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?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Interaction Control in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Interaction control is a new feature that has been brought by Android 4.4 Kitkat. You can find this feature under the accessibility menu. Turning on this feature will allow you to enable or disable all-enabled-motions and screen timeout as well as allow you to block certain or all areas of the screen from touch interaction in the currently opened app. While you're using this feature, all physical buttons (Home, Menu, Back, Volume and Power button), auto rotate and touch interaction in the notifications panel will be disabled.


How to enable or disable interaction control?
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 to go to the settings menu.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it.
4. Scroll to the very bottom to find Interaction control, then tap the ON/OFF switch to enable or disable this option. When the switch is on the right side or shows green means the option is enabled.

Method #2: From the device options
You can use this method if you have added the accessibility shortcut to the device option. If you don't know how to do so, you can see the complete steps here. To enable or disable interaction control 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 to the very bottom to find Interaction control, then tap the ON/OFF switch to enable or disable this option. When the switch is on the right side or shows green means the option is enabled.

How to use interaction control?
Once the interaction control is activated, then you can use this feature in the app that is currently open. As the example, I'll use this feature in the Kids Preschool Puzzle Lite app (this is my son's favourite game):

1. In the Kids Preschool app or other app that is currently open, press the Home key and the Volume down key simultaneously to use and change the setting of the interaction control in this app.
2. In the interaction screen, outline a part of the screen to block from touch interaction and then adjust the blue frame to adjust the blocked areas or mark the checkbox in the left side of the Block whole screen option to block the whole screen.
3. Tap Next button.
4. Here you'll see two options available, they are:
• Screen timeout: enable this option to lock the device automatically after your set time. Disable this option will make your phone never locks the device. If you enable this option, you still can use the Power key to wake up the screen.
• Motions: enable this option to allow you using all motions you've enabled under the motions and gestures menu in unblocked screen. Disable this option will prevent you to use all enabled motions while this feature is used.
5. Tap Done button.
6. You'll see the blue frame is displayed as a sign that the area is blocked. If you didn't block the whole screen, you still can do touch interaction in the unblocked screen.
7. To exit from this mode, tap the Home key and the Volume down key simultaneously.

I personally often use this feature when my 4-years-old son use my phone to play a game. This feature helps me to prevent him touching certain area in the screen and prevent him exiting the game accidentally and then using my phone for unwanted activities (e.g: make a call, send a message, etc). So, how about you? Have you tried this feature?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Find the Google Voice Typing Option in Android 4.4 Kitkat

In my previous post, I wrote that the microphone icon wouldn't be displayed in the keyboard if the Google voice typing option was disabled. So, in order to display the microphone icon in the keyboard, then we have to enable Google voice typing option in the language and input settings.

See also: How to Fix Missing the Microphone Icon in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Keyboard

A couple days back, some insiders confirmed that they couldn't find the Google voice typing option under the language and input settings when they wanted to enable it to display the mic icon in the keyboard. Apparently, this problem is occur if the Google search app has not been installed yet or if the Google search app is disabled. So, to get back the Google voice typing option, you need to install and/or enable the Google search app.

How to fix can't find the Google voice typing option in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
Depending on the causes, here are the steps to fix this problem:
Method I: Installing the Google search app
By default, the Google search app is a stock app and it can't be uninstalled, but for any reason if the Google search app has not been installed yet, then to get back the Google voice typing option you have to install this app first. You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open the Play Store.
2. Tap the Magnifying glass icon and then enter "google search" in the search field. Tap the Google search on the pop up menu to start searching.
3. In the search result list, tap the Google search app.
4. Tap Install button.
5. Tap Accept button to start installing.

Method II: Enabling and updating the Google search app
If the Google search app has been installed in your phone, but you still can't find the Google voice typing option, maybe the Google search app is disabled. You have to enable and then update the Google search app to get back the Google voice typing option. You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Application manager.
4. Swipe the screen to the right until you see the Disabled tab.
5. If you see the Google search app or com.google.android.googlequicks.. is listed here then tap the app to open the app info screen.
6. Tap Enable button to enable this app.
7. Now, open the Play Store app to update the Google search app. 
8. Tap the three horizontal line icon at the top-left corner of the screen.
9. Tap My Apps.
10. Under the Updates section, you should see that the Google search update is available.
11. Tap Google search app.
12. Tap Update button.
13. Tap Accept button to start updating.

Once you done these steps, you should see the Google voice typing option is available under the language and input settings. By default, this option is enabled. But, in some cases, this option is disabled. If so, you have to enable this option manually to get back the mic icon in the keyboard. If you don't know how to do so, you can see the complete steps in the link I've mentioned above.