The Samsung Galaxy S5 was the hottest smartphone of 2014, selling over 12 million units in its first three months of being released. It’s a beautiful, brilliant device that delivers the perfect blend of performance and style. But one of the key features that makes Samsung’s flagship handset such an attractive choice may not be included in the Galaxy S6. According to the South Korean news site Digital Daily, the upcoming Galaxy S6 will not be dust/waterproof. Samsung went out of its way to make the Galaxy S5 resistant to dust and water, giving it an International Protection Marking of 6/7. This means it’s fully protected against the ingress of dust and protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m. There’s no faster way to ruin your day than by dropping your smartphone in a puddle of water — something that far too many of us have experienced in our lives. Samsung acknowledged this issue, choosing to make all of its Galaxy S5 standard-edition units waterproof. If you accidentally expose your Galaxy S5 to dust or water, you can rest assured knowing that it’s protected. Many consumers have purchased the Galaxy S5 specifically for this reason. This begs…

It’s downright frustrating when you’re forced to keep your Galaxy S5 plugged into a nearby wall outlet due to poor battery life. Samsung touts its flagship smartphone as being one of the most energy-efficient mobile devices on the market. But like all smartphones, its battery performance is largely dependent on its settings/preferences, apps, and overall usage. So, how can you improve the battery life of your Galaxy S5? Ultra Powering Saving Mode Samsung introduced a new battery-saving feature in the Galaxy S5, dubbed Ultra-Powering Saving Mode. Some users assume this feature is enabled by default, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. You must manually enable it by accessing the quick settings drawer and tapping the “Ultra-Powering Saving Mode” option. Once enabled, you should notice a world of difference in your device’s battery life. Some websites claim that a Galaxy S5 in Ultra-Power Saving Mode can run for 24 hours on just 10% charge. Of course, not everyone will experience the same results, so don’t expect to achieve a full day’s worth of power on just 10% battery. Location Settings It’s no secret that location-based services consume an excessive amount of power on smartphones, and the Galaxy S5 is no exception….

When the Samsung Galaxy S5 first came out, it was considered by many to be one of the most secure smartphones on the market. CNET had a nice breakdown of some of the anti-theft features worked into the phone, such as it being one of the first to have a built-in fingerprint scanner for improved personal security when opening apps and accessing programs. As with any new or improved smartphone features, it seems fair for users to question whether what was being advertised is actually necessary or just meant to boost sales and reviews. But in this case, the past year or so has seen smartphone security become more important than ever, as we increasingly trust our devices with personal information and financial handling. In fact, to emphasize just how great the need for top-of-the-line smartphone security is, here are a few examples of apps and programs that can leave you vulnerable if not protected properly. Banking Apps Banking apps are nothing new, but their capabilities have expanded significantly across the board. While these apps once existed largely to allow users to check on their accounts remotely, they now feature the ability to have complete control of bank accounts via…

Ask any serious smartphone enthusiast and they’ll agree: the Galaxy S5 is one of the fastest and most powerful mobile devices on the market. Featuring a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM 16/32GB memory, 18-megapixel primary camera, and Samsung’s signature Touchwiz mod on top of Android 4.4, there are few devices that rival the Galaxy S5. Given the undeniable positive brand image surrounding the Galaxy S5, it should come as somewhat shocking news that sales of Samsung’s flagship smartphone have declined considerably since its release. According to an article published by the Wall Street Journal, Samsung sold 40% fewer units than it expected to sell, dealing a major blow to the company’s profits and its morale. Samsung reportedly based its sales predictions on surveys and polls taken from cell carriers from across the world. An unnamed person close to Samsung told the WSJ, however, that cell carriers were not liable for any unsold Galaxy S5 units. Assuming this information is accurate, it’s possible that some cell carriers gave inflated sales predictions for the sole purpose of scoring a deal with Samsung. And being that they weren’t responsible for paying Samsung for unsold units, they  didn’t face any consequences for inaccurate…

The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the country’s largest shopping day of the year. With millions of consumers using this time to begin their holiday shopping, retailers are forced to lower their prices in an attempt to capture this ever-growing market of post-Thanksgiving-day shoppers. While most stores have yet to release their Black Friday ads, leaked details reveal a listing for the Galaxy S5 for just $0.01 cents. The tech website 9to5Google published the deal listing on its website, suggesting that national retailing giant Target plans to sell the Galaxy S5 for a penny on Black Friday (with a 2-year agreement). Currently, Verizon Wireless and AT&T sell the Galaxy S5 for $199.999 with a 2-year agreement, while Sprint offers a slightly better deal with the Galaxy S5 listed for $99.99 with a 2-year agreement. Assuming the folks at 9to5Google are correct, that’s a $100-$200 savings on Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Target will also sell the iPhone 6 for $99 with a 2-year agreement. But don’t let Apple’s presentation of the iPhone 6 fool you into thinking its a revolutionary new smartphone. In reality, the Galaxy S5 has better specs than Apple’s upcoming handset, not to mention the fact…

It’s estimated that over 3 million smartphones are stolen each year in the U.S. It’s disheartening to say the least when your newly purchased device falls into the hands of crook. To deter smartphone theft, Samsung offers a remote service for Galaxy S5 users. To learn more about this service and how to use it, keep reading. Find My Mobile is a multi-purpose service that allows users to locate their Galaxy S5 via GPS coordinates, call their device, view call logs, wipe data, or lock it from any Internet-connected computer. Earlier this year, California signed a law into effect which requires all smartphones manufactured after July 1st, 2015 to include a kill switch. Samsung has apparently jumped on board with the kill switch bill, rolling out its Find My Mobile service across all Galaxy S5 devices. “If you lose your device, then Find My Mobile lets you minimize the possibility of your personal information becoming public by using the Lock my device and Wipe my device functions. In addition, you can locate your lost device by using the Locate my device function.” To use Find My Mobile, you must first enable remote controls on your Galaxy S5. This is done…

We’ve known about Samsung’s premium smartphone for months now. The device was originally rumored to be named the “Galaxy Prime,” but recent reports suggest it will be called the “Galaxy Alpha.” What we don’t know, however, is when exactly Samsung plans to release it, or why they are taking so long. This year, we’ve seen an influx in smartphones with large screens that teeter on the line of being called a phablet. The Galaxy S5, for instance, boasts an impressive 5.1″ display, and Apple announced that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would feature larger display screens. So, what size screen will Samsung include in its upcoming Galaxy Alpha? According to PhoneArena.com, the Galaxy Alpha will have a slightly smaller 4.7″ Super AMOLED display with 720 by 1280-pixel. What truly makes the Galaxy Alpha stand out from the rest, however, is its physical design. It may have a smaller display screen with a lower pixel resolution, but the overall body design is quiet impressive to say the least. At just 6.7 mm, it’s the thinnest smartphone manufactured by Samsung — even thinner than the Galaxy S5. In addition to its sleek and slim design, the Galaxy Alpha also…

Given the fact that some 93 million selfies are taken each day (source), the camera is a key selling point with modern-day smartphones. Up until the last 5-10 years, cellphone cameras were sub-part when compared to standalone point-and-click cameras. This has since changed, however, with smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Google Nexus 5, HTC One (M8), and now the Apple iPhone 6 paving the way with cutting-edge cameras integrated directly into the hardware. Now that Apple has unveiled the iPhone 6, many people are wondering how its camera will compare against the Galaxy S5’s. Samsung went the extra mile with the Galaxy S5’s camera, which is apparent from the first time you snap a photo with it. But Apple also improved its camera on the iPhone 6, opting for a higher megapixel resolution and better all-around technology than the previous iPhone 5. So, which one of these cameras comes out on top as the winner? The Galaxy S5 boasts a 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera with LED flash and 1080p video. The previous Galaxy S4 also had a powerful camera, but it was only a 13-megapixel model. Samsung wanted to build and improve on this foundation by using a 16-megapixel instead….

Looking to get a little more use out of your Galaxy S5’s battery? Samsung’s flagship smartphone will reportedly offer 21 hours of “talk time” on a single charge, but when you have half a dozen or more processes running in the background, it rarely reaches this amount. The good news is that you can significantly extend the Galaxy S5’s battery life by making a few simple changes to your device. Lower The Brightness Bold, brightly colored display screens are pleasing to the eyes, but they can drain your device’s battery. To reduce the brightness on your Galaxy S5, access the notifications bar and uncheck the box next to auto brightness. Next, slide the brightness bar down to a lower setting. Disable GPS Arguably, one of the biggest battery-draining functions on smartphones, including the Galaxy S5, is GPS. Don’t get me wrong, GPS is great when you need road directions or when you’re lost in the woods, but leaving this feature on any other time is a huge waste of energy. To disable it, tap Settings > Location > and move the switch at the top of the screen to the off position. Disable WiFi Of course, disabling the WiFi on…

  Sprint on Wednesday confirmed the presence of an upcoming update to Galaxy S5 users on its network that will allow the use of WiFi to place and receive calls. The update, version G900PVPU1ANE5, will introduce a new “WiFi calling” feature for users of the Samsung Galaxy S5. Of course, this isn’t the first device to receive the special WiFi treatment. According to the Android Guys, Sprint has rolled the feature out across six other devices. Apparently, users respond well to WiFi calling, as Sprint is preparing to release the feature in a new software update for the Samsung Galaxy S5. So, just what in the heck is WiFi calling? It’s exactly what it sounds like: a feature that allows users to make phone calls or send text messages using their wireless network. Normally, phone calls and text messages are sent over the cell carrier’s 3G or 4G network, which of course requires minutes. If a user has a cell service plan that limits their minutes, he or she may not be able to place phone calls without incurring additional charges. WiFi calling is the solution to this problem, as it allows users to place phone calls and send text messages…