Enhancements in Samsung's One UI 8: The Now Bar
Samsung’s One UI 7 introduced a standout feature known as the Now Bar. This tool serves multiple purposes, from displaying notifications and music playback on the lock screen too its recent integration with Google Maps. The pill-shaped bar at the bottom of the screen has become a strong competitor to Apple’s Dynamic Island.
Upcoming Features for the Now Bar
Recent leaks suggest that Samsung is planning to enhance the Now Bar even further in its upcoming One UI 8 update. An early version of this software was shared by an X user named Topraks9plus and highlighted by Android Authority. The leaked video showcases exciting new features for this lockscreen widget.
In the video, users can see various options available on the Now Bar. These include checking Do Not Disturb status, controlling music playback, viewing incoming calls, and tracking upcoming calendar events.A notable addition is a feature that displays details about ongoing phone calls, such as contact names and call duration.Additionally, users will now receive notifications related to Do Not Disturb mode.
Improvements for Z Flip Devices
Alongside these new features for all devices, Samsung is also addressing issues specific to Z Flip models regarding the Now Bar's functionality. Currently, this feature only appears on the internal display of Samsung Z Flip phones, which limits its practicality substantially.Though, earlier leaks indicated that future updates might allow it to function on both screens of models like Z Flip 5 or 6—making it much more beneficial for users.
Anticipation for One UI 8 Release
Many hope that Samsung will release One UI 8 soon due to past criticisms surrounding One UI 7’s launch and some bugs reported by users. There are even rumors suggesting that Samsung might skip directly from version 7.0 to version 8.0 because of delays in their update schedule.
With these anticipated changes and improvements coming with One UI 8, users can look forward to a more functional experience with their devices’ interfaces—especially through enhancements made to tools like the Now Bar.
