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  • ImSpartacus - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    I wish there was a camera shutter button on the SGS4 Active.

    If you're using it underwater, I imagine that you're scuba diving or something else vacation-y. That means pictures, and a lot of them.
  • sherlockwing - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    The SGS4's Camera software you can set the volume key as the Camera button, so I don't think that will be a problem.
  • sherlockwing - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    In SGS4's default Camera app(which GS4A also uses), the volume key can be set as the Camera key/Record key or adjust Zoom(+/-).
  • tdktank59 - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    Basically useless for scuba diving since its only rated for 1M or 3.28FT. Snorkeling on the other hand would work, but then again its only rated for 30 minutes.

    My guess is this is for the active people who will be in dusty areas or boaters. Basically wherever you phone can come into contact with water or lots of dust.
  • khaakon - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    My alternative guess is that this type of phone also attracts people looking for durability, like me. One could hope those seals keeps the insides safer for longer. I wouldnt mind have my breaking after two years, dunno if i'm an active person (phone lives mostly in back pocket though) - and my appartement is quite dusty..
  • khaakon - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    sry, typo;

    * my phone breaking after ...
  • sigmatau - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    I never understood how people keep coming up with the thought of taking pictures with this thing underwater. You do understand that 1 meter is about 3 feet right? You can't swim in 3 feet of water. This is for all the smart people that have dropped their phone in a toilet (and then quickly placed them on ebay.) Not even sure it would work in the rain as pressing wet buttons may get water in the device.
  • hughlle - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    I can easily swim in 1 meter of water, especially if there is more water underneath that 1 meter limit..

    I would personally like to be able to submerge it even 25cm under the waters surface to take a photo while fishing. It then kills two birds with one stone for me. I don't have to be worried about having my phone with me in case of the baot capsizing, or wet hands etc, and i don't have to go out of my way to buy a dedicated waterproof camera.
  • augiem - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    You'll be really sorry if you drop it... Dedicated waterproof cameras are cheap. < $100. I recommend it.
  • hughlle - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    And I'd be pretty bummed if my phone got stolen in a bar and as such I lost my GPS and my mp3 player. I. Guess I could just buy a Nokia 3310 and a 40 quid GPS and a 50 quid mp3 player and such and such. Having everything lumped into one device, for me, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

    Not to mention, I don't ever use hardware in risky situations unless I have a safety precaution in effect, such as a wrist strap, which a cheap case or a diy solution easily accommodates.

    At the end of the day, I am just one person giving my reasons, there are a whole lot of folk who like this potential, hence why they are making the device. I hardly think that Samsung are making this because they felt that they were about to be unseated because Sony were making a waterproof phone. There will always be arguments against, but the simple fact is that there are people who will buy this type of item because they have a personal reason for wanting it.

    One could equally say why take the camera into consideration on any phone because you can buy a camera for peanuts that far outperforms a phone camera. This could simply be the convenience of sharing. Sure I could buy a dedicated underwater camera, but I then have to take numerous additional steps in order to share the photo. Heck, camera companies are now making dedicated cameras these days purely because people are bringing to shun point and shoots because the convenience of having a camera on their phone outweigh the fact that their camera as such costs considerably more than a dedicated camera. You could drop a camera down a tree, off a bridge, down a cliff, just as easily as in water, but people still happily use their present camera phones for these pictures.
  • sigmatau - Monday, June 24, 2013 - link

    You won't be able to use it underwater. Apparently you glossed over half my post. This is in case you drop it in a puddle or get water on it. It will not be usable underwater. There is a reason why they say only one meter. This is more water resistant than water proof. Maybe in a few years.
  • CyberAngel - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - link

    I can take photos underwater in a pool which is deeper than one meter.
    If it's just a few minutes it'll survive 7ft.
    I really own a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Urban Grey about 2 weeks after introduction in Finland in at about 26th of May. Maybe it was just after 4th of July on Friday the 5th day - Yes!
    There is a special underwater camera mode.
    The touchscreen does not work underwater and you have to wipe it clean in order to use it.
    As fast as the S4 Inactive, but pictures are only about UHD sized at 8Mpx, not the 13Mpx.
    Unfortunately I don't have a sharper monitor or TV or projector to show bigger pictures ;-)
  • cmikeh2 - Thursday, June 20, 2013 - link

    Just a quick typo but the Snapdragon 600 is quad core. How did viewing angles compare with the TFT display in comparison with the AMOLED or the LCDs on the XPERIA Z or the One?
  • amdwilliam1985 - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    "4.3-inches is really the ideal smartphone display size for me. The iPhone 5 is still a bit too small, and the SGS4 is a bit too big."

    I agree too, I think 4.3 to 4.5 is perfect for 1 hand use, I have high hopes for Motorola, hopefully they'll figure out the "perfect" size phone with minimum bezels.
  • Death666Angel - Friday, June 21, 2013 - link

    I've had a 4.3" SGS2 and now a 4.7" Galaxy Nexus and am looking forward to getting a 5.5" or 6" smartphone next year. 4.7" is still easy to use single handedly. But I really don't need that. The bigger screen and hopefully bigger battery will be great benefits. That's the good thing about Android: you can get any size you want. :D
  • mchart - Saturday, June 22, 2013 - link

    To those thinking you can use something rated as WR to 1M for taking underwater photos... You are false. Rated to 1M/3Feet means it will only take splashes, or a quick drop in. Anything more and it will fail. Remember, the water resistance test only consists of submerging the device in a small amount of water (Only enough needed to submerge it) and then applying pressure inside the container to simulate 1M below of water pressure. It does not simulate any additional pressure from movement, etc..

    So basically, if you've got something rated for only 1M WR you'd be a fool to actually submerge it. The rating is only there to indicate it is splash proof. Not even a watch rated to 100M WR should be used for much beyond swimming at the surface.
  • MonkeyK - Monday, June 24, 2013 - link

    But it would be great mounted on my bike. Then I wouldn't have to worry about it when I ride in the rain.
  • CyberAngel - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - link

    Tested in 7ft a few minutes. So practically it *IS* waterproof.
    I *OWN* the device so naturally I tested it :-D
  • En1gma - Saturday, June 22, 2013 - link

    "The SoC is still the same quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (APQ8960AB)"
    wtf? apq-series is modem-less (apq_0__).. or i dont know smthg?
    "with a Qualcomm MSM (dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 with Adreno 305)"
    msm8230/msm8930?
  • eva2000 - Sunday, June 23, 2013 - link

    All we need now is "Samsung S4 Mini Active" :)
  • vipuls1979 - Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - link

    Hi , have you check the latest offering from Sony Xperia , Sony has announced sony Xperia C and sony xperia Z ultra Phablet in their Xperia Series
    for more info kindly visit http://mobiknowhow.blogspot.com
  • northstar2012 - Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - link

    i used my phone to take 1 pic under water about 2 inches in... after i shut it down noone can hear me on voice calls...this is the 2cd active that did this to me..any help out there??pleaseeeee
  • CyberAngel - Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - link

    Remeber to
    (A) put on the USB cap securely
    (B) the back must be sealed so you need to go around it (after accessing the interior)
    and also press underneath the camera
    Mine works after 7ft submerge

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