Samsung Galaxy S4 Lands At Telus

If you’re looking for a Samsung Galaxy S4, Telus would like you to know that they’ve got it. Designed to enhance the way you live, the GALAXY S4 boasts an incredible array of features, including:

• Full HD Super AMOLED Display: The world’s first-ever Full HD Super AMOLED display, with a whopping 441ppi. The five-inch screen, constructed with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, is as beautiful as it is tough!
• Effortless innovation: the GALAXY S4 detects your motions, face and voice to enable screen control with no need for finger touch activation (and you can use the screen with gloves, too!)
• Dual Camera Mode: it boasts a 13-megapixel rear camera, equipped with 12 different shooting modes such as Drama Shot (Samsung’s version of time-lapse), and has a dual camera mode that allows you to use both lenses at the same time.
• Blazing speeds: an ultra-fast 1.9GHz Snapdragon Quad-Core Processor and 2GB of RAM for a powerful experience.

…and that’s only scratching the surface!

The Samsung GALAXY S4 is available for $199 on a three-year term or $650 month-to-month. Check out their site for more info.

Review: Samsung Rugby III

Wait a second. The IT Nerd is reviewing a phone that is only a phone? Yes. The question is why would I do that. Simple. For some people out there, it’s more important to have a quality phone rather than a phone that allows users to Instagram their local hangout or update their Facebook status. The Samsung Rugby III is such a phone. What sets it apart is the fact that this phone is designed to be water resistant, shock resistant and dust proof and it’s designed to meet military specs.  Seeing as this wasn’t my phone, I wasn’t going to try dropping it or putting it in water. But picking it up, you can tell that it’s designed to be tough. The phone is extremely solid in terms of feel. For example the hinge (as this is a clamshell type phone) is overbuilt to resist torque. Buttons are clearly designed to have purposeful clicks without letting in water and dust. That makes this phone ideal for construction sites and extreme environments.

The phone itself is an 3G HSPA phone which maxes out at 7.2 Mbps. I couldn’t confirm that, but it did feel fast when I was using the built in web browser. It includes voice control provided by Nuance that worked quite well. One feature that was welcome was noise cancellation to ensure clear conversations. When I tested this, it worked as well as my BlueAnt Bluetooth headset which is excellent at what it does. The audio that I was listening to was crystal clear. So the Rugby III is keeping some very good company when it comes to audio quality. Besides bluetooth, there’s a 3MP camera. Okay, it’s not the top end in terms of camera on phones, but it did take decent photos. Keep in mind that the users of this phone aren’t interested high resolution photos. It also allows you to pop a 32 GB MicroSD card so you can pop your music onto the phone. After all, even those who work in demanding environments need a break from time to time.

This phone is going to appeal to a very limited market. Which is fine by Telus as they have solutions for mobile workforces which includes Fleet Complete which allows companies to track workers, assets and vehicles in real time while gathering information from the field to help improve operating efficiencies and drive operating efficiencies and enhance customer service.

The Rugby III is a quality phone for those who need a phone that will take the hits and keep coming back for more. If you’re a construction worker or someone who needs a phone that is a very rugged phone and nothing more than a phone, this is your phone. IF you need a phone that is tough and allows you to update your Facebook status, there’s always the Rugby LTE that runs Google Android, which Telus also carries.

Apple, Samsung Phones To Get DOD Approval

The BlackBerry Q10 launched today in Canada, but all is not good for BlackBerry. Both Apple and Samsung are poised to get US Department Of Defence approval which allows Defence employees to switch from outdated BlackBerry devices to iPads, iPhones, and Galaxy S4 devices. Still, this is not an instant slap to Blackberry:

Both companies have been pushing hard to win over U.S. defense agencies, some of the government’s most security-conscious customers. That market is small and still largely dominated by Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerrys, so the new security approvals won’t likely translate into any immediate, big sales or new customers. 

Still, the approvals are among a handful considered to be the gold standard in communications security. Passing muster at the Pentagon can go a long way in making other security-minded customers—such as bankers and lawyers—feel more comfortable using the devices.

However, the writing has to be on the wall for BlackBerry. I hope for their sake they have a plan to compete against this new threat.

Spotted: Top Three Cases For The Samsung Galaxy S4

In the process of answering a question about accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S4, I decided to look at the cases that are currently available. My basic belief is that a case needs to protect the phone, but it also needs to not interfere with the usage of the phone. The three cases that I’ve picked fit that need:

• First up is the Tech21 Impact Smart Case. It will protect the case from drops and it protects the screen from damage. But it leaves access to the all the controls and other important features of the phone. It’s a nice balance between protection and looks.
• Next up is the Zenus Prestige Neo Vintage Diary case. Again it protects the screen and allows access to all the controls. But it allows you to put things like credit cards in the case. Also it has a nice look to it and has a micro-fibre finish on the inside to not scratch your new S4. In this case, this is a case that looks good, but offers some protection. Though not as much as the Tech21 case.
• If the only thing you care about is protection. Take a look at the Trident Aegis Case for the S4. It contains different silicone type materials to protect your S4 from all sorts of shock. It also includes silicone plugs to protect charging point & headphone jack. The only catch is that it doesn’t have a flip to protect the screen. However it does include a screen protector which is good.

All three of these cases are available at MobileFun.com. If these cases don’t fit your needs, they have more for you to choose from.

Hey IT Nerd: I’m Getting A Galaxy S4. What Do I Need In Terms Of Accessories?

This is a question I get a lot every time a new smartphone comes out and the answers could apply to any smartphone, but I will stick with the Samsung Galaxy S4. Now I did trade e-mails with the person who asked the question to get a sense of what they would do with the phone. The key thing that came out was that the person did travel frequently. So right off the top, I would suggest a quality case as you need to protect your new investment. I took a visit over to Mobilefun.co.uk and took a look at their selection of cases. I’d strongly suggest that you pick one that protects the screen as well as provide some degree of drop protection. Trust me, you will drop this phone at some point and I’d rather not see you in tears if it breaks.

The next thing that I’d suggest is a travel charger. It’s a handy thing to have when you travel. Again, I took a look at what Mobilefun.co.uk had to offer and I found something that I use frequently on trips myself. Skross makes a Travel Worldwide Adapter with USB which isn’t Samsung specific, but it allows you to charge any device easily. Plus it has a fuse on the inside so that your devices are protected. It’s something that I would highly recommend.

Finally, A big MicroSD card, as in 32GB or 64GB would be great to have so you can store all the music, video, and photo that you need.

With these accessories, you should have everything that you need to fully leverage your brand new Galaxy S4 when you get it.

Canadian Carriers Announce News About The Samsung Galaxy S4

Both Telus and Rogers have released news about the Samsung Galaxy S4. First, let’s hear from Telus:

We’re excited to tell you that the Samsung GALAXY S4 is now available at TELUS for pre-order at www.telusmobility.com/GALAXYS4. Customers can also pre-order in-store. The Samsung GALAXY S4 will be available on TELUS’ blazing fast 4G LTE network for $199 on a 3-year term with a minimum $50 monthly plan before tax or $700 month-to-month.  In addition, when customers pre-order the GALAXY S4 from TELUS, they can enjoy free music for six months from Rdio. 

Now, let’s here from Rogers:

New customers can pre-order their device at www.rogers.com/GALAXYS4  and existing Rogers wireless customers can reserve theirs on the Rogers Reservation System

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available in Black Mist and White Frost starting at $199.99 with select three year plans. Customers who have reserved a device on the Rogers Reservation System or have pre-ordered the device on Rogers.com will start to receive devices beginning April 27^th. In-store availability will begin on May 3^rd at select Rogers retail locations across the country.

Clearly, if you want a Samsung Galaxy S4, you’ll have lots of choice.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Now Available For Reservation For Fido And Rogers Customers

I got this note from ‘my best friends at Rogers” announcing this:

Just a quick note to let you know that existing Rogers customers can now reserve their Samsung Galaxy S4 on the Rogers and Fido reservation systems. We’ve just updated our Twitter and Facebook pages with that info.

Customers can reserve at:

www.rogers.com/reserve

http://www.fido.ca/reserve

So if you’ve been lusting after the latest from Samsung, you can put yourself on the list to get one. But you’d better hurry as I suspect this will be a very popular list to be on.

New Phone News From Telus

So, let’s say that you don’t need the coolest and latest smartphone because you value the ability to survive a drop over apps. If that’s the case, then the Samsung Rugby III is the phone for you.

This tough little phone is:

• Ready for any job: with its rugged design, this military spec compliant device is water resistant, dust proof and shock resistant, so it’s great for anyone working in construction or a factory environment.
• Crystal-clear sound: thanks to its 2Mic noise cancellation, you’ll be heard no matter what sounds surround you.
• Made to last: the 1,300mAh battery means you worry less about the phone charger and more about the job at hand.

The Samsung Rugby III is available from TELUS for $79 on a two-year plan, $180 on a one-year plan, or $230 month-to-month. For more information, check out www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/samsung_rugby_3/index.shtml.

On top of that Telus has announced that the BlackBerry Q10 is now available at TELUS for pre-order on telusmobility.com for $199 on a 3-year term or $700 outright with a month-to-month plan.  Pre-ordering from TELUS will allow customers to be the first amongst their friends to have the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone without having to wait in any line.  Through pre-order, customers will get their BlackBerry Q10 delivered straight to their doorstep for free.

It sounds like a lot of people will be visiting Telus stores or telusmobility.com.

 

Samsung Apparently Working To Fix Their Lock Screen Issues

Apple is not the only smartphone company with an exploit that allows someone to bypass the lock screen. Samsung has a similar issue and according to All Things Digital, they’re working hard to fix it:

“We are aware of this issue and will release a fix at the earliest possibility,” a Samsung representative told AllThingsD. “Samsung considers user privacy and the security of user data its top priority.”

Apparently, this exploit affects Galaxy Note II, and is likely there on the Galaxy S III as well and is unique to Samsung. If you need video evidence, here it is:

So both Apple and Samsung need to step up their security game as it seems that nobody is safe.

Hey IT Nerd! What Do You Think Of The Samsung Galaxy S4?

I had the chance to watch the webcast today and I have to admit that the Galaxy S4 seems to me to be an evolution rather than a revolution. Plus it has a couple of features that don’t quite make sense to me. But let me list the entire feature set:

• 5-inch full HD display with 441 ppi screen resolution
  
• Android 4.2.2 “Jelly Bean” with Samsung’s TouchWiz “skin”
• 16, 32, and 64 GB storage options
• Micro SD slot for expandable storage up to 64 GB
• 2 GB of RAM
• 8 Core processor (!)
• 4G LTE (where available)
• 13 MP camera
• ChatOn app for screen sharing with other Galaxy devices
• “Smart Pause” feature that stops a video from playing when you look away from the screen
• Voice commands
• eye-tracking feature for scrolling through web pages

Sounds like a killer phone doesn’t it. The thing is that beyond the 8 core processor, it’s a hopped up Android phone that really doesn’t blow me away. There’s the eye tracking and the smart pause features. Chances are, most people are going to try them out and then turn these features off.

Gizmodo seems to share my thoughts:

There has been a ton of hype and build-up to this device, and ultimately, it left us feeling cold. The S IV feels uninspired. There are small spec bumps from the previous generation and there’s a ton of software which will largely sit unused. There’s just no wow-factor here.

Now this might change if I got to try one out, it might not. We’ll see.