Cell phones - What are you packin'?

[DTro]

Another thing that is swaying me away from Motorola is the camera thing. When I seen this picture taken with an S4. I was impressed...

[Big Dave2]

Twins?

[LwnmwnMan2]

So this video pretty much sold me.

Verizon has the phone for $99 now (after rebate)

Pretty sure I'm gonna pick one up:

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[DTro]

I picked up the Galaxy S5 yesterday. Dang, what a beast. It literally blows my 2 yr old Razr Maxx out of the water. So far I am loving everything about it except for one thing. They added a port door cover over the charging port and its a pesky little bugger to open.

Other than that, all I can say is wow!

On a side note, I will NEVER buy another phone in a Verizon retail location. What a circus. From now on, I will gladly wait a few days for a phone to be shipped to my door.

I cannot believe how pushy they have become and how much emphasis is put on the upsale. It wasn't like that a few years ago. I almost walked out a couple of times when they wouldn't take no for an answer. You know the feeling of walking into a car dealer to buy a car? Same feeling and same experience. I shouldn't have to interrupt every person I speak to in order to just buy a phone. It was very frustrating.

But after going to 3 stores and about 3 hours later I finally got the phone.

The camera is amazing, especially compared to my Razr Maxx:

Here's the first photo I took.

[Borch]

Good to hear Darren as I've been going back and forth between the HTC One and the S5. Leaning heavily towards the S5 due to the water resistance and camera. Will keep listening tho9ugh as our plan isn't up till first part of June.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Dtro-

Must be the management team at whichever store you were at.

I shop mostly at the Maplewood store and they aren't pushy at all.

"Do you need a case or charger?"

"NO."

"Okay."

That's it.

Also, you guys that work with Verizon, if you go to a "Premier Retailer" instead of a corporate store, I've had friends where the Premier Retailer screwed up their account and Verizon corporate wouldn't work with them, so be watchful.

[MattL]

Wish I would have read this thread sooner, I had no idea the S5 was waterproof. I just got a new phone last week and our IT person at work said I could pick any Verizon phone. Since I didn't know much about phones and didn't have a preference I told her it didn't matter. She ended up getting me a Moto X. So far I have no complaints. It seems like a pretty basic smartphone, just wish it was waterproof.

[DTro]

I started out at a "premier retailer" in Chaska. I was told they could not match the VZW price I found online unless I purchased some accessories. I said I didn't want any so they instructed me to find a corporate location.

So I then when to EP. Upon walking in the door I had a guy "check me in" on his tablet. I specifically said I was in to buy a Galaxy S5 in Black color. Then I was handed off to a gal, who swooped me over to the tablet section and went over the tablet specials they had going on and she gave me a bunch of flyers and sales stuff. She then said it would be just short wait until a salesman was with me. I waited about 10 min and then another guy takes me over to his station. Again I specifically tell him what I want and why I was there. He says, "well first lets start off with a few questions". he proceeded to ask me everything from what I did for a living to my favorite apps, to the one reason i picked this phone. On and on and on. Finally he says, "ok let me go back and get your phone and we will get you out of here". About 5 min later he comes back and says, "how about we go with a white phone today?". I immediately get up and start walking out. I said, "thank you" and didn't look back.

I then tried to find another corporate location that was close. I found one in Minnetonka. So I looked up the phone number and call to make sure they had a black one in stock. I dial the number and where does it direct me? To the National Line in which you have to go through all the menus and then wait for an associate only to be told, "select #3 (technical support) from the main menu to be forwarded directly to the store. So I redialed and did that, except I could not get anyone to answer. You can't just let it ring either. Each time it goes about 10 rings and then you have to go through the whole menu thing again. I did this about 8 times before someone FINALLY answered.

The good news was that they had about a dozen in stock. So I headed over there. Walk in the door. Oh there is check in guy, and then handed off to be swoooped over to the tablet section again. Now I found myself again waiting for a sales assoc. It took even longer at this store. I finally make contact and before he could even get warmed up I said, "I'm running short on time. I am here to upgrade to an S5 in black color. I don't want the free tablet, I don't want accessories and I don't want to review my data plan. I just want the phone. Nothing less, nothing more." He says, "great let me go get it."

I see him walk out and then back into the room with an armload of no less than 8 accessories including cases, screen protectors, chargers, misc bluetooth gear, and speakers. He sets it all down on the counter and says, lets start off with the bluetooth headset here". I then stopped him and said, "either you activate the phone and ring me up right now, or I'm out of here". I said it respectfully but clearly.

His demeanor then got defensive and said, "my job here is to make you happy, not to upsell accessories". So I said, "me walking out that door in 5 min with that phone in my hand and activated would really make me happy right now".

All I can say is never again in the corporate store for this guy...

[LMITOUT]

I've had similar experiences at a corporate store and all I was looking for was a case. Don't sign me up on your tablet, just let me look at your wall of accessories and when I find the one I want I'll walk over to the counter and pay for it. Good grief.

I bought my last phone at Best Buy and was in and out in no time. I'll be doing the same next time as well.

[CaptainMusky]

How do you identify a corporate store from the others? Are you simply going off which ones have a retail space versus a kiosk like in a mall?

That is irritating for sure.

Regarding the phone, what do you think of battery life and how does it compare to the Maxx? Im guessing not as good, but interested to hear your feedback. I have an original droid razr, not maxx. Battery life has been pretty much terrible since I bought it and now I am nearing the end. My 2 years is up and looking for a new phone.

Can you tell me about the free tablet? LOL

[DTro]

I suspect my Maxx battery was getting a bit tired, but here's what I found today.

My days are pretty similar as far as phone use goes. Quite a bit of browsing with a couple of voice calls and a couple of videos. I would say I'm on the phone quite a bit.

Lateley I would get home with my Maxx at about 30-40%. Today I was messing around with the new phone quite a bit and got home with 49%. Very impressive.

The removable battery is another reason I chose this phone. I suspected the Maxx battery was getting a little tired, and at that point you don't have much of an option. It was one of the main reasons I decided to upgrade now, those batteries don't last forever and its much easier to replace one you have access to.

As far as a corporate store vs premium retailer? I'm really not sure, the chaska and shakopee store are pretty big, but not corporate stores, and I'm not sure how kiosks are classified.

The tablet promo is $100 off a tablet with the purchase of a phone. They had a 100 tablet advertised as free. Sure it doesn't cost you anything on the front end, but you have to pay to activate it, and then $10/mo for 2 years. Not a horrible deal if you need a tablet, but I wasn't interested.

On a side note, I was hoping that the new phone would play nicer with this forum, but unfortunately its even worse. Too many lines of text and the submit button disappears.

[CaptainMusky]

That's great on the removable battery definitely a plus there!

[LwnmwnMan2]

Dtro - you are right about the forum.

If you hit the back arrow, then the forward arrow on your browser, it brings out back to the page you posted on, all the text is in the box, and the submit button is there.

A "premier retailer" will have a regular storefront with Verizon on the front. Then right below Verizon, it will have the franchise name, and "a premier retailer'.

[LMITOUT]

How do you identify a corporate store

Just follow the smell of bacon and PBR and you'll find a group of hipsters waiting to be checked in by other hipsters holding tablets.

[CaptainMusky]

Just follow the smell of bacon and PBR and you'll find a group of hipsters waiting to be checked in by other hipsters holding tablets.

bacon and PBR could also lead me to my local watering hole. Hmm, the tablets in there are the egambling variety and nobody is ever holding them.

[DTro]

So after almost a week of having the S5 there are a couple of things that are annoying.

The power/lock butting is on the right side top and directly across from the volume rocker. Its seems like every time to go to hit the lock button with my right thumb I hit the up button on the rocker on the other side with my middle finger (or vice versa) which changes the ringer settings. It will take some getting used to but its annoying for sure when you think you have it on vibrate and didn’t realize you changed it to ring.

I’ve resorted to keeping a little tool next to my charger to make it easier to open the charging port door (I’ve got really short fingernails). I’m tempted to just take the dang thing off, but unsure how much it will affect the water resistance. I haven’t been able to find any info on that. I did find that its pretty easy to remove though.

I’ve read a lot of bad stuff about the speaker, but its much better than the previous phone I had. Maybe not as good as the HTC dual front speakers, but so far its been more than adequate and if people think this speaker is bad then they would have REALLY hated the speaker in the Razr Maxx.

I have to say that the display is awesome though.

[PierBridge]

.

[PierBridge]

Yeah I have missed a bunch of calls and some very important ones due to hitting the volume down button and muting the ringer. Its always volume down for me on the S4 I think the 2 buttons are off set a bit different then the S5.

I struggle enough with the charging port door on my Otter Defender. The S4 itself does not having a charge port cover. Sounds like a minor pain for sure.

[LwnmwnMan2]

The door is for the water resistance.

[BobT]

So after almost a week of having the S5 there are a couple of things that are annoying.

The power/lock butting is on the right side top and directly across from the volume rocker. Its seems like every time to go to hit the lock button with my right thumb I hit the up button on the rocker on the other side with my middle finger (or vice versa) which changes the ringer settings. It will take some getting used to but its annoying for sure when you think you have it on vibrate and didn’t realize you changed it to ring.

I’ve resorted to keeping a little tool next to my charger to make it easier to open the charging port door (I’ve got really short fingernails). I’m tempted to just take the dang thing off, but unsure how much it will affect the water resistance. I haven’t been able to find any info on that. I did find that its pretty easy to remove though.

I’ve read a lot of bad stuff about the speaker, but its much better than the previous phone I had. Maybe not as good as the HTC dual front speakers, but so far its been more than adequate and if people think this speaker is bad then they would have REALLY hated the speaker in the Razr Maxx.

I have to say that the display is awesome though.

I had a similar problem with my S4. I found a great app to fix that called Volume Locker. You can configure it so if you change a volume setting it will automatically reset it back unless you acknowledge the change. Solved my problem for me.

[PierBridge]

Thanks Bob..works great.

[SledNeck]

I have the s5 and while the screen and stuff is great, the charge port is an absolute nightmare. I have to grow a coke nail to open it, then it takes like 10 tries to put the plug in. Wish they'd just copy apple.

I call people on accident all the time. The phone goes off in my pocket constantly.

[DTro]

If the phone goes off or calls people in your pocket you should enable the lock screen. That is the purpose of it. It shouldn't be doing anything with a lock screen enabled.

The charging port door is simple to take off permanently, just a couple of screws. I haven't taken mine off yet, but eventually I probably will. I also dislike it.

You could also buy a wireless charging battery cover.

[LMITOUT]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nanabit.callconfirm&hl=en

I've used this app on every Android phone I've had just because it seems like they make it too easy to place a call.

[LwnmwnMan2]

You all do realize the door is there to help waterproof the phone, correct?

I hope LifeProof. gets a case that would have a door like they did for the S4. I would imagine they won't, since the phone e is already waterproof and it'll be like the OtterBox, with a big hole in the base.