Monday 7 July 2014

Install Android 4.4.2 KitKat Prism Barebone Custom ROM for Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 [Tutorial]

A new Android v4.4.2 KitKat Prism Barebone Custom ROM has been made available for Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500.
Prism Barebone custom ROM is deodexed and zip-aligned and is based on the v4.4.2 KitKat OS. It brings in new features such as Black themes, more language support, Omega kernel and loses all the bloat-ware, Samsung apps and the Knox feature.
Prerequisites (things to remember before the installation of custom ROM in the smartphone):
  • Rooting enables users to install custom ROMs or third party apps of their choice and also perform tweaks in the settings to improve the device's performance. Though users get more control over the smartphone this way, it makes the company warranty void and they will no longer be liable to provide future updates [warranty can be restored by flashing the device with stock-ROM].
  • This custom ROM has to be installed only on Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 model [To check your model: Go to Settings >> About phone >> model number]
  • One of the main prerequisite before installing custom ROM is that the phone must be rooted and must have installed ClockworkMod Recovery / TWRP tool.
  • Rooting of devices leads to complete data wipe out, so make sure to back all the data.
  • Users make sure you have installed USB drivers on the PC to connect your Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500.
  • Make sure your smartphone has more than 80-percent battery.
Disclaimer: This procedure is very technical and should be performed by a person with sound knowledge of rooting (or manual software installation) of Android devices. If the step-by-step installation process is not followed properly, there are chances of the smartphone getting bricked or may even lead to the device being permanently irreparable. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if smartphones get bricked. Hence users are advised to proceed with caution.]

Step 1: Download Android v4.4.2 KitKat Prism Barebone Custom ROM (here) to your PC.
Step 2: Connect Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 to PC via USB chord.
[Note: Before plugging the phone to the computer, make sure you have installed USB driver software, if not, click here to download the firmware.]
Step 3: Then, place Android v4.4.2 Prism Barebone zip file  into the phone's SD card memory. [Note: Users are advised to paste the .zip file in SD card root, not in any other folder.]
[Note: Before users begin installing the custom software, make sure the device is already rooted and must have installed ClockworkMod Recovery.]
Step 4: Now turn-off the device and disconnect from the PC.
Step 5: Then perform the regular 'Recovery Mode' sortie by press holding 'volume (up)', 'home' and 'power' buttons.
Step 6: After entering ClockworkMod Recovery mode, perform full data wipe, by choosing 'wipe data/factory reset' [Note: use Volume keys to navigate and power button to select options, while operating under Recovery Mode.]
Step 7: Now, clear the cache memory by selecting 'wipe cache partition.'
Step 8: Then go back to ClockworkMod recovery, and select 'advanced' and tap 'wipe dalvik cache' [Note: This step is optional, but many recommend this procedure so that user will not face boot loops or any other errors in the middle of custom ROM installation.]
Step 9: Again come back to main recovery screen and then tap 'install zip from SD card.'
Step 10: Then tap 'choose zip from sdcard' and go to Android 4.4.2 ROM .zip file in SD card and enter the installation process. [Note: use Volume keys to navigate and power button to select options.]
Step 11: Once done with the installation process, navigate to '+++++Go Back+++++' and re-start the device by opting 'reboot system now' seen in the recovery menu.
Now, your device (Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500) will take minimum five minutes to complete booting process.
Users then head to Settings >> select About phone to confirm the installation of Android v4.4.2 KitKat Prism Barebone Custom ROM.

Samsung Galaxy S4 review: Still Excellent Value For Money

1) Does the Galaxy S4 still offer great value for money?
2) Do all of its new features actually work in an everyday scenario, or are they just gimmicky talking points?

Design

Samsung could have gone to town on the design of the Galaxy S4 but instead it took a more conservative approach, refining certain aspects but keeping things fairly familiar to what we saw on the Galaxy S3. It’s no HTC One M8 in this regard, but the overall changes are very subtle.
At 2.5mm, the bezel is now slimmer than ever leaving very little space between the display and theedge of the device. Speaking of edges, the Galaxy S4’s are now flatter giving the handset a blockier, more robust, appearance. The area above and below the display has also been reduced in order to make room for the Galaxy S4’s larger 5-inch display.
The back panel is embellished with a mesh-like design and is still removable, giving you access to the SIM tray, microSD slot, and battery. The unlock/power button, the volume rocker, a headphone jack, and the microUSB port remain in the same positions they were last time around, creating an instant air of familiarity when handling the device.
The Galaxy S4 measures 136.6x69.8x7.9 mm and weighs 130g, making it 3g lighter than its predecessor, which is suitably impressive when you consider the S4 has a larger 5-inch display and also packs in a bigger battery.
Like the Galaxy S3 (and unlike the HTC One) the S4 is constructed entirely from plastics, but that should come as a surprise to no-one. Samsung’s been dragging its ass for years in this regard, and the Galaxy S4 is no exception despite our prayers for change.
It’s not that we have a problem with plastics, or that we only like handsets crafted from aluminum and fiberglass. Done well, plastics can be just as good as any premium metallic finish on a handset – Nokia’s Lumia 720, Lumia 920, and the HTC One X immediately spring to mind here.
On the Galaxy S4, however, this just isn’t the case. And we’re sort of at a loss as to why this has happened again. HTC, despite appalling financial constraints, managed to turn out something spectacular with its One handset. It tried hard, pulled all its resources, and created something that oozed distinction.
Surely the world’s biggest handset manufacturer ahead of the launch of the world’s biggestsmartphone could have done something similar. Or, failing that, just improved the overall quality of the plastics employed on the handset?
In the end it comes down to this: if you liked the Galaxy S3 and are fond of Samsung’s overall design philosophy and don't mind not having the latest and greatest, then you’ll love the Galaxy S4. For everybody else – and I’d wager we’re the minority here – you’ll be grossly disappointed with the overall look and feel of the Galaxy S4.

Display

The display is a 5-inch Super AMOLED panel with 1920x1080 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch (ppi). It’s reinforced with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 and is the first Full HD Super AMOLED panel we’ve tested. 
Colours are vivid, jumping right off the display, and contrast is astounding, as you’d expect from an AMOLED setup. It’s worth nothing that AMOLED displays use a pentile arrangement of subpixels, meaning there’s two colours per pixel, rather than the usual three, and this results in a lower overall resolution compared to similar LCD setups like that present on the HTC One.
Sat next the HTC One the difference, however, is negligible – both offer superb visual experiences. The HTC One’s LCD panel does seem brighter although we prefer how colours look on the Galaxy S4’s AMOLED. In this respect, and at this level of quality, it is very much a case of swings and roundabouts.
Overall, the Galaxy S4’s display is about as close to perfect as you can get. It’s Full HD, contrast is brilliant, and detail is superb. Video, text, images, web pages, games and applications all look utterly astounding. The Galaxy S4's screen does not disappoint.
We also found the size of the display perfect, too. 5-inches sounds large, but because Samsung implemented the increase without affecting the overall size of the handset the extra 0.2-inches feels natural. You might not even notice it. 
The Samsung Galaxy S4’s 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display is constructed from Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 and has been shown to be practically invincible, surviving knife scratches and being stabbed.
And not just surviving – there isn’t a mark left on the Galaxy S4’s display following the test. And that’s impressive given the nature of what the handset was subjected to.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Updated To Android 4.4 KitKat

You can now get Android 4.4 KitKat on your Samsung Galaxy S4 in the UK, and with the update there’s a full screen immersivse mode for a number of apps. There’s also the addition of lockscreen album art and cloud printing.
Samsung's added a load of visual tweaks to the look of the software, and some users are even reporting better battery life. The update itself will take up 300-400MB of your phone's storage.
However, some have found the Galaxy S4 struggles on Android 4.4 though, including Marcus Yam at Toms Hardware. He found the S4 slows right down under the weight of Android 4.4.
The Galaxy S4 has a Snapdragon 600 chip inside which should come in at 1.9GHz. Yam has found with Android 4.4 KitKat installed it can sometimes slow the CPU down to speeds of 918MHz which is less than half the original speed.

Hardware

The UK version of the Galaxy S4 runs Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.9GHz alongside 2GB or RAM. Android Jelly Bean (version 4.2.2) is the operating system of choice and, as you’d expect, everything ticks along very nicely. There is also a Snapdragon 800 version of the handset available too, although this is harder to come by than the written down 16GB basic version. 

Storage

You get 16GB of internal storage and support for an additional 64GB via the phone's microSD slot. Samsung confirmed 32GB and 64GB variants at launch but we’ve yet to see anything other than the 16GB version here in the UK. 
And that’s rather worrying because once Android and TouchWiz have taken their share of the internal storage you’re not left with much, around 8.8GB, or 55 percent of the listed storage. Comparatively, the 16GB iPhone 5 and 32GB Nokia Lumia 920 ship with almost 90 percent of their respective listed storage.
In a bid to quell moaning about the lack of available space inside its 16GB Galaxy S4 flagship, Samsung has issued a software update aimed at curtailing the level of bloatware present inside its mega-selling handset.
Just don’t go expecting miracles. When it launched the 16GB Galaxy S4 offered 9.15GB of available storage to UK punters. With the update installed you'll now have… wait for it, 9.23GB! 
You do have the microSD card-support, of course, but that’s not really the point. The Galaxy S4 is listed as a 16GB handset. It cost £579 at launch. And you get just over 8GB of storage. For us that’s a real kick in the nuts, and it’s definitely something worth considering before purchasing this handset. 

Benchmark Results & Performance

The Galaxy S4 outperformed the vast majority of other Android phones. However, it’s interesting to note that the HTC One, which clocks in at 1.7GHz on the same chip, actually scored higher in some tests – notably Quadrant.
Still, generally speaking it is without a doubt one of the fastest phones around and should deliver like-for-like performance with the HTC One and other Snapdragon 600 rivals, which are sitting pretty at the top of the high-performance pile at present.
The Galaxy S4 is a 4G capable phone and testing the modem chip in SpeedTest showed a fast ping of 47 milliseconds, a download speed of 18.73 megabits per second and an upload speed of 17.56 megabits per second. This is very good by home broadband standards, showing 4G has the capability to deliver a wireless mobile internet experience on a par with hard-wired solutions. 
As well as general performance the Galaxy S4 is looking like a good prospect for gaming, not least because of the huge, crystal clear display, but also as 3DMark, a gaming benchmark suite, cited the Galaxy S4 as ‘one of the most powerful devices around’. You can expect to get very fast, fluid gaming from Samsung’s latest flagship.

TouchWiz

Android overlays are something of an opinion divider. Some users love them, applauding the added functionality and quirks they introduce, while others prefer the cleaner, vanilla-flavoured setup of Android you get aboard the Nexus 7 and Nexus 4.
TouchWiz brings much to the table and is designed not only to help differentiate Samsung products from Sony and HTC ones, but also to highlight the Galaxy S4’s value-added capabilities.
Things like S-Health, Group Play, Music, S Planner, S Translator, Samsung Hub, and S Voice, as well as all the Air features, are all included out the box and when used appropriately are suitably impressive.
The two-finger dropdown menu, new to the Galaxy S4, gives you instant access to all of the device’s sensors, connections, and modes. In here you can activate Smart Scroll, Airplane Mode,Bluetooth, and Screen Mirroring.
Samsung has bundled all of its Music, Film, TV Shows, and Book services inside the redesigned Samsung Hub, which looks a lot smarter with its image-heavy UX and crisp choice of font. It’s a million miles from the Hubs of old looking more like a Windows Phone app than something you’d find on Android. Impressive stuff.
TouchWiz is a heavy overlay, however, and you do pay a price for all these added goodies. Lag does occur and we consistently experienced glitches while scrolling around the UX. With a quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU and 2GB of RAM, this really shouldn’t be happening.

Specifications

Length136.6mm
Width7.9mm
Thickness69.8mm
Weight130g
Screen Size5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED
UK LaunchApril 2013
Phone StyleSlab
Typical Price£579.99 SIM-free
Video Resolution1080p
Camera Resolution13-megapixel
ConnectivityNFC / MHL 2.0 / IR LED / GPS / GLONASS / Bluetooth 4.0 /
Built-in Memory16GB + 64GB via SD-slot
High-speed DataHSPA+, 4G LTE
Video CallingYes - 2-megapixel front facing camera

Sunday 11 August 2013

Android 4.3 update for Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition prevents apps from writing to microSD card

The Google Play edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has just received its update to Android 4.3. But along with the update comes a problem that is affecting users' handsets. It seems that for some reason, the update to Android 4.3 brings with it a bug that prevents apps from writing to a microSD card. Any attempt to do so results in an error message. The reason for this is that the apps are not seen as in the right group to be able to write on the card. Hopefully, this will soon be corrected.

In the meantime, you can go to the Google Play Store and install ES FileExplorer which happens to be in the right group for writing to and reading from a microSD card. If your phone is rooted, you can get into the files and make the appropriate fix yourself directly on the phone, or from your PC. In basic terms, you are telling your phone that it is ok to give permission to the media-rw group to write to the microSD card. Once you get into the /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml file, you need to focus on line 71. Check the photo below. All you are doing is adding that permission.

If you don't want to root your phone or you're worried about bricking it, you can always stick to ES File Explorer. And hopefully, a fix will be sent out soon.

You can edit your phone to allow apps to write on a microSD card
You can edit your phone to allow apps to write on a microSD card

CM10.1 Android 4.2.2 for the Samsung Galaxy S4 full review

The Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 offers a pure stock Android experience with no catch. You have no carrier bloatware, and direct updates from Google without any middle man involved. With that said, the handset is pricey, ranging in prices of up to $630. If you purchase on a subsidy, you can find the S4 for $99 at local retailers. So why not purchase the TouchWiz version and install stock Android yourself? With a bit of persistence, you very well could.
CyanogenMod (better known as CM) has held the crown as top Android rom for a few years now. With every new update comes a new build of CM, the latest being CM10.2, which utilizes 4.3. Our recommendation would be to hold off on 4.3 until it is a bit more user friendly as a daily driver. We have tested it for a few days now and have concluded that CM10.1 is far more stable as a daily driver. So what does CM10 offer that the Google Play Edition build does not?
Customization’s, and plenty of them. From the notification bar, to the quick settings, all the way down to the scaling of icons on the home screen, everything has the ability to be customized. After reverting back to the Google Edition 4.3, we found ourselves bored with the lack of any true customization’s. CyanogenMod has taken an already superb experience and made it that much better.
You have various lock screen shortcuts that you can add or remove. There are options to add toggles to the notification center, making the use of a power widget obsolete. App drawer options allow you to remove the blue indicator below the apps, or remove the secondary widgets drawer. You have the option to adjust system settings such as the power menu, and can even alter the way your LED light reacts to notifications.
cm10sharing
Personally, I am not a fan of haptic feedback on the capacitive buttons of my phone. CM10.1 allows you to disable it. You can also enable a flashlight within the toggles in the notification bar, which makes for easy access if you’re stuck in a cave with wild blood thirsty bats. Aside from an extreme example like that one, there are a multitude of reasons why these various customization’s come to good use.
Did we mention that it’s also blazing fast? If you thought stock Android was fast on your S4, wait until you use this beast. The transitions are instant and multi-tasking allows you close out of all apps at once (not available on stock). We ran tests showcasing the speed in which we can open and close apps, and it was literally functioning faster than our touch. Just an absolute screamer and no doubt the fastest iteration of Android we’ve used to date.
Stock Android only allows for a row of 4 icons vertically. Without ever having to download a third party browser, CM’s trebuchet launcher allows you to change the amount of home screen icons per row. You can also add more dock icons. One of my good friend prefers to have 6 icons in his dock, and with CM10, it’s possible.
themescm10s4
Theme’s are also a unique aspect of CyanogenMod. You can download free themes from the Play Store that alter the entirety of the OS. There are TouchWiz, Sense, and LG themes. You also have the more simple themes like blue, red, or black. They change the look of the dial pad, messaging application, notification bar and quick settings panel, and more. There are plenty available so check them out, do some trial and error, and pick the one you like the best.
We definitely recommend CM10.1 Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 for the Samsung Galaxy S4. We have always been fans of CyanogenMod team’s effort into creating the best iteration of stock Android. They have taken an already solid build and created an even better user experience. You can find CM10.1 for your respective S4 carrier at XDA-Developers

Where is Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?

Samsung launched multiple phones under their galaxy S4 moniker, each with different functions and targeted at a niche audience. While Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and Zoom  have already been launched in India, there’s still no sign of the rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. 

The rugged variant of Samsung Galaxy S4 was expected to launch in Summer in the US and in the third quarter in Asia. The phone is already available internationally though there’s still no word on the Indian launch. 
The phone, which is said to compete against the current Sony Xperia Z and ZR series of waterproof and dust-proof phones is an impressive device. Samsung veered away from the traditional design after long with the launch of Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. Admittedly, the change was to accommodate the ruggedness, but the phone is definitely a sight for sore eyes. However, the design change is more of a necessity than Samsung’s want to provide exasperated customers with a new design.

The phone, though coming with the Samsung Galaxy S4 moniker does not confirm to all features and specifications of the elder sibling. Samsung Galaxy S4 Active gets a downgrade when it comes to the screen quality. Unlike Samsung Galaxy S4’s S-AMOLED screen, Samsung Galaxy S4 Active comes with an LCD display. The screen size is the same at 5-inches with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. 


On the processor front, Samsung Galaxy S4 Active comes with Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 processor. There’s no octa-core variant  to the phone. The internal memory variants and the RAM is the same at 16 GB (MicroSD card to 64 GB) and 2 GB RAM. 

Samsung has also downgraded the camera to 8 MP. However, the phone can click pictures under water and even comes with an ‘Aqua’ mode which improves visibility and screen brightness under the water. The phone comes with a single LED flash. The video-calling camera comes with 2 MP resolution. The phones with all the software features of Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active comes with 2600 mAh battery and runs on the latest Jelly Bean Android version, 4.2.2. The phone is slightly thicker and heavier than Samsung Galaxy S4 at 151 grams. The phone will be available in three colours: Urban Grey, Dive Blue and Orange Flare. 

The phone is expected to be priced the same as Samsung Galaxy S4 or in a similar range. Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will definitely be a premium device but we wonder if the company will even plan a launch in India soon.



Samsung Galaxy S4 ActiveSamsung Galaxy S4 Active

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: by the numbers

aa-lg-g2-front-2
LG just recently announced the successor to the Optimus G, the G2. Compared to the Galaxy S4, it’s quite an increase in power, hardware wise, but just what’s changed? Find out in our “by the numbers” comparison.

0.21-inches

Is the difference in screen size between the Galaxy S4 and LG G2. The G2 comes in at 5.2-inches, a whole 0.21-inches larger than the Galaxy S4′s 4.99-inch screen.

17ppi

LG G2 Display
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has 14 more ppi than the LG G2, with a total of 441ppi. The newer, LG G2 sports a pixel density of 424. There isn’t much of a noticeable difference here, the screens both look beautiful, and text is as sharp as ever. Pixel density isn’t the only thing that makes for a beautiful screen, though.
The G2 has a Full HD IPS display capable of 1080p resolution while the Galaxy S4 boasts of a Super AMOLED display, also capable of 1080p resolution.
Additionally, while both are 1080p displays, LG claims that their usage of IPS-LCD technology is superior, and that their display offers more subpixels than the display on the Galaxy S4, as seen in the image above.

396MHz

The LG G2 sports a Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU, clocked at an impressive 2.26GHz. That’s 396MHz more than the Galaxy S4′s Snapdragon 600 processor, clocked at 1.9GHz. It’s a pretty impressive speed boost.

400 mAh

LG G2 battery
The LG G2 boasts of a 3,000 mAh battery, which is a whole 400 milliamp hours more than the Galaxy S4′s 2,600 mAh removable unit. Really, you shouldn’t notice much of a difference between the two. After all, the G2 has a larger display, and has a higher clock speed so it’s easy to see why LG opted for more power to run that beefy Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor and large, 5.2″ 1080p display.

0 megapixels

There’s no difference between the LG G2 and Galaxy S4 in terms of megapixels. There’s likely a few differences in  the software that controls the optics, but beyond that, everything is pretty much the same. From everything we can see, it appears that it’s the same Sony image 13MP image sensor contained in both.
On the other hand, most of the differences lie in the software(e.g. Samsung’s fully featured camera mode suite). LG’s G2 probably has a few things similar to Samsung’s camera modes given the few similarities already, so either way, you can expect to have a good camera experience.

Adreno 320 vs Adreno 330

It’s very important to note that devices with a Snapdragon 800 SoC on board are also packing what many consider to be one of the finest mobile GPU’s available today – the Adreno 330. What makes it notable and impressive is that it offers performance increases in the range of 35-50%, which is substantial. Even by today’s standards the Adreno 320 is impressive, but the Adreno 330 just brings so much more. With the G2 packing the Adreno 330 and a Snapdragon 800, it’s a no brainer as to which device is superior here.

0 GB

There’s no differences in RAM. Both the LG G2 and Samsung Galaxy S4 feature 2GB of RAM, making multitasking and overall speed of the device as smooth as can be.
Overall, the LG G2 is pretty impressive upgrade over the Galaxy S4, especially that quad core Snapdragon 800 processor.
Make no mistake, friends. Both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG G2 are at the absolute top end of the spectrum. Do you think LG pushed things too far in choosing a 5.2 inch display? Any thoughts on the button placement? What do you think about the LG G2 so far? Are you interested? What do you like and dislike about the device? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
- See more at: http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s4-vs-lg-g2-by-the-numbers-254514/#sthash.Tcb0kEQ5.dpuf