Samsung has recently licensed a new technology from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a “superhydrophobic” coating which is completely transparent and has special qualities that allow it to repel water and fingerprints better than any other coating on devices today.
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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We have been hearing a lot about the much rumored Motorola X phone. Motorola’s new advisor Guy Kawasaki has been hinting at some big customization options for upcoming Motorola devices, and previously Google CEO Larry Page said Motorola was working on some advanced new features for future smartphones. Some sketchy reports of specs first leaked earlier this month, but a new report today would seem to make sense given Page’s previous comments.
While they don’t exactly match the rumored specs from earlier this month, PhoneArena is reporting a tipster has provided some information on specs for the Motorola X device. Most notable is the mention of a 4.8-inch made of sapphire glass and a 4,000mAh battery, two things that would seem to line up with Page’s comments related to better batteries and impact-resistant designs.
Other specs in the report include corners “made with rubber bumpers”, a carbon fiber back case, and a quad-core 2Ghz Quallcomm Snapdragon 800. The rubber bumpers could also be related to Page’s comments about devices that are more resistant to impact. PhoneArena is also claiming that the device will be water resistant and launch in November in time for the holiday shopping season.
No word on potential hardware customization options as speculated by many following Kawasaki’s comments.
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