Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add New Contact in the Contacts App

Contacts app is one of pre-installed apps in the Samsung Galaxy SIV that you can use to organize all your contacts. This app will allow you to add new contact to make you more easier if you want to use them later, such as when you want to make a call or send a message. In addition, the contact's information you have entered will also be used by other applications to facilitate your activities, such as the Messaging app will use the contact info to identify incoming text messages or the Phone app will use the contact information to identify incoming calls, etc..



How to add new contact in the Contacts App?
As the example, we'll save the new contact to the phone memory because it'll provide more option to customize contact. Well, here are the steps to do so:
  1. Open Contacts app.
  2. Tap the Plus button in the right side of the search field to add new contact.
  3. Tap the Name field and then type the contact's name.
  4. To add photo to contact:
    • Tap the contact's picture box in the left side of the Name field.
    • You'll see some options available which you can use to select from where you wish to pick up the picture you wish to use as contact's picture, they are: Image(Gallery app), Pictures by people(tagged people in pictures), Take picture(take the picture using Camera app), or S Memo.
    • If necessary, you can crop the picture.
    • Tap the Done button.
    • The selected picture will be applied as the contact's picture.
  5. Tap the Phone number field and then type the contact's phone number.
  6. If necessary, tap the Email address field and then type the contact's email address.
  7. If necessary, tap Groups to add this contact into the existing group or to the new group.
  8. To assign ringtone:
    • Tap Ringtone.
    • Select the desired ringtone you wish to use.
    • Tap OK button.
  9. To assign message tone:
    • Tap Message alert.
    • Select the desired message alert you wish to use.
    • Tap OK button.
  10. To change vibration pattern:
    • Tap Vibration pattern.
    • Select vibration pattern you wish to use.
    • Tap OK button.
  11. If necessary, you may also add additional information for the contact by tapping the Add another field button, such as Phonetic name, Organisation, etc.
  12. Tap Save button to save the contact.

After you add all of your contacts into the Contacts app, now you can make a call or send a message to the desired contact easily without having to worry about forgetting a phone number or other contact info.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Home Screen Mode

Home screen is one of the most customizable part in the Samsung Galaxy SIV. In the first time, there are five Home screens displayed in this phone, but if they're not enough for you, you're allowed to add them up to seven. In another case, you're also allowed to re-arrange the Home screen position as well as deleting unused Home screen if you're tight with the RAM use issue.

See also: How to Add, Delete and Rearrange Home Screen in the Samsung Galaxy S4

By default, the Home screen in your phone are displayed with the conventional layout with the small icons and more complex settings which will allow you to customize them as mentioned above. But, for some users, especially for those of new smartphone user, the default layout is quite irritating. Fortunately, this phone has an option which will allow the user to change the home screen mode from the default standard mode to the easy home screen mode which will provide a simpler layout with more bigger icons and vice versa.



How to switch between standard mode and easy mode?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. Swipe your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom to display the notification panel.
  2. Tap Cogwheel icon at the top of the screen to enter the Settings menu.
  3. Tap My device tab.
  4. Tap Home screen mode.
  5. You'll see two home screen mode options available displayed here. They are:
    • Standard mode: this is the default home screen mode used by the phone. This home screen mode will provide you the conventional layout for the apps and widgets on your Home screens.
    • Easy mode: this mode will be useful for the first time smartphone users because this mode will provide more easier experience compared with the standard mode by displaying a simpler layout and bigger icons.
  6. Tap the desired home screen mode option you wish to use.
  7. Tap Apply button to save the changes.
  8. The selected home screen mode will be applied.

For the record, each home screen mode has their own advantage. If you have been using smartphone for a long time, then it'll be better if you use the standard mode which will allow you to customize the phone and do more settings. While if you're the new smartphone user, then the easy mode is a better choice for you to learn and adapted with the smartphone. Well, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Hide or Show Hidden Apps in the Applications Menu

If you didn't add the app icon in the Home screen, you can access the app from the applications menu where all installed apps are displayed. In here, you can do another things aside from accessing the app, such as: create new folder, uninstall apps, access app info, etc.

See also: How to Edit Applications Menu in the Samsung Galaxy S4

In certain case, you may want to not display some apps in the apps menu without having to uninstall them in order to keep them running in the phone but don't want anybody know. Luckily, this phone has the option which will allow you do so easily.



How to hide apps in the applications menu?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. Go to Apps through Home screen.
  2. Tap the Menu key then select Hide applications.
  3. You'll see the checkbox appears in each app.
  4. Tick the checkbox in the desired apps you wish to hide from the apps menu.
  5. Tap Done button.
  6. The selected apps will not be displayed in the apps menu.

How to show hidden apps in the applications menu?
For any reason, if you want to bring back the hidden apps to the apps menu, then you can do so by following the steps below:
  1. Go to Apps through Home screen,
  2. Tap the Menu key, scroll to the bottom and then select Show hidden applications.
  3. All the hidden apps will be displayed here with the checkbox in each app.
  4. Tick the checkbox in the desired apps you wish to show.
  5. Tap Done button.
  6. The selected apps will be displayed again in the apps menu.

FYI, when you hide the app, it will only remove the app icon from the apps menu instead of uninstalling the app. So, you still be able to use them, though they're not displayed in the apps menu. For instance, you did hide Gallery app, when you take a screenshot and open it, the picture will be opened in the Gallery app.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Edit Applications Menu

There are three options available in the Samsung Galaxy SIV to change the way the applications menu to display all your installed apps. You can choose the best one that suit your needs to help you to improve your experiences while using this phone.

See also: How to Organize Apps in the Applications Menu in Samsung Galaxy S4

As discussed before, the customizable grid is the default option used by the applications menu to organize the apps. The customizable grid has much more option to customize the apps menu than another, such as rearrange the apps position, add or remove folder, create new page, access app info, etc. That's may be the possible reason why this view type is set as the default.



How to edit apps menu?
As the example, we'll use the customizable grid as the view type of the apps menu. Well, here are the steps to edit apps in the apps menu:
  1. Go to Apps through Home screen.
  2. If necessary, tap the Menu key then select View type and then select Customisable grid.
  3. Tap the Menu key then select Edit.
  4. Now, the edit page will be displayed. To rearrange apps position go to the step #5, to create new folder go to the step #6, to add more apps into the folder go to the step #7, to remove apps from the folder go to the step #8, to create new page go to the step #9, to access app info go to the step #10, while to uninstall downloaded app go to the step #11.
  5. Rearrange app position:
    • Tap and hold the desired app you wish to change the position and then drag it to the new place.
    • Release to place the app to the new place.
  6. Create new folder:
    • Tap and hold the desired apps you wish to place into a new folder and then drag it to the Create folder icon located at the top of the screen.
    • Release to create new folder.
    • Type the name of the new folder and then tap OK button
    • The selected app will reside in the new folder.
    • To remove the folder, tap and hold the folder and drag it to the Remove icon at the top of the screen then release to remove the folder and place the apps inside it to the apps menu.
  7. Add more apps into the folder:
    Method #1
    • Tap and hold another app and then drag it to the folder.
    • Release to place the app into the folder.
    Method #2
    • Tap the folder.
    • Tap the Plus sign circled icon.
    • Now you'll see the checkbox appears in each app.
    • Check the box in the desired apps you wish to add to the folder.
    • Tap Done button.
    • The selected apps will be added to the folder.
  8. Remove app from the folder:
    • Tap the folder.
    • All the apps inside the folder will be displayed.
    • Tap and hold the desired app you wish to remove from the folder and then drag it out.
    • Release to remove app from the folder and place it to the apps menu.
  9. Create new page:
    • Tap and hold the desired app you wish to move to the new page and then drag it to the Create page icon located at the top of the screen.
    • Release to create new page.
  10. Access app info:
    • Tap and hold the desired app and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
    • Release to view the app info.
    • From here you can do some actions, such as clear default, clear cache, clear data, force stop, move to SD card/move to device storage, uninstall/disable app, as well as enable or disable notifications of the selected app.
  11. Uninstall downloaded app:
  12. This step can't be applied for the stock apps.
    • Tap and hold certain downloaded app and then drag it to the Uninstall icon located at the top of the screen.
    • Release to uninstall the app.
    • Tap OK button.
  13. Tap Save button to save the changes.

FYI, if you choose the alphabetical grid as the view type then the step #5(rearrange the app position) and #9(create new page) will not available. While, if you choose the alphabetical list then you'll not allowed to edit the apps in the apps menu. So, the conclusion is: if you want to edit the apps menu then you should choose the customizable grid or alphabetical grid as the view type. Well, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Organize Apps in the Applications Menu

Samsung Galaxy SIV has comes with several pre-installed apps to meet the basic needs of the user. But, if you're not satisfied with these pre-installed apps or wants to install another apps, then you can do so easily by downloading and installing the desired apps from the Google Play Store.

See also: How to Download and Install Free Apps from the Google Play Store in Samsung Galaxy S4

You can see and access all installed apps through the application menu. By default, the apps in the application menu are displayed in the customizable 3x4 grid which will place all pre-installed apps in the first place and then the recent installed apps in the next place. The flaws of this default layout is the apps will looks like not organized well and sometimes makes us end up to spend more time to swipe back and forth in the apps menu to find certain apps. So, if you don't like this default, you can change the way of the application menu to arrange all apps by changing the view type option available in here.


How to change view type in the applications menu?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. Go to Apps through Home screen.
  2. Tap the Menu key then select View type.
  3. You'll see three options available in the pop up menu. They are:
    • Customizable grid: This is the default view type used by the apps menu which will display the apps in the 4x5 grid layout. When you choose this option, you will allowed to rearrange the apps position as your wish as well as add a new page if there's no more room available to place the new installed apps.
    • Alphabetical grid: This option will display the apps in the 4x5 grid alphabetically
    • Alphabetical list: This option will display one app per row in the vertical list alphabetically. When you choose this option, you can jump to another apps easily by tapping the letter category displayed at the right side of the screen, for instance when you tap the letter A then all apps which is beginning with the letter A will be displayed in the screen.
  4. Select the desired view type you wish to use. If the radio button next to the option shows green means the option is selected.
  5. Now, the apps will be sorted according to the view type you've just selected.

As a note, each view type option has their own advantage and disadvantage, so choose the best one that suit your needs. Choose the right view type will help you to improve your experience while you're in the application menu.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Air View

The first time Samsung Galaxy SIV was released in the past year, one thing that being the talk of the town of this phone is the new advanced features which are pinned inside it. One of which is the air gesture feature which will allow you to control the phone without actually having to touch the screen. Though this feature is not supports with all apps, but an air gesture icon will be displayed at the top of the screen to inform you when this feature is available.

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

Another feature which is similar with the air gesture available in this phone is the air view. When you enable this feature, you can preview helpful information in the apps that supports with this features simply by hovering your finger over the screen.



How to enable and use air view?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap My device tab.
  3. Slide the switch next to Air view option to the right to enable this option.
  4. Tap Air view.
  5. Here you'll see some air view features. To enable and use information preview go to the step #6, progress preview go to the step #7, speed dial preview go to the step #8, webpage magnifier go to the step #9, while to enable or disable Sound and haptic feedback go to the step #10.
  6. Enable and use Information preview:
    • Slide the switch next to Information preview to the right to enable this option. Enable this option will allow you to preview information, extend text, or enlarge pictures by hovering your fingers over the screen.
    • Tap Information preview to try to use this feature in the S Planner app, Gallery app and the Messaging app by tapping the Try it button.
  7. Enable and use Progress preview:
    • Slide the switch next to Progress preview to the right to enable this option. Enable this option will allow you to preview a scene or show elapsed time by hovering your fingers over the progress bar.
    • Tap Progress preview and then tap Try it button to try to use this feature while play back the video.
  8. Enable and use Speed dial preview:
    • Slide the switch next to Speed dial preview to the right to enable this option. Enable this option will allow you to preview the contacts assigned to speed dial numbers by hovering your fingers over the keypad.
    • Tap Speed dial preview and then tap Try it button to try to use this feature while using the Phone app.
  9. Enable and use Webpage magnifier:
    • Slide the switch next to Webpage magnifier to the right to enable this option. Enable this option will allow you to magnify the content of the webpages by hovering your fingers over the screen.
    • Tap Webpage magnifier then tap Try it button to try to use this feature while using the Browser app to browse the web.
  10. Enable or disable Sound and haptic feedback:
    Depending on your current settings, tap Sound and haptic feedback to enable or disable this option. When the box next the option is ticked means this option is enabled. Also, enable this option will make the phone to play sound and vibrate when you're hovering your finger over the air view items.

Indeed, the air view is really cool feature but this feature does suspected by lot of users as one of the thing which will causing the battery drained more faster. So, if you're tight with the battery life issue, it'll be better if you only use the air view feature as needed.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Adjust Screen Brightness

Aside from going to the Settings menu, the Samsung Galaxy SIV user does allowed to access certain option through the notification panel. By default, there are 10 quick setting buttons in the notification panel which will allow you to quickly enable or disable them and a brightness slider allows you to adjust the screen brightness quickly from there.

See also: How to Customize Notification Panel in Samsung Galaxy S4

In certain case, you might be need to adjust the screen brightness manually to fit it with your situation, such as: you might be need to increase the brightness under the sunlight or decrease the brightness in the brighter environment. You could also decide to turn on automatic brightness to let the phone adjusts the best brightness for the screen.


How to change the screen brightness?
Generally, there are two methods available to do so as listed in the steps below:


Method #1: From the notification panel
  1. Swipe your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom to open up the notification panel.
  2. Slide the brightness slider to the left to decrease the screen brightness or to the right to increase the screen brightness manually. Or, you can also check the box in the left side of the Auto option to enable automatic brightness.


Method #2: From the Settings menu
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap My device tab.
  3. Tap Display.
  4. Tap Brightness.
  5. Slide the brightness slider to the left to decrease the screen brightness or to the right to increase the screen brightness manually. Or, you can also check the box in the left side of the Automatic brightness to enable this option.

FYI, if you turn on the automatic brightness, you may noticed that the screen became more dimmer compared when you turn off this option. It occurs to avoid overheating and to conserve the battery power consumed by the huge screen by reducing maximum brightness.