Android Authority |
- This is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini [leak]
- Record HDR video underwater with the new Sony Xperia ZR
- Sony Xperia S39h leaks, reportedly headed to China
- “Blue Arctic” Samsung Galaxy S4 model apparently spotted in Japan
- Weekly News Roundup #4 – India
- Are 10-inch tablets going the way of the dinosaurs?
- Google Play Games apparently confirmed ahead of Google I/O 2013
- 10 Tips & Tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S4
| This is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini [leak] Posted: 13 May 2013 01:28 AM PDT
A set of Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini pictures have supposedly surfaced online, and, while they’re not official, they are pretty consistent with how the device looked in previously leaked images. Namely, the new pictures of the Galaxy S4 Mini show a device that looks like a smaller Samsung Galaxy S4, aimed at those wanting a smartphone with a similar look, but with a smaller footprint (which is quite a trend these days). Some of the images, like the one you can see below, have a ruler next to the device, so you can get a better idea concerning the dimensions.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini has been rumored for a while now and is said to be coming this summer. As far as specs go, it is expected to have a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED qHD display (pixel density is said to be 256 ppi), as well as a dual-core CPU running at 1.6 GHz and a 5 megapixel camera. It will run Android 4.2.2 and will also get a dual SIM version – four versions have made an appearance on the Samsung website, we’ll just have to see see if they confirm. Until they do, you can see a couple more of the pictures that have appeared online below.      Would you be tempted to get the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini when it becomes available? 
| ||
| Record HDR video underwater with the new Sony Xperia ZR Posted: 13 May 2013 01:05 AM PDT
Sony just unveiled a new addition to its Xperia line, a waterproof and dustproof handset with mid-range specifications and a 4.6-inch 720p display. Let's give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Xperia family. After the Xperia Z and its more compact sibling the Xperia ZL wooed us with their sleek designs and great building quality, Sony tries to capitalize on the momentum with another elegant device. The Xperia ZR is, in terms of specifications, a 2012 flagship – it features a 4.6-inch 720p (HD) display, a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera. While the device isn't full HD (like the Xperia Z and ZL), the display is most likely crisp enough for most users – the pixel density is 319ppi, which is adequate in our book. The Xperia Z's display has been criticized for its poor viewing angles and low visibility in direct sunlight. Hopefully, the ZR will do better, as Sony touted the removal of the air gap between the touch sensor and the display, which should in theory improve contrast and reduce reflections. The specs of the Xperia ZR are not cutting edge, but they should be more than enough for many customers. And the 140 grams device offers a few perks that make it more attractive, such as the NFC support, the 13MP Exmor sensor (BSI sensor HDR on video and photo), and the dedicated camera button that lets you take a picture without unlocking the device.       Coupled with the superior resistance to water (compliant with IP55 and IP58 standards), the camera button makes the Xperia ZR an ideal camera phone for the outdoorsy. The ZR will withstand being submerged in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes (for your reference, the Xperia Z can be submerged into 1 meter of water for the same time). Just like the Z, the ZR features plastic flaps that cover the ports and Sony touted the anti-shatter film on the display that should enable it to resist mechanical shocks better than other phones. Because that the Xperia ZR has a dedicated shutter button, you’ll be able to take photos and record full HD videos underwater. The presentation video below shows some images that Sony claims were taken underwater with the ZR, and they look pretty nice. The device will be available in four colors, with the first markets to get in Q2 2013. Sony hasn’t been more specific about the price either, but we’ll keep an eye on it and let you know. Check out the Sony Xperia ZR launch press release for full details about the phone. What do you make of this device? Worth your attention? The new Xperia™ ZR waterproof* smartphone with superior Sony engineering 13th May 2013, London – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces the new Xperia ZR featuring the highest level of water-resistance for capturing photos and Full HD videos underwater. This Android smartphone offers leading technology and content with a 4.6″ HD Reality display, 13 megapixel fast capture camera, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 Pro quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, and 4G LTE. “The Xperia ZR pushes the boundaries on where and how consumers can use the full potential of their smartphone. By combining Sony’s leading camera technology with the highest level of water-resistance, you will never miss another moment.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “Bringing together the best of Sony’s leading technology, media applications and easy one-touch connectivity with the largest ever range of NFC-enabled accessories, the Xperia ZR delivers the unique smartphone experience that people can expect from Sony.” The ultimate in durable design Featuring Sony’s “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for both photos and videos, the Xperia ZR captures perfect pictures and videos, no matter what the conditions. Superior Auto mode combines Scene Recognition with high quality performance image processing technology (HDR and noise reduction) to automatically shoot with the most optimal settings. And when you want to capture action fast, simply turn on burst mode to shoot an unlimited number of images at 15 frames per second. Xperia ZR also features Battery STAMINA Mode which significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more** by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on. The solid yet comfortable styling of the Xperia ZR is matched by a choice of classic and fresh colours – black, white, pink and mint – each allowing you to express your individual style. High quality viewing experience The OptiContrast™ panel reduces reflections and provides clearer viewing, even in bright sunlight, and creates a seamlessly black surface when the phone is turned off. By eliminating the sensor layer and integrating the sensor on the lens, responsiveness of the screen is increased, so now your touch is both more effective and more intuitive. And with Sony’s unique prediction filter to help better detect the movement of your finger, scrolling on the Xperia ZR is reassuringly smooth. Consistent Sony media entertainment experiences Ease of sharing and enjoyment Joining the ever expanding range, the new Stereo Bluetooth™ Headset SBH50 is an advanced app-enabled wireless headset with built-in FM radio, OLED display and one-touch connection for wireless audio streaming. Simply touch your Xperia ZR once to the headset to instantly pair the devices and make a call or begin listening to tracks. The SBH50 is available in either black or white colour variants. Other accessories which complement the Xperia ZR are the Charging Dock DK28 and SmartWatch MN2. The Xperia ZR will launch in various global markets from Q2 2013 (availability will vary by market). 
| ||
| Sony Xperia S39h leaks, reportedly headed to China Posted: 12 May 2013 04:45 PM PDT
Sony may be preparing to launch a new Xperia family member into battle, as a new smartphone known internally as S39h has just been spotted in the wild. We only have images for you, as there are no leaked internal specifications, size measurements or availability details just yet. As with most Sony smartphones at this time of year, the leaked model has an elongated form and larger display. The phone is said to have a screen bigger than the 4.3-incher found on the Xperia L but smaller than Xperia Z’s 5-inch display. The display is surrounded by a thick bezel that can be seen in older Samsung generations. Sony's logo is present right next to the front-facing camera. The white body seems to be made from a non-polished material with a stylish finish on the back cover. A large speaker can be found on the back of the handset, and Sony's logo can be once again easily spotted.
On the sides of the device you’ll notice the signature power button, dedicated camera button, volume keys and a micro-USB port. Check out the image gallery below for more details:          The Xperia S39h is reportedly heading to China. Sony has been using a new internal naming scheme for every handset released this year – the CXXXX model number structure – while those launched in China continue to respect the old S/M/L pattern for small, medium or large phones, Xperia Blog reports. 
| ||
| “Blue Arctic” Samsung Galaxy S4 model apparently spotted in Japan Posted: 12 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT
A new color option for Samsung’s 2013 flagship Android smartphone has apparently been sighted in Japan in promotional materials from a local carrier. According to the following image, Blue Arctic is the name of this new Galaxy S4 color option, joining the existing Black Mist and White Frost versions. So far, carriers and electronics retailers around the world have been stocking only the black and/or white models. DoCoMo appears to be the first mobile operator in the world to sell the Blue Arctic Galaxy S4 version, with a launch reportedly set for the following weeks. Rbmen says that the handset will be announced by DoCoMo on May 15 and released in mid-May (therefore very close after being unveiled?), but nothing is official just yet. We certainly expected Samsung to reveal more colors for the handset. After all, that's what the company did with other high-end devices including the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. It would make sense to see this Blue Arctic Galaxy S4 model hit other markets in the coming months. Interestingly, the rumored rugged Galaxy S4 Active is said to launch in Metallic Orange in the near future. DoCoMo's Galaxy S4 version is the Qualcomm-based one, and from the looks of it, the carrier will stock the 32GB version as well. So far only AT&T announced plans for a 32GB Galaxy S4 model, with everyone else only stocking the 16GB base version. 
| ||
| Weekly News Roundup #4 – India Posted: 12 May 2013 09:41 AM PDT
In a weekly segment, I'll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of the Android scene in India. This week on the Weekly News Roundup – India, we continue to see an increase in the number of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones available in the country, with new device announcements from Karbonn, Celkon, Xolo, and Chinese manufacturer Gionee. Surprisingly, there are no new Android tablets from local manufacturers launched this week. There’s great news for music lovers with Tata Docomo detailing a new tie up with popular music streaming app, Saavn. Unfortunately, there’s also some bad news, for RCom subscribers, with the company increasing its tariffs by up to 30%. As you can see, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s get started! Android SmartphonesKarbonn Titanium S2
Micromax started the trend of budget-friendly 5-inch quad-core smartphones, and almost every other Indian manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon. Karbonn earlier released the Titanium S1 and S5, and have now followed that up with the Titanium S2, which joins the ever-increasing list of low-cost quad-core smartphones in country. The specifications of the Karbonn Titanium S2 include -
Specifications-wise, the Karbonn Titanium S2 falls right in between the S1 and S5, and is priced similarly as well. Priced at Rs 10,790 (~$203) by online retailers Infibeam, the latest 5-inch quad-core smartphone from Karbonn will be available from May 14, with an estimated delivery of 2-3 days. Ordering the device now will also get you a flap cover for free. Source – NDTV Gadgets Celkon A119Q Signature HD
Celkon, which launched the A119 Signature HD back in March, has now released the A119Q Signature HD. As you can see from the name, the difference between the two devices is the Q, which in this case, stands for quad-core. The specifications of the Celkon A119Q Signature HD include -
The Celkon A119Q Signature HD joins the small list of smartphones available in India that run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The specifications are similar to the Micromax A116 Canvas HD and the Karbonn Titanium S5, and is priced around the same as well. Available for Rs 12,499 (~$235), you also get a flip cover worth Rs 1,500 for free. You can pre-book the device from SnapDeal here, and will be on sale from May 15. You can find out more about the Celkon A119Q Signature HD from the company website here. Source – Fone Arena Xolo Q700
Xolo, a sub-brand of Lava International, has slowly become a major player in the Indian smartphone market, with the company being the first to release some great Android devices powered by Intel processors, along with a slew of budget-friendly non-Intel smartphones. Joining that second list is the Xolo Q700, which is yet another low-cost smartphone powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor. The specifications of the Xolo Q700 include -
The specifications of the Xolo Q700 are similar to most other quad-core smartphones from local manufacturers, but what makes this device stand is the fact that it is one of the cheapest smartphones available in its specs category. Priced at just Rs 9,999 (~$188), the Xolo Q700 has been listed as “Coming Soon” by online retailers Flipkart. Source – IBN Live Gionee GPad-G2
Gionee announced the GPad-G2 earlier last month, and officially launched the 5.3-inch smartphone in India this week. The smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer boasts decent specifications which include -
Apart from featuring one of the larger batteries in its segment, the Gionee GPad-G2 also boasts an in-built DTS audio system for great sound quality. Apart from the much larger 5.3-inch display (compared to 4.65-inch), the specifications of the GPad-G2 is very similar to the Gionee Dream D1. The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 from online store Tradus, and also from retail stores around the country. Source – The Mobile Indian Network Carrier NewsRCom increases tariffs of discounted voice and data plans by up to 65%
Reliance Communications has decided to increase the tariffs of its discounted voice and data plans, some by up to 65%, with “the aim to increase profitability.” Most other operators, including Vodafone, Idea, and Airtel have made similar moves recently, and while RCom resisted the change initially, it makes sense for the company to do so now. All the popular discounted plans, known as “commitment plans,” have now been changed to reflect the new policy. The smallest change have been for the STV 21 and STV 45 plans, which have seen a hike of it’s local call rate by 20%, from 1p/sec to 1.2p/sec. The 2p/sec rate for STD calling remains the same. The biggest changes have been to the STV 48 and STV 46 plans. The “by-the-minute” plans have seen a huge slash in the minutes that are available, with the STV 48 dropping from 500 minutes to just 160 minutes, while the STV 46 plan sees a drop from 200 minutes to 140 minutes. The changes are applicable immediately for all new and existing Reliance Communication subscribers. Source – Think Digit Tata Docomo partners with Saavn to launch special data plans for music streaming
Tata Docomo has announced a partnership with popular music-streaming service Saavn to launch a number of special data plans that will allow users to stream music, as well as access exclusive international music content. The announced plans include -
The plans are available for prepaid Tata Docomo subscribers who have Android or iOS devices. Music streaming can require a lot of data depending on how much you use it, and these plans certainly make things a lot easier. Source – BGR India Indian manufacturers have all been releasing budget-friendly quad-core smartphones, with only minor differences in specifications and price between them. The good thing is that such devices are now beginning to feature Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board, something that even some internationally-renowned manufacturers are lacking. What are your thoughts? Will you be buying any of the quad-core smartphones announced this week? What do you think of the new music streaming data plans from Tata Docomo and Saavn? As an RCom subscriber, are you disappointed at the tariff hike? Let us know in the comments section below. See you next week! 
| ||
| Are 10-inch tablets going the way of the dinosaurs? Posted: 12 May 2013 09:18 AM PDT
The 7-inch tablet has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence even though it was publicly blasted by Steve Jobs at a certain point. The Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire have both accelerated the growth of the 7-inch tablet, with many manufacturers jumping in on the act. Now there are a plethora of small tablets that were made by a variety of manufacturers. But is the success of 7-inch tablets a threat to their 10-inch brothers? Portability is kingThe digital world has always driven to make devices thinner and lighter. Computers went from taking up a whole room, to sitting inconspicuously on a desk, to fitting into your backpack. And now they fit in our pockets. This all occurred in a such a short space of time, some would be forgiven for forgetting our 27 tonne Halcyon days.  Eniac: The first computer A 10-inch tablet would become uncomfortable to hold suspended in the air after a few minutes, while a 7-inch tablet remains easy to hold for hours. You can also fit a 7-inch tablet in a coat pocket and even in large pants pockets (albeit uncomfortably), something impossible to do with a 10-inch tablet. The comfort 7-inch devices can offer is, for most people, enough to buy them. So while a 10-inch tablet is your "couch buddy," a 7-inch tablet is your "everywhere" buddy. When the price is right, people will buyAt $200 the Nexus 7 is a safe bet for some, and within the price range of many. Convincing people to let go of $200 of their hard earned cash is a lot easier than convincing somebody to shell out $500 for an iPad. When you couple it with brilliant hardware, the latest software and a beautiful design you know you've got a winner on your hands.
For the $500 that an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 costs, you can buy a Nexus 7 32GB ($250) and a Samsung Chromebook ($250), meaning you get all of the features of a tablet with the bonus of a full browser (and more). All of the features, none of the drawbacksWhen you can get a tablet that is cheap, powerful and does everything that a 10-inch tablet can do, then these tablets are sure to take up some market share, but how much? Well according to a report released in April by Animoca, an app publisher for Android, the best selling Android tablets measure 7 inches in size.  GigaOM: “The figures come from Animoca users around the world for one month, ending March 20, with a sample size of 978,000.” When 7-inch tablets hold 5 of the top 7 Android tablet spots, then it is obvious that they are a clear favourite among Android users, but like all products, there are drawbacks. The "race to the bottom" effectWith all the manufacturers looking to break the magic $200 barrier, innovation is in danger of getting buried underneath it all. When you are selling your device at break-even, or even at a loss, it is hard to keep pushing the greatest innovations and that means 7-inch tablets would always be a step behind their 10-inch brethren. Luckily (even if you don't realise it), both Apple and Samsung have chosen not to partake in this "race to the bottom," as both have introduced smaller tablets that cost much more than their 7-inch counterparts, at $330 for the iPad mini and $400 for the Note 8.0. This means that we will continue to see innovation in the 7-inch (or thereabouts) market. Making your tablet a "tablet PC"With a 10-inch tablet, all you need to do is hit the net and choose one of the many bluetooth keyboard-case combo and you can transform your tablet into a clamshell laptop.
This allows you to type those long emails, or punch out a novella on the train. Even though you can grab a bluetooth keyboard-case combo for a 7-inch tablet, the lack of vertical screen space means you are severely limited. So in this case, a 7-inch tablet loses out to the larger 10-inch tablet. The market moves quicklyEven as 7-inch tablets replace 10-inch tablets, a new trend is appearing on the radar. The market that was popularized with the Galaxy Note has exploded into smartphones spanning dozens of sizes and even recently hitting 7 inches in size, with the ASUS FonePad.
These devices (yep, we aren't using the "ph" word here), can combine the tablet and phone into one, getting rid of the need for a second device. 7-inch tablets are within touching distance of these smartphones, so could they be swallowed whole by this emerging trend? Wrap upThe mobile market is a funny business. While the smartphone market is upscaling, the tablet market is downscaling and now they are on a collision course that seems unavoidable. The market has seemed to take a liking to both trends, so it will be interesting to see which emerges victorious. The cheap and cheerful 7-inch tablet or the all-in one phablet (I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself). Do you think 10-inch tablets have been made irrelevant? Are 5-inch (and bigger) smartphones the future? Still going to buy the new Nexus 7? Let us know in the comments. 
| ||
| Google Play Games apparently confirmed ahead of Google I/O 2013 Posted: 12 May 2013 06:33 AM PDT
A leaked Google Play Services update apparently confirms a new product that Google is said to unveil at Google I/O 2013, Google Play Games. Android Police has gotten a hold of Google Play Services v3.1.36 "which is very slowly rolling out to devices right now" and which is "a massive update" compared to the 3.0.27 version that you may have on your device right now. In it, the publication discovered references for Google Play Games features. A few weeks ago, the same site found hints in the MyGlass Google Glass companion app that Google was working on its own social gaming product – similar to Game Center in iOS. Now, v3.1.36 of Google Play Services offers clearer details about some of the features that will be available from Google Play Games. Play Games will apparently let users sync saved games and compete against friends for achievements and best scores. Players will be able to invite friends to play certain games and respond to similar invitations from others. There's also a match-making feature that would let Play Games automatically pick players for certain games. Unsurprisingly, the social element of such an app is provided by Google+ integration. That's how you'll compete with friends in various games, with Google+ handling identification, and the notifications side. Obviously, since we're talking about Google+, you’ll have to know that Play Games users will be able to share details about their gaming performance or keep them private. Leaderboards will show scores by time – today, week and all time – and can be private or public.
Developers will probably be able to include Play Games support in their games, as suggested by the presence of icon badges that would "indicate a game is Google-powered." We'll certainly find out more details about Google Play Games next week, when we'll be live from Google I/O 2013. 
| ||
| 10 Tips & Tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Posted: 12 May 2013 05:48 AM PDT
Whether you’re the proud owner of a new Samsung Galaxy S4, (im)patiently waiting for yours to arrive, there’s a good chance that you want to know how to get the most out of your phone. To that end, we have collected 10 tips that can help both old-school Android fans and new users alike. You might not need or want every tip you see here, but you’ll probably find at least one of them useful. In a hurry? Prefer moving pictures? Check out the video! 1.) Speed Up TouchWizThere are two kinds of people: those who don’t want to sacrifice features for speed, and those who will do anything for a slight speed increase. Luckily, we have tips for both kinds of people. If you don’t use S Voice too often, this first tip is definitely for you. Have you ever noticed the slight lag between hitting the home button and the home screen actually appearing? That’s because by default, tapping the home button twice is a shortcut to launch S Voice. If you want, you can open up S Voice and turn off the “Open via the home key” option. Now the home screen will appear immediately after you hit the button.
This next tip is for those who don’t mind digging a little deeper. If you don’t mind sacrificing a few visual enhancements for speed, you can change a few options in the Developer Options menu. First, if you haven’t already, you need to unlock the Developer Options menu by going to Settings -> More -> About Device. Scroll down until you see the build number and tap it 7 times. Now go back one screen and enter the Developer Options menu. Scroll down to the section labeled “Drawing” and set “Window animation scale,” “Transition animation scale” and “Animator duration scale” all to off. You’ll have a little less animation, but TouchWiz should feel a bit faster and more immediately responsive now. 2.) Get Better Battery LifeWith a 2,600 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t exactly a slouch in the battery department, but it’s always nice to know what you can do to extend battery life in case of a long day or a forgotten charger.
One of the easiest things you can do is to turn on Power Saving Mode. You can find this option in Settings -> My Device, and once you have set it up, it’s also available in the quick settings in the notification pane. This allows you to turn on CPU power saving, Screen power saving or to turn off haptic feedback. For best results, you’ll probably want to use all three options. If that isn’t enough, it’s very easy to start turning things off. One of the biggest culprits when it comes to battery drain is mobile data. Of course, this might not be an option depending on how you need to use your device. BlueTooth, S Beam, NFC and features like Air Gesture or Smart Scroll are all good candidates that are easy enough to turn on and off through quick settings. Speaking of which… 3.) Customize the Notification PanelQuick settings, available by pulling down the notification pane, provides an easy way to enable and disable various features. The only problem is that not everybody is going to use the same settings all the time. Luckily, it’s easy to change which settings are shown first.
First, start by pulling down the notification pane. In the very top right, tap the icon that looks like a few squares and two arrows (I don’t really know what to call it). Now tap the pencil icon that appears to the left. Now all you need to do is drag and drop the icons around to move your most-accessed settings to be the top five. You can still scroll in the notification pane to access other settings, but it’s much handier having the settings you use the most pop up right away. 4.) Take Better PhotosEverybody (including us) has spent a lot of time talking about the more hyped features of the Galaxy S4′s camera: Drama Shot, Eraser, etc. These are interesting, but not really features you’ll find yourself using all the time. Instead, let’s dig down into some features to help you take the best photos you can with your S4.
First, open up the camera and hit the settings button. One of the first things you’ll probably want to do is change the photo size. By default, the Galaxy S4 ships with the photo size set to 9.6 megapixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is a nice aspect ratio for video, but not quite so much for photos. For better quality, you can set the size to 13 megapixels, which uses the more common 4:3 aspect ratio. You can also change Burst shot, Face detection, Metering, ISO, Anti-Shake and Auto night detection settings here. Off all of them, ISO can be one to pay attention to. With lower ISO settings, your pictures may be darker, but they’ll be far more crisp and sharp. As you turn up the ISO, you can take photos in lower light settings, but at the cost of introducing visual noise to your photos. 5.) Use a Larger ScreenSometimes you just want a bigger screen. Yeah, the screen on the Galaxy S4 is nice, but not if, say, more than one person wants to watch a video, for example. Fear not, for there are a few ways to hook your S4 up to a bigger screen. If you have a Samsung TV or you happen to own an AllShare Cast dongle, the easiest way is to simply use the built-in screen mirroring feature. Just head to Settings -> Connections and scroll down to the bottom to find Screen Mirroring. Now all you need to do is wait for it to scan and find your devices.
The less laggy option is to use MHL. Now, for this to work, you’ll need an 11-pin MHL adapter, as the standard 5-pin adapters won’t work for the S4. Samsung sells an official adapter for the S4. Simply plug it in and run the HDMI out to your television and you’re all set for everything from videos to games. If neither of the above options works for you, you can use DLNA to share media from the S4 to other DLNA-enabled devices like Blu-Ray players, televisions, game consoles or other electronics. No, you can’t mirror your screen this way, but it works in a pinch for photos, videos and music. 6.) Control Your CommunicationThe Samsung Galaxy S4 includes two different options for controlling who can contact you and when. The first, Blocking Mode, is an excellent option for getting a good night’s sleep. To find it head to Settings -> My Device and scroll down a little. With Blocking Mode on, you can disable incoming calls, notifications, the alarm, and the LED indicator. Either turn the option on manually or set it to disable communications between certain hours.
If you want to deal with one specific number, call rejection might be a better option. To find it, head to Settings -> My Device and you’ll find it under the “Call” menu. The most common way to set it up is to use the Auto reject list. Simply enter a number, check the box next to it, and you’re all set. If you want, you can have the S4 automatically send a message to the person explaining why their call was rejected. 7.) Customize the Lock ScreenBy default, the Galaxy S4′s lock screen isn’t the most interesting or useful lock screen we’ve ever seen. It’s functional sure, but for those of you who like a bit more action in your lock screen, there are a few things we can do to improve it.
To get started, head to Settings -> My Device and select Lock Screen. First, you’ll want to check the “Multiple widgets” option. If you’d like, you can select the “Shortcuts” option to enable shortcuts to various apps on your lock screen. In the “Lock screen widgets” sub-menu, you can choose between a few options for defaults on the lock screen. Now for the real fun, lock your device and head to the lock screen to check it out. By swiping near the top of the screen you can now get to the camera widget located to the right, or add your own widgets on the left. Everything from communication notifications to Gmail to Google Now is available. 8.) Make Videos More FunIf all you want to do is capture something happening, the Galaxy S4′s camera is great right out of the box. If you want to get a little more creative, though, we’ve got a few options to spice up your videos. First, open up the camera app and select the settings icon at the top of the screen. Now select the icon that looks like a small video camera to bring up the video options. You’ll notice that aside from “Normal” and “Limit for MMS,” there are two other options: “Slow Motion” and “Fast Motion.” Both do exactly what you’d think.
Once you have either of these options selected, you’ll notice another icon pops up to the right of the camera icon. This allows you to select how slow or fast the video is. Slow motion allows for 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 of normal time. Fast motion can go 2x, 4x or 8x normal speed. It’s worth noting that these will negatively impact the overall quality of the video, but come on. Fun is fun, right? 9.) Use Adapt SoundA lot of people are talking about Samsung’s Adaptive Display feature in the Galaxy S4, but there’s another feature that doesn’t get discussed nearly as much: Adapt Sound. Before I used it, I assumed it was a feature like those you see on televisions: Movie mode, Music mode, etc. I was wrong. Adapt Sound is a feature that tests your hearing and headphones to tune its audio to focus on frequencies you can actually hear. To find it, head to Settings -> My Device -> Sound. Now scroll all the way to the bottom to find Adapt Sound.
Plug in your headphones and start the test. Basically all it does is play a series of tones to test what frequencies you can hear, and whether you hear better out of one ear than the other. Going through the whole test takes about a minute. Once you’re finished you can preview the feature to ensure that you like the results. Personally I found that audio sounded a bit clearer and more detailed with Adapt Sound turned on. Your mileage may vary. 10.) Use Auto-Brightness for a Brighter ScreenNow, if you use Auto-Brightness all the time anyway, this tip probably isn’t a big deal. If you’re like me, however, you generally turn off Auto-Brightness as soon as you get a new phone. While, most of the time I prefer to have control of the screen brightness, there actually is a reason for using this feature on the Galaxy S4.
While the Galaxy S4′s screen is likely the brightest Samsung has produced to date, you aren’t able to turn it up to maximum brightness manually (probably to prevent burn-in or other screen damage). With Auto-Brightness, however, this isn’t a problem. So the next time you’re squinting and trying to make out what’s on screen on a bright day, remember to tick the checkbox for Auto-Brightness in the notification pane. VideoDo you have a favorite tip we mentioned? How about a tip that we didn’t cover that you might want to share with other readers? Let us know down in the comments! 
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment