I’m no fan of LG’s rear smartphone control keys — but turns out the company had its finger on the pulse of looming hardware disruption when it ushered in those backside smartphone controls last summer, with the G2. The back of the smartphone is becoming a space to watch. Read More
As we’re sure many of you guys know by now, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will come with a fingerprint scanner. Not only will the scanner be used to unlocked the phone, but it can also be used to authenticate PayPal payments. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately it seems that the feature will not be making its way onto Verizon’s version of the Galaxy S5.
This was discovered by the folks at Droid-Life who realized that the Verizon version of the Galaxy S5 does not come with the ability to use the fingerprint scanner to authorize PayPal payments. Given that this is one of the features that Samsung has been pushing, we’re betting that Samsung can’t be too happy about this omission. (more…)
Galaxy S5 PayPal Fingerprint Support Disabled By Verizon original content from Ubergizmo.
This week the folks at PayPal have made clear that they’re headed to the Galaxy S5 for a rather sizable collaboration on the fingerprint scanner. Here we’re assured by PayPal … Continue reading
Samsung’s developer-aimed version of the Galaxy S5 has been revealed for Verizon users this week. While we’re not entirely sure when the device will be released in full, today it’s … Continue reading
Samsung has a Developer Edition of the Galaxy S5, just as it did for the Galaxy S4 and SIII before it, and as usual it’ll have its unlocked bootloader and come at the full, unsubsidized price of around $650 or so. Thus far, the dev edition S5 is listed as a Verizon device only, in Charcoal black with “coming soon” as the only release date. The Developer edition makes it possible… Read More
When Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 3 back in 2013, it was discovered that the phone came region-locked, meaning that if you bought the device through a grey market import, you’d have to find some way to get a SIM card from the country that it originated from, use it for a few minutes, and you’d be good to go.
This was a minor inconvenience but it was a way for Samsung to curb the number of grey market imports and to discourage the practice. Unfortunately it looks like with the Galaxy S5, Samsung has made things slightly more difficult. Not only will you require a SIM card from the country the phone originated from, but you would also be required to make a 5 minute phone call in order to bypass the lock.
This is according to a sticker found taped on the Galaxy S5’s box which reads, “European Model: This product should be activated with a SIM card issued from a mobile operator within Europe. (as defined EU/EEA, Switzerland and the following Non-EEA countries Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.) To use SIM cards from other regions, a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators.”
For those who are planning on getting their model through grey market imports, we’re not sure where you might be able to get yourself a SIM card from the country it has been imported in. Then again with all this trouble, perhaps grey market importers might be discouraged from such practices, or at the very least prepare a SIM card for their customers to use in order to activate the device.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Will Be Region-Locked As Well , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, galaxy s5, Samsung, 
The HTC One M8 was released not too long ago and given the flagship nature of the handset, it basically puts itself in competition with a slew of Android phones like the LG G Pro 2, Sony Xperia Z2, and how we not forget, the Samsung Galaxy S5. So out of these flagship smartphones from other OEMs, which does HTC find to be the biggest threat?
We guess it’s no surprise that it’s the Samsung Galaxy S5, although HTC basically confirmed this thanks to a leaked training document that the folks at HTC Source managed to get their hands on. According to the leaked document, it basically instructs sales reps to promote the HTC One M8’s features and explain to customers why and how the phone is better than the Galaxy S5.
HTC has listed 5 points that reps can use, starting with how the phone is made from metal, and not plastic. They also mention BoomSound which is the front-facing stereo speakers on the phone (in which Sprint’s model is apparently made by Harman/Kardon). They also mention how the HTC One M8 is apparently better for one-handed use, and they also talk about the Duo camera feature, and last but not least is the HTC Advantage which is basically HTC’s offer of a free screen replacement in the first 6 months should anything happen to it.
All of HTC’s points are valid claims although we guess it really does come down to personal preference. While we had no qualms about the Duo camera feature during our review, there are others out there who have expressed their wish for something a bit more conventional. The front-facing stereo speakers are also nice to have but not necessarily a must-have feature either.
Will HTC’s tactics work against Samsung? Or will loyalty and reputation of Samsung’s brand be more than enough to work in their favor? We guess we will have to wait and see, but in the meantime which phone are you guys leaning more towards to, at least between the two?
Leaked HTC One M8 Training Doc Compares It To The Galaxy S5 , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, galaxy s5, HTC One (M8), Samsung, 
Is the world geared up for the global release of the Samsung Galaxy S5? The South Korean smartphone manufacturer has moved pretty quickly when it comes to software updates on its upcoming flagship devices as well as wearable technology such as the Gear 2 Neo, and so it is not surprising to see Samsung deliver a stability update to the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone prior to its global availability.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Stability Update Arrives Prior To Global Launch original content from Ubergizmo. 
Samsung has kicked off the global launch of its Galaxy S5 flagship handset, as well as its range of Gear devices, including the Gear 2 and Gear Fit, among others. … Continue reading
It’s not the water and dust resistance that’s holding back the repairability of the Samsung Galaxy S5, that’s for certain. Instead it would appear that this device has Samsung seeking … Continue reading
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
