navigation buttons

How to use the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: September 8, 2019 · First published on: April 3, 2019 3 Comments

After updating Galaxy S8 or S8+ to Android Pie, you need to spend some time in using the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

As a major update, Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ brings many Android Pie features and a brand new One UI.

This Galaxy S8 guide shows you how to use the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Because Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ shares almost an identical code base with Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 (and S9+), almost all of the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 also apply to the Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What are the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

There are so many new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ that many owners feel they got a new phone.

The new features arising from two domains:

Android Pie features. Of course, Samsung tweaked some Android Pie features so that they may look different from those in the stock Android.
One UI features. The new One UI was specially built for Android Pie. It is substantially different from Samsung Experience and the older TouchWiz.

In this post, the top 9 new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S8 were summarized as:

If you are a Bixby user, you may also be excited about the new Bixby features: remap the Bixby button and Bixby quick commands.

How to update Galaxy S8 or S8+ to Android Pie?

By default, you should get a notification about … Read the rest

How to show and hide Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

Last updated on: July 3, 2017 · First published on: July 3, 2017 16 Comments

With a recent Galaxy S8 and S8+ firmware update in June, you can now show and hide Galaxy S8 navigation bar in any apps in S8 and S8+.

To use this new feature, Samsung added a small dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar for you to turn on and turn off navigation bar in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

For other customization for Galaxy S8 navigation bar, for example, customize the background color of the navigation bar and navigation button layout, please check this guide.

What is the dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

After you updated your Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may notice there is a dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar as shown below.

The dot corresponds to a new feature that allows you to turn off (hide) or turn on (show) the Galaxy S8 navigation bar in any apps except home screen and apps screen.

The official name of this dot is show and hide button.

Since Android KitKat (Android 4.4), developers are able to enable immersive full screen mode to hide navigation bar when using the specific app. But most app developers haven’t used this feature in their apps.

Now, Samsung allows Galaxy S8 and S8+ user to hide or show navigation bar in Galaxy S8 and S8+ without relying on individual app developers.

You can tap the dot in the left side of the navigation bar to hide the navigation bar in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

How to turn on or turn off the show and hide button (dot) in Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

You can turn on and turn off the show and hide button based on your needs and habits.

As shown above, you can go to Settings —Display —Navigation bar to find the option for the … Read the rest

Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures

Last updated on: August 2, 2017 · First published on: April 26, 2017 12 Comments

You use Galaxy S8 or S8+ through the touchscreen most of the time. So, it is important to know how to use Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures and how to control the touchscreen.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains to you the 7 Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures and when you need to use them.

Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures are similar to other Android phones. So, this guide applies to not only other Samsung phones, but also other Android phones.

What are the 7 Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures?

Although Samsung Bixby and Google Assistant offer some alternative ways to control and access Galaxy S8 and S8+, most owners prefer touchscreen gestures.

Once you get used to Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures, you will find these gestures are the most efficient way to control and use the phone.

Like other Android phones, there are 7 Galaxy S8 touchscreen gestures:

Tapping
Long tapping (tapping and holding)
Dragging
Double tapping
Swiping
Spreading
Pinching

Please note, although touchscreen gestures are more or less universal in all Android phones, the functions of the same gesture in different apps and different phones can be different. Some apps and some phones may offer additional features to a touchscreen gesture.

Tapping

When you tap the touchscreen (as shown below), Galaxy S8 will respond to the touchscreen gestures depending on the items being tapped, for example:

when you tap the navigation buttons, you will be directed to different destination: previous screen or exit the app (Back button), recent apps screen (Recents button), or Galaxy S8 home screen (Home button).
when you tap an app icon in Galaxy S8 home screen or apps screen, the app will be started.
when you tap a menu item inside an app, you will access the corresponding item inside the app.
when

… Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 apps screen, and how to hide and show apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: August 4, 2017 · First published on: April 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

By default, Galaxy S8 apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is hidden. Samsung expects you you to use touchscreen gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen.

This is actually a new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This Galaxy S8 guide first shows you how to use Galaxy S8 apps screen with gesture. Then the guide explains to you how to show apps button and how to hide apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

How to use gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen?

When you get you Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, you will find there is no apps screen button (app drawer button).

Then you may wonder how to access Galaxy S8 apps screen (apps drawer).

The quick answer is that you can use touchscreen gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen directly in home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Of course, the apps screen button is just hidden. You can enable the setting to show apps button (read on).

The gestures you can use to access Galaxy S8 apps screen include is just a swipe.

Swipe upwards from bottom part of the home screen as shown below.

This will bring up the apps screen (app drawer) in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Once in apps screen of Galaxy S8 or S8+, you can swipe left and right to scroll apps screen panels as you did in previous Galaxy phones.

If you swipe up again in the apps screen, you will be brought back to home screen.

In other words, the swipe up gesture will cycle you through Home screen –> Apps screen –> Home screen –> Apps screen—>.

Another way to return to Home screen is to press Home button or Back button.

How to show and

… Read the rest

How to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ without using any apps?

Last updated on: April 9, 2017 · First published on: April 11, 2017 7 Comments

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you three different methods to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ without using any apps: physical buttons (Volume down+Power), palm swipe, and Assistant menu.

All these 3 methods work on all models of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

And of course, it is NOT necessary to install any apps.

Use physical buttons to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Samsung ditched the physical Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, and switched to on-screen navigation buttons as explained in new features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You can even change the location of the Recents and Back buttons.

But missing physical Home button means the old method of using Home button and Power button to take screenshot will not work on Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Now, Samsung gives you a new button combination to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+: Volume down button and Power button.

You may check Galaxy S8 layout page if you are not familiar with the location of these buttons.

So, to take a screenshot on Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+, you just need to hold down both the Volume down button and Power button simultaneously as shown below.

This method actually is from stock Android. Most other Android vendors already implemented this method in their Android devices.

In the past, because of the physical Home button, Samsung did not implement this method for taking screenshots in Galaxy phones.

Use palm swipe to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

The second method to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ (and all other Samsung Galaxy devices as well) is to use the side of your palm to swipe across the screen as shown below.

You may need to enable this feature … Read the rest

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar?

Last updated on: May 30, 2021 · First published on: April 8, 2017 41 Comments

Samsung ditched the “signature” capacitive (hardware) navigation buttons (Back, Recents, and Home) in Galaxy S8 and S8+ as explained in Galaxy S8 layout page and new features of Galaxy S8 page, and embraced the modern software-based on-screen navigation buttons which can be found in almost all other Android devices.

But Samsung did one step further to allow you to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar.

Update 1: You can now even choose to hide or show the navigation bar in any apps in Galaxy S8 and S8+.!

This Galaxy S8 new feature guide will show you how to use and customize the on-screen Galaxy S8 navigation buttons, and the Galaxy S8 navigation bar.

What can you do to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar?

In stock Android, the on-screen navigation buttons are fixed, although a few vendors, for example, LG, may allow you to add more buttons in the navigation bar.

Samsung used not only different (and a bit confusing as well) icons for the three standard buttons (Recents/Overview, Home and Back), but also made the layout of these navigation buttons customizable in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

For Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ on-screen navigation buttons and the navigation bar, you can:

switch locations of the Recents and Back button.
customize the background colour of Galaxy S8 navigation bar.
adjust Galaxy S8 Home button pressure level sensitivity.

Please note, the fingerprint scanner was decoupled from the Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, and is now relocated to the back of the phone (next to the main camera) as detailed on Galaxy S8 layout page.

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons layout?

In stock Android, the Back button is to the left of the Home button and the Recent … 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 10 new features of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

Last updated on: December 2, 2018 · First published on: April 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

With the announcement of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ in March 29, 2017, we now have one more option in the top-tier of Android phones.

But is the 5.8″ Galaxy S8 or 6.2″ S8+ a right phone for you?

Here we summarized the top 10 new features of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ to help you make the decision before you can get one on April 21.

#1. Galaxy S8 Infinity Display

One of the most important new features of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ is the infinity display.

The screen size of Galaxy S8 (5.8″) and S8+(6.2″) is bigger than last year’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

But the difference is not just the size. The most obvious change is the aspect ratio.

Both Galaxy S8 and S8+ have a unique aspect ratio of 18.5:9. FYI, all previous generations of Galaxy S phones had a screen ratio of 16:9 since Galaxy S3.

This aspect ratio is similar to that in LG G6 which has a similar aspect ratio of 18:9.

Compared to the 5.1″ Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8’s display is about 18 per cent larger (in the area).

Galaxy S8 infinity display is good for:

watching 21:9 movies. You will get less black bar area compared to the 16:9 screen.
browsing websites. You will scroll less due to larger area. But this is only good for mobile-responsive websites.
multi window in portrait orientation. But it is terrible in landscape mode when using split-screen view multi window mode. You may check this guide on how to use multiwindow on Galaxy S8 and S8+.
Edge screen. Please check this guide on using Galaxy S8 edge screen.

Of course, the aspect ratio of the Galaxy S8 infinity display could be a disaster for taking photos.… Read the rest