Galaxy S6’s improved fingerprint scanner lets you log into websites with one touch [VIDEO]

The Samsung Galaxy S6 features improved finger scanning hardware that gives us something functionally identical to Apple’s highly-touted Touch ID, but its software-side enhancements build a case for the S6 as the benchmark for fingerprint authentication. Take for example the newly added ability to login to your favorite websites with just the touch of your finger.

While not a full-fledged password manager, Samsung’s finger scanner now sports the ability to securely store login credentials for use in the phone’s web browser. Find the site you want to login to, scan your finger, and the phone’s software will autofill the form. No more typing in usernames or fumbling over your super secure passwords (they are super secure, right?).

The first time you log into a site, the Galaxy S6 will ask you if you want to store the credentials and use the finger scanner to authenticate website sign ins in the future (provided you have already set up the fingerprint reader). You’ll have to do this individually at first for each login, so you can choose which sites require authentication.

While Apple has done a lot to improve the Touch ID experience and open it up to third-party developers, it has been slow to roll out core functionality in the same way that Samsung has with their Galaxy line. Before, we could say Samsung’s hardware lagged behind, but now it seems Apple may be the one with some catching up to do.

Change the touch key light duration on all Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge models using this app

We can’t for the life of us figure out how Samsung came to the decision to hack up TouchWiz for US versions of the device, giving carriers exclusive fundamental options others didn’t get. For instance, only the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge models have an option to change the touch key (capacitive nav buttons) light duration. Yes, that very same option you’ve had on Galaxy devices for years now.

Well, the clever minds on XDA found a workaround, one that didn’t involve root, but involved enabling USB debugging and executing a few commands via ADB just to change it on non-AT&T S6 models. Not exactly convenient, or probably even worth the hassle. That is, unless these lights were bothering you when using your device in the dark (they can be a little bright).

Thankfully, some beautiful soul on Google Play has created an app just for this purpose. Simply put, it allows you to change the duration of those backlit back and recents buttons on the Galaxy S6 (all versions) — even turn them off completely if you’d like. Not sure why Samsung didn’t enable this “feature” on all models, but we’re glad someone out there was able to step up. Link provided below.

Galaxy Button Lights (Playboard) | Galaxy Button Lights (Play Store)

Photoshop Touch is being discontinued May 28th to make way for the new kids

Adobe has announced that Photoshop Touch will be discontinued May 28th, after which the apps will cease to exist in mobile app stores everywhere. Those who have bought Photoshop Touch will be able to continue using the app beyond then, though they won’t be able to redownload it unless they back the .APK file up using something like Titanium.

Why’s Adobe doing this? Well, the company recently expressed their intentions to bring more of their latest photo editing suites to Android, such as Photoshop Sketch and Photoshop Mix. These tools combine to give you much of the same functionality you enjoy now, only they are under the new Adobe Creative Cloud banner with collaboration and synchronization tools.

With that, Adobe announced that they are working on a new mobile image retouching tool called Project Rigel. They promise it’ll give you a “serious” retouching experience if you can’t get to a computer to use versatile tools like Photoshop and Lightroom.

Unfortunately Adobe still doesn’t have any specific timelines for any of this stuff, with the company still sticking to their “later in 2015″ routine.

[via Adobe]

Install CWM Advanced Philz Touch Recovery on Galaxy S5 G900H, G900F International Variants

You can now install the CWM Advanced edition or Philz Touch Recovery on Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900H (Exynos) and the SM-G900F (Snapdragon) variants.  The updated version  of PhilZ Touch recovery to  6.26.6 has worked on International Galaxy S5 variants. The new  unified (klte) basically built and work for  International, Canada, Sprint, T-mobile, Verizon  Galaxy S5 but due to some carrier bootloader locked issues it hasn’t perfectly tested yet, but  I will try to cover for that on other Galaxy S5 when a due time comes.

If you knew about CWM (ClockWork Mod recovery) then it can be sure that you also know the Philz Touch Recovery. Philz Touch Recovery is actually the  CWM recovery but added with numerous features you could ever miss in CWM such as the full touch interface and a completely configurable GUI experience. It has been tested and a well proven perfect and a safe custom recovery for many phones before the Galaxy S5 existence.

But before you may proceed let me refresh you some important notes relating to the installation of custom recovery. Advanced user of Android smartphones already knows about it but if this is your first time heard about this method, you may need a careful research first before attempting to apply this guide I written here.

Note: Installing Custom recovery will trip KNOX counter from 0x0 to 0x1. Once the KNOX security flag counter tripped you will lose your phone’s warranty.

Step by Step Guide on How to Install Philz Touch Recovery on Galaxy S5 SM-G900H, SM-G900F

Download CF-Auto root for SM-G900F (Snapdragon): CF-Auto-Root-klte-kltexx-smg900f.zip
Download CF-Auto root for SM-G900H (Exynos Octa): CF-Auto-Root-k3g-k3gxx-smg900h.zip

Download Philz Touch Recovery 6.26.6 or the most latest updated build

Get the Philz Touch Recovery 6.26.6 or any latest build versions from
here: http://goo.im/devs/philz_touch/CWM_Advanced_Edition/klte
Select this file: “philz_touch_6.26.6-klte.tar.md5″ which is the Odin flashable.
You can read the full details about the Philz Touch recovery from XDA’s highly-recognized developer [Philz] at XDA’s original thread.

Download Odin and USB driver:
Odin3_v3.09 download
Galaxy S5 USB Driver  download

Install the USB Driver

Simply run the downloaded USB driver to install. Without the USB driver your computer will not recognize your Galaxy S5.

Getting Started on Installing CWM Advanced Edition Philz Touch Recovery

Prepare a Windows base OS computer or laptop – Odin flasher tool will not run on MAC and other OS.
Use the supplied USB cable –  A bad USB cable will be causing flashing errors.
Unzip or extract the files –  compressed file can be extracted using 7zip, winzip, winrar or any unzipping program in your computer.
Enable USB debugging mode – if you are having issues connectingyour device to the computer try to enable the this option. In your Samsung Galaxy S5, go to Settings>> About device>> then look for the firmware build number and then tap that build number for around 7-times until a message pop-ups that says something “congratulations you are now a developer”.
Remove the external micro SD card – if you have one, to avoid any failures and error during the flashing process.
TURN OFF the Reactivation Lock – This is only needed if you already turned-it-ON, from which you cannot modify the system when it’s turned-ON. Just tap on Settings>>Security>>Reactivation Lock and then uncheck the Turn Reactivation lock on.

Assuming that your phone is rooted and custom recovery image then you may proceed to the quick guide below.

Run and Configure Odin

Run Odin downloader Odin3_v3.09 on your PC desktop. Watch out the check-boxes options on the right top of Odin, ensure that the ‘RE-PARTITION’  and  the ‘AUTO-REBOOT , just leave alone the ‘F.RESET TIME’ check-box remained checked.

Reboot your Galaxy S5 into Download Mode

To reboot the Galaxy S5 into  download mode , you need to turn the power off.  After it completely shut off,  just  press and hold the Volume Down key,  Home button and the Power ON/OFF button simultaneously.

You should then prompted into a warning screen and asking you  to press volume up if you want to continue or volume down to cancel, just simply press volume up to get into download mode. The download mode then displays an Android robot and say’s “Downloading.. Do not turn off target!!”

Connect your Phone to PC or Laptop

Once you already reboot the phone in download mode,  simply connect the phone to your PC or laptop USB.
In Odin window – the ID:COM box will turn to blue color and indicates the COM port number and a word “Added” on a log box will prompt you that the device is already detected or recognized by Odin.

Your COM port number might be different from mine. If you do not see a COM port number then there’s something missing or wrong. You may read again from the top of this post.

Installing CF-Auto root

1) Unzip the CF-Auto-Root-klte-kltexx-smg900f.zip if you have the Galaxy S5 SM-G900F (Snapdragon),
or CF-Auto-Root-k3g-k3gxx-smg900h.zip if you have the Galaxy S5 SM-G900H (Exynos).
2) Click on Odin’s AP button and then load CF-Auto-Root-klte-kltexx-smg900f.tar.md5 or CF-Auto-Root-k3g-k3gxx-smg900h.tar.md5.
3) Hit the “START” button.
4) Wait until it reboots after you successfully installed the CF-Auto-Root.
5) Proceed to installing Philz Touch Recovery and you need to reboot your Galaxy S5 into download mode again.

 

Load the philz_touch_6.26.6-klte.tar.md5  file in Odin

Simply click on the AP button, then browse to the folder where you put the “philz_touch_6.26.6-klte.tar.md5″ you have previously downloaded and then select and load it.
Odin should look like this image below.

Flash the Philz Touch Recovery

Once if all set and ready to fire-up, hit the “START” button in Odin to begin flashing the Philz Touch Recovery.
Do not ever interrupt the phone while already in flashing progress, like disconnecting the cable or turning off the device. Just wait until it completely finish.

Lastly, Reboot the phone into recovery!

When the Philz Touch Recovery installation successfully completes, you will then see a word “PASS” in Odin. This indicates that the flashing was already finish, and on the log box it says “All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)”.  Now, once you see that word “PASS!”  do not let it reboot into normal mode but instead directly reboot it into recovery.  Do this:
– Press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power button.
– Use volume keys to select, Up and Down and Power or Home key to select the option
– Select “Reboot to system” using the Home button.
– It will then prompts you to fix root and recovery, then simply always answer “YES” to the given questions.
– Done.

From here you should have the Philz Touch Recovery running on your Galaxy S5 SM-G900H or SM-G900F. You may then able to install any customization firmware from XDA- Developers to your likings.

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