Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Pan to Browse Images in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy SIV is equipped with some motions that will help you controlling and interacting with your phone easily, one of which is pan to browse images. Enabling this motion will allow you to browse and move around the image which is zoomed in in the Gallery app, allows you to take a look at other parts of the image simply by using a single tap.



How to enable or disable pan to browse images?
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 it.
  5. Tap Motion.
  6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Browse an image to the right to enable it. When you tap this option when it's enabled, you'll be presented with the following options:
    • Try it: select this option to try using pan to browse images in the short tutorial given by this phone.
    • Advanced settings: select this option to adjust the pan sensitivity.

How to use pan to browse images?
Once the pan to browse images feature is activated, now you can use this feature to scroll through the image which is zoomed in in the Gallery app by moving the device in any direction. Here are the steps to use it:
  1. Open the Gallery app.
  2. Tap an album and then tap the required image to view it.
  3. Zoom in the image by spreading two fingers apart on the screen or by tapping and holding the screen at two points and then tilt the device forwards.
  4. When the image is zoomed in, tap and hold a point on the screen and then move the device left or right to pan vertically or move the device up and down to pan horizontally.
  5. Release to stop panning.

Please note that this feature is not applicable when you use it on the image which is not zoomed in. Anyway, aside from using pan to browse image, basically you can also move around the image that is zoomed in by flicking the screen, but for me using pan to browse image is easier and simpler than flicking the screen. So, how about you? Which feature do you like best when you want to move around the image, panning to browse image or flicking the screen?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Tilt to Zoom in Android 4.4 Kitkat

In some cases, you may want to zoom in or out while viewing images in the Gallery app to get larger and more detail image or while browsing webpages in the Internet app to get larger or closer view. To meet that need, the Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided you some methods to zoom in or out, one of which is by tilting the device back and forth. To make you able using this method, you have to enable this feature through the motion menu.



How to enable or disable tilt to zoom?
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 of the motion options available under this menu.
  5. Tap Motion.
  6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Zoom to the right to enable this option. If you tap Zoom when it's enabled, then you'll be given with the following options:
    • Try it: tap this option to try using tilt to zoom in the short tutorial given by this phone.
    • Advanced settings: tap this option to adjust the tilt sensitivity.

How to use tilt to zoom?
Once tilt to zoom is activated, you can use this feature to zoom in or out in the Gallery app and in the Internet app.

I. Using tilt to zoom in the Gallery app:
  1. Open the Gallery app.
  2. Tap an album and then tap the required image to view it.
  3. Tap and hold the screen at two points with your fingers and then tilt the device backwards to zoom out or tilt the device forwards to zoom in.
II. Using tilt to zoom in the Internet app:
  1. Open the Internet app.
  2. Type the URL or webpage address in the address bar and then tap Go.
  3. Once the webpage is fully loaded, tap and hold the screen at two points with your fingers and then tilt the device backwards to zoom out or tilt the device forwards to zoom in.

By knowing this method, now you have one more alternative method to zoom in or out other than the default pinch-to-zoom feature that you can use while viewing images in the Gallery app or browsing webpages in the Internet app.

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

Samsung Galaxy SIV provides several ways to allow you easily know if you have any missed call or message, one of which is by using the quick glance feature. Enabling this feature will let you seeing notifications, missed calls, new messages, date and time, and more, simply by hovering your hand above the sensor when the screen is off and the phone is lying on a flat surface with the display facing upward.

See also: How to Enable and Use Air Gesture in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from using the quick glance feature, you can also set your phone to vibrate when you pick up your phone to notify you if you have any missed call or message. You can do so by enabling the smart alert feature that you can find under the motion menu.


How to enable or disable the smart alert 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.
  5. Tap Motion.
  6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Smart alert to the right to enable this option.

How to use the smart alert feature?
Once the smart alert is activated in your phone, now you're ready to use this feature. Here's the example how to use it:
  1. After you use your phone and then put it down, the screen will turn off after a set of interval.
  2. When you pick up your phone, your phone will vibrate to notify you when you have missed any call or message.

Given to this function, this feature will be able to help you to know if you have any missed call or message and also remind you to check them as soon as you pick up your phone. As a note, this feature will not drain your battery because it doesn't need a lot of power to run.

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?