Samsung Galaxy S5 Pocket Computer

Front and Back of the Samsung Galaxy S5
(click for larger image)

My Samsung Galaxy S3 is almost three years old, still running fine, but it is not getting attention for an upgrade to CyanogenMod-12 based on Android-5.0 Lollipop. So I've decided to upgrade it. (Update: S3 started getting CM-12 nightlies on 2015-05-02. If I had been patient I wouldn't have had to do this, but the S3 even so is not exactly a spring chicken.)

• Selection page -- Goals for the new pocket computer, and why I picked this device.

After checking out the machine on the stock image I installed CyanogenMod-12 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop. Unlike previous phones, this one is not subsidized by a carrier and lacks customer loyalty enforcement, i.e. it has an unlocked bootloader.

• CyanogenMod main page.
• Why CyanogenMod? -- My reasons for rejecting the carrier's or manufacturer's OS image and picking CyanogenMod.
• Installing CyanogenMod-12

I use my pocket computer for a variety of activities. I have had it for about five weeks as this is written, and I am completely satisified with it.

• Setting Up the Stock Image -- Just to do the initial checkout and to install CyanogenMod.
• Initial Checkout -- A list of features and capabilities, evaluated on both Samsung's stock image (Android 5.0 Lollipop) and CyanogenMod-12 (based on Lollipop).
• Details of Some Checkout Items
• List of Applications and Application Setup
• Photo Gallery

To set up the machine the way I want, I've had to do some hacking, which is still in progress.

• Settings -- Jimc's personal preferences for the pocket computer's behavior.
• Hacking

I use my pocket computer for quite a range of activities, some of which are not contemplated and definitely not supported by the carriers.

• Read e-books, downloaded journal (magazine) issues, etc. Other users say the major use of their handheld device is to view field maintenance manuals or product catalogs at the customer's site independent of whether an internet connection is available.

• Web browsing. A lot of my home automation and internal media services are set up with a web interface. I generally read mail on my own server via webmail or via an app. Of course I use global web resources too. I use Firefox as the browser.

• Listen to music: replace your iPod^®. Via Bluetooth A2DP (stereo audio at 22kHz), no wires.

• Keep personal records. I have hypertension and I need to monitor my blood pressure. I found it very useful on trips abroad to record dutiable and taxable items as purchases were made. I didn't purchase or create a dedicated application for this: I use generic Linux tools, a spreadsheet program and a flat file editor.

• Play games. Other smartphone families also have games, and I'll leave it to the reader's judgment whether their possibilities or Android's are more numerous and more interesting.

• Map navigation. This is particularly likely to be done outdoors in bright sunlight. While I mainly use Google Maps, a very nice addition would be a map program that could display USA National Park Service maps, and US Army Map Service maps.

• Photography when the real camera is too obtrusive or not in hand.

• PIM/PDA functions: contact list and calendar. Most people include e-mail in the PIM suite, but I use webmail on my own server.

• Communications. While for some people the main emphasis of the cellphone is communication, I emphasize other activities; nonetheless, communication is important to me, in these categories:

  • Voice chat (the traditional telephone role)
  • XMPP instant messages, securely through my own server.
  • SMS, commonly referred to as text messages.
  • SSH to connect securely to my shell account at work or at home from anywhere in the world.

Reviews of Prior Pocket Computers:

• Samsung Galaxy S3 on Verizon (2012-10-23)
• Motorola Solana (Droid 3 on Verizon) (2011-11-23)
• HTC Dream (G1 on T-Mobile) (2009-03-30)