You
might have come across a different UX (user experience) while handling
two different devices running same versions of Android platform. It may
be little things like decreasing the volume of mobile by just placing
palm on the screen to your Smartphone waiting till you sleep to go into
timeout mode.
And when it comes to UX, Samsung’s Android really holds a strong and
stiff upper hand over Google’s original version of Android. The reason
behind this substantiality is Google allows its OEM (Original Equipment
Manufacturer) partners to tweak the OS to suit themselves. Samsung
tweaks the original Android versions to suit to each of its different
range of devices that come in different sizes and specs, be it
Smartphones, its phablets, or its tablets. And these tweaks turn Samsung
devices into gadgets that offer users an all new and good UX.
It’s not that Samsung invented all of these features but they brought them together in style that defines Samsung.
Some of the tweaks take advantage of special hardware in particular
while others make common hardware components work better, read on to
know the 3 amazing Features why Samsung’s Android is better than
Google’s, as compiled by ZDNet.
#1 Display Features
Samsung always experiments with the screen sizes while building
Smartphones, tablets and its note devices. Samsung’s Android always has
an edge over others because a lot of little and cool features are baked
into its UX. Together these features work to make Samsung devices more
interesting than its competitors. Some of the important features in
this category are-
Smart Rotation
Android devices generally sport the auto-rotate feature that toggles
the screen between portrait and landscape orientation. It’s a common but
annoying problem when screen gets jarred as the user moves around or
the phone is inadvertently tilted to the side. The display rotates even
though the user didn't intend for it to do so, and then it must be
tilted back to reorient the screen which brings a small delay in
operation.
However Samsung’s Smart Rotation technology prevents this accidental
rotation using its front camera. When the phone is tilted sideways it
"looks" at the user's face to see if it indicates an accidental tilting.
If so it prevents the display from rotating, keeping it the way the
user wants it even though tilted.
Smart Stay
Displays have a screen timeout setting to save the battery. If nothing
happens on the touchscreen for a set time, the display turns off.
Unfortunately this feature can cause annoyance when you are reading a
book or a long web page, that doesn’t require you to touch the screen
for any operation for a while. The end result, screen turns off
interrupting the reading and forcing the need to turn it back on.
Smart Stay uses the front camera to determine if the user is looking at
the screen. Before turning the display off it looks for the user's face
and eyes and if he/she is looking at the screen it won't turn off the
display.
Pop up apps
Several apps Samsung has included in its version of Android include
windowed versions that pop up when desired. These include the web
browser, video player, and the S Note app. They take advantage of the
larger displays on many Samsung devices by using a floating window that
is visible while using other apps.
Page Buddy
The Page Buddy feature is activated, if it is configured to, when
certain hardware features of the Samsung device are triggered. The Page
Buddy opens specific pages to augment user customization based on a user
action.
There are four special pages that make up Page Buddy: one that opens
when you remove the S Pen from the device; one that opens when you plug
in headphones; one when you drop your phone in a dock; and another that
opens when you are roaming outside your home area. Each page buddy has
its own specific app icons that are useful in that mode.
These pages are special home screens and the user can swipe to standard
home screens. What makes Page Buddy so useful is how they automatically
appear when you need them.
Multi-view
The ability to work with two apps side-by-side is wonderful and the
multi-view is very useful. The two displayed apps often work together,
such as hitting a link in one window opens the web page in the other if
the browser is running there.
#2 Motion activated features
Most Android devices have an accelerometer that detects movement and Samsung has included a number of features that take advantage of detected motion in everyday use of the phone or tablet.
Tilt to Zoom
This feature is a great way to look at photos on the Samsung device.
Touch the photo with two thumbs and tilt the screen toward you or away
from you to zoom the image in and out.
Pan to move/browse
With multiple home screens it's common to move icons around to arrange
them just like you want. Hold the icon you want to move to another home
screen and pan the device. The icon moves to the screen in the direction
of the pan.
The same function can be used to pan through images in the gallery. You
can flip through photos as fast as you wish using the panning action.
Quick glance
If the phone is kept idle on a table and if you want to check whether
you got a message or mail, the Quick Glance feature is activated by
simply reaching for your phone. It senses your hand hovering over the
phone and displays a special lock screen that shows any new activity
that has occurred while the display was turned off. Remove your hand and
the display goes to sleep. This happens without even touching the
phone.
Double tap to zoom to top of list
If you've scrolled down a long list and want to quickly get back to the
top, simply double tap the top of the phone and it jumps back to the
top. This is app independent and eliminates the need to find a small
scrolling control.
Don't forget your pen
Samsung alerts you when you leave the phone without putting the pen back in the storage silo on the device.
#3 Other Handy Features
Muting with palm
Ever been in a situation when you need to mute your device's volume
quickly for a bit? Samsung makes it easy by simply covering the display
with your palm. Instant silence and volume returns when you remove your
hand from the display.
Screenshot swipe
Simply swipe from the left of the display to the right with the side and the image is captured.
Display/Hide multi-view tab
By simply long-pressing the soft Back button on the bottom of any screen hides/displays the multi-view tab.
