Overview: Samsung’s Galaxy S5 software has major improvements in the:
- Operating System: The Galaxy S5 uses Kitkat – Android 4.2.2 which offers increased usability, a heap of new features we touch on below and improved reliability.
- Camera: Software which helps users deal with bright and dark in the same picture, autofocus really fast and blur parts of the picture they don’t want in focus. The camera on the galaxy S5 is an intelligent 16 MP point and shoot.
- S-Health: Start your ‘measured self’ with goals for the exercise you do and tie it in seamlessly with the Galaxy Fit watch.
First, a bit of background on the S5’s software
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is yet to hit the market in Australia. We, like everyone else, are expecting the release to be April 11th 2014.
It’s hard to overstate the size of Samsung these days. They pull in a staggering $200 billion of revenue a year. So, with any new device coming from the Samsung stables, as you would expect, the Galaxy S5 has a bunch of innovation, designed to provide users with a wonderful experience.
The S5 takes Samsung down some paths similar to those recently explored by Apple, it extends some of the work they began in previous years. It also offers some genuinely innovative features. We’ve broken our commentary in to the features which have been revealed in to two components. First, in this article, is the software. Later in the week, we’ll publish our view on the hardware.
Details on the software of the Galaxy S5
We have already had a sneak preview of the features of the software and apps that might come with the new Galaxy phone. Samsung revealed it all at a press conference organized by the company during the Mobile World Conference. Because it’s their hero product, they’ve also released a video ( which we’ve included on this page ) to explain the features of the new phone.
HTC probably went a stage further than Samsung in 2013 with the installed software it had on it’s HTC One product. Blinkfeed and Zoe (both propriatory software features installed out of the box on the 2013 HTC One) were fantastic and very usable code components which helped set the HTC One apart in a market. That means a lot in an industry where one product is often very much the same as another. This year, Samsung might be about to fight back. Let’s take a look at the software on the Galaxy S5.
The S5 runs Android KitKat 4.4.2
Google are keen to get manufacturers, including Samsung, back to the basics of their Android Operating System. It’s not hard to understand why. Years of bloat-ware installation have negatively affected the user experience.
KitKat is the Android software that sits underneath the S5’s TouchWiz software. KitKat does the basic phone functions. It has some nice features, including :
- Automatic contact list prioritizations: KitKat knows who you talk to and prioritises them in your contacts list.
- Caller ID Search: Which looks up a calling number in Google Maps if you don’t have a contact for it.
- Quickoffice: Purchased by Google a few years ago, Quickoffice has been installed in to KitKat. You’ll never have a problem reviewing Microsoft Powerpoint or Excel documents on your phone again.
- Battery: Ultra Power Saving Mode will get you home without being disconnected.
- Voice control: Say OK Google and you’re off. You can search verbally to your heart’s desire.
Key benefit : Android’s KitKat latest iteration is more usable and reliable than ever.
What software have Samsung added to the core Android mix ?
The camera software on the S5 has interesting features
One of Samsung’s marquee features for the software installed on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the camera code which accompanies the 16 MP camera. Here are the key features :
- Super high definition: You can shoot 4K video at 30 FPS. Tied in with the waterproof elements of the phone, that means you can take your phone to the beach and video underwater in super high def.
- HDR: HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. Previous software installations on Galaxy products have allowed HDR to be applied after a photo was taken to balance out very light with very dark areas of a picture. Now, using the better processing power of the S5, it’s possible to preview a picture, optimize it with HDR and shoot the right snap as a result.
- Superfast Autofocus: Autofocus on the S5 is three times faster than it ever was on the Galaxy S4. You can now snap away with a focused picture almost as quickly as you can point the lens.
- Selective Focus: Pick what you want to focus on and the camera will blur everything else. You can even apply this feature after you’ve taken your shot.
Samsung’s view is that the camera features are some of the most important available on a phone. They move their camera software forward every year and the results on the S5 have been impressive.
Key benefit : The best phone cameras are ‘point and shoot’. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 software does it all for you.
Ultra Power Saving Mode
The S5 has a slightly bigger screen and a bigger battery to support it. The cell in the S5 is a 2900 mAh Lithium Iron unit. That’s around 8% more battery than was in the Galaxy S4.
The Ultra Power Saving mode turns everything you don’t need, off and the screen to black and white. This might be the phones most valuable improvement.
Samsung’s fitness software–S-Health 3.0
The Samsung Galaxy S5 will come with an Outdoor and Fitness Icon – the S Health app. It’s a door to the latest and greatest Samsung software to measure and help you improve your health. By now, many people will be familiar with Samsung’s marketing tag line for their Galaxy S range : They’re your “Life Companion.” It’s this sort of software which delivers that.
S-Health allows you to set yourself tailored goals according to the exercise you favor – running, cycling etc. You can then measure how you go against those goals. S-Health will seamlessly synch with the Samsung Fit watch which was released alongside the Samsung Galaxy S5 at Mobile World Congress. The Samsung Galaxy Fit watch the next iteration of the Galaxy Gear watch. Wearable technology seems to be released daily at the moment. It’s not really a surprise that one of the world’s largest consumer electronics brands is on the forefront of getting it to market.
Key benefit: Whether you decide to do something about it or not, you will have a better view of your health level using this software.
The Galaxy S5 icon superscript is a nice touch
Compared to the other Samsung Smartphones currently in the market, the app icons of the Galaxy S5 have a flat but very colorful design. The superscript 5 is added to the symbol of each app icons, standing out the Samsung Galaxy S5 from other smartphones produced by Samsung.
Key benefit: Your friends will always know you’ve got the latest phone.
What didn’t make it ? Samsung “Context”
Samsung have been in two minds about including a feature in their Galaxy range phones called context. Looks like they’re still thinking about it because, perhaps surprisingly, it never found it’s way on to the S5.
The concept of ‘Conext’ will be a strategically important addition in years to come. Context is similar in nature to the widely available (although currently only by invitation) app ‘Aviate’. Context understand exactly what are you doing with your phone and offers you the information you need a the time to help with your intent.
In addition to understanding and collecting information on where and how you are using your phone through sensors, the Samsung Galaxy S5 software will also track what you are typing and what apps you are frequently using. When you’re in a similar situation again, it’ll show you similar information. For example, if you listen to streamed news every morning on your way to work, at the time you usually go to work, Context might show you the streaming app.
The problem is, that involves gathering a lot of data on who you are and what you’re up to with your phone. And, given the bad press all around the world at the moment about government agencies snooping on you as you use your technology (including and perpahs especially phones), they’re worried ‘Context’ will put users off buying the S5-if Context is installed on their phones.
It’s not installed out of the box as part of the S5 software. Perhaps they’ll make it available later.