While many Samsung Galaxy users have been long term fans of the Android based systems in place, many are unaware of the smart phone’s full capabilities.
Although the branding of the Samsung Galaxy is most closely associated with the smartphone model, the product line also includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab series of tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Note series of tablets and stylus type phablets, the new foldable Galaxy Z phones series, and a range of smart watches that fall under the Galaxy Gear banner. All Samsung Galaxy devices use the Android operating system pioneered and produced by Google, with a custom user interface dubbed One UI, while previous versions of the system were known as Samsung Experience and TouchWiz.
While the tech giant’s reach is certainly vast when it comes to devices and products, the Samsung Galaxy range of smartphones are arguably the brand’s best seller. Industry titans like Samsung know just how much consumers value the quality, performance, bells and whistles of their smartphones, and in turn have invested heavily into them. Alongside the iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy is regarded as one of the world’s very best products in this heavily competitive marketplace.
However, in an age where smartphones can do just about anything, do the owners of such products truly know how to make the most of the things that they can do? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but let’s explore some of the lesser known hacks when it comes to mastering the performance of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
No doubt as an effort to establish themselves as market leaders, the big wigs at Samsung have added many of their own flairs to the Android based smartphone models that the company manufactures. These unique sets of capabilities are exclusive to Samsung Galaxy smartphones, so users can be forgiven if they aren’t fully aware of their phone’s capabilities.
Split Screen Capability – Although many Android phones allow users to split the screen in two as a means to view a couple of apps at once, Samsung have taken this a step further via ‘pinning’ an app – like a video, a Twitter feed or even a portion of a map – into split screen mode, leaving one clip active while you work on something else. To activate this, head to the navigation bar and tap and hold the ‘Recents’ button. Scroll to the app you want to pin, and tap on the round app icon above the window. In the dialog box, choose ‘Open In Split-Screen View’, and your dual interface is ready to rumble.
Hide Your Apps – In the increasingly digital world we live in, more and more people seem to like the reassurance that an added layer of security provides. As such, Samsung Galaxy smartphones now have a ‘Secure’ folder that more or less acts like an encrypted digital safe. Users can hide apps and files in their secure folder by setting a password, PIN, or fingerprint scan to protect them. To set up your safe, launch the Secure Folder app from your app drawer. Once you’ve protected the app, use the ‘Add Apps’ and ‘Add Files’ buttons to drop new stuff into the folder, safely hidden away from anyone who might get access to your phone.
Activate Easy Mode – It can be easy to forget sometimes that not everyone is ultra experienced with how to ‘drive’ a smartphone. Thus, if you or someone you know identifies as a rookie smartphone user, or perhaps misses the days of Nokia 3315’s, Samsung Galaxy smartphones now offer users the chance to simplify the interface via switching the home screen to ‘Easy Mode’ as a means to give quicker access to the features you need the most. To enable ‘Easy Mode’, it’s as simple as navigating to Settings > Home Screen Mode. Select ‘Easy Mode’ followed by the ‘Apply’ button, and you’re good to go.
Image Headset Control – Many Samsung users are already aware that when taking a photo or recording a video, you can zoom in and out using the volume buttons on the side of your phone. However, a little known fact is that the controls to zoom in and out can also be used from an attached headset via headphones. It’s particularly handy if you want to record steady video, as pressing the buttons on the side of your device is likely to introduce the dreaded camera shake and induce a lower quality result. Instead, users can record steady video by placing the smartphone on a tripod, and using headphones to zoom in remotely.
Try Smart Alarm – The sad reality is that most of us aren’t big fans of alarm clocks, which are necessary evils in many of our day to day lives. However, if you’re hoping to wake up slightly fresher, did you know that your Samsung Galaxy smartphone has the capability of pushing this in the right direction? If enabled, Smart Alarm begins sounding around three minutes before your normal alarm time. The idea is to start the day gradually, as relaxing music is played at a slowly-rising volume with the screen also ‘waking up’ at the same pace. To enable this, press the ‘More’ button when creating a new alarm and hit the ‘Smart Alarm’ feature.
At the end of the day, a smartphone is a cellular device that allows you to do more than make phone calls and send text messages. They’re quite literally designed to make our day to day lives easier and more efficient, so it’s important to get familiar with the lesser known features of yours if you want to get the best bang for your buck.
SOS Phone Repairs are specialists in high-quality, cost-effective phone repairs, tablet repairs, and PC repairs, all backed with a six month warranty. Founded in 2015 in Coffs Harbour and now with over sixteen outlets located all over Australia, our primary driving factors remain the same: people and phones.
Whether it’s to get a few more years out of your trusted Samsung Galaxy, to fix one up to sell, or to repurpose an old one as a gift, repairing a smartphone might just be easier and cheaper than you think. However, if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, SOS Phone Repairs also stocks a wide variety of refurbished handsets at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one.
While each has been carefully restored to perform at their best, all refurbished smartphones purchased through SOS also come with a twelve month warranty, and can be purchased at any of our sixteen store locations. Even if you’re not on the hunt for a new phone, it’s always worth bringing your existing one in for a free health check to ensure it’s performing at its best.
If you are on the hunt for a quote, diagnostic, or even just some good old fashioned, friendly advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or give us a call today at SOS Phone Repairs.
