Lock screen and Home screen
- All Icons on the status bar are now black and white
For example: if in Android 4.3 the color of the battery icon was green, now it's white and so do the other icons. - Full screen cover art in lock screen
If you play a music with the Music player app, the cover art will be displayed in full screen in the lock screen.
New options and features on Settings menu
- Camera shortcut only on lock screen
Aside from displaying custom shortcut or not, now you have one more option to display camera shortcut only in the bottom of your lock screen. - Samsung applications section in Sound settings
This section will allow you to customize ringtone/notification separately for Call, Message, Email and S Planner in one place. - No background color option in Power saving menu
I don't know why this option is removed, but in the previous Android version, this option often made users have problem with background colour in Email and Browser app. - Single tap mode
It allows you to dismiss/snooze alarms, calendar events, and timer alerts as well as allows you to answer or reject incoming calls with a single tap. I really like this option, no need to swipe the on-screen icon anymore :D - Show Talkback option in accessibility shortcut
When accessibility shortcut is enabled, you're allowed to display accessibility shortcut or Talkback shortcut or both of them. Well, I think it will help a lot especially if you've managed enable Talkback mode accidentally because Talkback option in accessibility shortcut will make you more easier and faster to get out from this mode, compared when you should struggling swiping the screen using two fingers and select an option using double tap to go to the Talkback option through the Settings menu. - Manage accessibility
It allows you to import/export/update your accessibility settings or share them with other devices via NFC. - Magnification gestures
When this feature is activated, you will be allowed to zoom in and out by triple tapping the screen. While zoomed in, you can pan and adjust zoom level. This option also allows you to temporarily magnify what is under your finger by triple tapping and then holding your finger on the screen. - Colour adjustment
This option will allow you to adjust the colour if the current colour makes you difficult to read your phone's contents. - Notification reminder
It allows you to set intervals to remind you of any unread notifications, so no more missed notifications. - Google subtitles (CC)
- Samsung subtitles (CC)
- Assistant menu
Enabling this option will improve device accessibility for users with reduced dexterity by displaying quick menu. Here, you can also set to place quick menu in the right or in the left side of the screen. - Interaction control
When this option is enabled, you're allowed to enable or disable motions and screen time out as well as block certain areas of the screen in an app that is currently opened by pressing and holding Home key and the Volume down key at the same time. - 3x4 keyboard
It's an old feature that removed in Android 4.3. Some insiders said that they missed this feature so much. - New looks of the Locations option
Service locations option is now give an option to select locating methods. This menu also displays apps that currently request location information. - Default applications
This option displays apps you've set as default for certain action. It'll make you more faster and easier to switch between apps available that has the same function. - Some options in Developer mode
- New Easter egg animation
If you can see a big "Bean" in Android Jelly Bean, now in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat you can see the Big "K" and "his friends" in your screen as its Easter egg animation. I love this one :) But, when I see the animation, it's like I'm seeing a Windows Phone interface :D
New options and features in Apps menu and in the apps
- Hidden/Show hidden apps option in Apps menu is now unavailable
Now you're only allowed either to uninstall third-party apps or disabled stock apps. - Show disabled apps in Apps menu
It allows you to display all disabled apps quickly from the Apps menu. - Hidden items/Show hidden items in Gallery app
While you're viewing an album, you can hide single or multiple items (photos or videos). This of course will much more easier than if you should rename the file name through My Files app to hide them. When you've had hidden items, you can also show them all using this options. - Quick font size option in Messaging app
While you're displaying thread, compose a new message, reply or forward a message, you can easily find the option to adjust font size simply by tapping the Menu key. - Default messaging app
This option allows you to select your default messaging app. - Accu weather in S Planner
It allows you to display weather forecast in each date in S Planner. - Capture while watching video in Video Player
Enabling this option allows you to display a capture icon while you're watching a video. You can use this icon to capture the video easily whenever you want. - New looks of the sub menu in Youtube app
If you explore Youtube menu by tapping three-horizontal-lines icon in the left side of Youtube icon, you'll notice that they're different with the old ones.
I personally have some features I really like in Android 4.4.2, such as single tap mode, 3x keyboard, Kitkat Easter egg, hide Gallery items. So, if you've had updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4.2 Kitkat and discovered a new option that has not been listed in the list above, I'll really appreciate if you willing to share them with us through the comment below :)
I just got an S4 two weeks ago, it's using 4.4.2. Prior to this I had an S2 which I loved. I'm frustrated with some of the things on the new phone that may or may not be part of the 4.4.2 update. The two most frustrating have to do with images.
ReplyDeleteIn browsers - any browser - a long press doesn't save an image; it only gives me options to open, open in new window, save link, or copy link URL. I can long press to save an image from a Google search but nothing else.
The second has to do with Facebook. I do dog rescue on FB and have to view posts and save photos of countless dogs every day. On my old phone it would show a normal sized photo at the top of a post and I could long press to save it. Now it shows a teeny little thumbnail photo, I can't save it, and if I tap on it I get the same thumbnail size. I have to DOWNLOAD just to view a photo. Obviously that isn't going over well.
Are there ANY settings that would help this?
Hi Deb,
DeleteThanks for coming.
I'll try to answer your questions:
1. Long tap to save an image in Browser app
I don't know why you can't save an image in a web page by long pressing it. I've just duplicated your issue, I tried to open a web page also did search in Google by using the stock Internet browser, Chrome browser and Mozilla browser, when I long tapped the image I got an option to save. But, given to your information, have you tried to open an image first then long tapped it? Try this, and then see whether you'll be able to save the image.
2. Save an image from Facebook
I've tried to save an image from FB using Facebook for Android app. I tapped the image to view it in full screen then tapped the Menu key and I got an option to save the image.
FYI, there's only an image-related option in Browser app. This option will allow you to load or not load images on web pages.
Hope it helps :)
My home key is no longer working after update if I open a browser then I want to exit to home screen, I can't at all it will exit all pages usually I tap home button to return to home or tap and hold for recent which is still working please help
ReplyDeleteHi Harris Mashego,
DeleteI'm so sorry to say that I don't understand what exactly your problem is. So what's happen when you're tapping the Home button while in the Browser app?
My friend seems to have two different home screend. I noticed s u e has one home screen with a certain picture as background......and icons.....then she does something and it switches to a dirrerent home screen with a different photo and different icons. I an not talking about when you swipe home screen left or right to go to next set of apps.....she has two entirely different home sceens. How is this done. And why do those other sets of apps not show up in app manager?
ReplyDeleteHi Tom Vealey,
DeleteThanks for coming.
Maybe your friend has changed her home screen mode. FYI, Galaxy S4 allows you to switch home screen mode between the standard mode and the easy mode. To see the complete steps to do so, feel free to visit our post about it here:http://inside-galaxy.blogspot.com/2014/02/samsung-galaxy-s4-how-to-change-home.html
"why do those other sets of apps not show up in app manager?" >> I don't understand with this question, can you please tell me more detail about it. Did the app show up in the apps menu but didn't listed in app manager?
I lost my most useful lock screen widget when I installed Kitkat and I want it back! This widget showed how many new emails and texts had arrived in each of my accounts listed by account. How can I get it back or did they eliminate it? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Prunebat,
DeleteThanks for coming.
I didn't pay attention on that email widget appearance in the lock screen in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but I've just checked the widget and it is still there and works. Just add a new lock screen and then select the email widget. By default it'll will display the combined inbox. To display email message per account(if you have more than one account), simply by tapping the box(top side of the widget) where the email account name is displayed.
Previously in jelly been version der is an option for sharing da apps directly(share via).. bt nw der is no option to share apps directly in kitkat.. is der any solution for dat?
ReplyDeleteHi Sindhura Kolli,
DeleteThanks for coming.
Yes, you're right. The "Share app" option in the apps menu is no longer available in Android 4.4 Kitkat.
If you want to share particular app, you can do so by using the share option in the Play Store app. Unfortunately, it'll only allow you to share a single app. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Play Store.
2. Tap the Play Store icon located at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap My apps.
4. Under the INSTALLED tab, tap the desired app you want to share.
5. Once the app is opened, tap the Share button located at the top right corner of the screen.
6. Choose the share method and then follow the on-screen instruction to complete the share process.
In 4.3 when I controlled mt phone with my bluetooth motorcycle helmet device s-voice would open and that worked great. Now google voice app opens and its horrible. It only ask if I want yo make a call. S-voice allowed me more control of phone. Anyway to get s-voice to be default again??
ReplyDeleteHi S Tutler,
DeleteThanks for coming.
I've read somewhere out there and knew that in the latest update of Google search makes this app as the default of the voice dial app(I think this is the culprit of your problem). So, try to uninstall the latest update of the Google search app by following the steps:
1. Go to Apps from Home screen.
2. Find Google search app, and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Tap "Uninstall updates" button.
Once done, make sure you don't update the Google search app. Or, you can turn off auto update for Google search app by following the steps:
1. Open Plat Store.
2. Tap Play Store icon located at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap My apps.
4. Under INSTALLED tab, find Google search app and then tap it. to open the app detail.
5. Tap the Menu key and then clear the checkbox next to "Auto-update". It'll prevent your phone auto updates Google search app.
On s4 it has a feature that allows a certain cover to have a different screen saver with time displayed in opening at top of cover. Any way to turn off this feature?
ReplyDeleteHi S Tutler,
DeleteThanks for coming.
Did you mean S View Cover that came with the phone? As far as I know, there's no option to turn off the time/date displayed at the small window cut-out in the cover. For about 10 seconds it will turn off by itself.
How do I go back to my small music widget on my lock screen instead of the full album cover in my s4?
ReplyDeleteHi Jaqui Fierro
DeleteThanks for coming.
Since the full screen album cover art is a default feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat thus you can't remove it as long as you use the default lock screen. It'll remain displayed in your lock screen when you play a music regardless the screen lock method that is being used by you.
If you don't mind using third-party app, there are some lock screen apps in the Play Store (I've tried Cover Lock Screen (beta) app). This app allows you to display or hide the music stuff in your lock screen.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe kitkat easter egg game ...want to know is there any playing guide
ReplyDeleteHi Terry Carlson,
DeleteThanks for coming.
To see the Easter egg animation for Android 4.4.2 Kitkat in Galaxy S4, kindly visit our post here: http://inside-galaxy.blogspot.com/2014/03/samsung-galaxy-s4-new-options-and.html
Once you reveal this hidden animation, you'll be allowed to use this animation as your daydream/screensaver when your phone is connected to a desktop dock or charging.
Is it possible to make my status bar colored again? I dowloaded the kitkat 4.4.2 updatw and everything on the status bar is white..
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hi Aleena Ramnarine,
DeleteThanks for coming.
FYI, transparent status bar is one of the feature on Kitkat. You can't change it because there's no option to customize it. If you hard to read the battery status by seeing the icon, you can make it easier by displaying the battery percentage. You can see how to enable battery percentage here:http://inside-galaxy.blogspot.com/2014/03/samsung-galaxy-s4-how-to-display-or.html
Well, I have to say that actually there are some third-party apps in the Play Store that will let you change the status bar. Sadly to say that I can't recommend any app since I have tried some apps but none of them worked well.
i dun find share via option in my music player of samsung galaxy gt 19500
ReplyDeletedue to which i face difficulty in sharing music files
android version 4.4.2
please m in trouble help me out
Hi Meow,
DeleteThanks for coming.
FYI, the ability to share music directly via the music player app(by using Bluetooth/S Beam/Android Beam) is no longer available due to software limitation.
The alternative solution is you can send the music files via My Files app (using Bluetooth/Wi-Fi direct/etc).
I have an S4 GT-I9505 and when I receive a text message from my hubby's S5 the smiley icons and snakes and hearts only show in black in my received message. When I select the smiley face on my phone I see the smileys and other icons in colour. ?? is it a setting I have wrong?
ReplyDeleteHi Chris Wild,
DeleteThanks for coming.
FYI, there's no option in the stock Messaging app to change the color of the emoticon/emoji.
However, I've tried to duplicate your issue by doing the following actions:
1. I sent a text message with emoji from my S5(with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat) to S4(with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat) and I saw all of them in colour.
2. I sent a text message with emoji from my S5(with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat) to other Android device(with Android 4.3) and the emoji was displayed in black and white.
Therefore try seeing your Android version by going to Settings>More>About device>Android version. If your S4 is running with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, it may be the culprit of your problem.