Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Direct Call in Android 4.4 Kitkat

In the Samsung Galaxy SIV, you'll be allowed to do an activity by using several methods, ranging from the manual to the automatic one. For instance, when you want to make a call, aside from calling the phone number manually, you can also set the device to make a voice call automatically by picking up and holding your phone near your ear while you're viewing call, message or contact details. You can do so by enabling the direct call feature that you can find under the motion menu.

How to enable or disable the direct call feature?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Motions and Gestures, and then tap it.
4. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Motion to the right to enable this option and then allow you to access all motion options available under this menu.
5. Tap Motion.
6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Direct call to the right to enable this option.
7. Now, you're ready to use this feature.

How to use the direct call feature?
Once the direct call feature is activated, now you can use it to call the contact whose log, message, or contact details are currently displayed on the screen with ease by bringing the phone near to your ear.

While opening a message in the Messaging app

1. When you have a new message notification, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap the notification of the new message to open up the message. Or, you can access all of your messages by opening the Messaging app and then tap the required message from particular contact.
2. Once the message is opened, bring the phone near to your ear.
3. The phone will automatically call the contact whose message you're opening.

While viewing a call log

1. When you have a missed call notification, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap the notification of the missed call to bring you to the call log screen. Or, you can access all of your call logs by opening the Phone app and then tap Logs tab.
2. Tap the required call log from particular contact.
3. Once the call log is opened, bring the phone near to your ear.
4. The phone will automatically call the contact whose log you're viewing.

While viewing a contact details

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap the Contacts tab or the Favourites tab or the Groups tab.
3. (Tap the group name first if you've selected the Groups tab before) Tap the required contact name.
4. Once the contact detail is opened, bring the phone near to your ear.
5. The phone will automatically call the contact whose details you're viewing. If the contact has more than one numbers, then the phone will call the first or the default number.

In my opinion, this feature is great because it allows me to make a call to the contact currently displayed on the screen with ease without touching the screen. And the best part of it is that this feature doesn't need a lot of power to run, so you don't need to worry about your battery life while this feature is being enabled on your phone.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Smart Scroll in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy SIV is a great Android-based smartphone that comes with a set of powerful hardware and software as well as equipped with various advanced features that will be able to improve your experience while using this phone. One of the advanced features owned by this phone is the smart scroll feature. This feature utilizes the front camera to detect your face so that you can scroll down/up the webpages or email messages without touching the screen, you just need tilting your head or the device.


How to enable or disable the smart scroll feature?
Generally, there are two methods available that you can use to enable or disable the smart scroll feature, either through the quick setting panel or through the settings menu.

Method #1: From the quick setting panel
This method allows you to enable or disable the smart scroll feature quickly, but it doesn't allow you to configure the smart scroll settings. Here are the steps:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick setting panel.
2. Tap the Smart scroll button to enable or disable this option.
• shows the smart scroll is disabled.
• shows the smart scroll by tilting the device is enabled
• shows the smart scroll by tilting head is enabled.

Method #2: From the Settings menu
This method is little bit longer than the method #1, but it will allow you to configure the smart scroll settings.Here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Smart screen, and then tap it.
4. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Smart scroll to the right to enable this option.
5. Tap Smart scroll.
6. Under the Scroll by section, you'll be presented with the following options:
• Tilting head: select this option if you want to scroll pages by tilting your head backwards or forwards.
• Tilting device: select this option if you want to scroll pages by tilting the device backwards or forwards.
7. Under the General section, you'll be presented with the following options:
• Speed: use this option to adjust the speed of scrolling while using the smart scroll feature.
• Visual feedback display: enable this option to display a signal icon when the device recognizes your action.

How to use the smart scroll feature in Internet app?
To make this feature works well, make sure you're holding the device upright and steady in well lit conditions (not in the bright light or in the dark condition) as well as the screen is not in direct light because it'll make the front camera hard to recognize your face. Also, you have to disable multi window while using this feature. I noticed that this feature only will work if the ideal conditions are fulfilled. The smart scroll works in the Internet app and the stock Email app. In this post, to make it easier, the Internet app will be used as the example:

1. Open the Internet app.
2. Open a webpage by entering the URL in the address bar and then tap Go.
3. Wait until the webpage is fully loaded.
4. The Smart scroll icon will be displayed on the status bar as a sign that this feature is available.
5. If you use the smart scroll by tilting the device:
• Look at the screen until you see this icon is displayed in the middle of the screen as a sign that the device has recognized your face.
• Tilting the device backwards to scroll down the webpage or tilting the device forwards to scroll up the webpage.
6. If you use the smart scroll by tilting head:
• Look at the screen until you see this icon in the middle of the screen. The icon will change to as a sign that the device has recognized your face.
• Tilting your head backwards to scroll up the webpage or tilting your head forwards to scroll down the webpage.

For me, this feature is great. It allows me to scroll through webpages and email messages without touching the screen. But, sadly to know that this feature consumes lot of power to run. I noticed that my battery drained fast when this feature was being activated on my phone. So, how about you? Do you often use this feature?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Watch Videos in the Youtube App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Youtube app is one of Google apps that is available in the Samsung Galaxy SIV. You can use this app to access youtube.com site. As we have known that Youtube is the most popular video sharing websites available today. You can use this app to upload, share and watch a wide variety of videos (e.g: music videos, user-generated videos, TV clips, etc.). In order to make you able to use all of the features owned by this app, make sure you have activated your Google account in your phone, either by creating the new Google account or adding the existing Google account.

How to watch a video in the Youtube app?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Youtube app.
2. Tap a preview thumbnail or the title link of a video to view the video.
3. If you want to watch other video, you can use the search function in this app by tapping the Search icon located at the top right corner of the screen and then enter your search terms.
4. In the search result list, tap the desired video you want to watch.
5. While you're watching the video, you'll be given with the following options:
• : Tap this option to view the video in a small window. While the video is displayed in the small window, tap or flick the small window to the top to return to the previous size(in portrait view) or to view it in full screen(in landscape view) or you can flick the small window to the left to close it.
• : Tap this option to add the video to the playlist.
• : Tap this option to share a link to the video using the available share methods.
• : Tap this option to view more options.
• : Tap this option to pause or resume playback.
• Drag the bar in the bottom side of the video to move forwards or backwards.
• : Tap this option to view the video in full screen. It will also rotate the video in the landscape orientation automatically.
• : Tap this option to view the video in a small window. This option will be available if you watch the video in the landscape view.

For the record, Youtube is a data-intensive feature that may charges you with large data. So, if you like using this feature, you'd better upgrading your account to a large or unlimited data plan to avoid additional data charge.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Personalise Call Sound Settings in Android 4.4 Kitkat

For certain reason, you may want to adjust call audio for incoming call so that you can get a better call audio according to your need and situation. You can do so by personalizing the call audio to make it softer, clearer or even optimized for your right or left ear.


How to personalize call sound settings?
Generally, there are three methods available that you can use to do so, from the settings menu, from the call settings or while you're on an active call.

Method #1: From the Settings menu

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Tap Call.
4. Scroll down to find Personalise call sound, and then tap it. 
5. You'll be given with these following options:
• Adapt Sound: select this option to use your current adapt sound settings for your right or left ear during calls. To see your current adapt sound settings, tap Check Adapt Sound again button and if necessary you can re-setup your adapt sound by tapping the Retry button and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the adapt sound personalization. The headphones should be inserted while you're personalizing the adapt sound.
• Soft Sound: select this option if you want to use softer sound than the default during calls.
• Clear Sound: select this option if you want to use clearer sound than the default during calls.
• Off: select this option to use the default call sound settings.
6. The selected option will be applied.

Method #2: From the Call settings.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Call settings.
3. Scroll down to find Personalise call sound, and then tap it. 
4. You'll be given with these following options:
• Adapt Sound: select this option to use your current adapt sound settings for your right or left ear during calls. To see your current adapt sound settings, tap Check Adapt Sound again button and if necessary you can re-setup your adapt sound by tapping the Retry button and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the adapt sound personalization. The headphones should be inserted while you're personalizing the adapt sound.
• Soft Sound: select this option if you want to use softer sound than the default during calls.
• Clear Sound: select this option if you want to use clearer sound than the default during calls.
• Off: select this option to use the default call sound settings.
5. The selected option will be applied.

Method #2: While you're on an active call
This method allows you to change the call audio with ease while you're on an active call. Also, please note that you have to disable the extra volume feature and disconnected any earphones before using the personalize call sound option. Well, here are the steps:

1. During call, tap . The icon shows grey when the personalize call sound is disabled and it'll turn green
   when enabled.
2. You'll be presented with the following option:
• Adapt Sound: select this option to use your current adapt sound settings for your right or left ear during calls. To see your current adapt sound settings, tap Check Adapt Sound again button and if necessary you can re-setup your adapt sound by tapping the Retry button and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the adapt sound personalization. The headphones should be inserted while you're personalizing the adapt sound.
• Soft Sound: select this option if you want to use softer sound than the default during calls.
• Clear Sound: select this option if you want to use clearer sound than the default during calls.
• Off: select this option to use the default call sound settings.
3. The selected option will be applied.

By knowing how to adjust call sound settings, now you can set it according to your need. I personally like using adapt sound so that the call audio will be optimized based on my hearing ability and preferences. So, how about you? Which option do you often use?

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?