Galaxy Note 8 Android Pie beta program could start next week

We already have a solid hint that Samsung may be starting an Android Pie beta program for the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy S8, and another one is coming from one of the Samsung moderators in the Members forum in South Korea. The moderator says in a comment that the program may begin in a week for the Galaxy Note 8. The Galaxy S8 will apparently receive the beta after the Note 8, something we already expected based on Samsung’s official Pie schedule for some countries.

While Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 owners have more reason to celebrate, the flip side is that if the beta program is starting in mid-January, the official update may not come before March for most users. Of course, that will still be faster than anything we’ve seen before when it comes to the second major upgrade for a flagship device. Even mid-range and budget phones slated to get Android Pie will get it sooner compared to any previous update, based on Samsung’s official Pie roadmap.

It remains to be seen how widely available the Note 8 and S8 beta programs will be. We would expect the same markets to be on the list as the one for the S9 and Note 9 beta programs, but nothing is set in stone at the moment. If you own a Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, or S8+, all you can do is try and be patient for the beta to arrive.

Thanks, Jeongchan.Lee!

Galaxy Note 8

• Model: SM-N950F
• Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6mm
• Display: 6.3" (160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, 2x, 1 telephoto F2.4 and 1 wide angle F1.7 OIS

More specifications

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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Here’s how to open apps in Multi Window or pop-up view on Android Pie

Samsung has long offered users the ability to run two apps on their smartphone at the same time with the Multi Window feature. But once you upgrade to Android Pie on your Galaxy smartphone, you might start thinking that Multi Window functionality doesn’t exist anymore. Well, it does, but the procedure to start apps in Multi Window has changed on Android Pie.

Up until Oreo, one could hit the Multi Window button that showed up at the top of each app’s card in the recent apps screen to use a particular app in split-screen mode with another app. On the new One UI on Android Pie, Samsung has switched to the method that Google employs on stock Android. The method has also changed for the Pop-up View feature, which allows users to open an app in a small pop-up window that can be moved around on the screen.

So how does one open apps in Multi Window or Pop-up View on Android Pie? It’s easy. Open the app you want to run in split-screen or pop-up view, then bring up the multitasking screen by tapping the recents key next to the home button. Tap the icon above the app’s card, then select the relevant option from the list that shows up. For a visual guide, check out the GIF animation below (you might need to click/tap the image to make it play).

This isn’t the only change One UI and Android Pie bring to Galaxy smartphones. Check out how One UI compares visually to the Samsung Experience UI from Android Oreo, and also find out what kind of new features you can expect with the Pie update for your Galaxy device.

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The Galaxy S10 Lite battery capacity may leave you disappointed

Samsung has been using 3,000 mAh batteries on the smaller Galaxy S flagships for a few years now, much to the disappointment of those who prefer a compact smartphone. However, Samsung doesn’t seem to be moved by that. A South Korean certification for the SM-G970, or the Galaxy S10 Lite, reveals the device to come with a mere 3,100 mAh battery.

Only recently, we were singing praises about Samsung launching smartphones with big batteries. Last year’s Galaxy Note 9 impressed most of us with its big 4,000 mAh battery. Some of Samsung’s upcoming budget phones, like the Galaxy M30 and the Galaxy M20, will reportedly feature an even bigger 5,000 mAh battery.

A flagship not worth buying?

With each passing year, Samsung has been giving fewer reasons for customers to opt for the smaller of the Galaxy S flagships. The gap keeps widening and may well reach a tipping point with the Galaxy S10. Early reports suggest that the basic version of the Galaxy S10 will lose out on the triple rear camera and dual front camera setups, as well as on the curved display. The device could also be on the receiving end of a few other specs, such as base storage. And now the new revelations about its battery capacity aren’t promising either.

The South Korean certification for the S10 Lite battery reveals a Li-ion battery with a rated capacity of 3,000 mAh and a total capacity of 3,100 mAh, so the actual performance may be similar to the Galaxy S8 or S9’s battery. And while there’s no word yet on the battery capacities of the S10 edge (SM-G973) and the S10+ (SM-G975), one could expect them to feature a battery bigger than that of the S10 Lite. More information about these devices should surface in the days to come, as we inch closer to release.

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Alleged Galaxy M20 live image shows Samsung’s Infinity-V display

Last week, there were reports that Samsung is planning to debut the Galaxy M series later this month in India. The reports said the company would launch the rumored Galaxy M10, M20, M30 and M40 as the Galaxy M1, M2, M3, and so on. Purported specifications of some of these devices have also surfaced online in various benchmarks and leaks.

Adding to the growing leaks, 91Mobiles has now published a couple of live images of the alleged Galaxy M20, and they match what we have heard so far about the upcoming device. The images show a device with an Infinity-V display (Samsung’s marketing term for what looks to be a waterdrop notch) and narrow bezels. According to the publication, the chin on the Galaxy M20 is apparently slimmer than the one on even the Galaxy Note 9. If so, then it is quite impressive since the Galaxy M series is supposed to be a budget lineup meant to replace the current Galaxy J, On, and C series offerings.

The notch is surrounded by a ‘breathing LED strip’

The report also states the notch is surrounded by a “breathing LED strip” which lights up every time the device is unlocked. It sounds similar to the rumors we heard about the LED effects around the punch-hole camera on the Galaxy S10. On the backside, the device will sport a dual-camera setup at the top-left corner along with an LED flash. The rear side of the device will also house a fingerprint sensor.

The back is apparently made up of polycarbonate with a glass-like finish for a premium feel.  The bottom side of the device will have a 3.5mm headphone jack, a speaker, and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfers. The report further confirms that the Galaxy M10 will sport a similar design to the Galaxy M20, but has a micro-USB port and is slimmer and lighter, probably due to the rumored 5,000 mAh battery in the latter model.

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Samsung details the Galaxy’s UX journey to One UI in an infographic

The Android Pie update brings a major change to the UX of Samsung devices. It’s a significant update that makes dramatic changes to the way that Android on Samsung looks and functions. It obviously didn’t happen isolation. Samsung has continued to improve the user experience on its devices and One UI is the latest personification of those efforts.

A lot has changed in the mobile industry over the past decade. Handsets now only have physical buttons that are absolutely necessary. Manufacturers have also gradually increased the screen size of their devices.

Galaxy’s UX journey to One UI

We have seen the Galaxy’s UX evolve during this period. The first edition of Samsung’s premium Galaxy S phones brought the Quick Panel for easy switching between apps. Then came the Live Panel with the Galaxy S2. Another major UX change came with the Galaxy S6 edge where Edge panels were utilized to take advantage of the display curve.

As display sizes continue to increase, Samsung is future-proofing its UX with One UI. It has been designed for easier one-handed usage and improved productivity. One UI also brings a system-wide Night Mode.

One UI is certainly why Samsung fans are waiting for the Android Pie update. It’s already out for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Samsung is also rolling out the first stable Android Pie build for the Galaxy Note 9 today.

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BREAKING: Stable Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update rolling out now!

Rejoice, Galaxy Note 9 owners. Samsung has started rolling out the stable Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie update today. The update is currently rolling out in Germany, but we should see it make its way to some of the other markets where the program was made available. For those on the Note 9 Pie beta, the stable update is just a 95 MB download, suggesting that the last beta was pretty much the final version.

The Galaxy Note 9 Pie update should also be available for those on Android Oreo, since the stable Galaxy S9 update was also released for non-beta users. However, it remains to be seen just how widespread the release will be, as even the Galaxy S9 Pie update is still available only in a few countries. Samsung did say Android Pie for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 would be out in January, though, so it’s possible the official rollout may begin in earnest in the next few days.

The software version for the stable Pie update is N960FXXU2CRLT and it includes the January 2018 security patch. To download it on your Galaxy Note 9, tap the Download and install option in the Software update section of the phone’s Settings app. Once you’ve updated, do check out what’s new with Android Pie and also tell us if you’re seeing the update in a country other than Germany.

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Leaked Galaxy M30 specs also mention a 5,000mAh battery

We have known for a while now that Samsung is working on a new budget smartphone series called the Galaxy M. The first three devices in this series will be the Galaxy M10, M20 and the M30. Samsung will reportedly be consolidating its Galaxy C, J and On affordable lineups with this series.

SamMobile exclusively reported about the color and storage options for these devices. It has been about two weeks since the Galaxy M30 surfaced on Geekbench. It appears that additional specs of this device have now been leaked. The Galaxy M30 reportedly measures in at 159 x 75.1 mm x 8.4mm.

Galaxy M30 specs may also include a 5,000mAh battery

The report claims that the Galaxy M30 is going to feature a 6.38-inch 2220×1080 pixel resolution Infinity-U display. It may be the first device with Samsung’s Infinity-U panel. The illustrations that Samsung showed at SDC 2018 suggest that it would essentially be a waterdrop notch.

It’s also said to feature a triple camera system at the back with 13-megapixel, 5-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. One would likely be a depth sensor which will deliver an enhanced bokeh (background blur) effect. There would be a 16-megapixel front camera as well.

As per the Geekbench listing, the Galaxy M30 will be powered by an Exynos 7885 processor with 4GB of RAM. The report mentions that the handset will have a chunky 5,000mAh battery much like the Galaxy M20. It’s expected to ship with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

Samsung is yet to confirm when the Galaxy M30 is going to be released, or the entire Galaxy M series for that matter. Given the increased rumblings about this series it’s possible that the launch may not be that far off.

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