Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change the Device Name in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

The name listed in the device name option will be displayed in other devices to represent your device when you need to connect your phone to transfer files using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi direct, or when you need to connect your phone to share media file using the nearby devices feature. Since Samsung Galaxy S5 uses its name as the default device name which is too general then you may need to change the device name to a more personal or unique so that others can easily recognize your device from its name. Using a unique name can also prevent the other devices from accidentally sending files or share media files to the wrong device.

How to change the device name?
You can use the following steps to change the name for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and the nearby devices at once:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to then System section and then tap About device .
3. Tap Device name.
4. Enter the required device name you want to use. It'd better if you use a unique name that will make others can easily recognize that it's your device.
5. Tap OK button to save the changes.
6. The device name has been changed and the name will be used for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and nearby devices features.

As a note, you can also change the device name from the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct and nearby devices menus by utilizing the rename device option that can be found when you long press the recent apps key or tap the three dot icon at the top right of the screen.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Transfer Files Using Wi-Fi Direct in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Wi-Fi direct is a connectivity feature available in the Samsung Galaxy S5(it's my favourite one). This feature lets you transfer files to another Wi-Fi direct enabled devices that are connected in the same Wi-Fi network. By using this feature you can transfer multiple files at once at a speed up to 250Mbps, lets you transferring large file or multimedia content with ease and fast.

How to enable or disable Wi-Fi Direct?
Before transferring files using Wi-Fi direct with your Samsung Galaxy S5, you have to enable it first by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel.
2. Tap to go to the settings menu.
3. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Network connections section and then tap Wi-Fi .
4. When Wi-Fi is off, slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to turn it on.
5. Tap the required network you want to connect to. If the network is secured, enter the password and then tap Connect button.
6. Now, long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Wi-Fi Direct. The device will scan all available Wi-Fi direct enabled devices automatically.
7. Tap the required device you want to connect to. If the selected device accepting your request to connect, then your phone will be connected to the selected devices.
8. Wi-Fi direct is now enabled and you'll see the Wi-Fi direct icon is displayed on the status bar which means you're now ready to use Wi-Fi direct to transfer files with the connected devices.
9. To disable Wi-Fi direct, tap End connection button and then tap OK button.

How to transfer files using Wi-Fi Direct?
Once the Wi-Fi direct is enabled, now you can use it to transfer files. As the example, we'll try to transfer photos via Gallery app and My Files app using Wi-Fi direct from the Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Samsung Galaxy S4 that have connected in the same Wi-Fi network.

Method #1: From Gallery app

1. Open Gallery app.
2. Tap an album.
3. Tap and then select Select.
4. Select the desired photos you want to share with.
5. Tap and then select Wi-Fi Direct .
6. Select the device you want to share with and then tap Done button.
7. The selected photos will be sent.

Method #2: From the My Files app

1. Open My Files
2. Tap Images.
3. Tap and then select Select.
4. Select the desired photos you want to share with.
5. Tap and then select Wi-Fi Direct .
6. Select the device you want to share with and then tap Done button.
7. The selected files will be sent.

As a note, since the Wi-Fi direct needs quite a lot of power to run, then it'd better if you turn this feature off once you have finished transferring files so that your battery won't be drained quickly.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Group Play to Share Music in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy SIV provides you with the easier way to share music with those around you by using group play. When you create a new group for group play, the phone will enable Wi-Fi hotspot automatically and let other group-play-capable devices to connect to your group by using Wi-Fi direct. Once the group is created, you can select which the music you want to share and let other group participants stream the same tune in their devices in real time.

How to create a group for group play to share music?
You can act as the leader group or master phone, which will have total control on volume, effect and the speaker placement for each device, by creating a group for group play by using the following steps:

1. Open Group play app.
2. If necessary, check the box in the left side of Set group password to protect your group with password.
3. Tap Create group button.
4. Enter the password for group play. This password will need to be entered by other devices before they can join with your group. If necessary, you can check the box in the left side of Show password to make the password visible so that you can make sure that it has been entered correctly.
5. Tap OK button.
6. Tap to see all participants in your group.
7. Tap Share music.
8. Select the desired song you want to share with group play and then tap Done button.
9. Your phone will play the first song in the playlist.
10. As the leader group, you can do some of the following actions:
• Changing the effect(go to the step #11).
• Controlling the volume and the speaker placement (go to the step #12).
• Controlling the music(go to the step #13).
• Managing the playlist(go to the step #14).
11. Changing the effect:
• While you're in the view mode, tap the Menu key and then select Speaker style.
• Select from the following style: Funky, Classic and Wave.
• Tap Apply button.
12. Controlling the volume and the speaker placement:
• If you're in the view mode, tap to go to the settings mode.
• Tap the left speaker and then select the device you want to set as left speaker and then tap OK button.
• Tap the right speaker and then select the device you want to set as right speaker and then tap OK button.
• Tap to set all connected devices as stereo speakers.
• Tap to adjust the volume (master volume and each participant volume).
13. Controlling music:
• If you're in the view mode, tap to go to the settings mode.
• Tap to turn on or off shuffle.
• Tap to change the repeat mode.
• Tap to restart the currently playing song or skip to the previous song.
• Tap to pause or resume the currently playing song.
• Tap to skip to the next song.
• Tap to display the playlist.
14. Managing the playlist:
• If you're in the view mode, tap to go to the settings mode.
• Tap to see the playlist.
• Tap and then select the desired song you want to add to the playlist and then tap Done button. The selected song will be added to the playlist.
• Tap and then select the required song you want to remove from the playlist and then tap Done button. The selected song will be removed from the playlist.
15. To stop playing the music, tap the Back key and then tap OK button.
16. To close the group, tap the Back key and then tap OK button. The group will be closed and the session in all connected devices will be ended.

How to join a group play to stream the shared music?
You can act as a participant in a group play by joining the available group for group play by using the following steps:

1. Open Group play.
2. You can connect with the group by using one of the following methods:
Join the group manually:
• Tap Join group button.
• If there's only one group available, you'll be asked directly to enter the group password and then tap OK button.
• If there are multiple groups available, you have to select the group you want to join and then enter the group password and then tap OK button.
• Tap Share music.
• The device will play the song that is currently being shared by the leader group or master phone.
Join the group using NFC(it can be used if the NFC in both the devices are turned on):
• Place your phone with the master phone back to back.
• Both the devices will be connected, and the phone will play the song that is currently being shared by the leader group or master phone
3. As a participant, you can add or remove song in the playlist by using the following steps:
• Tap the Menu key and then select Playlist.
• Tap and then select the desired song you want to add to the playlist and then tap Done button. The selected song will be added to the playlist.
• Tap and then select the required song you want to remove from the playlist and then tap Done button. The selected song will be removed from the playlist.
4. To stop playing the music, tap the Back key and then tap OK button.
5. To quit from the group, tap the Back key and then tap OK button.

Group play provides you a better way to share music because you can stream the same tune in real time with those who are connected in the same group with you. Unfortunately, since this feature uses mobile hotspot, use this feature in a long time will make your battery can be drained quickly.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct Names in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Have you ever been in a situation where your friends had difficulty to find which the device that was truly yours when they wanted to transfer files via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct because there were some devices that had the same name? If that so, instead of letting your friends to be connected to the wrong device, you can help them to find your device easily by changing your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct names to the easily recognizable ones.

How to change Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct names?
Now, you don't need to change Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct names separately because you just need to change the device name to change the name for these two features. See the following steps to do so:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel.
2. Tap to go to the settings menu.
3. Tap More tab.
4. Scroll down to find About device and then tap it.
5. Tap Device name.
6. Enter the new name for your device and then tap OK button. It'd better if you create a unique name so that your device can be easily recognized by others simply by looking the name.
7. The device name has been changed and the name will be used as the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct names.

As a note, others who are connected with you via Bluetooth can rename your Bluetooth name on their devices, but it's only temporary because the name will be reset back when the device is unpaired. Next time, when they scan for available Bluetooth devices in their phones, the name listed in your device name is the name that will be displayed there.