Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to repairing the smartphone you own right this minute, chances are you’ve got such a difficult task at hand that you’ll be better off handing the job over to a professional. When it comes to the Samsung GALAXY S 4, a teardown video (read: taking the device apart piece-by-piece) shown today appears to have revealed the device to be a rather easy-to-deconstruct setup. While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a GALAXY S 4 teardown (see an earlier rip-apart here with more detailed photos), it’s nice to hear here and now that this device will be easier to repair than than the Galaxy S III – or so they say!

While the video you’re about to see is nothing like the ultra-detailed macro-photographed teardowns we generally see from the likes of iFixit, the source providing this video to TechnoBuffalo can’t be blamed: they’re likely one of the first civilians to have done so. In the screencaps you’re seeing above and below you’ll get a basic idea of what this phone’s innards are all about: simplicity. While we’re not sure it was Samsung’s intent that the end-user be able to repair the device on their own, it should be fairly clear that a simple construction process was in the manufacturer’s plan.

The one piece that appears to be missing from this rather-excellent fixability situation is the fact that the Gorilla Glass 2 up front wont be able to be picked up at any corner store and placed in-place of this device’s display-protector. For that you’ll have wished you purchased device insurance instead. Have fun with that!

Have a peek at our full coverage of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 including our first massive hands-on with the device here and in the timeline below. This smartphone is headed to a US carrier near you extremely soon, and we’ll have a review us as soon as we can muster it! Get pumped up for the final drop!

Samsung GALAXY S 4 teardown tips real easy fix is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I have a problem. I own a smartphone – an iPhone 5 – that comes with a nicely sized, 4-inch screen. When I surf to Web sites, I’m able to see whatever I want. When I go to the iTunes Store and buy a movie or two, I can enjoy them without any trouble whatsoever. For me, the 4-inch screen is an ideal size.

Then again, I thought the same with my former iPhone, which came with a smaller 3.5-inch display. I thought for sure that I wouldn’t need a larger screen. But when I got my hands on the bigger display, I decided otherwise.

Now, though, I’m looking at new devices from companies like LG and Samsung, like the Galaxy S 4, that come with screen sizes that hit 5 inches, and I can’t help but wonder why anyone would need a device featuring a screen size that large. Let’s face it – there comes a point when screen sizes become too big and unwieldy. And I wonder if a 5-inch display from Samsung is one such device.

Of course, those who love Android will have a much different opinion on the matter. They believe that Apple is delivering products that only come with 4-inch screens is absolutely ridiculous. It’s too small a screen, the critics say, and it’s the kind of limitation that Apple places on products that make them want an Android handset.

I can understand both points. Apple ostensibly believes that a 4-inch tablet makes sense for customers. Samsung and others, however, see that as one of the issues with Apple’s products, and believe that customers want the biggest display they can get. While I agree that there are literally millions of people around the globe that do want the larger screens, at what point do they become too big?

“There’s a point where a large screen becomes ridiculous”

The way I see it, we’ve pushed the envelope to a point where there might not be much more room for larger screens. Most people today put their devices into their pockets or in small places in their purses. They don’t have the room, necessarily, to keep putting larger and larger products into those places. It comes to a point when a device has such a large screen that using it becomes ridiculous. And there comes a point when companies have to realize that and find other ways to attract us. It’s not easy, for sure, but it’s absolutely necessary.

So, I think we should examine whether smartphone screen sizes are getting too big. As I said earlier, I’ll be the first to admit that I like a nice, big screen. But after 5 inches, I don’t think it makes sense for companies to deliver products that deliver anything bigger. And I’m not so sure that consumers will respond favorably to such a move.

So, before you buy that 5-inch-screen-equipped screen, think twice. Will it be too big? Will it be just right? Everyone is different. But not acknowledging the possibility of screen sizes being too big for their own good is a mistake.

When Do Smartphone Screens Become Too Big? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you were freaking out over the fact that the HTC One would be cheaper than the Samsung GALAXY S 4 on AT&T, freak no more! The company has just updated their listing to be clearer than before – if you want the 32GB version of the GALAXY S 4, you will indeed be paying $249.99. If you want the 16GB version, you’ll be tossing down just $199.99 USD instead.

When you’re all about the HTC One with AT&T, both it and the GALAXY S 4 being 4G LTE compatible, you’ll be paying $199.99 for the 16GB iteration as well. At the moment it would appear that the HTC One will be coming in a 64GB edition to AT&T in the USA and this carrier will be the only carrier inside the USA to bring such a size. If you want a 64GB version of the GALAXY S 4, you may have to look elsewhere.

That said, the GALAXY S 4 does come with a microSD card slot that’ll allow you to expand your internal storage space by 64GB – the HTC One cannot claim the same at the moment. Of course if you want to check out the Chinese edition of the HTC One, you’ll be getting a microSD card slot where you can jam all sorts of extra storage. But then again and again, you wont be working with that device on any USA radio bands!

See our HTC One Review as well as our Samsung GALAXY S 4 hands-on experience for more information on these two titans! And don’t forget our HTC One vs GALAXY S 4 post as well!

Have a peek at our timeline below of recent AT&T posts so you know what you’re up against when you’re switching from the device you’re working with now. The big blue carrier will have essentially every major smartphone from here until the end of time, so you’ll have choices, but you’ll want to know what you’re getting into!

[via AT&T]

AT&T GALAXY S 4 16GB pricing updated: $199 on-contract is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung‘s much-touted GALAXY S 4 flagship handset, which was launched with quite the fanfare early last month, isn’t available to the public yet, only going up for pre-order in certain markets. That hasn’t stopped the handset from being rooted, however. Specifically, the folks over at XDA have rooted the Exynos 5 Octa 8-core variety of the smartphone.

This news was first reported by Android Authority, which spotted a rooting guide for the handset on the popular XDA developer forums by a long-time and trusted poster. While this is good news for those who have already pre-ordered the handset and want to root it without delay, the sticking issue is that the rooting guide is only for the Exynos 5 (GT-I9500) model.

While this is certainly good news for those destined for that particular version of the handset, it’s not for those who receive the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 model, which is the majority of the United States and the United Kingdom. That means those of use located in either location – or others slated for the Qualcomm variety – will have to wait a tad longer until a guide rolls out for the non-Exynos 5 model.

And, of course, if you decide to give the guide a go when your Exynos-version GALAXY S 4 shows up, keep in mind that you’re taking on a bit of risk. We’ll be keeping an eye out for the Qualcomm rooting method whenever it becomes available, so stay tuned. For now, you can check out the guide in its full glory over at XDA here.

[via Android Community]

Samsung GALAXY S 4 rooted before hitting shelves is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you were pumped up about the Samsung GALAXY S 4 revealed earlier this month but found its massive display to be just a bit too much to swallow, you’ll be glad to hear the tip about a “mini” coming on quick. This smaller iteration of the GALAXY S 4 would take on the design aesthetic of the larger, working with many of the same features but with specifications that point to a slightly lower price on the market.

While this release has not yet been confirmed (nor, according to Engadget, has it been denied), but given the release lineup of the past few Galaxy smartphones, a mini version of this “4″ hero is almost a given. The original suggestion comes from Bloomberg where, in an extended report, say they’re pretty sure the GALAXY S 4 mini will be released rather quickly after the GALAXY S 4 goes on sale.

Inside the GALAXY S 4 mini, the following specifications have been tipped. We’re expecting that the processor will be made by Qualcomm – likely a Snapdragon S4 Pro, similar to the Google Nexus 4.

Samsung GALAXY S 4 mini:

• 4.3-inch display (lower than 1080p)
• Dual-core 1.6Ghz processor
• 8 megapixel back-facing camera
• 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• Plastic body, Gorilla Glass 3 on front
• Removable battery
• microSD card slot capable of using 64GB cards

This machine will follow up on the GALAXY S 4 in markets such as the UK and Japan while the USA will see an off-contract iteration for sure, with carrier possibilities less likely. With the release of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 we’ll once again see a multi-carrier release almost at the same time, while each carrier’s unique release dates are flowing in as we speak. Have a peek at the timeline below for more info!

And don’t forget to check our Samsung GALAXY S 4 hands-on experience for the in-depth action you desire!

Samsung GALAXY S 4 mini tipped on hero’s heels is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.