More and more users are getting the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean 4.3 ) update for the Galaxy S4. You may wonder what the new features are, because there are almost no changes in the appearance.
In this post, I will share with you the top 10 new or improved features you will find after the Jelly Bean 4.3 update. Some features may be what you want; some may be not.
10. New: Samsung Wallet comes, even if you don’t like it
Samsung Wallet is now pre-installed after Jelly Bean 4.3 update for your Galaxy S4.
Do not confuse Samsung Wallet with Google Wallet. Samsung Wallet is not a digital wallet and you can’t use it for payment. In fact, Samsung Wallet works just like Apple’s Passbook for iOS: it wants to be a one-stop destination for all your tickets, loyalty cards, membership cards and coupons.
You can actually get this app from Google Play store if you own any of the other 4 support devices: Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Note 3.
The review of this app is mixed. But overall, if you want something like passbook in iDevices, Samsung Wallet probably is a good option.
9. New: Samsung KNOX rules your Galaxy S4
Samsung KNOX is a container (something like virtual machine) for enterprise users. You now have two independent environments: personal (where you control everything and share whatever you want) and corporate (where your IT admins can set rules and access the data in the container).
For most consumers, this is probably not so useful. For some avid hackers, this can be disastrous because of the secure and trusted boot, which prevent rooting and flushing.
8. New: Galaxy Gear Support
Samsung Galaxy Gear is neither a matured nor an innovative gadget. But the options for a smartwatch in the market are still very limited. Some of you may get it at discounted price when purchasing the Galaxy Note 3. During the launch, Samsung made Gear be exclusive to Galaxy Note 3.
It seems the strategy is not successful. Now through Android 4.3 update, Samsung unlocks the Gear support to all Galaxy devices (with Jelly bean 4.3).
If you are still trying to figure out what you can do on your S4 through with Galaxy Gear. Verizon has a 3-page guide on Galaxy Gear support on S4 for you.
7. Updated Samsung Keyboard
Samsung keyboard is not the best one, but it is surely not the worst. The updated keyboard seems looks better and not so cluttered.
6. New: OpenGL ES 3.0 support
OpenGL Es 3.0 support was implemented in Android 4.3. But you need capable hardware (GPU) to utilize it.
For owners of Galaxy S4 with Qualcoom chips (all US models, or international models with model number GT- I9505), congratulations, you can enjoy the OpenGL ES 3.0. This will significantly improve the performance of graphics (especially for 3D games) .
For owners of Galaxy S4 without LTE (usually with model number GT-I9500), your S4 is NOT capable of supporting OpenGL 3.0. The Samsung Exynos Octa (5410) chip only supports E OpenGL ES 2.0. To be precisely, it is due to the GPU (SGX544MP3) used for this SoC. FYI, the Exynos Octa (5420) in Galaxy Note 3 does support OpenGL ES 3.0 because Samsung shifted to Mali-T628 MP6 (which supports OpenGL ES 3.0) for Exynos Octa 5420.
5. New: ANT+ Support
ANT+ is the wireless technology that allows your monitoring devices to talk to each other using the ultra low power wireless protocol (ANT) running on the 2.4 GHz band.
If you are involved in sports or fitness training, this could be very useful for you. You can connect your S4 to any cetified ANT+ sports, fitness and health sensors.
4. Enhanced Daydream
Daydream was introduced in Android 4.2. But many Galaxy S4 owners are not aware of it. Basically, it is a screensaver for your Galaxy S4. It displays useful and delightful information such as photo albums, news, time and date when idle or docked. You can configure the streams, e g., Colors, Flipboard, Photo Frame and Photo Table. In Jelly Bean 4.3, photo daydream is enhanced.
3. New: Reading Mode
Reading mode can automatically tweak display settings to protect your eyes based on ambient lighting conditions, especially in night. The adjustment is no longer limited to brightness (as auto-brightness). It also adjusts the tone of the display to make it easier to read for long periods.
You can select the apps that use this reading mode under Settings–Display-Reading mode (it may be different for different regions). For example, you can add Google Play Books or Amazon Kindle app to it.
Actually, Reading mode was first spotted in Galaxy Note 8.0. It seems in Android 4.3 update, it works far better than that in Note 8.0.
2. Improved TouchWiz Launcher
The No.1. complaint on Samsung’s Android devices is probably the bloated and sluggish TouchWiz. Users may want more fancy features. But a snappy interface is more desirable.
In this update, the skin (TouchWiz) is still bloated. But it is not so sluggish compared with S4 before the update.
1. New: TRIM Support
Most users noticed that smartphones and tablets are getting slower and slower over time. When you got it new, it is snappy. But after a few months, it is getting slower and slower. One of the major causes of such slowness is the garbage in the storage. When you delete a file from your phone storage (NAND flash), they are not deleted: they are just “marked” as deleted (therefore they are not accessible). The space is not collected back directly.
TRIM for SSD or NAND Flash is something similar to de-fragmentation and empty not-in-use disk space for a hard disk. In our Galaxy S4, TRIM will clean all garbage in the NAND flash storage and keep Galaxy S4 lean and mean over time. Android starts to support TRIM in Jelly Bean 4.3.
M. Shaf says
My S Health not function after update to android 4.3 on samsung galaxy s4 19505
simon says
You can try to so a factory reset. Please backup all your data before resetting.
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Anonymous says
Same problem with s health here after 4.3 update s health won’t start….. Not a great experience
simon says
Did you try a factory reset?
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Abby says
I no longer have an icon to easily turn my mobile data on and off 🙁 and a lot off the new features here I won’t/don’t know how to use.
simon says
It should still be there. Did you check the quick setting panel?
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Jon says
Same issue here. No mobile data icon, even on the quick settings panel. It’s not listed under the “notification pane” or the list of “available buttons”. Thumbs way down!
James says
Easy Fix: pull down the notification pane, hit the Grid View button at the top right.
Custom fix: go to Settings> Display> notification panel, and customize the buttons by dragging the Available buttons to the Notification Panel box
Anonymous says
It’s not there anymore. The icon is gone gone.
LinuxNewb says
Yup, it’s gone gone… Which really ticks me off since I toggle my data all the time to save battery life. I’m already unhappy with the 4.3 update to the S4 🙁
simon says
Try this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.j4velin.notificationToggle
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Ryan says
Hold down the power button and Bingo! toggle data.
Anonymous says
S-health not working after update.
simon says
Factory reset may help. Backup your data before resetting.
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roman says
in my gs4 after updating 4.3 …my mobiles unlock effects in lock screen setting is disabled and favourite apps and widgets too is disabled on lock screen what shall I do ????it is there but not highlighted I cant touch it ….
simon says
Did you try factory reset?
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naeil says
I downloaded the 4.3 on my GT-I9500 , Samsung wallet is still not supported , any idea ?
simon says
it depends on region. You can try to check whether you can find it in Samsung apps.
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Tabby says
When do we get to update S4 to 4.4 aka KitKat?
simon says
Very likely, next year.
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Anonymous says
After update, email notifications doesn’t run properly. I have to check everytime. Also some emails cannot be opened, although connection is very strong.
Anonymous says
S health no longer work with 4.3 update…Phone freezes when it opens…
simon says
Factory reset may help. Backup your data before resetting.
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Ashley Holmes says
Since I’ve downloaded Android 4.3 for my Samsung Galaxy S4 I no longer have any games on group play. Where are they or how can I get any?
simon says
Did you try to check Samsung apps? After logging in with your Samsung account, it should list the games you played before.
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Natalie brannon says
Hi, after my s44.3 update, I can no longer get the old style keyboard, it’s all qwerty which I absolutely hart…do you have any ideas?
simon says
The old default is also qwerty, isn’t it? Or do you mean the Swype?
How about this Google Keyboard: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
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Anonymous says
There was an option of using the old style To I think it’s called. With the numbers rather than qwerty
simon says
Then you can try the google one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
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Anonymous says
Ok great, it’s downloading so fingers crossed. I also now keep getting a security message too. …is there a way to uninstall the update? Is it essential?
simon says
No, there are no way back unless you flash the phone.
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Natalie brannon says
Lol, looks like I’ll be selling it then I guess, lol. Nothing seems to be working on it and unfortunately I have bad thumbs and it’s killing them with the qwerty..gutted. Thanks for all your help xx
Anonymous says
TRIM?? Apps or built in? cant find it at Play store
simon says
It is a built in feature in Android 4.3. It will do its job automatically.
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Mick Steadman says
I’m impressed with the camera. I was disappointed with the camera on my S3 after my Nokia N8 but was impressed with everything else. The S4 is everything I’ve looked for in a phone. I’m loathed to say phone though, it’s more of a personal communicator.
Anonymous says
I canot acces my SD card why?! My photos are missing!!!
simon says
is it showing in the storage (settings–general- storage)? if not, you can shutdown the phone, remove the SD card and place it back, then start the S4.
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