Galaxy Note 4 tips and tricks you need to know about

The Galaxy Note 4 is still pretty much everything we wished it would be, even six months later. But there's still a few little tweaks you can make to make the best even better. Check out our Galaxy Note 4 tips and tricks for some seriously cool ways to get even more out of your Note 4.

Use auto-exposure adjustment when you focus

This is one of the best camera features to have on any phone, but surprisingly few people know about it on the Galaxy Note 4. You know how in the camera app you can tap the screen to focus in a different place? If you long press instead you'll not only change the focal point you'll also set the exposure automatically for that area. This means taking those photos on a bright day or in high contrast situations just got a whole lots easier to manage.

Long-press in the camera app to activate spot-focus and auto-exposure.

Get URL previews with S Pen

If you don't quite want to commit to launching the browser every time someone sends you a link, you can actually use the S Pen's hover function to preview the URL without actually opening it. It's a huge time saver and very simple to activate. Just go to Settings > S Pen > Air View and flick the switch. You'll also get a notification that the feature is available if you hover over a link without the setting enabled. The only downside is that it won't preview all links – like those in emails.

S Pen URL previews will save you plenty of time.

Get an activity summary of anyone calling you

This feature has a mild creep factor but a high cool factor. When someone calls you your Note 4 can provide you with a quick summary of that person's recent activity with you and any pertinent information like an upcoming birthday. You'll instantly know the last time you spoke and for how long, the contents of their last SMS to you and any other relevant information that might come in handy. Go to Dialer > Settings > Call > and make sure Show Caller Information is checked.

To get a caller summary, just go to Dialer > Settings > and check Show Caller Information.

Get the Note 4 to listen out for you

This feature is super cool. You simply record the sound of your door bell, buzzer or even ring tone if you have multiple devices (or an actual land line), and then when you're jacked into your Note 4 with headphones watching a movie or zoning out to some tunes you will get a notification if the Note 4 hears the door bell or your other phone. No more worrying about missing the buzzer when that friend comes over, this feature is accessed through Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > Sound Detectors

The Note 4's sound detector can also be used to pick up on a ring tone.

Disable Flipboard on the Note 4

Unless you're fond of swiping to the right to access Flipboard on the Note 4, which is admittedly pretty cool, then you can very easily disable the dedicated home screen. You can still open the Flipboard app as you normally would from the app drawer, but you won't be stuck with it to the left of your main home screen. Just long press anywhere on a blank section of the home screen or on the recent apps button to bring up your home screen management screen and go to Home Screen Settings. Uncheck the box for Flipboard Briefing. Alternatively you can just drag the screen preview up to Remove.

Disabling the Flipboard homescreen is very simple.

Use Meeting Mode to isolate voices in a recording

This feature is great if you use your Galaxy Note 4 to record conversations or group interviews – as we do. When in the Voice Recorder you'll see arrows on either side of the ''Normal Mode.'' You scan swipe left or right to select a different recording mode, the coolest of which is Meeting Mode. This mode can record individual voices from up to eight different directions. When you play back the recording you can isolate individual voices or only listen to a particular part of the room.  

The Note 4's Meeting Mode lets you listen in to what those people were saying about you.

Switch Note 4 S Pen tips

You might not even notice in your excitement to whip the Note 4 out of the box and start playing, but there's a little plastic bag in the box with a couple of different rubber and plastic tips for the S Pen, along with a tool to help you swap them over. Depending on how you use your S Pen, one tip will be better suited to you, so why not try them out and customize your stylus!

You can even customize your S Pen stylus tips.

Tweak your Note 4 screen settings

The Galaxy Note 4 lets you adjust the settings for your display so you can get it just the way you like it. Just go to Settings > Display and Wallpaper > Screen Mode. Here you'll find options for Adaptive Display, AMOLED Cinema, AMOLED Photo and Basic. Try them out and see which one works best for your taste.

The Galaxy Note 4 lets you choose between a range of different screen settings.

Disable S Voice shortcut on the Note 4

Unless you actually use S Voice all the time, there's not much point having it as an option for a double press on the home button. In fact, having that shortcut in place actually slows down your Note 4's responsiveness when you hit the home button once, because TouchWiz waits ever so slightly to see if a second press is coming. Launch S Voice and go to Settings and un-check the box for home button shortcut for a speedier return home.

Disabling the S Voice shortcut makes returning to home faster.

Note 4 Download Booster 

Depending on whether or not Download Booster is available on your network, make sure you enable the feature as soon as you unbox your Note 4. Download Booster lets you download content from both your data plan and Wi-Fi simultaneously, making downloading a breeze. Of course, you're going to want to know the size of what you're downloading or your capped data plan will evaporate in short order. Go to Settings > More Networks > Download Booster and turn it on (or off) as desired.

Hidden away in ''More Networks'' is the Note 4's Download Booster.

Note 4 triple microphones

You might not have noticed, but there's one pinhole mic on the top edge of the Note 4 and two along the bottom edge. These record ambient noise when you're recording audio and they can then be used to isolate and eradicate background noise. This is a pretty great feature if you're into recording sounds, so get into the Voice Recorder app and get to know the settings and functionality! Just go to Voice Recorder > Settings > Noise Reduction and check the box.

The three microphones on the Note 4 let you use Noise Cancellation in audio recordings.

Expand Note 4 memory

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but make use of that microSD expansion slot as soon as possible and load up all your favorite music, movies and photos so you can make the most of that amazingly good Super AMOLED screen.

Make use of the Note 4's screen with added memory for all your media content.

Customize Quick Settings on the Note 4

There's no point having every Quick Setting available in the swipeable list in your notifications drop down if you don't really use them, so why not customize what appears there? Just doubles wipe down from your home screen to open your Quick Settings menu and then tap the little pen icon up top to see the available Quick Settings options and change which settings are active in the notifications area.

Only keep the Quick Settings you actually need quickly.

Turn off Note 4 sounds and haptic feedback

The telltale ''blup'' sound that Samsung relies on to let you know you've touched the screen may be fun for some but for the rest of us it's a nuisance. Go to Settings > Sound and scroll to the bottom. You can uncheck the box for Touch Sounds to disable the ''blup'' but you can also turn off haptic feedback, keyboard sounds and keyboard vibrations. These are all good for battery but even better for the person next to you. And trust me, you don't want to be woken up in the night by the Note 4 vibrating on your bedside table.

The more irritating Note 4 sounds you turn off the more people will like you.

Set your Ultra Power Saving Mode apps

If you know you're likely to use Ultra Power Saving mode on the Galaxy Note 4, then you may as well set it up and familiarize yourself with it sooner rather than later. There's not much point if you find yourself needing it but you have to suck up precious power while you set it up how you like it. Just go to Settings > Power Saving > Ultra Power Saving Mode and turn it on to see the restricted interface and see what has been limited in the mode (better to know now than later). You can add the apps you want by tapping the + icon, so you can add Facebook, WhatsApp and Google+ to your power saving app options.

Ultra Power Saving Mode lets you add your favorite apps to the short list.

Use the volume button in the Note 4 camera

Go into your camera app and open the settings and then the advanced settings (by pressing the three dots at the end of the quick settings popup. You'll see a section for ''The Volume Key''. Tap this and make a selection using the volume key to take a photo, start shooting video or to zoom. Once you've set this up you'll use it all the time.

The Volume Key (bottom left) can be used a shutter button, Record button or zoom.

Set your Note 4 image quality

Speaking of the camera, make sure you are shooting photos and recording video in the quality you want. There's nothing worse than capturing that elusive UFO photo only to realize it's in the the lowest resolution possible. Also, image stabilization doesn't work in video resolutions above Full HD. So if you're a little shaky handed you might want to keep that in mind when selecting a video quality setting. Camera shots though always have image stabilization, but full 16 MP shots are only available in 16:9 aspect ratio. Fortunately you've also got a 1:1 option for Instagram fiends.

Make sure you have your picture and video quality settings where you want them.

Manage vibration on the Note 4

The Note 4 can practically vibrate itself off the table, so if you're not a big fan of lots of haptic feedback then you can limit just how much moving and shaking your Galaxy Note 4 does. It also saves on battery life. You can toggle ebtween sounds, vivrate and Mute in the Quick Settings or just go to Settings > Sounds and Notifications > Vibration Intensity to change the settings for incoming calls, notifications and haptic feedback.

You definitely want to lessen the intensity of the Note 4's vibration.

Customize Note 4 Settings' Quick Settings

Make sense? In the Settings menu you'll see you have a few larger round icons at the top for your Settings menu Quick Settings. If you don't like the look of it or just don't really need even quicker access from within the Settings menu, just tap the + icon and un-check all of the boxes. When you tap ''Done'' you'll be returned to your Settings menu with no Quick Settings up top anymore!

If you remove all the check marks you'll have no more big round icons in Settings.

Personalize your Galaxy Note 4

Take a good look at the Personalization section in the Settings. There's heaps of cool stuff here, like Guest Mode, Backup, Blocking and Private Mode, Accessibility options (which is great if you look into it) and the finger scanner. Register your finger prints and set up your PayPal and Samsung accounts. You can even use your digits to sign-in on the web! Once you're done with this, why not try a custom launcher and see how cool you can make your Note 4. Check out our list of the best Android launchers.

Take a good look through the Personalization settings and get busy.

What are your favorite tips and tricks for the Galaxy Note 4? What's the best feature?