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15 TouchWiz features that make the day-to-day Android experience better

posted by Paul.K / Mar 11, 2015, 10:52 AM

15 TouchWiz features that make the day-to-day Android experience better

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are right behind the corner and with them we are, supposedly, about to be introduced to a much lighter version of Samsung's home-baked TouchWiz. So, we figured it's a great time to take look at the latest version of the interface we have on-hand right now, comb through its features, and really think about which ones of them we hope will stay (if Sammy actually removes features, instead of just making the UI graphically simpler).

Yes, yes, TouchWiz has been getting a lot of flak for being overburdened with components and “gimmicks”, which are rarely useful, but often harmful to the workflow of the operating system. However, we feel it has been a while since it actually got some praise for all the nifty little (and not so little) tweaks and functions it adds to make Android just that much better in our day-to-day lives.

So, we decided to make a little list. It's based on the latest Android Lollipop-based TouchWiz that can currently be found on the Galaxy Note 4 / Note Edge and the tally does not involve big or oddly specific features, rather – it shines a light on the tiny details that have been added to the apps we use on a daily basis. Details so well placed that we are quick to get used to them, and anyone who makes a jump from a Galaxy Note 4 / Note Edge to a stock Android device will miss.

15 TouchWiz features that make the day-to-day Android experience better

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Camera 16 MP / 3.7 MP front

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Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

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62 Comments

1. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

Polishing a turd, Phone Arena?

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 10:54 AM 9

2. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

*diamond. #HatersGonnaHate

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:00 AM 38

44. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

Thanks, Lame Hashtag Guy. I'll continue to enjoy life without lags and crashes. From a former Galaxy user who thinks hash tags are for the Bruce Jenner-types...

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 5:28 PM 0

47. junaidahmed

Posts: 103; Member since: Sep 04, 2014

I enjoy a life without lags and crashes. Note 4 user.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 6:34 PM 12

55. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

All points are good but i dont like the swipe to call thing. Not too user friendly. I often swipe unsuccessfully.

posted on Mar 12, 2015, 5:07 AM 0

48. TreyTreyTaylor

Posts: 728; Member since: Dec 21, 2010

The Bruce Jenner types? Your a loser. Go on about your day cause there's nothing to see here people.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 7:08 PM 0

50. alex3run

Posts: 715; Member since: May 18, 2014

If you're a Nexus user then you'll never forget about crashes or more serious bugs which Samsung doesn't have :D You just have to be a beta-tester. The latest Samsung devices will wipe your phone's ass in terms of speed.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:34 PM 0

56. Niva.

Posts: 440; Member since: Jan 05, 2015

Say what? Nexus devices sold to consumers are far more stable than anything Samsung has ever produced unless you're actually using them for development and testing. Crashes or more serious bugs which Samsung doesn't have? I believe you have absolutely zero understanding of how Android works and what Samsung does to package it into the Galaxy S devices it's selling you. If there's a serious bug in Android, your device also has it, and chances are that Google's Nexus devices will get fixed before yours does. TW is a turd, and I agree with the OP. It will still be a turd no matter how much you polish it unless Samsung really makes a forward step with their next release. I'll admit there are some "features" that are useful and I question why they're not included in stock Android (like the reset, or close all programs, organize apps) but I don't miss them and most of the list above is easily remedied by donwnloading additional apps. In the meantime, Samsung shoves a number of uninstallable, useless programs into your devices along with the crappy touchwiz. You can switch to another launcher including Google's own one, but in the meantime good luck deleting the trash you don't want to use.

posted on Mar 12, 2015, 2:55 PM 1

52. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

Your welcome. At least it isn't as bad as unnecessarily capitalizing words for no reason.

posted on Mar 12, 2015, 2:02 AM 1

57. zacsaturday

Posts: 262; Member since: May 09, 2014

When did you have this Sammy? If 2012 or behind, i agree, old processors couldn't keep up with Touchwiz.

posted on Mar 16, 2015, 7:37 AM 0

15. TreyTreyTaylor

Posts: 728; Member since: Dec 21, 2010

Dam you haters make me sick. I'll be alright though. I have a Galaxy Note 4.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:30 AM 19

25. tedkord

Posts: 17397; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Can't bring down a man with the best large phone available!

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 12:41 PM 6

30. Nebice

Posts: 68; Member since: Jan 05, 2015

available yet ;) xiaomi mi note pro is coming by the end of this month

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 1:28 PM 1

35. DeusExCellula

Posts: 1390; Member since: Oct 05, 2014

Surely you meant to say Galaxys S6 right?

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 2:06 PM 3

51. alex3run

Posts: 715; Member since: May 18, 2014

And it is still worse than Note 4...

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:37 PM 0

58. zacsaturday

Posts: 262; Member since: May 09, 2014

Agreed

posted on Mar 16, 2015, 7:37 AM 0

49. Diezparda

Posts: 941; Member since: Oct 23, 2013

Is there any chance Note 4 to get new touchwiz? the same touchwiz as galaxy s6. it'll be great, look more polished, more mature, simpler... In the end Galaxy S6 was quite impressive, but there is always love for the bigger screen plus the s pen.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 8:29 PM 0

53. Furbal unregistered

I've got pretty much all large US flagships. Note 4 trumps 6+ and 1520 for features and functions easily. The iPhone is nice if you want a simple large screen phone but that is about it.

posted on Mar 12, 2015, 2:21 AM 0

3. Kakarotto

Posts: 255; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

Say what you want but I prefer Touchwiz over stock Android.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:03 AM 50

14. mouse456

Posts: 9; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

Me too!

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:29 AM 17

37. dropme

Posts: 5; Member since: Feb 15, 2015

Me too!!!

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 2:28 PM 9

22. mrej201

Posts: 226; Member since: Feb 04, 2015

agree I love it

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 12:00 PM 12

29. Firenze91

Posts: 206; Member since: Nov 19, 2014

Me too and it baffles me when i hear "geeks" say stock android is better, i mean WTF is wrong with those ppl....

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 1:05 PM 12

32. paeschli

Posts: 35; Member since: Aug 27, 2013

Not a TouchWiz fan myself, but I have to agree that having more a bunch of useful and not-so-useful features is better than having no features at all like in stock Android.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 1:35 PM 11

38. shahrooz

Posts: 792; Member since: Sep 17, 2013

stock android is boring, however nothing beats stock android + Xposed for me.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 2:41 PM 0

40. mostafawael.1998

Posts: 241; Member since: Oct 01, 2014

yeah me too, specially after they revamped the UI in the Galaxy S6 :)

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 3:51 PM 1

59. zacsaturday

Posts: 262; Member since: May 09, 2014

Dislike some things though, i have to admit

posted on Mar 16, 2015, 7:38 AM 0

4. Palidankehidupan

Posts: 4; Member since: Mar 11, 2015

Custom AOSP rom solves some of the problems....Without slowing it down..Mehh

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:12 AM 1

7. maherk

Posts: 6928; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Not everyone knows how to flash custom roms, matter of fact, the majority of Android users don't know what is custom roms.

posted on Mar 11, 2015, 11:16 AM 17

60. zacsaturday

Posts: 262; Member since: May 09, 2014

Actually, around 10% know about rooting while like 1% knows of Jailbreaking (Basically rooting for everything else) on iGadgets. Basically, Android users are generally smarter.

posted on Mar 16, 2015, 7:40 AM 0

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