edge screen

Top 10 new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+

Last updated on: December 2, 2018 · First published on: March 5, 2018 2 Comments

Update: Super slow-motion camera mode (960 fps)is available on Galaxy S8 and S8+ now. Please check this super slow-motion mode guide on how to use it.

Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ has been rolled out in some regions. More and more Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners want to know how to use the new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

In this Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung updated the UI (Samsung Experience 9.0) and added Android Ore0 8.0.

This Galaxy S8 guide explains the top 10 new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You may check this Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update guides page for step-by-step guides on how to use these new features.

For new features of Android Oreo 8.0, you may check this guide.

#1. Notification channel (categories)

In Android Oreo, notification channels (notification categories) were introduced so that the app developer can “categorize” their notifications.

These categorized notifications can then be pushed through notification channels, just like radio channels. You, as an app user, can then turn on/off individual notification channel to get what you want to receive and block what you don’t.

You may find more info on notification channel on Android Oreo here.

#2. App shortcuts support in Home screen

When you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon in Galaxy S8 home screen, you have some options.

In Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you get additional options to launch some special features of the app directly (if the app developer enabled this feature).

Compared to the traditional way to access such app features, app shortcuts are faster.

Such app shortcuts are shortcuts to certain features of the corresponding apps.… Read the rest

Hot to use Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: August 2, 2017 · First published on: May 12, 2017 10 Comments

You can use Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) to show time, notifications, today’s schedule, and next alarm after screen times out.

Galaxy S8 always on display also allows you to customize the clock style, use your own photos in AOD screen, use edge clock, or schedule AOD screen.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to use and customize Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Update 1: New Galaxy S8 always-on display settings for clear view cover section was added.

What is Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD)?

In most Android phones, when screen times out, the display will be turned off to save battery.

But sometimes, you may want to see a screen with a clock or other info when the phone is seat on your desk next to you.

Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) can serve you on this.

Actually, Samsung first introduced always-on display (AOD) in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) is a special lock screen that can be turned on all the time or turned on based on your schedule.

With always-on display in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can show some relevant info in the screen without waking up the phone.

You may wonder whether using AOD drains Galaxy S8 battery significantly.

The answer is Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD) does drain battery, but not significantly due to the Super AMOLED display used in Galaxy S8 and S8+. Super AMOLED is very power efficient especially when displaying black colors.

The additional battery drain of Galaxy S8 always-on display should be less than 0.5% per hour.

For example, if you leave always-on display on overnight, it may drain additional about 4-5% battery.

Without AOD, Galaxy S8 0r S8+ normally drains about 2%-5% … Read the rest

How to use and customize Galaxy S8 Home screen?

Last updated on: August 22, 2017 · First published on: May 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

You cannot skip Galaxy S8 Home screen if you want to use Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+. Samsung introduced some new features to Home screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains to you the new features of Galaxy S8 Home screen and the meaning of all items in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

What is Galaxy S8 Home screen?

All Android phones have a home screen, which is usually the default screen after the phone is unlocked.

In addition, all Android phones have a hardware or a software home button which will bring you to the “home” of the home screen if there are more than one home screen page.

Galaxy S8 or S8+ is not an exception.

But in Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung ditched the hardware Home button and used software based navigation buttons as explained in this guide.

Although you can customize the navigation buttons and navigation bar in Galaxy S8 or S8+, the Home button (as shown in Galaxy S8 layout and S8+ layout) is always in the center (between Recents and Back buttons).

Another new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is the quick switch between Galaxy S8 Home screen and Galaxy S8 Apps screen (aka app drawer).

As explained in this guide, you can quickly switch between Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen by swiping upwards or downwards.

Although Galaxy S8 or S8 was shipped with Android Nougat 7.0, not Android 7.1, Samsung introduced the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen. The context menu is similar, and even more powerful than app shortcuts introduced in Android Nougat 7.1.

Components of Galaxy S8 Home screen

To use Galaxy S8 or S8+, you need to understand the meaning and usage of each … Read the rest

Galaxy S8 layout and Galaxy S8+ layout

Last updated on: October 19, 2017 · First published on: April 7, 2017 14 Comments

Galaxy S8 layout (and Galaxy S8+ layout) guide shows you the location and explains the functions of the buttons, cameras, sensors, ports, SIM card slot, NFC antenna and other components in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You should spend a few mins to familiarize yourself with Galaxy S8 layout when you get the phone so that you can use Galaxy S8 and S8+ properly and effectively.

Please note, as explained in Galaxy S8 specs and Galaxy S8+ specs, the only difference between Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ is the size of the two phones (Galaxy S8+ is bigger with a bigger battery).

The layout of Galaxy S8 is identical to Galaxy S8+ layout.

Galaxy S8 layout: front view

The front view of Galaxy S8 layout is illustrated below.

Screen and edge screen

Samsung touts the infinity display as one of the major new design features of Galaxy S8 and S8+. This is evidenced by the front view of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

About 85% of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ front is occupied by the screen.

Because curved screen is used in Galaxy S8 (and S8+), edge screens can be found in both sides.

Hardware buttons

Power key is still in the right side and volume keys in the left in the front view of Galaxy S8 layout. If you have problems to power on Galaxy S8 or S8+, you may check this guide.

A new Bixby button was added below volume button.

If you often hit the Bixby button inadvertently, you may disable the Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Navigation buttons

There are no capacitive buttons in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

The back and recent buttons are software based as shown above. You can re-order Galaxy S8 navigation buttons.

Home button is embedded … Read the rest

Top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8 and S8+ that may annoy you

Last updated on: October 6, 2017 · First published on: April 4, 2017 11 Comments

There are some missing features of Galaxy S8 that may annoy you, although Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are surely one of the hottest flagship smartphones in 2017 based on specs and new features.

Actually, the sales number of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will surely beat all other Android phones. But this does not mean Galaxy S8 and S8+ are perfect or the best.

You may notice that some important features are missing in Galaxy S8 and S8+. These missing features of Galaxy S8 may be relevant to some users.

So, we hope this list of the top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8 and S8+ can help you make the decision before pre-ordering the phone.

#1 of top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8: smaller battery

As a reaction to the failure of Galaxy Note 7 battery, Samsung is extremely careful with Galaxy S8 and S8+ battery.

They apparently did not push the design and engineering limit for a bigger battery for S8 and S8+. And if Galaxy S8 battery fails again, Samsung will probably be in the death spiral in smartphone market.

The result is the smaller battery.

It is so small that you should concern about the battery life, although Samsung claimed similar battery life as Galaxy S7.

As a comparison, the 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 has a 3000mAh battery, whose capacity is identical to that of the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7.

And the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+ has a 3500mAh battery, which is even smaller than that (3600mAh) in the 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge.

The new 10nm processor may help save some battery. But the screen, which is bigger now, usually is the major battery drainer. There are no new technologies in the Super AMOLED screen for battery saving.

So, … Read the rest