Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable Adapt Sound in Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you like listening to the music using headphones, then you'd better to enable the adapt sound feature owned by the Samsung Galaxy SIV. This feature will help you to hear the music sound better by adjusting the volume and also balancing between the left and right audio based on your hearing, the headphone you're using, the sound source and your preferences. When you activate this feature, you'll be presented with a series of beeps and you have to confirm whether you can hear that beeps or not. The result will be used by your phone to fine-tune the headphones output so that you can get the optimal sound experience during call and while playing music.

How to enable the adapt sound feature?
Before doing this personalization process, please make sure that you're in a quiet room and wearing your headphones properly. Well, here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Tap Sound.
4. Scroll to the very bottom to find the Adapt Sound, and then tap it.
5. Tap Start button.
6. You'll hear a series of beeps in low and high frequency. Tap Yes button when you hear the beep or tap No button when you don't. The phone will play the beeps through either the left or the right channel because the adapt sound process will adjust each channel separately. You don't need to worry if you can't hear all of them, because it's not only based on your hearing but also the headphones that are being used. Also, please note that during this process, the volume is set at specific level, and the user's current volume will be restored once this process is completed. FYI, this is my result (1010 1100 0110 0110 0010 1011 0110 1010 0000), 1 is yes and 0 is no.
7. If you've heard all of the beeps, you'll be presented with a graph shows your hearing capabilities(left and right) with and without the adapt sound. The x-axis shows the frequency while the y-axis shows your hearing ability.
8. Tap Preview Adapt Sound button to preview the original and personalized sound in the left/right/both channel.
9. Under the Adapt Sound settings section, you'll be given with the following options:
• Call sound: check the box next to this option to enable and use the adapt sound during call. Enabling this option will also enable the adapt sound in the Settings> My device> Call> Personalise call sound.
• Music sound: check the box next to this option to enable and use the adapt sound while listening to the music in the Music player app. Enabling this option will also enable the adapt sound in the Music player app> Settings> Adapt sound.
• Frequently used side: tap this option to select which side you use the most(Left or Right).
10. Tap Done button.
11. Your personalised sound settings will be applied to the selected options.

As a note, the result of this personalization process is a user-specific therefore each user may get the different result. Also, due to this process depends on what headphone you're using, then to get the best result, you have to re-setup the adapt sound process when you switch your headphone to the new one.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Reader Mode in the Internet App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

I like reading therefore when I have some spare times, I often use it for reading. Well, the best part of it is that my beloved phone, the Samsung Galaxy SIV, has some useful features that will facilitate me for reading in this phone, one of which is the reading mode that will adjust the screen settings automatically to make it more suit for reading. One of the apps available in my phone that I have added to the reading mode list is the Internet app because I always use this app to browse the webpages and then read the contents.

See also: How to Enable, Configure and Use the Reading Mode in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

Aside from activating the reading mode for the Internet app, I usually use the reader mode in this app to make me easier reading the webpage contents. This feature will strip away other webpage components (e.g: widgets, header, frame, advertisement, etc) so that I can focus on what I'm reading.

How to enable and use the reader mode in the Internet app?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Internet app.
2. Enter the URL of a webpage you want to visit in the address bar and then tap Go.
3. Once the webpage is fully loaded, tap the Reader mode icon located in the left side of the webpage address to enter into the reader mode.
4. While you're in the reader mode, you can do the following actions:
• : tap this option to increase the font size of the webpage you're reading.
• : tap this option to decrease the font size of the webpage you're reading. This option will be available if you have increased the font size.
• : tap this option to share a link to the webpage you're reading using the available share methods.
• Enable or disable the night mode: you can do so by tapping the Menu key and then select Night mode. When the checkbox besides this option is checked means the night mode is enabled. When the night mode is enabled, the Internet app will reverse the webpage colors (the background becomes black and the text becomes white).
• Save the webpage as image: you can do so by tapping the Menu key and then select Save as image. The webpage will be saved as .png file and then will be saved in the /storage/emulated/0/Internet/Reader/file_name.png or you can see the saved image in the Reader album in the Gallery app.
• Zoom in: you can zoom in by tilting the device towards you or by double tapping the screen or by spreading two fingers apart on the screen.
• Zoom out: you can zoom out by tilting the device backwards or by double tapping the screen or by pinching the screen.
• : tap this option to quit from the reader mode.

Basically, there's also a reader-mode-like feature in other third-party browser apps. But, I like using the stock Browser app (Internet app) because it's ads-free and I don't need to install it by myself. So, how about you? Do you like using the reader mode feature while reading webpage contents in the Internet app?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable, Configure and Use Reading Mode in Android 4.4 Kitkat

l really like using the Internet app in my Samsung Galaxy SIV to browse the webpages and read the contents --even I often save a webpage to read it later--, moreover since my phone updated to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and got a new feature called reading mode(this feature is still available in Android 4.4 Kitkat). This feature will optimize the display by adjusting the screen settings to make it better suited for reading. FYI, I have cylindris in my left eye, it makes my eye hurts when it's exposed with the bright light, but by using the reading mode now reading on the phone is more pleasant to do.

How to enable and configure reading mode?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Tap Display.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap the ON/OFF switch next to Reading mode to enable or disable this option. When the switch is on the right side or turns green means the option is enabled.
5. When the reading mode is enabled, you can add/remove the apps from the reading mode list. To add apps go to step #6, while to remove apps go to the step #7.
6. Adding apps into the reading mode list:
   These steps will activate the reading mode in the selected app.
• Tap Reading mode.
• Tap Edit button located at the top right corner of the screen.
• Mark the checkbox next to the desired apps to select them.
• Tap Done button.
• The selected apps will be added to the reading mode list and the reading mode is now available in these apps.
7. Removing apps from the reading mode list:
   These steps will deactivated the reading mode in the removed apps.
• Tap Reading mode.
• Tap Edit button located at the top right corner of the screen.
• When the reading mode is activated, the checkbox next to the apps will be checked. To remove the apps from the reading mode list, you just need to clear the checkbox next to the desired apps.
• Tap Done button.
• The app will be removed from the reading mode list and the reading mode feature will be deactivated in these apps.

How to use reading mode?
If an app has been added into the reading mode list, then the phone will optimize the display automatically in the app so that the display will be easier to read.


For the record, turning on this feature will not drain your battery because it works by changing the colors/contrast and reducing the screen brightness. This feature is best used if you like reading text for a long period of time (e.g: reading e-book, long web posts, etc). So, how about you? Have you tried to use this feature?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Continuous Input in Android 4.4 Kitkat

By default, Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided the users with the Samsung virtual keyboard to make them easier to enter text, for instance when they're composing a text/email message, entering a URL in the address bar of the browser app, etc. This keyboard is also equipped with some useful features that will help you to type better, faster and easier. One of which is the continuous input that will allow you enter text by sweeping your finger on the keyboard so that you don't need to tap the letters key one by one.

How to enable continuous input?
As a note, the continuous input is optimised for QWERTY keyboard. Well, below are the steps to enable continuous input:

1. Open the screen or app where you can enter text (e.g: when you create a new text message in the Messaging app) and then tap the enter text field to display the keyboard.
2. Tap and hold the key in the left side of the space bar and then on pop up menu select the settings icon .
3. To be able to use continuous input, first you have to enable the Predictive text by sliding the ON/OFF switch next to this option to the right. The switch turns green when this option is enabled.
4. If necessary, you can also enable the Auto replacement by sliding the ON/OFF switch next to this option to the right. The switch turns green when this option is enabled. Turning on this option will make the device completes or replaces the word you're typing with the most probable word when you tap the space bar or punctuation mark.
5. If necessary, enable the Auto capitalisation by ticking the checkbox next to this option so that the first letter of sentence will be capitalized automatically.
6. If necessary, enable the Auto spacing by ticking the checkbox next to this option so that the device will insert spaces between words automatically.
7. Under the keyboard swipe section, select the Continuous input to enable this option. The radio button turns green when this option is enabled.
8. Now, you're ready to use the continuous input to enter text.

How to use continuous input?
When the continuous input has been enabled, now you can use it to enter text faster and easier:

1. Open the screen or app where you can enter text. As the example we'll use it to compose a new text message in the Messaging app.
2. Tap the enter text field to display the keyboard.
3. Enter the desired word by sweeping your finger on the keyboard. For instance when you want to type "keyboard", swipe your finger on these letters: K-E-Y-B-O-A-R-D without lifting the finger. If you have enabled the auto replacement, you can type a part of the word and the device will complete or replace it with the most probable word when you tap the space bar or punctuation mark.
4. If you have enabled the auto spacing, then you can enter the next word by sweeping on the keyboard then the device will insert space between word automatically when you lift your finger.

For the record, when you want to type with your own language, to get the best result, make sure to change the language to the desired one in the Samsung keyboard settings and also make sure to turn off the auto replacement.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Setup Colour Adjustment in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Seems the Samsung Galaxy SIV is designed to be used by everyone, even those of users who have the special needs. That's why no wonder if this device has been equipped with the accessibility menu contains with some useful features to help improving those special users' accessibility. One of the useful features in the accessibility menu is the colour adjustment. This option is designed to help improving accessibility for the user who are colour blind or have difficulty to read the content because the colors. When you enable this option, you'll be presented with some random colour samples and you have to sort them based on their similarities. Once done, your phone will use the result to determine whether the display colour should be adjusted or not.

How to enable and setup the color adjustment?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. In any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open the notifications panel and then tap the Settings icon .
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it.
4. Scroll down to find Colour adjustment and then slide the ON/OFF switch next to this option to the right to enable it. The switch turns green when the option is enabled.
5. Tap Colour adjustment.
6. Tap Start button to start the initial colour adjustment process.
7. You'll be given some random colour samples and you have to sort them in order of similarity, starting from the fixed color given on the bottom panel and then you have to select the colour samples that is most similar with the previous one.
8. You can drag and drop colours on the bottom panel to rearrange them.
9. Tap Done button.
10. If the device determines that you're not colour blind or having difficulty to read the display then the device will tell you that the colour adjustment is not necessary to do, while if the device determines that you're colour blind or having difficulty to read the display then you'll be asked to find-tune by tapping the Camera or Image button and then adjust the color by sliding the colour adjustment bar to the right or to the left until you find the best one, and then tap Done button.
11. The colour adjustment will be applied to the device display.
12. If you want to reset and start the new initial colour adjustment process, tap the Menu key and then select Readjust colour. Tap OK button and the colour adjustment setting will be reset.

As a note, to get the best result, do the initial colour adjustment process in an environment with normal indoor lighting. FYI, I've tried this option and the result is that I don't need to adjust the display colour. So, how about you? Have you tried this option?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Pop Up Play in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Video player app is a media-related app that is available in the Samsung Galaxy SIV. You can use this app for watching all saved videos in your phone, either those you took with the phone camera or those you got/downloaded from other sources.

See also: How to Play a Video Using the Video Player App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

While you're watching a video in the video player app, you'll be given with some useful options, one of which is the picture in picture (pip) view icon that you can use to reduce the screen size and display the player in the small window so that you can use your phone for other purposes without closing the video.

How to use pop-up play?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Video Player app.
2. Tap the required video to play it.
3. Tap the PIP (Picture in picture) view icon to view the video in a small window. If you can't see this icon, tap the screen to view the playback controls. The player will remain on top while you're using the phone for other purposes.
4. While the video player is displayed in the small window, you can do the following actions:
• Move: you can move the video window to any part of the screen by dragging it to another location.
• Zoom in or zoom out: spread two fingers apart on the video window to enlarge it or pinch the video window to reduce it.
• Pause and resume: single tap the video window to pause or resume the playback.
• Multitask: you can watch the video while using your phone for other purposes(e.g: browsing the webpages, sending text messages, etc). You can use and navigate your phone normally and the player will remain on top.
• Exit from PIP view: double tap the video window to return to the video player app.
• Close: when the playback is paused, you can close the player by tapping the close button
  at the top right corner of the video window. If you didn't activate the auto next video option, the video window will be closed automatically once the playback is over.

By default, if you play a video in the normal view, the video will be stopped if you use your phone for other activities. But, by using the popup video player or the pip view now you can do other activities(multitask) while you're watching the video.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable or Disable Flash Notification in Android 4.4 Kitkat

The flash notification feature is available for the first time in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. At that time, by default this option was enabled and made the camera light flashed when the users received notifications, incoming calls or when the alarms sound. This feature triggered a lot of complaints from the users who felt annoyed and disturbed with that super-bright and eyes-hurt flash light. FYI, this feature is designed for the deaf or hard of hearing users to help them recognize when they have notifications, incoming calls or alarms because the notifications light will be much easier to tell them than the notifications tone. In Android 4.4 Kitkat, this option is still available though it's not enabled by default.


How to enable or disable the flash notification?
If in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean you have to do an extra step to disable this option, then in Android 4.4 Kitkat you can enable or disable this option with ease. Generally, there are 2 methods available that you can use to enable or disable this feature, from the Settings menu and from the device option.

Method #1: From the Settings menu

1. In any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open the notifications panel and then tap the Settings icon .
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it.
4. Scroll down to find Flash notification. Depending on your current settings, tap the Flash notification to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means this option is enabled.

Method #2: From the device options
You can use this method if you have added the accessibility shortcut to the device options. If you don't know how to do so, you can see the complete steps here. To enable or disable flash notification through the device menu, do as follows:

1. In any screen, long press the Power key.
2. On pop up menu select Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to find Flash notification. Depending on your current settings, tap the Flash notification to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means this option is enabled.

For the record, the mute/pause motion under the motions and gestures menu also will be enabled by default when you enable the flash notification feature. It's done to allow you to mute/pause playing sounds when the screen is on by turning the device over so that the screen faces downward. I personally choose not to use this option because for me the flash light makes my eyes hurt. But, this option may be useful for those of users who prefer to use the notifications light than the notifications tone. So, how about you? Do you enable or disable this option in your phone?