best tweaks for a samsung galaxy s4?

blankslate

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2008
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One of the best tweaks is to disable the Samsung and Carrier preloaded apps that you don't use and likely will never use. You can really uninstall them unless you root the phone which I wouldn't do on my main phone.

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/get-useless-bloatware-off-your-galaxy-s4/

The link above gives you the basic procedures.

a word of warning: be careful not to disable any essential system processes, which are usually accompanied by the Android logo. In the event you make this mistake, you can always re-enable the process (and any other apps you disabled) back in the Application Manager.

My advice it that if you don't know what it is don't disable it.

Here are a couple of links from an android oriented that provide more information about apps that could be disabled on your phone.

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/765042-bloatware-in-galaxy-s4.html

http://androidforums.com/internatio...t/734661-bloatware-removal-dummies-guide.html

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApUQpspiZeBTdHotUXJ5bTQycHJLMHA1U0ROQ1NpZ1E#gid=0

Again if you don't know what it is don't disable it.

Some things I disabled on my device were

Amazon Kindle
Beats Music
Flipmode
Drivemode
Maps
Mobile TV

Generally things that I don't use.






One app from the google play store is Carat
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.berkeley.cs.amplab.carat.android&hl=en

basically it gathers information about apps on your phone that use the most battery power. You can disable apps that don't play well with your device in particular or that are just known for being battery hogs.

Some people have had mixed results with that app on some devices but it seems to give good feedback for the Galaxy s4 in my experience.

Other than disabling bloatware I would suggest a screen protector some are plastic and if you want to go pricier there are ones made from glass that claim to offer better protection.

Get a good case that has been tested to protect the phone against 6 feet drops.


Hope that helps.


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Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,539
212
106
Step 1: Sell your Samsung device
Step 2: Acquire non Samsung device
Step 3: ???
Profit!!!
 

dawheat

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
3,132
93
91
1. Set screen to cinema mode
2. Disable all the gesture and eye tracking stuff you don't use. I turn off everything but smart stay
3. Disable bloatware in app manager
4. Install lux to control auto brightness
5. Personally I'd use Nova prime, but that's more a preference thing
 

lsd

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2000
1,184
70
91
Best tweaks for what? Where would you like to see improvements? With the S4 you can do simple battery saving tweaks all the way to a full rom overhaul.
 

Bman123

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2008
3,221
1
81
Root, install cwm recovery, flash a custom ROM that's stripped down like cm11, enjoy the speed increase
 

blankslate

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2008
8,789
566
126
One app I would recommend is Battey Saver.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ijinshan.kbatterydoctor_en&hl=en

not necessarily because of the terminate apps function where ymmv.


Under the Save power switch if you tap the battery percentage / time remaining button it will show another screen that gives fairly (in my experience) accurate times for remaining battery life doing things that requiring different amounts of power.

GPS vs. Wifi browsing for example.


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