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

Smart pause is claimed as one of advanced features when it comes for the first time in Android Jelly Bean. In Android 4.4 Kitkat, this feature is remain available. If you have not known about it yet, enabling this feature will allow your phone utilizes the front camera to detect your face and will automatically pause the video playback once your face is facing away from the screen.


How to enable or disable smart pause?
Generally, there are two methods that you can use to turn on or off this feature, through the quick settings panel or the settings menu.

Method #1: From the quick settings panel

1. Swipe down the top of the screen with two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. Depending on your current settings, tap the Smart pause button to enable or disable smart pause. The button turns green when the smart pause feature is activated.

Method #2: From the Settings menu

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Smart screen, and then tap it.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap Smart pause to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is ticked means the smart pause feature is activated.

How to use the smart pause feature?
Theoretically, once you activate the smart pause feature, the video you're currently viewing will be paused when you're facing away from the screen and will be resumed when you're looking back at the screen. There are some conditions that should be fulfilled to make this feature works. You have to be in a well lit condition (not too dark or bright) and the screen isn't in the direct light as well as the front camera is not being used by other apps. FYI, from what I have tried, I only managed to use this feature in the morning or afternoon in outdoor when the sunlight was not being shined brightly, or in indoor but I had to stand up near the window or the door. If you want to try this feature, kindly do as follows:

1. Open Video player app.
2. Tap the required video to open it. (don't view the video in pop up play because the smart pause feature won't work!).
3. Hold the phone as steady as possible and upright, and then move your head in any direction to pause the video and then look back to the screen to resume the video.

Please note that this feature only works if you're using the stock video player app and it won't work while the multi window feature is being activated in your phone. I myself seldom use this feature because I prefer to save my battery life by pausing the video manually than waste it for being used by the device to detect my face all the time while I'm viewing a video just to pause/resume the video. Even so, this feature is great but it'd better if the ability to detect the face is improved so that this feature can be used with ease in any conditions.

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

Samsung Galaxy SIV is equipped with some smart features, one of which is the smart rotation feature. If you have been familiar with auto rotate screen which is also available in most Samsung phones or other Android phones, then you'll notice that the smart rotation has similar function with auto rotate screen. The difference is the auto rotate screen feature rotates the phone based on the orientation of the phone, while the smart rotation features rotates the phone based on the orientation of your face.

How to enable or disable smart rotation?
You can turn on or off this feature by using the following steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Smart screen and then tap it.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap Smart rotation to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox in the right side of this option is ticked means this option is enabled.

How to use smart rotation?
Theoretically, enabling smart rotation will allow your phone detects your face orientation and then rotates accordingly. To make this feature works, make sure your device is in well lit condition and the screen isn't in direct light to make the front camera has no difficulty to recognize your face. Since this feature uses the front camera, make sure it is not being used by other apps while using smart rotation. Well, here the example:

1. While you're opening an app, hold your phone as steady as possible and upright.
2. Change both the phone and your face orientation at the same time (e.g: from vertical to horizontal position or vice versa).
3. You'll see the smart rotation icon is displayed on the status bar and detects your face orientation. If the front camera detects your face, then your phone will rotate accordingly. FYI, I've tested this feature and it worked. I sat and held my phone vertically/horizontally and then I changed my face orientation along with my phone, the phone detected my face and then rotated accordingly.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. The smart rotation icon will be displayed again on the status bar to check your face orientation when you change both the phone and your face orientation at the same time.

Please note that this feature will not work while you're in Home screen and apps menu because your phone will rotate vertically no matter how you hold your phone. From what I've tried, this feature is best used if you want to use your phone while lying on the right/left side. By using smart rotation, you'll be easier to use the phone(e.g: reading articles/web post, using any app, etc) because the phone orientation will be the same as your face orientation.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Remove a Contact from Blocked Numbers List in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As same as the stock Messaging app, Hangouts app also allows you to block unwanted messages by adding the contact/phone number to the blocked numbers list, either while you're viewing a message or creating a new message in Hangouts app. When a message from blocked number is arrived, you won't be notified and the message will be redirected to the archive folder in Hangouts app so that you won't be disturbed with the message notification and won't see the message in your inbox.

See also: How to Block Unwanted Messages in Hangouts app in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

For any reason, if you want to unblock certain blocked number  or contact so that they can send you messages again, then you can do so by removing the required contact/phone number from the blocked numbers list.


How to remove a contact or phone number from the blocked numbers list in Hangouts app?
You can unblock a blocked number or contact by using several methods, but as the example we'll try to do this thing through the settings menu and archive folder in Hangouts app.

Method #1: From Hangouts app settings

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Tap SMS.
4. Tap Blocked numbers to see all blocked numbers.
5. Tap Unblock button in the right side of the desired contact or phone number you want to unblock.
6. If you want the old messages are moved back to the inbox, go back to the Hangouts main page where you see all conversations and then do as follows:
• Tap the Menu key and then select Archived Hangouts.
• Tap the required conversation.
• Tap Unarchive.

Method #2: From Archived Hangouts

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Archived Hangouts.
3. Tap the required conversation from blocked number you want to unblock.
4. Tap Unblock button.
5. If you want the old messages are moved back to the inbox, tap the Menu key and then select Unarchive.

As a note, you're free to unblock a blocked number or contact with or without moving back the old conversation to your inbox. Once a blocked number is unblocked, if the contact send you a message, then you'll be notified and you can find the message in your inbox.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Block Unwanted Messages in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Once you activate the SMS messages feature in Hangouts, either through the Settings menu or through the app itself, then you can use this app to send or receive messages. As same as other messaging apps, you can easily read a new message in this app and then reply the message to the original sender or forward the message to other contacts.

See also: How to Read, Reply and Forward a Text Message in Hangouts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

While using Hangouts app, you may ever receive an unwanted message and don't want to receive any message from that contact or you want to block certain contact or phone number so that their messages won't disturb you. If so, you can add them to the blocked number list in Hangouts app so that their messages will be blocked.


How to block unwanted messages in Hangouts app?
There are two methods that you can use to add a contact to the blocked number list, while opening a message or while composing a new message in Hangouts app. It depends on whether that contact has ever sent you a message or not.

Method #1: While opening a message in Hangouts
This method can be used to block a contact that has ever sent you a message. Here are the steps:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the required conversation.
3. Once the conversation is opened, tap the Menu key and then select People & options.
4. Tap .
5. Tap Block button to confirm.
6. The sender of the opened message has been added to the blocked number list.

Method #2: While composing a new message in Hangouts
If you want to add a contact that has not ever sent you a message yet to the blocked number list, then you can add the contact/phone number when you create a new message to the contact. Here are the steps:

1. Open Hangouts.
2. Tap to create a new message.
3. Type the phone number or name in the search box at the top of the screen.
• If the phone number or name has been saved in the contacts then you'll see an option to "PHONE CONTACTS", tap the required contact name below the "PHONE CONTACTS".
• If the phone number has not been saved in the contacts then you'll see an option to "SEND SMS TO...". Once you finish entering the number, tap the phone number below "SEND SMS TO...".
4. In the create new message screen, tap the Menu key and then select People & options.
5. Tap .
6. Tap Block button to confirm.
7. The contact/phone number has been added to the blocked number list.

If a contact has been added to the blocked number list, then the old conversation from that contact will be moved to the archive folder in Hangouts app. As a note, you still can see the messages from the blocked contact in the archive folder, but you won't get notification if a new message from the blocked contact is arrived and the message will be automatically archived so that you won't see the message from that contact in your inbox.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Message Tone in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Since the SMS messages feature in Hangouts app is not enabled by default therefore when you want to use this feature on your phone then you have to enable it manually through the Settings menu or through the Hangouts app itself. Enabling the SMS messages feature in Hangouts will also set this app as the default messaging app. Please note that by setting Hangouts app as the default messaging app, some of features of the Samsung applications are prevented to be used.

See also: How to Enable SMS Messages in Hangouts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

As same as other messaging apps, in Hangouts app you can also change the message tone according to your liking to make you easier to know if you have a new Hangouts message in your phone. And a good news of this is if you use Hangouts app in Android 4.4 Kitkat, once you activate SMS messages in Hangouts then other messaging apps will be disabled so you won't get double notifications.


How to change message tone in Hangouts app?
Generally, there are two methods that you can use to change the message tone in Hangouts app, from the Hangouts app settings and from an opened message in Hangouts app.

Method #1: From the Hangouts app settings
This method will change message tone for incoming messages in Hangouts app from all contacts. Here are the steps:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Tap SMS.
4. Make sure the checkbox next to Notifications is checked.
5. Tap Sound.
6. Tap the desired message tone you want to use.
7. Tap OK button.
8. If you want your phone vibrates when receiving a new message, mark the checkbox next to Vibrate.

Method #2: From the opened message in Hangouts app
This method will only change the message tone for the sender of the selected message. It can be used to differ the message tone for certain contact who have ever sent you a message. Here are the steps:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Open the required conversation from particular contact.
3. Tap the Menu key and then select People & options.
4. Make sure the checkbox next to Notifications is checked.
5. Tap Chat message sound.
6. Tap the desired message tone you want to use.
7. Tap OK button.

By knowing these steps, now you can easily change the message tone in Hangouts app for the whole of your contacts or set different message tone for the different contacts(favourite or important contacts) so that you will be easier to know if you have a new message from them.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Read, Reply and Forward a Text Message in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Once you activated the SMS messages feature in Hangouts app, you can use this app to send text messages to the desired contacts, either to a single contact or multiple contacts at once. This app also provides you various emojis that you can add into your messages to describe your mood and make your messages more alive.

See also: How to Send a Text Message in Hangouts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

Aside from sending text messages, this app also allows you to receive text messages. As same as other messaging apps, Hangouts app allows you to read a new incoming text message with ease and then reply the message to the original sender or forward the message to another contacts.


How to read a new text message in Hangouts app?
Generally, there are two methods that you can use to open the new text message and then read it, through the notifications panel or through Hangouts app itself.

Method #1: From the notifications panel
When your phone is receiving a new text message, by default you'll get a notification. On any screen, swipe the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel and then tap the notification of the new text message to open it through Hangouts app.

Method #2: From Hangouts app
To view a new text message in Hangouts app, do as follows:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. The new incoming message will be displayed at the top of the conversation list. The new message is displayed with black bold letters.
3. Tap the new message to open it.
4. The latest message will be displayed at the very bottom of the message list within the opened conversation.

How to reply a text message in Hangouts app?
You can reply a new or existing text message to the original sender by using the following steps:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the required conversation.
3. Enter your message in the enter text field above the keyboard.
4. If necessary you can add emojis into your message by tapping and then select the desired emojis you want to use. Tap to bring back your keyboard.
5. Tap to send your message.

How to forward a text message in Hangouts app?
You can forward a new or existing text message to another contact you want by using the following steps:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap the required conversation.
3. Long tap the required message you want to forward.
4. On pop up menu select Forward.
5. You'll be presented with contact names of the existing messages, tap the required contact name. Or if you want to forward the message to other contact, tap New message and then select the required contact name from your contacts list.
6. If necessary you can add your own message by typing them in the enter text field above the keyboard.
7. If necessary you can add emojis to your message by tapping and then select the desired emojis you want to use. Tap to bring back your keyboard.
8. Tap to send your message.

As when you send text messages, SMS rate from your cellular provider will also apply when you reply or forward text messages by using this app.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Send a Text Message in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As we all know that Hangouts app can be used to send SMS or MMS if this app is used in Android 4.0 or above. It means the Samsung Galaxy SIV users are allowed to use this feature. Even so, since the SMS messages feature in Hangouts app is not enabled by default, then you have to enable it manually when you want to use it, either from the Hangouts app itself or the Settings menu. Turning on this feature will also set this app as the default messaging app in your phone.

See also: How to Enable SMS Messages in Hangouts App in the samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

Once the SMS messages feature is activated, you can use this app to send text messages to the desired contacts, either those you have added into your contacts list or those you have not. In this app, you're also allowed to send a text message to more than one contacts at once.

How to create and send SMS in Hangouts app?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open Hangouts app.
2. Tap   located at the top right corner of the screen to create a new message.
3. Type the phone number or name in the search box at the top of the screen.
• If the phone number or name has been saved in the contacts then you'll see an option to "PHONE CONTACTS", tap the required contact name below the "PHONE CONTACTS".
• If the phone number has not been saved in the contacts then you'll see an option to "SEND SMS TO...". Once you finish entering the number, tap the phone number below "SEND SMS TO...".
4. If you want to send your message to multiple recipients, kindly do as follows:
• Tap in the left side of the first contact you have added as the message recipient.
• Select another contacts by tapping the contact names. The selected contacts will be check-marked.
• Or, you can enter another phone number as you have done in the step #3.
• Tap OK button .
• The selected contacts will be added as the message recipients.
5. Type your message in the enter text field above the keyboard.
6. You can insert emojis to your message by tapping and then select the desired emojis you like to use. Once done, tap to bring back your keyboard.
7. Tap to send your message to the recipient.

I've been set Hangouts app as the default messaging app and used it to send messages since couple days back. One thing that I really like from this app is the various stock emojis that make my message more alive and can describe my mood well. So, how about you? Have you tried send a text message in Hangouts app?