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.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Find Capture Icon in the Video Player App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

While you're playing a video in the video player app, you'll be presented with some options that you can use to control the playback, such as rewind or forward the playback, adjust the volume, etc. Even you'll be given with a take-a-screenshot button or capture icon to make you easier to take a screenshot while playing a video.

See also: How to Play a Video Using the Video Player App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

A few days ago, an insider told me that she can't find the capture icon while she was playing a video in the video player app. As a note, the option to display the capture icon is enabled by default therefore if you can't find the capture icon make sure that the capture option in the settings menu while playing a video is not disabled.

How to fix can't find the capture icon while playing a video in the video player app?
To get this option, make sure the capture option is enabled. You can enable this option by using the following steps:

1. Open the Video Player app.
2. Tap the required video to play it.
3. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
4. Mark the checkbox next to Capture to enable this option.
5. Tap Close button.
6. Now you should see the capture icon is displayed at the top of the screen while playing a video.

Basically, you can take a screenshot of the playback by using the palm motion or using combination of the Power button and the Home button, but using the capture button to take a screenshot while playing a video is much easier to do. Other advantage when you use the capture icon is this option will give you a full screen screenshot no matter how you hold (horizontally or vertically) the phone while playing a video.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Delete Videos in the Video Player App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

One of the best way to immortalize a precious moment in this life is by recording it into a video. The good news is, the camera and a set of advanced features that are owned by the Samsung Galaxy SIV will allow you to do so, even by doing some settings you can record a HD video using this phone.

See also: How to Record a HD Video in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

All of videos that you have recorded with this phone or videos that you have gotten for another sources will automatically be displayed in the video player app so that you can easier to play or manage them. As with another apps, to help you manage the videos, the video player app has also provided you a feature to delete a single/multiple/all videos, allows you to delete unwanted videos easily from this app.

How to delete videos in the video player app?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Video Player app.
2. By default, the videos in this app are displayed by the date and viewed in a thumbnail form. But, if you don't like these defaults, you can change how the videos will be displayed and viewed in this app by following the steps listed here.
3. To delete a single video go to the step #4, while to delete multiple videos go to the step #5.
4. Deleting a single video:
• Long tap the required video.
• On pop up menu select Delete.
• Tap OK button to confirm.
• The selected video will be deleted.
5. Deleting multiple videos:
• Tap the Menu key and then select Delete.
• Mark the checkbox in the required videos to select multiple videos or tap Select all to select all of your videos.
• Tap Delete button.
• Tap OK button to confirm.
• The selected videos will be deleted.

In certain condition, you may want to delete a single or multiple videos that you have saved in your phone, for instance when you want to free up some space in your phone or when you want those videos no longer saved in your phone. So, by knowing these steps, now you can delete unwanted videos easily in the video player app.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Sort and View the Videos in the Video Player App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Video player is a stock app that's owned by the Samsung Galaxy SIV. You can use this app to play the videos that you've saved on your phone. When you're playing a video, you'll be given some options to allow you controlling the playback. You can also set this app to play the next song automatically so that you can play all of your videos without having to play them one by one manually.

See also: How to Use the Video Player App to Play a Video in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you noticed, by default the video player app displays the videos in a thumbnail form and they are sorted by the date. But, if you don't like those defaults, you can change how the videos will be displayed and sorted in this app. From the available options, you can choose the one that best suit your need.

How to sort and view the videos in the Video Player app?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Video Player app.
2. To change how the app sort the videos, tap the Menu key and then select Sort by. You'll be presented with these following options:
• Title: Select this option to sort the videos by the title alphabetically.
• Date: Select this option to sort the videos by the date. The last modified video will be displayed at the top.
• Size: Select this option to sort the videos by the size. The video with the biggest size will be displayed at the top.
• Type: Select this option to sort the videos by the type.
3. To change how the app views the video, tap the Menu key and then select View as. You'll be presented with these following options:
• List: Select this option to view the videos in a list form. This option will allow you to view more videos in a screen than other views.
• Thumbnail: Select this option to view the videos in a thumbnail form.
• Folder: Select this option to view the videos by folders. This option is best used if you have a lot of videos. As a note, while you're using this option, the sort by option is not available.

Setting the video app to sort and view the videos according to your need will help you to use this app well. So, how about you? Which option do you use in your video player app?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Play a Video Using the Video Player App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As we've known that the Camera in the Samsung Galaxy SIV not only can be used to take a picture, but you can also use it to record a video. Even by utilizing the advanced features owned by this phone, you can record a HD video.

See also: How to Record a HD Video in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

All videos you've taken with the camera or the videos you've gotten from other sources will automatically be scanned and indexed by the video player app, make you easier to play all of your videos directly from your phone whenever you want.

How to use the video player app to play a video?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Video Player app.
2. To set the app automatically plays the next videos, you can use the following steps:
• Tap the Menu key.
• On pop up menu select Auto play next.
• Select On to enable this option.
3. Tap the desired video you want to play.
4. If you have a lot of videos, you can use the search function to help you easier to find the required video. Here are the steps:
• Tap the Magnifying glass icon.
• Enter the video name in the search field and you'll see all matches videos will be displayed. 
• Tap the desired video from the list to open it.
5. While you're playing the video, you can use the following options:
• : Tap this option to scan other DLNA-enabled devices.
• : Tap this option to take a screenshot while playing the video.
• : Tap this option to adjust the volume.
• : Tap this option to change the screen ratio.
• : Tap this option to restart the currently playing video or skip to the previous video. Tap and hold this option to move backward quickly.
• : tap this option to pause or resume the currently playing video.
• : tap this option to skip to the next video. Tap and hold this option to move forward quickly.
• : Tap this option to reduce the size of the video screen.

By knowing how to use the video player app and knowing all the options available while playing the video, now you can easily play any video you want directly from your phone and utilize all options available according to your need.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Listen Songs at Equal Volume Levels in the Music Player App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Almost everyone likes listening to the music, even some of them always listen to the music whatever they do. It may be the reason why the Samsung Galaxy SIV puts the music player as one of its pre-installed apps. All of music files you have saved in your phone will be automatically scanned and indexed by this app so that you don't need to add them manually.

See also: How to Play Music Using the Music Player App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

Since you can get music files from various sources, you may notice that there are some music files that have different sound qualities therefore when you play them in the music player app they will end up louder or quieter. To help you solve that problem, the music player app has provided you an option called smart volume that you can use to make the music player app adjusts all songs at equal volume levels with the level you use in the currently playing song.

How to set all songs to the same volume levels in the music player app?
You can do so by turning on the smart volume option in the stock music player app. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Music player app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Tick the box next to Smart volume to enable this option.
4. Tap OK button.
5. When the smart volume is activated, the music player app will automatically adjust each track's volume to an equal level with the currently playing song. For instance, when the currently playing song is played at level 7, then other songs will be adjusted to level 7.

Please note that when the smart volume is activated in the music player app, the volume of certain song may end up louder than the device volume level. Also, to prevent damage to your hearing, make sure to avoid long-term exposure to loud sounds.