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Samsung Experience

Samsung Experience 8.1 (based on Android Nougat) running on a Samsung Galaxy S8
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; 8 years ago (2016-12-07)
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. It has been succeeded in 2018 by One UI based on Android 9 “Pie” and later versions.

History

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". 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.

Features

Home screen

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.

Edge UX

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

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 , an app icon with a plus symbol on its bottom right corner, or a photo masked in the shape of a circle ) on the right of the screen. 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. 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.

Edge panels

Yahoo! sports, finance, and news are panels that are included with the phone. A user can download extra panels for ease of use, such as an RSS reader, Twitter trends, and news from CNN.

Quick tools

With quick tools, the Edge transforms into a ruler, compass, or flashlight.

Edge feeds

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.

Grace UX

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

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). 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

Samsung includes a file manager with its Galaxy phones, unlike stock Android.

It also gives access to Google Drive and OneDrive cloud storage solutions and ability to connect to FTP servers.

Game Launcher

Any game that a user downloads is combined into a single folder. In that folder, one can optimize frame rate and resolution. 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. This feature was renamed as gaming hub in late 2023.

Bixby

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. 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.

Keyword

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

(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

Devices running Samsung Experience

Note that this list is not exhaustive.

Smartphones

Tablets

References

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