Phone Guide

Canadian owners of the Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-I337M) has received a new software update based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with firmware build number I337MVLUAMG1.

Samsung Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M users who have already updated their devices with Android 4.2.2 VLUAMG1 Jelly Bean, may root their devices using the tutorial below.

This tutorial uses CF-Auto-Root file released by recognised XDA Developers, Chainfire. The CF-Auto-Root file allowing Galaxy S4 users to root their devices easily without depending on the firmware. It completely supports Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and future firmware as well. Head over to the CF-Auto-Root main thread to learn more about the root method.

Note: Using this root increases your flash counter. The flash counter keeps track of how many custom firmwares you have flashed, as this voids warranty. Triangle Away can be used to reset the flash counter after installing CF-Auto-Root.

Disclaimer: Rooting voids the warranty of your device. We and the developer of this rooting procedures shall not be held responsible if any undesirable outcomes may happen to your device. use of this root guide is solely at your own risk!

Pre-requisites
1. Install USB Drivers for Samsung Galaxy S4 on the computer.
2. Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone by navigating to Settings >> Developer Options.
3. Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.
4. Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 per cent.
5. The CF-Auto-Root file works only on Samsung Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M. Applying this to any incorrect variant might brick the device. Verify the model number of the Galaxy S4 by navigating to Settings >> About Phone.

File Required
1. CF-Auto-Root for Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M (CF-Auto-Root-jfltecan-jfltevl-sghi337m.zip)
2. Odin 3.07

Steps to Root Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M Running on Android 4.2.2 VLUAMG1 Jelly Bean Firmware
Step 1: Extract CF-Auto-Root and Odin 3.07 files using winrar/7zip/winzip or any other extracting tool.
Step 2: Switch off the Galaxy S4. Then boot the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together until a construction Android robot icon with a warning triangle appears on screen. Now press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Step 3: Launch Odin on the computer as an Administrator.
Step 4: Connect the Galaxy S4 to the computer using USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. Wait until Odin detects the device. When the device is connected successfully, the ID: COM box will turn blue with the COM port number. Additionally, the successful connected will be indicated by a message saying Added.
Note: If the Added message does not appear, then try re-install USB drivers or changing the port on the computer.
Step 5: In Odin, click the PDA button and select the CF-Auto-Root-jfltecan-jfltevl-sghi337m.tar.md5 file.
Step 6: Verify that Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected in Odin. Also, ensure the Re-Partition option is not selected.
Step 7: Double-check and click Start in Odin. The installation process will now begin.
Step 8: Once the installation process is completed, your phone will restart and soon you will see a PASS message with green background in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. You can now unplug the USB cable to disconnect your device from computer.

Samsung Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M running on Android 4.2.2 VLUAMG1 Jelly Bean firmware is now rooted successfully. You can now install any app that requires root permission. Verify the root status of the device by downloading Root Checker app from Google Play Store.

Thanks to all fellas at XDA who first tried out this rooting technique. This method was originally posted via XDA-Developers original thread.

Click here to know How to Update Galaxy S4 (Canadian) SGH-I337M with official Android 4.2.2 VLUAMG1 Jelly Bean firmware.

Samsung might have shot itself in the foot here - the new Active version is a champion in its own right.

For the most part weve understood the idea behind the new members of the Samsung Galaxy S4 family. The S4 Mini for the budget, the S4 Zoom for the camera lovers. Makes sense, and theyre suitably dulled down in certain spec areas to make up for it.


But with the Galaxy S4 Active, its like the normal phone has been given a supercharged health kick to make it into a handset you can enjoy from a spec sheet perspective, but also feel secure about carrying around.

Think the Galaxy S4 in a case, but without a case needed. Thats roughly what youre getting here, but with less heft.

OK, so the differences are there. For instance, the screen isnt Super AMOLED, just your run-of-the-mill TFT. The camera has been downgraded to 8MP. But beyond that, theres very little to choose between them.

Its a bit thicker, obviously, but the same quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm processor is chugging away at the heart of it, and the 2GB of RAM remains as well.

On top of that youve got waterproof ports, IP67 dust and water resistance rating, and a more solid-feeling back that suggests you could lob this phone down the stairs, into the toilet, in a drink or bury it and it would keep on trucking.

Then youve got the same glove sensitivity, S Health apps and impressive Aqua Mode on the camera for underwater snaps, and you can see that theres going to be some tough choices down your local phone shop if you dont care so much about the huge camera sensor.

But whats it like to use in real life? Well, like we said: every bit as good as the Galaxy S4, and thanks to that already being bedded-in, the pre-production model we tried was superbly fast, whipping through the internet that nearly gave us motion sickness.

It will be interesting to see what Samsung does with the internal memory on this one, as early reports have suggested that the Active will actually use less storage for the OS than its original sibling - leading to many questions over whether some of the features on the S4 are really that necessary, and more of the space thats nabbed for the phone could be leveraged for actual user choice.

Theres so much thats impressive in the Actives design: from the easy-to-hit menu, home and back buttons to the mottled nature of the rear battery cover, there were details that felt so much more premium than we encountered on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The screws that adorn the rear of the phone seem more to be for decoration than anything else, creating a more rugged feel to a device that needs to show the world that it can take the hard knocks thrown at it.
We couldnt test it in that way, as it was tethered to the stand, but we were impressed that there was very little flex involved when we twisted and stretched the S4 Active in different ways.

And something that will irk Sony: there were no flappy covers that had to be closed at all times to preserve the waterproofing. The headphone jack is clearly marked as something that can get wet without issues, and the back cover clips off in the same way as the Galaxy S4.

Hey, whats under there? Thats right: a microSD card slot and removable battery, of course! We can debate the merits of both until the cows come home, but there are plenty of people that are desperate for this feature on a handset, and its right here for them.

Aqua mode, which we mentioned earlier for the Samsung Galaxy Active, is the new part of the camera app that allows the phone to offset the blur that comes from taking photos underwater. As the phones touchscreen wont work beneath the waves you have to set what the volume button will do underwater. Its just a shame theres no dedicated camera key here when it feels like theres space for just that.

Early verdict

 

So what do we make of the Samsung Galaxy Active? We have to say were fully impressed by the phone that takes the best of the S4 and makes it something thats more life-proof in a variety of ways.

We can see this phone being the handset of choice for exercise fiends up and down the country, thanks to the combination of S Health (or more probably another app thats a little better at tracking your exertions) and a robust design that promises the Active could survive a slip.

We like the fact it has a full HD screen as well as keeping it at a 5-inch size, on top of the superbly powerful innards. The addition of Aqua mode wont be anything more than a gimmick to most, but shows that Samsung has got the skew of this phone a lot more right than a number of other handsets its spewed out in recent years.

Would we rate it as better than the original? Thats a tough question, as not only are you losing some of the key specs that make the S4 one of the worlds top phones, you are also having to put up with a bit more heft - and the difference is noticeable.