Samsung Experience
Developer | Samsung Electronics |
---|---|
OS family | Android (Based on Linux), Unix-like |
Working state | Discontinued |
Source model | Open source with proprietary components |
Initial release | December 7, 2016 |
Final release | Samsung Experience 10.0 (Android 9.0) / 2019 |
Available in | 100+ languages and 25 locales worldwide |
Update method | Firmware over-the-air |
Kernel type | Monolithic (modified Linux kernel) |
Default user interface | Graphical |
Preceded by | TouchWiz |
Succeeded by | One UI |
Samsung Experience (stylized as SΛMSUNG Experience) was the name of the software overlay by Samsung for its Galaxy devices running Android 7.x “Nougat” and Android 8.x “Oreo”. It was introduced in late 2016 on a beta build based on Android 7.0 “Nougat” for the Galaxy S7, succeeding TouchWiz.[1] It has been succeeded in 2018 by One UI based on Android 9 “Pie” and later versions.
History
[edit]TouchWiz was the former name that Samsung used for its UI and icons. It was originally released in May 2008 for the SGH-F480 mobile phone. Reviewers had criticized Samsung for including too many features and software bloat, especially in the Galaxy S4, which included what many users called a Samsung "feature creep".[2] In the following years, though, Samsung had incrementally removed the bloatware and extra features, until TouchWiz was no longer recognized as TouchWiz, leading them to rename it.[3]
Features
[edit]Home screen
[edit]Samsung Experience makes several changes to Android's default homescreen. The apps icon is on the bottom right of the screen instead of the bottom middle, the Google Now search bar is just below the middle of the screen instead of at the top, and there is a weather widget (provided by The Weather Channel or AccuWeather in select countries or devices) at the top right corner of the screen. In addition, a user can edit the apps grid layout.[4]
Edge UX
[edit]The "Edge" (curved glass at the edge of the screen) was originally introduced in the Galaxy Note Edge, and popularized with the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Edges
[edit]The tasks edge gives users a shortcut to commonly utilized tasks, such as making a phone call to a certain contact, setting a timer, and creating an event in S Planner. It is an assortment of icons (e.g. contact pictures [with phone, messaging, or mail icons], an app icon with a plus symbol on its bottom right corner, or a photo [from your library] masked in the shape of a circle [with the gallery icon on the bottom right corner]) on the right of the screen.[5] The people edge allows the user to add 5 different contacts to display on the screen, for quick access to functions such as calling, texting, and emailing. It displays the contact's name and photo.[5] The apps edge displays ten of a user's most frequently used apps, with five in two columns. A user can also add a complete folder to the screen.[5]
Edge panels
[edit]Yahoo! sports, finance, and news are panels that are included with the phone.[5] A user can download extra panels for ease of use, such as an RSS reader, Twitter trends, and news from CNN.[6]
Quick tools
[edit]With quick tools, the Edge transforms into a ruler, compass, or flashlight.[5]
Edge feeds
[edit]When a user swipes the edge of the screen and the screen is off, the edge display turns on and displays missed calls, the current time, weather, and news.[7]
Grace UX
[edit]First released with the Galaxy Note 7 for Android Marshmallow, the Grace UX was named after the device's codename, and eventually made its way to some later phones with Android 6, such as the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A series. The Grace UX features a cleaner, flatter look to iconography and extensive use of white space. TouchWiz Grace UX devices also benefit from the Secure Folder functionality, which enables users to keep certain data, and even apps, behind a secure password.
In addition, for most countries, all the languages that were absent from previous versions (Android Marshmallow or earlier) are be available in this release.
Always-on display
[edit]Most of Samsung's mobile devices have AMOLED displays and the screen is left mostly black when the always-on display is active; only illuminated pixels require power since they are LEDs. The screen will display the current time, the calendar, or a selected image. There are different styles for each option (the clock has 7 styles, the calendar has 2 styles, and the image has 3 styles).[8] Later on, additional functionality was added to turn on the always-on display feature either in a scheduled manner, or keep it always on. The always-on display also adjusts its brightness as per the ambient light brightness automatically.
The Always-on Display is available on Galaxy A series (2017 & 2018), S7/S7 edge, S8/S8+, Note 8 and higher, Galaxy J7 (2017)/J7 Pro/J7+ (or C7 2017), Galaxy C5/C7/C9 Pro, and higher devices only.
File Manager
[edit]Samsung includes a file manager with its Galaxy phones, unlike stock Android.[9]
It also gives access to Google Drive and OneDrive cloud storage solutions and ability to connect to FTP servers.
Game Launcher
[edit]Any game that a user downloads is combined into a single folder. In that folder, one can optimize frame rate and resolution.[10] It includes Game Tools, a button that appears when a user is playing a game. When tapped, it can mute notifications, turn off the capacitive keys, minimize the game, screenshot, and record gameplay.[10] This feature was renamed as gaming hub in late 2023.
Bixby
[edit]Bixby is an assistant that launched with the Samsung Galaxy S8. It replaces S Voice on Samsung phones and has three parts, including Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision and Bixby Home. Bixby Voice can be triggered by saying "Hey Bixby" or pressing and holding the button located below the volume rocker, dubbed the Bixby Button. Bixby Vision is built into the camera app and can "see" what one can see as it is essentially an augmented reality camera that can identify objects in real time, search for them on various services, and offer the user to purchase them if available. Bixby is also able to translate text, read QR codes and recognize landmarks.[11] Bixby Home can be found by swiping to the right on the home screen. It is a vertically scrolling list of information that Bixby can interact with, for example, weather, fitness activity, and buttons for controlling their smart home gadgets.[11]
Keyword
[edit]Bixby can do tasks related to a single keyword. For example, a simple "Good Night" can request the device to turn to silent mode and turn on the Night Mode display.
S Pen
[edit](exclusive to the Galaxy Note and Tab series)
- Air Command: A collection of shortcuts that appear when the S Pen is taken out.
- Smart Select: Create custom GIFs (also available on Galaxy S8/+ and S9/+ after 7.0 Nougat update)
- Samsung Notes: The user can take notes, draw, annotate, with a wide selection of brushes, pens, and colors (available as app on Galaxy Apps, except of S Pen writing, but still possible with finger or keyboard type)
- Live Message: The user can draw custom emojis, make animated GIFs, or write messages on photos (also available on Galaxy S8/S8+, S9/S9+ and Note FE after 7.0 Nougat update)
- Screen Off Memo: Capture notes when the screen is off.
- Glance: Have two apps open simultaneously and switch back and forth with ease.
- Magnify: Take a closer look whenever you need to.
- Translate: Translate words or sentences, and convert currencies and measurement units.
- Remote Control: Connected with Bluetooth, can trigger camera, navigate web browser, play/pause/fast forward in music apps. (exclusive to the Note 9)
Version history
[edit]Version | Android version | Release date | Features |
---|---|---|---|
Samsung Experience 8.0 | Android 7.0 "Nougat" | January 19, 2017 | Redesigned UI
Updated Edge UX
Tilt to Unlock
Updated Always-On Display
Samsung Cloud
Additions to Theme Store
Blue-light filter
Wide Selfie
Multi-Locale
|
Samsung Experience 8.1 | Android 7.0 "Nougat" | April 21, 2017 | Altered design
DeX
Bixby
Bixby Vision
Samsung Connect support
Other
|
Samsung Experience 8.5 | Android 7.1.1 "Nougat" | September 15, 2017 | App Pair (Galaxy S and Note series phones from 7.0 Nougat update)
Expanded S Pen features
Facial and Iris recognition improvements (exclusive to Galaxy S & Note series)
More stable UI
|
Samsung Experience 9.0 | Android 8.0 "Oreo" | February 8, 2018[14] | Bixby
Dual Messenger
Finder
Home
Quick Panel
Samsung Cloud
SmartThings (formerly Samsung Connect)
Samsung Keyboard
Other
|
Samsung Experience 9.5 | Android 8.1 "Oreo" | August 9, 2018[18] | Bixby 2.0
Emoji
|
Samsung Experience 10.0 (beta version of One UI) |
Android 9 "Pie" | November 7, 2018 | Later discontinued and released as One UI 1.0. |
Devices running Samsung Experience
[edit]Note that this list is not exhaustive.
Smartphones
[edit]Device | Version |
---|---|
Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge | Original: TouchWiz 5.0 (Android 5.0.2 "Lollipop") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
Galaxy S6 Edge+ | Original: TouchWiz 5.1 (Android 5.1.1 "Lollipop") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
Galaxy S5 Neo (SM-G903W) | |
Galaxy S7, S7 Edge and S7 Active | Original: TouchWiz 6.0 (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Note 5 | Original: TouchWiz 5.1 (Android 5.1.1 "Lollipop") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
Galaxy Note Fan Edition (FE) | Original: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Note 8 | Original: Samsung Experience 8.5 (Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Note 9 | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2016) | Original: TouchWiz 5.1 (Android 5.1.1 "Lollipop") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) | Original: TouchWiz 6.0 (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy A8 (2016) | Original: TouchWiz Grace UX (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) | |
Galaxy A8 / A8+ (2018) | Original: Samsung Experience 8.5 (Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy A6 / A6+ (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy A8 Star (2018) Galaxy A9 Star (2018) | |
Galaxy A7 (2018) | |
Galaxy A9 (2018) | |
A6s (2018) | |
Galaxy A8s (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J5 (2016) | Original: TouchWiz 6.0 (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0/9.5 (Android 8.0/8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J7 (2016) Galaxy J7 Prime / Galaxy On7 (2016) |
Original: TouchWiz 6.0 (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1"Oreo") |
Galaxy J3 (2017) / J3 Pro Galaxy J5 (2017) / J5 Pro Galaxy J7 (2017) / J7 Pro |
Original: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") or 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Samsung Galaxy J7 Max (2017) / On Max (2017) | Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Samsung Galaxy J7 Nxt/J7 Core/J7 Neo | Original: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) / J2 (2018) / Grand Prime Pro | Samsung Experience 8.5 (Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") |
Galaxy J7 Prime 2 Galaxy J7 Prime (2018) | |
Galaxy J2 Core (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J7 Duo (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J4 (2018) | |
Galaxy J8 (2018) | |
Galaxy J4+ (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J6 (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy J6+ (2018) | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy C9 Pro | Original: TouchWiz Grace UX (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy C7 Pro | Original: TouchWiz Grace UX (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
Galaxy C8 / C7 (2017) Galaxy J7+ |
Samsung Experience 8.5 (Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") |
Galaxy Feel | Original: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy S Light Luxury (S8 Lite) | Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Xcover 4 | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Samsung Galaxy M10 / M20 / M30 |
Tablets
[edit]Device | Model number | Version |
---|---|---|
Galaxy Tab S2 (8.0 and 9.7) 2015 and 2016 versions |
All (Except T819C, T815C, T719C)[22] | Original (2015): TouchWiz 5.0 (Android 5.0.2 "Lollipop") Original (2016): TouchWiz 6.0 (Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow") Upgradeable (2015): Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable (2016): Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Tab S3 | SM-T820, SM-T825 | Original: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Tab S4 | SM-T830, SM-T835 | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Tab A 8.0[23] | SM-T350, SM-T355, SM-P350, SM-P355 | Original: TouchWiz 5.0 (Android 5.0.2 ''Lollipop'')
Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 ( Android 7.0 "Nougat)[24] |
Galaxy Tab A 9.7[25][26] | SM-T550, SM-T555, SM-P550, SM-P555 | Original: TouchWiz 5.0 (Android 5.0.2 ''Lollipop'') Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 (Android 7.0 "Nougat")[27] |
Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) Galaxy Tab A2 S |
SM-T380, SM-T385 | Original: Samsung Experience 8.5 (Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") (SM-T380 only) |
Galaxy Tab Active 2[28] | SM-T390, SM-T395 | Samsung Experience 8.5 ( Android 7.1.1 "Nougat") |
Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018)[29] | SM-T590, SM-T595 | Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo") |
Galaxy Tab E 9.6[30][31][32] US version only |
SM-T560NU | Original: TouchWiz 5.1 (Android 5.1.1 "Lollipop") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 8.0 ( Android 7.0 "Nougat") |
References
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- ^ "5 Samsung TouchWiz features that should be in stock Android". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
- ^ a b c d e "Get Things Done Faster with the Newly Enhanced Edge Screen". news.samsung.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
- ^ "Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge best panels: what you should download – AndroidPIT". AndroidPIT. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
- ^ "20 handy Galaxy S7 Edge tips and tricks". Digital Trends. 2016-05-14. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
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- ^ a b "Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
- ^ a b c Bohn, Dieter (2017-03-29). "Three things we know Samsung's new assistant can do on the Galaxy S8". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ "Samsung DeX review - can your smartphone replace a PC?". Android Authority. 2017-04-24. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
- ^ "Galaxy S8 software: Simpler, smarter, and definitely Samsung". Android Central. 2017-03-29. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ Abhijeet (8 February 2018). "BREAKING: Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update now rolling out". SamMobile. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "Samsung Experience 9.0 Emoji Changelog". Emojipedia. 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "[Update: It's official] Samsung starts rolling out Oreo beta for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus". Android Police. 2017-11-01. Archived from the original on 2017-11-05. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
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- ^ "Bixby 2.0's debut on the Note 9 lets users make restaurant reservations and order Ubers". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
- ^ Broni, Keith (2018-08-24). "Samsung Experience 9.5 Emoji Changelog". Emojipedia. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
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