Table of contents:
- 1. Manage the Edge screen
- 2. Always On Display
- 3. Change order in the navigation bar
- 4. Avoid installing icons on the main screen
- 5. Connect with two speakers or headphones at the same time
- 6. Shrink the screen and operate it with one hand
- 7. Sort apps in alphabetical order
- 8. Split screen
- 9 . Take photos by voice control
- 10. Smart Lock
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the most powerful mobiles on the market and we know that it offers multiple possibilities. Many are well known, such as its curved OLED screen that takes advantage of the edges or its excellent camera. But to notice others, we will have to take a few months with the terminal. Here we leave you a guide of simple tips and tricks to save you that time and that you start taking advantage of those options from day one.
1. Manage the Edge screen
The S8 is well known for being the first Samsung smartphone that in its normal version already has an Edge screen. Now Samsung gives us the opportunity to take advantage of it. When we are using the phone, we will see a slider on the right side of the screen. If we drag our finger to the left we will see a drop-down, which although when we start the mobile it does not contain anything, we can configure it. Going to Settings> Screen> Edge Screen> Edge Contents> Activate , we will access a detailed menu on the different apps and themes that we can quickly enter by simply sliding the drop-down.
2. Always On Display
Always on Display mode allows you to always show some options, even with the phone locked. The black screen will keep the clock, recent information and the start button at all times. We can configure it as we want, and choose to see these three options simultaneously or see only some of them. Even the mode in which the clock appears can be changed, as well as if we want to have an image. Clarify that the phone will not allow us to activate this option if we already have the Energy Saving mode active.
3. Change order in the navigation bar
It is known that Samsung, in its latest models, decides to change the order in which the Android navigation bar appears by default. To the classic order Back-Main Menu-Recent Applications, Samsung has changed the entry of the Back button to the Recent Applications button in all its terminals. If it is your first Samsung and you come from Android with the classic order, it will cost you to get used to it. The S8 offers the possibility to follow with the most common order in Android in its navigation bar. To do this, we only have to go to Settings> Screen> Navigation bar and in the Button Distribution tab , change to the order that we like the most.
4. Avoid installing icons on the main screen
When we download an application from the Play Store, the S8 will make the icon go to our main screen by default. If you don't want this to happen with each new download, go to the Play Store icon and enter. Once inside, click on the icon in the upper left of the three parallel horizontal lines. Go to Settings and uncheck the Add icon to home screen option.
5. Connect with two speakers or headphones at the same time
The S8 was the first smartphone with Bluetooth 5.0. And Samsung has taken advantage of this feature to offer the ability to connect the phone's audio with two different speakers or two different headphones at the same time. To do this, we must enter Settings> Connections> Activate Bluetooth> click on the three dots in the upper right> Dual Audio> Activate.
6. Shrink the screen and operate it with one hand
Sometimes the S8 screen can be too big if we want to reach an icon or a tab by operating it with one hand. But Samsung has thought that we get to everything perfectly even if for a few moments we use only one hand. With just one gesture of sliding your finger diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right corner, the screen will get smaller. To return to normal, just click on the empty part. To activate this utility we must go to Settings> Advanced functions> One-handed operation and activate Gesture.
7. Sort apps in alphabetical order
There may be a time when we have too many apps installed. Therefore, when we go to the applications screen to open one (which is now accessed by sliding up from the middle of the screen more or less) we spend a few minutes looking for it. To avoid this, Samsung offers a very practical option. Going to the aforementioned Applications screen , we look for the three points in the upper right corner. After pressing the points, we are going to Sort> Alphabetical order.
8. Split screen
The huge screen of the S8 allows you to take advantage of it to such an extent that we can split the screen to see two applications at the same time and in a multitasking function. Pressing the Recent Applications button in the navigation bar. When we see the last apps used, we will see a rectangle with two at the top of the screen of that app. We click on that rectangle and we will automatically see a box to choose the size of the split window dedicated to that app. To open another one, the most recent ones will continue to be shown in the empty space. Just press the one we want, it will open it. Or go to the More apps tab in case we want to open a new one. To finish this option, it will be enough to slide the edge of the upper screen down and we will return to the normal screen.
9 . Take photos by voice control
On more than one occasion we will be taking photos with our S8 while in the other hand we hold something or hug the other person in the case of a selfie . For these occasions where it was somewhat uncomfortable to have to take the photo with one hand, Samsung has thought of voice control for shooting the photo. Just by saying "shoot", "potato", "capture" or "smile", the phone will take the photo. We also have the possibility to do it with the videos saying "record video". To activate this function, we enter the phone's camera and go to the Settings icon, located at the top right. Once the camera settings are open, we look for and activate the Voice control option .
10. Smart Lock
Smart Lock is designed for those at home or at work who end up a bit tired of entering their password or using the iris, fingerprint or facial recognition reader every time they use their mobile. Even if you don't want it to be asked, it asks you to verify anything to access it. For this, the Galaxy S8 gives you the option to unlock without asking you for any proof of several. Either by locations, using Google Maps memorize the locations where you don't want to unlock the S8. It also gives the option of doing it by body detection. Even unlocking by voice or by familiarizing the phone with other trusted devices. To access this option, go to Settings> Lock Screen and Security> Smart Lock and there choose the unlock option without keys or acknowledgments that you prefer.
