Not every user has an idea of all the useful functions of their smartphone. Samsung Galaxy. The problem is that many features are hidden deep in the gadget’s settings. Today we will talk about eight hidden features of a smartphone running the latest version of OS Android 5.0 Lollipop, which can be found in the endless list of application settings in the menu.
On most Android-devices, you can take a screenshot by simultaneously pressing the Volume Down button and the Power button.
In the case of the Samsung Galaxy, to take a screenshot you need to press the power button and the “Home” button at the same time - this action requires both hands. However, there is a much more interesting way: simply swipe the screen with your entire palm.
Activating the function:
- GS3: Settings > Motion > Palm swipe to capture (under Hand motions)
- GS4: Settings > My device > Motions and gestures > Palm motion > Capture screen
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > Controls > Palm motion > Capture screen
- GS5, GS6/GS6 Edge, Note 4, Note Edge: Settings > Motions and gestures > Palm swipe to capture
- Simplified mode
Countless buttons and settings TouchWiz UI may confuse inexperienced users. If the interface seems too complicated, you can switch to a simplified screen mode. In this mode, larger icons are displayed on the screen, and the only applications available are phone, Internet browser, email and custom applications, the list of which the user can create himself.
This feature is especially useful for children and elderly people.
Activating the function:
- GS3: Settings > Home screen mode > Easy mode
- GS4: Settings > My device > Home screen mode > Easy mode
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > Device > Easy mode
- GS5, GS6/GS6 Edge, Galaxy Note 4/Note Edge: Settings > Easy mode
- Unlock with fingerprint
Fingerprints are one of the most reliable ways to identify a person. If a user wants a high level of information security on his gadget, he will probably choose to unlock the screen using a fingerprint.
There are two types of fingerprint unlocking on Samsung flagship smartphones. Galaxy S5 Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge use the older, less accurate swipe sensor: the user swipes down the display to the Home button. The new Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have a built-in fingerprint sensor that works on the principle TouchID V iPhone: The user presses his finger on the “Home” button.
In addition to this, your fingerprint(s) can be used to log into Samsung accounts, other websites, and to confirm your PayPal purchases.
Activating the function:
- GS5, Galaxy Note 4/Note Edge: Settings > Finger Scanner
- GS6/GS6 Edge: Settings > Lock screen and security > Fingerprints
The GS3, GS4 and Galaxy Note 3 gadgets do not have a fingerprint scanner.
- Using a smartphone with gloves
As a rule, it is impossible to work with modern touchscreens with ordinary gloves: you either have to buy special gloves for touchscreens or freeze your fingers. In Samsung Galaxy, you can increase the sensitivity of the display so that the user can operate the smartphone even with regular gloves.
Activating the function:
- GS4: Settings > My device > Display > High touch sensitivity
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > Controls > Increase touch sensitivity
- GS5, Galaxy Note 4 / Note Edge: Settings > Display > Increase touch sensitivity
Only the GS3 does not have such a setting. And in the new GS6 and GS6 Edge, sensitivity is high by default, and no additional manipulations with the settings are required.
- Find your phone
Samsung Galaxy gadgets have a “Find My Mobile” feature. To activate it, the user must create a Samsung account and use it to manage this function. Owners of devices that do not have the Find My Mobile feature can enable and manage Android Device Manager using their Google account.
Activating the function:
- GS3: Settings > Security > Remote controls
- GS4: Settings > More > Security > Device administrators > Android Device Manager
- GS5: Settings > Security > Device administrators > Android Device Manager
- GS6/S6 Edge: Settings > Lock screen and security > Find My Mobile
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > General > Security > Device administrators > Android Device Manager
- Galaxy Note 4/Note Edge: Settings > Security > Remote controls
- Run two applications simultaneously
Many users believe that the Galaxy Note is the only Galaxy gadget that can run two applications simultaneously. This is not true, because “Multi window” works on the Galaxy S3, S4, S5 and the new S6/S6 Edge.
The "Multi window" feature is activated using two fingers: the user swipes two fingers down from the notification panel and turns it on in the quick settings panel. The user can also activate it in the application settings.
Activating the function:
- GS3: Settings > Display > Multi window
- GS4: Settings > My device > Display > Multi window
- GS5, Galaxy Note 4/Note Edge: Settings > Multi window
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > Device > Multi window
In GS3, GS4, GS5, Galaxy Note 3, Note 4/Note EDGE, the Multi window function is activated by long pressing the “Back” button. In the Galaxy S6/S6 Edge, Multi window is activated by long pressing the multitasking panel (to the left of the “Home” button).
- Auto unlock (by face/voice/signature)
Users of GS3, GS4, Galaxy Note or Note II gadgets can unlock their devices simply by looking at the screen. The front camera recognizes the user's face and the gadget unlocks.
It's not the safest way to protect your phone, as the camera can easily be fooled by taking a photo, but when it works, it looks really cool.
Activating the function:
- GS3: Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock > Face unlock
- GS4: Settings > My device > Lock screen > Screen lock > Face unlock
- Galaxy Note: Settings > Security > Screen lock > Face unlock.
- Galaxy Note II: Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock > Face unlock
For added security, you can add a voice command by selecting "Face and voice" in your screen lock settings.
The Galaxy Note 3 does not have a visual unlock feature, but instead has a signature unlock: the user signs with the S Pen stylus.
GS5, GS6 / GS6 Edge, Note 4 and Note Edge gadgets are unlocked in the traditional way for all Android devices.
First introduced on the Galaxy S3, Smart Stay uses the front-facing camera to determine when to dim the brightness and turn off the display. The screen will remain active as long as the camera captures your face looking at the device's display.
Activating the function:
- GS3, GS5, Galaxy Note 4/Note Edge, GS6/GS6 Edge: Settings > Display > Smart stay
- GS4: Settings > My device > Smart screen > Smart stay
- Galaxy Note 3: Settings > Controls > Smart screen > Smart stay
Quite recently, two fresh “space” flagships, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and its slightly larger version, the Galaxy S8+, appeared on the mobile device market. It would seem that there is nothing else to chase, what other improvements can be placed in these small devices. Apparently, Samsung, which was bound to happen sooner or later, also asked similar questions. Since after the breakthrough Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in many ways, it has become pointless to technically improve gadgets, then where to go next? The South Korean developer has directed the development of its flagships along a new path. Namely, design and ease of use. Instead of trying to outplay their biggest competitor - the IPhone - developers from the country of Morning Freshness paid attention to the comfort of their own customers.
Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
In terms of technical features, the S8 and S8+ rightfully occupy a leading position not only among their own representatives, but also among the flagships of other brands. They outperform their younger predecessors quite a bit - S7 and S7 Edge. However, Samsung representatives themselves pay much more attention to the design of the phone and the various “tricks” that appeared here. So let's take a look at what's here.
Housing materials
The phone body, like most modern Samsungs, is made of glass and metal. The frame that frames the perimeter is metal, and the front and back panels are completely hidden under the glass. By the way, the S8 has Gorilla Glass 4, but the “baby” S8+ is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Both have an oleophobic coating, which means that the phones are protected from minor scratches, dust and do not glare in the sun. And at the same time extremely easily soiled. It’s better to immediately purchase a case for your new gadget, otherwise you risk going crazy trying to get rid of instantly appearing and omnipresent fingerprints on the case.
The phone is very pleasant to hold in your hand, but it gets dirty at the speed of light
Design
The materials of the S8/S8+ are not much different from their predecessors, but there have been dramatic changes in design. Now the working screen occupies almost the entire surface of the front panel - as much as 84% of its area. The speaker, retinal scanner, proximity sensor, front camera and light sensor remain in place. Do you understand what this means? No mechanical Home button or the famous Samsung logo above the display. The “Home” button, as well as the touch “Return” and “Running applications” are now part of the screen. These “managers” retained their functions. The virtual Home key is located in its usual place and is always available to the user. The feeling of pressing it is exactly the same as pressing the previous physical version - you can feel a kind of click both when you press the key and when you release it. If you press this sensor with great force, it will vibrate and instantly take you to the main screen. For those who are concerned about the availability of the key while running various full-screen programs, for example, games, let us clarify that Home is always available.
The fingerprint scanner had to be moved to the back panel, because there was simply no room left in front
On the back side, along with the camera and flash, the developers placed a fingerprint scanner. Not all users were satisfied with this solution, however, you must admit, the creators simply had no alternatives.
Sizes and colors
The dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy S8 are 148.9 x 68.1 mm, and the height is 8 mm, while the weight is 152 g. The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is slightly larger than its counterpart: length and height - 159.5 x 73.4 mm, thickness - 8.1 mm, and weight - 173 g.
The dimensions of the phones, in general, do not feel too capacious or inconvenient. The devices fit perfectly in the hand. True, small flaws are revealed when trying to reach the S8+ fingerprint scanner. If in the S8 the sensor button can be found without much difficulty, then in the Plus model this becomes a significant task. Otherwise, the ergonomics of the devices perform well.
Despite their rather large size, both phones fit perfectly in the hand. But trying to reach the opposite upper corner is in vain
The phones have five colors, but only three are available for Russia: yellow topaz (gold), black diamond and mystical amethyst (silver).
Screen
The screen is the most remarkable part of the phone, because it takes up almost the entire space of the front panel. The diagonal size of the regular version is 5.8 inches with a pixel density of 570 ppi, while the plus model is 6.2 inches with a pixel density of 529 ppi. The screen resolution is 2960 x 1440 pixels, i.e. Quad HD+. The screen, of course, has curved edges, just like the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge. However, this time the developers tried to make the display “limitless” and they really succeeded.
Due to the fact that the side frames in the front plane of the screen have disappeared, and the upper edges on both sides of the display are extremely narrow, an unusual feeling is created as if you are immersed in the image. In addition to this, the slightly elongated proportions of the screen add originality to the phone. It uses an 18.5:9 ratio instead of the usual 16:9. Surprisingly, such an innovation does not cause any discomfort. Quite the contrary. Now the screen can accommodate much more information, which is certainly convenient. And such an unusual display of the picture only adds to its uniqueness.
Both versions of the phone use the same type of SuperAMOLED screen. If you have already used mid- and high-end Samsung phones, then you know about all the advantages of this type of screen. You still have access to various detailed settings - color mode, calibration, blue filter, contrast, brightness, etc. The screen performs well both indoors and on a brightly lit street. Among other things, in the screen settings you can set the desired resolution and the list of applications that will be used in full screen mode.
Photo gallery: smartphone display testing
The intelligent assistant still needs improvement - at least in the Russian version
Biometric phone security
Facial recognition and an iris scanner have been added to the available data protection tools. In the first case, you need to take into account many different nuances. In good lighting, the sensor works perfectly and without failures. But if the light is dim or practically non-existent, don’t be surprised if your own phone suddenly doesn’t recognize you. Also, recognition may not work if, for example, you are trying to unlock your phone while lying down or your current appearance is somehow different from the one that was originally captured. In addition, many note that it is easy to deceive the scanner by simply showing it a photo of the owner. In the second case, recognition takes a little longer, but the method is much more reliable.
The retinal scanner may act up if you are wearing sunglasses. The rest - including ordinary glasses - is not a hindrance to him
AKG headset
Samsung acquired Harman last year. This developer is famous for having previously created various audio products for brands such as Harman Kardon and Bowers & Wilkins. This time, Harman started collaborating with Samsung. The result of their work was in-ear headphones with a remote control, designed and released specifically for the S8 and S8+. We must pay tribute, the sound in them is really good. However, this is only at mid frequencies. Avid connoisseurs of good sound will clearly notice that the bass in these headphones is not very powerful, and there is no immersion effect or sound depth either. And the volume of the AKG headset is very low. Maybe it's the phones themselves, you ask. But no. If you replace the included headset with any other more or less high-quality headphones, the sound will improve significantly. “Space” new products produce a simply gorgeous range of sound waves, but AKGs are definitely not suitable for revealing it.
Camera Features
Both phones inherited the camera from their top-end ancestor, the Galaxy S7. The resolution of the main lens is 12 megapixels, and the aperture is f/1.7. The front camera is a little worse - only 8 megapixels with an aperture value of the same f/1.7. The focal length is 26 mm, there is optical stabilization. In terms of technical strength, the camera is really no different from its predecessor. So what's new?
And the fact is that Samsung has focused on the software part of its cameras. Shooting in low light conditions has improved. The developers turned to Dual Pixel technology, which accelerated autofocus, as well as continuous shooting.
Daytime shooting (+photo examples)
When shooting during the day, there are no complaints about the camera. The pictures come out clear, highly detailed, without blur, even if the subject was in motion. The picture itself is rich, sometimes even too rich, but these are the features of all Samsung mobile equipment. The white balance is adjusted perfectly, the color gamut pleases with its maximum plausibility.
The phone adjusts the white balance very sensitively, with virtually no mistakes. There are no complaints about macro photography.
In addition to other modes, the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ has the ability to manually adjust focus. You can independently choose which view your phone should focus on
By the way, you can shoot in two modes - auto and manual. Manual mode allows you to adjust exposure, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. In addition, the S8/S8+ offers several preset modes to choose from. However, even without them the camera behaves quite decently.
Shooting in low light (photo)
We are already accustomed to the fact that in poor lighting conditions, when it begins to get dark outside or you enter a room with your camera, the quality of shooting sharply deteriorates, the picture acquires a lot of noise, blurriness appears and saturation disappears. This does not happen in the case of the Galaxy S8/S8+. The phone takes excellent pictures even in dim light.
The picture was taken during the evening - there is no noise, and the detail is as high as during daytime shooting. As you can see for yourself, the camera on the new Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ is not inferior, but also superior to some DSLRs
Front-camera
8 megapixels allow the front camera to take pictures with quality no worse than the main lens. It supports autofocus mode and auto face retouching. The camera does not have its own flash, but the screen backlight is a good substitute.
Even in dim light, the sculpture’s selfie came out detailed and rich.
Video
The maximum available resolution in which the S8/S8+ can shoot is 4K, i.e. 3840 x 2160 pixels, frame speed reaches 30fps. In the lower FullHD resolution, the frame rate increases to 60 fps. For video shooting, optical stabilization is available, which instantly straightens the frame. The phones produce an excellent picture - a decent level of saturation, brightness and detail even in the dark. The sound recording is also of high quality - there are no strange interferences or noises, the audio track is clear and loud.
The South Korean developer realized in time that it’s not a matter of pixels at all and “bigger” does not mean “better.” The camera on the S8/S8+ is not superior to the camera on the same S7, but the difference in shooting quality is noticeable.
Samsung has tried to concentrate all the technological trends of our time in its top-end smartphones Galaxy S8 and S8+. This includes a curved display, a retinal scanner, and a “night mode”. Of course, the software interface matches the hardware. We’ll talk about it today, or more precisely, about its hidden and unobvious capabilities. So, what does the new interface of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ contain?
Navigation Bar Secrets
The navigation bar on the Galaxy S8 and S8 has a few tricks up its sleeve, including allowing users to bypass the device's lock screen and instantly access the home screen.
To do this, you need to activate unlocking from the Home button in the settings - Settings > Display > Navigation Bar. Now a strong press on Home will unlock the device, and a double press will forcefully lock it. In addition, the user can hide the navigation bar in applications where it is not automatically removed, and also configure it to suit his tastes. In some applications, the navigation bar may disappear completely; to bring it up you need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Edge of the screen
The edges of the screen on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ provide access to apps, news and key features, allowing apps, shortcuts and notifications to be displayed on the curved edges of the screen. In addition, there are notifications in the form of glowing stripes along the edges, so you won’t miss a message even if the smartphone is lying face down. This same mode works well during game battles.
Users can access screen edge settings by selecting Settings > Display > Screen edges.
Create convenient reminders
Found interesting articles you'd like to see later? Galaxy S8 allows users to simply save URLs using the reminder feature. To do this, click on the icon Reminder in the standard browser. The URL is saved automatically, and you can also set the time when the reminder appears.
In addition, the smartphone allows you to create reminders in instant messengers. To do this, click the menu item Message Options and select a sub-item Send a reminder. Finally, you can pin reminders to the display. To do this you need to select an application Reminders, select the desired reminder from the list and select the “Always on screen” option.
Power buttons and camera
Sometimes you only have a couple of seconds to take a good photo. On the Galaxy S8 and S8+, you need to double-press the power button to instantly launch the camera. You can zoom a photo from the camera application by dragging the shutter button left and right.
In addition to unlocking the device, the finger scanner allows users to open apps and control key functions. A simple swipe down or up will show or hide the notification panel, while a swipe from the screen to the sensor on the home screen will launch Samsung Pay. The function can be found in the section Settings > Advanced Features > Fingerprint Scanner Gestures.
If you cannot answer the call, you can reject it by sending pre-generated messages. For this, a heart rate sensor is used - double tapping will send a message. The setup is done like this: Settings > Display > Screen edge > Lighting > Advanced settings > Quick reply.
Game screenshots
To quickly take a screenshot of the game and merge the game, you need to press the volume down button and the power button. You can also swipe your finger across the screen from edge to edge and then select an area of the screen to save.
Configurable in Settings > Advanced Features > Smart Capture
Snap an application as part of a window
A new feature on the S8 allows users to select a portion of the most recently opened app to pin to the top of the screen. For example, this could be videos or stock reports. This allows you to keep two applications on the screen at the same time. To launch, you need to click the arrow button in the application title.
Unlocking chip
If you are using a retinal scanner, then in the authorization window you can select different masks for this. Not too interesting, but still, someone will probably like it. You can find it here: Settings > Lock screen & security > Retina scanner > Mask preview screen.
Samsung Cloud offers users an easy way to share large video clips and photos with other users. The function supports FullHD videos and files up to 1 GB in size. Users can save up to 2GB of content per day. After two days of storage, the files will be deleted from the server.
Users can also give other users access to shared content by sending them a code. Those who receive the code will be able to view the materials via the link.
Of course, these are not all the features, but we’ll tell you about others next time.
What was the first thing you checked when you got your hands on the Galaxy S4? You probably poked around the home screen, looked at applications, and maybe opened the settings menu. And do you think you've seen all the capabilities of this flagship? We have said more than once that Samsung creates devices that you will constantly discover in new ways, you just need to try for it. That’s why we suggest you familiarize yourself with a dozen “hidden” features of the Galaxy S4 that will help you get to know your smartphone better.
1. Quickly access the Settings panel with two fingers
Have you ever tried pulling down the status bar with two fingers? I think if you haven't used it yet, you will be amazed at how easy it is to quickly access settings. You'll see a full overview of all settings options, rather than 5 icons as if you opened the panel with just one finger. Additionally, by tapping and holding your finger on the Settings Quickbar icon, you can also open all the settings at once. You can change the order of the icons in the panel by long-pressing on the icon you want to change in the settings panel and then dragging it to where you prefer.
2. Add TV controls to the notification bar
Can't remember where you left your TV remote control? Don't worry, you can change channels and fully control the TV's functions if you have your Galaxy S4 at hand. The WatchON app allows you to use your smartphone as a real remote control, as long as you synchronize both devices. You can also easily add this feature to your notification panel. Once your smartphone and TV are synced with each other, go to the applications menu, tap WatchON, then open Settings and you will see the remote control in the notification panel. It's that simple. Another advantage of the IR sensor in the Galaxy S4 is that it can be used to control other devices, including home DVD players, Blu-Ray players, and home theaters.
3. Multitasking with a pop-up keyboard
Don't like the bulky multitasking screen on your smartphone? Do you want to find out at the same time where you have an appointment and at the same time want to send a message? It's possible with your Galaxy S4! The flagship has a pop-up keyboard that will appear anywhere, which is especially convenient in multi-window mode. For example, as soon as you click on the new message icon, a keyboard will appear. Click the QWERTY keyboard settings icon next to the space bar. Then select the pop-up keyboard icon, which is shown with a small cross/plus sign. Now you can do two things at once!
4. Blocking mode for moments when you don’t want to be disturbed
I am sure that each of you would like to sleep longer in the morning, but one of your “well-wishers” will probably call and wake you up. This is especially unpleasant when you were trying to fall asleep to get enough sleep before an important meeting. By the way, you can enable a special mode on the Galaxy S4 where you will not be disturbed by calls or notifications. Just go to Settings, My Device, and then turn on Lock Mode. You can separately block notifications from a certain option, phone calls, SMS for a certain time, for example, at night while you are resting. But what to do if you are still afraid of missing an important call? You just need to add the necessary contacts to the list of allowed ones and then you won’t miss urgent calls. You can sleep peacefully!
5. Wi-Fi timer for efficient data usage
If you are still one of those users whose Internet works only according to the amount of available traffic, then you should think about the correct use of mobile traffic over Wi-Fi. With the right approach, the Galaxy S4 can save you additional money. The Wi-Fi Timer option can be found in Settings, Connections, Wi-Fi, Advanced, Wi-Fi Timer - this will allow you to configure the start and end time of using the Wi-Fi connection. Now you don't have to worry about the problem of expensive traffic.
6. Adapt Sound optimizes sound quality
Can't stand the sound quality of your headphones when trying to listen to music from your Galaxy S4? Now you can increase the volume without the risk of ear pain. With Adapt Sound, you can adjust the sound according to your hearing ability and the difference between your left and right ears. This significantly optimizes the sound quality when talking and listening to music. After connecting your headphones/headset to your Galaxy S4, go to Settings/My Device/Sound/Adapt Sound to enable this feature. At the very beginning of the settings, you will hear several beeps that resemble a hearing test. You will be asked to confirm if you heard each sound from the 20 tests. After completing the tests, you will see a graph where the hearing characteristics for the left and right channels are analyzed.
7. Optimize call clarity
Maybe you have had this experience when you heard the person on the other end very poorly, especially if you are on a busy street or in a shopping center. In fact, you can customize the sound of incoming and outgoing calls, choose the equalizer setting (soft or clear sound) while the call is on. You can also increase the volume by tapping the Extra volume button on the screen above the end call icon. Call quality can be improved by noise reduction, which will also help the other person hear you better. Let us remind you that these parameters can be adjusted in the settings and in Call in My device.
8. An easy way to enjoy videos
We have good news for those who are annoyed by the dark smartphone screen and tiny subtitles when watching their favorite movies. Did you know you can zoom in or out on your screen while watching a YouTube clip? With a simple pinch-to-zoom gesture, users can zoom in on an area of an image with a simple gesture—pinch to zoom in or pinch to zoom out. Also, if you think your screen is too dark, you can adjust the brightness using the scroll down/up buttons on the left side of the screen. You can also adjust the volume on the right side of the screen. If you don't see the scroll bar, then simply place your finger on the left or right side of the screen and the bar will appear as if by magic.
9. Access the camera from the lock screen
Have you ever missed a great shot because you didn't turn on the camera in time? If you knew a simple possibility on the Galaxy S4, then it’s unlikely that this would happen to you. In fact, taking a quick photo with the Galaxy S4 camera is very easy. Open Settings/Lock Screen Widgets, then select your camera. After confirming the settings, you can swipe left to launch the camera app from the lock screen. It should be noted that this will not work if you unlock your screen using a PIN code or a special gesture.
10. Change the text on the lock screen
This point was 100% described on our website, but we will note it again. This is the last item in today's top ten features of the Galaxy S4. You can manually change the font and color of the message on the lock screen. There are 2 simple ways. If you have set the screen to unlock by PIN code or gesture, then you can activate the option in the settings (widgets for the lock screen, edit personal information). Another way is even easier - press and hold your finger on the message and drag your finger down on the lock screen. An edit icon will appear where you can change the text. Now you can customize your screen by adding funny message text.
We hope you learned something new about your Galaxy S4. If there are other hidden interesting options that are worth talking about, you can mark them below in the comments and we will write about them separately.
Samsung Galaxy S8 is officially presented. The smartphone turned out to be interesting, productive and beautiful. In addition, the S8 was equipped with new, no less interesting technologies. At the presentation, the Samsung S8 looks premium and cool, the Wow effect was achieved, in no small part due to the pomp of the event (Samsung can). But let's look for a little bit of ointment in the ointment. And this is not enough ointment. Let's take a look at the new S8 features: useful and not so useful.
Useful innovations
Home button
The mechanical Home button has disappeared from the screen. This is exactly what many fans of the brand were afraid of. Now the button has become fully touch sensitive, sensitive to pressure. Home is always shown on the display thanks to the Always On Display feature. It remains active even when the display is turned off. Simply swiping your finger does not activate the screen; the button only responds to force. This reduces the risk of accidental unlocks. In the settings, you can now adjust the pressing force to customize the button to your liking.
Samsung always optimizes the user interface, adding new features to it. While fans await the release of , which promises to give the user complete control over the control buttons, Samsung has already implemented this feature in the new S8. The user can swap the back and multitasking buttons and give them additional functions.
Framework
The Samsung S8 has frames, but engineers have developed a design solution that creates the impression of being completely frameless. The metal side has a very thin outer edge, is somewhat recessed into the body, and the display glass seems to “float” onto the frame. This provides standard protection for the screen and body of the smartphone, and at the same time achieves the effect of an infinite screen.
The company created a station for connecting a smartphone to a computer, but not for trivial tasks of transferring files. This gadget transfers your smartphone desktop to your computer. Samsung Galaxy S8 received a shell that is fully optimized for working on a desktop with a stationary keyboard and mouse. This will be appreciated by those users who have to perform typical desktop tasks on their phone: answer emails, process photos in professional editors, work with Office files.
Technologies with shortcomings
Authentication - scanners, scanners
The scanner moved to the back panel and was located near the camera. This was an expected decision. And this will cause the first inconvenience.
Firstly, Let's look at the dimensions of the Galaxy S8:
- 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 - regular version
- 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 - Plus version
Reaching the scanner with the usual grip at the bottom of the smartphone will be somewhat inconvenient and will take time to get used to.
Secondly, If you look at the smartphone display, the fingerprint scanner is located to the left of the camera. When holding the S8 in your right hand, you will inevitably hit your finger on the camera glass every time, leaving marks and fingerprints. And then we are surprised that the camera is blurry, the photo is not sharp enough, and in general, what the...
Third, There are already solutions for fingerprint scanners built into the screen on the market, such as, for example, the company’s development. This is exactly the kind of scanner users expected to see in the new Galaxy S8. Why did the company decide to place the sensor on the rear panel?
The answer is simple. Samsung is relying on user identification using more complex biometric parameters: a retinal scanner and facial recognition.
A little theory
The iris of the eye is formed before a person is born and remains unchanged throughout his life, unlike the retina, which can change over time. The iris is unique, and the pattern is not the same even among twins. The iris pattern is formed by a large number of circles and complex elements that can be measured by computer.
The machine can capture up to 200 points for the highest accuracy of authentication and security, while the best fingerprint scanners capture up to 70 points.
The term “scanner” in this context is not entirely appropriate, since the picture is captured by a conventional camera that takes up to 30 frames per second. It takes a few seconds to create an authentication protocol (the control pattern by which the smartphone distinguishes the owner). The actual authentication procedure takes place in a split second. As demonstrated at the S8 presentation, the smartphone responds instantly.
The only thing that is alarming is the scanner's operation in poor lighting conditions and at night. In theory, the light emitted by the camera during scanning is enough to read the pattern and carry out authentication, but how this will work in practice at Samsung is still unknown.
Another point is that for rapid processing of the iris, the sensor camera is constantly active. With a low battery capacity and a fairly energy-intensive screen, this may affect the autonomy of the smartphone. How this will work in real life will be shown by upcoming tests and reviews.
The developer has expanded authentication capabilities, offering the user a PIN code, a pattern, a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner, and facial recognition. The user can choose one most convenient method, or several, to ensure multi-level data protection.
Does the user need this? Maybe.
Bixby voice assistant
Digital assistants are some kind of all-consuming global trend: Siri from Apple, Google Assistant from Google, and now Bixby from Samsung.
At the presentation, Bixby was announced as an assistant capable of learning from its owner. The assistant understands the context (what is happening on the smartphone screen), can analyze behavior and predict the most likely actions of the smartphone owner. The developer claims that Bixby provides an easy transition from taps to words and back again.
So far everything looks very complicated. An example is a situation where a user needs to send their location to a friend. To do this, you will need to unlock your smartphone, open maps, determine the location, then give the command to Bixby (having previously activated the assistant with the dedicated button) “send this to Sasha.” According to the developer, Bixby will understand that you need to take a screenshot of the card and send it to a contact under the name “Sasha”. At the same time, the assistant will identify all the Sashas in the address book and ask which contact should send the screenshot.
This is where touch interaction comes into play again: you need to specify the correct contact and through which message channel to send the coordinates. Difficult? And it no longer causes such delight. It would be much cooler if the S8 could hear the user’s command “tell Sasha where I am” and send the coordinates to the friend under the name Sasha, with whom there was the most recent contact, to the smartphone without the need for additional actions.
In previous publications we wrote about the capabilities and skills of Bixby, so we won’t retell it. We’ll just suggest you familiarize yourself with it.
Bixby does not work in all languages. And it is still unknown whether the assistant will become smart enough to understand the great and powerful Russian language.
The most useful feature of the assistant is the quick access menu to the most frequently used functions. The menu has a tiled design, and the order of the tiles changes according to time and user actions. So, Bixby knows that almost every day at 8 am you look at your Facebook feed, and at 9 am you open city maps. Therefore, the tiles will appear in this order. It's comfortable.
conclusions
The smartphone pleased users not only with its hardware, but also with new technologies. The official start of sales of the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus in the world is April 21, but today users have the opportunity to pre-order by finding a suitable supplier on
