New Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta update rolling out

The Galaxy S9 may have been updated with the final version of Android Pie, but the Galaxy Note 9 Pie beta program hasn’t ended yet. Samsung is rolling out a new beta update for the Galaxy Note 9 today. The update is available in the US and India at the moment, but it should also be rolling out in other countries where the beta program was launched. The software version is getting bumped to N960FXXU2ZRLR (N960U1UEUZRLL for the US).

January security patch included

The new update fixes a number of issues, such as the Samsung Notes app crashing, apps reloading when accessed from the recent apps screen, sluggish response when switching between front and back cameras, the search bar not appearing inside the dialer, and navigation bar gestures not working. The update also brings the January 2018 security patch, at least for India. The US update is still on the December patch, although the changelogs look otherwise similar for all users.

This Galaxy Note 9 beta may be the last one to be released before the official update starts rolling out worldwide. Of course, it will depend on whether the latest beta introduces new issues or not. To download the new update on your Note 9, open the Settings app on the phone, tap Software update, then select the Download and install option.

Not in the Android Pie beta program? Check out what new features you can expect once the update hits your Galaxy smartphone.

The post New Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta update rolling out appeared first on SamMobile.

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Official Galaxy S9 Android Pie update doesn’t include Adoptable Storage support

Samsung’s final version of Android Pie that is rolling out for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ does not come with support for Adoptable Storage. The feature was found in the leaked Pie firmware for Snapdragon Galaxy S9s in the US, suggesting Samsung could finally bring it to Galaxy smartphones. It didn’t actually work in the leaked firmware, and the official Pie update does not include the feature at all.

Adoptable Storage was introduced to Android with Android Marshmallow, allowing users to format a microSD card and use it as extended on-board storage. Samsung chose to exclude it on its phones, citing that the feature is useful for mostly budget devices with low internal storage. Samsung’s been offering plenty of internal storage on even low-cost phones in the last year or two, so Adoptable Storage is much less of a necessity here in 2018.

It’s also worth mentioning that Adoptable Storage formats a microSD card to make it work as the internal storage, and using that card as a standard microSD card with other devices also requires formatting. Of course, one can argue that such a useful feature should be offered by Samsung even if it isn’t a great alternative to high internal storage, and we’d agree. Perhaps budget Galaxy phones eligible for Pie might include Adoptable Storage, but we will need to wait a few months before that can be confirmed.

As it stands, Android Pie for the Galaxy S9 doesn’t have Adoptable Storage, and chances are slim that the company will change its stance with future Android upgrades.

Don’t Miss: [List] Official Galaxy S9 Android Pie update available in these countries

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 S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

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Samsung introduces Remote Access to Smart TVs

Samsung has just announced a ‘Remote Access’ feature for its upcoming Smart TV lineups. The feature will provide users wireless, on-screen control over connected peripheral devices, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Users can remotely control compatible programs and apps on their connected devices through their Samsung Smart TV.

Remote Access for Smart TVs

Earlier this year, Samsung introduced the S Pen remote features on the Galaxy Note 9. Now Samsung is embedding a similar feature in its Smart TV lineups as well. Without needing a separate HDMI cable connection, Samsung Smart TV users will be able to remotely access a PC in their room through the TV in their living room. And with a mouse or keyboard connected to the TV, they can navigate through the on-screen content and even perform various tasks including surfing the web or playing games.

Additionally, Remote Access allows users to access files and work on documents from their Smart TVs with the help of a web browser-based cloud office service. So Remote Access is not only about displaying the content on a larger screen.

The Remote Access feature is secured by Samsung’s proprietary Knox security technology. Samsung has been using Knox in its Smart TVs since 2015. The company provides regular firmware updates to the platform for continuous protection.

Remote Access is based on VMware Horizon, a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution by Samsung and its partner VMware. Samsung said the feature will be available on its Smart TVs starting 2019 and can be used anywhere in the world. Samsung may also add Google Assistant on its 2019 Smart TVs.

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Galaxy S10+ screen protector almost perfectly fits a Galaxy Note 7

Remember the Galaxy Note 7? The last of Samsung’s flagship smartphones with the traditional home button and big bezels met an unfortunate early demise, and the company moved on to the Galaxy S8 and introduced us to the Infinity display, which threw away most of that bezel and the home button for a higher screen-to-body ratio.

Come next year, Samsung will bring us the Galaxy S10 with even smaller bezels, and an image from Weibo shows just how much screen the Galaxy S10+ may offer in dimensions barely larger than the Galaxy Note 7.

The Galaxy S10+ is expected to have a 6.44-inch display, nearly 0.8 inches larger than the 5.7-inch display on the Galaxy Note 7. Sure, these new Infinity displays aren’t as wide as the traditional displays from before the bezel-less era, but the compromise is worth it when you consider the extra screen estate consumers are now getting.

Of course, whether everyone is going to like the extra screen estate enough to not be bothered by that camera cutout on the corner is something only time will tell. Those cutouts will reduce the actual usable display area in practice, although that still won’t take away from the fact that the Galaxy S10 will offer a larger viewing area thanks to the tiny bezels.

The post Galaxy S10+ screen protector almost perfectly fits a Galaxy Note 7 appeared first on SamMobile.

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Love using Bixby? Maybe don’t update to Android Pie on your Galaxy S9

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ owners who love using Bixby for controlling various aspects of the phone might want to hold off from updating to Android Pie. As one of our readers pointed out, Bixby 2.0 on Android Pie on the Galaxy S9 fails to understand many commands that worked with Bixby 1.0. And it turns out that it’s Bixby 2.0 to blame and not the new Android version. The same commands fail on a Galaxy Note 9 running Oreo as well.

Bixby 2.0 fails at stuff that worked with Bixby 1.0

Samsung made a big deal out of Bixby 2.0 at the Galaxy Note 9 launch, showcasing how the virtual assistant can now have more natural conversations and perform tasks like ordering an Uber purely through voice commands. But while our Note 8 on Oreo can pull up the Uber app when asked, the Note 9 fails to do it. So does the S9+ on Android Pie. Other commands we tested included asking Bixby to update our apps, show YouTube subscriptions, check for a software update, and enable Dolby Atmos, and it fails to perform them all. We admit none of us here at SamMobile use Bixby a lot, and we were surprised when we tested things out.

Now, we initially thought that this might be because Samsung hasn’t made Bixby 2.0 servers fully operational yet. It can’t complete some of the tasks that Samsung showed at the Note 9 event, like showing us what concerts are playing in Brooklyn, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t be able to do things the previous version of Bixby did without hiccups. The Galaxy Note 9 has also been out on the market for nearly four months, so it’s quite a poor showing from Samsung, especially when its assistant was always chalked up to be all about letting you locally control smartphone functions.

So if you love using Bixby Voice to perform various actions on your Galaxy S9 or S9+, you might want to hold off from updating to Android Pie. However, you might be on Oreo for a long time, since there’s no telling when Bixby 2.0 will start being truly useful. And with Android Pie bringing so much to Galaxy devices (and without any bugs), it may be tough to choose between the update and having Bixby actually following your orders.

Have you had issues with Bixby on a Galaxy S9 after updating to Pie (the beta or final version) that you didn’t have on Android Oreo?

Hat tip to o0MHJ0o!

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 S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

The post Love using Bixby? Maybe don’t update to Android Pie on your Galaxy S9 appeared first on SamMobile.

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SamMobile Daily Recap, December 26, 2018: Galaxy S10, new Galaxy Fit, 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

Galaxy S10 front camera may have the same animation as the Galaxy A8s

Samsung may unveil the Galaxy M series smartphones next month

Samsung’s Android Pie firmware hints at 3D scanning for upcoming phones

Display

Sound on Display Samsung OLED panels to be shown off at CES 2019

Tablets

Exclusive: Colors and more for upcoming Galaxy tablets, smartwatches

Opinion/Firmware news

The stable Galaxy S9 Android Pie update really does seem… stable

General

Samsung C-Lab to showcase eight new AI projects at CES 2019

Business

Samsung may cut back spending on expanding its chip production facilities

The post SamMobile Daily Recap, December 26, 2018: Galaxy S10, new Galaxy Fit, and more appeared first on SamMobile.

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The stable Galaxy S9 Android Pie update really does seem… stable

I have no intention to jinx things for Samsung and for the millions of Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners who will soon download the official Android Pie update, but it looks like the company has managed to get a stable release out the door without bugs. The random reboots that plagued Android Oreo despite months of testing are nowhere to be seen, and neither are minor bugs or app crashes. Considering Pie has come out in nearly half the time, that’s quite impressive.

And it’s not Android Pie is a smaller update than Android Oreo. There are plenty of big and small changes in there, but Pie also brings an upgraded user interface called One UI. One UI is beautiful, especially when you turn on Night mode, and it makes one-handed easier on phones with large screens. Yet Samsung has completed beta testing quickly and pushed Android Pie out before the January release timeframe it had initially announced.

Of course, it’s still going to be January for many users as the official update is available only in a handful of markets at the moment. The Galaxy Note 9 is also likely to see the update released next month (or even in February in countries), but at least we can expect Android Pie to be stable for everyone when it does make its way worldwide.

However, it’s been merely two days since the stable Android Pie update started rolling out to the Galaxy S9 and S9+, so it’s a bit too early to give a final verdict. But my initial impressions are positive, and it may be more than enough after what Samsung fans had to endure with Oreo earlier this year.

What about you? Is the stable Android Pie release working well on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+?

The post The stable Galaxy S9 Android Pie update really does seem… stable appeared first on SamMobile.

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