Galaxy S4 Guides

Galaxy Note 10.1

How to install Flash on Galaxy S4 (and make it work!)?

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enable flash on galaxy s4

Update: After KitKat (4.4) update, you must use the unofficial APK file to make Flash player work on Galaxy S4 again. Please read Part 3 for details on the Flash Player APK file for KitKat.

Update 2: If you updated Galaxy S4 to Android Lollipop, please follow this guide to make Flash work on your Galaxy S4.

Once you get your hands on your brand new Galaxy S4, you may encounter the Flash issue. Galaxy S4 does not support Flash!

Even after you side-load the Flash (see below on how to do this),  neither the stock browser (Internet app) nor  the bundled Chrome recognize Flash.

For Chrome for Android, we all know Flash has been never supported. Do not confuse this Chrome with the Chrome on your desktop.

But for the stock browser, it is quite strange, because the stock browser (with Jelly Bean 4.2) in Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 all work charmingly with Flash!.  For Jelly Bean 4.1, there are no issues even on Samsung’s own handsets, for example, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2. What’s wrong?

Apparently, the stock browser in Galaxy S4 was altered by Samsung to block Flash plugin and other plugins as well.

So, to make Flash work on your S4, we need both Flash player (which is not pre-installed) and a third-party browser.

Before jumping to how to do this, let’s get some background information on why Flash has been an issue for Jelly Bean.

Flash was banned by Apple on iOS! The official explanations include: 1) Flash is not open (same as iOS); 2). There are better alternatives; 3). Reliability, security and performance issues; 4).Battery life issues; 5).Flash is not for touch screen; 6). Flash is a cross platform development tool.  Actually, the last one is what Apple fears… Read the rest

Will Samsung Galaxy S4 Use Own Exynos Processor or Qualcomm Snapdragon 600? Which one is better? What are the differences?

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samsung-exynos-5-octa-vs-snapdragon600-smallWe have to wait for the official specifications until March 14 in the Samsung Unpack 2013 event in New York.

The rumored specifications of Galaxy S4 have two versions on processor  (chip). One version says Samsung ‘s own Exynos 5 Octa (5450) will be used; while other one says Samsung may use Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.

The logic question is which one is better, or what  the differences are.  In the Galaxy S4 rumored specifications, I told you guys my bet is on Exynos  5 Octa. I will tell you my reasoning later in this post.

So first let’s compare Exynos 5 Octa and Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.

Both Exynos 5 Octa and  Snapdragon 600 were announced this year. Most high-end smartphones and tablet will use one of them this year. Snapdragon 600 already got customers lining up: HTC (HTC One) , ASUS (Padafone Infinity), LG (Optimus G Pro) and ZTE (Grand Memo).

Both processors are based on ARM Cortex A-15, and share the identical instruction set (ARM v7). This is the latest version of ARM technology in the market.

Bother are fabricated with 28nm technology, which means more transistors in the same area compared with  the 32nm (for example, Exynos 4 Quad used in Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 10.1, and Exynos 5 Dual used in Google Nexus 10)  or 45nm ( for example, Exynos 4 Dual used in Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note; Snapdragon S4 Play) technology. For Samsung, it is a big leap because it is it’s first 28nm processor. While Qualcomm have used 28nm technology  since last year. Both Snapdragon S4  Plus (for example used in Nokia Lumia 520, 620, 720, BlackBerry Z10, HTC One X… Read the rest