new features of Galaxy S8 Archives

How to show and hide Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides, Galaxy S8 new features 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

How to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides 2 Comments

If you want to show all apps in Home screen, you can choose to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This guide shows you how to hide Galaxy S8 apps screen and how to search apps after you hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Why you may want to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

In Android phones, there is an apps screen, aka app drawer, which lists all apps installed on the phone.

While home screen lists any of the installed apps, and holds some widgets.

So, apps screen and home screen in Android phones serve different purposes.

But due to the popularity of iPhone, which does not have separate apps screen and home screen, more and more Android vendors try to mimic the look of iPhone.

Samsung introduced a new feature allowing users to hide apps screen in Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.

Now, in Galaxy S8, Samsung again allows you to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

By hiding apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can:

get a simple interface. Many new Android users have difficulties in understanding the difference between apps screen and home screen. Especially for owners who seldom use widgets, they did not see the necessity of an apps screen at all.
show all apps in Galaxy S8 Home screen without adding them manually. In Google Play store, you can configure it in such a way that all newly installed apps are added to home screen automatically. But by default, some of the pre-installed apps were not added to Galaxy S8 Home screen. Also, if you install apps from third-party app store, e.g., Amazon Appstore for Android, apps will not be added to home screen automatically.
find

… Read the rest

How to use context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides, Galaxy S8 new features Leave a Comment

Although Galaxy S8 and S8+ came with Android Nougat 7.0 pre-installed, the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen looks similar to the app shortcuts, which is a new feature in Android Nougat 7.1.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide will explain to you what is the context menu in Galaxy S8 home screen and the difference between this context menu and app shortcuts in Nougat 7.1.

We will also show you how to use the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen to manage apps and app folders in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What’s context menu in Galaxy S8 home screen?

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung revamped their infamous TouchWiz launcher again.

One of the noteworthy new features in the launcher is the context menu in the home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

As shown below, when you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon in Galaxy S8 Home screen, you will get the context menu somewhat related to that app.

If you tap and hold an app folder, you will get a different context menu as shown below.

Of course, you can ignore context menu, and drag the app icon or app folder to other locations or other home screen panels as you did in previous Galaxy phones.

What’s the difference between context menu on the home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+ and App shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1?

As mentioned, Android Nougat 7.1 introduced app shortcuts, which allows app developers to define shortcuts to specific actions for their apps in supported launchers.

App shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1 make it possible for users to quickly start common or recommended tasks within the specific app.

For example, as shown below, in Android Nougat 7.1 device, if you tap and hold Google Keep … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 camera app?

by simon in Galaxy S8 camera guides, Galaxy S8 How-to Guides 2 Comments

Samsung used a new Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 and S8+ with an revamped interface, Bixby vision integration, and supports for more gestures.

The interface of Galaxy S8 camera app interface looks similar to that in Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat update.

This Galaxy S8 camera guide will explain to you how to use Galaxy S8 camera app, and how to use touchscreen gestures in Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Galaxy S8 camera app preview screen

When you launch Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 or S8+, you will first get the Galaxy S8 camera preview screen as shown below.

Please note, you can use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch to get this interface directly without tapping the camera app icon.

Galaxy S8 camera preview screen is the centralized interface for using the camera in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

1. Shutter button

Tap the shutter button (marked as 1 in the screenshot below) to take a picture.

Please note, in Galaxy S8 camera, you can also enable a floating shutter button in addition to this fixed button.

You can also slide (right and left) the shutter button to zoom in and out.

2. Video recording button

You can start to record a video by tapping the video recording button (marked as 2 in the screenshot below)

Once the recording starts, you can pause or stop.

You can also take photos when recording.

3. Gallery shortcut button

You can access Gallery app directly by tapping this Gallery app shortcut button (marked as 3 in the screenshot below).

By default, the thumbnail of the latest photo will be shown in the preview screen.

4. Animated filters button

Galaxy S8 camera app allows you to choose from 34 stickers and 50 stamps for your … Read the rest

How to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides Leave a Comment

As Samsung removed physical Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may find you cannot use the old method (using Power+Home+ Volume up buttons) to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Then you may wonder how to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, you need to use Bixby button +Volume up button + Power button to reboot into Galaxy S8 recovery mode.

Why you need to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

All Android phones should have a special mode called recovery mode, which allows you to perform device maintenance.

You may need to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode when:

you want to clear cache partition.
you want to install updates from SD card.
you want to install update with ADB.
you want to reset Galaxy S8 0r S8+.
you want to reboot the phone into Galaxy S8 download mode (boot loader).
you want to check recovery logs.
you want to mount /system partition.
you want to run graphics test.

Although most Galaxy S8 owners and Galaxy S8+ owners never use the Galaxy S8 recovery mode, you may need to use it one day.

For example, after applying Android a major update to Galaxy S8 or S8+, you may find the phone behaves oddly. In this case, you may just reboot the phone into Galaxy S8 recovery mode and clear the cache partition. It should solve most of the update related problems without resetting Galaxy S8 or S8+.

How to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Each Android phone manufactures may use different ways to enter recovery mode.

Traditionally, Samsung used Power button+ Home button + Volume up button to reboot Galaxy devices into recovery mode.… Read the rest

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

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides, Galaxy S8 new features 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?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides 3 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 remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides, Galaxy S8 new features 49 Comments

In Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen, the leftmost panel is reserved for Bixby Home page (Hello Bixby), which is part of Samsung Bixby. But many owners want to remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen.

This guide shows you how to easily turn off or remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen.

If you want to disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may follow this guide.

What is Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Prior to Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung added Flipboard briefing to the leftmost panel of home screen.

This is one of the least popular features. It seems nobody except Samsung likes this annoying feature. Luckily, you can disable flipboard briefing in all previous Galaxy phones.

Now, in Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung replaced the Briefing page with Bixby Home page as shown below.

Samsung Bixby is actually a good new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+ and it works mainly locally on the phone.

But Samsung wants to stuff you with Bixby everywhere in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Bixby Home (Hello Bixby) is Bixby’s claimed territory in Galaxy S8 home screen.

The Bixby Home page is very similar to Google Now page comes with Google Now launcher or Pixel launcher. You can personalize Bixby Home page to show your preferred apps, news and reminders.

It sounds great.

But what disturbs many owners is that the Bixby Home page occupy a dedicated panel in Galaxy S8 home screen.

Can I remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Yes, you can remove Bixby Home page from Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen, just like what you can do with Briefing page in previous Galaxy phones… Read the rest

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar?

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides, Galaxy S8 new features 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 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 color of Galaxy S8 navigation bar.
adjust Galaxy S8 Home button pressure level sensitivity.

Please note, 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 main camera) as detailed in Galaxy S8 layout page.

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons layout?

In stock Android, the Back button is to the left of Home button and Recent (aka Overview) button to the … Read the rest

Galaxy S8 layout and Galaxy S8+ layout

by simon in Galaxy S8 How-to Guides 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

by simon in Galaxy S8 new features 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

Top 10 new features of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

by simon in Galaxy S8 new features 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

Samsung Galaxy S8 specs and Galaxy S8+ specs

by simon in Galaxy S8 new features Leave a Comment

As other flagship smartphones from Samsung, Galaxy S8 specs and Galaxy S8+ specs are impressive.

There are of course some exciting new features and annoying missing features in Galaxy S8 and S8+. This post is focusing on hardware specs of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Specs of both Galaxy S8 and S8+ are almost identical except the size and battery capacity.

What is the difference between Galaxy S8 specs and Galaxy S8+ specs?

There are only three differences between Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+:

Screen size. Galaxy S8 has a 5.8″ screen and Galaxy S8+ 6.2″.
Battery capacity. Galaxy S8 has a 3000mAh battery inside, and Galaxy S8+ 3500mAh.
Dimensions and weight. Galaxy S8+ is larger and 18g heavier than Galaxy S8.

All other components used in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are identical.

So is the software.

Galaxy S8 specs: design and dimensions

The design of Galaxy S8 and S8+ differs sharply from Galaxy S7 or S7 edge.

Both Galaxy S8 and S8+ use curved screens. But the curve is more sharp than Galaxy S7 edge.

So, the curved screen used in S8 and S8+ is very similar to that in Galaxy Note 7, not Galaxy S7 edge.

The bezels in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is also dramatically smaller than all previous Galaxy phones. The hardware capacitive buttons below the screen was also replaced with software buttons.

Home button is also embedded under the touch screen. The fingerprint scanner is relocated to the back of the phone next to the camera.

The metal-glass build is similar to Galaxy S7 and Note 7 with waterproof rated as IP68.

The dimensions of Galaxy S8 (148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm, 155 g) and S8+ (159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm, 173 g) are illustrated below.

Galaxy S8

… Read the rest