⤠Samsung Galaxy: Top 5 Samsung Galaxy S8 wireless chargers for your office
Samsung Galaxy S8 wireless chargers for your bedside table, desk or your executive table. Here’s top 5 of the most reliable and bang for the buck units you can buy right now.
PASONOMI Fast Wireless Charger
This wireless charging stand from PASONOMI is a great option for the Galaxy S8 or any Samsung Galaxy phone with wireless charging because it supports fast charging. That means you’ll be able to fully charge your phone in under 2 hours!
It’s an intelligently designed charger with two charging coils positioned so that you’re even able to charge your phone while watching videos in landscape mode. There’s also a nice LED strip that will indicate the charging status, and the whole thing has a sleek and futuristic vibe to it.
The stand is available in your choice of black or silver and is only $22.
iOttie iON Wireless Qi Charging Pad
This wireless charger from iOttie might seem like the bulkier option based on pictures, but it’s actually very intelligently designed. It’s Qi-compatible with a triple-coil charging zone that’s capable of 5V/1A output with a non-slip ring to hold your phone in place on top while it charges. And that hollow opening in the middle isn’t just for the stylish look â it’s also a docking bay for the iOttie PowerPack 3400mAh External Portable Charger which is super convenient and cool.
You can even get a bundle pack that includes the iOttie PowerPack 3400mAh External Battery for just $40, so you can have a fully charged battery pack to take along with you if you think you’ll need it. Otherwise, you can get the wireless charging pad for just $20.
TYLT Qi Wireless Charging Stand
TYLT has been in the wireless charging game for years, proving itself to be one on of the most trusted third-party manufacturers. This is another angled wireless charging stand that lets you keep your phone accessible while it charges at your desk.
What separates TYLT from the rest is its bold color options â you can get this charging stand in black, red, blue and yellow starting at just $21.
Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger pad
For the same fast charging speeds in a less-expensive (and smaller) package, look for Samsung’s last-generation flat wireless charging pad.
This UFO-like charging pad can charge all Qi-compatible devices and is Fast Charge-compatible with your Galaxy S8. It also comes with a Samsung Fast Charge wall charger, which is a requirement to get the fastest speeds. At about $40 retail this is a better choice than the convertible stand, and you can frequently find refurbished models on sale for much less.
Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad
Samsung has come out with a completely redesigned wireless charging pad/stand, which launched alongside the Galaxy S8. Besides the premium leather-like appearance and ingenious design which allows you to easily convert this pad into an angled charging stand, you can be sure that this charging pad was created with your Galaxy S8 in mind.
The charger comes with a spare Samsung Fast Charge wall charger â because let’s be honest, you can never have too many Samsung wall chargers â and allows you to fast charge your Galaxy S8 wirelessly at your home or office. At $50, this is the most expensive option on the list, but if premium quality and functionality are your top priorities, this is the one you want.
⤠Samsung Galaxy: Top 5 Samsung Galaxy S8 covers you gotta check out
Want a Samsung Galaxy S8 cover that comes with style and for the right price? Here’s some you can check out to protect that precious glass from shattering when it falls to the floor.
Skech Crystal Clear Case
We donât blame you if the idea of covering up your gorgeous Galaxy S8 design has you shaking your head, but this phone is easily damaged. Skech might have the perfect compromise for you with its Crystal Clear S8 cover. The back is hard polycarbonate, and the frame is a softer material designed to absorb impact shock. There are thin button covers and accurate cut-outs for the ports, camera, and everything else. Itâs slim, so you canât expect rugged drop protection, but it will ward off minor bumps and scratches. It also has an anti-yellowing coating, so thereâs no need to worry about UV rays.
Nomad Folio Wallet Case
Classic, durable, and practical, this genuine leather wallet case from Nomad could be the ideal companion for your Galaxy S8. It has a thin, plastic shell inside that holds your phone firmly in place and itâs wrapped in brown or grey American patina leather. The inside cover sports three neatly stitched card slots and thereâs a larger pouch at the back for cash. There are generous openings for access to buttons, ports, camera, and everything else.
Snakehive Pastel Collection Leather Wallet
Made from beautiful nubuck leather, these folio cases from British accessory brand Snakehive come in a variety of colors well-suited for summer shenanigans. The pastel shades range from mint green and peach, to a lemon, lilac, and honeysuckle. There are two-tone versions available, too. Each case is stunning on the outside, and practical on the inside, with three card slots, a note compartment, and a phone holder that still provides complete access to your deviceâs buttons and connectors. The magnetic tab keeps the folio closed, and the cover can be flipped around to make a handy stand. The folio case is also available for the Galaxy S8 Plus.
Case-Mate Brilliance Tough Case
If you love sparkles, then this Galaxy S8 case is for you. Encrusted with real crystals and a metal accent, this eye-catching case comes in champagne, rose gold, or lace. You donât have to sacrifice functionality for style, either, because this is a dual-layer case that meets military drop test standards. A few buyers have reported problems with lost crystals, but given it comes with a lifetime warranty, you can contact Case-Mate for a replacement if you run into any issues.
Peel Super Thin Case
The Galaxy S8 is such a sleek beauty that you might recoil at the thought of slapping a chunky, plastic case on it. Thatâs why Peel designed these svelte, minimalist shells â to provide a thin, 0.35-millimeter layer of protection without spoiling the feel or look of the phone. There are no loud logos here and all your phoneâs buttons, ports, and other features, including the curved edges, are easily accessible. The Samsung logo shines through subtly on the gray and silver versions, or you can opt for a matte-black configuration.
⤠Samsung Galaxy: Top 5 Samsung Galaxy S8 screen protectors for you
Need the perfect Samsung Galaxy S8 screen protector for your specific needs and style? Here’s some you can check out to protect that precious glass from shattering when it falls to the floor.
This is a full coverage Galaxy S8 screen protector thatâs actually manufactured in the US. Itâs thin as well as flexible, so it has no problems covering the curved sides of your Galaxy S8. Made from military-grade thermoplastic urethane, itâs designed to absorb impact and resistant against scratches and punctures. The screen protector also has a UV Clear Coat layer, which should prevent it from yellowing.
The manufacturer promises an easy, error-proof as well as bubble-free installation. It claims that the product offers a glass-like surface and is âself-healingâ, so it can repair minor scratches on its own. However, the screen protector is not compatible with the majority of cases.
The product is reasonably priced and comes with a risk-free lifetime replacement warranty. You can get your hands on it for $7.85 on Amazon.
iTURBOS Galaxy S8 screen protector (plastic)
The first Galaxy S8 screen protector on the list is the iTURBOS 3D curved PET screen protector. Itâs 0.15 mm thin and offers five layers of protection. The screen protector covers the entire screen of the device including the curved edges, and has cutouts on the top for the camera, speaker, and all the sensors.
The product has a scratch-resistant coating that gives you an additional level of safety and is highly transparent with a light transmittance of 99 percent. This means that the screen protector shouldnât have a negative effect on the display brightness of your Galaxy S8. It also has an anti-fingerprint layer, so you wonât have to wipe it down every five minutes.
The retail box includes two Galaxy S8 screen protectors, two wet and dry wipes, as well as two dust removal stickers youâll need when applying the screen protector. You can get it on Amazon for $7.99 via the button below.
ArmorSuit Galaxy S8 screen protector (plastic)
ArmorSuitâs Galaxy S8 screen protectors also offer full coverage and is made from a scratch-proof, optically clear, military-grade, and yellow-resistant material. It features the self-healing technology, which helps eliminate minor scratches on the film. Although itâs plastic, the screen protector is advertised as having a glass-like surface and isnât a fingerprint magnet like a lot of its competitors.
It has five protective layers described as silicone adhesive, impact cushion, scratch resistant, fingerprint reduction, and self-healing effect. The product is case-friendly and actually made from the same material used to protect military aircrafts, helicopters, and space shuttles. The package contains one screen protector, a spray solution, a microfiber cloth, and installation instructions.
The ArmorSuit screen protector comes with a lifetime warranty, so in case it peels off, gets scratched, or has installation flaws, youâll receive a new one free of charge. Itâs made in the US and will set you back $7.85.
The Spigen NeoFlex is an edge-to-edge screen protector made from a flexible urethane and is scratch resistant. It has a case-friendly design and is compatible with Spigen cases, although the manufacturer does state that the screen protector must be applied while the case in on the device.
The installation is easy as it should be and itâs quite normal for bubbles or a rainbow effect to appear during the process. Both will disappear once everything dries, which can take up to 12 hours. The product comes with a two-year warranty and also has self-healing characteristics, meaning it can repair small scratches by itself.
The retail package contains two screen protectors and is currently available for $7.99 on Amazon. You can get it via the button below.
Supershieldz Galaxy S8 screen protector (plastic)
This screen protector is made from a high-quality Japanese PET film and has three layers: a scratch resistant surface polymer, a hardened protective mask to prevent deep cuts damaging your device, and a patented silicone gel that creates a vacuum to securely cling to the screen.
The product doesnât have an adhesive and wonât leave any residue when or if you decide to remove it. It offers full-screen protection and what the manufacturer calls âReal Touch Sensitivityâ, which promises a natural feel despite the fact this the screen protector is plastic.
The Supershieldz screen protector is easy to apply (100 percent bubble-free), comes with a lifetime replacement warranty, and is quite affordable. It currently retails for $6.99 on Amazon, , making it the most affordable Galaxy S8 screen protectors on this list.
⤠Samsung Galaxy: How to take screenshots with the Galaxy S8
Make Samsung Galaxy S8 screenshots fast! Do you want to know the different ways on how you can take a screenshot with your Galaxy S8? Read on, here’s a complete list for you.
Use Bixby
If you’re a super sleek and an advanced tech person, you just use Bixby to make a quick screenshot with your Galaxy S8.
Just say “Hi, Bixby”.
Then say, “Take a Screenshot”.
Done!
Use Edge Panel
The edge panel trick in your Galaxy S8 and S8+ will enable you to take oval or rectangle screenshots that you can then customize into a great-looking GIF ready for sharing on your messaging apps.
Activate Edge Panels by going to Settings > Display > Edge screen > Edge panels.
Go to the screen you want to capture.
Open the Edge panel and slide until you find the Smart select section.
Select from Rectangle, Oval or animation.
And finally, select the area of the screen you want to turn into a GIF or take a screenshot of.
Use Smart Capture
With Smart Capture, you can extend your usual one screen piece screen photo into a rolling screenshot. This is perfect for long web pages or conversation threads that you want to share or document.
Go to the screen you want to take a screenshot of.
Use any of the above two methods to capture a screenshot.
Once you take a screenshot, tap on Scroll capture (previously âcapture moreâ) from the options that will show up at the bottom of the screen.
Keep tapping the Scroll capture button to keep going down the page until you are done.
Use Swipe Gestures
Swipe gestures is by far the fastest and easiest one to use among all the choices with your new Galaxy S8. You just Swipe your screen from right to left while in contact with the screen and you’re done.
Activate gestures first by going to Settings > Advanced features.
Enable Palm swipe to capture.
Go to the screen that you want to take a screenshot of.
Now swipe the edge of your hand from right to left or left to right, horizontally. This edge-to-edge swipe gesture may take you a few tries to master.
Again, your phone will buzz a little and show you a quick animation to confirm the screenshot.
Use Key Combinations
The classic yet effective screenshot technique on all Galaxies before the Galaxy S8 and S8+, is the key combinations. This involves hardware keys like home, volume up and power button to get the job done.
Open the screen or app that you want to capture like inside an app or even at the home screen.
Press and hold Power and Volume Down keys together.
It has been a week since the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta was released. Samsung has launched the beta in the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea in the first phase. Samsung today rolled out the second beta firmware for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.
The second beta firmware update with version number G950FXXU1ZQK4 is now being rolled out by Samsung. It has been rolled out in the United Kingdom already and will also go live in other supported markets soon.
Second Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta firmware
The changelog of the second Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta firmware reveals that it brings the October security patch and improves the stability of DeX mode. The changelog also mentions that the stability of the Launcher has been improved as well.
There are new clock styles for the lock screen and Always On Display. Users can now adjust the transparency of notifications to get their desired look. Smart View gets smarter by allowing the handsetâs screen to go dark when itâs mirroring between the phone and TV.
A plethora of bug fixes are also included in this beta release. Interestingly, even though the changelog says that it has the October security patch, the Software Information section mentions the September patch. It just might be a clerical mistake.
Samsung is yet to confirm when the second phase of the beta program will begin. Thatâs when the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta is expected to be released in markets like India.
We have three new iPhones, but if you judge by all the news and talk, you would think Apple had just unveiled one: the Apple iPhone X.
The new iPhone X is certainly the one that has everyone’s attention with its new edge-to-edge screen and compact size, but with a prohibitive starting price of $1,000 for the base 64GB model, you might wonder if there is an alternative.
Of course, there is! In fact, the iPhone X is late to the bezel-less screen game, and we round up 5 great Android options for a lower price, but with a similarly great design and cameras. With no further ado, here is our selection of the iPhone X bezel-less alternatives.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were among the first phones in the “bezel-less” trend. They have one of the finest Super AMOLED screens out there with lively, vivid colors. The Note 8 is just like the other two, but bigger and with the accurate S Pen on board that allows you to quickly take notes or get creative with drawings.
The Galaxy S8 in particular is available at nearly half the price of the iPhone X and the other two are also great alternatives. One big downside with them? The fingerprint scanner. It’s positioned weirdly to the side of the camera, where it is hard to reach and you will often smudge the camera instead of the finger reader.
Google’s new Pixel 2 XL comes with one glaring issue: an OLED screen that gets very bluish once you tilt the phone just slightly, and it can suffer from a ghosting effect, but if you are not pedantic about having the absolute display. the Pixel 2 XL delivers. It’s a stunning phone: it has arguably the best camera ever put in a phone, a clean version of Android that already has the latest update and is guaranteed to be first in line in the future, it has solid battery life and it performs admirably well.
The Essential Phone is a true design gem with its ceramic back and a solid construction. It has an extremely high screen to body ratio with a very distinct, “notch” design where a tiny cutout at the top of the front is made for the front camera. It all blends together nicely when you have the notification bar at the top, or if you have a black screen, but is otherwise noticeable. The Essential Phone lacks branding, runs on a clean version of Android and comes with the promise for timely updates.
The LG V30 is the company’s best phone as of fall 2017. With a 6-inch display and an edge-to-edge display, the V30 is actually a little smaller than the 5.5-inch OnePlus 5 that has a traditional, 16:9 display with bezels on the top and bottom. And that’s quite the achievement. The V30 – unlike Samsung phones – has its fingerprint on the back, below the camera and properly centered, so it’s really easy for your finger to reach it.
The G6 has a 5.7-inch full-screen display, but it lacks some of the V30‘s media capabilities, and has a less refined camera experience. It makes up with a much lower price. It also looks a lot like the V30, though, and features a very sleek glass and metal build.
The bezel-less Huawei Mate 10 Pro features a sleek design and one of the finest cameras on Android. It performs good as well: equipped with Huawei’s own Kirin 970 system chip, this powerful phone is the first around with a neural engine built-in. Battery life is another strong point for the Mate 10 Pro.
The Xiaomi Mi Mix was certainly one of the most interesting products of 2016: in fact, one could argue it was the device that kickstarted the bezel-less design trend. In 2017, we have the much more practical and smaller in size Mi Mix 2 with even less bezel and a more refined look and feel. The Mi Mix 2 features a 6-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, narrower than the wide 17:9 screen on the original Mix. It runs top-grade silicon with the Snapdragon 835 chip on board and comes in three versions: 64GB, 128GB and 256 gigs. The phone also features an improved camera, now with the Sony IMX386 sensor and with 4-axis image stabilization.
A smartphone can have top-of-the-line specs and an affordable price tag but if itâs ugly, no one will buy it. Like it or not, design has a huge impact on consumersâ purchasing decisions. It can make or break a device.
Most of this yearâs smartphone announcements have been pretty average-looking. Some are just plain ugly. However, a few devices sporting super sexy designs, which instantly grab your attention, were also released this year. A really great design is something every manufacturer aims for, but rarely manage.
Here are five of the sexiest smartphones weâve seen this year. What makes them so alluring? Letâs dive in.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsungâs phone design made a huge leap forward with the Galaxy S8. The front of the device is gorgeous thanks to its thin bezels and curved display, both of which give off a futuristic vibe. Itâs clean and elegant. It also doesnât have a Samsung logo on top like its predecessor, which no one liked.
The back of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is simple but still eye-catching.
The Galaxy S8 has a premium-feeling metal frame and glass back too. The back of the handset is simple but still eye-catching and features a nicely designed camera sensor, with the flash module and fingerprint scanner to the left and right. The Samsung branding on the deviceâs rear doesnât make it any less gorgeous. The back also has curved edges that not only look nice but help with handling.
Samsungâs flagship features four buttons located on its sides. The power button is on the right, sitting right where your thumb naturally restsâ at least if youâre right-handed. The volume rocker is on the left side, above the dedicated Bixby button used for launching Samsungâs digital assistant. Thereâs a SIM card/microSD card slot on top and a headphone jack at the bottom alongside the USB Type-C port and speaker.
The device comes in a number of colors, although not all are available in every market. You can get it in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Arctic Silver, Maple Gold, Rose Pink, or my favorite, Orchid Gray.
The Galaxy S8 is a stunning device, but itâs not perfect â no smartphone is. I think the overall design could be improved by placing the fingerprint scanner below the camera sensor, instead of next to it. This would look better and make the scanner a little easier to reach.
Huawei Mate 10
Huaweiâs latest smartphone is a stunner and looks way better than its predecessor. It features a bezel-less design, but unlike the Galaxy S8, has the fingerprint scanner on the front. Whether thatâs good or bad depends on who you ask, but whatâs important here is that the scanner blends in with the overall design and looks really nice.
What makes the Huawei Mate 10 stand out from the crowd is the reflective stripe that runs horizontally across the cameras.
The Mate 10âs glass back is what makes it one of the most beautiful smartphones released this year. It has curved sides and a vertically positioned dual-camera setup along with a flash module and a Huawei logo thatâs located on the bottom. The reflective stripe that runs horizontally across the cameras gives the device more character. Itâs a simple design element which really improves the overall look of the Mate 10 and makes it instantly recognizable.
The power and volume control buttons are all located on the right side of the device and the SIM card slot can be found on the left. Thereâs a USB Type-C port at the bottom alongside a speaker, while the headphone jack is located on the top of the smartphone. There are four colors to choose from, as the Mate 10 comes in Black, Champagne Gold, Pink Gold, and Mocha Brown (which is the best one, in my opinion). You can take a closer look at the Mate 10 in the images below alongside the Mate 10 Pro.
The Mate 10 is simple and elegant, but also very stylish thanks to that gorgeous stripe. It has a little bit of everything and doesnât take things too far, so to speak. Its design is universal and could be the key factor that will allow it to outsell its predecessor globally.
LG V30
The LG V30 doesnât have a design âX factorâ that makes it stand out from the crowd but is nevertheless one of the most beautiful handsets on the market.
The LG V30 doesn’t try to be too fancy or dazzle you with some crazy design features but instead just sticks to the basics.
It doesnât try to dazzle you with crazy design features, instead sticking to the basics. It has a bezel-less design with a very clean, branding-free front. The device comes in four color options: Aurora Black, Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue, and Lavender Violet. No matter which one you choose, the front of the device is always black. This makes it look even cleaner, as the camera, speaker, and proximity sensor arenât as visible as they would be on a white smartphone.
The V30 has a metal frame and a simple yet stylish glass back. The dual-camera setup is more minimal than on a lot of other handsets but â just like the fingerprint scanner below it â stands out due to the rim that surrounds it. The back also has a flash module to the right of the cameras, the V30 and LG branding, and curved edges for a great feel in the hand.
Looking at the sides, youâll find the SIM card slot on the right and two buttons for volume control on the left. The power button is on the back and doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which is something that takes getting used to. The headphone jack is on top, while the speaker and USB Type-C port are located on the bottom edge.
Thereâs not really anything bad I could say about the V30âs design; itâs impressive in every way. One thing worth pointing is that although the glass back looks and feel premium, it can be a fingerprint magnet. So to keep it looking clean as the first time you took it out of the box, youâll have to wipe it down often.
Honor 9
It might not have a bezel-less design like the rest of the devices on this list, but the Honor 9 is still one hell of a sexy smartphone.
The Honor 9 may not have a bezel-less design like the rest of the devices on this list, but itâs still a sexy smartphone. Its front is simple without any over-the-top design elements, as it features a camera, speaker, and proximity sensor above the display, and a home button/fingerprint scanner along with two capacitive buttons below it. The great thing about the navigation keys is their minimal design, both marked with a small dot for a cleaner look.
Just like the Mate 10, itâs the glass back that got the Honor 9 a place on this list. Its design is minimal and eye-catching. There are two small horizontally positioned camera sensors in the upper left corner along with a flash module, and the Honor branding sits a bit further down.
The back has curved edges and is very clean, which is always a good thing in my opinion. A clean design can sometimes be a bit boring, but thatâs not the case with the Honor 9 mainly due to its light-refracting composition that enables some enthralling reflective patterns. Sure, its shiny back might not be to everyoneâs taste, but it definitely gives a boldness to the phoneâs minimalistic look. In terms of colors, you can get it in Blue, Amber Gold, Gray, and Black.
The smartphone sports a metal frame that makes it feel sturdy in the hand and has the power as well as volume buttons on the right edge. The SIM/microSD tray is on the left. An IR blaster can be found on the top. The bottom edge features a speaker, USB Type-C port, and 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Overall, the Honor 9 offers the best of both worlds in terms of design. It keeps things simple, but also comes with a shiny glass back to prevent it from looking boring like most recent smartphones.
HTC U11 Plus
The U11 Plus is without a doubt the most beautiful smartphone HTC has ever made. I mean, just look at it.
The front of the device looks very minimalistic thanks to the thin bezels surrounding the screen and the lack of HTCâs branding. The back is also quite simple, as it only sports a camera sensor, a flash module, the companyâs logo, and a fingerprint scanner that blends in nicely and doesnât stand out too much.
However, the back does have a liquid glass surface already seen on the HTC U11 thatâs quite reflective and gives the device more character. Itâs very eye-catching and is the main reason that makes the U11 Plus one of the sexiest smartphones in the world.
The Translucent Black version of the U11 Plus is gorgeous and unique, as it reveals parts of the internal components.
The HTC U11 Plus comes in Ceramic Black, Amazing Silver, and the gorgeous Translucent Black that stands out from the crowd. What makes it unique is its translucent glass back that reveals various internal components. Itâs a bold design feature that makes the device instantly recognizable.
The smartphone sports a metal frame for a premium look and feel and a textured power button thatâs located on the right side, below the volume rocker.
The HTC U11 Plus is a real stunner, and thereâs not a lot of bad things to say about it. The only thing worth mentioning is that although the back is extremely sexy, itâs also hungry for fingerprints â just like the majority of glass smartphones.
Conclusion
Each smartphone on this list is unique in terms of design, but they all have a couple of things in common. The first is that they are made from a combination of metal and glass, which is clearly the trend this year. Which doesnât mean that smartphones with full metal bodies arenât sexy anymore; metal handsets can look just as gorgeous and premium as those made of glass â just look at the OnePlus 5. However, a glass design is more eye-catching, especially if it has a reflective mirror finish and is paired with a vibrant color.
But a smartphone with a glass back does have a major drawback: itâs a fingerprint magnet. This means that after using it for a while, it wonât look anywhere near as gorgeous as when you took it out of the box for the first time. Youâll have it wipe it down often to keep it looking clean, which is a problem you wonât experience with a metal device. Glass phones are also much more likely to crack if dropped, but I guess thatâs the price we pay for fashion.
The other thing these smartphones have in common is that what makes them sexy is a combination of simplicity and something a little bit extra. For example, the Galaxy S8 has a curved screen, the Mate 10 has a beautiful stripe that runs horizontally across the cameras, while the U11 Plus sports a reflective liquid glass surface and is available with a translucent back.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 share a lot in common not just in terms of their internals but also the software experience they offer. Both phones have received plenty of praises this year from reviewers and customers alike, and if you have purchased either one of them, you really cannot go wrong with them.
Now, to help you get the most out of Samsungâs 2017 flagship handsets, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, we have a collection of tips and tricks for them. These tips will help you know how to make better use of the existing features on the devices, discover some hidden ones, and more. So, letâs get started.
Force Touch the Home Button
Thanks to their Infinity Display, the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 are all about their beautiful Super AMOLED displays at the front. Due to the all-display front, the phones do not come with capacitive navigation buttons as well like previous Galaxy devices from Samsung. Instead, like Google, Samsung finally decided to implement on-screen navigation buttons on its flagship handsets this year as well.
Thatâs not all though: the area where the Home button is shown on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 supports Force Touch. So, you can hard press on that area when the phone is lying idle to wake the display up. Similarly, you can hard press on the home button area even when you are inside an app and the navigation bar is not being shown to go back to the home screen. Considering the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 is located at such an odd location, I end up Force Touching the Home button to wake the device and then unlock it by looking at the iris scanner.
Do make sure to enable the Unlock with Home button option under Settings -> Display to ensure your Galaxy S8 or Note 8 skips right past the lock screen when you hard press the Home button.
Automatically Enable Iris Unlock
By default, if you use the iris scanner on your Galaxy S8 or Note 8 to unlock the device, you will first have to press the power button/hard press the Home button to wake the device up. Then, you will have to swipe up on the lock screen to initiate the iris scanning process. This can be a particularly tedious and time-consuming process especially when you will be doing it hundreds of time on a daily basis.
To speed up the whole process, Samsung has included a handy âIris unlock when screen turns onâ option under Iris Scanner in Settings -> Lock Screen & Security. Enable the feature and as soon as you wake up your Galaxy S8 or Note 8, the iris scanner will start scanning for your iris.
Quickly Hide the Navigation Bar
For an even more immersive browsing or reading experience, you can quickly hide the navigation bar on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 by double tapping the small dot located on the left edge of the navigation bar. To restore the navigation bar, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen and double tap the dot again.
Expand the Status Bar
You can quickly expand the notification bar on the Galaxy S8 or Note 8 by simply double tapping the status bar. This feature only works if you are using the stock launcher and might not be available on certain carrier variants of the device.
Quickly Launch the Camera App
The lack of a physical home button on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 means you can no longer double press the home button to quickly launch the camera app. Instead, that duty has now been assigned to the power button similar to the Google Pixel. The feature is disabled by default so make sure to enable it by searching for Quick Launch in the Settings menu and enabling it.
Switch Between Front and Back Camera
Another camera related tip for the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 is related to how you can quickly switch between the front and back camera. With the camera app open, simply swipe up/down on the viewfinder to switch to the front/rear camera. An even faster way to switch to the front camera is to double press the power button with the camera app open.
Gesture Selfie
If you are someone who takes a lot of selfies, Samsung has included a handy gesture on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 that makes it easier to click a selfie. Instead of struggling to hit the shutter button while holding the phone in your hand for a selfie, you can simply hold your palm in front of the camera to start the time. You can also take a selfie by keeping your finger on the heart rate monitor at the rear or by simply tapping anywhere on the screen.
Tweak the Flashlight Brightness Level
If you are someone who frequently uses the flashlight functionality on their Galaxy S8 or Note 8, you will be glad to know that the flashlight brightness level can also be customised on these handsets. Simply tap the Torch (or Flashlight) text below the flashlight toggle in Quick Settings to gain access to the brightness slider. There are five different brightness levels for you to choose from, though do remember that using the flashlight for an extended period of time can shorten its lifespan.
Use Secure Folder
Thanks to KNOX, Samsungâs version of Android is already among the most secure flavours of the OS out there. However, if you want an even additional layer of security while opening some important banking or enterprise apps, you can make use of Samsungâs Secure Folder feature. All apps put under Secure Folder run in a separate sandbox that is completely disconnected from the main OS.
Blue Light Filter
Similar to almost every other Android device out there, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 also come with a Blue Light filter. As the name suggests, the Blue Light filter automatically filters the harmful blue rays emitted from a display by tweaking its color temperature to help reduce eye strain. If you are someone who reads a lot on their Galaxy S8 or Note 8, it is recommended that you turn on the Blue Light filter option especially while reading in the dark. You can also automatically set Blue Light filter to enable itself after sunset or at a scheduled time daily.
Quickly Zoom Into the Subject
The shutter button in the stock Camera app of the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 can also act as a virtual zoom slider. If you long press and drag the shutter button up, the camera will zoom into the subject. Similarly, dragging the shutter button down will zoom out from the frame.
Smart Capture
While every other Android device offers the option to natively take a screenshot, Samsung has taken this feature to the next level with Smart Capture. When you take a screenshot on the Galaxy S8 or Note 8, you can quickly crop the picture, draw on it, add filters and effects to it, and more. Even better, simply pressing the crop button after taking a screenshot will automatically crop out the navigation and status bar which serves no real purpose in a screenshot either way.
Change System Fonts
Samsung remains among the very few OEMs in the market to continue offering the option to customise the system fonts on its devices. Changing system fonts can go a long way in refreshing the UI look and feel, though in typical Samsung fashion, thereâs a lot more to know about changing system fonts on the S8 and Note 8 instead of just the steps.
Samsung is among the very few OEMs in the market that continues to offer the option to change system fonts in its skin. While changing system fonts might not seem like a big deal to many, it does go a long way in refreshing the UI every once in a while.
While changing system fonts on the Galaxy Note 8 is a pretty straightforward process, there are still a few things one must know especially if you are coming from a previous Galaxy device. First, follow the steps below to change system fonts on the Galaxy Note 8.
How to Change System Fonts on Samsung Galaxy Note 8:
Step 1: Head over to Settings -> Display -> Screen zoom and font. Here, you will find all the options related to system fonts including its size and display zoom.
Step 2: To change the system font, simply select any of the pre-installed fonts from the âFont Styleâ option located at the very bottom and tap the âApplyâ button located at the top-right corner. You can download additional fonts from the Galaxy App Store.
To change system font size on the Galaxy Note 8, simply drag the slider under Font size to left or right depending on your preference.
Screen Zoom
Google introduced the ability to change the DPI of an Android device in Nougat. With the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung has renamed the option to âScreen Zoomâ.
With Screen Zoom, you can actually adjust the amount of content being displayed on the screen. This is different from changing the font size as here the UI will also scale depending on whether you increase or decrease the DPI. So, the lower the DPI/screen zoom you select, the more content will be displayed on the screen and vice versa.
âFont Not Compatibleâ Error
If you have a collection of fonts that you had used on previous Samsung Galaxy devices, prepare to be disappointed. Similar to the Galaxy S8 and S7 before it, while you will be able to install third-party fonts through the Play Store or other third-party sources on the Galaxy Note 8, you will be greeted with a âFont Not Compatibleâ error when you try to apply them. This is because Samsung has changed its font framework starting from Nougat that makes it impossible to apply fonts acquired from other sources. The company took this step to clamp down on the piracy of fonts that was and still is prevalent on the Google Play Store.
So, the only way to download additional fonts on the Galaxy Note 8 is through the Galaxy Apps store. The problem? Apart from one font, almost every other font is paid and thatâs not likely to go down well with most people. Sadly, thereâs not much that you can do about it as well. On the bright side, most of the fonts are priced at a reasonable $0.99 or $1.99.
Once you have downloaded a font from the Galaxy Apps Store, simply follow the steps mentioned above to switch to your newly downloaded system font.
Samsung took a huge gamble on the Galaxy S8 when it went all in on its virtual assistant and included a dedicated button to launch Bixby.
Unfortunately for consumers, Bixby wasnât ready. That, unfortunately, left the Bixby button as merely a quick launch for Bixby Home, which housed some basic information from your calendar and news feed. There were some workarounds but Samsung kept responding to break the method used to remap the button.
It seems that Samsung may now finally be listening as a new update finally allows the Bixby button to be officially disabled. Unfortunately, it doesnât go any further than that so youâre left with an even more useless button. Hopefully, Samsung takes this one step further and allow the button to be completely remapped to launch an app of the users choice like Google Assistant.
SamMobile reports the update isnât appearing for everyone just yet so keep checking in Settings to see when it finally trickles down to your device.
The dedicated Bixby button on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ didnât really serve any meaningful purpose until last month when Bixby Voice was rolled out globally. Before the global release of Bixby Voice, the dedicated button could only be used for Bixby Home.
Most users didnât feel the need for Bixby Home to have a dedicated key. Third-party apps were developed that allowed them to remap the button to launch any app of their choice. Samsung was quick to clamp down on those apps for reasons that our editor in chief explained in great detail.
I bemoaned recently that the Bixby button was driving me nuts and many of our readers agreed with me. I donât like how it gets in the way and that you canât avoid accidental presses of the button. However, itâs time for us to rejoice.
Samsung is finally allowing us to disable the Bixby button, to an extent. The latest Bixby updates add a new toggle which lets you decide whether or not Bixby Home should be launched when the dedicated button is pressed. This can also be configured from the Bixby settings menu.
Youâll see this toggle at the very top of Bixby Home once you install the update. You can tap on the gear icon to hide the toggle should you so desire. Itâs just a matter of tapping on a toggle now and that makes me happy.
To be clear, Bixby Home isnât going anywhere. You can still access it by swiping left from the home screen. The Bixby button will also work for summoning Bixby Voice. Just press and hold like you already do.
Are you happy that Samsung is finally giving us this option? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Update: The implementation appears to be random right now. Some of our devices have got this toggle after the update. Some havenât. Perhaps it will take more time for this to be available on all Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 units.
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