Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung reportedly shipped four million Galaxy S 4 handsets in the space of five days, an unnamed company exec has claimed, breaking its flagship record in the process. “As of the end of April, we supplied four million Galaxy S 4 handsets to telecommunication operators around the world,” the executive told Korean news site The Chosunilbo, versus 21 days to break the 3m mark with the Galaxy S III.

That’s not to say the Galaxy S III had been a slow seller. It too had broken new records for Samsung, besting the Galaxy S II’s 55-days-to-3m achievement, itself setting a new milestone over the original Galaxy S. That first handset, back in the days when Samsung was first becoming properly competitive with Apple’s iPhone, took 85 days to ship 3m units.

According to the Samsung executive, the appeal of the Galaxy S 4 isn’t slowing, either. “As of Friday, we have sold more than 6 million units,” they continued, “and we predict that we could break the 10-million mark by as early as the end of this month.”

It’s worth noting that Samsung’s count is not of sales to end-users – those going into their local carrier store and signing a new agreement for the Galaxy S 4 – but of sales to retailers and operators.

That approach to counting has seen the company come in for criticism in the past, with market analysts arguing that Samsung’s figures aren’t directly comparable to, say, Apple’s sales numbers. In contrast, Apple sold 5m iPhone 5 handsets in its opening weekend, keeping its pole position for initial demand ahead of Samsung, at least for the moment.

Nonetheless, it’s a sign that Samsung is undoubtedly the force to be reckoned with in Android. There’s more on the Galaxy S 4 in our full review.

VIA: Unwired View

Samsung ships 4m Galaxy S 4 in 4 days: Breaks internal record is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week we’ve had the opportunity to have a look at Tech21′s Impact Shield smartphone screen protector technology in the form of it’s iPhone 5 and Samsung GALAXY S 4 iterations. This product works with three layers of shielding, each of them working with slightly different features for an overall 80 percent lessening of impact by objects aimed at your smartphone’s screen.

While in the past working with screen protectors that are anything thicker than a simple super-thin layer of plastic, it’s been a toss-up whether or not they’d do what they said they would, here Tech21 appears to come through. The final product does appear disperse impact and protect the screen while touch sensitivity remains.

NOTE: As a special experiment / treat, we’re recorded the hands-on of this product’s application process with Google Glass. The photo at the head of this article also comes straight #throughglass, is it were. Take heed – this video also appears in an expanded Google Glass in action review of the wearable technology’s abilities, specifically its camera.

The technology inside this screen protector is what Tech21 describes as their most advanced implementation of display shielding yet. The first layer works to spread the impact force of whatever’s aimed at your device’s screen. The third (closest to the screen) layer is a soft base, further absorbing the impact force of a blow.

The middle layer is the most interesting – or at least the most interestingly titled. Here we’ve got the BulletShield impact protection layer using BASF absorption polymer technology. BASF is also known as “The Chemical Company” and is, not coincidentally, the largest chemical company in the world. This layer provides non-yellowing UV protection with absorption polymer also used in bulletproof glazing.

Thus far this shielding has held up every bit as well as the other Tech21 products we’ve tested, including the orange goo you’ll remember from some months ago. Have a peek at a demo we received at the hands of Tech21′s CEO with a hammer, Tech21 Impactology excellence, and a human hand. You’ll certainly not regret having done so.

Also note that this multi-layer screen protector system is out there in the wild for your pocket in several iterations right this minute. For $29.99 MSRP you’ll find the Tech21 Impact Shield for the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung GALAXY S 4, Apple iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy Note II as well. We’ll keep you updated on the spread of this shield to other devices soon as well – stay tuned!

Tech21 Impact Shield for GALAXY S 4 and iPhone 5 Review is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Facebook Home has quietly added support for the HTC One and – unofficially – the Samsung Galaxy S 4, as the social network Android homescreen replacement attempts to build on its 1m+ existing users. The app originally launched for the Galaxy S III, Note II, HTC One X, and One X+, with the promise of One and Galaxy S 4 support when both handsets were released. Now that appears to have been added, albeit with a slightly confusing error message on the Samsung phone.

Download the latest version of Facebook from the Google Play store, and you can now set Facebook Home as the default launcher on the HTC One, just as you could on previous devices. On the Galaxy S 4, however, there’s an error message thrown up first – telling you that “Your device is not supported yet” and that users “may not get the best experience” if they use Home.

However, tap the “Use Home Anyway” button and the launcher springs up as usual. The same option, warning non-ideal performance but still allowing for us, has also been tested on the Sony Xperia ZL.

Expanding its userbase for Home across more devices is just what Facebook is hoping to see, and so offering a potentially less-than-perfect experience but still getting Home switched on is probably better for the social network than waiting until everybody can get the exact same experience. It’s too early to say just what the potential glitches might be on the Galaxy S 4.

Meanwhile, Facebook has also acknowledged that there is an unofficial APK of Facebook Home which some users are circulating, claiming to be aware of around 10,000 installs. The company is going to make no move to block that, it seems.

Among the other changes in the recent Facebook app update is a new, persistent bar in the notification area, which Facebook calls the “dash bar.” More on Facebook Home in our review.

[via Android Central]

Facebook Home hits HTC One and Galaxy S 4 in quiet social update is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The accessory company RokForm has been releasing accessories since 2010, coming up here in 2013 with a family of components that allow a smartphone – one of several models – to be attached to essentially any hard surface you’ve got near you. Though the group continues to keep the use cases for their accessories wide open, we’d like to suggest one that’s proven itself to be pretty neat right here at home: dish washing.

Of course RokForm accessories aren’t made for washing dishes, they’re made for holding and protecting your smartphone. But what we’ve got here in a combination of elements is a way to hold, in this case, a Samsung Galaxy S III aloft above a sink full of dirty dishes playing Netflix while we go about our business. So we’ve got Beavis and Butthead playing on loop while the cups and pans are run through the hands-on action.

With the RokForm v3 Suction Mount we’ve got one piece of the puzzle, and with the Rokbed v3 S3 Case we’ve got the other. RokForm is expanding their line of compatible components with this v3 set, working with devices like the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S right this minute with plans for devices like the GALAXY S 4 on the list. In addition to the Suction Mount, there’s also a friendly list of components that attach with the same multi-clip attachment point you see here.

You’ll be able to attach with a Bike Mount, an Extended Tripod Adapter, Sport Clip, and magnets – amongst others coming up, too. With the Rokbed v3 S3 Case on its own, you’ve got an injection molded polycarbonate frame, “thermoplastic elastomer non-slip grip insert”, a magnet kit, a Rokguard screen protector, and a Remote Mounting System for moist mount – these are basically heavy-duty sticker-backed units that lock in to the back of the case like the Suction Mount does.

So you’ve got the case – you’ll buy that for right around $40 or $45 USD depending on the device you’re working with. Then you’ll want the Suction Mount which will run you another $49 USD. This mount, like the case, is heavy duty. Made with polycarbonate and die cast zinc construction with two angles for movement – 360 degrees of rotation as well as a 210 degree tilt. All we need is one, the one which allows the phone to sit horizontal for superior television show viewing.

This mount has sat attached to a tile above the sink for over a week straight with no end in sight. Of course that’ll happen when you’ve got a 3.4-inch suction cup holding up a device that’s much, much lighter than its full weight capacity. Sound like a winning combination to you? Let us know!

RokForm v3 accessories turn smartphones to wall-mounted televisions is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the AT&T Samsung GALAXY S 4 has been discovered to have a bit of a bug in its build affecting users’ ability to work with stock wi-fi hotspot and tethering. While some third-party services still work to allow tethering and wi-fi hotspot, AT&T’s direct menu support is not appearing working on some (if not all) units at the moment. SlashGear has reported this issue to Samsung and they are currently looking into it.

While working with an extended internet connection from your Samsung GALAXY S 4 may not be working straight from your normal menu right this minute, you do have options outside the regular fold. The widget set Extended Controls is one which allows quick-access to your mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, music, and a few other bits and pieces. There’s also the Koush-made USB tether app which makes tethering undetectable by your carrier of choice.

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 has appeared earlier today in the newest CyanogenMod 10.1 release for T-Mobile and has appeared earlier this month for AT&T. This setup allows you internet tethering and mobile hotspot abilities that we’ve not yet gotten the chance to test with this particular bug – but chances are there are good things to be said about the build. If you’re using the AT&T version of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and CyanogenMod 10.1, be sure to let us know if you’re up and running!

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is headed out to – or is already on – each of the major mobile device carriers in the United States right now and is spreading abroad as we speak. Have a peek at our full review of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and let us know if you’re planning on checking one out in the near future!

AT&T GALAXY S 4 bug hits Wi-fi tethering: fix in the works is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.