GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.5m
109k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena team, 23 July 2013

Lights, Camera, Android!


Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review: Lights, Camera, Android!

  • Comments (103)
  • User reviews
  • Galaxy S4 zoom

10. Organizer, Google Maps and Play Store, Samsun Apps and Hub
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree spin, design and handling, display
  3. 3. Controls ports and slots
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Motion gestures, Google Now and S Voice, benchmarks
  6. 6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality
  8. 8. Still camera and image quality, video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser, S Apps and more
  10. 10. Organizer, Google Maps and Play Store, Samsun Apps and Hub
  11. 11. Conclusion
  12.  
  13. Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (103)

Samsung Android

Office Editor a no-go

The Galaxy S4 zoom gives you only the Polaris Office viewer functionality, instead of the full-fledged editor (same goes for all recent Samsung high-end phones). The viewer does not show up in your app drawer, but instead only opens when you select the relevant document from the My Files app. Note that the first time you try this, the phone will prompt you to download the app as it's not installed out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
Polaris Office viewer

Nevertheless, you can view most document types, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel as well as PDF. It can present the document as is or reflow the text to fit on the screen. There's also a text to speech option, so the phone can read the doc out loud (it will also offer to install a better TTS engine, which weighs in at about 100MB).

Organizer is as robust as ever

The S Planner fills the role of your calendar app, and can be viewed by Day, Week, Month or Year, or by a list of all your upcoming tasks or events. The small squares for each date give only some info on the events for the day.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The S Planner calendar application

Adding a new event is quick and easy, and you can also set an alarm to act as a reminder.

There is also a calculator aboard. It is nicely touch optimized - the buttons are big enough and easy to hit.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The calculator

The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom features a decent alarm clock application which allows a huge number of alarms to be set, each with its own start time and repeat pattern. There's also a World clock, stopwatch, and timer. They are easy to work with and can come in handy.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The Clock application

We've been familiar with the S Memo app ever since its debut on the Galaxy Note, and its functionality remains more or less the same. It allows you to create notes either via a virtual keyboard or simply by doodling with your finger. Samsung even sell a special display-friendly ball pen for enthusiasts.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The S Memo app

Google Maps Navigation gives you the most out of GPS

The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom comes with a GPS and GLONASS receiver, which got a satellite lock in about a minute with A-GPS turned off. A-GPS can speed this up quite a bit, but requires Internet access.

With a screen as large (or larger) than most dedicated SatNav units, with good sunlight legibility and plenty of storage, money spent towards satellite navigation should go to buying a good app rather than a separate SatNav unit.

The Galaxy S4 zoom comes with Google Maps and Navigation. Voice-guided navigation has become a viable solution since the v5.0 update. Vector maps are smaller and easier on the data traffic and reroute is an option if you go off course without the need to connect to the Internet. In fact, the only time you need a data connection is when you initially plan the course - Navigation will cache the needed maps.

Quite naturally, the app also supports the Street View mode. If it's available in the area you're interested in, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the surroundings. When the digital compass is turned on it feels like making a virtual tour of the location.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
Google Maps includes Street View as well

If Google Maps Navigation doesn't do it for you, you can grab an alternative app from the Android Market - there are both free and paid ones.

Google Play, Samsung Apps and Hub

The Google Play Store features several scrollable tabs - categories, featured, top paid, top free, top grossing, top new paid, top new free and trending. Apps usually have several screenshots (some even offer a demo video) so you can get an idea of what the app looks like before installing it.

You can also check out comments and ratings, as well as the number of downloads and so on, to help you decide if the app is worth it.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The Android Market will give you access to hundreds of thousands of apps

The Google Play Store is full of all sorts of apps, but in some countries it also offers music, movies and TV shows, books and magazines.

Samsung Apps features largely the same type of interface as Google Play, except here you'll find a far lower number of apps. The good news is Samsung uses this repository to distribute some exclusive titles and some promotional offers, available only to its customers.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
Samsung's own app store

Samsung also offers a store for books and games through Samsung Hub. The Book also offers a preview - the first few pages of a book. You can read reviews of the book, written only by people who have bought it. You can also read a synopsis, about the author and search for more books by that author.

The Games section of Samsung Hub just launches Samsung Apps when you tap on a game.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom review
The new Samsung Hub offers books and games

Next Page » 11. Conclusion
10. Organizer, Google Maps and Play Store, Samsun Apps and Hub
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Unboxing, 360-degree spin, design and handling, display
  3. 3. Controls ports and slots
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Motion gestures, Google Now and S Voice, benchmarks
  6. 6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  7. 7. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality
  8. 8. Still camera and image quality, video recording
  9. 9. Connectivity, web browser, S Apps and more
  10. 10. Organizer, Google Maps and Play Store, Samsun Apps and Hub
  11. 11. Conclusion
  12.  
  13. Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (103)

Reviews Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom reviewPage 10
  • Comments (103)
  • User reviews
  • Galaxy S4 zoom

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Acer
  • Wiko
  • Panasonic
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Samsung sends another update to the Galaxy S22 family
  • Samsung reportedly begins mass production of new foldable flagships parts
  • Samsung to deliver custom chipset to Galaxy S series in 2025
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro to have a titanium body and sapphire glass
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Genesis GV60 sales start in the US for $58,890 and up Genesis GV60 sales start in the US for $58,890 and up
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2022 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data