Samsung Galaxy S4 Active feedback thread: now with challenges added!

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the very lucky 20 MNers who were selected from hundreds of you to try out the NEW Galaxy S4 Active handset from Samsung.

To check out the features of this smartphone please see here

Samsung says "We think this new handset would be great for parents. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is specifically designed to handle all aspects of modern family life - including

~ the great outdoors - with a fully sealed design that provides great protection from dust and water - you can even use the device to shoot photos and video underwater, with your results optimised by the new Aqua Mode.

~ everyday family life and all the challenges of modern family life.

~ looks and functionality - the Galaxy S4 Active also shares the Galaxy S4s slick design and useful smart services, so you can enjoy the same great style and convenience"

So testers please share - for the moment - your first impressions of the phone by answering the questions - challenges to come!

~ What handset did you have before and what frustrated you about it?
~ What was most appealing about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?
~ What were your first impressions when it arrived and you got it fired up? How was the set up?
~ What features have you used so far? What's your opinion of these?
~ What about how the phone looks and feels in your hand?
~ Any additional comments

Challenges will follow!

Thanks MNHQ

PS We'd love more reviews of smartphones on MN: all welcome!

Challenge 1: I haven't been out and about much as I've been really sick but I took it out for walks with the dog in windy wet weather and it has survived the beach wonderfully well! Took some photos while out and about and it's prefect for that, I got some lovely shots!

We're also moving house so I've been using the phone for taking soya of the progress.

Challenge 2: I've not been brave enough to take underwater photos as the cap on the charge plug seems so flimsy but I've taken into the bath with me and it got properly splashed and it behaved perfectly. I've also used it with sudsy hands and the touchscreen didn't seem to mind.

Challenge 3: I've dropped it plenty of times and the dog has trodden on it several times and the phones seems indifferent to it which is good.

challenge 4: I've used the screen with fingers dirty from cooking and it worked fine, it also wiped clean quickly and the screen coped well worth fatty fingers and smears .

Challenge 5: I transferred some wedding photos over with Bluetooth and used the photo album to arrange them into a collection and it was easy and fun to use. I also used it to sort pictures of our move and of the bits I've bought into which room they are meant for.

challenge 1 great outdoors.

Didn't go to rugby today, not had any great outdoors time really. I have taken it on shine runs though. Have stayed using an app to log them so enjoying the gps. stopped yesterday to take some photos mid run at dusk as the moon was rising and am very pleased with the result.

Challenge 2: the phone rang while I was in the shower this morning so I left it to ring but then remembered the challenge and listened to the answerphone message in the shower. The phone worked fine even though it was wet and so was I and it was easy to hear despite the noise of the shower.

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors (and take some photos) I've been doing this since day 1 and the photo's are great. I do need to read the manual again as I find that sometimes the camera makes a sound so I know the photo has been taken and sometimes it doesn't.

Challenge 2: Take a photo/video underwater/ when wet (up to one meter under water - please ensure you read about this first) I was very very nervous about doing this after very nearly killing my first Samsung, a Galaxy S by dropping it down the loo. I read all the stuff and did it in the bath - quickly! Stipped off the skin and back after and gave a good dry and it seems unscathed!

Challenge 3: Test it with the kids challenge 1: ask your DC to (for the purposes of this) drop it on the floor (not throw), ask your toddler to give it a chew or even - if you're feeling brave, 'accidentally' drop it in the bath/ (clean) loo Don't need kids for this - I've dropped it a lot - I think it is bigger size. I've bought the Samsung skin now and whilst I am still dropping it it is definately less often! It has been fine every time and I am so much more relaxed about the kids using it - even though it is lovely I don't feel overly precious about it, which is great

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands We too did this when cooking - making pizza dough. We used the phone of the recipie (Jamies Oliver - was delicious!) and it got covered in flour and we picked it up with doughy hands to scroll throught he instruction. Phone got a wipe with the worktop at the end and looks brand new!

Challenge 5: Story Album: Test out the feature called Story Album, take some photos/videos over the testing period and create a photo album Still to do this - been a busy week - will report back

Challenge 6: Use on the go: how well does it cope with a family day out or during every day life for you at work? It copes very well. Only think that I find awkward is using it one handed - because it is so large it is difficult to hold and scroll with the same hand (have have developed a way of doing this one handed with my thumb with my old phone). I is a bit frustating haveing to use two hands all the time. I tried to use it with my woolly gloves - didn't work, but that could be user error.

On that note it would fab for Samsung to have produced a few You Tube videos - 101 on the features and getting the most out of your phone, a video on using the camera features and the like, video to wathch before you put it under water... I've not got my head round all of them - must give the book another read. They are on my to do list. Because I have kids, I spend a fair bit of time hanging around waiting for them -swimming, rugby and the like. If there were easy accessible videos I could use that time getting to know the features of my phone if the info was easily accessible.

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors (and take some photos)

Phone came with us to Alton Towers and got some amazing pictures in the rain! Taken photos at the park of the dog and ds and I'm seriously impressed with the camera quality.

Challenge 2: Take a photo/video underwater/ when wet (up to one meter under water - please ensure you read about this first)

Was really scared to do this but checked it was all sealed up properly and went for it in the bath and it survived! Pictures were blurry, and screen was unresponsive for half an hour or so afterwards though. It's not a feature I think I'll ever find useful tbh but it's comforting to know that if I accidentally drop it down the loo/in the washing up/in the dog bowl (as I've done before!), it will survive!

Challenge 3: Test it with the kids challenge 1: ask your DC to (for the purposes of this) drop it on the floor (not throw), ask your toddler to give it a chew or even - if you're feeling brave, 'accidentally' drop it in the bath/ (clean) loo

Accidentally dropped it, quite spectacularly, when bumped into by a child on the school run. It flew out of my hands, 7 or 8ft away, and landed, screen down, in a puddle on the road. It fell apart and I had to retrieve the battery, back etc, but, apart from one small scratch on the corner where it landed, it survived unblemished. Screen is unmarked, which I was impressed with, as I've smashed my iphone countless times.

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands

Used it to read a recipe whilst cooking and got it covered in oil, spices and flour yet it cleaned up like new!

Challenge 5: Story Album: Test out the feature called Story Album, take some photos/videos over the testing period and create a photo album

I've used Story Album and it's really nice to use and makes it easy to show photos to family and friends.

Challenge 6: Use on the go: how well does it cope with a family day out or during every day life for you at work?

It copes with everything. My only quibbles with it are how easy it is to activate buttons on it whilst it's in my pocket, and I've managed to activate the voice operated feature about 10 times a day so far! Always checking I'm not accidentally calling someone!

Challenge 3 - no toddlers, but the phone has been dropped onto carpeted and tiled floor from my waist height. It also slid off the dashboard in the car and landed in the foot well with no damage done.

Challenge 5 - We used this function for creating an album for one of DS's Cubs badges. He had to photograph wildlife in our garden over the course of a week, so he took numerous photos and then together we created a story album to show his work. The best part of this project was being able to attach sound to photos, so he could record birdsong and voice recording to make what he'd done more interesting. Boring shots of a tree shedding leaves each day became less boring when he could record himself describing what was happening.
This function was one that I wasn't really looking forward to using, because I'm not a huge photo album fan (very unsentimental!), but I was so pleased that we could make something useful and interesting using it. DS really enjoyed taking my phone to Cubs to show his friends and leaders what he'd done, and it made a really interesting presentation (and saved a fortune on photo paper and ink for the printer ).
I'm really looking forward to making a brilliant Christmas album this year, and emailing it to grandparents .

'Still working' has become a running joke in our home now.

Last night, v.tired, carried phone upstairs, was texting on it at top of stairs, it slipped out of my hand, tried to grab it, bounced off other hand, knocked it onto the metal stair gate, then it landed on the floor.

Still working!

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors (and take some photos)

Taken it out out to the park and the woods and have taken some great pics of the kids. Really pleased as I love taking snaps of the kids when we are out and about. Also nice to not worry about dropping it in a puddle, getting it in the rain whilst out with them.

Have downloaded a couple of photo app and collage apps and been having good fun perfecting my photo's.

Just realised at the weekend that the camera had a flash! Have used a few of the modes on the camera , can't get the drama one to work out quite right but I think there is probably a knack which we will get to with practice.

Challenge 2: I haven't managed an underwater photo yet, It has had a quick dunk in the bath and dried off and absolutely fine afterwards which again is brilliant with 3 children ,one who is a very spirited toddler.

Challenge 3: Test it with the kids challenge 1: ask your DC to (for the purposes of this) drop it on the floor (not throw), ask your toddler to give it a chew ...

See above -it has a successful bath dunk , it has also survived me dropping it and the toddler having a good play with it.

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands

It survived some pasta bake spilling on it and sticky toddler hands, so great to be able to give it a wipe down or a quick rinse under the tap! (Other peoples faces when you do that are also brilliant! :)

Challenge 5: Story Album: Test out the feature called Story Album, take some photos/videos over the testing period and create a photo album

Did this and quite liked it , would probably use it again. On first attempt I was bit put out that I couldn't change the photos to fit correctly but then on a second play found the editing and how to change the page layout , photo size etc and made a nice album of the kids.

Challenge 6: Use on the go: how well does it cope with a family day out or during every day life for you at work?

Good , Been taking it out and about with me , have a screen protector on so quite happy to shove it in my (luckily) big jacket pockets and away. Also nice that I don't have to be too precious with it when we are out and about. Loved that I could work the screen with gloves but now that I have a screen protector on that doesn't work , but I can live without that as I would rather know the screen is safe.

Also really like the S health app, The phone pics up my steps through my jacket pocket when I am out and about, only complaint would be that the phone is too big to fit in my pocket in my normal layer of clothes so unless I carry it with me in my hand everywhere I can't use the pedometer all day at home or work which is frustrating.

Brilliant for work for me , I work Part time and some times from home-great to be able to access email/documents out and about and access social media and websites and photo's which is part of my job.
I just had a really old phone before so this has made my working life a lot easier!

I love it! I Just need to sort out the music side of things and it will be perfect.

Marking place. Had a manic week or so, but will add feedback ASAP.

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors

It's really really cold here today, we woke up to a good dusting of snow and ice. Sadly Bob the Westie still demands a small walk (he's old so doesn't go far). We headed out, phone in pocket as usual with my music on. For the first time this year I've worn gloves on my walk and I realised just how brilliant this phone is for winter. I answered a text from DH and managed to skip music tracks with ease, all without removing my gloves. I know this is a very small thing to make me smile so much, but it really did!

Last night I had to nip out and noticed a gorgeous crisp sky and a full moon. I'd seen a 'night mode' on the camera settings so I thought I'd try and snap a shot of the moon. DD said 'you won't pick that up!'. She ate her words somewhat when I flicked on night mode and took a shot which tested the camera completely given we were in the city, on a car park under street lights. The resulting image showed the view as we stood, the cap park was lit well, the wet paving and the moon with clouds across were all in focus.

Pic here

I need to try the night mode again I think as I'm incredibly impressed!

Well we have snow here this morning , so 2 year old dd is delighted -although she has seen plenty of snow before it is the first she really remembers so it was lovely taking pics of her excitement on a snowy walk . Screen protector will be coming off though-was a complete pain to keep taking my glove off to take photos and use my phone in the snow (and I had cold fingers) so will definitely take advantage of that next time.

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors (and take some photos) We went to Thorndon Country Park to do the Gruffalo trail on a very muddy but clear day. Got some nice shots of DD (even though she refused to get out the pushchair - and she normally loves jumping in muddy puddles!). I have found that outdoor photos are best with it but I think I just haven't got to grips with the various camera options, really. Anyway, I got some nice pics and all without taking gloves off - that's a great feature.

Challenge 2: Take a photo/video underwater/ when wet (up to one meter under water - please ensure you read about this first) Crikey. I hated doing this one. It goes against all intuition. Anyway, I took a picture - or tried to - of DD's wind up swimmer in the bath. I made sure DD was nowhere near. I don't want her getting any ideas about dunking electronics in the bath. So, I did everything right, as far as I could see, and it did work but was very blurry, and then I couldn't get the touchscreen to respond for ages afterwards. Dried it out, turned it off, and when I turned it on again an hour later all was well, but it's not something I'll be doing again. Still, it's good to know that an accidental drop down the loo or whatever won't actually kill it.

Challenge 3: Test it with the kids challenge 1: ask your DC to (for the purposes of this) drop it on the floor (not throw), ask your toddler to give it a chew or even - if you're feeling brave, 'accidentally' drop it in the bath/ (clean) loo Again, I wasn't about to ask DD to drop it on the floor, as she's too little to understand that not everything can be dropped! But fortunately (!) I dropped it as I was fumbling for my security pass at work - and it fell in between the banisters and dropped down two floors. Gulp. Not a scratch on it. It did fall apart, battery out etc but put it back together and it's completely fine. Very impressive. I wasn't about to ask her to chew it either. So, er, I did. Quite gently, to be fair, but it's unblemished from my gnawing. DH, however, thinks I've gone mad.

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands Like many above MNers I used it while cooking; 2-year-old DD and I made cookies and it was really great being able to check the recipe without having to fuss about the phone getting damaged. It did end up very greasy indeed but it's cleaned up really well.

Challenge 5: Story Album: Test out the feature called Story Album, take some photos/videos over the testing period and create a photo album I'm not all that impressed with this - I can't really see what the point of it is? I'd rather just put my images on an album on Facebook, or print them out and put it on an actual album. I couldn't figure out how to arrange them how I wanted or anything like that, so it just seemed like a bunch of random images stuck together.

Challenge 6: Use on the go: how well does it cope with a family day out or during every day life for you at work? I've been using it every day and it's coped...ok. I really, really hate the size of it and I thought I'd get used to that, instead I've just got more annoyed by it. I don't like having to use two hands to do everything. And the size makes it so awkward for pockets/bags. It was also very slippery but I've got a rubbery case for it now which has made that a lot better.
However, I did like the big screen when I was travelling on long journeys for work last week and I was able to watch things I'd downloaded onto the iPlayer and 4OD.
I've got a Spotify account and I use that on it, which I like, and the sound is good. I've got a few games on it, which is fun - and I downloaded the CBeebies app thing which DD LOVES. It's great to be able to give it to her and not worry about it getting destroyed.
I thought the camera was brilliant at first, but I have fallen out of love with it big time. Maybe I'm just not getting it but shots indoors aren't all that great. There's some good functions on it but really, I just want to be able to take nice, easy snaps that look good, without having to press lots of buttons.
The volume button is DRIVING ME MAD. It's so sensitive and it just constantly seems to be blasting my head off or turning down to zero.
I also cannot seem to work out how to turn off the internet connection? I don't want it to be constantly downloading stuff but it seems so complicated to fix that I've given off. Also, I want a nice simple way to turn it onto silent...and I don't seem to have found that either.

It's a good phone but it's not as great as I thought it was.

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands
Well, I can confirm that the phone has survived the Pesto and petit filous treatment from DD (2 and a half) - I let her watch a video in her high chair after dinner. It was plastered, so I ran it under the tap. Gave it a thorough dry and its working fine.

Challenge 1: Take the phone out to enjoy the great outdoors (and take some photos)

Yep, we've done this! Its been on a puddle walk through the woods, a trip to the park, and into the orchard for an epic apple picking session. We are massively impressed with the quality of the photos, they are lovely and crisp. It captures natural light and colours really well - the photos of toddler DS surrounded by falling leaves are amazing

Challenge 2: Take a photo/video underwater/ when wet (up to one meter under water - please ensure you read about this first)

Not yet done (bath out of order) but DD has suggested we try and get a picture of the inside of the school pond. This may not be beautiful but I shall report back on it anyway!

Challenge 3: Test it with the kids challenge 1: ask your DC to (for the purposes of this) drop it on the floor (not throw), ask your toddler to give it a chew or even - if you're feeling brave, 'accidentally' drop it in the bath/ (clean) loo

It has been dropped Not even on purpose under controlled conditions either. I balanced it on the top of the drivers door when MNing while waiting for DD to come out of school last week and then totally forgot it was there, leapt out of the car to talk to someone, and it fell on the pavement. It was fine though was a heart in my mouth moment and I think the soft rubber cover probably helped - it was a proper drop with a fair bit of momentum from me flinging the door open in a hurry!

Its also been mouthed by a baby. I left it on a chair when at BF group, and sat on my twitching hands as someone's cruising baby came and waved it around and gave it an experimental gnaw. Again - it was fine.

Challenge 4: Test it with the kids challenge 2: ask your DC to drop it into their dinner or smear it with food covered hands

Does finger paint count? Its had finger paint on it, when I let DS try and take a photo of his painting (of a camel in the rain) to send to his grandparents. I was testing the feature that takes photos when you say 'smile' but unfortunately it wasn't able to recognise the word through all the giggling DS was doing. Oh and its also been subject to a smearing of playdoh (which is one of the main food groups according to DS ). Both wiped off just fine.

Challenge 5: Story Album: Test out the feature called Story Album, take some photos/videos over the testing period and create a photo album

I've done a basic version but my 10yo DD has explored this much further than I have and made a really lovely one - I've set the gallery to sync with my FaceBook albums so she's done one of pictures of her fromage 2 to now, and fiddled with the themes etc to her hearts content. I think its a good way of making a nice set to show off to not-very-techy grandparents.

Challenge 6: Use on the go: how well does it cope with a family day out or during every day life for you at work?

Its larger than what I'm used to but not at all unwieldy. I had to take a phone call when in soft play yesterday and was surprised at how well I could hear the person on the other end Its got loads of features that I'd never have thought I needed but are rapidly proving to be extremely useful. The memory capacity is great, my old phone was full with just 4 apps but we've got a couple of dozen on the S4 Active and heaps of space left still.

Do have to say that the volume button is doing my nut slightly as well - I hoped I'd get used to where it was and learn not to press it by accident but haven't yet! Its just placed where your fingers naturally fall when pressing the power button - its really counter-intuitive to try and hold it differently and I know its only a minor annoyance but I do think it deserves a mention.

(btw everybodysang - if you get the dropdown menu on screen there is a 'sound' icon that you tap once to turn it to vibrate and twice to turn it to silent, there's also a wifi icon that turns on/off the wifi connection)

ah thank you! I've only just discovered the drop down menu this morning - found I could turn off the online connection but hadn't noticed the sound icon!

Sorry sorry sorry that this has taken so long, have had a illness run with the kids and was so shattered I just couldn't make two brain cells work together for long enough to write something coherent. Had a decent nights sleep last night and finally have rediscovered my will to live!

What handset did you have before and what frustrated you about it?
I had a Samsung Galaxy S2, which I loved loved loved when it first came out, but slowly as it got more and more outdated it was a bit slow and frustrating when trying to run new apps - especially really large ones like Simpsons Tapped Out which I am addicted to play occasionally.

What was most appealing about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?
Despite the fact that it seemed only a bit bigger than the Galaxy S2, the screen was much much larger - as I use the phone for reading threads on Mumsnet browsing the Internet a lot, that has made a big difference to me comfort-wise. I was surprised that I could still hold and operate it comfortably one-handedly, and thought it looked really 'solid' and yet felt really light.

What were your first impressions when it arrived and you got it fired up? How was the set up?
After I found out I'd been selected, I read a fair few reviews on the internet, a lot of which compared the screen unfavourably to the other Samsung phones. I was mentally prepared to be a bit disappointed with it, but instead I found I liked it more than the standard S4 one (which a friend has). It is brighter and sharper in daylight than hers.

What features have you used so far? What's your opinion of these?
I have done a lot of Xmas shopping! The internet loaded fast, the screen was easy to use. I have also taken a lot of photos, trying to use a few different options out. I have really enjoyed the 'drama' option, took some really cool photos of cars in the recent WRC rally, and my toddler loves the animated photo of her on her bike. I have tried the camera out in the bath with her, it successfully went underwater without dying (I was so nervous trying it!) but I couldn't get it to take a photo! I suspect user error as I wasn't sure which button to press - I intend to read the manual before trying again!

Games have loaded fast and been easy to see in a variety of different light conditions. I have also enjoyed being able to use it while out with the dog for a (very wet!) walk without worrying about dropping it or the rain getting to it.

What about how the phone looks and feels in your hand?
I really really like this phone. It hasn't yet had a screen protector or cover on it, as I'm trying to review it 'as is' for a bit, so that people can see what it's like out of the box. As I said earlier, it feels solid and well made, and yet is very light and comfortable to use. Big big thumbs up here.

Any additional comments
I really really like it! I have done some of the challenges as well, but will upload those on a separate post (and a seperate day! as this one is mammoth and I need to get tomorrow's tea organised!

help!!! Somehow the sceen on text messages has zoomed in so writing is so huge its difficult to read the message. how do I make it normal again.

in the bath reading on kindle app. dd comes down needing a poo and ordered me to make sure our was still waterproof . It is still waterproof. Not that I tried to take pictures, nobody needs to see underwater pictures of my fanjo.

day 1 of weekend over with me feeling like crap. Rugby tomorrow though so that should provide some so weather conditions family day out and photos to finish our challenges.

yes mine went like that. went into settings in accessories i think and there was a normal font size. I don't even know how I changed it.

Think this should finish off my challenge feedback.

1 and 6. Great outdoors and on the go/everyday life.

Rugby today. a few nice pictures before ds2 have up and screamed at me till the end of the session. It was cold, damp and muddy so was glad I didn't need to worry about dropping phone etc. photos are nice, thecamera sends really good and captures colour well. used sport mode on running around dd and she is sharp and in focus.

For everyday life phone is a good workhorse. Don't have to be precious about it. good camera so while it can't totally replace a separate camera, even a pretty basic point and shoot or does mean that it matters less if I forget camera on a day out. I know I will still have good pictures.

re the photo book thing, I can see why it might be nice to use it on the phone a bit too have themes of photos to flick through ora holiday album but I can't see myself orderingprinted versions of anything due to lack of facilities, gig can order photos how you like and so on.

Good planner so all diary appointments, childcare times etc are in there with reminders set. I don't use the health thing. Phone is too big to keep in pocket all the time. I'm not a glued to my phone sport of person but I am using run keeper and enjoying taking phone on runs and listening to music while the gos maps my run for me.

It can be a bit slow to grab and open iyswim by the tune you have got it, pressed the button to wake the screen then fine your password or pattern.

side buttons still a bit annoying, to sensitive and in the way. volume easy to hit. often find my volume vanishes while I'm listening to music if phone in pocket. I think sometimes screen goes Black but not locked or something, I sometimes get phone out of pocket to find it is on a screen or has gone into an app or the contacts list. Only a matter of time before I accidentally call someone.

I do really like it though overall. robust, easy to useand looks good. screen is fab to, pictures and videos look great on it.

Thanks jellybaby - didn't work though. Off to consult Google.

In case anyone else has the same problem - it was the bloody volume button again. Push + for bigger text and - for smaller while in the messaging app.

ok it seemed to work for me. that volume button has alot to answer for

Mine has stopped automatically locking, I'm having to remember to press the on/off button else it stays lit up on whatever screen it was last on. Can't find anything in settings for this? It's killing my battery and as it's so bloody easy to knock one of the buttons in my pocket and not realise.

Still happy with mine, sometimes the screen can be a little unresponsive, though. Clicking links is sometimes not so easy.

And yes, I find the settings a bit tricky to navigate!