Samsung’s mobile design chief, Chang Dong-hoon, resigned from his position at the South Korean tech company in the wake of the Galaxy S5’s release. With the Galaxy S5 continuing to shatter sales records, though, why would the company’s design chief step down? Galaxy S5 Design Flaws Trigger Resignation The Galaxy S5 has received mostly positive reviews from critics and consumers alike, many of whom praise Samsung for producing a smartphone with exceptional hardware and software capabilities. But there’s one universal criticism that many people have complained about: the design. The Galaxy S5 didn’t exactly bring anything new to Samsung’s Galaxy line, as it still possessed the same plastic body that’s found in its predecessors. We talked about the possibility of Samsung using an all-metal design in the Galaxy S5 before the device was released, but in the end they kept the familiar plastic body. This plastic design ultimately drew negative criticism, with people complaining that it felt cheap and flimsy — especially for a premium smartphone like Samsung’s flagship Galaxy line “The design has been consistently commented on for the last two or three years, especially the lack of high-end materials. The Galaxy S family is still successful, so Samsung must…

The Samsung Galaxy S5 may soon be available for purchase through Google Play. Last month, Google temporarily published a tiled image on Google Play depicting several smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S4. The Mountain View company has since taken the image down, but it leaves us wondering: will the Galaxy S5 come to Google Play?   As you can see from the image screenshot image published above, it was the Galaxy S4 depicted on Google Play, not the S5. Was this a humor error by a Google employee, or is Google really planning to release the Galaxy S4 on Google Play? It’s doubtful (although not impossible) that Google would add the Galaxy S4 to its Google Play Edition (GPE). If they are going to add more smartphones, you can bet they are going to be recent-model flagships like the Galaxy S5. Upon closer inspection of the image, you’ll notice the so-called “Galaxy S 4” is actually the S5. It features the textured back, sunbeam wallpaper and other identifiable characteristics — yet the name depicted for the device is the “Samsung Galaxy S 4.” If your mind isn’t boggled yet, it will be: the Galaxy device depicted in the Google Play…

Regardless of how good your memory is, it’s nearly impossible to remember the passwords to each and every online account. From social media to email, forums, discussion boards and more, it’s not uncommon for a typical Internet user to have dozens of different passwords. So, how are you supposed to keep track of all these passwords? LastPass is one of the world’s leading password management tools. It’s been around since 2008, offering PC and Mac users a convenient way to safely store their various account passwords. But now this powerful password management software is available for Android-based smartphones and tablet computers, including the Samsung Galaxy S5. For an example look at Silverlock [Download]. What Is LastPass? LastPass allows you to save passwords and field data into an encrypted file; thus, protecting it from prying eyes. And once it’s saved to your computer — or Android smartphone — you can log into your online accounts with the click of a button. “LastPass is helping the world remember their passwords and better manage their online life. It’s a browser-based password manager and form filler that works with all platforms and smart phones. LastPass makes browsing the web easier and more secure. Get…

Does the launch-edition Galaxy S5 feel a bit too heavy and/or bulky for your liking? Well, you’re in luck,  because the South Korean tech giant is reportedly working on a “Mini” variant of its flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S5 Mini will weigh less and feature a smaller display screen, and if the rumors are correct, it will also come with a reduced price tag. These are just a few reasons why some people are eagerly anticipating its release. Confirmation of Galaxy S5 Mini Variant We’ve known about the upcoming Galaxy S5 Mini variant for some time, but recently Samsung published an image on their website confirming the existence of a smaller variant. The Dutch organization Galaxy Club published a screenshot of what appears to be a placeholder for the upcoming Galaxy S5 Mini variant on Samsung’s official website (see image below). Unfortunately, there’s no actual photo of the Galaxy S5 Mini, but the screenshot does reveal one important piece of information: SM-G800F build. Being that this screenshot was taken straight from Samsung’s support page, we can only assume the company is preparing to release a Galaxy S5 Mini variant with the build SM-G8ooF. There’s been no official statement by Samsung…

Cellphone theft is a growing problem here in the U.S., with an estimated 113 devices being stolen every minute! From the east coast to west, cellphones are being lifted at an alarming rate. In an effort to curb these numbers in the opposite direction, Samsung recently announced plans to add two anti-theft tools to the Galaxy S5. “Find My Mobile” and “Reactivation Lock” For The Galaxy S5 According to a statement made by Samsung officials, the Galaxy S5 will receive “Find My Mobile” and “Reactivation Lock” at no additional cost. If a customers Galaxy S5 is stolen, and the thief attempts to reset the device back to factory settings, the cell carrier can lock it using these two apps; thus, preventing any attempt to reset, activate, or otherwise modify its software. But there’s a catch to the upcoming Galaxy S5 anti-theft tools: they will only work with Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular devices. If you’re on T-Mobile, AT&T or any other network, you’ll have to look elsewhere for added security measures. Samsung may add the anti-theft tools to other networks in the future, but as of yet it appears the tools will be restricted to Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular….

Smartphone screenshots are useful in a number of different situations. If you’re experiencing a bug or software problem with a particular app, you can snap a screenshot to send the developer. Using this information, they can either update the app or provide you with further instructions on how to solve the issue. Of course, screenshots are also helpful for saving information — websites, text messages, webpages, setting configurations, etc. — on the fly. If you own a Samsung Galaxy S5, you might be wondering how, or even if, it has a built-in screenshot function. Well, the Galaxy S5 does feature a screenshot function, allowing device owners to quickly and easily save their display as an image file. With that said, there’s no conspicuous button or app marked “screenshot,” so some users may have difficulty finding it. Here we’re going to walk you through the steps of taking a screenshot on the Galaxy S5 using two different methods. Screenshot Method #1) Power up your Galaxy S5. Access the Settings > Motions and gestures > Palm motion. (Palm motion must be enabled in order to take a screenshot using this method) When you’re ready to take a screenshot, swipe the palm of…

Tired of looking at the same display on your Samsung Galaxy S5 device? Well, Samsung offers a total of five different pre-set displays, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you’re interested in changing the look of your device, keep reading to learn more about the different screen modes and how to access them. Playing around with the different displays can make a world of difference in the clarity and overall visual quality of your Galaxy S5. By switching to a new display, it alters the color and contrast, offering a different perspective for the same Galaxy S5 that you’ve come to love. Most smartphones only offer brightness controls, but Samsung went above and beyond the call of duty by implementing screen modes into their flagship smartphone. How To Change Screen Mode On The Galaxy S5 To change the screen mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5, access the Settings > Display > Screen Mode. You will then see five different selections available, including Adapt Display, Dynamic, Standard, Professional Photo and Cinema. The default screen mode for the Galaxy S5 is Adapt Display, but you can change this by clicking on a button next to the preferred mode….

One of the key selling points of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is its 16-megapixel rear-facing camera. Most users have praised Samsung for delivering such a powerful camera on an otherwise small device. Recently, though, the South Korean manufacturer has come under fire for camera failure issues. While the problem isn’t related to all Galaxy S5 devices, some users have complained and Samsung is listening. You don’t have to search very hard to find complaints posted online about the Galaxy S5’s faulty camera. From forums to blogs, hundreds of people have taken to the Internet to voice their frustration with Samsung. According to users’ reports, the Galaxy S5 generates a “camera failure” message when attempting to take a picture; thus, rendering this feature useless. Verizon Wireless Models Are Affected The Most It’s important to note that Verizon Wireless model Galaxy S5s are being affected the most. Far more reports of the faulty camera have come from Verizon Wireless customers, leaving us to ask the question: is it an issue with the carrier? That would certainly make since if the problem was limited strictly to Verizon Wireless devices, but it’s not. Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile users have all reported the same “camera…

Samsung is preparing to release a new crystal-encrusted variant of its highly popular flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5. Known as the “Crystal Collection” – for obvious reasons – it will feature a massive array of crystals covering the back. So if you’re tired of looking at the same generic shell case day after day, Samsung has the solution to your problem. Samsung has yet to provide any details regarding the Galaxy S5 Crystal Collection, but they did release a short promo video on YouTube. The video, which you watch below, was published from the company’s South Korean YouTube account. This could mean the Galaxy S5 Crystal Collection will have a limited release in certain Asian markets, or it could hold no relevance; again, Samsung hasn’t made an official statement about the upcoming Crystal Collection, so take this information with a grain of salt. Galaxy S5 Crystal Collection Promo Video As you can see from the short promo clip above, the Galaxy S5 Crystal Collection variant features a brilliant array of sparkling crystals on the back of the device. From what we can tell, it appears to be a standard black-colored Galaxy S5 with the crystals embedded onto the back. Samsung…

And you though the original Samsung Galaxy S5 was the world’s best smartphone. Now, it appears the South Korean tech giant is working to produce an even better-looking version of its flagship smartphone. While Samsung has yet to confirm this rumor, there’s plenty of evidence popping up online which suggests the Galaxy S5 Prime will hit the market soon. SamMobile was the first to spill the beans about an upcoming ‘premium’ variant of the Galaxy S5. According to the article, Ming-Chi Kuo, KGI Securities’ analyst, revealed Samsung is working on multiple Galaxy S5 variants, including the upgraded model that’s known by Samsung employees as “Samsung KQ.” Galaxy S5 Prime: What To Expect So, what can you expect to see in the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime? We don’t have much to go on other than the leaked source published at SamMobile; however, the article says the new Prime variant will feature a faster Exynos 5430 SoC with a 2.1GHz Corex-A15 and 1.5GHz Cortex 7 cluster, and an additional Cortex-A5 co-processor deserved strictly for audio coding/decoding. We do have one other piece of information to go on: a GFXBench sighting of a new Samsung smartphone build SM-G906S handset. Specs for the build…