Related
With the release of NFC Task Launcher 4.1 I'm consolidating the threads into one application thread.
Market Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jwsoft.nfcactionlauncher
Put an NFC tag in your car, home, office and bedroom and automatically change settings, and launch apps by touching a tag. NFC Task Launcher supports all tags now with a fixed ID, writeable and read-only tags. A cloud service is used to store payloads that are too large to fit on a tag or don't fit on a tag. This way anyone who scans your tag will see the same actions performed (including you if you mistakenly clear app data or get a new device).
5/1/2013 - 6.0
- New Tablet layout for 7" tablets in landscape and 10" tablets and slight UI tweaks for phone layout.
- Task processing and execution should now be much quicker in most instances and less prone to closing
- Added Chinese localization (Simplified and Traditional)
- SMS now shows the number in the list of actions after adding
- Support for time and date (%t and %d) place holders added to Text to Speech, Tweets, Emails and SMS messages
- Notification light settings updated to respect Samsung specific device settings
- Tweaked lock screen controls to try to offer a more consistent experience. A root plugin will follow in the near future for full control of lock screen settings.
- URLs opened in the background now support users[email protected] format for passing in login credentials
4/10/2013 - 5.0.1
- Free tags has been removed for now. We've run through our stock of free tags quicker than anticipated!
- Notification and Ringer Sound actions should now set the previous
ringtone on failure
- TTS worker will now set the volume up termporarilly if it is
silenced and then back down to the current level when completed
- Continued tweaking of Wifi triggers for better detection of connect/disconnect
- Fixes for setting Brightness on LG devices and some inconsistent behaviors
- All translations can now use WEP, WPA, WPA2 and Open configurations. (64 bit WEP)
- Fixes for reported crashes
- Fix for crash when generating message from setting an alarm
- When adding Close App to a tag a notification is now shown alerting users that root access is needed in most instances
- Support for killing multiple PIDs based on package ownership
4/4/2013 - 5.0
- Start/Stop Drive Agent
- Changes to free tags (posting to social media is now optional)
- Placeholder support for Twitter tweets (%t for time and %d for date). This will be expanded to other text fields as well soon (TTS, Email, SMS, etc).
- 1x1 Widgets. Pick your task, icon and background for 1x1 widgets (also works with switch tasks).
- SIP calling
- Start and Stop Media Playback as separate features
- The NFC restriction has been removed and WiFi / Bluetooth triggers are now available on non NFC devices.
- Importing a tag with no actions should now prompt you to create a task and take you directly into that flow
- Free tags no longer require a tweet. You can fill out the form from the app itself and optionally post to Twitter / Google+ (although we appreciate it if you do!)
Fixes:
- Fixed Wifi Connect not working for tags using SSID only
- Further tweaks to Wifi connect / disconnect (this is still in progress)
- Fixed Russian translation so that disable works on actions
- Fixed a Samsung specific issue regarding Blocking mode
- Fixed an issue with Wifi Hotspot not resuming if Wifi had to be disabled before starting hotspot
- Fixed a potential crash in Free Tags
- Removed WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS request from GPS action
If you have any issues, questions or suggestions please let me know.
Here's a quick demo I made:
Thanks for the 4.1 update.
But I don't understand or find any setting about this new function:
We've also set up a cloud service to cache this payload for anyone else who taps this tag. They will perform a one time download of the payload and cache it on their device. This way you and anyone else can use any tag without worrying about the size or contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lwclam said:
Thanks for the 4.1 update.
But I don't understand or find any setting about this new function:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no setting.
Here's what happens now. Let's say you want to write a message that is 100 bytes, but your tag is read-only or you tag is only 48 bytes. Since the entire message can't be written (or anything written) the payload is mapped locally on your device and keyed on the ID. If we can write to the tag we'll write a small message to aid in filtering.
However this breaks anyone else using this tag as the commands aren't on the tag (boo). To get around this when you write these tags the payload is pushed out to a cloud service we set up that keys on the tag's ID (this happens in the background and transfers very little data, just the size of the payload).
Now, when you scan that tag you use the local mapping.
When anyone else scans this tag NFCTL will see that
1.) it has no data and
2.) their device doesn't have a local mapping for that and will query the server to see if there's a mapping present to use. If it does it will grab that, cache it locally and then execute those actions.
Now when either of you re-scan the tag you're using a cached version of the commands and there's no network transfer or query performed. This also prevents someone else from re-writing your locally mapped tag and changing your actions.
The other benefits this holds is that if you lose your app data all of your tags will still work (the payload will be pulled down on the first tap and cached) and I've leveraged this back end to make sharing tags easier if you want to send someone a tag you've created.
Let me know if that doesn't make sense
Nice idea, but could I suggest that - just for people's peace of mind in a paranoid world - you add an option to make a tag 'private' - i.e. it only gets stored on your own phone, not on the cloud.
There might be odd occasions where you only want something to happen on your own phone, rather than anyone who happens to scan the tag. <Quickly deletes http://www.horny-porny-porn.com from all my tags >
Andre
Would you be opposed to posting the SMS Plugin APK somewhere? Or for private downloading? I've been using it on my Galaxy Nexus and so far so good. I have a messaging app on my Nexus 7 and wanted to see if the SMS feature would work on it as well. However, the Play Store won't let a Nexus 7 download it.
I understand if there are limitations to the app where it can't be installed on a tablet device. Can't hurt to ask.
andrewilley said:
Nice idea, but could I suggest that - just for people's peace of mind in a paranoid world - you add an option to make a tag 'private' - i.e. it only gets stored on your own phone, not on the cloud.
There might be odd occasions where you only want something to happen on your own phone, rather than anyone who happens to scan the tag. <Quickly deletes http://www.horny-porny-porn.com from all my tags >
Andre
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
sola fide said:
Would you be opposed to posting the SMS Plugin APK somewhere? Or for private downloading? I've been using it on my Galaxy Nexus and so far so good. I have a messaging app on my Nexus 7 and wanted to see if the SMS feature would work on it as well. However, the Play Store won't let a Nexus 7 download it.
I understand if there are limitations to the app where it can't be installed on a tablet device. Can't hurt to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send me a PM with your email and I'll send it over this weekend.
andrewilley said:
Nice idea, but could I suggest that - just for people's peace of mind in a paranoid world - you add an option to make a tag 'private' - i.e. it only gets stored on your own phone, not on the cloud.
There might be odd occasions where you only want something to happen on your own phone, rather than anyone who happens to scan the tag. <Quickly deletes http://www.horny-porny-porn.com from all my tags >
Andre
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe Prior to this release all data was encoded on the tags themselves *always*. It still is if there is sufficient space. Portability between devices has been the model since day one. It's something we can discuss though.
Hey, I have programmed a tag to check in at foursquare but when I use it, it opens NFC task launcher instead of FS, why? If anyone uses it, it opens NFC, not the check-in.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
abejoker said:
Hey, I have programmed a tag to check in at foursquare but when I use it, it opens NFC task launcher instead of FS, why? If anyone uses it, it opens NFC, not the check-in.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NFC Task Launcher uses Foursquare's API to check you in in the background (it will need to do a one time authorization).
Not sure if I'm the only one but the switch mode sometimes takes forever to complete the 3-5 specified actions upon activation. Just before the last update, the actions complete within 2 seconds or less but now, it can take up to a minute or more. Even Android prompts up to 2 times for whether to kill the non responding NFCTL and I had to select wait each time. Since the root access toast message appear just when the actions are executed, it suggests that the waiting time is just the application trying to figure out what are to be executed. My guess is that it might be that the caching/syncing/downloading is bugged and my phone is downloading the actions from server every time instead of just once. The server may also be overloaded or slow to respond so it takes forever to re-download the actions to be performed on every scan of the tag.
Switching action 1
- Enable desktop dock
- Disable vibration during ring
- Disable lock screen
Switching action 2
- Disable desktop dock
- Disable auto rotate
- Enable vibration during ring
- Enable lock screen
- Close applciation (Navigation)
On my old phone I had similar issues with another app and thought that because the toast messages were coming slow that it must be a problem with the app. I then decided to disable the toast messages and found that they were actually the source of the lag. It may be something to try with troubleshooting your issue.
~Nexus S 4G~AOKP JB~Matrix 24.0~
matthewchng said:
Not sure if I'm the only one but the switch mode sometimes takes forever to complete the 3-5 specified actions upon activation. Just before the last update, the actions complete within 2 seconds or less but now, it can take up to a minute or more. Even Android prompts up to 2 times for whether to kill the non responding NFCTL and I had to select wait each time. Since the root access toast message appear just when the actions are executed, it suggests that the waiting time is just the application trying to figure out what are to be executed. My guess is that it might be that the caching/syncing/downloading is bugged and my phone is downloading the actions from server every time instead of just once. The server may also be overloaded or slow to respond so it takes forever to re-download the actions to be performed on every scan of the tag.
Switching action 1
- Enable desktop dock
- Disable vibration during ring
- Disable lock screen
Switching action 2
- Disable desktop dock
- Disable auto rotate
- Enable vibration during ring
- Enable lock screen
- Close applciation (Navigation)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a query issue. If you wrote the tag and the entire message fits on the tag it's written to the tag. If it doesn't it's cached locally. There's no query. If you didn't write the tag and it's a tag that had to be pushed to the cloud you do a one time query and then cache the instruction set. Subsequent attempts to execute that tag use the cached payload. Unless you ended up with an unwritable database (in which case tags wouldn't save either when you created them) there's no reason it would re-query on every scan.
Enable debugging in the app, scan the tag and send me the generated log.
krohnjw said:
It's not a query issue. If you wrote the tag and the entire message fits on the tag it's written to the tag. If it doesn't it's cached locally. There's no query. If you didn't write the tag and it's a tag that had to be pushed to the cloud you do a one time query and then cache the instruction set. Subsequent attempts to execute that tag use the cached payload. Unless you ended up with an unwritable database (in which case tags wouldn't save either when you created them) there's no reason it would re-query on every scan.
Enable debugging in the app, scan the tag and send me the generated log.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using a read only tag. In any case, just did another test without even using a tag. Used the widget to switch between the 2 available modes. Put phone in Airplane mode but still get that long delay issue so that rules out server issues. The actions were executed successfully as long as I keep selecting "wait" when Android prompt to kill NFCTL multiple times. What can I do that can provide you with the info to track down the root of the problem?
matthewchng said:
I was using a read only tag. In any case, just did another test without even using a tag. Used the widget to switch between the 2 available modes. Put phone in Airplane mode but still get that long delay issue so that rules out server issues. The actions were executed successfully as long as I keep selecting "wait" when Android prompt to kill NFCTL multiple times. What can I do that can provide you with the info to track down the root of the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What device is this on? Enable debugging, scan the tag and send me the log.
krohnjw said:
What device is this on? Enable debugging, scan the tag and send me the log.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Attached. Just activated one action from the widget.
Version: 4.1.1
OS: 4.2
Galaxy Nexus
matthewchng said:
Attached. Just activated one action from the widget.
Version: 4.1.1
OS: 4.2
Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ANR from running the root command for dock mode. It's taking 4+ seconds before returning and broadcasting. I'll pull it into a background task like other root operations.
PM me an email address and I can send a test build in a bit.
krohnjw said:
ANR from running the root command for dock mode. It's taking 4+ seconds before returning and broadcasting. I'll pull it into a background task like other root operations.
PM me an email address and I can send a test build in a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was 4 minutes. Not 4 seconds... 10:02pm started but finished at 10:06pm. Email to my username @gmail.com.
matthewchng said:
That was 4 minutes. Not 4 seconds... 10:02pm started but finished at 10:06pm. Email to my username @gmail.com.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reading is a key skill ANR's should pop after 5 seconds of an unresponsive UI thread.
Are you getting the prompt for root access?
krohnjw said:
Reading is a key skill ANR's should pop after 5 seconds of an unresponsive UI thread.
Are you getting the prompt for root access?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already granted and saved before so no more prompt. But I do get the Android prompt asking if I want to kill an unresponsive process to which I just kept selecting wait. . Let me get a screen capture of the prompt.
The action will eventually be completed given enough time.
Original source by Andrew Williams :-> HERE
50 Samsung Galaxy S4 Tips and TricksFor novice users
Hi everybody
So you decided to join the ranks of Android and the millions of happy Galaxy S4 owners. But It can be troublesome to setup your phone at the beginning. So I decided to search for you some little tricks you can use to better know and use your phone. I found this excellent article by Andrew Williams. I modified some content to better fit XDA's forum format but the info are the same. I also add a touchwiz tweaks that was not in the article. Here are 50 useful tips and tricks for new (even less new) Galaxy S4 users to pull out the best of your phone. Enjoy!
This is a Tips and Tricks guide, to see all you can do with your new Galaxy S4 please read ->Galaxy S4 Bloatware explained
TouchwizMake Touchwiz go faster.
To make Touchwiz look good, Samsung created some animations to transit between screens. These animations take some times and can make your phone seems slow. The solution is to go in your phone Settings-> Developer options and turn off -> "Windows animation scale", "Transition animation scale" and "Animator duration scale". Now check how much snappier your phone is.:good:
If Developer Options is not enable go to SETTINGS->About Phone and tap BUILD NUMBER for 7 times.
***You can also turn on "Force GPU rendering" but SOME applications don't like that, so you can try it, but if you find you start having problem with some of your applications, turn it off.
Ringtones - Alarms - Notifications - Media FilesPut your Sounds in the system.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 allows us to use mp3 as ringtones, alarms or notifications. But if like me you have over 16G of music on your phone it might be annoying to "Go To Files" and search for them. Another way to do it is by creating a folder where Android will automatically look in and put the files in the "Ringtones". To do this just create a folder called "Media" on your sd-card. Inside the Media folders create 3 more folders "Ringtones", "Alarms" and "Notifications". It should look like this.
Media..
--------Alarms
--------Notifications
--------Ringtones
Now move/copy your mp3 files in the according folders. Now if you go on your phone settings->sounds->device ringtones you should see your mp3 files in the list.(Phone restart might be needed)
Remove unwanted media files
To remove unwanted media files (pictures, audio) that do not belong in the gallery or in your music player, just create an empty file and name it ".nomedia". Place a .nomedia file at the root of any folder you don't wan't to see appear in your Gallery or Music player. Android will skip scannnig those folder. You can always open those files later by using a file explorer.
Screen and video
Get AMOLED colours in check
OLED-based screens like the Samsung Galaxy S4's tend to bring oversaturated colours that make skin tones look unnatural. They pop, but they pop a little too much. There's a solution, though. In the settings menu is a Display Setting submenu that lets you choose how vivid the colours are. We recommend the "natural" or "movie" settings.
Fill video codec gaps with third-party players
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has an excellent inbuilt media player, but there are some files it can't handle. We found that high-quality 1080p MKVs were too much for it. Snag a third-party media player like MX Player from the Google Play app store, though, and you'll be flying. These can use software encoding to fill gaps in native video support.
Video multi-tasking is in
One of the neatest additional features of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 is that you can overlay a video playback screen on top of any part of the phone. Just press a button in the nav bar of the media player and a little window will pop-up on the homescreen, playing the vid. Watch an episode of Peep Show while browsing the web? Don't mind if I do.
Free games to show off the screen
One of the best ways to show off the Sasmung Galaxy S4's screen is with a fancy 3D game. Top free picks to try include Dead Trigger.
Not bright enough? Turn off auto
The standard setting of the Samsung Galaxy S4 uses automatic brightness, which judges the intensity of screen brightness using an ambient light sensor on the front. If it's still not bright enough at the max slider point, switch off the auto mode for real searing intensity. But it will affect battery life.
The microUSB port can output video
The Samsung Galaxy S4's microUSB port is more special than you might guess. It has MHL capabilities when used with a special Samsung cable, letting it output HD video and surround audio. The Samsung adapter, which is essentially an MHL-to-HDMI converter costs around £25. The Samsung Galaxy S4 does not come bundled with one, though.
Mini home cinema? Tick the surround box
If you want to output surround sound, make sure you tick the Surround box within the Settings menu. This isn't within the Audio bit, which you might expect, but is actually in the Accessory submenu.
Battery life
Keep battery life riding high with auto management
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a massive 2600mAh battery. Stamina is good at the worst of times, but there's also an auto power management mode to make the most of the phone's juice. It's called Power Saving and has its own section within the main Settings menu. It can throttle the CPU, change the background of the web browser to conserve power (it turns the white background blue), and turns off haptic feedback. These are compromises, but they do work.
Switch off features for extra battery life
The best way to conserve power in any phone is to switch off features - most importantly 3G mobile internet. You can do this manually in the Samsung Galaxy S4, directly from the pull-down notifications menu, and apps such as MySettings let you do the same thing.
Reduce screen timeout time
Another dead simple trick is to reduce the screen timeout time. This is in the Display submenu within settings, and lets you choose between 15 sec and 10 minutes of time the screen stays lit after a screen press. It's hardly a secret, but it is something not enough people consider.
Grab a spare battery, live forever
In a time of non-removable batteries - the HTC One and iPhone 5 to name but two - we love that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a removable battery. You can swap it out within about 15 seconds. Spare batteries are available from eBay for well under £10. We recommend shopping around for a reliable brand though as some third-party batteries are as dodgy as Del Boy's VCRs.
Interface
One for your grandma? Easy home screen mode
Here's one feature we were a little surprised to see in a device that's such a geek's dreamphone. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a mode called Easy home screen, which simplifies the layout of the phone's home screens in a way that even your technophobe grandma might be able to get along with.
Full screenshots are easy
Like the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Galaxy S4 makes it pretty easy to take screenshots of whatever's on the phone's display. Just hold down the home button and the power button at the same time, wait or a white flash and a screenshot will be taken and whisked over to the Gallery app.
A cooler/easier way to take screenshot is to swipe the palm of your hand from right to left. For this to work you need to enable "Motion" in Settings and check "Palm swipe capture".
Don't forget side-loading of apps
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is an Android device, with all the benefits that brings. You don't have to rely on the official Google Play app store for one, with APK installation files available for all sorts of other apps online. Be careful, though, as Android viruses are a real issue.
Customise your phone with non-Samsung widgets
Samsung supplied a nice handful of widgets with which you can customize your home screens, but far too few people try a new look with third-party widgets from Google Play. And there are loads out them out there. Some of our old faves include those of the Beautiful Widgets package.
Gadgets and Gimmicks
Motion control
Here's one we're not big fans of, but some of you may like it. The Samsung Galaxy S4 lets you control things like the photo gallery and the navigation of you home screens using the accelerometer - by tilting your phone, basically. You can turn it off, though, and it's set to "off" as standard. Phew.
Face unlock
A bit Minority Report, this one. The Samsung Galaxy S4 can scan your face to unlock your phone. It takes a picture of your mug, remembers the basic geometry of it and then scans your face whenever you try and unlock the phone. It works pretty well, but as a security measure is about as flimsy as the padlock on a filofax.
Smart Stay
The last user-facing camera gimmick is one that sounds kinda neat in principle. It scans for your eyes to check if you're reading, and if it spots them, Smart Stay stops the backlight from turning off. It's designed to make reading on the Samsung Galaxy S4 a good deal less frustrating. It's a feature you'll find in the Settings menu.
Jelly Bean easter egg
The Jelly Bean easter egg has made it in the Samsung Galaxy S4. Go to Settings menu > About device and tap on the Android version number entry. You'll be transported to a screen with a picture of a giant jelly bean on it. Hold your finger down on said jelly bean and the screen will fill up with dozens of the blighters, which you can flick around. Pure joy.
Arrange your music by moods
The music player of the Samsung Galaxy S4 features a fun little extra called Music square. This scans through your music library, arranging the tracks by mood - passionate, calm, exciting, joyful or a little in-between. Tap a block in the 5x5 square grid and you'll be greeted with a tune to match your mood.
Storage
Expandable storage - where to get it cheap
If you're out to spend as little as possible (and the Galaxy S4 doesn't come cheap as it is), your best bet is to buy the cheapest 16GB model, and supplement any other storage needs with a microSD card. Top retailers for bargain basement-price memory cards include 7DayShop and Ebuyer. A 32GB microSD card these days will set you back less than £15 if you shop hard enough.
Flush the cache for extra memory
If you find yourself running low on memory, you can easily delete the cache and temporary files of any apps you have installed. To do this, go to the Applications Manager section within settings and tap on an app to see how much memory it's leeching. There will be buttons to wipe the cache and data for the app here.
Comes with 50GB of dropbox storage
Cloud storage is the future - you may not like it, but you may as well embrace it. Samsung Galaxy S4 owners get to benefit from 50GB of free cloud storage from one of the best providers out there - Dropbox. There are Dropbox apps for mobiles, tablets and computers, and it honestly works like a dream. If this won't convert you, nothing will. You only normally get 2GB of free from Dropbox, making it a pretty sweet deal.
Don't sync, drag 'n' drop
If you chose to go Android rather than opting for an iPhone, there's a good chance that the open-ness of the platform had something to do with it. Samsung is keen on trying to make its users adopt the Kies desktop software, but it's actually completely unnecessary. Plug the Samsung Galaxy S4 into a computer with a microUSB cable and it'll show up as a media player drive, which you can drag and drop all kinds of files onto. Transfer speeds are impressively fast too.
Contacts
Nab contacts from Facebook and Twitter
When we first got our Samsung Galaxy S4 in, it didn't have any of the usual social apps installed. Even if you're not a massive mobile Facebook-er, it's worth giving the app a download because it lets you harvest contacts from the network, making populating your contacts book a good deal easier.
Blocking Mode
Do you have a bug-a-boo stalking you? Is there a creep who keeps calling? The Samsung Galaxy S4 lets you keep them away with the blocking mode. It restricts notifications and calls from all but your approved contacts - and that can be at all times, or just during the hours you choose.
Camera and Video
Use HDR mode in mixed lighting - or all the time
The 13-megapixel sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is pretty good on its own, but the neat camera app ups its skills significantly. One of our favourite bonus bits is the HDR mode. This effectively combines multiple exposure in a single shot to bring out extra detail in shadows. Both the HDR and normal shots are saved, meaning there's very little downside - other than that taking shots is a little bit slower.
Check out slow and fast motion modes
Nestled within the menus of the video camera app are fast and slow motion modes, capturing either more or fewer frames per second than normal. It's not quite the 120fps mode you get in some dedicated cameras, but will come in handy if you're trying to video a sports event, for example.
Don't forget video effects
The Samsung Galaxy S4 doesn't have the fun face-distorting video effects you get with a vanilla Jelly Bean phone, but it does have a range of funky filters. There are colour pop modes, extracting all but certain shades from your videos, and the cartoon filter is perfect for some arty rotoscope-style vids.
Give the exposure longer time than the sound effect suggests
Each time you take a photo, a shutter sound plays in the Samsung Galaxy S4. However, we found that occasionally the phone needs a little bit longer to attain a solid focus. Hold still for an extra half-second for good measure.
Get vid previews with Air View
Using Air View, if you hold your finger over the transport bar of a movie clip in the media player, you'll be given a preview of what's going on in the film at that point. It makes finding the right part of a film or TV a doddle.
Connectivity
Don't go over you allowance, with Data Usage
A staple Android feature is the Data Usage counter. This can be found within the Settings menu, and it monitors your data usage, showing it as a colourful graph. You can use it to cut off your mobile data connection once you reach a certain limit, to ensure you won't get charged by your carrier.
Wi-Fi sync with Kies
We've already endorsed drag 'n' drop file transfers over Kies sync'ing, but if you're a Kies fan, don't forget that you can also sync wirelessly. To set this feature up, scroll to the bottom of the More Settings sub-menu, where you'll find the Kies via Wi-Fi option.
S Beam
A feature introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S3, S Beam uses a mixture of NFC and Wi-Fi Direct to let you transfer files between compatible Samsung phones. You just need to tap the phones together to get them playing. S Beam needs to be switched on, though, from within the Wireless and Networks menu.
NFC lets you buy coffee
The NFC connectivity of the Samsung Galaxy S4 also let you buy small items such as cups of coffee, sandwiches and the like. Several big high street chains have taken the NFC plunge, including Starbucks and EAT, using apps to let you dump credit onto your phone.
Share screens with Group Cast
Group Cast used to be just about sending a video file from, say, your phone to your Blu-ray player. But now it does a lot more. Group Cast lets you send your Galaxy S4's screen contents to another display, a bit like AirPlay Mirroring.
Forget Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct is better
Wi-Fi Direct is tied into the S Beam transfer feature, but you can also use it easily on its own. This is a version of Wi-Fi that doesn't need an internet connection, as it can hook-up directly with another compatible device. It some ways it's a successor to Bluetooth, letting you transfer files, and at a much greater speed than old Bluetooth could handle.
S-voiceThe Galaxy S4 comes with voice controlled app. Only some Samsung apps can be controlled via S-voice but the most important are covered. Once you start S-voice and pass thru the initial setup just go on settings and enable “control apps”.
Camera
You can now take pictures of yourself without holding the phone. Just put the phone on an improvised stand pose and shout SHOOT!
Music Player
You can also control the music player via Bluetooth or directly. It answers to PLAY, PAUSE, NEXT, PREVIOUS, VOLUME UP, VOLUME DOWN and RESUME.
Phone
You can also respond to a phone call by just by saying ANSWER or REJECT, This will put the phone on speaker(if previously setup)
Alarm
You can stop or snooze alarms with the command STOP and SNOOZE(pretty straight forward)
EXTRAPlay Multiplayer games with Group Cast
Group Cast allows for multiplayer games to be played on several phones simultaneously. Of course, only supported games work
Samsung introduced its new Galaxy S4 game controller.
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NEW Hide Your Bloatware (from eyecon82)
You can hide icons in the app drawer by pressing menu key and selecting which app icons you don't want showing. You can also arrange your icons alphabetically by going into app drawer, menu key, view type, alphabetical.
Enjoy!:good:
PS: Without comments this thread will fall in the abyss of the system(unless it becomes a sticky, which would be good). So please keep it alive with a little reply. thanks.
<-- Don't forget to hit THANKS if I helped
Great tips, thanks! Some things in here I wasn't fully familiar with, so it's great to have a refresher course. I'm still amazed just by every little function and feature that can be packed into such small devices now. There's multiple ways to perform almost any task or process on the phone, which adds so much flexibility.
According to Displaymate, Auto screen mode has a higher maximum peak brightness than manual. Also, having HDR camera mode always on is NOT recommended.
Great tips, thanks!
How do you get the 50gb free from drop box?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
tony1208 said:
How do you get the 50gb free from drop box?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just log in to dropbox with your Galaxy S4
Hmm I logged on via the app on my gs4 using me Dropbox account I been using and the 50gb isn't there. Do I need a new account?
Sent from my Galaxy S4
tony1208 said:
Hmm I logged on via the app on my gs4 using me Dropbox account I been using and the 50gb isn't there. Do I need a new account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have Dropbox on your computer? If not, you might need to install Dropbox on your computer and then Log from your computer. I don't know exactly how it works. All I know is when I logged to Dropbox I had 50g available.
I thought the s4 had a 13mp camera
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
jamal777 said:
I thought the s4 had a 13mp camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. OP updated Thanks
Kremata said:
Do you have Dropbox on your computer? If not, you might need to install Dropbox on your computer and then Log from your computer. I don't know exactly how it works. All I know is when I logged to Dropbox I had 50g available.
Edit: Apparently you need to register to Dropbox from the initial setup from when your phone was new. So you might need to make a factory reset. It might also not work with custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to do it from the initial setup.
I tried logging in to my old Dropbox account but haven't used it for ages so had to change password. I skipped the login at the initial setup, changed password on the Dropbox website and then logged into the app with my existing account. I then got an email a couple of seconds later saying I now have 50GB.
mshaw03 said:
You don't need to do it from the initial setup.
I tried logging in to my old Dropbox account but haven't used it for ages so had to change password. I skipped the login at the initial setup, changed password on the Dropbox website and then logged into the app with my existing account. I then got an email a couple of seconds later saying I now have 50GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know, I will remove my edit.
this is... amazing.
coming from a droid 3 this is really going to help me out. ive been trying out the display model of the s3 but without a little guidance its impossible to see all the things you can do with it
BoneXDA said:
According to Displaymate, Auto screen mode has a higher maximum peak brightness than manual. Also, having HDR camera mode always on is NOT recommended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't leave it on always. It turns back to normal when you turn off the camera.
Kremata said:
You can't leave it on always. It turns back to normal when you turn off the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't leave what on always?
BoneXDA said:
You can't leave what on always?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HDR mode
Perfect! As an ex apple user, i find posts like this really useful in making that transition a whole lot easier. Thanks OP :good:
Hello, I don't know if here is the right place to ask that, but I'm thinking about to get one S4, I have a S3 for now, and my question is, the S3 stock ROM has a contact lag, it takes about 1 or 2 sec to open the contacts, it's like it did not keep contacts on main memory, so every time you open it, it take that secs. It really bother me, but Jkay has fixed that on S3.
I'd like to know if S4 has that lag too? Runnig stock.
Thanks a lot.
can't seem to find "developer options"?
4.2.2 to enable developer options go to settings about phone. And tap android version 3 times
Sent from my XT912 using xda premium
Not sure if theres already a thread (dont think there is but I havent searched far)
Things I would like to see are:
Official Social Media Apps - Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter integration etc.
S Voice Improvement - Feel like it lacks a whopping amount, I literally feel like the only thing I can ask it to do is Call / Message someone or Open an app or request the weather (Which is on my homescreen anyway). Things that surprised me is that it can't play a song on the device on request, or open an application on the phone on request etc. I feel like it should run its responses through the official S Voice app on the phone if the request isn't a direct Gear command.
Lock security on wrist - Phone lock security on the wrist, I understand there is already the "Autolock" but some nice security features would possibly be a pin unlock that shows up on watch (or on phone if not connected) or a pattern unlock, gives more security options. Or even when clicking the option in notifications to "Open on phone" that it bypasses the lockscreen.
Remote Phone Viewer - Somewhat like teamviewer but where you can actually view your phones screen, scroll around and interact from your wrist, might be slow and tedious but would be a fun feature and extend its capabilities into the phone itself.
Unified Remote application for PC control - I always find Unified remote a good application for remote access to PC's it would be nice to see them develop an application for the wrist!
Android Wear Application integration, allowing tizen to run android wear apps, I feel if Samsung don't allow this, or don't speed up the process of passing applications their smart watches will be outran by watches such as the Moto 360.
Think thats all my ideas so far, would love to hear yours!
I would like to see an application like Shazam.
LiamS said:
Not sure if theres already a thread (dont think there is but I havent searched far)
Things I would like to see are:
Official Social Media Apps - Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter integration etc.
S Voice Improvement - Feel like it lacks a whopping amount, I literally feel like the only thing I can ask it to do is Call / Message someone or Open an app or request the weather (Which is on my homescreen anyway). Things that surprised me is that it can't play a song on the device on request, or open an application on the phone on request etc. I feel like it should run its responses through the official S Voice app on the phone if the request isn't a direct Gear command.
Lock security on wrist - Phone lock security on the wrist, I understand there is already the "Autolock" but some nice security features would possibly be a pin unlock that shows up on watch (or on phone if not connected) or a pattern unlock, gives more security options. Or even when clicking the option in notifications to "Open on phone" that it bypasses the lockscreen.
Remote Phone Viewer - Somewhat like teamviewer but where you can actually view your phones screen, scroll around and interact from your wrist, might be slow and tedious but would be a fun feature and extend its capabilities into the phone itself.
Unified Remote application for PC control - I always find Unified remote a good application for remote access to PC's it would be nice to see them develop an application for the wrist!
Android Wear Application integration, allowing tizen to run android wear apps, I feel if Samsung don't allow this, or don't speed up the process of passing applications their smart watches will be outran by watches such as the Moto 360.
Think thats all my ideas so far, would love to hear yours!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want Google now and a MUCH better texting program. I want to be able to receive the test and reply to it in one step.
TelloMan said:
I want Google now and a MUCH better texting program. I want to be able to receive the test and reply to it in one step.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flesky Messengers lets you do the 2nd bit?
LiamS said:
Flesky Messengers lets you do the 2nd bit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but you need to exit whichever notification you are in and go into Flesky. IMO, Flesky is slow, even with the latest update. Takes a few seconds to open and doesn't automatically refresh your feed. Very annoying that something better hasn't come out from Tizen yet. :crying:
twoesse said:
I would like to see an application like Shazam.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres an app called Gearam Music ID which works like shazam ive tested it and its pretty good!
TelloMan said:
Yes, but you need to exit whichever notification you are in and go into Flesky. IMO, Flesky is slow, even with the latest update. Takes a few seconds to open and doesn't automatically refresh your feed. Very annoying that something better hasn't come out from Tizen yet. :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I definitely agree with that, what annoys me about default notification app is that it takes up a huge bit of scroll space repeatedly telling you that the button below opens on the phone even though the button itself says that. Should use that space to have an "Open in watch messenger" to reply!
General keyboard
More and more apps let you type in stuff. But every app has his own made keyboard.
So a keyboard implementation general for all apps!!
Then developers can make the perfect keyboard which you can choose.
LiamS said:
Theres an app called Gearam Music ID which works like shazam ive tested it and its pretty good!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank's. I will try it.
Sorry for my bad english, i'm french.
gdanonym said:
General keyboard
More and more apps let you type in stuff. But every app has his own made keyboard.
So a keyboard implementation general for all apps!!
Then developers can make the perfect keyboard which you can choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely agree, I don't mind typing on my watch it is manageable!
and we all know we're going to be doing it discreetly (while at work) so I could just carry a thin stylus if I ever needed to, might take something finding one, I was quite disappointed that non of the s pens worked.
"Unified Remote application for PC control "
I actually asked the developers of Unified Remote about making a Tizen port of their app - or at least something that could work in conjunction with the phone app. They said they'd look into it, but I'm not holding my breath.
We'll have more luck if the Color Tiger developers who make Smart IR lite come through with their new device that is being crowdfunded as we speak - as they said that device will be able to get commands from the watch somehow.
rEVOLVE said:
"Unified Remote application for PC control "
I actually asked the developers of Unified Remote about making a Tizen port of their app - or at least something that could work in conjunction with the phone app. They said they'd look into it, but I'm not holding my breath.
We'll have more luck if the Color Tiger developers who make Smart IR lite come through with their new device that is being crowdfunded as we speak - as they said that device will be able to get commands from the watch somehow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully they do develop a watch app it would be great and promote their app much more. I would even pay for it!
At the moment im using Wearable Widgets with a 4x4 simple unified remote widget but as I don't like wearable widgets limited options on clock faces and lack of time updates I have to flick between clock faces which is impractical!
Just thought of a new one, develop sleep application to toggle your phone into a sleepmode turn sync off etc location dim screen. Then once you wake up and toggle sleep off it turns them all on!
Hi all,
I just bought a S7 Edge International version and I am trying to figure out if there is a way to activate certain apps by pressing the home key 3 time or other methods?. I didn't root the device.
My main goal is to activate Privacy mode or hide apps before letting someone use my phone. I really don't want to use the drop down then have to toggle. Takes to long.
I replied to your other post. How often do people use your phone. Doesn't everyone have their own phone these days. I can't remember the last time someone asked to use my phone. HaHa.
For now u can always block certain apps from opening requiring fingerprint scan.
U can hide them in app drawer and use a slide in launcher to reach them quickly. Edge panel or app called swipe pad.
AnThOnY- S7 Edge
iTouch24 said:
I replied to your other post. How often do people use your phone. Doesn't everyone have their own phone these days. I can't remember the last time someone asked to use my phone. HaHa.
For now u can always block certain apps from opening requiring fingerprint scan.
U can hide them in app drawer and use a slide in launcher to reach them quickly. Edge panel or app called swipe pad.
AnThOnY- S7 Edge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually use my phone for work and they flip the bill. There have been several times someone from work wanted to see my phone so they can look at drawling schematics on the job. I don't want them looking at my pictures of my family or going through my cloud service apps or seeing my Facebook apps which I don't use my real name. I don't even want them to know that I have these apps.
The cool thing about having a jailbroken iPhone with Protecti+ is I can hit my home button three times and it will make the apps I don't want to share disappear.
Maybe I can hide those apps on my SDCard or something.
JoeFromSFO said:
I actually use my phone for work and they flip the bill. There have been several times someone from work wanted to see my phone so they can look at drawling schematics on the job. I don't want them looking at my pictures of my family or going through my cloud service apps or seeing my Facebook apps which I don't use my real name. I don't even want them to know that I have these apps.
The cool thing about having a jailbroken iPhone with Protecti+ is I can hit my home button three times and it will make the apps I don't want to share disappear.
Maybe I can hide those apps on my SDCard or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to add and remove files from Private Mode on the Galaxy S7
Private Mode supports several different media types including photos and videos. Follow these steps to add supported files to Private Mode:
After you enter Private Mode for the first time, a quick walkthrough will be given and you’ll need to enter a pin code. (The Pin Code will be required every time you enter Private Mode)
Turn Private Mode On. (Settings/privacy and safety)
Go to the photo or file that you want to hide and only make viewable in Private Mode.
Select the file (s) and then select on the Overflow menu button in the upper right.
Select on Move to Private.
Geoz said:
How to add and remove files from Private Mode on the Galaxy S7
Private Mode supports several different media types including photos and videos. Follow these steps to add supported files to Private Mode:
After you enter Private Mode for the first time, a quick walkthrough will be given and you’ll need to enter a pin code. (The Pin Code will be required every time you enter Private Mode)
Turn Private Mode On. (Settings/privacy and safety)
Go to the photo or file that you want to hide and only make viewable in Private Mode.
Select the file (s) and then select on the Overflow menu button in the upper right.
Select on Move to Private.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the instructions. I was in private mode yesterday but I wasn't walked through anything but putting a password in.
Are you able to hide apps in private mode? Is there a easier way to activate / deactivate private mode instead of hitting the toggle every time?
JoeFromSFO said:
Thanks for the instructions. I was in private mode yesterday but I wasn't walked through anything but putting a password in.
Are you able to hide apps in private mode? Is there a easier way to activate / deactivate private mode instead of hitting the toggle every time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When activated you'll find it when swiped your hands from the top
How to disable Private Mode on Samsung Galaxy S7
Using two fingers from the top of the screen, swipe down to find a list of options.
From the list of options, select Private Mode.
Now the Galaxy S7 should go back to normal mode.
You can hide picture and files but to hide installed apps and more you’re probably going to have to resort to third-party apps, I'll recommend Hide It Pro which I've used for years. You can protect or hide individual files including media files like videos,audios,notes etc... but small plugin need to be downloaded
Geoz said:
When activated you'll find it when swiped your hands from the top
How to disable Private Mode on Samsung Galaxy S7
Using two fingers from the top of the screen, swipe down to find a list of options.
From the list of options, select Private Mode.
Now the Galaxy S7 should go back to normal mode.
You can hide picture and files but to hide installed apps and more you’re probably going to have to resort to third-party apps, I'll recommend Hide It Pro which I've used for years. You can protect or hide individual files including media files like videos,audios,notes etc... but small plugin need to be downloaded
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for information. I will checkout Hide it Pro.
Is it true wifi calling, Visual Voicemail, Samsung Pay does not work on the international s7 edge version even if I put an att rom on it?
JoeFromSFO said:
Thank you for information. I will checkout Hide it Pro.
Is it true wifi calling, Visual Voicemail, Samsung Pay does not work on the international s7 edge version even if I put an att rom on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think true wifi calling and Visual Voicemai is a provider based as for Samsung Pay (BTU Firmware) which is UK may support it but I don't really know. You can create a new thread and someone who may have the same problem can help you
The "users" feature introduced in android lollipop (though not perfect) would solve your problem, every user has their own password and setup (they even don't share apps installed), like an user for a pc/mac, sadly samsung get rid of that feature with touchwiz
Knox (downloadable from play) should get what you want: all apps you want gets in a secure workspace and require fingerprint to be used. For photos and videos you can use private mode or some apps like keepsafe
According to the Samsung rep I spoke to, there are only certain widgets that will work on the outer screen. I'm wondering if that's a defined list and will always be just that, or is it a matter of devs being able to add other apps' functionality on the outer screen as well in time.
A couple of examples that come to mind -
Maps navigation using the outer screen
Quick replies on texting apps. Whatsapp has reply templates and I use those a lot for standard replies. Would be real cool to not have to open the phone unless it's to type a proper reply.
I use Gmaps on the phone to navigate, and having an extra-long and relatively delicate screen open at all times isn't ideal. It just seems intuitive that the 2" screen could show nav instructions the way it does on the notifications shade.
HAXTREME said:
According to the Samsung rep I spoke to, there are only certain widgets that will work on the outer screen. I'm wondering if that's a defined list and will always be just that, or is it a matter of devs being able to add other apps' functionality on the outer screen as well in time.
A couple of examples that come to mind -
Maps navigation using the outer screen
Quick replies on texting apps. Whatsapp has reply templates and I use those a lot for standard replies. Would be real cool to not have to open the phone unless it's to type a proper reply.
I use Gmaps on the phone to navigate, and having an extra-long and relatively delicate screen open at all times isn't ideal. It just seems intuitive that the 2" screen could show nav instructions the way it does on the notifications shade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be nice, but it's up to Samsung. Or maybe could be done with root in the future.
ione2380 said:
That would be nice, but it's up to Samsung. Or maybe could be done with root in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's loosely possible now by spoofing one of the existing packages. The reason Samsung Health was selected is that it was the easiest one to replace because you can uninstall the app. With root, it would be possible to override the other widgets without causing a collision, too.
You would think Samsung will eventually publish some sort of API for it. They are big on that.
twistedumbrella said:
It's loosely possible now by spoofing one of the existing packages. The reason Samsung Health was selected is that it was the easiest one to replace because you can uninstall the app. With root, it would be possible to override the other widgets without causing a collision, too.
You would think Samsung will eventually publish some sort of API for it. They are big on that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you explain the bit about Samsung Health? Not sure where that's coming from. I've noticed Samsung has the jetpack windowmanager library in their dev notes that recognizes the fold state so apps can make use of Flex mode. I'm assuming it's a matter of time that they also do something similar for the outer screen, given that it's their first device with (a somewhat usable) one.
I've not been on Samsung since my S2 about a decade ago so not sure how dev-friendly and quick they now are.
HAXTREME said:
Could you explain the bit about Samsung Health? Not sure where that's coming from. I've noticed Samsung has the windowmanager library in their dev notes that recognizes the fold state so apps can make use of Flex mode. I'm assuming it's a matter of time that they also do something similar for the outer screen, given that it's their first device with (a somewhat usable) one.
I've not been on Samsung since my S2 about a decade ago so not sure how dev-friendly and quick they now are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[App] SubUI-browser: Browse the web on the cover screen
Patched in OneUI 4 beta 2, working on a fix... A proof of concept for custom widgets and apps on the cover screen. A GeckoView-based browser for the cover screen. What works - Custom widget - Browsing the web What doesn't - On-screen keyboard...
forum.xda-developers.com
If you look into the code, that uses the package names for Samsung Health. I assume it's on some sort of whitelist.