Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ One UI beta registrations are now open

We knew it was only a matter of time before it happened and now it has. Samsung has opened up registrations for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ One UI beta program. It was bound to happen after the company started rolling out the One UI beta firmware for the Galaxy Note 8 yesterday.

The notice for the Galaxy S8 One UI beta went live in the Samsung Members app in India first. It has also been released in other markets such as South Korea and the United Kingdom. You can expect the same for these handsets as well.

Samsung opens up the Galaxy S8 One UI beta program

There was a good chance that Samsung would open up its Android 9 Pie One UI beta to the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8. Test beta builds for these devices were spotted on Samsung’s servers not too long ago. When Samsung expanded the program to the Galaxy Note 9 it gave another solid indication that the company was no longer limiting the beta to the most recent Galaxy S flagship as it has in the past.

Registrations for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ One UI beta program are now open through the Samsung Members app. Those who are interested can now apply to get a place in the program. The beta firmware versions are G950FXXU4ZSA5 for the Galaxy S8 and G955FXXU4ZSA5 for the Galaxy S8+.

The Galaxy S8 One UI beta brings Android 9 Pie. Google’s latest iteration of its mobile OS brings several new features. Samsung has also introduced One UI with this update which is a major change for how the interface on its devices looks and feels.

It’s will take time before the stable version of Pie for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ arrives. Going by the company’s Android Pie roadmap, these devices won’t get the update before March 2019.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Galaxy S8

• Model: SM-G950F
• Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7 OIS

More specifications

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Galaxy Note 8 Pie beta program also live in the UK and South Korea

The Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie beta program is now live in the UK and South Korea. For the first time, Samsung is offering beta testing for a new version of Android for flagship phones launched the year before the most current flagships. While the company isn’t saying which markets will get beta access, we’re expecting it to come to all of the markets where the S9 and Note 9 betas were released.

For now, the beta program seems to be available in India, the UK, and South Korea. If you own a Galaxy Note 8 and wish to register, you will need to open the Samsung Members app and tap the ‘Registrations for One UI Beta Program (Note 8)’ notice in the notices section. Tap the One UI banner here, tap the Registration button, then accept terms and conditions to enroll. Once you do that, you can download the beta update using the Download updates manually option in the Software update menu of the phone’s Settings app.

The update comes in at a sizable 1.8GB, so be sure to have enough data bandwidth available or use a Wi-Fi connection before you start downloading it. Once you have updated, don’t forget to read up on all the new features and changes included in Android Pie. Should you happen to see the beta program notice in the Samsung Members app in a country other than the ones mentioned above, do let us know by leaving a comment.

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[List] Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update available in these countries

After what seems like an eternity, Samsung has finally released the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update in more than just one or two markets. Over the course of the next few days, more countries will see the update rolling out, and Note 9 owners will be constantly checking their phone to see if the update is available for them. To make things easier for you, we will be tracking which countries receive the update and adding them to the list in this post, just like we have been doing for the Galaxy S9 update.

This list includes markets where Pie has been released for those on Android Oreo and not just the markets where the beta program was available. You can help us out by telling us if you have received the update in a country not on the list (an email with screenshots to our email addresses mentioned here would be an added bonus). It’s important to mention that some markets may not get the update before February, while carried-locked models may also have to wait until March.

Countries where Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update is rolling out

• India
• South Korea
• Germany
• Thailand

You can download the Pie update over the air by tapping the Download updates manually option in the Software update section of the phone’s Settings app. Alternatively, you can download the Android Pie firmware from our database or use Samsung Smart Switch on a desktop PC.

Don’t forget to see what Android Pie will bring to your Galaxy Note 9 in our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series of articles.

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Galaxy Note 9 updated with January patch in China, but no Pie

Samsung has released a new update for the Galaxy Note 9 in China, but it’s not Android Pie. The new update brings the January 2019 security patch and is based on Android Oreo. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have been following Pie-related coverage here on SamMobile. Samsung China has had February as the time frame for both the S9 and Note 9 Pie updates from the start, so we guess it’s a good thing the company isn’t holding back on the January security update till then.

Of course, not every country will have to wait until February for Android Pie. Samsung has released the Note 9 Pie update in a number of countries in the last couple of days, and we can expect more markets to join the party as the month progresses. The worldwide rollout will hopefully complete by February, though, at least for unlocked units, as many Galaxy S9 or Note 9 owners will otherwise be quite disappointed.

In any case, the new update for the Note 9 in China can be downloaded from the Settings » Software update menu on the phone. We have the full firmware in our database as well as an alternate method for jumping onboard the new software, which comes with build number N9600ZCS1ARL7.

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SamMobile Daily Recap, January 15, 2019: Galaxy Note 8 Pie beta and more!

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Phones

Samsung pitches its foldable phone as the next phase of innovation

Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A90 (SM-A905F) colors and storage details

Firmware News

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 Pie update rolling out in India and South Korea

Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update brings separate Dolby Atmos gaming option

Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta with Android 9 officially released

Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie beta includes Night mode schedule option

General

SK Telecom launches RCS messaging for Samsung flagships

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Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A90 (SM-A905F) colors and storage details

For Samsung fans, 2019 is probably going to be known as the year Samsung went back to its spamming habits. The company never really stopped launching multiple smartphone models that offer little differentiation from each other; we only saw it streamlining things a bit in recent years. This year, Samsung is working on a multitude of Galaxy M and Galaxy A series phones, and we now have details on what could be the top-of-the-line A series device.

This device carries model number SM-A905F and it should be launched as the Galaxy A90, with the name already trademarked by Samsung in August, 2018. From our sources, we have been able to learn that the A90 will come in black, silver, and gold. Those are pretty standard color options and a far cry from the funky colors of the Galaxy A9 (2018), but they should still be of the gradient variety (like the silver version of the Galaxy A8s). Of course, Samsung may also add other color options to the list later on.

The other detail we have been told is the storage capacity. The A90 is being tested with 128GB of storage, and that’s likely going to be the only storage option available judging by the A9 (2018). And like the A9 (2018), we could see 6GB and 8GB RAM variants, although this is just speculation for the time being. A notched screen is no doubt going to be a part of the package, but we will have to wait and see if it’s an Infinity-O display like the A8s or the Infinity-V display like the upcoming Galaxy M20.

As far as the other specs are concerned, we should learn more in the coming months. We can expect a triple or quad rear camera setup, and benchmark sightings should help fill in the gaps about aspects such as the chipset that powers the device.

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Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie beta includes Night mode schedule option

So Samsung released the Android Pie beta for the Galaxy Note 8 today, catching us off guard (well, not completely, but it’s still a pleasant surprise) while everyone was fixated on the Pie release for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9. And the first thing we did after installing the beta on our Galaxy Note 8 was check whether the Night mode feature has a schedule option. And it is, even though the option is missing from the final updates for the S9 and Note 9.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean the option will be present on the final Pie releases for the Galaxy Note 8 (or the Galaxy S8), we are inclined to believe it will be. Samsung has the schedule functionality mentioned in the Pie user manuals for the Galaxy S9, so chances are that the company simply forgot to include it in the actual software because it wanted to get the update out there as quickly as possible. We still could be wrong, though, and Samsung might amend the user manual to remove all mention of the Night mode schedule setting at a later time. The same goes for video recording in Pro mode, which is missing on the Note 8 beta as well.

In any case, Note 8 owners who join the beta program can take benefit of the Night mode schedule feature. To customize the schedule settings, open the Settings app, tap Display, then tap Night mode. Here, enable the Turn on as scheduled option, then select Sunset to sunrise to make Night mode turn on and off when it gets dark and in the morning respectively. If you want to specify a manual start and end time for Night mode, select the Custom schedule option instead. Take a look at the GIF animation below for a visual guide (tap/click) on the image if it doesn’t automatically play).

For more on what’s new with Android Pie, check out our ongoing coverage here. Keep in mind that not all of these features may be available for every Galaxy device. If you own a Galaxy Note 8, don’t forget to check the Samsung Members app to see if Samsung has launched the beta program for your country.

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SK Telecom launches RCS messaging for Samsung flagships

Leading South Korean wireless carrier SK Telecom Co. has launched a next-generation communication service for latest Samsung Galaxy flagships. Called Rich Communication Services (RCS), the feature will be first available on the Galaxy S9 and S9+. More Galaxy devices, and other Android smartphones will get the feature in the future.

RCS will replace text messaging on Android smartphones

RCS is the next generation of text messaging set to replace cellular connection-based SMS (short message service). It is based on technical standards set by GSMA, a global association of telecom operators. Users of RCS can share photos, videos, music and documents of sizes up to 5MB without consuming data. Large-sized files up to 100MB can also be shared in a chat. In this case, however, the corresponding amount of mobile data will be used. SK Telecom will be running a promotional event until June 2019, allowing free transfer of 5MB to 100MB files.

There’s no need to install a separate app or sign up to use RCS. But like a mobile messenger app, RCS users can participate in a group chat and read recipients. SK Telecom will be adding the ability to send mobile gift coupons and transfer a small amount of money through RCS in the future.

“When all three mobile carriers in Korea jointly offer the service, there will be 50 million mobile subscribers using it,” SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho said during the CES earlier this month.

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Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta with Android 9 officially released

We reported earlier this month that the Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta program could go live soon. Beta One UI builds for the Galaxy Note 8 had already been spotted on Samsung’s servers. The company will no longer be keeping us guessing as it has confirmed the Android Pie beta for this handset.

This significantly improves the chances for the Galaxy S8 to get the beta. We did spot beta builds for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on Samsung’s servers as well. So it may only be a matter of time before Samsung confirms the beta launch.

Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta registrations open

Samsung is certainly straying from tradition by doing this. It pleasantly surprised fans by opening up the beta to the Galaxy Note 9 and it’s going one step forward to open it up for Galaxy Note 8 owners as well. It has previously limited the beta programs only to the current Galaxy S flagships.

The company has confirmed the Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta program through a notice posted in the Samsung Members app. The notice mentions that users will be able to experience Android 9 Pie and One UI for the Galaxy Note 8 earlier than others.

Registrations for the program are now open. The notice has so far been received in India and may very well go live in other beta markets soon. Those who are interested can sign up. We did and have already received the OTA firmware version N950FXXU5ZSA5 on our Galaxy Note 8.

One UI brings a new look and feel to Samsung’s devices while Android 9 brings plenty of new features. Do check out our One UI feature focus series to find out more. It’s going to take a couple of months at least before the Galaxy Note 8 receives a stable build of Pie. The beta program will thus allow interested users to try it out before that.

The post Galaxy Note 8 One UI beta with Android 9 officially released appeared first on SamMobile.

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Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update brings separate Dolby Atmos gaming option

One of the first new features that we wrote about when Samsung released the Android Pie beta for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ was a Dolby Atmos mode for gaming. This feature didn’t make it through to the last beta, and it was nowhere to be found when the stable Galaxy S9 Pie update started rolling out. Well, it turns out the Galaxy Note 9’s stable Pie update does include a gaming option for Dolby Atmos, but the way it works is a bit different.

Instead of being added to the existing Dolby Atmos listening modes (auto, movies, music, and voice), there’s a separate toggle called Dolby Atmos for gaming in the sound settings on the device. And it’s the right implementation in our eyes. With a separate option, Dolby Atmos can be enabled for gaming without having to modify the primary Dolby Atmos setting, so you can simply stop playing a game and use the phone for movies or music without having to constantly switch between the different Dolby Atmos modes.

As expected, the major difference Dolby Atmos for gaming seems to make is to increase the overall volume, with the effect more pronounced over wired audio. What isn’t clear is why the Galaxy S9 does not have the Dolby Atmos for gaming feature even on the latest Pie release. We’re guessing this is another hint that Samsung has rushed these updates out the gate and can only hope the company brings improvements and consistency across both of its 2018 flagships as far as Android Pie features are concerned.

You can find the Dolby Atmos for gaming option in the Sounds and vibration » Advanced sound settings » Sound quality and effects menu in the Settings app. Check out the GIF animation below for a quick visual guide (tap/click the image if it doesn’t start playing automatically).

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Samsung pitches its foldable phone as the next phase of innovation

Samsung is understandably hyping up its upcoming foldable smartphone. It showed off the device’s Infinity Flex Display at SDC 2018 in November and will soon be showing off the actual device. The company has hinted that we might get to see its foldable smartphone on February 20 alongside the Galaxy S10.

With global smartphone sales slowing down amid concerns that smartphone innovation has peaked, Samsung is pitching the foldable smartphone as the next phase of technological innovation. It feels that this will make the smartphone more central to users’ lives more than ever before.

The foldable form factor could spur growth in the market

Hark-sang Kim, SVP and Head of Visual R&D Team at Samsung’s mobile division, writes that a larger display is key to unlocking future smartphone experiences powered by technologies like 5G, AI and AR. However, current trends dictate that the size of a smartphone’s display can only be as large as the device. Samsung decided to adopt the foldable form factor to overcome this limitation.

He writes that developing a new form factor became the central focus of Samsung’s innovation efforts. It wanted to resolve the contradiction between screen size and portability. The idea was to increase the screen size considerably without compromising on the portability. Samsung first showed off the prototypes of its flexible display at CES 2011. It has taken seven years to perfect the technology and get it ready for a consumer product. It made major investments to create a new material that changes the anatomy of the smartphone display.

A natural and durable folding experience was created which can withstand hundreds of thousands of folds. This form factor also forced Samsung to rethink placements of crucial components like the battery, camera and cooling system. It had to develop a new UX as well to ensure that apps can seamlessly transition between the smaller and larger displays.

Kim obviously did not touch on any specifics about the availability or launch of this device. However, given the information that now pouring out of the company, there’s a solid chance we’ll get to see the foldable phone on February 20.

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Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 Pie update rolling out in India and South Korea

Samsung is now rolling out the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie updates in two important markets. The devices are being updated in India and South Korea as we write this, with at least Korea getting the update for both beta and non-beta users on the S9 and Note 9. Indian users on Oreo might have to wait a bit for the Galaxy Note 9 update to be released for their devices.

In South Korea, the Galaxy S9 update comes with software version G96xNKSU1CRLL or G96xNKSU1CRLN depending on carrier. Indian users, meanwhile, are getting build G96xFXXU2CRLO. For the Note 9, South Korea is getting build N960NKSU2CSA1, and the Indian release has software version N960FXXU2CSA2, the same as the updates for markets like Germany and the UAE. Those on the Pie beta will have to download around 150 MB over the air to update to the stable version, while those on Oreo will be seeing a 1.6GB update.

To download the update over the air on your Note 9, S9, or S9+, open the Settings app on the phone, tap Software update, then select Download updates manually (this option is called Download and install on the Pie beta). You can also download the complete firmware files from our database for your country and upgrade using a Windows PC.

Don’t forget to check out what new features you can expect with the Android Pie update.

Galaxy S9

• Model: SM-G960F
• Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)

More specifications

Galaxy Note 9

• Model: SM-N960F
• Dimensions: 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm
• Display: 6.4" (162.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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