This is a sponsored article and was made possible by Samsung. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.
The Galaxy S8 is Samsung’s most ambitious phone. The S8 boasts having the world’s first Infinity Screen. It also has unique abilities that most users could easily miss out on. Using these tips and tricks, you could easily amplify the fun, functionality, and performance of your S8.
1. Changing the Home and app grid icon sizes
You can adjust your S8’s Home screen icon sizes in three steps:
Press down on your phone’s home screen panel.
Tap “Home screen settings.”
Customize your Home screen grid.
You can adjust your Home screen grid to any of these sizes: 4×5, 4×6 or 5×5. You may change your App screen grid to either 4×6 or 5×6.
2. Change your iris scanner’s screen masks
Galaxy S8’s default setting for unlocking its iris scanner is through its biometric feature, and Samsung included cartoon-character screen masks that you can use. To set up your phone’s iris scanner:
Go to the Settings app on your phone, then to “Lock screen and Security -> Iris scanner.”
Preview the screen mask, and then select “Choose the mask.”
3. Create Animated GIFs
Galaxy S8
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You can easily create animated GIFs with your S8 using the “Smart Select Edge” panel. First, enable the Smart Select Edge panel using these steps:
Open the Settings app.
Go to Edge screen.
Then, Edge panels.
Check the “Smart select” option in that menu.
Open the app you want to use to create the animated GIF (this could be a Netflix or YouTube app). Fifteen seconds is the maximum time for making your animated GIF.
Once you play the video, drag in the Edge panel from the edge of your phone’s screen. Scroll to the “Smart Select” panel. Tap on the animation button, and a resizable window will appear on the screen (as appears in the image above). Set the GIF’s recording quality – 10MB equals high quality, but 4MB is standard.
4. Customizing the “Always On” display
Galaxy S8’s Always on display keeps the phone in low power mode. In that low power mode, the S8’s screen shows its date, app notifications, time and media controls.
Go to Settings, then to “Lock screen and security -> Always on display.”
In the menu you can adjust the clock’s layout, the photo backgrounds, and colors. You can also control the time display there.
5. Edge Panel controls
You can customize the S8’s Edge Panels. To switch the Edge Panel on or off:
Go to the Settings app.
Then to Edge screen.
Choose On or Off.
You can enable and set your phone’s Edge Panel to the left or right side of the phone. To configure your Edge Panel:
Open the Edge screen.
Tap the gear icon (Edge panel settings).
Tap the three dots icon to open “More Options.”
Tap “Handle settings.”
Change the position to either left or right to your preference. You can also adjust vibration, size, and transparency at the “Handle settings” menu.
6. Change the Apps screen and Home screen settings
You can remove the app drawer and display all apps on your phone’s Home screen or reverse this setting. Follow these steps:
Long-press on the Home screen.
Tap the Home screen settings.
Go to Home screen layout.
Choose from the following options: Home and Apps screen and Home screen only. If you choose Home screen only, all your apps will display on the Home screen; the app drawer is removed.
7. Eliminate the black bars on the side of your screen
The aspect ratio of the Samsung S8 is 18.5:9, but most apps and videos are 16:9. Using your phone’s full-screen mode eliminates the black bars on the side – those black bars result from the differential in aspect ratios.
The edge-to-edge Infinity display of the S8 gives a rich and immersive experience. To make apps full-screen:
- Click on Display and access the “Full-screen” apps. From this place you can enable or disable the full screen.
Tip: Find out what Samsung DeX is and how to use it on your TV.
DeX Station
The Samsung DeX Station enables you to turn your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ into a true desktop PC experience.
8. Keep your Home screen organized
Apps you download from the Play Store automatically add a new icon to your Home screen. This addition may disorganize your Home screen. You have the option to turn off automatic icon addition to your Home screen.
Go to the Google Play Store app.
Tap on the three parallel horizontal lines icon (at the top of the screen).
Go to Settings.
Uncheck the box for “Add to Home screen.”
Easily find your apps by arranging them alphabetically instead of leaving them in the order they were downloaded. To do this:
Open the App Drawer.
Tap the three dots seen on the top right side of the screen.
Tap “Sort.”
Choose “Alphabetical order.”
9. Put your phone on One Hand Mode
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is easy to use; particularly when you use One Hand Mode. The feature reduces the size of the display. You can set up One Hand Mode by following these steps:
Go to Settings -> Advanced features.
Open One Hand Mode.
Once enabled, you can activate the One Hand Mode when you tap on the Home button three times.
10. Enable Bluetooth dual audio and finger print sensor gestures
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is bursting at the seams with many pleasant features. It is also the first smartphone to incorporate the Bluetooth 5.0 technology. This allows you to stream audio in two different headphone sets simultaneously. To setup:
Open “Settings app -> Connections.”
Turn on Bluetooth.
Tap the three dots on the top right of your screen and select “Dual audio.”
Pair two sets of speakers or headphones.
The finger sensor gesture makes it possible to swipe down on the device’s rare-fitted fingerprint scanner to pull down the notification shade. You can launch Samsung Pay by swiping up on the fingerprint scanner. You can set it up by going to “Settings app -> Advanced features -> Finger sensor gestures.”
Conclusion
Forbes’ Gordon Kelly says the S8 “might be the most beautiful smartphone ever made.” Yes, it might be – but don’t take his word for it. Find out for yourself.
Nicholas Godwin is a technology researcher who helps businesses tell profitable brand stories that their audiences love. He’s worked on projects for Fortune 500 companies, global tech corporations and top consulting firms, from Bloomberg Beta, Accenture, PwC, and Deloitte to HP, Shell, and AT&T. You may follow his work on Twitter or simply say hello. His website is Tech Write Researcher.
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