

 

[zerogear]

Yeah, Google basically screwed up SD card support even worse in 4.4.

I have no idea why this was implemented unless they want users to say that SD cards aren't worth the hassle in Android.

Developers aren't too happy about it either.

https://plus.google.com/+TodLiebeck/posts/gjnmuaDM8sn

That's the point though, Google has been actively trying to deprecate secondary storage media.

So on the eve of 128GB mSD cards being available Google is working ferverishly to turn the clock back to 2010. Sheesh.

It's been in 4.4 for quite a while now, it's just that the devices that got 4.4 didn't really have SD Cards until now (Note 3/S4)

 

[Dulanic]

I'm happy that phones are slowing a bit. I am happy to not have a huge reason to update for once.

 

[stlc8tr]

That's the point though, Google has been actively trying to deprecate secondary storage media.

Yeah but it was more of a benign neglect in 4.3 and earlier.

In 4.4, it's now active sabotage of the user experience.

 

[CakeMonster]

Seems weird Samsung didn't bump the Galaxy S5 up to 3GB of RAM like they have in the Note products. I noticed their competition has, the Xperia Z2 and G Pro 2 both have 3GB. Granted that's a lot of memory and may not be needed by most. But seems weird Samsung is slacking in the specs department on a flagship phone.

Yep, they're just cruising now and doing like MS/Sony did with this generation of consoles. Cheap hardware = instant returns.

I still have my S3 and I will probably keep it (crossing my fingers for a S5+ this fall with 3GB and possibly 805 or a 2K display (or both). I want to upgrade (quite badly in fact, I crave new tech), but you can't sell me a "S4+ v2" and expect me to pay full price when the S4+ was already on sale before xmas.

 

[KeithTalent]

So on the eve of 128GB mSD cards being available Google is working ferverishly to turn the clock back to 2010. Sheesh.

Yeah, what the hell.

KT

 

[AznAnarchy99]

IMO too big.

 

[CakeMonster]

Yep, and the 0.1" screen increase from S4 is no excuse for making it bigger.

 

[KentState]

Galaxy Note still seems like the better phone TBH. It will be hard to top that. Not even the new Sony makes a case for itself against the Note 3.

Still happy with my Note 2. Unless the Note 4 is a huge step forward, I will be hanging on to this thing for a long time.

 

[shabby]

Yep, and the 0.1" screen increase from S4 is no excuse for making it bigger.

Im sure all that waterproof and dust protection has something to do with it, i mean look how big the z1.

 

[tsupersonic]

Meh, the Galaxy series is going through the same thing the iPhone is going through - stagnation. Come on Samsung, time for a new design! Why they continue to add these useless features (bloat) is beyond me.

The difference between this phone and something like the Note 3 isn't as big as it once was.

 

[blairharrington]

Huge let down for me. Can't believe it's bigger and heavier. SMH.

I had the usb flap on my Active and it drove me crazy over time.

TouchWiz needed a complete redesign and the changes are not enough. I also hate that they kept the speaker on the back. And I was really banking on an all metal 'Prime' model.

The only thing I like here is the new backplate. All the hands-on are saying it feels good in the hand.

Honestly at this point I'm thinking about the Note 3. I think it's too big but I don't like any of the 4.7"-5.2" models on the market. Assuming the M8 doesn't have tap to wake that's out of the running for me.

 

[s44]

I thought the Galaxy S4 was the Galaxy S3S.

I never got that complaint. 720p->1080p, better bezels and form factor, and a GPE? Not to mention the massive processor boost.

 

[dawheat]

This really seems dissapointing - at least with the S4 (as a Note 2 user) I was somewhat tempted by the 1080p screen and faster SOC. Compared with my current Note 3, I have 0 itch to switch.

- The camera certainly is better, but I don't use my cell phone camera much except to take occasional pictures of food.
- Things like the heart beat monitor are fine, just useless for me.
- The fingerprint scanner could be minorly useful, but no reason to upgrade for it.
- The water and dust resistance is a good thing - but it's a shame they had to increase the phone size so much.

Now - I seriously wonder if this is going to be Samsung's 'mainstream high-end' phone for 2014 and come out with the Prime phone in early summer to steal some thunder from the iPhone 6. Metal body, current SOC, maybe even a higher res screen. Otherwise they face a new body design from Apple which is almost certainly going to be great.