landscape mode

How to use the rotation toggle to change and lock screen orientation in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus?

You can change and lock the Galaxy S9 screen orientation to both landscape and portrait mode with Android Pie update

After updating Galaxy S9 or S9+ to Android Pie, you can use the new rotation toggle to change screen orientation on-the-fly when auto-rotate is turned off. You can even lock the screen orientation to landscape mode with this toggle (aka orientation lock).

Many Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners find this feature extremely useful once they realize the functions of the small rotation toggle icon.

This Galaxy S9 Android Pie update guide explains the functions of the rotation toggle, and how to use it to change and lock the screen orientation on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update.

What is the rotation toggle in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Most smartphone owners hate the auto-rotate. It often rotates the screen when you are not intended to do so.

So, most smartphone owners disable the auto-rotate and use the portrait mode.

However, occasionally, you may want to switch to landscape mode temporally for some apps. For example, you may want to show others the photos or videos shot in the landscape mode.

In this case, without the rotation toggle, you have to go to quick settings (this is the fastest router prior to Android Pie ), tap the auto-rotate button, rotate the phone, then show the photos. Once you finish it, you need to disable auto-rotate in the quick settings.

In the stock Android Pie, Google added the rotation toggle (orientation lock) to solve this issue. The toggle will appear (and animates) in the navigator bar once the phone detects the orientation is different from the “locked” one. You can tap the toggle to change the orientation. Of course, you can ignore the toggle (and do not change the orientation).

Samsung customized this feature a bit in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+. The rotation toggle animates only twice in Galaxy S9 and S9+, then disappear if you do not tap it.

It is unclear why Samsung decided not to show the toggle all the time.

How does the orientation lock work?

The rotation toggle (orientation lock) in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ works only when auto-rotate is off (it is obvious).

So, you will see the rotation toggle in the navigation bar (if you are using the new navigation gestures, the toggle will appear in a simialr location.) only when:

Auto-rotate is disabled.
The phone detects that you

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How to use the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

You can float Samsung keyboard anywhere on the screen.

simon · 2 Comments

In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung keyboard can be in the floating mode, and therefore, you can put the keyboard anywhere on the screen and use the keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ flexibly.

The floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update works on all apps, once enabled.

This Galaxy S9 Android Pie update guide explains how to enable, use, and customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update.

Please note, the Writing Assistant on Samsung Keyboard requires the Android 12 update, which Galaxy S9 will not get. You have to use the third-party keyboard if you need the grammar check (in addition to the spelling check).

What is the new resizeable keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

By default, the Samsung keyboard or keypad is fixed on the bottom of the Galaxy S9 or S9+ regardless of the orientation (portrait or landscape) of the phone, just like in other Android phones. The screen area occupied by the keyboard will not be used by the app.

This means the keyboard may waste a lot of screen space for the app.

When you hold the phone is the landscape mode (FYI, Galaxy S9 Home screen supports landscape mode as well), the keyboard will have to stretch a lot and waste even more screen space. So, the screen size is not fully utilized.

The problem has been exacerbated in the last few years because the aspect ratio of smartphones has become larger and larger.

Of course, the solution already exists on some Samsung tablets: using a freely resizable keyboard.

Now, in Android update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung brought the resizeable (free form) to Galaxy S9 and S9+ so that you can type easier.

The floating keyboard allows you:

To let the keyboard poping over any apps when using it. Therefore you will get more usable screen space when using the keyboard.
To put keyboard anywhere you want.
To relocate the keyboard when you typing.
To resize the keyboard (subject to minimum and maximum size).
To switch back to standard mode (fixed mode) at any time.
To switch back to the one-handed keyboard,

Basically, if you feel the keyboard affects your usage of any apps, you should try the floating keyboard after updating Galaxy S9 … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S9 camera Pro Mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Everything about Samsung camera Pro mode on Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S7, S7 edge, Note 9 and Note 8.

simon · 11 Comments

Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode gives you full control of your shootings: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, autofocus mode, filters, white balance, and exposure. If you properly use the Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode, you may get far better pictures than using the Auto mode (default).

But for many users without photographic backgrounds, sometimes, it is overwhelming to adjust the settings for Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode to get the desired photos.

This Galaxy S9 camera guide explains the what Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode is, when you may need it, and all settings for Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode.

Please note, Galaxy S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9 have a similar Pro mode to that on Galaxy S9 and S9+. So, this guide also applies to the Pro mode in these Samsung phones.

What's Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode? When do you need it?

In the old days, smartphone cameras are usually inferior to many middle-range (sometimes, even entry-level) point-and-shoot cameras. And it is impossible to compare them to DSLRs.

But in recent years, with the advances in camera sensor technology and software, more and more high-end smartphones can replace middle-range point-and-shoot cameras. Some Android phone vendors started to offer some photographic features that used to be exclusive in DSLR cameras

Since Galaxy S6, Samsung has included the Pro mode in many of its phones. But the quality of photos taken in the Pro mode depends on the phone hardware and software.

With Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode, some users now can easily get many far better photos than in the Auto mode.

Galaxy S9 camera Pro mode allows you:

Adjust the ISO value
Adjust the aperture to use the dual apertures as explained in this guide.
Adjust the shutter speed.
Adjust the autofocus mode.
Choose camera filters.
Adjust the white balance.
Adjust exposure compensation.
Save photos in RAW format.

You may want to try the Pro mode whenever you are not satisfied with photos taken in the Auto mode or other camera modes.

For example, in the low-light conditions, you may play with the ISO value and shutter speed to get less noisy photos in Pro mode. The Auto mode in this situation sometimes works well; sometimes not.

Or, if the lighting conditions vary dramatically in different parts of the photo, you can choose the proper ISO value, shutter speed, white balance, … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S9 Apps screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S9 Apps screen

simon · Leave a Comment

Galaxy S9 Apps screen is an integral part of Galaxy S9 and S9+. Unless you hide the apps screen, you have to work with it.

Although Galaxy S9 apps screen is just a special version home screen, there are some major differences between Galaxy S9 Home screen and Apps screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains what Galaxy S9 apps screen is, how to access it, how to use it and how to manage apps and app folders on it.

What is Galaxy S9 Apps screen?

Galaxy S9 Apps screen is the placeholder for all apps installed on your phone. All other Android phones also have a similar apps screen.

Sometimes, apps screen is referred to as the app drawer. In the old versions of Android, widgets were normally hosted in the apps screen as well.

Galaxy S9 Apps screen actually is a special version of Galaxy S9 Home screen.

You can find apps, hide apps, sort apps, manage apps in Galaxy S9 apps screen.

By default, all apps will be listed in the apps screen unless you hide them.

How to access Galaxy S9 Apps screen?

By default, there are a couple of different ways to access Galaxy S9 Apps screen. These include:

Use the apps screen button (apps button) in the favourite apps tray of Galaxy S9 Home screen, if you did not hide apps screen button on Galaxy S9 or S9+.
Swipe upwards on Galaxy S9 Home screen.
Swipe downwards on Galaxy S9 Home screen, if you did not enable quick-open notification panel.

Of course, if you hide the Galaxy S9 Apps screen, then you are working with Galaxy S9 Home screen only, and the apps screen will not be explicitly available.

How to use Galaxy S9 Apps screen interface?

On Galaxy S9 apps screen, if you tap on any app icons, the app will start. This is similar to that on the home screen.

If you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon without moving your fingers, you will get the context menu as shown in the following two screenshots.

For all apps, there are at least 3 options in the context menu:

Select items. You can then continue to select more app icons in the selection mode. You can use the selected apps to create an app folder. Or you can uninstall them in batch.
Add to home

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How to use Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode?

simon · 8 Comments

Samsung added the Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

You can change Galaxy S9 home screen to landscape orientation when you hold Galaxy S9 and S9+ horizontally. Of course, this also applies to Galaxy S9 apps screen (app drawer), which essentially is a special home screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains what Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode is, how to enable and disable Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode, and how to use Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode.

Update: in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can use the rotation toggle button to quickly change and lock screen orientation, including the home screen. You may check this guide on using the rotation toggle to change and lock the Galaxy S9 screen orientation.

In addition, you can also lock the layout of Galaxy S9 home screen in Android Pie update as explained in this guide.

What is Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode?

By default, the home screen (and apps screen) was always in portrait mode on most Android phones even if you hold the phone horizontally, and if you turn on auto-rotate.

So, it is hard to use the home screen in landscape mode, and you may have to hold the phone in portrait orientation to use the home screen and apps screen.

Please do not confuse this limitation in home screen with the auto-rotate.

Most apps including system apps like Settings support landscape mode for a long time. When you turn on auto-rotate, you can use most apps in the landscape orientation.

In Android tablet, since Android Honeycomb 3.0, the home screen landscape mode has been supported.

However, on the phone, the home screen landscape mode is still new.

The larger screen aspect ratio beyond 16:9 in many recent flagship Android phones exacerbates the implementation of landscape mode for the home screen. The screen simply looks too narrow for the icons.

Anyway, Samsung now offers the option to use Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

This means the Galaxy S9 home screen can automatically rotate to landscape mode when you hold the phone in landscape position.

Undoubtedly, the app icons and widgets in Galaxy S9 home screen will be re-organised in landscape mode. Simple rotation is not enough due to insufficient height in the landscape mode.

In a nutshell, Galaxy … Read the rest