yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] shantanubarik:
Smearing/Ghosting in Gallery

Can someone confirm whether the same smearing/ghosting issue is more noticeable in gallery. For me when I enlarge a picture in gallery by single touch and move to the next picture very fast by sliding, the edge of the photo showing ugly purple smearing effect particularly in grayish picture (the picture is attached for testing in gallery) . The screen brightness is set to low. Gallery app is default gallery by Samsung and official 4.4.2 firmware black edition. Is it screen problem or so called normal smearing /ghosting issue?

http://xdaforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2753101&stc=1&d=1400552825
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] FreezIn:
Yes it happens to me too. I have a lot of wallpapers in my gallery that are black and when I swipe through them fast it shows a ugly purple smearing thing. For me everywhere is noticeable not only the gallery.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eyecon82:
I have a black wallpaper and also notice the smearing, especially in the app drawer

-Sent from Tapatalk
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] awyeahh1:
touchwiz design is perfection, I suspect you are the retarded one.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eyecon82:
Act like a grown up

-Sent from Tapatalk
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] white_pawn:
XXUEMKF (4.3) on my S4 until yesterday - no smearing problems, whatsoever, ever.

Yesterday, I decided to upgrade (manually) to XXUFNB9 (4.4.2) - ended up with smearing all over black menus. Great.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rimmir:
Verizon Wireless variant here (i545?). I have the smearing effect as well. Thought I was the only one until I googled it. It is very visible in the settings and on dark background apps.

4.4.2
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MrAndroid12:
That was fixed in android 4.3 but 4.4.2 update brought it back
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fgs4sam:
screen issue

So.... its November. I am having the "black-smudges on the screen" issue, especially on video-playback. It is just horrible

I'm on i9500 firmware: I9500UBUGNG1_I9500UUBGNG1_ARO. But i have tryed other roms and no luck!

Did i miss something? Has anyone solved this issue? Samsung not helping me so far.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MrAndroid12:
If you're getting that with video playback, it is probably beyond a software issue.

Sounds more like a screen issue to me
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fgs4sam:
screen issues

It's possible, but the thing is that it worked fine before flashing (i think at least). Also, the first thing i flahsed was Cyanogenmod (which did not work well, camera issues). And when i went back to the original Rom i noticed this subtle change. It is only aparent when the video is dark, and when the brightness is set very low, otherwise it is not notisable. I think it's because the refresh rate of the screen is higher than the time it takes for the pixels to turn ON.

To SAMSUNG: :D

It should be an "option" in the screen configuration whether the user wants the pixels to be turned-off if the image is deep-black, or whether you want them ON all the time and accept the dark-grey AS the deepest-black and also the higher battery consumption for sure to come by having pixels ON all the time. But it should be an option!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] egps2:
I think Samsung is trying to fix the purple smearing by using a very light (white) design on their newly leaked Lollipop builds for the Galaxy S4 and S5. I would much prefer having the powered down black pixels be very slightly powered on (like the Galaxy S2) and sacrifice a tiny amount of power than have an entirely white interface! I think some Galaxy S4 firmware version went with the GS2 compromise to reduce purple smearing. I wish we had an option for both this as well as a dark/light theme chooser for our firmware as Lollipop looks like a huge drain/waste on SAMOLED screens.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MrAndroid12:
The S2's Amoled wasn't actually powered on. It was an early revision of Super Amoled which apparently had power leaking issues, so the screen was never really pitch black.

But anyways, it would be better if we were given a choice to switch in between colour themes that the S4 and 5 are sold in.

It is more of a personal taste and currently as students, we'd want a brighter theme :P
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dm96:
a problem and a fix maybe?

So far i observed, it appears when some pixels are lagging to turn on and produce a color shift- therefore the violet color is visible. For me is only visible on low brightness, when i turn the brightness to the max the ghosts dissapear. I guess the pixels(green maybe) lack voltage to turn on fast enough, when the voltage is high enough, they work fine. Soo the problem is hardware but may be fixed by software. I guess 4.3 wasnt fully black., i can see some 1% white around the menu at 4.4.2.

I have the idea of a fix samsung should do- modify the software in a such way that pixels being turn on from full black to someting, to be sent high voltage for a milisecond so it removes the slower startup, and then they are being sent the regular brightness voltage. But i guess its easier said than done.

The problem is also visible on amoled Lumia phones so i guess is cheap display manufacture fault.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dp_alvarez:
So, is there a permanent fix?

Also are just some devices affected by this or this is a problem in all devices? Should I warranty my S4 because of that?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dm96:
Fix?

-Use full brightness and you shouldn't see it but this is a stupid solution. Or remove all the black backgrounds you have.

-I've seen it on other devices different than s4(lumia 800), soo its amolled technology fault, but it may be fixed in other devices, probably hardware tunning or something and really dont know.

Chek another phone with amoled on min brightness and moving something with black (try to reproduce the issue).

-I doubt that getting another phone will have point(ips display dont have that issue as far i know). On mine the problem is in acceptable level. But if your phone makes very big smdges..... you may try a replacement.

Anyway, this is my opinion, i suggest cheking a few other phones as a comparison before atempting anything because i cant tell you certain info. I am not even 100% shure in everything i said so... you shuld keep that in mind.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dp_alvarez:
I don't have acess to other GS4s, tested on my brothers Note 2 and no issues whatsoever, but I think the blacks on his phone are just a little greyish.

On my phone the issue looks very similar to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oY-8Lf8M6U

Does it seem excessively bad? I don't want to go and replace it (they will dissasemble the phone and change the screen for sure, sent multiple other phones for repairs) and waste almost a full day if the issue will continue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dm96:
Well this is very annoying. This phone has 100% black background in the settings app and the problem is visible, i dont have it there because my i9506 on 4.4.2 has 1% gray in the app. However i see it somewhere else like videos and full black widgets.

Aaannnnnd i have a stupid fix: download a screen filter app and make an white overlay with about 5% visability. You will loose that deep black thou.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dp_alvarez:
I found a fix by upgrading to the latest HK firmware: http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/40353/I9505ZHUFNL1_I9505ZZHFNL1_TGY.zip/

It is not perfect but I can very barely notice it, just like it was on 4.3. Apparently it made black 1% grey again, like I suspect it was on 4.3. Flash it as you would any other, then use a CSC changer if you wish.

I've not noticed any other problem, but your experience may vary, if anyone else flashes it please post here your experiences.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mousumst:
Just found out this solution

I thing I have found the best solution out there... Done a substential amount of digging and finally discovered the twillight app works like a charm...try and post your review...cheers...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] armedking:
maybe there is a fix

there already white settings backgrounds for s3 so it wil not take long before some themer makes it for the s4 so all can test it
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ilabs:
Yeah, seems more of a hardware issue then.

That was going to be my next question: whether its visible in any other app. Thanks!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bala_gamer:
bought s4 black mist :):)

and its really a shame for samsung to launch their flagship device with touchwiz redraw issue.(smearing).

Gladly its just a software issue afaik. tested it and it seems all the other scrolling menus in non touchwiz app is fine, just the touchwiz apps that has the issue as of now.

so people pls do not panic , its not hardware related. apart from the scrolling in stock settings i cannot reproduce it anywhere
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
First of all, it's not only in touchwiz apps. Watch this video on your s4:http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-1419802-stock-footage-floating-grey-dots-against-black.html

The dots get purple at their edges even when viewed in Chrome.

Secondly, the s3 has the same issue although it is much less visible (tested on a friend's device today).

thirdly, I believe that the issue is created due to the way the pentile amoled display is built: big red and blue pixels combined with small green ones. The green ones obviously react slower, resulting in violet (red+blue).

I will keep the s4, since there just isn't any phone out there atm that fulfills my needs as good as the s4 does.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bala_gamer:
i still strongly believe its the redraw issue in touchwiz mentioned before. the pinkish border was there in almost all touchwiz apps.

for example scroll through the settings menu of nova launcher and google plus settings slider, if you scroll there even with low brightness the divider in between is not disapperaing nor does the text
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
Does everyone have the same batch model number post what model yours is might just be a certain batch like when they had a problem with the nexus 7 can anyone post there model number of there as mines coming from a second batch instead of the launch made ones and can anyone confirm they have this problem with a rooted rom so they can prove its touch wiz
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
No, the divider and the text don't disappear, but the smearing isn't gone either. And it's equally present in every app, across the whole OS. But I agree with you that Samsung could improve the issue by adjusting the graphics driver.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bala_gamer:
guys try this,

install display tester from store and enter gamma detection test and scroll through the colors there are loads of tearing. its surely due to the software bug
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
Has anyone tried accessing the hidden menu through the phone dialer to see if there's anything you can do
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JmJ17:
It occurs in every Internet web page with black background, in gReader with black theme, and in general everything with darks backgrounds
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] skivnit:
Is this on both octa and snapdragon?

Swyped from another galaxy
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JmJ17:
I've only checked a Spanish Qualcomm (no octa here :( ) but as someone comments earlier in this thread:

"dont worry guys.. world wide s4 having this issue... uk , oceania , asia , NA , SA... everywhere..

its the refresh rate problem for touchwiz.. this is what told by samsung tech HK "
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] exec99:
Now you all should flood Samsung with your complains about this issue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jithendra194:
It's a software issue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
He´s right, Samsung has to fix this ASAP.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] exec99:
Why would they bother to fix that if they don't get complains about this issue? That's why all of you should send them an email. It won't hurt.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
You can tweet the uk customer service team they are on as the answeri people's question

But for some reason they haven't answered mine haha

Spam them to let them no on [MENTION=767379]Samsungmobile[/MENTION]UK

---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:02 PM ----------

guys go to this video you can watch the whole review but she has none of that screen blur but skip to 17.10 and have a look what shes explaining http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G0twIfbwHU
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] madscientistdam:
s4 screen issue

hi guys i came across this video on youtube seems like this guy is also suffering from this issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XE-a5h_bGs
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
What does taking a video with the S4 have to do with its display issue? I dont see any relevance of this vid for our problem.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bob13bob:
this and it's happening in chrome. it only hope with completely black background (where pixels turn off vs grey background). makes me think hardware, not software. If someone makes to a sking to have grey backgrounds vs black for scrolling, will probably compensate for the screen. battery life probably will down though.

---------- Post added at 11:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------

Can you please do a video. That's pretty strong evidence and will provide us at least a comparison.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
I get my s4 Tomoz or the day after so I will do an in depth review of the blur if I can with my 1080p video camera so you can see all the detail I will do full brightness and half brightness and see if I can mess around with it in the hidden menu
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
Guys I don't want to cause any friction here but man, I'm reading this post page by page and already tested many things, videos, screen colors, no purple corners no nothing, no smearing when scrolling contacts or something like that, 'm sorry but is not happening and I am willing to demonstrate in person if you want, but really don't what is happening with you guys.

I have the MDF Build, Rooted, with stock apps merged into ROM.

Peace:good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aaprocks:
Yes it does happen!!

Happens to me too!!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] skivnit:
Different batches I guess, please give build dates for people reporting the issue
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
Just make a vid of it so everyone can judge for themselves ;) Scrolling up and down in the settings menu etc.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Obagleyfreer:
Video showing smearing effect in contacts

Here's a video I made of the smearing in contacts.

Notice the grey bars.

Feel free to use this video as you wish, I'm happy for it to be used in emails to Samsung.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gsxlxllpvrghql6/20130430_084929.mp4
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Hoggles:
This is all new to me as of this morning....Kind of a bummer...

I'm a little bit glad I didn't buy one yet....I think I'll wait till this gets sorted out.

Sammy...time to address this issue

. We should flood them with emails etc...make sure they know. Though I'm sure they do.

*edit: For what it's worth...at the very least, I let a chat rep know and he said he'll forward the issue to the appropriate department. Of course my concerns may have just been forwarded to his trash bin....who knows if these "chat reps" actually communicate with other departments etc.

Here is my little chat with support:

Stewart

: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?

Visitor

: Hello Stewart,

Stewart

: Hello! how may I assist you today?

Visitor

: Curious if Samsung will address the screen smearing issue with the new SGS4, that almost every user is reporting on XDA?

Stewar

t: Are you referring to Samsrt screen feature in the device?

Visitor

: No. It's just now really starting to catch on... here is a link to the XDA thread. The settings menu really smears, as if it's at about 5fps...very noticable and a lot of people are complaining. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2252445

Stewart

: I apologize for the inconvenience.

Stewart

: I understand your concern.

Visitor

: Is there a way for you to relay this info on to the appropriate people? Makes me want to wait until new batches come out to buy the SGS4.

Stewart

: I will forward your concern to the appropriate department.

Visitor

: Awesome...thanks Stewart!

Stewart

: You're welcome. Is there anything else I can assist you with?

Visitor

: That's it...I'll wait to see if Sammy fixes it :)

Visitor

: Cheers
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] themissionimpossible:
I can confirm: Italian S4 with MDF and Snapdragon (just bought today) doesn't show any purple smearing/smudging effect.

Extensively tested on setting menu and other black background screens, at different brightness: 25%, 50% and 100%.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] i.amtom:
OMFG, I'm so worried now, I'm expecting mine soon! x_x

Does anyone see the irony in the name of the OP?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] roguex:
I have MDE on my Australian S4 and I can see the smearing. Can anyone confirm that the MDF build fixes thus issue?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
What is MDE MDF
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mattlovell90:
I am assuming they are referring to the build numbers, which can be found under Settings and About Device. I think I am correct in saying these are software build numbers, but I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong there.

Mine ends MDF and I can see smearing.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MopHeadGeek:
Ahh ok thank you :) it probably won't bother me as most. Apps aren't black backgrounds haha

But yeah I will check for it
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mantis64:
I have the same problem on an I9505 with XXUAMDF.

It happens only on true black background.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BoeserO:
Same issue for my german Qualcomm model with XXUAMDM.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neeverr:
same mess here in Italy with the 9505 (qualcomm) MDF fw... and yes it happens only with true black background...

@#!!!@!!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
See guys im not crazy or trying to fight aganist the world but I can confirm the MDF build does not have this

Peace for all of you :thumbup:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mantis64:
Sorry, but you can only confirm that your device doesn't have it...

Is it the I9500 or I9505?

A lot of people with build MDF (including me) have the problem pretty clearly so the build doesn't fix it.

I have a I9505.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mittaa:
Some have it .. some doesn't even being on same firmware version :eek:

I have had S4 in my hand and tried hard to reproduce this problem without any luck!

Would really like to know if it's about HW, SW or related to people using different strength in their reading glasses! :D
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tangoownage:
Mdf build here and my device has the issue
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
Man I really don't understand then :eek: I really cannot reproduce the smearing problem on my evice with MDF build, an I tried everything, contacts, black menu video etc.

There is only 2 possibilities, or I have some really big vision issues as 2 or 3 people here don't have also this issue or we all gonna die tomorrow :cyclops:

I have the 9505
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bala_gamer:
did you had any previous firmware that had this bug and able to note it?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mantis64:
3rd possibility: could be a hardware problem, different version of the OLED screen maybe?

4th possbility: some setting that needs to be changed? (Like the magnifier setting, turn it on for instant LAG OF DEATH)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ilabs:
I think this is more of a hardware issue rather than software. Why not compare any batch or build date details? I haven't bought the phone yet so can't test it myself, but here are a few codes I found:

*#12580*369# to check software and hardware information

*#0011# Service Menu

Source: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=40795952&postcount=1

Thanks to sanjaybenjamin for the codes!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mantis64:
Good idea!

I have the problem on I9505XXUAMDF

HW rev. MP 0.900
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
No my phone came Friday last week with the MDF build, the only thing i did was root with chainfire auto root method, then after that upgrade all apps, and merge the updates into the ROM with TB.

that's all I did.. :)

---------- Post added at 09:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 AM ----------

I have exactly the same :o
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] skivnit:
I dont get it I don't see anything major or maybe I'm just blind. I just see ur face reflection on the screen
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] inolvidable:
Any video available of the issue not happening?. Not a trust matter about you, I just need proof as I am starting to consider the refund possibility. Thanks

Edit: IMHO we should treat this as the most important matter regarding s4. Most of us are in the free refund period so it would be in our best interest working this out ASAP.

¡¡So say we all!! from my GT-I9505
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Markz88:
I'm Italian, i have

Build: I9505XXUAMDF

HW rev. MP 0.900

and i have the smearing issue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simacca:
Sounds like different batches with different screens to me.

Its got to be a hardware problem as some people who have the exact same build have the purple smear and some don't.

Its a bit of a lottery atm!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Markz88:
I'm italian, I've a GS4 with MDF and the smearing issue, I talked with Samsung Exclusive italian staff and also their devices have the smearing issue.

For me, the few who are saying that they don't have the issue are lying or they have modified their devices (this can confirms that it is a software issue)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Phobos Exp-Nord:
It looks like light on resources overdrive that does not analyze source and destination status heavily. Probably, this gives good results on all scenes but dark background. Hope it's in software driver and not in display controller.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
The question is easy to solve: Somebody with a GS4, who claims to have no issues at all, has to post a video. Thats all you need to do. It will help all of us, so please someone do it!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
I'm at work now but i will post a video later on when i get home..:good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ilabs:
Could you also post your hardware version?

*#12580*369# to check software and hardware information

*#0011# Service Menu
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] reedemerr:
I have an idea. If anyone has a rooted galaxy s4, they could make a video with screencast or something of the menu and then watch it on a regular pc, if this issue is present it's most definetly a software issue, because screen cast doesn't record the screen display, if the issue doesn't show up it may be the screen. That's my idea, i may be wrong though.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] akrontomaz:
I9505XXUAMDF

HW rev. MP 0.900
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
Seems like we all have the same hardware revision.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bala_gamer:
mine is HW rev. MP 0.800