Samsung Galaxy S4 software update enables moving apps to SD card, HDR video

posted by Nick T. / Jun 06, 2013, 8:14 AM

Samsung Galaxy S4 software update enables moving apps to SD card, HDR video

Awesome is about to get awesomer! There's a new software update about to land on the Samsung Galaxy S4 bringing both minor and major improvements. Among them is the much-requested option to move apps to a microSD card so that users can have more storage space available on the smartphone's internal memory. The purplish smearing issues, which we reported about not long ago, have been addressed as well in the new software, and the overall legibility of the screen has been increased.

It is being reported that this latest Samsung Galaxy S4 software update is available in Germany only, where the Snapdragon 600 variant of the smartphone is on sale, but additional countries are expected to follow suit in the near future. The Exynos model of the Galaxy S4 is to be updated as well. Here's the change log detailing what's new:

New Camera firmware with HDR video
Smearing issue has been fixed (Purple effect while scrolling)
Smart Pause Toggle
Move Apps to SD Card
Semi-transparent status bar
New Icons in Settings
Secure boot status in “About Phone”
Increased display legibility

source: Phandroid

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PhoneArena Rating:

9.3

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.2

Based on 114 Reviews

Display 5.0" 1080 x 1920 pixels

Camera 13 MP / 2 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Quad-core, 1900 MHz

Storage 64 GB + microSDXC

Battery 2600 mAh(17h 3G talk time)

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57 Comments

1. hateftotti

Posts: 225; Member since: May 03, 2011

That's the power of Samsung ;) But still haters gonna hate...

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:19 AM 39

8. ihatesmartphone unregistered

haters gonna hate this thing... come on haters!! you guys must accept it with open mind...:) waiting this to come on my note 2... #need to buy 64GB microsd...

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:39 AM 28

13. thethird

Posts: 72; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

I just hope one day, haters will be more like critics. Cmon if you hate samsung for being samsung then don't pull down the company to shame, just share your thoughts or points on a right manner. Coz there are words better left unsaid. Of course, Apple, HTC and other manufacturers also deserves this kind of respect. PEACE!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:56 AM 8

51. ihatesmartphone unregistered

sometimes we need haters... but not all of the time.

posted on Jun 07, 2013, 4:08 AM 0

2. roldefol

Posts: 4744; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

"Awesome is about to get awesomer!" Jeez PA, biased much? Nothing against the GS4, but it ain't the only awesome phone out there.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:19 AM 11

4. CellularNinja

Posts: 306; Member since: Sep 27, 2011

They never said that though...

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:21 AM 22

6. roldefol

Posts: 4744; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

People used to call this iPhoneArena, but if you look at all the praise they heap on the GS4, complete with in-depth reviews of CASES, you'd think Samsung was the only manufacturer worth mentioning. Although of late Nokia cameras are a close second.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:23 AM 2

10. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

Well does the community think it is awesome? Yes, 9,5/10 rating just here. And it is now awesomer no? Yes, cause the HDR video option was strangely missing and the purple effect was unexpected. Additionally apps on SD is a great relief. Awesome just got awesomer.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:42 AM 15

11. roldefol

Posts: 4744; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

I have nothing against the GS4. In fact, I've recommended it to friends and colleagues. I'm just sensitive to hyperbole and overexposure, which I feel has now reached iPhone levels around here.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:45 AM 1

42. nvrhde

Posts: 77; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

Wut ?

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 5:57 PM 2

18. tadaa

Posts: 267; Member since: Apr 18, 2013

Damn right. I hope other manufacturers also include the move to sd option. Been sorely missing that

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:14 AM 6

24. roldefol

Posts: 4744; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

Doesn't that go against Google's wishes? How soon before TouchWiz is an Android fork?

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:44 AM 1

3. iamfoolhehe

Posts: 28; Member since: Jun 03, 2013

This why people now a days blindly buy samsung because if there is any problem in device samsung will come with solution to make awsomeee!!! I lovee sammy ..mwhaaa !!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:20 AM 19

5. thethird

Posts: 72; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

I am a Note 2 user and yes Samsung is just great. They adhere to the needs of their users. The best is yet to come. Peace everyone!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:23 AM 22

7. CellularNinja

Posts: 306; Member since: Sep 27, 2011

Samsung has really stepped up big in the last few years in how it supports its current devices. They're probably the best! Keep up the updates, Sammy

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:24 AM 15

9. phljcnth

Posts: 553; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

I hope they add the option to "open new windows in background" in the stock browser, remove shutter lag when on 13MP. Also, the option to "not show again" the notification when turning the volume up while on headset. One more thing, allow lockscreen widgets when passcode is enabled.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:42 AM 1

12. ihatesmartphone unregistered

You ask too much but hey.. Maybe they listening to you

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 8:51 AM 3

15. phljcnth

Posts: 553; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

Haha I forgot another, compress the software. My total user memory is just 9.1GB of 16GB. My S3 had 11GB free. Yeah, I hope Samsung can read this! :))

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:06 AM 1

14. Leo_MC

Posts: 7203; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

Sory for asking, but what's so awesome with moving installed apps to sd card? My last phone Gingerbread had it, ICS has it too (I believe Ace 2 Gingerbread has it too). Don't tell me S4's Android got it just now?!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:02 AM 4

17. WHoyton1

Posts: 1635; Member since: Feb 21, 2013

It was taken out of almost every version except 2.3 or lower i believe.....no other device on the market above 4.0 has app2sd except for root users...

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:14 AM 3

19. ashisharbola

Posts: 62; Member since: Oct 20, 2012

Actually after jellybean update google has stopped moving installed app to SD card so in other devices if u have updated it to jellybean u can't move it to SD card or u have to root. So this is great news from Samsung :D

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:17 AM 5

20. andro.

Posts: 1999; Member since: Sep 16, 2011

Its a superb feature for samsung to bring back, hopefully my note 10.1 will get this also soon. Many games these days are huge in size so app 2 sd is greatly appreciated!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:30 AM 6

32. Leo_MC

Posts: 7203; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

You mean JB doesn't let you move apps to SD card?!

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 11:27 AM 1

33. taz89

Posts: 2014; Member since: May 03, 2011

yep sadly google removed that feature in jb once they stopped supporting removable sd card..surprised Samsung decided to implement it themselves only now and not when the s3 came.. looks like oems will make changes if enough people make a noise.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 11:44 AM 3

25. _Bone_

Posts: 2155; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

It was a logical move as HW and NAND Flash bandwidth became so fast over the years that heavy apps operating from SD card bottleneck performance.

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:46 AM 1

16. ashisharbola

Posts: 62; Member since: Oct 20, 2012

Now am definetly getting this no more HTC one :D

posted on Jun 06, 2013, 9:13 AM 15

21. Diego!

Posts: 867; Member since: Jun 15, 2009

What is important here to remark is that Samsung is paying attention to their phones issues and is doing a lot to improve the experience of using their phones in order to keep their customers happy. This is great news for the users! :)