Galaxy S8 Guides

Use notification dots/notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update

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Use notification dots/notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo updateThe notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update is different from the number badge in previous versions of Android in Samsung phones.

You may find the new notification number badge (aka app icon badges) does not work as what you expected.

This Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update guide explains the new features and behaviours of the n0n Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update. We also show you how to manage and customize notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.

What’s new in notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update?

One of the prominent new features in Android Oreo is the notification dots, which shows a dot in the app icon for unattended notifications.

You may think this is nothing new because Samsung has the notification number badge for a long time.

But you may not know there are some substantial changes in the notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.

Compared to the number badge in previous versions of Android in Galaxy phones, the new number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update has the following changes:

  1. It is renamed officially as App icon badges.
  2. You can now customize the notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.
  3. You can use dots, or numbers for the notification number badge.
  4. You can turn on/off notification number badge for individual apps.
  5. All apps are supported.
  6. Only unattended (not dismissed) notifications are counted.
  7. Unread messages (SMS, MMS, emails) are NOT counted.
  8. If you dismiss the notification in Galaxy S8 notification panel, the notification number badge in the corresponding app icon will be reset (cleared). You should snooze the notification if you need to check it later.
  9. You can turn on/off notification info in Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen
… Read the rest

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

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

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

How to use Galaxy S8 themes to customize Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S8 themes for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+!

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Everything you need to know about Galaxy S8 themes for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+!You can use Galaxy S8 themes to customize the look and feel of Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to find, download, install, apply, and manage Galaxy S8 themes. It also shows you how to disable the annoying Samsung themes notification in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Please note, Galaxy S8 themes applies to Galaxy S8 and S8+ only.  You cannot use Galaxy S8 themes in Galaxy S7 or any future Galaxy phones either.

What are Galaxy S8 themes?

Since Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced themes for owners to customize the phone systemically.

But at that time, there were very limited support from developers and the choices are very limited for third-party themes.

Now, for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you have so many choices of Galaxy S8 themes.

Galaxy S8 themes allow you:

For example, some Galaxy S8 owners may not like the default white color scheme. They may prefer a dark theme.

Galaxy S8 themes will solve such issues and demands.

If you are using official Samsung covers (cases), for example, Galaxy S8 clear view cover, you will be prompted to choose a Galaxy S8 theme to match your Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Although Galaxy S8 themes can change the look of your Galaxy S8 and S8+, third-party apps will NOT be changed.  … Read the rest

How to move Galaxy S8 brightness control bar to notification panel?

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Galaxy S8 brightness controlYou can quickly adjust Galaxy S8 screen brightness using Galaxy S8 brightness control bar without opening Galaxy S8 Settings.

But in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, the brightness control bar was relocated from notification panel as in previous generations Galaxy devices to quick settings panel.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to customize the location of Galaxy S8 brightness control bar and move it back to Galaxy S8 notification panel.

What is Galaxy S8 brightness control bar?

Although auto brightness in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ is extremely useful, sometimes, you may still need to manually adjust Galaxy S8 brightness level.

For example, Galaxy S8 or S8+ may vibrates when you get an emergent call in the cinema. The default brightness level in Galaxy S8 display is probably too high in this case.

To make it easily adjust Galaxy S8 display brightness, the Galaxy S8 brightness control bar is included in the quick settings panel.

You can use Galaxy S8 brightness control bar to quickly adjust the screen brightness of Galaxy S8 and S8+ without fiddling around the  Galaxy S8 Settings.

In previous generations of Galaxy devices, the brightness control bar is usually in the notification panel (and below the quick settings bar). And there is no customization for its location.

But in Galaxy S8 and S8+, by default, you will not find the Galaxy S8 brightness control bar.

Where is Galaxy S8 brightness control bar?

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung makes the location of Galaxy S8 brightness control bar customizable.

The default location of Galaxy S8 brightness control bar, as mentioned earlier, is located in Galaxy S8 quick settings panel, not notification panel.

This means you need swipe twice to access Galaxy S8 brightness control bar.

But it is very easy to … Read the rest



How to use Galaxy S8 screen zoom ?

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galaxy s8 screen zoomYou can use Galaxy S8 screen zoom to adjust the display of almost all pages (and all apps)  in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Galaxy S8 screen zoom is a customized Android Nougat feature of display size.  But they are different in adjusting the size of app icons in home screen and apps screen, and in controlling the size of the lock screen keypad.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains you what Galaxy S8 screen zoom is, when you need it, and how to use this feature in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What is Galaxy S8 screen zoom? Why you need it?

Prior to Android Nougat,  you can only adjust the font size for the system display (e.g., text size in Settings page).

And some system display settings are even hard-coded and you cannot change them at all. For example, the notification text does not change with font size in most Android phones.

So, in Android Nougat 7.0, Google added a feature named display size, with which you can adjust all display elements. And it works in all apps.

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung, as usual,  customized display size and rebrand it as Galaxy S8 screen zoom.

In addition to changing the name from display size to screen zoom, Samsung also changed a few features in display size. For example:

  • Screen zoom does NOT affect lock screen keypad size in Galaxy S8 and S8+. Samsung hard-coded the keypad in Galaxy S8 lock screen. In stock Android Nougat, you can adjust the keypad size with display size.
  • Screen zoom does NOT affect app icon size in Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen. In Galaxy S8, you need to use screen grid to adjust the app icon size. In stock Android Nougat, app icon
… Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 quick settings in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

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use Galaxy S8 quick settings in Galaxy S8 and S8+You can use Galaxy S8 quick settings bar to toggle on and toggle off some features on-the-fly.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ also have a full-page quick settings panel with more quick setting buttons for you to change the phone settings conveniently without opening phone settings.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains the difference between quick settings bar and quick settings panel in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, and how to use and customize Galaxy S8 quick settings in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What is Galaxy S8 quick settings in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Although you can change almost all settings of Galaxy S8 and S8+ in the Settings page, you may want to access some settings quickly, e.g., quickly toggle on/off WiFi or Bluetooth very often.

Galaxy S8 quick settings in Galaxy S8 and S8+ are exactly designed to address such demands.

Actually, this is a feature in almost all Android phones nowadays, although the implementation differs from manufacturers to manufacturers.

In Android Nougat, an additional quick settings bar was officially added to the notification panel.

But Samsung has used the quick settings bar for many years, together with the quick settings panel.

Anyway, Galaxy S8 quick settings includes two components:

  • Quick settings bar in notification panel.
  • Dedicated quick settings panel.

The quick settings bar offers more convenience for you to turn on/off some features. You may consider it as an quicker  feature of quick settings panel.

Another commonly used, but unrelated “quick” feature is Galaxy S8 camera quick launch.

How to access Galaxy S8 quick settings bar in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

You can swipe down from top of the screen (status bar) to access Galaxy S8 quick settings bar  as shown below.

This is actually the notification panel. As mentioned, quick settings bar … Read the rest