Samsung S9

Got one the other day to replace my aging LG G3. My first thought was "it's so small!" heightwise isn't... quite tall, but very narrow compared to my G3.

Usually I install Apex Launcher immediately since I'm familiar with it and know its ins and out. This time decided to give the built-in stuff a chance.


The "edge" popout I'd like better if they didn't put the control exactly where I'd scroll right/left to get to the other screens. (would also be better if it wasn't fullscreen and if you clicked anywhere else it went away so I don't have to search for the back key.) Eventually just turned it off because it was getting in the way too much... good idea, actually, but crappy implementation.


The Bixby Home screen... absolutely hated it initially, but that was more about their insistence on signing you up every time you land on that screen. Once I signed up and could start configuring it, it got a lot less obnoxious. I basically hid everything but Samsung Health (step counter, etc) and Samsung Play (music.) So essentially now I have a dedicated "tab" for playing music and checking my steps. That's not bad. Decided to keep it enabled instead of turning it off wholesale.

Bixby voice... don't often anticipate doing voice commands, it just seems weird, but assuming I can turn off the "always listening to you" feature and have it do things only when pressing the button that's fine. Need to disable Google voice too. The one thing I tested it with "Open Maps and navigate home" worked quite well... probably one of the ONLY things I'll use voice commands with as it saves a lot of typing.


As with all my phones, first thing I did was install Simple Calendar and TypeApp mail so that I can get the widgets on my home screen. Ah... so much better... my world at a glance. The tallness of the phone gives me a bit more real estate to look at. Had to bump up the font size to make it readable though. :)


Yes, miles away faster than my G3, not that it was causing me consternation. Better cell phone reception... can pick up the newer bands that Tmobile brought online since the manufacture of the older phone.


Overall pretty happy.
 
koralis said:
The "edge" popout I'd like better if they didn't put the control exactly where I'd scroll right/left to get to the other screens. (would also be better if it wasn't fullscreen and if you clicked anywhere else it went away so I don't have to search for the back key.) Eventually just turned it off because it was getting in the way too much... good idea, actually, but crappy implementation.
Click to expand...

You can customize the edge panel handle.
BjI7Gst.jpg

You don't have to use the back key. Just click on the screen where there's no UI.
 
I hate Bixby because I never use it, I disabled it. They kinda messed that one up on the S8 with the position of the button, it would always get tapped, or bumped and cause Bixby to pop up.

Had the hardware implementation been better on the S8/+ it would've fared better. Now everyone hates it because it started off "in the way". But it's actually pretty smart, and the most advanced of the AI's. But alas, I'll likely never use it because it annoyed me to no end with the button placement.
 
CurrentlyPissed said:
I hate Bixby because I never use it, I disabled it. They kinda messed that one up on the S8 with the position of the button, it would always get tapped, or bumped and cause Bixby to pop up.

Had the hardware implementation been better on the S8/+ it would've fared better. Now everyone hates it because it started off "in the way". But it's actually pretty smart, and the most advanced of the AI's. But alas, I'll likely never use it because it annoyed me to no end with the button placement.
Click to expand...

I think the problem is bixby home. You can change it to press and hold instead of a single press. I never accidentally activate Bixby since doing so.
 
0091/2 said:
You can customize the edge panel handle.
...

You don't have to use the back key. Just click on the screen where there's no UI.
Click to expand...


Both good tips and helped make things a lot more pleasant, thanks!

As for the latter one, that's not QUITE accurate, and why I didn't figure it out myself. It's not a click.. you have to press and hold to get rid of the screen. Not a huge deal, but wasn't intuitive. Now that I know, the edge screen has gotten a LOT better. Moved the handle down and have it set up for favorite contacts and music. Nice... saves a bit of fumbling in Contacts.
 
The interesting thing is that a lot of folks, for a little while, would remap the Bixby button to something else. Maybe a camera, a specific app, whatever... So they sort of stumbled onto an accidental feature that people liked (a remapable button), but refused to let people remap it.
 
Had my S9+ since release date, It's my first Samsung phone. Had nexus 4,6 and pixel XL before this phone.
Software is bloated, but other than that I'm really liking it. Camera is excellent, Stereo Speakers YAY (so disappointed with the pixels one effort), Screens nice and bright and sharp. Headphone socket, again another big yay as I use my phone on a portable BOSS system while having a bath.
 
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