Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Hide or Show Hidden Pictures or Videos in Gallery App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

A few days ago, my Samsung Galaxy S4 got update to Android 4.4.2 Kitkat via OTA. So far, it works well and doesn't cause any problem. I even like this Android version more than the previous one because this update brings some features I really like.

See also: New Options and Features in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat in the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500

Among the new features in Android 4.4 Kitkat, there's my favourite one which will allow me to hide or show hidden pictures or videos directly from the Gallery app. For me, it's easier and simpler than if we should renaming the file name through My Files app or another third-party File manager app when we want to hide or show hidden pictures or videos, as we used to do in the previous Android version.

How to hide pictures or videos in Gallery app in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
FYI, this method only works if you're viewing Gallery app by albums. By using this option, you're allowed to hide single or multiple pictures or videos. Here are the steps:

1. Open Gallery app. By default, it's viewed by albums.
2. Tap the desired albums where the photo you wish to hide is saved.
3. Tap the Menu key then select Hide items.
4. Select the desired pictures or videos you wish to hide by ticking the box located at the top right corner in each picture.
5. Tap Done button.
6. The selected pictures or videos will be hidden and won't be shown in Gallery app.

How to show hidden pictures or videos in Gallery app in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
Make sure to view Gallery app by albums to make it works. Well, if you wish to bring back the hidden pictures or videos to the Gallery app, then you can do so by following the steps listed below:

1. Open Gallery app. By default, it's viewed by albums.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Show hidden items.
3. All your hidden pictures or videos will be displayed here.
4. Tap the Menu key then select Select items.
5. Select the desired hidden pictures or videos you wish to show by ticking the box at the top right corner in each picture.
6. Tap the Menu key then select Show items.
7. The selected hidden pictures or videos will be shown again in their original albums in Gallery app.

For the record, in Android 4.4 Kitkat, pictures or videos will remain be displayed in Gallery app though you've added (.) in front of the file name through Gallery app or My Files app. Adding (.) in front of the file name will only hide them in My Files app or other third-party File manager app, in condition that you don't enable the Show hidden files option.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Font Size in Messaging App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Due to communicating via text message has been being a favourite method widely used by phone users therefore no wonder if most of phones available today usually provide a Messaging app as one of their stock apps. In Samsung Galaxy SIV, you can also find the stock Messaging app that you can use to send or receive text or multimedia messages.

See also: How to View, Reply and Forward a Text Messages in the Samsung Galaxy S4

To facilitate the user, this app has been equipped with some useful options and features, one of which is an option that will allow the user to change the font size. By using this option, you can adjust the font size according to your need.


How to adjust font size in Messaging app in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
If you wish to increase or decrease font size in Messaging app, you can do so by using both of methods listed below.

Method #1: Using Volume key
Please note that this method doesn't work when you're playing a music with Music Player app.

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to find Use the volume key, and then tick the box next to this option to enable it.
4. Now, while you're in Messaging app to read/reply/forward/compose a text message, you can use the Volume up key to increase the font size and the Volume down key to decrease the font size.

Method #2: Using the Font Size option
You can find the Font size option by tapping the Menu key when you're reading/replying/forwarding/composing a text message. As the example, here are the steps to adjust font size when you're reading a text message:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the required text message you want to read.
3. Tap the Menu key then select Font size.
4. Here you can find some options available, they are:
• Use device font sizes: select this option if you want to use the default font size used by your phone. If you don't know how to change the font size in your phone, you can see the complete steps here.
• Tiny
• Small
• Normal
• Large
• Huge
5. All messages in the opened conversation will be displayed with the selected font size.

For the record, this option only changes the font size in Messaging app in your phone, so it won't affect your outgoing messages. All outgoing messages will be displayed with the default font size in the other phones.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to See Android 4.4.2 Kitkat Easter Egg Animation

Each Android version has their own names and mascots, but their names usually take from the dessert name in alphabetical order, for instance Android 4.3 was named with Jelly Bean and the newest version Android 4.4 is named Kitkat.

See also: New Options and Features in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat in the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500

As we all know that each Android version brings their own Easter egg animations, so does with the newest version Android 4.4 Kitkat. Given I've updated my phone to this Android version, then in this post I'll show you how to see Easter egg animation of Android 4.4 Kitkat and how it looks like.

How to see Easter egg animation in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Scroll down to find About Device, then tap it.
4. Tap Android version rapidly 5 times or so.
5. You'll see a letter K in big size (K is for Kitkat) displayed in the middle of the screen.
6. Long tap the letter K then you'll see a word of Android in the middle of the screen and the android version at the bottom of the screen.
7. Long tap the word "Android" in the middle of the screen to display Android 4.4.2 Kitkat animation. Here you can see all Android mascots (Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean and of course Kitkat) displayed inside colourful boxes. You can play with them by tapping a box then it'll move to another place.

Well, though Easter egg animations is not a feature, but it's always fun to see and play with them once we have managed updating the phone with the new Android version.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Single Tap Mode in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

As I've written in the previous post that I finally got the newest update Android 4.4.2 Kitkat on my Samsung Galaxy SIV via OTA. So far, it works well and hasn't given me an error yet. I even love this version more than the previous one because it gives me some new features I really like.

See also: New Options and Features in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat in Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500

Once my phone was successfully updated, I did quick explore in the Settings menu and I impressed with some new options, one of which is called Single tap mode. This feature will allow you to dismiss/snooze alarm or timer alerts and accept/reject incoming call simply by single tapping the on-screen icon, so you don't need to swipe anymore :)

How to enable or disable single tap mode in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap Single tap mode to enable or disable this option. When the box next to this option is ticked means this option is enabled.

How to use single tap mode in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat?
Once you activated single tap mode, now you can dismiss your alarm and timer alerts by single tapping the on-screen icon, and also when you receive an incoming call you can single tap the Accept call icon (Green phone circled) to accept the call or single tap the Reject call icon (Red phone circled) to reject the call.


I personally like this option because single tap the on-screen icon is more comfort than swipe it to the certain direction. So, for me it's now simpler and easier than before :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: New Options and Features in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat in GT-I9500

Today, I received a notification of a new update firmware available via OTA in my Samsung Galaxy SIV GT-I9500, I updated it and now I have a new Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. At the first glance, I noticed that this newest Android version had soft colour than the previous one. Here, I'll share you some new options and features available in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.

Lock screen and Home screen

1. 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.
2. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. Manage accessibility
   It allows you to import/export/update your accessibility settings or share them with other devices via NFC.
7. 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.
8. Colour adjustment
   This option will allow you to adjust the colour if the current colour makes you difficult to read your phone's contents.
9. Notification reminder
   It allows you to set intervals to remind you of any unread notifications, so no more missed notifications.
10. Google subtitles (CC)
11. Samsung subtitles (CC)
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 3x4 keyboard
    It's an old feature that removed in Android 4.3. Some insiders said that they missed this feature so much.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Some options in Developer mode
18. 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

1. 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.
2. Show disabled apps in Apps menu
   It allows you to display all disabled apps quickly from the Apps menu.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Default messaging app
   This option allows you to select your default messaging app.
6. Accu weather in S Planner
   It allows you to display weather forecast in each date in S Planner.
7. 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.
8. 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 :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Show Text Message Preview in the Lock Screen

Assigning message tone is one way that you can do to make you more easier to know if you have an incoming message in your phone. You can do so through Settings menu, Messaging app settings and Contacts app(it will allow you to assign different message tone for different contact).

See also: How to Change Message Tone with Three Easy Ways in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from allow you to change message tone, Messaging app also has an option called preview message that will allow you to make your phone displaying sender's name and content of received message in the lock screen and the status bar.

How to enable preview message?
FYI, this step works for all lock screen methods. But, as the example, I used swipe method to unlock my lock screen when I tried it. Well, here they are:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to find Preview message and then tick the box next to this option to enable it.
4. Now, when you receive an incoming text message, you can see the message preview(sender's name and content) in the lock screen and the status bar. To open it, swipe the lock screen to unlock the screen and open the message, or swipe the top of the screen to the bottom to open notification panel then tap the message notification to open it.

Indeed, this feature will be able to make you easier to know who has sent the message and what the content of the message is. But, it also can make another people easily know your message. So, depending on your priority, if you like easiness then you can try to use this feature, while if you're tight with your privacy then you may don't need to use this feature. So, how about you? Have you used this feature on your phone?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Add Text Signature in Messaging App

Messaging app is one of stock apps in the Samsung Galaxy SIV that can be used by the user to communicate with another phone users. With this app, you're allowed to send either text or multimedia messages to the desired contact.

See also: 4 Methods to Send a Message in the Samsung Galaxy S4

To facilitate the user, this Messaging app has equipped with some features, one of which is a text signature. This feature will allow you to add your own text signature up to 40 chars (letters/numbers/punctuations/symbols) then display it at the bottom of each your outgoing message.

How to enable and add your own text signature?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to find Signature settings section and then tick the box next to Add signature to include signature in each message.
4. Tap Signature text.
5. Type your own signature here. It may be your name or something you want everyone to read it.
6. Tap OK button.
7. Now, whenever you compose a new message or reply a message, your text signature will be included and displayed at the bottom of your message.

I've had meet a user who include a name in his signature. He did it in order to make the message recipient (especially those who haven't added him into their contacts) easily knew who was sent the message. So, how about you? If you use a text signature, what will you type there?