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.

App shortcuts in Home screen were introduced in Android Nougat 7.1. The firmware for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ was based on Android Nougat 7.0 before the Android Oreo update.

This guide teaches you how to use app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 with Android oreo update and how to pin app shortcuts to Galaxy S8 Home screen.

#3. Notification number badge links to the notification panel

Number badge, which indicates the number of the unread notifications of an app, has been in Samsung TouchWiz launcher for many years. It’s slightly different from the notification dots introduced in Android Oreo.

In Android Nougat, Samsung allows you to clear the number badge without opening the app.

Now in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update, you can open the notification panel by tapping the number badge.

In other words, the notification number badge (app icon badges) in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update is also a shortcut to the corresponding notifications on the notification panel.

Please check this guide on how to use the notification dots. notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Andriod Oreo update,

#4. Tweaks for the edge screen

Samsung didn’t make much noise about the edge screen last year.

In the Android Marshmallow and Nougat updates, Samsung removed some edge screen features. And it annoyed some owners of Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S7 edge phones.

When Galaxy S8 was announced, it seems edge screen is mainly for aesthetic outlook, rather than a functional part.

It seems Samsung still wants to attract owners to use the edge screen in the Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+. The update added three additional Edge lighting effects.

The Galaxy S8 Android oreo update also tweaked the font size,  color, and a few other settings to improve the look and feel of the edge panel screen.

You can now also tap and hold the edge panel handle to relocate it without entering Galaxy S8 settings.

Please refer to this guide on how to use the updated Galaxy S8 edge screen. You can also use app pair on Galaxy S8 and S8+.

#5. Manage photos and notes saved in the Samsung cloud

Samsung offers free 5GB cloud storage for each Samsung account.

You can automatically back up phone settings, app data, photos and Notes to the Samsung cloud.  The only drawback is the limited storage.

As one of the new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can now edit the photos and Notes saved in Samsung cloud. Prior to this update, you have to manually download them, then edit on the phone.

#6. Bluetooth AAC and LDAC codecs support

Bluetooth audio quality is always limited by the codec used between the phone and your headphone.

The default SBC codec is sufficient for calls.  But the music quality with this codec is normally worse than or similar to the low-quality MP3s.

AAC codec is better in audio quality. It is comparable to mid-quality MP3s.  LDAC (and aptX) offers even better audio quality.

The stock Android has included the AAC codec in the Bluetooth stack since Android Jelly Bean. But Samsung did not implement it.

LDAC was added to stock Android in Android Oreo.

In Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update, Samsung finally added AAC and LDAC codecs to their Bluetooth stack.

If your Bluetooth headphone supports either of them, you will very likely get better audio quality.

You can also get far better audio quality by turning on the adapt sound.

#7. dual messenger

Dual messenger allows you to run two copies of supported messager apps including Facebook, WhatsApp, Wechat, and a few more messenger apps.

Galaxy Note 8 already offered this dual messenger feature. Samsung finalized it as one of the new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+

If enabled, the dual messenger will install a second copy of the app. And you can use two accounts in each copy of the app independently.

Another way to run two copies of the same app (not limited to messenger apps) is using Galaxy S8 secure folder.

You can follow this guide to learn to use dual messengers on Galaxy S8, S8+, S9 and S9+.

#8. Game launcher for DeX station

If you are a DeX station user, you can now use the game launcher to enjoy the full-screen gaming.

Please note, the DeX station only supports up to 1080p screen resolution. The newly announced DeX pad is capable of 2K display. But it does not support Galaxy S8 and S8+ yet.

This Samsung DeX guide shows you how to use Samsung DeX with Galaxy S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 8 and Note 9.

#9. Showing currently running apps in the notification panel

In Android Oreo, the running apps in the background will be alerted in the notification panel.

Samsung implemented this feature in the Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update fully.

You can now easily check and stop some battery draining apps. Galaxy S8 device maintenance offered more aggressive, yet sometimes adversary,  “optimization.”

#10. Icons at the bottom of the notification panel for notifications that aren’t currently visible.

If Galaxy S8 notification panel cannot accommodate all your notifications, corresponding app icons will be shown at the bottom of the notification panel.

You can tap the icon to check the notification.

Besides, Galaxy S8 and S8+ now can also use Samsung DeX Pad, in addition to Samsung DeX Station to enjoy Samsung DeX mode.

What’s your thought on new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

If you have any question or encounter any problems on new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, or if you have questions on getting Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, please let us know your questions or problems in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer or solution.

You may also check our Galaxy S8 guides:

• Galaxy S8 new features guide covers all new and unique features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.
• Galaxy S8 how-to guides give you detailed step-by-step guides on using most features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.
• Galaxy S8 user manuals let you download official Samsung Galaxy S8 user manuals in your language.
• Galaxy S8 camera guides covered everything related to Galaxy S8 camera is covered in Galaxy S8 camera guides section.
• Galaxy S8 accessories guides help you find the perfect accessories for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

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