There are always high expectations for flagship smartphones from any manufacturer. They must certainly be a "breakthrough" in all respects. Another thing is that these expectations do not always turn out to be reality. So it happened with the Samsung Galaxy S5. It doesn't look unconditionally cool compared to the Galaxy S4. Nevertheless, the device has a number of very interesting features, which will be described below.
Every year it becomes more and more difficult for smartphone developers to surprise consumers. The point is that the list technical characteristics, which can be improved indefinitely, is already exhausted or almost exhausted. Displays cannot be larger, a higher pixel density of the screen is no longer distinguishable by the eye, a more powerful processor is increasingly working at half its capacity, etc. The list goes on. And if in the models of the middle price level you can still play games with the filling and the price, then in the flagship devices everything is already to the maximum. More and better have not yet been invented.
Before the announcement of the Galaxy S5, there were many rumors that Apple was running out of steam, and now Samsung will show its power and knock out Americans with theirs. In fact, the new product turned out to be an improved version of last year. The device received a better camera with a very fast focus, 2.5 mm larger screen diagonal, a fingerprint scanner, fresh Android version with an updated TouchWiz interface. In pursuit, the model was endowed with water resistance according to the IP67 class (protection against short-term diving, you cannot swim with it). By and large, everyone ... Similar emotions were experienced by Apple fans when the company presented a clone with a little the best camera and a fingerprint sensor. Breakthrough or revolution, albeit small, did not happen.
It's time to admit that manufacturers have been experiencing a crisis of ideas and technologies for the second year in a row. And this applies to all companies, not just Samsung or Apple.
Well, now on the case - about the Samsung Galaxy S5.
Dimensions. Contents of delivery
id = "sub0">In general, the dimensions of the novelty are not much different from the flagship of last year. The device lengthened a little, got fat and put on weight. The dimensions of the device are 142x72.5x8.1 mm, the weight is 145 grams versus 136.6x69.8x7.9 mm, 130 g.
However, carrying the device in the pockets of tight-fitting clothing is no problem. I did not notice any inconvenience here. But you will not be able to operate a smartphone with one hand. Reaching the corners of the display with the thumb of one hand is unrealistic. You will have to use your other hand and intercept the device.
The delivery set includes:
- Samsung SM-G900F Galaxy S5 phone
- Battery 2800 mAh, Li-Ion
- Charger adapter USB devices
- Computer sync cable
- Stereo headset with 3.5mm miniJack jack
- Set of earplugs of different sizes
- Instructions
Design and appearance
id = "sub1">The design of the "five" has changed in comparison with the previous models. But I cannot name the appearance radically different. This is a kind of mix of and. The body has all the same smoothed shapes. There is a lot of gloss on the front. The silver bezels on the sides are very similar to the metal ones, but they are plastic. She looks just awful. All vendors in the world stopped using such an element of decor 2-3 years ago. But Koreans know better. The company thinks it's beautiful.
Samsung has always been criticized for the lack of metal in its flagships. The situation has not changed even now. Here, too, exclusively plastic. The back cover has a dotted texture. It reminded me of the roof upholstery in Soviet cars. It all looks somehow cheap and sparse. In my opinion, a device with a price tag under 30 thousand rubles should have a more presentable look, but Koreans have a different opinion on this matter.
But the assembly of the device is perfect. There was no feeling that there was a rattle toy in front of me. Rather, the opposite is true. Everything is very high quality, reliable and tightly fitted.
The body of the model complies with the IP67 standard, which makes it protected from dust and moisture. At the same time, Samsung convincingly asked not to throw the phone into the water. It sort of can withstand an IP67 immersion, but a loose lid will lead to leaks. The company believes that this will not be a warranty case. From the visible protection elements, you can see the plug for the microUSB connector, and the rubberized material that prevents water from penetrating into the case on the back cover. But I did not find any visible protection of the audio jack.
Another characteristic feature is the warning that it is necessary to tightly close the cover of the charging connector, it appears after each charge. Also, after opening the case, you are asked to check its tightness. It seems that the phone is spying on you. In fact, such notifications are automatically sewn into it.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is available in four colors: dark gray, almost black, white and blue.
The entire front part of the device is occupied by a large 5.1-inch touchscreen display. Above it is a speaker. To the right and to the left of it there is a camera for video calls (2 Mpix) and all kinds of sensors and sensors: a motion sensor, a light sensor, a G-sensor, an infrared port. On the left is an LED indicator that glows when charging, missed calls and SMS.
Below the screen is a menu button (it has a built-in fingerprint scanner) and two touch keys. Everything is standard here.
The location of the controls and other elements on the smartphone body has not changed compared to.
On the right side there is a button to turn on, turn off and lock the phone. On the left you can see the volume rocker. There are no camera buttons here, the camera application for shooting can only be launched from the menu or lock mode.
At the bottom there is a standard microUSB connector for charging and connecting to a computer. At the top there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an infrared port.
On the back you can see a 16 Mpix camera lens with autofocus and LED flash. At the bottom there is a speaker for external calls and audio playback. I would rate the sound as a four. Even at an average level, you can hear the call well, even if the phone is in clothes. But in terms of sound quality, the Galaxy S5 loses to sound.
Lithium-ion battery located under the plastic battery cover. There is also a mount for a microSIM card and a memory card. In addition, there is a built-in memory of 16 GB.
The build quality of the Galaxy S5 is excellent. During the test, I did not find any external defects. The impressions are extremely positive. The smartphone is being assembled at the company's factory in Vietnam.
Screen. Graphic capabilities
id = "sub2">The Super AMOLED screen in the Galaxy S5 is good in all respects. Firstly, it is 5.1 inches diagonal, and secondly, the resolution is 1080 × 1920 pixels, 432 ppi (the Galaxy S4 has 441 ppi). A crystal clear image, traditionally large viewing angles and a small bezel - all this has a positive effect on the perception of the device as a whole.
The display resolution allows you to comfortably view websites as they are. Watching the video is a pleasure. In general, without a doubt, this is one of the best screens on the market at this moment from what I happened to see.
I also note that I am not a fan of Super AMOLED screens due to their excessive brightness. However, with the "Optimize Display" option, the user can significantly reduce the strain on their eyes. The device analyzes the level of illumination around and, depending on the conditions, sets the contrast, brightness, plus adjusts the colors on the screen.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The screen looks good in the sun. I did not notice any problems with reading the information.
The Galaxy S5, like its predecessor, recognizes the touch of a gloved finger. To do this, in the settings, you must put a tick in front of the auto-adjustment of the screen sensitivity. Subjectively, the function works much better than in.
Fingerprint scanner
id = "sub3">The fingerprint scanner is the most notable hardware innovation in the Galaxy S5 and a response to similar functionality in the iPhone 5S. Unlike Apple, in the S5, you need to slide your finger across the center of the screen and touch the center key to identify. Up to 3 prints can be registered in the settings.
In 70% of cases, the scanner works correctly. The process of unlocking the screen, for example, takes place in a couple of seconds. In case of problems, the smartphone displays messages asking, for example, to wipe the surface of the scanner due to high humidity, etc. Apparently, a sensor is used here, which is already in the S5 and measures the ambient temperature and humidity.
Subjectively, fingerprint Samsung scanner works a little worse than Apple. But I cannot claim the truth in the first instance.
Menu. Interface and navigation
id = "sub4">Samsung Galaxy S5 runs operating Android systems 4.4. Software can be "updated over the air".
External changes compared to previous version TouchWiz is a bit. The only thing that catches the eye is the redesigned settings menu, made in the form of shortcuts, appearance which brings back memories of the departed Symbian. In the main menu, application icons look familiar.
Most of the programs and features were transferred from, although there were some innovations.
The Galaxy S5 offers multi-window mode, when two windows can be placed on one screen at once, for example, a browser or web browser, as well as a photo gallery below it. However, I note that the 5-inch screen is small for simultaneous work with multiple applications in this form. It works much more convincingly on tablets.
The Galaxy S5 has an accelerated content download feature. Its essence is as follows: the system starts downloading large files in two networks at once - via Wi-Fi and LTE, having previously divided them into several packages.
Smart Standby function. If you activate it, the device will not go into "sleep" mode as long as the user is looking at it. The front camera is used for face recognition. The manufacturer honestly warns that Smart Standby may not work in the dark. However, under normal conditions, the function also does not always work correctly. It seems that an eye icon appears on the notification panel (that is, the camera recognizes that they are looking at the screen at the moment), but sometimes the display backlight still turns off after a specified period of time.
A very useful and, most importantly, well implemented function turned out to be called "Attach to ear" in the Russian version of the firmware. Its essence is as follows: if someone's contact or message is open on the display, then the subscriber can be called by simply holding the smartphone to your ear, you don't even need to touch the screen.
The ability to mute the sound for an incoming call by turning the phone face down is hardly new. More interesting is the function of notification of missed calls and messages. To do this, you need to take the smartphone in your hand, in response it will vibrate and give a signal through the light indicator if the user missed a call or SMS.
The set of Smart-functions of the new product is even more impressive. Instant View allows you to interact with the display without touching it. This feature is familiar from Samsung smartphone Galaxy Note II, but there she only worked with the S Pen, and now she will respond to fingers.
With Instant View, you can preview videos, photos, emails, and S Planner appointments without having to launch the respective applications. To do this, just bring your finger closer to the screen.
I tested this function for a long time. The processing quality of such "finger-to-screen" is about 90%, which, in my opinion, is very good.
Gesture Control lets you control your gallery or web page content with a wave of your hand. No less curious is the "Smart Pause" function, thanks to which you can control video playback with a glance. While you are watching, the video plays. Turned away, it automatically paused. Turning again and looking at the screen, playback resumed.
There is "Smart Scrolling", which allows you to scroll through lists, web pages or voluminous emails with a simple eye movement and a slight tilt of the smartphone away from you. Actuation of two latest features showed a 40% result. Here you have to somehow get used to it.
Other useful things include the WatchON app, which turns your smartphone into Universal remote remote control, messenger ChatON. Young people may be interested in the Group Play function, with which you can share music, photos and games with others Samsung smartphones Galaxy S5.
Travel lovers will love the S Translator app, which will become an irreplaceable assistant. It provides instant translation of words, letters, messages and chats in different languages, and also supports voice input.
In addition, Samsung took care of the security of the new smartphone by offering a proprietary solution for dividing one device into work and personal space - KNOX technology. In this case, copying data from one space to another is impossible.
In S Health, you can measure your heart rate, start a pedometer, enter data on food eaten and admire the number of calories consumed, build a workout program for running, walking, cycling or hiking with an ultimate goal. For all parameters, detailed statistics are displayed, you can add photos of the area during training or pictures of the food that you consume.
For everyone who monitors their health, this application will be extremely useful. It completely replaces all paid counterparts from third-party manufacturers. Curiously, Samsung has removed the ability to measure temperature and humidity levels from S Health.
As a separate program Galaxy S5 includes Kids mode. You can set a password and have full control over what the child does with the smartphone, including specific applications and when they are running. You can add certain albums and programs to which your child can access.
Analyzing all the presented functions and new opportunities, I realized that for the most part they are tied to the ears by Samsung's marketing. To a few really desired functions I would refer to the gesture control and the preview function. The rest is just air. But as soon as the sellers in the store show a couple of such features, the client is ready.
Telephone functions
id = "sub5">First of all, these include "Phone", "Contacts", "Messages". They are all at the bottom of the main Galaxy screen S5.
The People app stores detailed information about phone numbers and subscribers. A specific record can have two dozen fields, be it the last name, first name, patronymic, mobile number, home phone, email address, date of birth or personal ID, Skype, etc. The search in contacts occurs at once in all fields of the client, that is, you can dial the number, first name, last name, etc. The profile of each subscriber can now be linked to his social media accounts.
During incoming call the screen displays a photo and the number of the subscriber from the phone book.
Text and multimedia messages are grouped by subscriber. By clicking on a specific contact, you can view the history of correspondence with this person.
Internet and Google services
id = "sub6">The default browser is faster thanks to the use of updated Webkit and JavaScript. In addition, the browser supports Adobe flash and does everything a progressive browser should do.
The device is fully integrated with Google services such as Gmail, Picasa, Google Talk, Google Maps, YouTube and of course google search... The user can only enter the data of his account Google and that's it.
Multimedia capabilities
id = "sub7">Item "Music" - music audio player. You can view and listen to audio tracks. The following file formats are supported: MP3, AMR, AAC, AAC +, e-AAC +. There is support for OMA DRM. There is a sorting by artist, album, genre, composer.
A regular headset is included in the package. Thanks to the 3.5 mm jack, you can pick up any headphones.
The "Video" item displays videos taken both by the camera of the device and downloaded from the Internet.
A kind of thematic browser of photo and video files is the item "Gallery". All files are divided into folders: photo and video clips, music.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id = "sub8">The Galaxy S5 has a 16 megapixel camera that boasts high-speed focusing (0.3 s), stabilization, 4K video recording, BSI sensor, continuous shooting and a whole scattering of necessary and not so much settings.
The following image resolutions are supported: 5312x2988, 3984x2988, 2976x2976, 3564x2448, 3264x1836, 2048x1152 pixels. Volume buttons are responsible for zooming in / out of the image.
The device takes excellent photos, the quality is quite comparable with the pictures taken by some not the cheapest "digital camera". There are no striking differences from.
The functionality of the smartphone camera has been expanded with the introduction of many new options. For example, Two-Sided Shooting allows you to take photos using both cameras at the same time. The “Photo with sound” function allows you to take a photo, along with which the sound will be saved, and the “Motion Photo” function allows you to take a series of photos in a row and combine them into one image. Also noteworthy is the "Live Photo" camera mode, thanks to which you can create an animated GIF file from a selected fragment of the footage.
As for the rest of the settings, the automatic contrast allows you to achieve good image quality on a bright sunny day. Manual ISO settings are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800. The following shooting modes are available: single shot, smile detection, continuous, panorama, vintage, portrait, landscape, night mode, sports, indoor, beach / snow, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, fireworks, text, dusk, against the light.
The phone supports video recording in mpeg4 format for maximum resolution, and in the settings you can specify whether the video will be recorded with or without sound. All settings are comparable to those for photos, but the resolution of the clips is different, plus the effects are supported. The camera can shoot videos with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, there are also 1280x720, 720x480 pixels (30 frames), or a resolution of 640x480 pixels (30 frames). Two additional resolutions - 320x240 and 176x144 pixels.
The video recorded is not bad. It looks great on a phone screen, and it looks good on a computer.
Memory and speed
id = "sub9">From a technical point of view, the Galaxy S5 is not much different. The "five" is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974AC chip, also called Snapdragon 801. This is the fastest chipset from Qualcomm at the moment - four cores, the maximum frequency of 2.45 GHz, the graphics coprocessor has a frequency of 578 MHz. In addition, the device has 2 GB random access memory... There is enough RAM to ensure that no application feels left out. Built-in memory 16 GB, expandable with microSD cards.
It is very easy for an ordinary user to assess the performance of a smartphone: any content is launched on the device without "brakes", whether it be a 1080p video or a modern game like Max Payne.
Communication capabilities
id = "sub10">In addition to the standard connection to a computer via microUSB, the Galaxy S5 has Bluetooth 4.0 support. Bluetooth provides wireless connection peripheral devices: for example, stereo A2DP / AVRCP headsets. When connected via USB, the device recharges.
When connected to a USB port, several connection options are provided: Media, "Charging only", MTP. In MTP mode, the device is perfectly picked up without additional drivers, you can copy the necessary data.
"Five" works great in Wi-Fi networks standards a / ac / b / g / n (2.4 / 5 GHz) and can distribute Wi-Fi. Smartphone works seamlessly on networks mobile communications GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA + 850/900/1900/2100. Works on Samsung Galaxy S5 and 4G networks. The maximum data transfer rate in LTE is 150 Mbps.
Among the additional options, it is worth noting NFC and IR (transmitter only), which is needed to control the TV (mobile remote control).
Duration of work
id = "sub11">The battery with an impressive 2,800mAh capacity gave hope for long battery life from charge to charge. However, the Galaxy S5 is middling in this respect.
In testing conditions with the number of calls 40 minutes a day, browsing the Internet for about 1.5 hours, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 3 hours, the device worked for about a day. This means the phone will need to be charged every night. Is charging accumulator battery in three hours.
If you experiment with power saving and turning off the sensors, the Galaxy S5 can be made to work for a day and a half, even two with a moderate daily load.
A button for quick activation of power saving modes appeared in the phone settings. There is a usual power saving mode, in which you can limit the background operation of applications, enable gray colors for the screen (for AMOLED screens, gray color consumes almost no energy).
Maximum mode reduces power consumption by 80%. For example, on 35 percent of the battery, the phone can work in standby mode for at least 4 days. Thus, having activated this mode, you can safely live until the evening - SMS and voice will be available to you.
Outcomes
id = "sub12">I don’t know about you, but to me the Samsung Galaxy S5 seemed too mediocre compared to last year's model. No one disputes that this is a great device, but, in fact, this is the Galaxy S4 only with a slightly better camera, fingerprint scanner and pseudo-moisture protection. Taking into account the difference with the last year's model of 10 thousand rubles, the purchase of the "five" looks irrational. It's better to buy a Galaxy S4 for 19 thousand rubles and save money. If you already use Samsung, then there is no point in changing it to a new model. Wait another year, maybe the company is announcing something more interesting. I had similar recommendations after the announcement. I recommended and still recommend buying, not 5S.
Of the minuses of the Samsung Galaxy S5, I will single out an inexpressive appearance. The device looks like 10 thousand rubles, and is sold for 30 thousand. Fly, Alcatel and Huawei models for 10 thousand rubles look much more interesting and attractive.
As for my opinion, from the flagships of 2014 and Sony Xperia Z2 turned out to be more interesting. They have more charisma, however, less chips. last year was much more interesting than competitors.
Benefits
- Excellent display
- High speed work
- Great camera
- Lots of software chips
- Availability of interesting accessories
disadvantages
- Periodic glitches in the work of intelligent interfaces
- Little time autonomous work
- Inexpressive appearance (terrible edging on the sides of the case)
In an effort to catch up and overtake the industry leader Apple, Android device manufacturers have staged a real arms race - each new Googlephone flaunts features and chips that should lure users from the iPhone to the Google mobile platform. Often, in an effort to create a unique product, they use functions, many of which are completely useless, do not work, or are just a marketing trick.
The publication offered 10 functions of Android devices, which are presented in smartphones, but are practically not used by users.
1. Dual Shot Mode
This function is present in some models of Samsung and LG smartphones and allows you to simultaneously take pictures from both cameras of the gadget. When photographing anything, you can capture the expression on your face at that moment, with a small self-portrait appearing in the corner of the main photo. Of course, it is interesting to remember what kind of grimace you had during this or that event, but in general it is a pleasant trinket, nothing more.
2. Contactless call acceptance
Owners of the most advanced smartphones from Samsung and other devices using the Android platform can enjoy the opportunity to control the gadget without even touching it: the user performs the necessary manipulations by swiping his hand over the infrared sensor built into the device.
The paid version of the application has significantly expanded functionality: you can not only receive and make calls, but also enable speakerphone, send messages to e-mail about a rejected call and mute the sound if you want to ignore the caller.
The developers are confident that their invention will help people to be less distracted by conversations when they are driving, but often mysterious body movements require more time and attention than just pressing the "Answer" button.
3. Buttons on the back
The vast majority of smartphones and tablets have hardware keys like the volume control buttons or the device on / off buttons located on the top or side edges, but LG decided to go its own way. At the presentation of the flagship model "G2" the attention of journalists and consumers was immediately attracted by the unusual arrangement of the main buttons - on the back cover of the device.
According to representatives of the Korean corporation, the original decision was dictated by concern for consumers, who have repeatedly complained that, for example, when shooting videos and photos, it is difficult to hold a device with a large screen diagonal if you have to grope for tiny buttons on its sides. According to representatives of the company, the innovation makes it easier to use the gadget with one hand, however, it is not yet clear how appropriate such a solution is - there are both positive and negative reviews about this characteristic feature of the smartphone.
4. Smart pause
The fact that Samsung smartphones follow the user's gaze is reminiscent of the "peephole" on the top of the screen. The so-called "Smart Pause" - the pause of video recording when looking away - is one of the main announced chips of the company's flagship phones. A “smart pause” can be called a front camera that “looks” into the eyes of the observer and monitors his attention. As soon as the owner of the phone turns his head away while watching a video, the player automatically pauses and waits for the moment when attention returns again in order to resume playback. A useless feature that is almost never used by Googlephone owners.
5. Smart scrolling
It seems that Android manufacturers and app developers hope to eventually disaccustom people to use their hands to control gadgets altogether. Among others, experiments in this direction are continued by the Korean giant Samsung - Galaxy smartphones S4 and Galaxy Note 3 offer the user to scroll through the Internet with one movement of the eyes, using the function of "smart scrolling".
The technology is implemented by DigitalOptics Corporation (DOC) and is still more decorative in nature - many people are more accustomed to scrolling the old fashioned way with their fingers. However, according to experts, Smart Scroll is only one of the first DOC developments to be used in gadgets. The company is also engaged in the creation of a face recognition system and some other projects.
6. Start the camera by shaking
On most gadgets, it is not difficult to enter the mode of a photo or video camera - you just have to press one or two buttons. However, Motorola assures that the feature of its flagship "X" is much more convenient: to turn on the camera, you need to "shake" the device twice, and to take a picture, you just need to touch the screen.
Of course, in some cases this allows you to save a fraction of a second, but more often than not, to take a good photo, one cannot do with the speed of reaction, and not everyone will like constantly shaking the gadget. Fortunately, the developers have provided an option to disable Fast Startup.
7. Intellectual expectation
Like many other gadget features, Samsung's Smart Standby feature uses a trendy eye-tracking feature. If a person is looking at the screen, the built-in app will not turn off the backlight. Perhaps this is really convenient, but, apparently, the company admits that the gadget's overly sensitive reactions to eye movements can get bored - the function can be turned off.
8. Photographing "HTC Zoe"
Smartphones and tablets allow anyone to feel like a professional photo artist or filmmaker: specialists from a Cupertino company and device developers at Android base come up with more and more new possibilities for image and video processing.
The Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, trying to keep up with the market leaders, came up with the HTC Zoe system, which records 3-second video clips from which you can then get high-quality photos. The problem is that the function is available only to HTC owners, and to view images and videos, you will have to use a special service from the manufacturer - HTC Zoe does not allow uploading videos and photos to social networks like Facebook or Twitter.
9. Photo with sound
Samsung introduced this feature specifically for those who, when viewing photos, lack a suitable soundtrack. When taking a picture using the patented Sound & Shot technology, you can record a short commentary (maximum eight seconds) that will sound when you look at the photo. Unfortunately, this function is practically useless - it is impossible to transfer an image to a computer along with an audio track.
10. "Group Play" function
Wireless headsets and headphones using the Bluetooth data transfer protocol are much more convenient than legacy wired peripherals. This saves people from having to get confused in the wires between the gadget and the headset, which, moreover, are constantly torn and pinched.
Samsung has gone even further - it offers to use wireless transmission data for playing music on devices that are within the capabilities of the gadget's Wi-Fi transmitter. In other words, you can put your favorite song not only on your smartphone, but also on everyone that is in the immediate vicinity, of course, provided that these are also Samsung products and they have this function.
In this review, we will talk about the settings panel in the Galaxy S4... Installed Android 4.3.
You can get into it in two ways:
Method number 1: swipe down on the working area of the screen, after which we will see the main panel consisting of 5 settings, in order to see all the settings (and there are already 22 of them), you need to click on the icon in the upper right corner (the icon is white with 3 squares and 2 arrows).
Method number 2 (fastest): swipe 2 fingers from top to bottom on the working area of the screen and we will immediately go to the settings menu. Everything is very simple??
We see in front of us approximately the following picture, depending on which settings you already have active:
We disassemble in order:
1) Wi-Fi- here I think everything is clear. By pressing this button, we turn on Wi-Fi on our smartphone and connect to the Wi-Fi network we need.
2) Gps... By clicking on this button, we activate the built-in GPS - the receiver that we need if we use applications that need data about our location.
These are navigation programs, for example Maps With Me Pro, Navitel, etc., maps from Google and Yandex. Unnecessarily, you shouldn't keep it on all the time. this contributes to a faster discharge of the battery.
3) Sound... Has 3 modes (on, off, vibration mode).
4) Rotate the screen... By enabling this option, we can rotate the smartphone and the screen image will rotate with it. This is convenient, for example, when watching movies.
5) Bluetooth... Includes built-in bluetooth on your smartphone. With it, you can transfer files, pictures, themes, etc. to another phone that also has Bluetooth enabled.
6) Reading mode... Optimizes the screen for reading (simulates the mode of a regular paper book). Only used with a few specific applications.
7) Mobile data... Turns on the mode of transferring mobile data, we turn on the Internet from your cellular operator... Eats paid traffic, if you do not have unlimited of course ??
8) Blocking mode... When enabled, notifications for selected features will be disabled. You will only receive notifications for calls from people on your whitelist.
9) Power saving mode... Turns on power saving mode.
10) Multiple windows... On the left of the screen, click on the white tail from the panel, the panel will open and drag desired application up or down. The screen is split into 2 parts.
11) Screen Mirroring. Screen mirroring function. With it, you can duplicate the image of the smartphone screen on your TV.
12) Wi-Fi access... This feature allows the Galaxy S4 to operate in hotspot mode.
13) S Beam... Allows you to share different types of content (contacts, photos, videos, etc.) between multiple smartphones using NFC technology. To share files, you need to put two smartphones close to each other and touch the screen and the file transfer will begin. Works in conjunction with NFC.
14) NFC... Allows you to exchange files, information using NFC tags. For example, pay bills, connect to SMART-TV TV, enable some functions of the smartphone, etc.
15) Guidance... The function allows you to activate elements on the screen in preview mode without touching the screen with your finger, but only bringing it closer to the display glass.
16) Gesture control... Allows you to perform many functions using gestures: receive calls, switch audio tracks, switch to another tab in the browser, scroll through the image in the gallery, etc.
17) Hands-free mode... In Android 4.2, it was called "driver mode". Includes speaker on smartphone and SVoice capabilities. Allows you to control your phone “hands-free” by accepting voice commands, a convenient feature, especially when you are driving a car. Includes GPS sharing.
18) Intellectual waiting... This is when the screen is on while you are looking at it.
19) Intelligent pause... This is when the video is paused if you turn away from the screen.
20) Intelligent scrolling... This is when, after detecting the eyes, the screen scrolls depending on the tilt of the device.
21) Synchronization... Synchronizes your accounts.
22) Offline mode ... In this mode, you can turn off the calling, messaging, and data functions. Other communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will also be disabled.
In an effort to catch up and overtake the industry leader Apple, Android device manufacturers have staged a real arms race - each new Googlephone flaunts features and chips that should lure users from the iPhone to the Google mobile platform. Often, in an effort to create a unique product, they use functions, many of which are completely useless, do not work, or are just a marketing trick.
Publy offered 10 features of Android devices that are present in smartphones, but are practically not used by users.
1. Dual Shot Mode
This function is present in some models of Samsung and LG smartphones and allows you to simultaneously take pictures from both cameras of the gadget. When photographing anything, you can capture the expression on your face at that moment, with a small self-portrait appearing in the corner of the main photo. Of course, it is interesting to remember what kind of grimace you had during this or that event, but in general it is a pleasant trinket, nothing more.
2. Contactless call acceptance
Owners of the most advanced smartphones from Samsung and other devices using the Android platform can enjoy the opportunity to control the gadget without even touching it: the user performs the necessary manipulations by swiping his hand over the infrared sensor built into the device.
The paid version of the application has significantly expanded functionality: you can not only receive and make calls, but also turn on the speakerphone, send e-mail messages about a rejected call and mute the sound if you want to ignore the caller.
The developers are confident that their invention will help people to be less distracted by conversations when they are driving, but often mysterious body movements require more time and attention than just pressing the "Answer" button.
3. Buttons on the back
The vast majority of smartphones and tablets have hardware keys like the volume control buttons or the device on / off buttons located on the top or side edges, but LG decided to go its own way. At the presentation of the flagship model "G2" the attention of journalists and consumers was immediately attracted by the unusual arrangement of the main buttons - on the back cover of the device.
According to representatives of the Korean corporation, the original decision was dictated by concern for consumers, who have repeatedly complained that, for example, when shooting videos and photos, it is difficult to hold a device with a large screen diagonal if you have to grope for tiny buttons on its sides. According to representatives of the company, the innovation makes it easier to use the gadget with one hand, however, it is not yet clear how appropriate such a solution is - there are both positive and negative reviews about this characteristic feature of the smartphone.
4. Smart pause
The fact that Samsung smartphones follow the user's gaze is reminiscent of the "peephole" on the top of the screen. The so-called "Smart Pause" - the pause of video recording when looking away - is one of the main announced chips of the company's flagship phones. A “smart pause” can be called a front camera that “looks” into the eyes of the observer and monitors his attention. As soon as the owner of the phone turns his head away while watching a video, the player automatically pauses and waits for the moment when attention returns again in order to resume playback. A useless feature that is almost never used by Googlephone owners.
5. Smart scrolling
It seems that Android manufacturers and app developers hope to eventually wean people from using their hands to control gadgets altogether. Among others, the experiments in this direction are continued by the Korean giant Samsung - smartphones Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 offer the user to scroll through the Internet with one movement of the eyes, using the "smart scrolling" function.
The technology is implemented by DigitalOptics Corporation (DOC) and is still more decorative in nature - many people are more accustomed to scrolling the old fashioned way with their fingers. However, according to experts, Smart Scroll is only one of the first DOC developments to be used in gadgets. The company is also engaged in the creation of a face recognition system and some other projects.
6. Start the camera by shaking
On most gadgets, it is not difficult to enter the mode of a photo or video camera - you just have to press one or two buttons. However, Motorola assures that the feature of its flagship "X" is much more convenient: to turn on the camera, you need to "shake" the device twice, and to take a picture, you just need to touch the screen.
Of course, in some cases this allows you to save a fraction of a second, but more often than not, to take a good photo, one cannot do with the speed of reaction, and not everyone will like constantly shaking the gadget. Fortunately, the developers have provided an option to disable Fast Startup.
7. Intellectual expectation
Like many other gadget features, Samsung's Smart Standby feature uses a trendy eye-tracking feature. If a person is looking at the screen, the built-in app will not turn off the backlight. Perhaps this is really convenient, but, apparently, the company admits that the gadget's overly sensitive reactions to eye movements can get bored - the function can be turned off.
8. Photographing "HTC Zoe"
Smartphones and tablets allow anyone to feel like a professional photo artist or filmmaker: the specialists of the Cupertino company and developers of devices based on Android come up with more and more new possibilities for processing images and videos.
Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, trying to keep up with the market leaders, came up with the "HTC Zoe" system, which allows recording 3-second videos, from which you can then get high-quality photos. The problem is that the function is available only to HTC owners, and to view images and videos, you will have to use a special service from the manufacturer - HTC Zoe does not allow uploading videos and pictures to social networks like Facebook or Twitter.
9. Photo with sound
Samsung introduced this feature specifically for those who, when viewing photos, lack a suitable soundtrack. When taking a picture using the patented Sound & Shot technology, you can record a short commentary (maximum eight seconds) that will sound when you look at the photo. Unfortunately, this function is practically useless - it is impossible to transfer an image to a computer along with an audio track.
10. "Group Play" function
Wireless headsets and headphones using the Bluetooth data transfer protocol are much more convenient than legacy wired peripherals. This saves people from having to get confused in the wires between the gadget and the headset, which, moreover, are constantly torn and pinched.
Samsung has gone even further - it offers to use wireless data transmission to play music on devices that are within the capabilities of the gadget's Wi-Fi transmitter. In other words, you can put your favorite song not only on your smartphone, but also on everyone that is in the immediate vicinity, of course, provided that these are also Samsung products and they have this function.
14:39 2014-05-06 / Ivan Kushch / Test-reviews of equipment
There are always high expectations for flagship smartphones from any manufacturer. They must certainly be a "breakthrough" in all respects. Another thing is that these expectations do not always turn out to be reality. So it happened with the Samsung Galaxy S5. It doesn't look unconditionally cool compared to the Galaxy S4. Nevertheless, the device has a number of very interesting features, which will be described below.
Every year it becomes more and more difficult for smartphone developers to surprise consumers. The fact is that the list of technical characteristics that can be improved indefinitely has already been exhausted or almost exhausted. Displays cannot be larger, a higher pixel density of the screen is no longer distinguishable by the eye, a more powerful processor is increasingly working at half its capacity, etc. The list goes on. And if in the models of the middle price level you can still play games with the filling and the price, then in the flagship devices everything is already to the maximum. More and better have not yet been invented.
Before the announcement of the Galaxy S5, there were many rumors that Apple was running out of steam, and now Samsung will show its power and knock out Americans with their iPhone 5S. In fact, the new product turned out to be an improved version of last year's Galaxy S4. The device received a better camera with a very fast focus, 2.5 mm larger screen diagonal, a fingerprint scanner, a fresh version of Android with an updated TouchWiz interface. In pursuit, the model was endowed with water resistance according to the IP67 class (protection against short-term diving, you cannot swim with it). By and large, everyone ... Apple fans experienced similar emotions when the company introduced the iPhone 5S, which turned out to be a clone of the iPhone 5 with a slightly better camera and fingerprint sensor. Breakthrough or revolution, albeit small, did not happen.
It's time to admit that manufacturers have been experiencing a crisis of ideas and technologies for the second year in a row. And this applies to all companies, not just Samsung or Apple.
Well, now on the case - about the Samsung Galaxy S5.
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The design of the "five" has changed in comparison with the previous models. But I cannot name the appearance radically different. This is a kind of mix of Galaxy S4 and Note 3. The body has all the same smoothed shapes. There is a lot of gloss on the front. The silver bezels on the sides are very similar to the metal ones, but they are plastic. She looks just awful. All vendors in the world stopped using such an element of decor 2-3 years ago. But Koreans know better. The company thinks it's beautiful.
S amsung has always been criticized for the lack of metal in the body of its flagships. The situation has not changed even now. Here, too, exclusively plastic. The back cover has a dotted texture. It reminded me of the roof upholstery in Soviet cars. It all looks somehow cheap and sparse. In my opinion, a device with a price tag under 30 thousand rubles should have a more presentable look, but Koreans have a different opinion on this matter.
But the assembly of the device is perfect. There was no feeling that there was a rattle toy in front of me. Rather, the opposite is true. Everything is very high quality, reliable and tightly fitted.
The body of the model complies with the IP67 standard, which makes it protected from dust and moisture. At the same time, Samsung convincingly asked not to throw the phone into the water. It sort of can withstand an IP67 immersion, but a loose lid will lead to leaks. The company believes that this will not be a warranty case. From the visible protection elements, you can see the plug for the microUSB connector, and the rubberized material that prevents water from penetrating into the case on the back cover. But I did not find any visible protection of the audio jack.
Another characteristic feature is the warning that it is necessary to tightly close the cover of the charging connector, it appears after each charge. Also, after opening the case, you are asked to check its tightness. It seems that the phone is spying on you. In fact, such notifications are automatically sewn into it.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is available in four colors: dark gray, almost black, white and blue.
The entire front part of the device is occupied by a large 5.1-inch touchscreen display. Above it is a speaker. To the right and to the left of it there is a camera for video calls (2 Mpix) and all kinds of sensors and sensors: a motion sensor, a light sensor, a G-sensor, an infrared port. On the left is an LED indicator that glows when charging, missed calls and SMS.
Below the screen is a menu button (it has a built-in fingerprint scanner) and two touch keys. Everything is standard here.
The location of the controls and other elements on the body of the smartphone has not changed compared to the Galaxy S4.
On the right side there is a button to turn on, turn off and lock the phone. On the left you can see the volume rocker. There are no camera buttons here, the camera application for shooting can only be launched from the menu or lock mode.
At the bottom there is a standard microUSB connector for charging and connecting to a computer. At the top there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an infrared port.
On the back you can see a 16 Mpix camera lens with autofocus and LED flash. At the bottom there is a speaker for external calls and audio playback. I would rate the sound as a four. Even at an average level, you can hear the call well, even if the phone is in clothes. But in terms of sound quality, the Galaxy S5 loses to sound Htc one.
The lithium-ion battery is located under the plastic battery cover. There is also a mount for a microSIM card and a memory card. In addition, there is a built-in memory of 16 GB.
The build quality of the Galaxy S5 is excellent. During the test, I did not find any external defects. The impressions are extremely positive. The smartphone is being assembled at the company's factory in Vietnam.
Screen. Graphic capabilities
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The Super AMOLED screen in the Galaxy S5 is good in all respects. Firstly, it is 5.1 inches diagonal, and secondly, the resolution is 1080 × 1920 pixels, 432 ppi (the Galaxy S4 has 441 ppi). A crystal clear image, traditionally large viewing angles and a small bezel - all this has a positive effect on the perception of the device as a whole.
The display resolution allows you to comfortably view websites as they are. Watching the video is a pleasure. In general, without a doubt, this is one of the best screens on the market at the moment from what I have seen.
I also note that I am not a fan of Super AMOLED screens due to their excessive brightness. However, with the "Optimize Display" option, the user can significantly reduce the strain on their eyes. The device analyzes the level of illumination around and, depending on the conditions, sets the contrast, brightness, plus adjusts the colors on the screen.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The screen looks good in the sun. I did not notice any problems with reading the information.
The Galaxy S5, like its predecessor, recognizes the touch of a gloved finger. To do this, in the settings, you must put a tick in front of the auto-adjustment of the screen sensitivity. Subjectively, the feature works much better than the Galaxy S4.
Menu. Interface and navigation
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Samsung Galaxy S5 running operating system Android 4.4. The software can be “over the air”.
There are few external changes compared to the previous version of TouchWiz. The only thing that catches the eye is the redesigned settings menu, made in the form of shortcuts, the appearance of which brings back memories of the departed Symbian. In the main menu, application icons look familiar.
Most of the programs and features came from the Galaxy S4, although there were some innovations.
The Galaxy S5 offers multi-window mode, when two windows can be placed on one screen at once, for example, a browser or web browser, as well as a photo gallery below it. However, I note that the 5-inch screen is small for simultaneous work with multiple applications in this form. It works much more convincingly on tablets.
The Galaxy S5 has an accelerated content download feature. Its essence is as follows: the system starts downloading large files in two networks at once - via Wi-Fi and LTE, having previously divided them into several packages.
Smart Standby function. If you activate it, the device will not go into "sleep" mode as long as the user is looking at it. The front camera is used for face recognition. The manufacturer honestly warns that Smart Standby may not work in the dark. However, under normal conditions, the function also does not always work correctly. It seems that an eye icon appears on the notification panel (that is, the camera recognizes that they are looking at the screen at the moment), but sometimes the display backlight still turns off after a specified period of time.
A very useful and, most importantly, well implemented function turned out to be called "Attach to ear" in the Russian version of the firmware. Its essence is as follows: if someone's contact or message is open on the display, then the subscriber can be called by simply holding the smartphone to your ear, you don't even need to touch the screen.
The ability to mute the sound for an incoming call by turning the phone face down is hardly new. More interesting is the function of notification of missed calls and messages. To do this, you need to take the smartphone in your hand, in response it will vibrate and give a signal through the light indicator if the user missed a call or SMS.
The set of Smart-functions of the new product is even more impressive. Instant View allows you to interact with the display without touching it. This feature is familiar from the Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone, but there it worked only with the S Pen, and now it will respond to fingers.
With Instant View, you can preview videos, photos, emails, and S Planner appointments without having to launch the respective applications. To do this, just bring your finger closer to the screen.
I tested this function for a long time. The processing quality of such "finger-to-screen" is about 90%, which, in my opinion, is very good.
Gesture Control lets you control your gallery or web page content with a wave of your hand. No less curious is the "Smart Pause" function, thanks to which you can control video playback with a glance. While you are watching, the video plays. Turned away, it automatically paused. Turning again and looking at the screen, playback resumed.
There is "Smart Scrolling", which allows you to scroll through lists, web pages or voluminous emails with a simple movement of the eyes and a slight tilt of the smartphone away from you. The operation of the last two functions showed a 40% result. Here you have to somehow get used to it.
Other useful things include the WatchON app, which turns your smartphone into a universal remote control, ChatON messenger. Young people may be interested in the Group Play feature, with which you can share music, photos and games with other Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphones.
Travel lovers will love the S Translator app, which will become an irreplaceable assistant. It provides instant translation of words, letters, messages and chats in different languages, and also supports voice input.
In addition, Samsung took care of the security of the new smartphone, offering a proprietary solution for dividing one device into work and personal space - KNOX technology. In this case, copying data from one space to another is impossible.
In S Health, you can measure your heart rate, start a pedometer, enter data on food eaten and admire the number of calories consumed, build a workout program for running, walking, cycling or hiking with an ultimate goal. For all parameters, detailed statistics are displayed, you can add photos of the area during training or pictures of the food that you consume.
For everyone who monitors their health, this application will be extremely useful. It completely replaces all paid counterparts from third-party manufacturers. Curiously, Samsung has removed the ability to measure temperature and humidity levels from S Health.
The Galaxy S5 features Kids Mode as a separate app. You can set a password and have full control over what the child does with the smartphone, including specific applications and when they are running. You can add certain albums and programs to which your child can access.
Analyzing all the presented functions and new opportunities, I realized that for the most part they are tied to the ears by Samsung's marketing. To the few really necessary functions, I would include gesture control and a preview function. The rest is just air. But as soon as the sellers in the store show a couple of such features, the client is ready.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
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The Galaxy S5 has a 16 megapixel camera that boasts high-speed focusing (0.3 s), stabilization, 4K video recording, BSI sensor, continuous shooting and a whole scattering of necessary and not so much settings.
The following image resolutions are supported: 5312x2988, 3984x2988, 2976x2976, 3564x2448, 3264x1836, 2048x1152 pixels. Volume buttons are responsible for zooming in / out of the image.
The device takes excellent photos, the quality is quite comparable with the pictures taken by some not the cheapest "digital camera". There are no striking differences from the Galaxy S4.
The functionality of the smartphone camera has been expanded with the introduction of many new options. For example, Two-Sided Shooting allows you to take photos using both cameras at the same time. The “Photo with sound” function allows you to take a photo, along with which the sound will be saved, and the “Motion Photo” function allows you to take a series of photos in a row and combine them into one image. Also noteworthy is the "Live Photo" camera mode, thanks to which you can create an animated GIF file from a selected fragment of the footage.
As for the rest of the settings, the automatic contrast allows you to achieve good image quality on a bright sunny day. Manual ISO settings are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800. The following shooting modes are available: single shot, smile detection, continuous, panorama, vintage, portrait, landscape, night mode, sports, indoor, beach / snow, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, fireworks, text, dusk, against the light.
The phone supports video recording in mpeg4 format for maximum resolution, and in the settings you can specify whether the video will be recorded with or without sound. All settings are comparable to those for photos, but the resolution of the clips is different, plus the effects are supported. The camera can shoot videos with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, there are also 1280x720, 720x480 pixels (30 frames), or a resolution of 640x480 pixels (30 frames). Two additional resolutions - 320x240 and 176x144 pixels.
The video recorded is not bad. It looks great on a phone screen, and it looks good on a computer.
Duration of work
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The battery with an impressive 2,800mAh capacity gave hope for long battery life from charge to charge. However, the Galaxy S5 is middling in this respect.
In testing conditions with the number of calls 40 minutes a day, browsing the Internet for about 1.5 hours, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 3 hours, the device worked for about a day. This means the phone will need to be charged every night. The battery is charged in three hours.
By experimenting with saving power and turning off the sensors, the Galaxy S5 can be made to work for a day and a half, even two with moderate daily load.
A button for quick activation of power saving modes appeared in the phone settings. There is a usual power saving mode, in which you can limit the background operation of applications, enable gray colors for the screen (for AMOLED screens, gray color consumes almost no energy).
Maximum mode reduces power consumption by 80%. For example, on 35 percent of the battery, the phone can work in standby mode for at least 4 days. Thus, having activated this mode, you can safely live until the evening - SMS and voice will be available to you.
Outcomes
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I don’t know about you, but to me the Samsung Galaxy S5 seemed too mediocre compared to last year's model. No one disputes that this is a great device, but, in fact, this is the Galaxy S4 only with a slightly better camera, fingerprint scanner and pseudo-moisture protection. Taking into account the difference with the last year's model of 10 thousand rubles, the purchase of the "five" looks irrational. It's better to buy a Galaxy S4 for 19 thousand rubles and save money. If you already use a Samsung Galaxy S4, then there is no point in changing it to a new model. Wait another year, maybe the company is announcing something more interesting. I had similar recommendations after the announcement of the iPhone 5S. I recommended and still recommend the iPhone 5, not the 5S.
Of the minuses of the Samsung Galaxy S5, I will single out an inexpressive appearance. The device looks like 10 thousand rubles, and is sold for 30 thousand. Fly, Alcatel and Huawei models for 10 thousand rubles look much more interesting and attractive.
As for my opinion, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2 are more interesting from the flagships of 2014. They have more charisma, however, less chips. The Galaxy S4 was far more interesting than the competition last year.
Benefits
- Excellent display
- High speed of work
- Great camera
- Lots of software chips
- Availability of interesting accessories
disadvantages
- Periodic glitches in the work of intelligent interfaces
- Short battery life
- Inexpressive appearance (terrible edging on the sides of the case)