Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Selective Focus Mode in Camera App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy S5 provides the user with the superior camera functionality. It has 16MP rear camera and various advanced features that will allow the user to easily take or edit the photo(if needed) without having to use any third-party app. One of the advanced features available is the selective focus mode. This mode will make the subject in a specific area becomes stand out by blurring the background, make the subject be the most important in the picture.


How to use selective focus mode in Camera app?
Before capturing a photo using selective focus mode, there are some conditions that have to be filled in order to get the best result:

• Place the subject between 10-50cm from the device.
• Make sure the subject and the background have sufficient distance or at least 3 times the distance between the device and the subject. For instance: if you place the subject 15 cm from the device, then the distance between the subject and the background at least 45 cm.
• Avoid the background that can't be distinguished from the subject e.g: shadows or plain-coloured walls
• Make sure to take a photo in a well lit environment and there's no strong light behind the subject so that the device can easily distinguish between the subject and the background.

If all of the conditions above have been filled, now you're ready to take a picture with selective focus mode by using the following steps:

1. Open Camera app.
2. Tap to enable selective focus mode. The icon changes to when it's enabled.
3. Tap the screen where the camera should focus. When the subject is in focus, the focus frame turns green.
4. Tap to take a photo. Since the device needs to take multiple shots, it'd better if you hold the phone as steady as possible until the camera has finished taking pictures.
5. If necessary, you can edit the photo by tapping the photo thumbnail (it's located at the bottom right corner of the screen if you hold the phone horizontally).
6. Tap and then change the focus by selecting from the following options:
• Near focus : select this option to make the subject stands out and blur the background around the subject.
• Far focus : select this option to blur the subject and make the background stands out around the subject.
• Pan focus : select this option to make the subject and the background stand out.
7. If you're satisfied with the changes, tap to save the image.

Since this mode lets you to focus in a specific area and blur the rest, now you can easily create an image with the out-of-focus effect with your phone without having to use any photo editing app. So, have you tried this feature?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Eraser Mode in Camera App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Have you ever wished to be able to remove unwanted moving objects that were captured accidentally when you were taking a photo? In some cases, unwanted object in a photo can make the center of attention no longer on your subject. To save yourself from this problem, you can try taking a photo using eraser mode. This mode lets the device capturing some photos and then lets you to restore or remove detected moving objects on the photo.

How to use eraser mode in camera app?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open Camera app.
2. Tap and then select Eraser.
3. Aim the device at the subject.
4. If necessary, you can adjust the zoom level by using the Volume key or using gestures (pinching the screen or spreading two fingers apart together on the screen).
5. If necessary, you can change the focus manually by tapping anywhere on the screen where the camera should focus. The focus point turns green when the focus has been locked.
6. Tap . The device captures 5 photos in quick succession and detects any moving objects. To get the best result, make sure you hold the phone as steady as possible until the camera has finished taking the pictures.
7. Once done, you'll be brought to a review screen and you'll be presented with an image where all detected moving objects have been removed by the device automatically.
8. If necessary, you can restore removed moving object you want to keep on your photo by using the following steps:
• Tap Show moving objects button to display what moving objects have been removed from your photo. all removed moving objects will be highlighted pink.
• Tap the pink area to restore removed moving object into the image.
9. If you're satisfied with the changes, tap Save button.

Eraser mode is best used when you take pictures in a situation where moving object may be captured by the camera accidentally, for instance when you take photos in a public area where there are many people passing by. By using this mode, now you can take photos without having to worry there will be unwanted moving objects accidentally captured on your photo.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Take Sound and Shot Photos in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Sound & shot is a feature available in the stock Camera app in Samsung Galaxy SIV. This feature lets you capturing a scene and record background audio associated with the photo for a few seconds simultaneously and then combine them to create more alive picture. This mode is best used if you want to attach background audio into the picture when you're taking the picture in a noisy situation (e.g: at the concert, birthday party, festival, etc) or if you want to give a note in your photo using your own voice instead of the photo note option in Gallery app.

How to take a sound and shot picture?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open Camera app.
2. Tap and then select Sound & Shot.
3. Point the camera at the subject.
4. Take a pre-shot photo:
• Tap and then select Pre-shot.
• The device will start recording the background audio.
• If necessary, you can change the focus manually by tapping anywhere on the screen where the camera should focus. The focus frame turns green when the focus has been locked.
• You can keep taking pictures by tapping anytime you want and up to 9 secs of recorded sound will be saved with each picture.
5. Take a post-shot photo:
• Tap and then select Post-shot.
• If necessary, you can change the focus manually by tapping anywhere on the screen where the camera should focus. The focus frame turns green when the focus has been locked.
• Tap to take a sound and shot picture. The device records up to 9 secs of background audio after taking a photo, or you can stop the recording anytime you want by tapping .
6. Tap the picture icon to view the newly taken picture in the Gallery app. The sound and shot pictures are labelled with to distinguish them with other pictures.

By default, Gallery app will play the sound attached in the sound and shot photos automatically when you're viewing the photo. But, if the sound doesn't come up make sure you have enabled the Auto play sound option in the Gallery app settings.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Set SD Card as Default Storage in Camera App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

As we all know that we have to manage the internal storage in our phones to make sure that it has enough free space so that the phones will work properly and won't encounter any error caused by low internal storage. One of the file types often makes the free space in the internal storage runs out quickly is image files, moreover if you often take pictures using the highest resolution. To avoid low internal storage problem, aside from transferring photos to the SD card or other storage periodically, you can also set the SD card as the default storage in the Camera app so that all picture taken with camera will be saved to the SD card automatically.

How to set SD card as default storage in Camera app?
To switch the default storage in Camera app from the device storage to the SD card, kindly do as follows:

1. Open Camera app.
2. Tap to view more detailed camera settings.
3. Scroll down to find Storage location and then tap it. By default, Camera app uses the device memory as the storage location.
4. Select Memory card.
5. Now, all pictures taken with camera will be saved to the DCIM folder in the SD card automatically.

As a note, though you have set the SD card as the default storage, burst shot and pictures taken using some downloaded camera modes (e.g: sequence shot) for technical reason will still be saved to the device storage.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change the Volume Key Function in Camera App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Since Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was launched, the Volume key function in the Camera app got enhancement. Now the Volume key not only can be used to adjust the zoom level, but also can be used to take pictures or record videos. You can easily change the function of the Volume key in the camera settings and choose the one according to your need.

How to change the Volume key function in Camera app?
In the Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat, you can assign the Volume key function in Camera app by using the following steps:

1. Open Camera app.
2. Tap to view more detailed camera settings.
3. Scroll down to find Volume key and then tap it. Now, you'll be provided with the following options:
• Take pictures: select this option if you want to be able to take pictures using the physical button (the Volume key). This option is enabled by default. This option is best used when you hard to take a picture using the on-screen camera icon.
• Record video: select this option if you want to be able to record videos using the physical button (the Volume key). This option is best used when you hard to record a video using the on-screen video recording icon.
• Zoom: select this option if you want to be able to zoom in or zoom out using the Volume key.
4. Select the required function you want to use.
5. The selected function will be applied.

As a note, if you choose to assign the Volume key function as the camera button, make sure to hold the phone as steady as possible while taking a picture to reduce shake and avoid unfocused image. If available, you can use additional tool to help you keeping the device position.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Bluetooth Tethering Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Bluetooth tethering is a feature available in the Samsung Galaxy S5 that you can use to share your mobile data connection with other Bluetooth enabled devices that have been paired with your phone. Please note that since this feature uses mobile data to connect to the internet, you may incur additional charge when using this feature. To avoid a big bill, you'd better have unlimited data plan (if you often use this feature) or just use this feature as needed only.

How to enable Bluetooth tethering?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. Tap Mobile data button to turn it on. The button turns green when it's enabled.
3. Long tap Mobile hotspot button to view more detailed settings.
4. Check the box in the right side of Bluetooth tethering to turn it on.
5. appears on the status bar when there's a Bluetooth device that is being connected with your phone and appears on the status bar as a sign that Bluetooth tethering is enabled.

How to connect from other Bluetooth capable devices?
As the example, we'll use Samsung Galaxy SIV to connect to the Samsung Galaxy S5 to access internet via Bluetooth. Here's the steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Connections tab.
3. Tap Bluetooth.
4. If Bluetooth is off, slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to turn it on.
5. Assuming that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has been paired with the Samsung Galaxy S4, tap in the right side of the Galaxy S5 and then tap Internet access. 
6. appears on the status bar when it's connected to the Samsung Galaxy S5 and appears on the status bar as a sign that Bluetooth tethering is now enabled.
7. Now, the Samsung Galaxy S5 mobile data connection can be used to access the internet in the Samsung Galaxy S4.

As a note, you may notice that when using Bluetooth tethering the internet speed is slower than when using Wi-Fi tethering. But, since from the beginning Bluetooth was designed for mobile use, Bluetooth tethering consumes less battery than Wi-Fi tethering thus if you're tight with the battery life but have to act as a wireless hotspot for a long time, Bluetooth tethering will be the best choice for you.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Mobile Hotspot Feature in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Mobile hotspot is a feature available in the Samsung Galaxy S5 that can be used to enable or disable Wi-Fi tethering. This feature lets you set your Samsung Galaxy S5 as an internet access point so that you can share your mobile data connection with other Wi-Fi enabled devices that are connected to your phone. Since this feature uses mobile data to access internet, you may incur additional charges when using this feature. To avoid a big bill, you'd better having an unlimited data plan (if you often use this feature) or use this feature as needed only.

How to set Samsung Galaxy S5 as a mobile hotspot?
You can enable Wi-Fi tethering and configure the hotspot settings by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. If your mobile data is off, tap Mobile data button to turn it on. The button turns green when it's enabled.
3. Long tap Mobile hotspot button to view more detailed settings.
4. Tap Mobile Hotspot.
5. Slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to enable mobile hotspot. In this screen, you can also see the password that can be used by other devices to connect to your mobile hotspot.
6. Mobile hotspot is now enabled and you'll see the Wi-Fi tethering icon is displayed on the status bar. FYI, Wi-Fi feature will be disabled automatically when this feature is on.
7. Change the connection mode:
• Tap AndroidAP.
• Select All devices if you want to allow all Wi-Fi enabled devices to access your mobile hotspot or select Allowed devices only to allow only devices in the allowed list to access your mobile hotspot.
8. Add or remove a device in allowed devices list:
   If needed, you can limit the devices that can access your mobile hotspot by using the following steps:
• Tap and then select Allowed devices.
• To add a device into the list, tap and then enter the device name and the MAC address and then tap OK button.
• To remove a device from the list, tap and then select the device you want to remove and then tap Done button.
9. Configure the hotspot settings:
   If needed, you can edit your hotspot configuration by using the following steps:
• Tap and then select Configure hotspot.
• Here you can do some actions, for instance: change the SSID name, hide/show the device, change the network security and change the password.
• Once done, tap Save button to save the changes.
10. Change network timeout:
    If needed, you can set the time to disable mobile hotspot automatically if there are no connected devices by using the following steps:
• Tap and then select Timeout settings.
• Select the desired timeout you want to use: Never timeout, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes or 60 minutes.

How to connect from other devices?
If you have set your Samsung Galaxy S5 as mobile hotspot, now other Wi-Fi enabled devices can connect to your network to use your mobile data connection to access the internet. As the example, we'll use Samsung Galaxy S4 to connect to the network. Here's the steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Connections tab.
3. Tap Wi-Fi.
4. If Wi-Fi is off, slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to turn it on. The phone will scan all available Wi-Fi networks automatically.
5. Tap AndroidAP(it's the default SSID name of the Samsung Galaxy S5 if you didn't change it) and then enter the password.
6. Tap Connect button.
7. If the password was entered correctly, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be connected to the network and can use the mobile data connection from the Samsung Galaxy S5 to access the internet.

FYI, this feature lets you share your mobile data connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices. Also note that since this feature uses quite a lot of power to run, then to avoid your battery drained out quickly you'd better turn this feature on when needed only or you can set the timeout settings so that the feature will turn off automatically when there are no connected devices after the selected timeout is over.