Samsung has officially announced the Android 8.0 Oreo beta update for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. The Android 8.0 Oreo brings Galaxy experience U.X 9.0 replacing the previous 8.5 version and brings many new additions and features on board.
Firstly, this is a beta update so it still might have bugs and will only be available for few select users for testing and feedback purpose. The Galaxy U.X 9.0 brings a host of new features with the sweetness of Android 8.0 Oreo lying underneath. The quick panel now shows notification channels allowing you to manage notifications for each app that are supported and will show app icons at the bottom for the notifications that aren’t visible.
Tap and Hold any icon on the home screen to display shortcuts to common tasks within the app and this only available for the supported apps. The notification badges on app icons and in notifications panel are synced, and if you clear a notification from one, it will get cleared from other location as well. With the Android 8.0, the background services are limited to save battery life and improve performance as well. It also shows the currently running apps in the notification panel.
The Edge screen is now improved with better font size, color, and other settings to improve the visibility. The company has added three more edge lighting effects and color customization for apps. The much needed Dual messenger feature is now available, and it let you run two supported apps in two instances. You can add second space from the system settings. You can use the Game launcher in Samsung DeX for the full-screen gaming experience.
Other improvements and additions include AAC and Sony LDAC high-quality audio codec in Bluetooth, auto-repeat and 2X speed in the video. Voice recorder provides a smart option to block calls while recording, improved speed and security for Samsung pay. Added new unified workspace for Knox workspace and Android for work.
Samsung Experience 9.0 with Android 8.0 Oreo beta program for select customers will be available starting November 2, 2017, for Galaxy S8 and S8+ users based in South Korea, the U.S., and the U.K. The update is of size 1.4GB. The Galaxy beta program will be available via the Samsung Members app or the Samsung+ app for the U.S.