How to Root & Gain Superuser Access on Your Samsung Galaxy S3 Using a Mac (The Easy Way)

To really customize your Samsung Galaxy S3, you'll need to be rooted, because most of the coolest mods and hacks require root access. If you haven't rooted yet, you're just barely touching the surface of what your GS3 can do for you.

However, if you've never rooted before, it can be pretty intimidating. As far as instructions goes, there's plenty available, like Danny's guide on using ODIN for Windows or the easy CASUAL method that Faisal provided.

There's only one problem. If you're like me and mostly use a Mac, it's not as easy, since most rooting guides use Windows. The CASUAL method does supposedly support Macs, but I initially tried that with no success. I did find another way, though, and that's what I'm going to show you right now.

Step 1: Download Motochopper on Your Mac

To gain root, we'll be using Motochopper, so go ahead and download it and save it to your Mac's desktop.

Step 2: Enable USB Debugging on Your GS3

Now, on your GS3, you'll need to enable USB Debugging so we can connect the device to the Mac. You can do this by going to Menu -> Settings ->Developer Options and make Developer Options is turned ON (if not already). Then make sure the box next to USB Debugging is checked.

If you do not see Developer Options at first, go to About device and tap onBuild number until it says You are now a developer.

Then you'll have access to the Developer Options.

Step 3: Make Sure Your Have a Password on Your Mac

Now that you have Developer Options and USB Debugging turned on, you can connect your device to your Mac. If you do not have a password for your computer, you must set one up before proceeding. You'll need this password to root your phone, plus you should have a password on your computer anyway.

Step 4: Open Up Terminal on Your Mac

Open a Terminal window and type in each of the following commands individually followed by the Enter (Return) key—one after the other:

• cd Desktop
• cd motochopper
• chmod 755 *
• sudo sh run.sh

When you press Enter on that last command, you'll see the warning pictured above, and then will need to enter in your password. Do so and press Enter afterward.

This Is Where Motochopper Comes In

After you submitted your admin password, Motochopper will begin running the exploit. It should look like so:

Step 5: Root Your GS3 with Motochopper on Your Mac

When it finishes loading the initial Motochopper dialog screen, press Enter once more to root your GS3. This process should take maybe one or two minutes.

Once completed, press Enter (last time, I swear) and your GS3 should automatically reboot.

Step 6: Become a Superuser

If your root was successful, you should see the Superuser icon on your home screen and in the app drawer.

To make sure everything is legit, go to the Google Play Store and try a root-friendly app like Internet Speed Master. If it gives a Superuser request, then all is well. You have just rooted your Samsung Galaxy S3.

BONUS TIP: Transferring Files on Your Mac

While you can transfer photos by connecting your device via the USB cord, it's unnecessarily complicated on a Mac. You'll need to pull down theNotification tray and select the USB options under Ongoing, and then selectCamera (PTP). Now, unplug and plug your device back in. Apple's iPhoto—or whatever photo manager you have defaulted—will open up.

Now, if you want to transfer files and media (Media device MTP), you will need to download Android File Transfer (AFT).

Once downloaded, drag it to your Applications folder, as you would any other Mac app.

Open up AFT from the Applications menu and connect your device. Or, connect your device and open up AFT. It doesn't matter.

Click on Get started and you should finally see all of your GS3's files and folders. Now you can easily drag and drop files from your GS3 onto your Mac, or vice versa.

That's It

Hope this guide helped you out. If you ran into any problems, be sure to ask below in the comments, or hit up the GS3 softModder forum for help.

Good, 'diet' S4 phone is pricier than you think

The good: The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini runs Jelly Bean Android 4.2.2, and has a dual-core processor, a solid plastic build, and a great camera if there's sufficient light.

The bad: The TouchWiz UI is cluttered, the glossy rear cover is a fingerprint magnet, and the Mini takes poor low-light shots.

The bottom line: Those looking for a cheaper Galaxy S4 will find it in the S4 Mini, which features the same design and some of its software tweaks. But a higher-than-expected price means this may not be the bargain phone you seek.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini isn't new. Just like the S3 Mini, the S4 Mini follows in the company's flagship Galaxy S4's footsteps with a smaller version that's almost as powerful. Unlike the S3 Mini, though, the S4 Mini is part of Samsung's new S4 family, and appears alongside other handsets such as the S4 Active, the S4 Zoom, and the S4 Google Edition.

Design
Sporting a plastic body, the Mini resembles its larger cousin in shape and form, but is obviously smaller. Like the S4's, the plastic build doesn't feel flimsy. I do, however, have an issue with the glossy rear cover, which ends up being fingerprint-smudged and oily after use.

One thing I liked about the phone's smaller size is that it's much easier to hold. You won't have to worry about the phone slipping out of your hand. The S4 Mini sports a 4.3-inch qHD (960x540 pixels) Super AMOLED display, which delivers quite a sharp resolution. However, I found the fonts a little too small in some apps and had to increase the size manually for readability.

The button layout is the same as on the S4.

The S4 Mini comes loaded with an impressive array of connectivity options, including LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth. There's also a microSD card slot that's located underneath the removable battery.

Features
While the S4 Mini does pack impressive specs, it also has to compromise on some parts -- the handset comes with only 8GB of onboard storage as well as just 1.5GB of RAM. It's likely you will have to use a microSD card if you need more space.

The handset features a removable 1,900mAh battery, for those who prefer swapping out instead of carrying a charger around.

The S4 Mini has an 8-megapixel main camera.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The S4 Mini runs Android 4.2 with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, and you will be pleased to note that a few of the S4 software-based features have trickled down. The handset will come with Smart Stay (which keeps the display on if you're looking at it), Palm motion control (which lets you pause your video or audio), Group Play (which lets you share music to play on other Samsung handsets, as well as host multiplayer games), as well as the S Memo and S Translator apps. Read our Galaxy S4 review for more on these features.

As there's an IR blaster in the phone, the S4 Mini also comes packing the Samsung WatchOn app. It shows programming information for your TV channels and lets you control your TV as well.

The S4 Mini's 8-megapixel camera performance is pretty good. It's on par with the S4's, with plenty of details and a lack of noise in the outdoor test shots. The only weakness is the S4 Mini's inability to take good low-light shots, which looked even worse than the S4's.

Outdoor test shot.

Macro mode.

Indoor test shot.

Low-light test shot.

Test shot with flash.

Performance
Packing a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, the S4 Mini performed smoothly. A test run with 3DMark's benchmark app revealed scores of 5,664 and 2,914 for the Ice Storm and Ice Storm Extreme tests.

Battery performance was decent, lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use before the phone died. This included surfing the Web and social-media platforms as well as having two e-mail accounts, Facebook, and Twitter set to give push notifications.

The S4 Mini's audio is pretty loud -- you'll be able to hear notifications while it is in your pocket. Voice clarity on calls was pretty good with no distortions heard from the other party.

Conclusion
Priced at 390 GBP, or about $580, the S4 Mini isn't really supercheap. You do get a few of the S4's features, as well as the design, but it's not the "chock-full of features" that made the S4 so overwhelming for some. The S4 Mini's decent hardware and good performance make this a great midrange device for folks who don't want the large handsets of today.