Galaxy S8 Updates: Samsung Adds Option to Disable Awkwardly Placed Bixby Button
Samsung finally gave in to many people's anti-Bixby button sentiments and issued an update that would allow Galaxy S8 users to disable it.
Bixby was the name given to Samsung's own artificial intelligent assistant that was debuted alongside the Galaxy S8 and S8+.
Without a doubt, the Galaxy S8 is going to make it into the list of top smartphones revealed in 2017. However, it would be a stretch to declare it a perfect device because, for one, many of its users have been complaining about the dedicated Bixby button on the left side of the phone, right below the volume controls.
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Luckily, SamMobile recently discovered that an update to the Bixby software has added a toggle that would let users disable the AI's dedicated physical key.
According to the report, the newly-added option can be found in the Bixby Home settings. However, SamMobile added that, as of now, the update appears to be partially implemented as some of the users' Galaxy S8 smartphones do not have the toggle yet.
Meanwhile, Samsung has yet to officially confirm the update and provide a timeline on when it can be expected to roll out for all users around the world.
As soon as the Galaxy S8 was revealed, many users knew they would not be very fond of the button for several reasons. One, many believed there was essentially no need for a dedicated button, and two, it was quite an obstruction.
Before Samsung decided to listen to the Galaxy S8 users who were complaining about the Bixby key, third-party developers started to initiate their own ways of trying to remap the button. While there was a clamor for the remapping, Samsung had to stop it immediately.
In another report from SamMobile, it was argued that whether people liked it or not, Samsung had some good reasons not to support the remapping of the Bixby key by third-party developers. One of the main reasons the report mentioned was that in a way, the dedicated Bixby button helped Samsung ensure that their own smart assistant will eventually become a daily companion for their consumers, just like Siri is for Apple users.
On the other hand, some may also recall other efforts to get the Bixby key out of the way. There were phone cases designed to deliberately hide it while others have even started a Kickstarter campaign to fund their invention that would "kill" the Bixby button.
