Samsung Galaxy S8 Bixby Button Remapping Restored By Devs After OTA Update Lockdown
Much to Samsung's chagrin, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners can once again configure the Bixby button on their handsets to perform alternative actions, such as taking a screenshot, launching the built-in camera app, silencing the phone, or whatever else. The latest app update to bxActions - Bixby Button Remapper (just bxActions from here on out) in Google Play restores the remapping functionality that was recently thwarted through an over-the-air update delivered on T-Mobile's network.
Samsung has been taking a stubborn approach to the Bixby button, which is supposed to serve as a shortcut to its new digital personal assistant. However, there are two problems with Samsung's insistence that the button only be used to summon Bixby. The first is that Android users have grown accustomed to a high level of customization options. It's one of the main appeals of Android. And secondly, Bixby launched as a half-baked service that needs a little more time in the oven. For example, voice functionality does not fully work outside of South Korea.
That is where apps such as bxActions come into play. They allow users to remap the Bixby button and rather than let it slide, Samsung is actively trying to lock the button down.
"The dedicated Bixby button gives consumers an easy, and convenient way to launch Bixby—just like using a walkie talkie. We think it’s important to consumers this option in case they prefer it to using a wakeup word. Bixby has been designed to seamlessly work with our hardware so that you can easily switch from physical to voice control whenever you wish. To provide this ideal experience, the Bixby button will only work with Bixby, so Samsung does not support remapping the Bixby button," Samsung previously said in a statement on the matter.
Well, just two days after Samsung broke the ability to remap the Bixby button through an OTA update, the developers for bxActions issued an update of their own, one that restores the ability to bind the Bixby button to any action the user wants. If you own a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ and are interested in this feature, hit the source link to download bxActions from Google Play.
Samsung has been taking a stubborn approach to the Bixby button, which is supposed to serve as a shortcut to its new digital personal assistant. However, there are two problems with Samsung's insistence that the button only be used to summon Bixby. The first is that Android users have grown accustomed to a high level of customization options. It's one of the main appeals of Android. And secondly, Bixby launched as a half-baked service that needs a little more time in the oven. For example, voice functionality does not fully work outside of South Korea.
That is where apps such as bxActions come into play. They allow users to remap the Bixby button and rather than let it slide, Samsung is actively trying to lock the button down.
"The dedicated Bixby button gives consumers an easy, and convenient way to launch Bixby—just like using a walkie talkie. We think it’s important to consumers this option in case they prefer it to using a wakeup word. Bixby has been designed to seamlessly work with our hardware so that you can easily switch from physical to voice control whenever you wish. To provide this ideal experience, the Bixby button will only work with Bixby, so Samsung does not support remapping the Bixby button," Samsung previously said in a statement on the matter.
Well, just two days after Samsung broke the ability to remap the Bixby button through an OTA update, the developers for bxActions issued an update of their own, one that restores the ability to bind the Bixby button to any action the user wants. If you own a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ and are interested in this feature, hit the source link to download bxActions from Google Play.
