Verizon is now rolling out an update to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus, which will upgrade the handsets’ operating system to Android 8.0 Oreo. This rollout comes several weeks after the South Korean smartphone manufacturer resumed the rollout of the operating system upgrade late last month. This software package brings several features to the two handsets, including the Picture-in-Picture mode, the autofill functionality, and the notification dots. The Picture-in-Picture mode permits users to view two applications at the same time by showing one app in a smaller window on top of another application. Meanwhile, the autofill functionality remembers important information like usernames and passwords in an effort to reduce the time spent by the user in logging in to websites and applications. The notification dots feature, on the other hand, alerts people on which applications have notifications straight from the home screen. The update also brings to the two smartphones a new version of Samsung’s proprietary skin, dubbed the Samsung Experience UI 9.0.
This software upgrade also brings the Dual Messenger and the Background Limits functionalities to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. The Dual Messenger feature enables users to keep two social media or messaging accounts on the same device at the same time. On the other hand, the Background Limits functionality improves the performance of the device by restricting the background activity of applications that are rarely utilized by the user. Aside from the major operating system upgrade, the software package also brings the February 2018 Android security patch to the two devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus were both launched in March 2017, and the two smartphones are powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset from the semiconductor firm Qualcomm. Both handsets include 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal flash storage, which could be expanded using a microSD card. The key differences between the two devices are the sizes of the battery and the display. The Galaxy S8 Plus features a 6.2-inch display and 3,500mAh battery to keep its lights on. In contrast, the Galaxy S8 contains a smaller 3,000mAh battery and a 5.8-inch display. Before installing the software package, it is important to verify first if the handset has enough free space in the internal flash storage to temporarily keep the update. In addition, the device’s battery should have sufficient charge in order to last the entire installation process.