Latest news with #GalaxyS25
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
One UI 8 goes big with supersized widget customization
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR One UI 8 introduces a new size setting for widgets. Users can now have their widgets take up four rows. Previously, the limit to how big a widget could be was 3×4. Adding a widget to your Galaxy phone's home screen can let you see information at a glance, like today's weather. The bigger the widget is, the more space there is for additional information, such as the forecast for the next few days. Shrinking or expanding the size can also make a widget more visually appealing. However, Samsung doesn't let you resize your widget anyway you want; there are fixed sizes you are forced to adhere to. Although widget sizes are still fixed in One UI 8, at least Galaxy owners are getting an additional size option. Galaxy S25 owners are starting to gain access to the beta for One UI 8 today. While it doesn't introduce drastic updates like One UI 7 did, it does add a few notable changes you should be aware of. One of these changes involves how big you can make a widget. One UI 7 widget One UI 8 widget Previously, the limit to how big you could make a widget on a Galaxy device was three rows. You can see an example of this in the screenshot to the left. In One UI 8, however, you can now go a step further and take up four rows. This is represented in the screenshot above, to the right. It appears that all widgets that previously supported the 3×4 size now support 4×4. This is far from the only change One UI 8 has to offer. We also recently discovered that the update adds deeper integration for older Galaxy Buds models, calls and Do Not Disturb status on Now Bar, and more. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Samsung Launches One UI 8 Beta Program, Starting with New Galaxy Foldables
Samsung has officially kicked off the beta program for One UI 8, its latest integrated software platform designed to enhance user productivity and convenience across Galaxy devices. This new upgrade ushers in a fresh era of software intelligence featuring a true multimodal AI agent optimized for Samsung's diverse device lineup, starting with the newest Galaxy foldable smartphones. Built in collaboration with Google, One UI 8 is among the first user interfaces to adopt Android 16. The update will initially roll out on the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra in select countries, including Germany, Korea, the UK, and the US, before expanding to other Galaxy devices. Intelligent AI for a Personalized Experience One UI 8 introduces a smarter AI experience, building on the Galaxy S25 series' AI features with three key elements: multimodal interaction, device-specific UX improvements, and personalized proactive suggestions. The AI understands what users are viewing or engaging with, enabling seamless, natural communication. Features like Now Bar and Now Brief will deliver curated insights tailored to individual routines, enhancing daily productivity. Samsung ensures privacy with robust security via Samsung Knox Vault, which protects sensitive data using a secure processor and memory isolation. Users can also choose on-device data processing for enhanced control, balancing personalization with privacy. Enhanced Convenience and Connectivity Beyond AI, One UI 8 includes tools designed for everyday ease. Auracast, a new Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology, allows multiple devices such as Galaxy Buds and hearing aids to share audio streams effortlessly via QR code scanning. Repair center visits will become quicker with QR and NFC-enabled customer support registration through Samsung Account, minimizing wait times. The updated Reminder app offers a streamlined UX, ideal for managing tasks during trips or busy days, including voice-enabled reminders for hands-free use. Quick Share enhancements let users send and receive files instantly with a single tap from the Quick Settings panel. Join the Beta Samsung Members app users can sign up now to experience One UI 8's new features early and get a glimpse of the future of Galaxy AI.
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
With One UI 8, Samsung just gave the Now Bar the functionality it was missing
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR The Now Bar in One UI 8 beta shows calls and Do Not Disturb status. This expansion of the Now Bar's functionality was anticipated after a leak earlier this month. One UI 8 beta is rolling out now for Galaxy S25 series users in select regions. Samsung's One UI 8 beta has just started rolling out, and while the changes appear to be subtle so far, there are some clear improvements on board. We've already confirmed at least one rumored upgrade as the lock screen's Now Bar has new call and Do Not Disturb functionality. As our One UI 8 beta screenshots below confirm, the Now Bar — the rounded widget centered at the bottom of the lock screen — now shows live call status and Do Not Disturb scheduling. These screenshots were taken from a Galaxy S25 running the new beta. The first image displays an outgoing call in the Now Bar, while another shows DND mode activated until a set time. These additions were expected after a leak of this specific functionality earlier this month. The Now Bar already supported select apps and live info, including sports scores from Google, a media player, Samsung Health data, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, and emergency features. Adding calls and DND mode makes the feature feel much more comprehensive. This beta build is now available in the US, UK, South Korea, and Germany for users with the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, or S25 Ultra. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
I tried One UI 8 and it's the update One UI 7 should have been
Joe Maring / Android Authority One UI 7 was one of the messiest updates Samsung has had in recent history. It was delayed multiple times, and even the Galaxy S25, which was supposed to launch with a stable One UI 7 build, was missing features until it was updated two months later. Needless to say, this tarnished Samsung's reputation, but it looks like One UI 8 will bring things back to where they should be, as Samsung has just launched the beta for Galaxy S25 users, only a week after Pixel users received the Android 16 beta. Are you going to download the One UI 8 beta? 1 votes Yes 100 % No 0 % When it's more stable 0 % So far, One UI 8 isn't as significant an update as One UI 7 was, but there are still plenty of small changes and tweaks that can add up to make a noticeable difference. If you want to try the beta yourself, open the Samsung Members app and scroll right to the bottom, where you'll find the beta program tab and can enroll. Ensure that you perform a full backup, as Google Wallet and certain banking apps may not function properly in the beta. It's also worth noting that several Good Lock modules are broken in One UI 8, so if you rely on those, you might want to wait. So, without further ado, here are my favorite changes in One UI 8 so far. Improved controls for older Galaxy Buds One UI 7 added quick controls for Galaxy Buds 3 and 3 Pro, but One UI 8 expands these to support older earbuds as well. I've tested these with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Buds Live, and the feature was only available on the 2 Pro, so your mileage may vary based on which earbuds you have. You can quickly access the controls from the quick settings panel or the full-screen media player on the lock screen. In quick settings, you can tap the Galaxy Buds icon in the bottom right of the media player, or long-press the volume slider. On the lockscreen, you'll see the same Galaxy Buds icon in the media player. From those menus, you can see the battery level for your buds, controls for noise cancellation, and options for 360 audio and the equalizer. A more iOS-inspired addition can be found in the settings menu, where a shortcut for the connected earbuds shows above the connections menu. Tapping this opens the relevant settings page in the Galaxy Wear app. Updated Weather app One UI 7 One UI 8 Samsung Weather has already undergone a significant redesign for One UI 7, and One UI 8 further improves it. The person at the top of the app now walks onto the screen each time you open it, and the overall art style has changed. The background is no longer a gradient color; instead, it shows a grassy background that remains visible behind the app's elements as you scroll. One UI 7 One UI 8 There's a nice change for countries like the UK that use a hybrid of the metric and imperial systems. In One UI 7, you could only choose between Celsius and Farenheight. The issue was that the wind speed and other units would be tied to this choice, so that I would see Celsius for temperatures but KPH for wind speed. In One UI 8, these options are clearly labeled, and a new hybrid setting means I can view everything in the units I'm used to. Better Samsung app integration with Modes and Routines Samsung's Modes and Routines app has been a favorite of mine since it was called Bixby Routines, and One UI 8 adds some nice new integrations. Samsung Reminders, Clock, Notes, and Calendar can all be interacted with through a routine, allowing you to automate the process of creating notes, reminders, and more. Modes and Routines is already a powerful tool, so having more options to pick from only makes the app more useful. Samsung Calendar and Reminder changes Samsung Reminders has received a visual refresh and is now better integrated into the Calendar app. When you enter the calendar event creator, two buttons at the top allow you to switch between creating a Calendar event and a task in Reminders. Within the Reminders app itself, various elements have been redesigned. At the top, you have categories for your tasks, and beneath that, five example reminders teach you how scheduling and repeating reminders work, how to attach locations, and more. When you start creating an event of your own, Reminders borrows a feature from Calendar and suggests titles based on previous reminders. Do Not Disturb and phone calls in the Now Bar The Now Bar was introduced in One UI 7 and is Samsung's way of displaying live notifications, which Google will add support for in Android 16. In One UI 8, the Now Bar on the lock screen now displays details for ongoing phone calls and the Do Not Disturb (DND) feature. The former displays the name of the contact and the call duration, while the latter indicates when DND is set to be deactivated. Unfortunately, phone calls still haven't been integrated with the live notifications in the status bar when the phone is unlocked. In One UI 7 and 8, a green phone icon appears in the status bar when you're on a call. Tapping it takes you to the full-screen phone call UI. I was hoping this would change to resemble the music player in One UI 7, similar to how Apple utilizes the Dynamic Island, but alas, it does not. 90:10 multitasking Earlier this month, we discovered that Google was working on a 90:10 layout for split-screen multitasking, inspired by OnePlus' Open Canvas. While this feature isn't yet available in the Android 16 beta for Pixels, it is present in the One UI 8 beta. As you can see in the video above, you can resize Android's split screen so that one of the apps occupies a minimal amount of space at the top or bottom of the screen. You can't do anything with the smaller app in this mode, but tapping it swaps the sizes between the two apps. If you're having to bounce between two apps repeatedly, this is far quicker than switching via the overview screen each time. One UI 7 One UI 8 Another minor update is available for the UI used in pop-up windows. In One UI 7 and older, the UI for minimising, maximising, and closing a window was displayed in that order from left to right, with a menu button on the far right. In One UI 8, the menu button has been swapped to the left-hand side, and the close button now uses the same design found in stock Android's implementation of pop-up windows. Filter downloads by app Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority There's a small but welcome change in the One UI 8 Files app that makes finding the right download easier. In the recent files and download lists, there are filters at the top of the screen that let you choose to show files that were downloaded by a specific app. The next time you need to find a PDF you downloaded from Gmail that you forgot to rename, you can filter by Gmail downloads to locate it more quickly. Secure Folder becomes more secure Secure Folder provides an encrypted sandbox on your Samsung phone, allowing you to keep separate apps, files, images, and accounts. In One UI 7 and older, you could protect Secure Folder with a different PIN or password from your main phone, but fingerprint unlock was shared across both. One UI 8 changes this behavior so that you can register different fingerprints for Secure Folder than those already scanned for your lock screen. Another option allows you to hide the Secure Folder temporarily. When you use this option, everything gets encrypted, so the apps within Secure Folder won't function and can't send notifications. The Secure Folder app icon will also disappear from the app drawer until you tap the Secure Folder quick settings icon. Swipe to access camera settings For as long as I can remember, swiping up or down in the viewfinder has swapped between the front and rear cameras. That's still an option in One UI 8, but if you'd prefer, you can assign this wipe to open the camera menu instead, which is usually accessed via a small button to the right of the screen. Hitting this button can be difficult, depending on how you're holding your phone, so this shortcut adds much-needed accessibility. Call recordings in contact history Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority One UI 7 added call recording to Samsung's dialer, and One UI 8 adds a quality-of-life feature that makes finding the right recording easier. When you access the call history for a contact, the recording will be displayed in the timeline alongside all other entries. Aside from that, not much has changed with call recording, but to quote a certain British supermarket: Every little helps. Quick Share redesign Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority Quick Share is one of my favorite additions to Android. It makes sharing files between devices seamless and painless, and its compatibility with Windows PCs only enhances its benefits. In One UI 8, there have been significant changes to the appearance of Quick Share. When you're sharing, you see a small preview of the file in the top left, along with the file name and size. In One UI 7 and other Android devices, tapping the Quick Share toggle in your quick settings displays a dialog that allows you to manage who can share with you. In One UI 8, it opens a full-screen page where you can edit those settings, as well as switch to a new send screen with a file picker. AI Select isn't useless anymore One UI 7 took Smart Select, a tool that had been a useful part of One UI for years, and ruined it by incorporating it into Galaxy AI. The main issue with it was how slow it was, as you had to wait for a Galaxy AI animation to finish playing before you could select anything. One UI 8 has resolved this issue, allowing you to highlight what's on your screen as soon as you've opened AI Select, without waiting. This doesn't solve other issues I have with AI Select. The GIF Maker and other useful tools are still obfuscated, but at least the core functionality is as fast as it used to be. Once you've selected something, One UI 8's version of AI Select will let you set a screenshot of whatever you've chosen as your wallpaper. I shudder to think how bad this could look, given the low resolution of something cropped from your screen, but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. More to come? Paul Jones / Android Authority Overall, One UI 8 is already shaping up to be a nice update, even if it isn't as significant a change as One UI 7 was. Still, this is only the first beta, and we can expect to see additional changes and features as future builds are released. As it stands, there are a few Android 16 features that aren't present in One UI 8, like Notification Cooldown. Hopefully, those will be added soon, and One UI 8's stable release won't be as troubled as One UI 7. Have you installed One UI 8? Let us know what you think of it below, along with any changes I've missed.
Tom's Guide
12 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
One UI 8 beta kicks off with Galaxy S25 series — here's the new features and how to try it now
Google I/O has a lot in store for Android 16, but Samsung's wasting no time finalizing One UI 8 software. It's expected to make its debut alongside Samsung's newest foldables this summer, presumably the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7. However, you don't need to wait until then because a beta program is available now for the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung has accelerated the development of One UI 8 to be one of the first platforms built with Android 16, ushering in yet another era of software intelligence with a multimodal AI agent that will bring even more intelligence than before. In addition, there will be other convenience and productivity features — along with UX optimizations that cater to different device form factors. Even though its official rollout will be this summer, the One UI 8 beta program is available right now with the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra for the U.S., U.K., Korea, and Germany. Here are all the new features: One of the biggest selling points of One UI 8 is how it's bringing multimodal AI that should be more aware of what you're doing, by offering personalized and proactive suggestions that adapt to your routine. While the Now Bar and Now Brief debuted alongside the Galaxy S25 Ultra earlier this year, Samsung says it'll deliver more customized insights with One UI 8. What makes this intelligent modality even better with One UI 8 is that you'll also be able to have seamless communication based on what you're doing on the phone. Google Gemini does this to a degree on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but we suspect that it will learn more of your habits and routines to anticipate what you want done. Another key feature Samsung is touting with One UI 8 is the new Reminder app, which is geared towards vacation planning. This app will manage all your reminders and to-do lists in an easy-to-use interface that also allows you to add reminders with simple voice commands. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. There isn't more detail around what else the Reminder app would do. Still, we suspect that you'll be able to use various AI agents to plan out your trips, complete with itineraries, travel recommendations, and more. It's great to listen to music with your favorite pair of wireless headphones, but wouldn't it be neat if you could share your stream to multiple audio devices? Well, the Auracast feature with One UI 8 is intended to make it a reality. This broadcast audio technology is based on Bluetooth LE Audio4, which will essentially allow you to share your phone's audio connection through a QR code. There should be fewer complications with this, but the supported list of Auracast receiver devices only consists of Samsung's Galaxy earbuds — the Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and Buds 2 Pro. It's unknown if other headphones will be supported, like models from JBL and Sennheiser. There could be more in store with One UI 8 that Samsung hasn't shared, like a Samsung DeX makeover. To take part in the One UI 8 beta program, you'll need to sign up through the Samsung Members app on your Galaxy S25 device. There's a banner in the app that points you towards the One UI Beta Program, which seems to support T-Mobile and unlocked devices from what we can see. We suspect that Samsung will trickle down One UI 8's rollout to other devices, including older Galaxy flagship models, given how it released One UI 7 to the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S23 series.
