Samsung Bixby

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 disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

Last updated on: October 3, 2017 · First published on: October 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

Some Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners hate the Bixby button. With recent updates, you can now disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+ (Galaxy Note 8 as well). You can totally disable Bixby button for short press AND long press.

Many Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners are not fans of Samsung’s half-baked Bixby Assistant. One of the most disturbing features of Bixby is the Bixby button in the left side of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Often you may press the button accidentally when you want to adjust volume. This can be very annoying.

Samsung also quietly blocked the possibility of remapping Bixby button to other features.

Anyway, you can now fully disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8. This Galaxy S8 how-to guide will show you how to disable the annoying Bixby button completely.

What is Galaxy S8 and S8+ Bixby button?

As shown in Galaxy S8 layout, Bixby button is located in the left side of the phone, below the volume keys.

The Bixby button have at least two basic functions currently:

1. Press it once (short press) to launch Bixby Home page at any time even after you hide Bixby home from Galaxy S8 home screen. If you are on Bixby Home page already, you can press Bixby button to exit Bixby home. By default, Bixby Home page is in the leftmost panel of Galaxy S8 home screen.

Of course, you can hide or remove Bixby Home from Galaxy S8 home screen as explained in this guide. But this does not disable Bixby Home page. You only hide/remove it from the home screen.

2. Long press (press and hold) Bixby button to launch Bixby voice assistant.

After Bixby voice assistant is activated, you can … 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 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 remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Last updated on: October 6, 2017 · First published on: April 10, 2017 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

Galaxy S8 layout and Galaxy S8+ layout

Last updated on: October 19, 2017 · First published on: April 7, 2017 16 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

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