What’s New With Android 8.0 Oreo Part 13: App Pair for quick multitasking between apps

In the latest edition of our What’s New With Android 8.0 Oreo series, we’re taking a look at the App Pair feature. App Pair debuted on the Galaxy Note 8 as a way of launching two apps in Multi Window mode with a single tap. As the name suggests, you can have pre-combined pairs of apps, such as a pair for the camera and gallery and any other apps that you regularly use in split-screen multitasking. App Pair is an Edge screen feature, so you can access your App Pair shortcuts from anywhere. However, it does mean the feature is only available on Samsung’s flagship phones with curved screens.

What’s New With Android 8.0 Oreo: App Pair for quick multitasking between apps

How do you create App Pairs? That’s done from the Apps Edge panel. You can take a look at our App Pair how-to for the Galaxy Note 8 for step-by-step instructions on the process of creating one. The same article also lists out a few useful App Pairs that we think everyone should know about. You can create a maximum of 10 App Pair shortcuts, and the only limitation we currently see is the lack of the option to put these shortcuts on the home screen. But we’re guessing that option might not be introduced anytime soon. Not unless Samsung is planning to make App Pair a standard feature available on all of its devices running Android Oreo and not just curved screen-toting flagships.

Have you discovered any new features on Oreo that we may have missed? Have useful App Pair combinations that you think others should know? Get a conversation going in the comments to let us know!

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Galaxy S9 case renders highlight new camera layout

From what we’ve seen so far, the biggest Galaxy S9 design change might be its new camera layout. Samsung is expected to switch to a vertical camera layout for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. The fingerprint sensor will be positioned underneath the sensor as we’ve seen in countless leaked renders.

A couple of Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ case renders have surfaced online. They also highlight the new camera layout that we’ll be seeing on these devices.

The curious case of Galaxy S9’s camera layout

Countless rumors and reports about the Galaxy S9 have revealed that the handset is going to have a new camera layout. The vertical layout will have the fingerprint sensor positioned below the sensor. The heart rate sensor will also be repositioned.

The leaked Galaxy S9 renders we’ve seen so far have highlighted these changes. As previously mentioned, these are likely the biggest design changes that we’ll see on the new flagships.

The Galaxy S9+ is said to feature a dual camera system and the handset’s case render reiterates that possibility. The position of the sensors remains the same on the larger handset.

It’s still a bit early for case renders to surface. We’ll surely see a lot more of them in the days to come. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S9 at MWC 2018 in February.

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Samsung Pay now lets users in India pay their bills

Samsung’s mobile payments service has been doing really well in India. Samsung Pay added more than one million new users in India in just over a month recently. It’s one of the top three markets for Samsung Pay globally. Samsung launched the payments service in the country earlier this year.

The company continues to add more features for users in India. It added support for UPI payments via Bharat QR codes a few weeks back. Samsung Pay now allows users in India to pay their bills via the app. The updated Samsung Pay app is now rolling out to users in India.

Pay bills with Samsung Pay

The latest version of Samsung Pay introduces the Bill Payments feature. It lets users pay their mobile postpaid, electricity, DTH and utility bills using Samsung Pay.

Users can also save bank account and IFSC information of their friends and family in UPI to transfer money to them easily. The update also enables them to add money to their mobile wallet directly from their preferred card.

We’ve tried out the new bill payments feature and can report that it works as advertised. It’s going to be a lifesaver for those to tend to leave paying off their bills to the last minute.

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Here are the best Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) features

Samsung took the wraps off the much-rumored Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) on Tuesday, December 19 – and aside from being the first units to carry unified monikers, they bring a number of neat new features to the mid-range table, including an edge-to-edge Infinity Display and a dual-sensor front-facing camera.

Here are some of the best new features.

Build Quality

It would appear Samsung’s heard our criticism as it’s done away with the tacky plastic found on the Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017), replacing it with a metal and glass sandwich build on the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018). What’s more, the units are subtly curved, making them a little more comfortable for one-handed use.

Connectivity

This shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing as it’s a feature most of the firm’s budget-friendly, mid-range and high-end smartphones offer, but both the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) house a microSD slot, letting you to increase the standard memory capacity from 32/64GB, depending on the variant you opt for, to 256GB.

Dual-Front Camera

Every smartphone needs a defining feature to set it aside from the competition, and that’s the front-facing camera setup on the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018). It comprises of two sensors, designed to provide users with enhanced imaging capabilities, like access to the Live Focus tool that debuted on the Galaxy Note 8.

The 16-megapixel f/1.9 front camera is paired with an 8-megapixel f/1.9 secondary camera. There’s a 16-megapixel f/1.7 rear camera with video digital image stabilization and a Hyperlapse mode.

Related: Check out a few Galaxy Note 8 Live Focus camera samples

Infinity Display

The Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) are Samsung’s first mid-range smartphones to tout an Infinity Display, following a not-so-brief period of exclusivity on its high-end flagships, with the former packing a high-resolution 5.6-inch panel and the latter a 6-inch – providing an unrivalled, immersive viewing experience.

Samsung Pay

As expected, the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) ship with support Samsung Pay (MST and NFC), the firm’s mobile payment platform. The units come pre-loaded with the software; though you’ll likely need to install a few updates before entering your credit card details – or transferring data linked to your Samsung Account.

Gear VR Support

The Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) are the first handsets in Samsung’s Galaxy A series to support the Gear VR headset. The mid-range handsets can finally be used to watch immersive content using the headset.

Did we miss something? Be sure to let us know over on Facebook or Twitter – or in the comments section down below. Come on! Let’s get a conversation going.

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Samsung VR updated with Galaxy A8 (2018) and Android Oreo support

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018) earlier today. These are the first handsets in the Galaxy A series to support the Gear VR headset. Samsung has now updated its Samsung VR – Video app with support for both new handsets.

The app has also been updated with Android 8.0 Oreo support for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and the Galaxy Note 8. Samsung is yet to release Oreo officially for these devices. It’s expected to do that early next year.

Samsung VR now compatible with the Galaxy A8

The Samsung VR app is essentially a library of immersive virtual reality videos that can be experienced on supported Galaxy devices. There are countless VR 360 videos that users can access through this app. It’s also possible for them to upload their own videos to Samsung VR.

The VR videos are sorted into different categories which include sports, nature, science, autos and machines, travel and more. It’s possible to download the videos to watch later with the Gear VR headset.

Even those who don’t have a VR headset can watch 360 VR videos using this app. They just need to move their phone around or swipe on the screen to pan in different directions.

The updated Samsung VR – Videos app is now available for download from the Google Play Store.

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Samsung’s CHG90 monitor ups its gaming credentials with DisplayHDR 600 badge

Samsung launched its CHG90 QLED gaming monitor at Comescom 2017 four months ago. The company calls it the world’s largest QLED gaming monitor that provides an IMAX-style cinematic viewing experience. The monitor has earned a new DisplayHDR 600 badge which ups its gaming credentials.

The DisplayHDR 600 badge or certification is awarded by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). The association unveiled its new HDR certification program last week. Samsung’s CHG90 is the first monitor to get this badge.

Samsung CHG90 gaming monitor

VESA divides its new ratings into three levels. DisplayHDR 400 is the baseline, 600 is mid-range and 1000 is high-end. A monitor must have a peak luminance of 600 nits to earn the DisplayHDR 600 badge. It must also have real-time contrast ratios with local dimming and 10-bit image processing.

Samsung’s CHG90 has all of that. When grating the certification to this monitor, VESA cited the monitor’s use of HDR to elevate color accuracy, contrast ratio and overall presentation vibrancy as an industry standard-setter.

“The certification further validates the CHG90’s ability to provide the optimal gaming and entertainment viewing environment,” Samsung said.

The CHG90 is a 49-inch super ultra-wide 32:9 HDR gaming monitor with 3840 x 1080 resolution and a 1800R curvature. It has a 144Hz screen refresh rate which can also be adjusted to 60Hz/120Hz when required.

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