Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
uk666

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus: 5 things you need to know

Recommended Posts

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus: 5 things you need to know

 

DSC02452.JPG?w=770&h=370&fit=thumb&forma

 

All you need to know about Samsung's latest smartphones.

 

The just-unveiled Galaxy S8 and its larger running mate, the Galaxy S8 Plus, are Samsung’s top-of-the-range handsets for 2017. And they’re already causing quite a stir in tech circles.
 
They team an innovative all-screen front that’s great for watching videos and multi-tasking with better cameras and more power.
 
They're also the first phones to feature Samsung’s Bixby voice-activated assistant, which promises to let you do much more with voice commands than any other smartphone app.
 
But what else is noteworthy about the S8? Read on, as we get you to up speed fast.
 
1. Larger, better screens, but same size phones
 
DSC02391.JPG?w=770&format=auto
 
The S8’s screen comes in at 5.8-inches. The S8 Plus’s display measures a vast 6.2 inches. By way of comparison, last year’s Galaxy S7 screen was 5.1 inches and its stablemate S7 Edge was 5.5 inches.
 
So what must mean the phones themselves are larger, right? Not at all.
 
On both S8 phones, the entire front of the handset is taken up by the screen.
 
That means there’s no physical home button, which has been replaced by a ‘virtual’ home button embedded in the screen.
 
However, that sacrifice wasn’t in vain. By extending the screen to the very edges of the handset, Samsung has been able to incorporate larger screens without making the phones themselves any larger.
 
We should also note that the screens use Quad HD+ technology, instead of the Super AMOLED display tech that has been a feature of Galaxy S phones since the very beginning.
 
The upshot is that videos and photos look even better on the display.
 

 

2. There’s a 3.5mm headphone port
 
Apple’s decision to ditch the headphone slot for the iPhone 7 was a controversial one.
 
Not least because it meant you had to use an adaptor, or shell out for wireless headphones.
 
Perhaps mindful of that, Samsung has elected to retain the headphone slot for the Galaxy S8.
 
Better still, it comes with free headphones from audio specialists AKG that offer much, much better and fuller sound than you’d expect from headphones that are usually bundled with smartphones.
 
3. Bixby voice assistant understands you better than your spouse
 

DSC02433.JPG?w=770&format=auto

 

Like Siri and Google Assistant, Bixby lets you use voice commands to book tickets, conduct web searches and the like. So far, so familiar.
 
But it’s also a lot smarter than that. For one thing, Bixby is optimised so you won’t have to use very specific commands to ensure it understands you.
 
And more ambitious still, Samsung is aiming to allow you to do everything that you’d normally do with touchscreen, using your voice.
 
Initially, that’ll only apply to ten Samsung apps that come with the phone. But it’ll be extended to third-party apps later this year.
 
The other key thing to know about Bixby is that it’s context-aware. That means it’s conscious of your location and what’s on the screen at the time and uses that information to better understand what you’re asking it to do.
 
So if you’ve just taken a photo and decide you want it as your screensaver. When you issue the command ‘Make this my screensaver’, Bixby actually understands ‘this’ refers to the photo and is able to act on your command.
 
4 Better cameras
 
DSC02394.JPG?w=770&format=auto
 
The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have the same 12-megapixel camera as the S7. But there are some very welcome improvements this time around.
 
Not least the larger F1.7 aperture, which allows in more light so you get better photos in low light conditions.
 
It’s also equipped with multi-frame image processing. That’s a bit of mouthful.
 
But all it means is that each time you take one shot, the S8’s camera takes three. It then blurs them together to give you the best possible image.
 
5. You can pre-order it now
 
DSC02447.JPG?w=770&format=auto
 
Networks are accepting pre-orders on the phone from today (29th March). 
 
What we do know is that if you pre-order the S8, you’re giving yourself the best chance of getting one amid the usual clamour and supply shortages that greet the release of a major handset release.
 

 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm will give a update on the S8+ when I get it (I pre-ordered it) 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was considering it but I'll wait a few months to hear more...  Thanks for more insight of this amazing product...

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well I got the Samsung S8+ and so far I like it (I have disabled some of the apps that it can with)

 

Because I pre-ordered it I can get the Samsung VR with the controller for Free, but I wanted the "Infinitely immersive for $99"

 

Well there is a problem with the website as It just gave me the Samsung VR with the controller (No I haven't paid the $99 yet - I got a support ticket in)

 

This is what I wanted:

 

https://samsungpromotions.com/infinitelyimmersive.html

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So far I really like my Samsung S8+ - I'ts fast and the screen looks awesome

 

I haven't used the camera yet  :eek:

 

The AKG headphones that come with the S8 & S8+ sound alot better than the ones that came with the S7  :musicaldance: 

 

I got LG bluetooth headphones and sounds great, but I was on a phone call for a long time and when they answered they couldn't hear me with the headphones (I will have to look into this more)

 

I do love that I can link 2 Bose bluetooth speakers to the S8 at the same time (My Rock music sounds Awesome) S7 could only use one

 

One thing I don't like is in the texting app  and you click the microphone button the S8 uses Bixby instead of Google - I can talk faster than I can type on a phone, also my spelling sucks

Google would make some funny mistakes on the S7, But Bixby makes my text very strange (It doesn't understand my words right most of the time, unless I just use a simple "Yes" or "No")   

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm glad I'm old enough not to want all the optional-gadgets.. grin...

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Sign in to follow this  

×