Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDjdd6WO7So

Update: Samsung confirmed our original report about the replacement program in a statement.

Following reports of complaints from AT&T customers that their new Samsung Galaxy S4 Active was experiencing water damage, a tipster claims the carrier will soon start a replacement program for the device.

When Samsung first introduced its Galaxy S4 Active back in June, we were quite impressed with its ability to protect against water damage for up to 30 minutes submerged at a depth of up to one meter. The IP67 certified water and dustproof device eventually made its way to AT&T, and recent reports claimed customers were having some issues replacing Galaxy S4 Active units experiencing water damage. Samsung’s standard hardware warranty doesn’t cover “exposure to liquid, moisture” or dampness, which is clearly a big omission for a device that comes with an Aqua Mode for underwater photography.

The one time exchange program will be in addition to the device’s standard warranty and users will only be able to exchange for a new Galaxy S4 Active. AT&T employees are being told to replace the device “even if the Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) is tripped within the first year of ownership.” AT&T is listing the problem as a “defective equipment” issue and will only be honoring the offer for Galaxy S4 Actives purchased through its own retail channels. That means devices purchased through BestBuy, RadioShack or other retailers will not be eligible for the replacement program.

The information was available to AT&T employees as of yesterday, but it’s not clear if the carrier has already started offering the replacements to customers. Following earlier reports that warranties might not cover the water damage, it’s nice to know AT&T plans on replacing defective units. 
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AT&T has officially announced that it will carry the Galaxy S4 Active on its network starting June 21st for $199 with a new two-year agreement, though pre-orders will start tomorrow, June 14th. We’ve known the device was coming for a while, as press images of the phone leaked back in May and a teaser video for the device was released by AT&T yesterday.

The Galaxy S4 Active will be available in two colors, Urban Gray and Dive Blue, and packs a 5-inch TFT display with Gorilla Glass and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device is powered by a quad-core processor and has an 8MP rear facing camera.

The main selling point of the Galaxy S4 Active is its rugged design. AT&T touts that the device is “built for life,” as it is IP67 certified to be water-resistant and dust-proof. It also offers an Aqua Mode camera feature, which lets you snap pictures and images while you are underwater:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SR1tCDxqS2Y

The much-rumored Galaxy S4 Active was finally announced by Samsung one week ago, but without any sort of United States carrier information. We’d seen press images of the device leak with AT&T branding, and on Wednesday, the carrier released a teaser video that all but confirms the Galaxy S4 Active for its network.

The video shows someone dropping a phone into a bucket of water, but then receiving a call and having to pull it out to answer. At the very end, he holds the phone up to his ear and you can clearly see the top of the Galaxy S4 Active’s design and the same AT&T logo that we saw in the leaked press shots a few weeks ago. The video teases that we will “find out more” tomorrow, June 13th.

The Galaxy S4 Active’s main selling point is obviously the water and dust proof design. It will be protected in those substances for up to 30 minutes of submergence at a depth of one meter:
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Friday we showed you images of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active that leaked from press material, and today the South Korean handset maker officially announced the latest variant to its most successful smartphone to date.

This variant of the Galaxy S4 can endure the tests of water or other agents that can render an ordinary smartphone useless without an extra accessory that has potential to be costly.

The GALAXY S4 Active has qualified protection from dust and water, so you never have to leave the device at home during a long day at the beach or dusty hike. The fully sealed design keeps dust particles out and protects against water damage for up to 30 minutes of submergence at a depth of one meter. Equipped with a water-resistant earphone jack, the GALAXY S4 Active frees you to use earphones in more adventurous conditions, in the same way you’ve used them in normal ones.  Whether capturing every moment of a wild rafting trip or taking a great underwater photo in the pool, the device’s unique construction lets users capture amazing moments previously impossible using a normal smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active should appeal to users with active lifestyles and less secure workplaces where physical damage could compromise data like government employees. Samsung has been reaching for the corporate and government space. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company is even going as far as hiring former RIM employees and experts in security since BlackBerry has trended toward losing its place in these markets.

Pricing and availability remain unknown but we expect the Active to ship this summer. Samsung is set to announce additional products later this month at its event in London.

Check out the full press release below:
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We’ve been hearing more and more about the Galaxy S4 Active lately– the rugged S4 variant that Samsung is hoping will help attract more corporate and government customers. Today we get an official look at the device courtesy of theunlockr.com with what appear to be official press shots of the device for AT&T.

The report adds that the device will sell with model number SGH-I537 and arrive in dark grey and teal alongside a few other Samsung devices coming soon to the carrier including the S4 Mini and the Galaxy Mega 6.3. The details arrive ahead of a Samsung event scheduled for June 20 where the company is expected to introduce the Galaxy S4 Mini and other devices.